Haydock, Warwick Runners

Above: Panic Attack contests the Long Distance Hurdle at Haydock this afternoon
Image courtesy of Kay Hornbrook

It's just like a Bank Holiday with seven meetings taking place this afternoon.  The action comes from Nottingham, Hexham and Warwick over jumps, Lingfield, Ascot and Thirsk on the flat, whilst there is a mixed meeting from Haydock.  David has four runners today; Panic Attack, Neon Moon and Bashful Boy at Haydock and Dances On The Sand at Warwick.  We are doubly represented in the Long Distance handicap hurdle at Haydock at 2.25pm with Panic Attack and Neon Moon.  Panic Attack ran out a brave winner of a Listed hurdle at Cheltenham over 2m4f last time out and is 4lbs higher this afternoon.  She stays this trip and looks to have a good each-way chance in a competitive race with Tom Scudamore in the saddle.  Neon Moon enjoyed a productive season last term, winning three times at upto 2m5½f.  He looks likely to be suited by this longer trip and whilst he is 6lbs higher and in a more competitive race, he may not have finished improving yet.  Fergus Gillard takes 3lbs off his back.

Bashful Boy contests the Swinton handicap hurdle at 3.00pm.  He produced a tremendous performance when just touched off in the Sussex Champion Hurdle at Plumpton last time.  He is 3lbs higher today, but the likely end-to-end gallop should suit him well and he only has 10-3 less Philip Armson's 5lbs claim.  He will be a big price, but is a lively outsider.

Our final runner is Dances On The Sand who runs in the 2m NH maiden hurdle at Warwick at 5.45pm.  He improved for his debut effort when third at Chepstow last time out and hopefully he can progress again tonight.  David Noonan is in the saddle and he has place claims, although the bookies will only pay out on the first two home.

Cleveland ran out a narrow winner of the Chester Cup yesterday under a great ride from Ryan Moore to negotiate the traffic and land the valuable staying prize.  The horse was stepping up a mile in trip on his handicap debut, so it was quite an extraordinary performance from Aidan O'Brien's four year old.  With an Ascot Gold Cup entry to his name, I really should have taken the hint!

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With the Premiership coming down to the wire, this is possibly the most important weekend so far.  Liverpool face far from an easy task as they host Spurs this afternoon, whilst Manchester City face Newcastle tomorrow, fresh from their heartbreaking loss in the Champions League.

In something of a surprise, George Russell was quickest in his Mercedes in free practice ahead of this week's Miami Grand Prix, whilst world champion Max Verstappen struggled with reliability.  Qualifying gets underway today and will give a better indication of the merits of where each team stands and of the actual gains made by Mercedes.

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When is a door not a door?  When it's ajar.