The Grand National may be on the back burner with the Cheltenham Festival just around the corner, but today, some Grand National hopefuls put their credentials on the line.

There are six supporting races to get through today, and I give you my best betting tips for Grand National Trials Day at Haydock.

Get the latest horse racing promotions and odds with the best online horse racing bookmakers here.

Haydock 12:55 Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle – 3m½f (5yo+)

It’s a tough opening to today’s card as 12 goes to post for one of the final Pertemps qualifiers for the Cheltenham Festival.

Jipcot comes in here on top of his game after a win and staying on third at Windsor, and even though he is off just a two-pound higher mark here, it shouldn’t be enough to stop him from going close if he is in the same form.

Last time out winner Uncle Bert is another one that commands respect, but it may pay to follow the progressive KILBARRY HILL, who was one length behind Uncle Bert at Haydock in January.

There is a three-pound swing in the weights here, and that may be enough to see Kilbarry Hill reverse placings with Uncle Bert.

Doddiethegreat has been out of form in recent months, but with his mark continuing to slide, he may be able to put up a better showing today and leave two pulled-up efforts behind him.

• Selection: Killbarry Hill 15/2
• Danger: Jipcot 11/2

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Haydock 1:28 Victor Ludorum Juvenile Hurdle – 2m (4yo)

The 80 flat-rated Gibbs Island made a winning start to his hurdling career with a win over the odds on Surry Belle at Sedgefield, but he will need to find a bit more to get the better of LAVENDER HILL MOB.

Once touted as James Owens Triumph Hurdle horse, it has taken Lavender Hill Mob three runs to put it all together over hurdles.

That win should have done his confidence the world of good, and with that valuable experience under his belt, he should take a lot of beating here.

• Selection: Lavander Hill Mob
• Danger: Gibbs Island

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Haydock 2:05 Unibet Middle Distance Chase Series Veterans’ Handicap Chase – 2m4f (10yo+ 0-135)

The old boys get their time to shine here, and with the majority of the field in decent form, we should be in for a good renewal of this veteran’s chase.

The Flier Begley got the better of Nocte Volatus and The Edgar Wallace when they met at Market Rasen last month, but he may struggle to confirm those placings given the big weight swing.
THE EDGAR WALLACE was conceding 12 pounds to The Flier Begley at Market Rasen, and now that he only has to concede two pounds to that rival, there is every chance that The Edgar Wallace can put up a bold front-running display off three pounds lower than his last winning mark.

• Selection: The Edgar Wallace 8/1
• Danger: Nocte Volatus 3/1

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Haydock 2:40 Grade 2 WKD Rendlesham Hurdle – 3m½f (5yo+)

This is a weak race for Grade 2 standards, but someone has to get their head in front, and BEAUPORT tops the list.

He comes here on the back of close third in the Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle, and that was after a 31-length front running demolition job over fences in the Berkshire National Chase.

With the likelihood that Beauport will get his own way on the lead here and on the back of a career-best back over hurdles, this may be plain sailing for the Nigel Twiston-Davies trained gelding.

Gwennie May Boy has been running well in premier handicaps and has an outside chance at grabbing a place in a race that should be run to suit.

• Selection: Beauport 2/1
• Danger: Gwennie May Boy 12/1

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Haydock 3:15 Oddschecker Grand National Trial Handicap Chase – 3m4½f (5yo+)

Haydock is a course that lends itself to course specialists, and one more than any that tops that list is Royale Pagaille, but he has to leave an uncharacteristic Haydock blip behind him.

Welsh Grand National hero Val Dancer comes here seeking a hat trick after that gutsy win at Chepstow, but a six-pound higher mark demands another step forward.

Even off a much higher mark that saw him take last season’s running of this, it can pay to keep faith with the Gavin Cromwell-trained YEAH MAN.

He was sent off as a 9/2 joint-favourite for the Thyestes Chase last month but got going too late and finished a well-beaten fourth.

Back at Haydock, where he recored a comfortable win in this race last season, he can become the first horse since Silver By Nature to win back-to-back runnings of the Haydock Grand National Trial.

• Selection: Yeah Man 6/1 (e/w)
• Danger: Val Dancer 6/1

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Haydock 3:50 Grade 2 Albert Bartlett Prestige Novices’ Hurdle – 3m½f (5yo+)

DERRYHASSEN PADDY comes here unbeaten after a point-to-point, bumper, and two novice hurdle wins.

Last time out at Windsor, he showed a good attitude to battle back and get the better of listed winner Honky Tonk Highway.

That was Derryhassen Paddy’s first try over three miles, and there will likely be a lot more to come from him over this trip.

Battle Born Lad’s win over Wendigo is looking good now, but the step up to three miles is questionable on the back of that win.

Kepler’s Law won in a canter when getting the better of Barlovento at Leicester, and if he can show that it was not a one-off performance, he can rate a big danger.

But, when all is said and done, the progressive Derryhassen Paddy can come out on top.

• Selection: Derryhassen Paddy
• Danger: Kepler’s Law

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Haydock 4:25 Walrus Open Hunters’ Chase – 2m6f (5yo+)

Interestingly, Gordon Elliott has opted to send Hollow Games here, and even given his odds-on defeat in a Carrigarostig point-to-point, he needs to be respected.

Jet Plane was a comfortable winner on Hunter Chase debut at Wetherby and has every chance of following up here, but it may be worth taking a chance on the light-raced and formerly talented MY DROGO.

This ten-year-old has only had three chase starts on the track and two in the point-to-point scene, where he got a well-deserved confidence-boosting win last month.

There is every reason to believe that with that win under his belt, this former Grade 1 winning novice hurdler can get back in the winner’s enclosure under the guidance of crack amateur William Biddick.

• Selection: My Drogo
• Danger: Jet Plane

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