Haydock Saturday

14:12 Pertemps Network

Challenger Two Mile Hurdle

Series Final 1m 7f 144y

Dan Skelton could not be in better form with his handicappers, exemplified by a treble at Bangor on Tuesday and although Ice In The Veins does not look well treated on form, he took the eye under tender handling at Ludlow last time, and has clearly got plenty more to offer.

A winner at Warwick and Worcester in novice company, he was unsighted on handicap bow from a stiff-looking mark, but finished with plenty of running left when 16 lengths fourth of eight to Sir Hobnob in a handicap at Ludlow on his most recent run in February and looks the sort who will win plenty more races when conditions are right.

We’re Red And Blue was better than ever when placed behind Mondo Man in the Imperial Cup and this slick jumper looks the main threat on form, with a 2lb rise since Sandown looking very fair on balance and if the selection doesn’t improve as much as expected, he can pick up the pieces.

14:46 Pertemps Network

Challenger Stayers Hurdle

Series Final 3m 58y

Blue Carpet and Jakar Du Moulin are unexposed stayers who are much respected on the back of recent wins, but are priced accordingly, and that affords a degree of each-way value on the tough and gradually progressive Heather Honey, who landed her fifth win of the season – and posted a career-high performance – when winning over course and distance last time from a pair who have gone on to run with credit in competitive handicaps since.

She beat Hard Dealt here with the rest of the opposition well strung out and the runner-up finished an excellent second at Ascot subsequently to confirm the value of the form. Heather Honey keeps defying the handicapper having started her winning run from a mark of 82 at Newcastle a year ago, so a 6lb rise for her latest win is far from certain to end her fine run.

15:20 Unibet Middle Distance Veterans’ Handicap Chase Final 2m 3f 203y

Both previous winners of this race were 10-year-olds and there is a definite correlation between age (or lack thereof) and performance in veterans’ races.

The 2024 winner Numitor has struggled for consistency of late but did shape better last time and is not ruled out from a falling mark, but I find it very hard to ignore the claims of Triple Trade, who has won his only outing in veterans’ company at Sandown when beating a trio of last-time-out winners and is only 2lb higher now, having plied his trade in open handicaps since.

Triple Trade has been far from disgraced in finishing third to Donnacha and Jagwar at Cheltenham and fourth to course specialist Heltenham in the Greatwood Gold Cup at Newbury since his Sandown win, doing his best work late on both occasions.

The handicapper has given him a chance and he looks the clear pick of the weights to me, so should go very well given his consistent nature.

15:55 JCB Fastrac Handicap Chase 2m 3f 203y

Stamina is a slight concern given he’s shown his best form at two miles, but the unexposed Count Adhemar has plenty going for him otherwise and, as a half-brother to a couple of two and a half mile winners who stay further, he really ought to find this trip right up his street.

A sound jumper for one so inexperienced, he has gone close at Ludlow and Newcastle on his last two starts, staying on late both times, and he looks worth another try at this trip having shaped well over it on his chase debut.

He was a weak finisher over hurdles, but his last two starts suggest he can put that tendency behind him, and I’d love to see him get a positive ride to make the most of his bold jumping.

13:25 Virgin Bet A Good Bet Royal Mile Handicap 1m 2y

The Johnston stable have won this for the last four years, and Charlie Johnston saddles likely favourite Vincenzo Peruggia here, so he needs a second look having been absent since finishing down the field in the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood last summer.

On his previous start, he proved three and a half lengths too strong for the reopposing Strength Of Spirit, but now meets that rival – a winner of a Newbury nursery on his only subsequent start – on 10lb worse terms.

That may be a fair reflection of their merits based on the Beverley race where they were first and second, but the winner was able to dictate terms that day and the runner-up is the one who has boosted the form, so he gets the nod with fitness not expected to be an issue on return.

13:55 Livescore Bet Silver Arrow Handicap 7f 15y

This race ought to be named in honour of Gweedore, who has won it twice and was a close second last year and if he can gain a third win, which would represent a seventh at the track where he goes so well, there must be a chance that it will.

I’ll be cheering him on but it has to be a concern that he is drawn next to the other front-runner in the field and I can see he and Goldmoyne getting hooked up in a battle for the lead that could set the race up for a finisher.

I expect that scenario would ideally suit the strong-traveller Midnight Gun, who ran a blinder on last season’s return, faring best of those to race close up with sixth to Godwinson in the Lincoln and again ran well at Doncaster when beaten a nose by Rogue Diplomat over seven furlongs there in October.

Midnight Gun has looked like a mile stretches him on a couple of occasions and this trip in a well-run race is ideal.

He goes well fresh and his trainer is looking for a third win of the season with just his third runner, so he has ticks in all the right boxes and looks certain to go well in a race which is very likely to be run to bring out the best in him.

14:30 Virgin Bet Goliath Cup Stakes (Listed) 1m 5f 216y

Al Qareem is a favourite in these pages and is impossible to oppose down in listed company. His form figures in listed and Group 3 races over the last few years read 11222211312111, and 11311 when confined to listed contests.

There are few more reliable than him in training and he has a clear class edge on his rivals in a race which replaces the Further Flight Stakes that used to be run at Nottingham.

15:05 Virgin Bet Daily Price Boost Queen’s Cup Handicap 1m 5f 216y

It may well prove to be Dan Skelton’s day under both codes as Gambino looks the best handicapped horse in the Queen’s Cup and is also the least exposed. Third to Constitution Hill on his stable debut, he boasts solid form in two runs for Noel Meade on turf, winning on debut and running really well in a competitive handicap at Gowran in August off an opening mark of 82.

He confirmed his wellbeing with that Southwell effort and promises to progress further, so a mark of 83 for his UK turf debut (had a spin over hurdles last time) looks lenient, and he can prove as much by winning here.

15:42 Virgin Bet Scottish Sprint Cup Handicap 5f 1y

Pilgrim is the pick here on his best form, which has all come over five furlongs on turf, with the pick being a Royal Ascot win in the Palace of Holyroodhouse Handicap as a three-year-old.

He’s not won since, but was an impressive winner over this track and trip prior to that career high, and he raced just twice last season, running his better race when runner-up at Ripon on his reappearance.

He’s shaped as if a couple of all-weather runs in recent weeks have been about fine-tuning him for this race, shaping much better than the bare result at Southwell last time and, while he will need luck from the highest draw of all, he is expected to take a big step up returned to his favoured conditions and makes plenty of appeal having fallen back to his last winning mark.

Ice In The Veins 2:12 Haydock – 1pt win at 6/1 (general – 4 places)

Heather Honey 2:46 Haydock – 1pt e/w at 17/2 (Paddy Power; 8/1 general)

Triple Trade 3:20 Haydock – 2pts win at 12/1 (Bet365; 11/1 general)

Midnight Gun 1:55 Musselburgh – 2pts win at 11/4 (general)

Gambino 3:05 Musselburgh – 1pt e/w at 9/2 (general – 4 places)

Pilgrim 3:42 Musselburgh – 2pts win at 7/1 (general)