A DEPLETED race programme on a Saturday in January is not where you would necessarily first turn to find Cheltenham clues, but Haydock Park last weekend ended up more than making up for the cancellation of racing at Ascot and Taunton on the same day due to frozen conditions.

Two of the winning efforts at the Merseyside track were out of the ordinary and could well have a bearing on events at the festival in two months’ time.