Sidi at Haydock

     Sidi Ismael runs at Haydock Today

Today we have just the one runner at Haydock, Sidi Ismael.  He runs in the concluding race on their card, the 3.35pm staying handicap chase with Jack Tudor riding.  This is his seasonal reappearance and he does have a good record fresh but he returns to action carrying top weight off a mark of 135 in a competitive looking race so it will be tough.   He is about 10/1 in the betting and he is in good form at home so I wouldn’t put anyone off backing him each way.  He won’t mind the ground and stamina is his forte having finished runner up on his last two starts of last term over 3m4f.  All being well he heads to the Becher Chase over the Grand National fences next month after this.

Yesterday, Neon Moon showed up well for a long way before seemingly getting tired from the second last and finishing fifth.  Jilaijone ran another solid race and had every chance from two out and narrowly failed to keep up his sequence of seconds by a neck!  Off a career high mark it was a another good effort and I am sure we can find him a winning opportunity in the near future.  Meanwhile, over at Chepstow Ben Lilly finished third so his form figures this season read 31313 – hopefully it can be a first again next time!  Jockey Gearoid Harney felt he hated the ground which had become very tacky and hard work.  He would ideally prefer it wetter so he can get through it or probably better in and ideal world.  He still picked up more prize money for the David Pipe Racing Club and gave our members a nice afternoon out.

There is some cracking action for us all to watch this afternoon.  Jumps racing comes from Ascot, Haydock and Huntingdon.  The Betfair Chase is at 3.00pm at Haydock and there may be only four runners but it is a cracking four.  Bravemansgame is the 4/6 favourite and all the talk of recent days has been of course the fact the Harry Cobden heads to Ascot instead of riding this fella.  I think that has been well over hyped – he has some fantastic rides at Ascot and he can’t be in two places at once.  Daryl Jacob is a very good experienced big race jockey who has won this race before and he is a more than able deputy.  Protektorat won this race last year but I have known the Skelton team in better form.  Royal Pagaille is a course winner and the softer the better for him but he might not quite be the force of old although you can’t discount anything Venetia Williams runs at the moment!  Grand National hero Corach Rambler is the outsider of the field and has to bounce back from a disappointing seasonal reappearance.  I find it hard to oppose Bravemansgame in this but I won’t be backing him at that price!

They don’t have big field sizes for any of the races a Ascot but they have good quality throughout the card.  The Coral hurdle, Grade 2 at 2.05pm only have five runners headed by Goschen but I will be interested to see how Blueking D’Oroux gets on.  Jilaijone chased him home at Ascot last time and I think there is more to come from this four year old.  Shishkin returns to action in the Grade 2 chase at 1.30pm as 4/7 favourite.  There are only four runners again but Pic D'Orhy may give him something to think about.  

There are also two flat meetings today at Lingfield and Wolverhampton.  In Ireland they have a great card at Punchestown with the feature Morigana hurdle at 2.35pm.  Another small field of just four runners for this, two for Willie Mullins and two for Gordon Elliott.  Stateman heads the betting and I expect him to make a winning seasonal reappearance.

Premier League football action returns today following the International break and there is a tasty early kick off game between Manchester City and Liverpool at 12.30pm.  Brentford are at home to Arsenal in the 5.30pm kick off, with the pick of the 3pm games probably being Newcastle against Chelsea.

What does the grape say when it’s squashed?

Nothing, it just lets out a little wine!  Have a great day!