Free Horse Racing Tips Haydock and Lingfield
Renowned Horse Racing Tipster and Journalist Ed Quigley, aka ‘Longshot Ted’ offers up his best bets for Saturday’s ITV action, and picks out some of the other horses who have made him sit up and take note, on what should be a cracking weekend of sport.
The weather has been wreaking havoc with the National Hunt racing programme, with most significantly, Ascot’s Grade 1 Clarence House Chase card that was scheduled for Saturday, falling victim to the sub-zero temperatures. Recent bulletins appear positive regarding the likelihood of Haydock on Saturday going ahead, so fingers crossed it can survive the cold snap and serve us up an afternoon of quality action.
talkSPORT sponsors the big race on the All-Weather at Lingfield, the Winter Oaks (2.47), and I think the Harry Eustace-trained MAKINMEDOIT can turn the tables with Al Agaila. She got shuffled a long way back and met trouble in running when they clashed last time, and she gets a 10lb pull at the weights for this encounter. She enjoys this venue and can go close.
All being well, the action at Haydock kicks off at 12.20, with a disappointing turnout for a Grade 2 Novice Chase, with just the three runners declared. On paper, it looks like a match between the Paul Nicholls trained Stage Star, and the Dan Skelton trained LAC DE CONSTANCE. I would have reservations about Stage Star in such deep ground – he came unstuck in the Ballymore at the Cheltenham Festival when Harry Cobden said he ‘hated the ground’ so that has to be negative. Lac De Constance loves soft ground and should be suited by this step up to 2m4f. He was in the process of running a big race at Kempton last time out until capsizing at the eight fences. The form of that race looks hot and I think the Dan Skelton charge can make amends here.
The Champion Hurdle Trial (2.05), branded as The New One Unibet Hurdle in honour of one of the great hurdlers of recent times can go the way of the new kid on the block from the Nigel Twiston-Davies team, I LIKE TO MOVE IT. Winner of the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham back in November, he could cause former Champion Hurdle winner Epatante a real headache here. The Nigel Twiston-Davies trained six-year-old failed to see out the trip when upped to an extended 2m4f at Cheltenham last time out, which was commented on by his handler: “We tried to make a horse stay who didn’t stay.” With that in mind, coming back in distance for this assignment looks perfect for him. Proper deep ground at Haydock wouldn’t be high on a list of requirements for Epatante who is a strong traveller and likes to use her potent turn of foot to accelerate on spring ground. Official ratings would suggest that the Nicky Henderson mare has a real fight on her hands. I think that I Like To Move It will revert back to forceful tactics, and all being well can cause the minor upset to give the Twiston-Davies team a memorable success to honour their former stable inmate.
We only have six runners declared for the Peter Marsh Handicap Chase (2.40), and the 12-year-old BRISTOL DE MAI could have one last swansong at the venue he has made his own. Haydock would be his fortress, so much so that he is affectionately known amongst his legions of fans as ‘Haydock De Mai’. He has six wins on his CV at the track, and underfoot conditions reminiscent of an Amazonian swamp will be exactly what is required for the Nigel Twiston-Davies trained veteran who drops back into handicap company off a reduced mark of 154. This is much calmer waters than the shark swimming he had to tackle when fourth in the Grade 1 Betfair Chase last time out. Daryl Jacob takes the ride on the popular grey who can take the roof off the stand with a victory here.
Dan Skelton has his string in fine fettle, operating at just below a 40% strike rate for 2023, and I would take a chance here with ALNADAM bouncing back to winning ways (3.10). The 10-year-old is an enigmatic individual and can benefit from reverting to hurdles and running on his favoured testing ground. He is still fairly unexposed over 3m and has the tongue-te fitted for the first time. The 10-year-old has lost his way over fences, but off a mark of 125 over the smaller obstacles, he could easily get involved at the business end of proceedings. There is a bit of a trend in his profile; he always takes a big step forward for his seasonal reappearance, so should have come forward for his run at Exeter last month, where he shaped well for a long way before fading. I like him each way – there is no denying he is a well-handicapped sort.
Sunday sees the Lingfield Winter Million card arriving into town, and punters are treated to a nine-race bonanza. The Fleur De Lys Chase (2.00) is the feature and we have a very competitive affair with not a great deal to separate the runners on ratings. I would be tempted to side with the Venetia Williams-trained BRAVE SEASCA. He looked as good as ever when winning at Aintree on his seasonal reappearance, and then disappointed at Cheltenham subsequently. However, I’m not convinced Cheltenham is his track, and he will be much more at home here, where this proper test of stamina should suit. When on the song, he is a very slick jumper and can make his presence felt in this company with Charlie Deutsch taking the ride.
The following race on the card (2.30) is a competitive Handicap Hurdle which was won last year by the Harry Fry team, and they have led claims once again with the talented MIGHT I. He revels in soft ground, and his Novice Hurdle form really stacks up from the last campaign, where he managed to win one of his four starts, but chased home Jonbon, Constitution Hill and Three Stripe Life on the other occasions. On his seasonal comeback at Haydock in November he was far too keen and didn’t get home over 3m. Coming back to the minimum trip on the testing ground will be much more his scene, and off a mark of 142 he has the scope to prove significantly better than that. I like his chances.
Enjoy the weekend action, and I will be back next week for my Review Column, taking a look at the key talking points from the weekend action.
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