Haydock 4.25

 

The market leader is the returning Pentland Hills who hasn't had a Flat run since 2018, clearly a talented horse and a Cheltenham Festival winner in 2019 but equally as clearly a fragile horse coming back off a long break. It will be great to see it back and we hope it runs well and comes home sound but as a betting proposition for me it has no interest at the price.

 

Mercian Hymn has scope but has been best at 12 furlongs so far, Sulochana is a nice mare but I also have a niggle about the right trip for this one too?. East End Girl has had a couple of decent runs back from an extended break but was less impressive last time, if getting back to form of its earlier runs though would be a genuine danger. Most of the rest don't really inspire any confidence and some look to be having a prep run for a hurdles campaign, so I was left with a shortlist of 5 horses.

 

I can see Red Derek running better than big odds suggest if you fancy a £1 stab at that one and I'm sure that KASPARENKO will outrun his odds. A nice win at York this time last year off a mark of 78, it gets the trip and seems to be running in to a bit of form and looks very well handicapped off a mark of 73.

 

It's hard to leave out either TRALEE HILLS or GHADBBAAN on their very solid and consistent form at this trip, in this grade and conditions and off competitive marks. I can't find any reason why both won't place at least at nice each way prices with luck in running.

 

The standout for me though is TENDENTIOUS who ran very well to place runner up last time over further and this drop in trip looks logical. It may still have some scope at 4 years of age and hasn't been overly raced and is just 3 lbs above it last win mark off a mark of 73 and coupld become a very good Class 4-5 handicapper over the next couple of seasons for the O'Meara team.