Barry Geraghty
Barry Geraghty’s William Hill blog: Time for Haiti to show his true Couleurs At Haydock
William Hill ambassador Barry Geraghty previews the best of Saturday’s racing from Haydock, Ascot and Punchestown and looks ahead to Sunday’s Grade 1 John Durkan.
Haydock, Saturday
Haydock’s card opens with the Grade 2 Newton Novices’ Hurdle (12:08pm), where the one that I like is MASKED MAN. Visually he was very impressive, when jumping well and winning by 12 lengths on hurdling debut at Chepstow, though he looked as if he would still improve for that experience. The runner-up has gone on to win since, giving the form a good look to it. Sticktotheplan also looked good when winning the Persian War at Chepstow last time, but it’s a negative that the runner-up from that race disappointed last time, and I’d rather side with Masked Man.
In the Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle (2:25pm), I’m going to stick with NAVAJO INDY, who I tipped at Cheltenham a few weeks ago. He ran well to finish second but looked to get to the front sooner than ideal on his return. He steps up to three miles here, which around Haydock I’d say should suit him well. His form from Newbury last season, where he was third behind Joyeuse in the William Hill Hurdle is strong. While he won on his reappearance last season, he improved from that for his second start, so that bodes well for his chances here. At double-figure odds, he looks to be decent value too.
We were against Grey Dawning in the Betfair Chase (3:00pm) and I am taking him on again. He’s been beaten on all of his three seasonal debuts, including by Royale Pagaille in this race last season. Royale Pagaille is brilliant around Haydock but he is now an 11-year-old, and the ground might not be soft enough for him on Saturday. HAITI COULEURS improved with each run last season and was a winner on his reappearance over hurdles at Newbury a few weeks ago. He improved from his seasonal debut last season when putting in a big performance to win at Aintree on his next start, so I’d say there’s potential for a good bit of improvement from his Newbury run. With the sort of performance he put in in the Irish Grand National last season, he’s clearly a horse that is on the up and he is the one I’d like to be with.
Ascot, Saturday
Ascot’s Grade 2 1965 Chase (1:30pm) looks a deep race. The performance Il EST FRANCAIS produced in the King George, when just getting caught by Banbridge, was a brilliant effort. Of course, he ran a huge race the year before at Kempton when winning the Kauto Star, recording a time four seconds faster than the King George on the card. On that evidence, you could argue that flat tracks suit him, but he’s won eight times from 11 starts around Auteuil and that’s a long gruelling straight, so if he can stay around there, then I think he can at Ascot. He’s also won on his last three seasonal debuts and is arguably best when fresh. The fact he is getting weight from all his rivals here, despite being top-rated, is another positive for him.
In a similar vein, with WODHOOH being close to top-rated but getting all the weight from her rivals, she looks the one to side with in the Grade 2 Ascot Hurdle (2:40pm). She has only been beaten once in her last eight starts over hurdles and that was by Lossiemouth in a Grade 1 at Aintree, so she’s a winning machine. She’s only five and there’s every chance she will have improved again from last season.
The two-mile one-furlong handicap chase (3:15pm) looks a tricky race to call, but the one I was drawn to was GABRIEL’S GETAWAY. He was a close second to Teddy Blue, who is currently favourite here, over this course and distance last time, when he stayed on well from the rear of the field. He came from a long way back that day and I think he has potential to improve on that effort.
Punchestown, Saturday
There’s some top action in Ireland too, and in the Grade 2 Florida Pearl Novice Chase (1:05pm) I thought OSCARS BROTHER was interesting. He has showed good improvement in his first few runs over fences, finishing second at Listowel and then improving to beat O’Moore Park at Galway last time. O’Moore Park finished third behind Caldwell Potter in the Jack Richards Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, so he is no slouch. Oscars Brother caught my eye at Listowel on his second start over fences, when I thought he was given time to find his feet, and then put in a strong performance in Galway. I think he has potential to build on that.
The Grade 1 Morgiana Hurdle (2:10pm) is all about LOSSIEMOUTH. Her career record stands at 11 from 14, and she should be different class to these rivals. However, I think the outsider of the field, Glen Kiln, could be the one to chase her home. He was on the way to winning at Grade 3 in Tipperary when unseating at the last. He won well on his last start at Punchestown and should really be three from three since joining trainer Harry Kelly. At a fancy price he’s worth including in a forecast.
Punchestown, Sunday
Sunday’s Grade 1 John Durkan (3:00pm) is a cracking contest. Gaelic Warrior took several starts to get going last season, and I think FACT TO FILE’s Cheltenham form from March would be above anything Gaelic Warrior has achieved. Fastorslow is mustard around Punchestown but he was beaten into fourth behind Fact To File in this race last year. Inothewayurthinkin was also well beaten in this last year and should improve for the run. A reproduction of his win last year would make Fact To File hard to beat again.
