Haydock hosts their popular mixed card of jumps and flat, with the Swinton Hurdle the pick of the seven-race card.
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Haydock 1:00 Pertemps Network Long Distance Handicap Hurdle – 3m½f (Class 2) (4yo+)
Last season’s winner, Zain Nights, will look to go back-to-back off a 7lb higher make, but going on his latest start, he has a lot to find with LONG DRAW, who is my selection.
He got the job done in good style at Cheltenham’s April meeting when getting the better of Harbour Lake, My Bobby Dazzler, and Zain Nights, who all line up here. Long Draw is a gelding who takes a while to find his feet when the pace is lifted, but once he hits his top stride, he gains ground hand over fist.
The galloping nature of Haydock will play to his strengths, and once he sets his eyes on the leaders on the over 4f home straight, he will take a lot of stopping off his 6lb higher mark under the champion jockey, Sean Bowen.
Topgun Simmy has every chance of going close after winning well at Down Royal on Monday.
- Selection: Long Draw (NAP)
- Danger: Topgun Simmy
Haydock 1:35 Pertemps Network Swinton Handicap Hurdle – 2m (Premier Handicap) (4yo+)
The majority of the field has some chance, and none can be confidently ruled out. The five-year-old Givemefive, who is owned by Graeme McDowell and Brooks Koepka must carry top weight, but this progressive hurdler comes in on the back of another win, taking his record to five from ten over hurdles, but he may struggles to record back-to-back wins off 12st. So the one I will be siding with each way is OHH BETTY.
She was consistent last season, winning two of her six starts, but her defeats did come in two premier handicaps and three Graded hurdles, with the latest of them being a half-length defeat in the Scottish Champion Hurdle. That was a career-best, and this does class as a drop in grade, so if she is over her latest effort, Ohh Betty has the form to go very close here.
Big Boy Bobby ran well at Cheltenham last time and has place credentials along with ten-year-old Glory And Fortune.
- Selection: Ohh Betty 11/1 (e/w)
- Danger: Big Boy Bobby 16/1 (e/w)
- Current Betting: Our Champ 7/1, Givemefive 8/1, Lanesborough 10/1, Helnwein 11/1, Ohh Betty 11/1, Anyharminasking 14/1, 14/1 bar.
Haydock 2:10 Pertemps Network ‘Junior’ Open National Hunt Flat Race – 2m (4yo)
Straight away, you must give Tony Martin’s runner Jules Winfield the utmost respect. The son of Siyonui won his point-to-point before going on to make a successful racecourse debut at Ballinrobe, both under Derek O’Connor.
Freddy Steady Go was an easy winner at Newcastle on debut and is feared the most, but the Peter Niven-trained ON TO THE ROUGE was as impressive, if not more impressive, when scoring at Market Rasen. Held out the back for the majority of the race, Brian Hughes made his move on On To The Rouge inside the home straight, and within a matter of strides, the pair were on their way to an impressive debut win.
Any normal improvement will see On To The Rouge put up another strong performance here and prove tough to beat.
- Selection: On To The Rouge
- Danger: Freddy Steady Go
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Haydock 2:45 Pertemps Network Handicap – 1m (3yo 0-85)
A tight-knit three-year-old handicap where only 6lb separates the top and bottom weights. Boston Run ran well on his first run after being gelded, but he looks like one who wants more of a stamina test, especially on this quick surface.
But it can play into his hands if they set a strong gallop. Rosemary May showed a good attitude to get back up after being headed and getting off the mark on the third attempt. She doesn’t look harshly treated off 74 on her handicap debut. But the one who caught my eye on her seasonal return and who looks ready for this extra furlong is NEVER LET GO.
She was a winner on the all-weather in December when getting up in the shadows of the post after a sustained battle with future winner Left Over Love. That form looks good in the context of this race, and with the step up in trip looking sure to bring out more improvement, Never Let Go will go close here.
- Selection: Never Let Go
- Danger: Boston Run
Bet on Never Let Go with bet365
Haydock 3:20 Pertemps Handicap – 7f (4yo+ 0-80)
It’s a ridiculously tough puzzle to solve here, where a tentative vote goes to ABDUCTION. He started the year with two decent runs but has since been poor on his last two starts. What has to be a positive here is that he is down to a very attractive mark and now gets the services of Group 1 winning jockey Tom Marquand. There looks to be plenty of pace on offer today, and if he is on a going day and gets the breaks at the right time, he is weighted to win again.
Dutch Kingdom made a winning return this year at Southwell, and the form of that win is working out well. The 2nd Legal Reform was narrowly denied in the All-Weather Vase on his next start, and the 3rd Blue Prince was beaten a nose on his next start. If you can forgive him for his below-par run at Southwell on his next start, then he has strong credentials to be going close.
- Selection: Abduction
- Danger: Dutch Kingdom
Bet on Abduction with Paddy Power
Haydock 3:55 Listed Pertemps Network Spring Trophy Stakes – 7f (3yo+)
Only five may be declared for the 7f listed contest, but there should not be much separating them at the finish. Alyanaabi competed at the highest level twice last season and did not disgrace himself on either occasion. He takes a drop-in trip here for his seasonal return, but he was a winner over this tip as a two-year-old. Even though the drop in trip should not pose any real issue, a slow tactical pace may scupper his chances.
Kikkuli is having his first start since a fine effort in the Breeders Cup, where a stumble inside the final furlong cost him all hope of a place. He can kick on this season to bigger and better things, but today may not be the day to catch him. He locks horns with TIBER FLOW, who got the better of the latter in the Group 2 Hungerford Stakes at the end of last season, and the same may happen here.
Tiber Flow has shown himself to be a 7f specialist, and he was an easy course and distance winner in Group 3 company last season. Given William Haggas’s form over the past week, which has seen six of his last 12 runners win, Tiber Flow looks set for a big run.
- Selection: Tiber Flow 5/2 (NB)
- Danger: Alyanaabi 5/2
- Current Betting: Kikkuli 7/4, Alyanaabi 5/2, Tiber Flow 5/2, Annaf 7/1, Array 12/1.
Bet on Tiber Flow with Betfred
About the author
Andrew Halligan
My name is Andrew Halligan, horse racing pundit and founder of YouTube’s The Finishing Line Podcast. Horse racing is a thrilling spectacle that captivates audiences around the world with its blend of drama and excitement. Whether you’re a jumps or flat fan, I will use my experience of working within the horse racing industry to bring the best of what this sport has to offer.
You can follow Andrew on X (@Halligan88).
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