Haydock Grand National Trial Day Betting Tips

There is a fascinating seven-race card at Haydock for punters to look forward to on Saturday and the ITV cameras are in town for three live races on Haydock’s Grand National Trials day.

We provide a selection in each of those, plus the four on the undercard, for what promises to be a cracking afternoon of racing in Merseyside.

12:55 - Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle (Pertemps Hurdle Series Qualifier) (3m½f)

It is often handy to have lower-weighted runners on your side in Pertemps Final qualifiers, with those near the top of the handicap potentially protecting their marks ahead of the Cheltenham Festival. From the foot of the weights, I Am Max looks the one to be on here for Sandy Thomson. Strong finishes over shorter trips have been a recurring theme of I Am Max’s last few runs. He arrives following a big career best at this course in January when he arguably should have won (suffered late inference) and he should thrive for this new distance. Still unexposed, there should be much more to come.

Selection: I Am Max

13:28 - Victor Ludorum Juvenile Hurdle (1m7½f)

James Owen is crafting a reputation as a top trainer of juvenile hurdlers and Lavender Hill Mob stands out in the Victor Ludorum. From a ratings perspective Lavender Hill Mob has the beating of his leading stablemate East India Dock on the Flat, but he’s taken a little longer to warm to the hurdling game. However, he produced a more polished jumping performance at Warwick last time and looks the type to keep progressing in this sphere.

Selection: Lavender Hill Mob

14:05 - Middle Distance Chase Series Veterans’ Handicap Chase (2m4f)

This is an eyecatchingly quick turnaround for Whistleinthedark, who ran a cracker when second to Le Milos last Saturday at Warwick, and he is strongly fancied to strike while the iron is hot in this veterans’ race. That was seemingly Le Milos’s big target for the season and Whistleinthedark produced his best effort in defeat for some time. This slightly quicker surface should play to his strengths, and he is receiving weight from several horses he was rated much higher than not long ago.

Selection: Whistleinthedark

14:40 - Rendlesham Hurdle (Grade 2, 3m½f)

Nemean Lion has long been giving the impression that three-mile hurdles will be his game and he belatedly gets that opportunity in the Rendlesham. Having placed in a 1m7f Group 2 on Arc weekend when trained by Andre Fabre on the Flat, Nemean Lion is expected to cope with this extra yardage and could hardly arrive in better form after back-to-back successes at Hereford and Windsor. This consistent sort can emerge as one of Britain’s biggest chances in Cheltenham’s Stayers’ Hurdle next month.

Selection: Nemean Lion

15:15 - Grand National Trial Handicap Chase (3m4½f)

Famous Bridge was sent off the 9-2 joint-favourite for the Grand National Trial last season but unseated at the 17th when moving nicely into contention - redemption may be in the offing. Famous Bridge will renew a rivalry with last year’s winner, Yeah Man, off 12lb better terms and will get a proper stamina test for the first time since that Aintree run. First-time cheekpieces may just sharpen him up and his past two runs have been promising enough.

Selection: Famous Bridge

15:50 - Albert Bartlett Prestige Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2, 3m½f)

Moon Rocket looked unlucky not to be awarded Doncaster’s River Don in the stewards’ room after being impeded on the run-in and he holds every chance of adding this Grade 2 to his CV for Kim Bailey and Mat Nicholls. The son of Doyen looks a thorough stayer who is on a sharp upward curve and that was a top performance considering he was the youngest runner in the field. The fact he escapes the penalty he arguably should be carrying gives him an even better shout.

Selection: Moon Rocket

16:23 - Walrus Open Hunters’ Chase (2m6f)

Hunter chasing can often revitalise an older horse whose powers are on the wane and Jet Plane bolted up on his first start in this type of race a fortnight ago at Wetherby under today’s rider, Heidi Palin. This looks a good opportunity for him to double up and it is not as if he had been notably on the decline anyway. He began his season with an excellent third behind progressive novice Jagwar (now favourite for the Cheltenham Festival novice handicap) and he simply contested much better races on his next two outings. Still only nine, Jet Plane can keep up the good work.

Selection: Jet Plane

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Odds correct at time of publication but subject to fluctuation