Haydock Saturday Preview - 20/11/21

The first selection of the afternoon comes in the Listed Newton Novices' Hurdle over two miles and Might I looks a very impressive individual for Harry Fry.

The gelding was a very smart winner of a bumper in December last year on debut at Warwick, seeing off 17 runners and off the back of that put up another smart performance at Newbury in February.

He finished a close fifth of 11 that day, with the form of the race being one of the best pieces of form seen this season, with the second, third and fourth since winning good races.

Might I extended the form line of that race when bolting up on hurdles debut this season at Newton Abbot and if improving from that run he looks the one to beat stepping up into Listed company.

Next up is the Stayers' Handicap Chase over 3m4f and we fancy the outsider of the field Speak Of The Devil to run a big race at a double figure price.

The eight year old son of Mahler has been three times already this season, making his seasonal debut in May at Hexham over three miles when a good second and then backing that up over the same course and distance in June when getting off the mark.

Given a break he returned at Carlisle in October and put up a superb performance to finish a length second over 3m2f and this extra distance should suit him perfectly.

Strong stayer.

A nice looking handicap hurdle over 2m3f comes next and Harry Fry fields the exciting Our Surprise who looks to be weighted to go close.

The six year old gelding made his hurdles debut in March last season finishing a good second behind a nice type for Colin Tizzard.

On his final start of last season he got off the mark in taking style when landing a Maiden Hurdle by close to 10 lengths.

Back for another season he looked to need the run when fourth of nine at Fontwell on seasonal debut, but last time he was back to somewhere near his best when up in trip at Wetherby, finishing a close second behind a smart individual.

He runs off only 3lb higher in this field and his mark of 123 looks extremely lenient.

The Graduation Chase over 2m 5 1/2f sees a superb small field go to post and they look to all have to beat Paul Nicholls superstar Bravemansgame.

The Grade One winning hurdler took to chasing in impressive fashion last time out at Newton Abbot, jumping a near perfect round whilst making all from the front.

He's entitled to come on for the run with it having been his first start in six months and the form of his first start over fences has been franked with Fussil Raffles landing the Grade Two Charlie Hall Chase next time out.

Bravemansgame has been waiting for the season he steps over fences and at the moment looks extremely tough to beat.

The Grade Three Stayers' Handicap Hurdle every year throws out some lovely horses and this season we think the each way value lies with the Irish raider Doctor Duffy.

The eight year old has been seen frequently over both fences and hurdles during his career to date, but this season looks to have been primed for this event.

Dropping back down to hurdles for his seasonal debut having been over fences last term, he finished a good second behind the Willie Mullins trained Stratum in a 2m7f hurdle event at Thurles.

That run should have put him spot on for this event and with some runners unproven over this trip, he looks a solid contender to hit the frame.

Charles Byrnes does not bring many over to Haydock and it looks a shrewd move.

The feature event of the afternoon is the Grade One Betfair Chase and the Irish raider A Plus Tard could be very tough to beat if fully tuned up.

The seven year old has been a superb horse during his career, really bouncing onto the scene in 2019 when taking the old Novices' Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham festival.

Two seasons he again put up another superb performance at Leopardstown over Christmas, when becoming one of the very few horses to beat Chacun Pour Soi in a Grade One.

He went to Cheltenham off the back of that run in the Ryanair and when punted to run a big race, could only finish third behind Min.

Last term, he made his seasonal debut in the two mile Grade Two Fortria Chase at Navan, where he was narrowly beaten by Castlegrace Paddy.

It was obvious that two miles was not his trip and De Bromhead last time out sent him over three miles for the first time in his career and didn't half suit him.

In the Grade One Savills Chase he came from a long way back off the pace to snatch victory at Leopardstown.

He headed into the Gold Cup with a huge chance and in the end ran a valiant race in second just being seen off by stablemate Minella Indo who outstayed him on the day.

The gelding returns for his seasonal debut in this event and is said to be in top shape at home.

The final runner of the afternoon for us comes in the Handicap Chase over 3m 1 1/2f and Strictlyadancer is turned around quickly after his superb win at Cheltenham's November meeting.

The seven year old looks the one to beat near the foot of the weights having won with something in hand at the October meeting and then again improved last time out over the same course and distance to win cosily.

He has gone up another 7lb for that win but obviously in fine fettle he has a big chance to land a lovely hat-trick for Christian Williams, who is also in good form.