Thanks at Haydock

      Thanksforthehelp runs at Haydock

Today we have just the one runner, Thanksforthehelp at Haydock.  He runs in the first race on the card, the long distance handicap hurdle at 1.35pm and Jack Tudor rides.  I see he is 9/2 favourite at present and hopefully he has a good chance.  He was sent of favourite for the Pertemps Final at the Cheltenham Festival but didn't get much luck in running.  He ran better than his finishing position suggested and duly bounced back to form by winning a novice event at Southwell last time.  He actually got dropped one pound to 127 for that win so I think there is definitely scope for improvement off his current mark.  It is a valuable prize money contest and it is a competitive field of 17 as you would expect.  The ground might be slightly quicker than ideal but he will handle it okay and I don't think he will be far away.

We were due to have two runners today with Free Chakarte declared to run at Leicester on the flat but she is now a non-runnner and so this just leaves us with our sole representative this afternoon at Haydock, Thanksforthehelp.

The Haydock card is a mixed card with flat and jumps races and good quality action under both codes.  The Swinton hurdle over two miles is at 3.15pm and his is another competitive affair.  Brentford Hope and Byker head the betting for this race.  The latter trained by Charles Byrnes finished second in the Boodles juvenile hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival on his last run and would be my tentative selection for this race receiving a handy 6lb four year old allowance from his elders and his jockey claiming another five pounds off as well. 

There is also jumps racing at Hexham and Warwick this afternoon with plenty of flat action as well.  They race on the flat at Ascot, Lingfield, Nottingham, and Leicester.  In Ireland they have a flat meeting at Navan.  The card at Lingfield was due to be run on the turf but with all the recent rain it have been switched to the all-weather surface.  They have the Oaks and Derby trials and the different power houses have the favourites for both races.  The Aidan O'Brien/Ryan Moore team have the favourite for the Oaks, Be Happy and the Godolphin horse Military Order for Charlie Appleby/William Buick team heads the betting for the Derby trial.  The Oaks trial is due off at 3.00pm and the Derby trial at 3.35pm.   

Another horse to look out for racing this afternoon is Quid Pro Quo who runs in the 6.55pm at Warwick this evening.  Fergus Gillard is on board the JP McManus owned, Dan Skelton trained horse and he is 4/5 favourite to follow up his win at Southwell last time.  It is nice that Fergus gets to keep the ride having won on the gelding last time and hopefully it will be a double for the green and gold hoops today!

There are six Premiership football matches on today and there will be some family rivalry as my team, Manchester United play my nan's team, Wolverhampton Wanderers at 3pm.  Normally I cheer on Wolves, but sorry nan, not today!  The early kick off game is Leeds United against Newcastle at 12.30pm.  It will be interesting to see the bottom of the table after todays games which involves a lot of teams in the relegation battle.

I tripped over in France.  Eiffel over.  Have a good day!