Betfair Fixed Brush Hurdle

This was won last year by Aubusson which was the 2nd winner for Nick Williams in the last 6 years, David Pipe had won 3 in this time whilst Tim Easterby had also won once. Tim Easterby doesn’t have a representative this year whilst David Pipe has 2 in Batavir and Low Key and Nick Williams has 1 with last years Lanzarote Hurdle winner Tea For Two.

Batavir was backed into 8/1 favourite for the Listed handicap hurdle at Cheltenham last week but despite travelling well for most of the race he failed to pick up like a lot of David Pipe’s horses at Cheltenham last week and being turned out again just 7 days later would be a worry.

Low Key is certainly interesting having won the Cesarewitch Trial at Newmarket on the flat before then running ok in the main event. He came back hurdling when finishing 3rd behind Brother Tedd and Silviniaco Conti at Kempton. Rated 135 he didn’t finish that far behind both those in front of him and he comes here off the same mark but has the assistance of up and coming 7lb conditional David Noonan and this means he is effectively 7lb lower than his last run. He is fit unlike most of the Pipe yard due to his exploits on the flat and he could going close here.

Nick Williams has entered Tea For Two who was an easy winner of the Lanzarote Hurdle last year before finishing 2nd to a decent sort in a Novice hurdle and then flopping in the Albert Bartlett. Having made a satisfactory reappearance in the Silver Trophy at Chepstow (the same race that Aubusson ran in before winning here). He’s dropped from his high mark of 153 down to 141 and Lizzie Kelly takes 5lb off which she couldn’t in both the Novice hurdle and Albert Bartlett last season. This means he is only 9lb higher than winning easily at Kempton and he could run a big race and a return to that Kempton form would see him very tough to beat.

Alcala is interesting running here having only run last week but in a Grade 2 event at Cheltenham. Having been well beaten he has his sights lowered here and sneaks into the handicap off just 126. He’s very lightly raced still and Sean Bowen rides Haydock well and if last weeks race hasn’t left any effects then he should go very close. Paul Nicholls hasn’t had a runner in this race since 2011 where he had a disappointing 5/1 favourite in Robinsons Collonges.

Yala Enki could be anything, having finished 2nd on British debut for in form Venetia Williams he was put away for the summer before making his return at Exeter when winning a competitive looking novice hurdle by 16 lengths. He’s been allocated a mark of 130 and with Venetia in such good form this could be a lenient mark. If this race doesn’t come too soon for him then he should run well.

Closing Ceremony is an interesting contender in this race, despite carrying top weight he could still be feasibly handicapped here. He has only had 11 races but some of these were of the highest quality including when winning the Rendlesham in February of this year. This was over 3m here at Haydock where his form reads 111. He came back late last month when finishing 5th of 9 (he was well beaten on reappearance last season) at Wetherby however it’s unclear how fit he was that day. With the drop in distance likely to suit this front runner he may be hard to pass and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he outclassed these.

Betfair Chase

The Betfair Chase has only attracted 5 runners however they are all very smart. Cue Card, Dynaste, Ballynagour and Holywell all contested the Charlie Hall Chase with Cue Card coming out on top whilst Silviniaco Conti contested a handicap hurdle with this race surely his target.

The Betfair Chase has been won twice by Silviniaco Conti in the last 3 years with Cue Card winning in 2013 with Silviniaco Conti back in 3rd.

When Silviniaco Conti won in 2012 he had already had a run and won at Wetherby and again in 2014 he had already had a run albeit only 5th at Wetherby. In 2013 came to Haydock without a run and this could well have been the reason he was beaten. His form first time out reads 131352 whilst his 2nd time out reads 11111 and it may be that he needs a run to get fully fit. With a small handicap hurdle under his belt and not a hard race in the Charlie Hall like his rivals it would be no surprise should he win this comfortably.