Barry Geraghty’s William Hill blog: Chance Hyland to return to winning ways

William Hill ambassador Barry Geraghty previews the second day of the William Hill Showcase meeting from Cheltenham and also has a selection for Sunday’s William Hill Old Roan Chase from Aintree.

Cheltenham, Saturday

The William Hill Each Way Extra Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (1:10pm) opens the card and here I like CREST OF FORTUNE. He was third in the Grade 1 Sefton on his final start last season and before that was a winner over two-and-a-half miles at Ayr. He was a model of consistency last season, winning twice and placing four times in his six starts, and I think he’s still open to plenty of improvement.

CONMAN JOHN put up a nice performance to win on his reappearance at Kelso, and I think he will enjoy this step up in trip in the Play William Hill’s Final One Standing Novices’ Hurdle (1:45pm). His point-to-point form has worked out really well – he beat Daydream Nation by 20 lengths, and that horse won his maiden impressively at Gowran recently. I think he looks a horse with lots of potential.

HYLAND is the one I like in the William Hill Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap Chase (2:20pm). He was a winner at Cheltenham in both October and November last year and he jumped brilliantly on those occasions. He was also second in Grade 1 company last season, when finishing behind The Jukebox Man in the Kauto Star, but I think he looks to prefer Cheltenham to Kempton. He should still be on an upward curve, I’m just hoping it doesn’t rain too much for him.

The Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle (2:55pm) is typically competitive. It’s always worth taking a note of Emmet Mullins’ runners and CHANCE ANOTHER ONE is interesting. He won impressively over fences at Ballinrobe last time. Prior to that he probably over raced a little when finishing second over hurdles at Galway, but had been a wide-margin winner at Ballinrobe the time before. I think he’s a horse that is still the right side of the handicapper and he could be a good each-way play in a very open and tricky race.

GIVE IT TO ME OJ is the obvious one in the Masterson Holdings Hurdle (3:30pm). He put in a good performance to win at Sandown at the end of last season and since then has been kept on the go on the Flat, winning twice at Epsom. On form and ratings he should be up to winning this.

Pied Piper probably sets the standard on form in the William Hill Extra Places With Bog ‘Chasing Excellence’ Novices’ Chase (4:05pm), but he’s not the most consistent and the same can be said about Anyway. INTENSE APPROACH has some good course form to his name and put in a nice performance to win on his chase debut in Galway, so he could be the one to side with.

Aintree, Sunday

There’s Grade 2 action at Aintree on Sunday with the William Hill Old Roan Limited Handicap Chase (2:55pm). BOOMBAWN was only beaten three-and-a-half lengths by Impaire Et Passe in the Grade 1 Manifesto Novices’ Chase over this course and distance last season. After that he disappointed slightly at Sandown, but he had had a busy time and was probably only running again quickly with Dan Skelton trying to win the Trainers’ Championship. Going left-handed seems to suit him, and he should be up to putting in a strong performance back at Aintree.