Paul Ferguson has four selections for us on Saturday including Wuff in the Haydock 3.50. Compare odds and bet.
It’s top class stuff all the way on Saturday, with the pick of the domestic action coming from Haydock as the Merseyside track stages a stellar card.
The Peter Marsh Chase looks extremely competitive, while the feature Champion Hurdle Trial looks a cracking match-up between Ptit Zig and Melodic Rendezvous.
The former arrives here at the top of his game, having finished runner-up in the Ladbroke last time, whereas Jeremy Scott’s stable-star returns on the back of a disappointing effort in the Fighting Fifth.
Clearly not right at Newcastle, he could easily put it up to the market leader on his favoured soft ground, assuming he’s back in top shape. There is a chance, however, this will come a bit quickly for him (was talk of him waiting for the Betfair in three weeks) so the race is best watched.
Earlier Taquin Du Seuil is a worthy favourite for the Grade 2 novice chase and, should he reproduce his testing ground form from earlier in the season, he will take some stopping.
But, O’Faolains Boy (1:30) also relishes such conditions, he should have come on a lot for his chasing debut at Ascot, and is given the nod, in receipt of 7lbs.
Rebecca Curtis’s seven-year-old appeared to blow up on his seasonal reappearance (first start for over 9 months) and he is worth chancing at 2/1 with Bet Victor and Coral.
The Supreme Trial sees the British debut of David Pipe’s very expensive purchase Un Temps Pour Tout and, though the testing ground will be in his favour, the five-year-old looked in need of further when reviewing his French form.
Again, at the prices, a chance is taken on northern novice Meadowcroft Boy (2:05) who looked really smart when making a winning debut on soft ground at Carlisle.
Unbeaten in a couple of bumpers, the son of Kayf Tara faces much stiffer opposition here, but he should relish conditions and could well put up a bold show for the Whillans’. The selection was available at 5/1 with BetVictor last night.
The concluding ‘fixed brush’ novices’ hurdle looks a decent event and sees a couple of nice types coming together. Sue Smith’s Straidnahanna is a useful long-term prospect, but will probably fair better over further and in handicaps, while Wuff (3:50) is the one in the line-up who could well be better than a handicapper.
An imposing individual, he caught the eye when finishing runner-up in a decent bumper (worked out well since) here in November and has since scored on heavy ground at Uttoxeter over hurdles.
Given his size, he should relish the obstacles and, despite the 6lb penalty, the son of Beneficial, who wears a tongue-tie for the first time, is taken to follow up under Paddy Brennan.
Elsewhere, Get Back In Line is interesting in the valuable handicap hurdle at Ascot, though Jonjo O’Neill’s horses are a bit in and out at the moment, so the pick of the remaining action comes from Naas, where Sizing Gold (1:35) is taken to make it two from two over fences in the Grade 2 novice chase.
Henry De Bromhead’s imposing seven-year-old made an ideal start to his chasing career and, though he faces a smart sort in Foxrock here, he should relish the step up to 3m and can book his place at Cheltenham. He was trading at 6/4 last night.
Saturday’s selections:
1:30 Haydock O’Faolains Boy
1:35 Naas Sizing Gold
2:05 Haydock Meadowcroft Boy
3:50 Haydock Wuff
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Paul Ferguson’s Jumpers To Follow 2013-14
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New for 2013-14:
Grade 1 winning jockeys Nick Scholfield and Jane Mangan provide readers with their horses to follow
Last years results included:
* Leading Prospects, Arvika Ligeonniere (x3), Boston Bob, Captain Conan (x3), Champagne Fever (x2 inc Supreme Novices’ Hurdle), Glens Melody, Melodic Rendezvous, Simonsig (Arkle) & Un Atout won 13 Grade 1 novice contests between them
* My Tent Or Yours won 4 times including the Betfair Hurdle and the Top Novices’ at Aintree
* Stable Round-Up included Neptune winner The New One, Scottish Champion Hurdle winner Court Minstrel and David Pipe’s Dynaste of whom it read “could follow the Grands Crus path of last year, starting in the Steel Plate And Sections before he is readied for the Feltham” – he won both races and also scored at Aintree in April
* Across The Sea – Mount Benbulben 14/1 winner of the Grade 1 novice chase at the Punchestown Festival
* Under The Hammer – horses featured in this section included Champion Bumper winner Briar Hill (25/1) and The Liquidator, who won the equivalent Grade 1 at Punchestown – this section has been greatly increased for 2013-14
