Haydock Park stages competitive Saturday card

We’ve previewed the pick of the action with stats and analysis.

The first six races on the card all boast prize funds of £35,000, which is excellent given the current financial issues impacting the sport.

One of the feature races of the day is the Two Mile Hurdle Series Final at 2.05pm. Harry Skelton is chasing a first success in the Jump Jockeys’ Championship and has a number of good rides at the meeting including Vision Du Puy. The six-year-old was a smooth winner at Stratford last month and looks capable of defying a 5lb rise.

His main rivals include Chti Balko is a course and distance winner at the track and Xcitations who scored at Fakenham on his latest start. Top-weight Shantou Express also deserves a mention having finished a good second at Wetherby last time out

The Stayers’ Hurdle Series Final (3.15pm) also looks fiercely competitive with 17 runners going to post. They include Small Present who is unbeaten in his last two starts and looks capable of further improvement along with Regarding Ruth, a winner at Newbury on her latest start in which Iwilldoit and Colonial Dreams were back in second and third.

Ashtown Lad was progressing rapidly before disappointing at Doncaster on his latest run. He has since undergone wind surgery and is a clear danger off top-weight if returning to the form showed when landing two novice hurdles earlier this season. Supakalanistic shaped with plenty of promise at Doncaster last time out and is another to note.

The Challenger Staying Chase (2.40pm) looks another tricky puzzle for punters to solve with Debece a leading player for Dan and Harry Skelton following a solid second at Sandown on his first start for the yard last time out/ Checkitout has to defy top-weight, but has won his last two starts and is another to note along with Crossley Tender who has run a number of fine runs in defeat this term.

Strictlyadancer was third to Crossley Tender at Exeter last time out and has undergone wind surgery since that effort, making him a noteworthy player. Defuture Is Bright is another interesting contender having finished first at Fakenham in March, along with Silva Eclipse, a scorer at Sedgefield last month.

Across the rest of the card, The Bay Birch seeks to defy top-weight in the Mares’ Chase Final (3.50pm). The 10-year-old scored at Leicester in February, before finishing second at the same venue last time out. Kapga De Lily has won five of her six starts this term, including when scoring by seven lengths at Fontwell in March.

Rose Of Aghaboe is an ultra-progressive mare and scored at Warwick in February, before finding three miles and five furlongs too far at the same venue last time out.

Haydock Selections

1.00pm Emmpressive Lady

1.30pm Five Star Getaway

2.05pm Vision Du Puy

2.40pm Debece

3.15pm Small Present

3.50pm Kapga De Lily

4.25pm Manwell

Tips and analysis via BettingExpert