Northern - Haydock 3.07

 

Some old favourites in here and a couple at the top of the market from Venteia Williams yard that has finally come out of hibernation and is sending out winners. She runs 5-6 today all at short prices and whilst Chambard, who won on seasonal debut last year off a mark of 111 and then went on a sequence of 122111 and who ended up winning the Kim Muir off a mark of 134, is hot favourite running off a mark of 141, I'm not convinced that they'll be as spot on as last year and may have left plenty to work on and won't want to spaff the handicap mark too much on the way back to Cheltenham. Coo Star Sivola has been off for 595 days and will surely strip fitter for the run.

 

Saint Xavier is pretty unexposed in the UK but French form raises questions about stamina, the same concern applies to Up Helly Aa KIng from the in-form Alexander yard and both Another Emotion and Burbank may need the runs today too, as should Fortified Bay.

 

So by a process of elimination and with some e/w money to 3rd place I think the best value may lie with BLAKLION and The Two Amigos. BLAKLION won this last year off a mark of 131, won again off 136 and then got clobbered by the handicapper who ignored his age and put him up to a silly mark given the fact the horse was hardly progressive. Not surprisingly form dipped but he's had a run and come back to a mark of 136 and if he can get in to a nice rhythm and enjoy himself we know he's got a big heart and retains ability.

 

THE TWO AMIGOS may now simply be regressive but was competing at a high level as recently as last year, has stamina in abundance and has slipped to a very appealing mark and also has the benefit of a run. It's all about getting in o a nice rhythm and enjoying themselves for these old chasers and if he does he can outrun those Odds.