DonaldMcCain

12.20 3m Handicap Hurdle - Code Blue

I think that the trip in testing ground at a galloping track like Haydock should be right up his street. Henry Brooke gets to claim off him which is a bonus and it doesn't look the strongest race for the track. He ought to give a good account.


12.50 2m4f Handicap Chase - Mr Chippy

This is a step up in class for him but he goes on the ground and I think he just struggled to get home over further at Hexham last time. He had a hard race there but he has been fine at home since and this shorter trip should suit. He has a nice weight here and I would think he had a decent chance.


13.25 2m Novice Hurdle - Cinders And Ashes

I was really pleased with him at Aintree and if he copes with this ground, he will be very hard to beat. It was pretty testing on that occasion and I think he will be fine, but that would be more of a concern than the opposition. He has loads of ability and although Sue Smith's horse is a promising type, he shouldn't be good enough to beat us.

Great Boss

He is like many of our young horses in that they are bred to come into their own over fences. He did well enough at Towcester on his debut but he is likely to need this first experience over hurdles.

Karrical

He's related to a couple of useful performers but he is proving something of a slow learner and he will need further than this in time. The experience will do him good though.


15.10 2m4f Novice Hurdle - Sydney Paget

I have made no secret that I really like him but the day revolves around what will handle the ground best and he does have to prove he wants it this deep. It doesn't look a bad race with Richard Lee's horse [Knock A Hand] and Dark Glacier both having shown plenty of ability. He made a few mistakes at Bangor but they were just novicey errors and I don't think he will be concerned by the fixed brush hurdles - he was runner-up in an Irish point after all.

15.40 2m4f Handicap Hurdle - Chester Lad

He will enjoy this testing ground and he has run well on both his runs for us this winter. He is due to go chasing soon so I think the switch to the fixed brush hurdles will do him some good - he wasn't that fluent at Musselburgh. He is still on a mark he can win a hurdle off though and he would have a solid chance.


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