Sean Flanagan’s William Hill blog: A winner at Haydock? Yeah Man!

First trip to Haydock

I’ve been lucky enough to ride at some of the nicer tracks in Britain, but Haydock Park was one that was on the list that I hadn’t ridden at so I’m looking forward to going there as I’ve got two nice rides as well which is always a big help.

Unfortunately I won’t be flying myself over. I was going to when I saw I was booked up to ride, but the first thing I did was check the weather and it was not favourable so I’ve had to book an Aer Lingus flight over. That is part and parcel of being a pilot like myself that if the weather is not in your favour you just don’t go.

I actually went for a spin in the plane on Monday. It is brilliant when you are so busy and have a lot going on just to get up in the plane. I did my work in the morning then I rocked down to the airfield and hopped into the plane for a spin.

Haydock, Saturday

Yeah Man (3.15pm)

He has got a big chance as the trip and ground will be right up his street. He is probably well enough treated by the handicapper and both of his last two runs have been in Britain. He looked to be finishing to quite an effect on his last run and he was only beaten by three quarters of a length. He came from a bit off the pace that day, but he was doing his best work at the end.

Emma Lavelle’s horse (My Silver Lining) that won the Classic Chase on his last run I think from looking at it appears the one to beat. It is a competitive enough contest, but I think he has a nice enough weight and some things will be more in his favour compared to his last run over in Britain.

He does deserve to win a race like this as his second last run, when he tipped up at the last, he might have won, but it was a kind of do or die thing and he was just a bit long and knuckled over the back of it. Generally he is quite a good jumper. He has got cheekpieces on for the first time as he can get a little bit far back early on in his races and that is why he came from off the pace the last day. I think cheekpieces might just help him travel a bit better early on and allow him to get in much closer position during the early part of the contest.

I would imagine the Irish Grand National would be on his radar later in the season if there was a bit of dig in the ground. He actually rides like a horse that might suit a Grand National fence. He could be one that is trained with the Grand National in mind next season, but I’m looking forward to riding him here and I think he has a big chance with plenty in his favour.

Now Is The Hour (4.25pm)

He was going to be quite a good winner of a lot stronger contest at Limerick in December, until he fell at the second last, than the race he did win the last day at Fairyhouse, which he still ended up winning well. He won, and was also placed, in a Point-to-Point over three miles so I think the marked step up in trip will be a big help to him. He does jump well, but I feel when the race unfolds over the shorter trips everything just happens a bit too fast for him and his jumping in the latter stages of a race tends to fall apart a little bit.

I think this step up in trip will give him a big chance on the jumping front. He will handle the ground and he is in there with a chance. I rode him on his first start over hurdles back in July, but that was on good ground, and he was eighth that day then he was ninth on his next start, which was also on decent ground. He just wants a bit of dig in the ground. The ground at Limerick was heavy when he tipped up and the ground at Fairyhouse was also pretty soft as well so those first two efforts when he was well held was simply down to the ground.

He is fully entitled to take his chance and his form figures probably read worse than what they are. He is worthy of the journey over. Sometimes horses travel over as a companion to another, but he is going there to take his chance.

Punchestown, Sunday

Heyjoe De Kerser (2.05pm)

I had a jump over a couple of fences on him on Thursday morning. He is a horse that has good form around the likes of Navan and real staying tracks. He is slow, but I think jumping a fence will bring out the best of him as he does jump quite well. I think we might see a better side of him here because we are jumping fences.

It’s not a bad contest, and Senior Chief has obviously got a very good chance as does Jimmy Chou Pecos AA, but this lad is entitled to run a good race and he could be placed in a race like this. He is a big raw horse and they have just taken their time with him more than anything else.

He seems to be in good fettle and after schooling him he seems like he is coming along well. I think slowing things down for this lad over fences will help him as it just happened a bit too fast over hurdles early on for him. He just struggled to keep up early on over hurdles before staying on strong and I think going over fences will bring everything back into play for him.

Regina Dracones (2.35pm)

She has a got a lovely weight and she is there with a chance as she will enjoy the trip and the ground. Her last run was disappointing but she ran well earlier in the season in a Listed race at Clonmel over a shorter trip behind Allegorie De Vassy. If she was to get back to that level of form then she would have a chance. This kind of trip is what she wants.

If you go back to the middle of the season before last she won a couple of races on the trot and she did the same the season before that as well. She does do things quite well when things are in her favour. She probably just needs everything to right for her.

I’ve not ridden for Thomas (Gibney, trainer) for a while but I popped in there a couple of weeks ago to ride out and it is great to be riding one for him.

Cut The Rope (3.40pm)

He shaped up to be a lovely horse after winning his bumper first time out. His first run over hurdles was good and in his second run over hurdles at Gowran Park he was shaping well but then he tipped up at the last. He then had a disappointing run the last day, but I think that fall left a bit of a mark on him as he jumped a bit carefully at Naas. He has had a little bit of time off and it seems like he is in a better place at home.

It is an open enough contest, but Willie (Mullins) has one down at the bottom (Paggane) that will take all the beating, however this lad is fully entitled to pick up a place. I think things are starting to fall the right way for him. I don’t think the ground will inconvenience him much and hopefully he will get his career back on track.