Haydock Saturday Preview - 21/11/20

The first race of the day at Haydock on Saturday is the Listed Novice Hurdle and the impressive Flic Ou Voyou is certainly the horse to beat.

The Paul Nicholls trained Gelding has done nothing but improve this season landing a hat-trick of wins last time out at Wincanton, when beating a small field with ease.

Having been smart last term, he has improved massively with his wins at Chepstow and Newton Abbot this term, being just as good as his last win.

He steps up to Listed company today having been overly impressive in handicaps and if he stays on the upward curve he should win this.

The staying Handicap Chase looks a hot race and we believe we have found a nice bit of value with Snow Leopardess for Charlie Longsdon.

Champion Jockey Brian Hughes takes the ride which is a bonus with him in flying form and this gelding has shown on her two starts this term that she holds plenty of ability.

The eight year old mare went to Bangor for her chasing debut having been a smart hurdler and she finished a good third behind likeable type The Butcher Said for Olly Murphy.

She used that run to improve again over three miles at Wetherby in a Novices' Chase where she finished second behind the smart Shan Blue for Dan Skelton which looks remarkable form.

The Graduation Chase sees some familiar horses take to post and the Nigel Twiston-Davies trained Good Boy Bobby looks overpriced in this market.

The seven year old gelding who is now owned by Simon Munir and Isaac Souede bounced back to form last time out at Bangor when winning an Intermediate Chase.

Last season he mixed it in better company and had some nice form finishing second to Brewin'upastorm at Carlisle before getting off the mark for the season at the Charlie Hall Chase meeting at Wetherby.

He also showed some nice form at Cheltenham's December meeting when a narrow second to Mister Fisher in a Novices' Chase and if backing up his seasonal debut has to be respected.

The big handicap hurdle over 2 miles 2 1/2 furlongs sees a huge field of smart runners go to post and the horse that takes the eye is the Ben Pauling trained Shakem Up'Arry.

The six year old gelding owned by the ex football manager Harry Redknapp has shown smart form in his career to date in both bumpers and over hurdles.

The six year old last term finished second over hurdles twice behind some strong types like Mister Coffey and Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner Shishkin.

He, himself went into the Supreme but was well outclassed but got back to form last time out on seasonal debut in a decent Novices' Hurdle at Ffos Las.

He obviously holds plenty of potential and in this handicap sphere, going off a nice mark he can not be discounted.

One of the feature events on the Haydock card is the Grade Three Stayers' Handicap Hurdle over three miles and we are siding with the well backed Relegate.

The seven year old has had the potential to be a smart horse but has not shown her best efforts on a few occasions which has made slightly inconsistent.

However, on the best of her form she is a live player in this event winning the 2018 Champion Bumper for Willie Mullins and finishing a good fifth of 24 runners at the Cheltenham festival last season in the three mile Pertemps Handicap Hurdle.

She has shown in her career that she handles three miles in a big field and after a good return on seasonal debut at Navan she is set up perfectly to go close in this one.

On Saturday the feature race of the entire day is the Grade One Betfair Chase and we can't look past the favourite Lostintranslation for Colin Tizzard.

The son of Flemensfirth has been a superb stable star for the yard over the last few seasons, picking up Grade One wins and mixing it with the best chasers in the sport.

The eight year old last season was fancied to run a big race in the Gold Cup and he did when finishing a close third behind dual winner Al Boum Photo and Nicky Henderson's Santini.

Before that the chaser started his season off at Carlisle when landing the Intermediate Chase in fine style which set him up perfectly for a tilt at the Betfair Chase against two time winner Bristol De Mai.

Having the run under his belt made the difference as he went on to stay on better than the Nigel Twiston-Davies horse up the straight and it saw him land his first black type event out of novice company.

He then headed to Kempton on Boxing Day for the King George VI Chase and nothing went right for him throughout the race with his jumping ultimately letting him down and he was pulled up before the finish.

Having been raced frequently before that, Tizzard then gave him some time off and he was next seen in the Gold Cup where he managed to place and overall gave a superb performance.

He is said to be in fine form ahead of his seasonal debut and he is the rightful favourite for the event, being the one to beat.

The final runner of the day for us at Haydock comes in the 3 miles 4 furlongs Stayers Handicap Chase and Fortified Bay for Jennie Candlish could outrun his odds.

The eight year old gelding has been a likeable horse for the yard winning twice over fences last term at Market Rasen and Newcastle.

He made his return at Carlisle in a staying event in November and finished a fair fourth of 12 in heavy conditions, he will be much fitter for the race and getting nicer conditions today can see him go close at a double figure price.