TODAY could be Myretown’s day. He hasn’t been able to build on his victory in the Ultima Handicap Chase at Cheltenham in March yet, but today could be the day.

He has only run twice since March, in fairness to him. And it all seemed to be going well in the Coral Gold Cup on his seasonal debut, for which he was sent off as favourite, bowling along in front until he dived at the third last fence on the first circuit and came down.

Then last time, in the Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock, again he took them along from early, in his rhythm in front and all apparently going well, when he got the third last wrong and ceded the lead and with it his chance.

He is back at Haydock today for the William Hill Half A Mill Grand National Trial, and he heads the market again. But he is stepping up in trip to an extended three and a half miles, on Haydock soft or heavy ground, and he is short.

Value

Richmond Lake finished in front of Myretown in the Peter Marsh Chase, and Donald McCain’s horse may be the value of the race.

He is 2lb higher in the handicap now than he was then, but he is more than able for today’s mark of 136, which is 14lb lower than his peak, and he comes into the race in good form.

He hasn’t won since December 2023, but he finished a good second to Uncle Bert in a handicap chase at Aintree in early December over two and a half miles, the race that he won in December 2023, and he took a nice step forward last time in the Peter Marsh Chase, when he stayed on well to finish second to the well-backed Imperial Saint, going down by just a neck in the end and finishing over three lengths ahead of Myretown.

He is 10 now, but he goes into the race on an upward curve this season, and four of the last seven renewals of this race have been won by a horse aged in double figures.

Also, importantly, he goes well at Haydock and on soft ground at Haydock. His record on soft ground at the track reads 2132, and the first 2 was when he finished second behind Jonbon in the Grade 2 Rossington Main Novice Hurdle.

He has to prove that he can see out this extreme trip, but he stays three miles and one and a half furlongs well, and he shapes as if he will get further. He looks over-priced.

Ascot handicap chase

A little earlier in the afternoon, Jipcot could be the answer to the three-mile handicap chase at Ascot.

The O’Neills’ horse was progressive over hurdles in the early part of last season. He finished fourth in the Pertemps qualifier at Haydock on this day last year, and he was nicely fancied for the Coral Cup on the back of that run, but he made a mistake at the first flight at Cheltenham and he never really got involved in the race. He was pulled up then in the three-mile premier handicap hurdle at Aintree on his final run last season.

Back over fences this season, he ran well for a long way in a novices’ handicap chase at Ayr in early January on his seasonal return, until the lack of a recent run probably took its toll late on. He stepped forward from that last time, stepped up in trip, when he ran out an impressive winner of a handicap chase at Leicester.

He led from flagfall that day, and he jumped well, if a little to his right on occasion. He travelled like the most likely winner from a long way out, and he found plenty when he was challenged by No Tackle. The runner-up ran well again back at Leicester on Thursday off the same mark.

The handicapper raised him by 8lb for that win, but that just takes him up to a mark of 133, just 2lb higher than his hurdles mark.

He was winning for the first time over fences at Leicester, and it was just his sixth chase, so there is every chance that he will be able to progress from that now.

He is proven on soft ground, and he stayed three miles over hurdles, so he could improve again now, stepped up to three miles today over fences for the first time.

He has a really nice profile going into the race, his prominent style of racing is a positive, and he could go well.

Jipcot, 3.00 Ascot, 5/1 (generally), 1 point win

Richmond Lake, 3.15 Haydock, 9/1 (generally), 1 point win