MOST eyes will obviously be on Fairyhouse over the course of a weekend that lasts all the way to Monday evening, but it is the veterans who take centre stage this afternoon on the far side of the Irish Sea when they line up for the Unibet Middle Distance Veterans’ Final at Haydock

You can make a case for many of the veterans, as is often the case in these contests. Genois was a good horse for Enda Bolger, he finished second behind Coko Beach over the Punchestown banks in the P.P. Hogan Chase two years ago, and he has been in good form this season for Jonjo and A.J. O’Neill.

A 10-year-old, young for a veteran, J.P. McManus’ horse has won two of his three races this winter, most recently a veterans’ qualifier at Exeter, in which he stayed on well to get the better of Outlaw Peter. A 4lb hike take him up to a mark of 125, which is still 9lb lower than his peak.

But most of these veterans are racing off handicap ratings that are significantly lower than their respective peak ratings. It’s the nature of a veterans’ race.

Guard Your Dreams is 6lb lower than his peak, Outlaw Peter is 10lb lower than his peak, Fugitif is 23lb lower than his peak.

Lots in his favour

The Flier Begley is only 5lb lower than his peak, but than in itself is not a negative. Of more relevance is the fact that he has lots in his favour today, he goes well at the track, he goes into the race in good form, he goes well on the ground, and this intermediate trip is ideal for him. And it is probable that trainer Gary Hanmer has had this race in mind or him again for a while.

The Shirocco gelding was impressive in winning this race last year. He did well to win at all, because he was fairly badly impeded by a loose horse as they raced away from the stands with a circuit to run.

He did well to recover his racing rhythm after that, but he travelled well into his race and he stayed on well to win impressively in the end, coming right away from Flic Ou Voyou on the run-in. And the runner-up kept on well to win a handicap chase at Aintree next time.

The Flier Begley went to Market Rasen next time and won the Summer Plate Trial off an 8lb higher mark.

He was well beaten in the Summer Plate itself, and again back at Market Rasen in January, in a veterans’ qualifier, but he shaped much more encouragingly last time at Southwell over hurdles in finishing second in a two-and-a-half-mile novices’ contest.

That run should have brought him forward nicely for today’s race, a race that connections have surely had as his main aim for a while. He is back down to a mark of 132, 1lb lower than the mark off which he won at Market Rasen last June. This is his ground and this is his trip, and he goes particularly well at Haydock. His record there reads 231. He could go well again.

Series Final

Dance And Glance is towards the head of the market for the Pertemps Two-Mile Hurdle Series Final, and he deserves to be high in the market.

Gallant in just getting home from All In You a handicap hurdle at Ascot in December on soft ground, he had to give best to that rival at Sandown next time.

All In You was sent off at a fairly short price for the William Hill Hurdle next time, in which he was pulled up on the heavy ground, like five of his rivals in the race.

Dance And Glance finished fifth in that race, which you can easily allow on the ground, a distance behind the winner Tutti Quanti, who was supplemented to the Champion Hurdle on the back of that win.

Dance And Glance should be much happier back on a better surface today. A mark of 120, just 4lb higher than the mark off which he won at Ascot, is workable; he is only six and he still has the potential to be better than that.

He ran well to finish fifth in the Swinton Hurdle last year on his only run to date at Haydock, and his best form is on goodish or good to soft ground.

Anthony Honeyball is having a cracking season, and Sam Twiston-Davies is a really good booking.

Dance And Glance, 2.12 Haydock, 4/1 (generally), 1pt win

The Flier Begley, 3.20 Haydock, 11/1 (generally), 1pt each-way