HAYDOCK saturday

AT Haydock, where the going was officially described as heavy but proved way too demanding for some, The Last Fling Handicap Chase went to Venetia Williams’ Emperor’s Choice, the 10-year-old justifying 7/2 favouritism and coming home just over three lengths ahead of West Of The Edge with the others beaten quite a long way over the extended thee miles and three furlongs.

Williams has earned her reputation as a ‘Saturday’ trainer of successful long-distance chasers and this was another for her as Emperor’s Choice, who looked to be back down to a fair handicap mark after a poor recent campaign, regained the sort of form which saw him win the 2014 Welsh National.

“He’s brave and tough and kept galloping,” said winning jockey Charlie Deutsch. “He’s one of the old boys so anything he does now is a bonus.”

Emperor’s Choice liked the heavy ground and so did Nick Alexander’s Clan Legend, who went clear under daughter Lucy to take the two and a half-mile handicap chase by an easy seven lengths from Crievehill.

Still only seven, Clan Legend was happy back over fences and connections have more options with him now as this sort of trip is clearly within his compass. Nicely backed from 10/1 to 17/2 here, it will be no great surprise to see him back in action again soon.

BACK ON SONG

It took Donald McCain a while to recover after losing the Paul and Clare Rooney horses but he is back on song now and completed a double with Lastbutnotleast and Waterlord, both in the hands of the similarly in-form Will Kennedy.

Waterlord easily justified 6/4 favouritism in the novices’ hurdle and looks quite smart. He will be back for the Grade 2 Rossington Main Hurdle.

Haydock ground after heavy rain is more or less a law unto itself. Top Ville Ben, wide-margin winner of the long-distance handicap hurdle at 13/2, scored by 29 lengths in a time more than 58 seconds outside standard.