Man On The Spot previews Saturday's Pick 7 races
With another £100,000 up for grabs, form expert Man On The Spot offers his take on Saturday's Pick 7 races.
1.50 Haydock
CLYNE has already proved his worth around this track on heavy ground and is the selection with the talented Mitchell Bastyan claiming 5lb which actually sees him carry less than Value At Risk. Evan Williams' charge was far from disgraced on his reappearance behind The New One in the Welsh Champion Hurdle and should be spot-on for this assignment. The aforementioned Value At Risk ran a cracker first time back behind Unowhatimeanharry at Aintree and has every chance on that form, but like so many today is unproven on the forecast ground. He'll be in the mix if handling the terrain, whilst Verni, second to Clyne here last November, has every chance if ready for this seasonal reappearance. He remains a performer of potential and should be followed this term whatever his fate here. Course and distance winner El Terremoto and the progressive Diamond Fort can also take a hand.
2.05 Ascot
Smad Place has mainly raced over longer trips in the past couple of seasons but is perfectly capable of winning at this distance as he showed when landing an Aintree Grade 2 last month. Josses Hill won the Grade 2 Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon in December having had a previous run and that could be his target again as he hasn't run since April. His stable look to have a better chance with Scilly Isles winner and JLT runner-up TOP NOTCH, who had a recent run over hurdles to sharpen him up and should be spot-on for this. He finished behind Flying Angel in the Grade 1 Manifesto in April, when Frodon was a long way behind, but the winner has failed to fire in two subsequent starts. Top Gamble could prove the main threat. A triple winner in this grade, he ran a fine race in the Champion Chase at Cheltenham and competed at the highest level for most of the last campaign.
2.25 Haydock
This should prove a war of attrition but hopefully THE WORLDS END will be ready first time up as he looks on a feasible handicap mark here despite landing a Grade 1 success over 3m at Aintree when last seen. Again, the ground is a concern but he has delivered on the soft, travelled well on the soft/heavy in an Irish point and hopefully his undoubted class can see him home. He should enjoy a really good season. The Nicholls pair look weighted to the hilt at the head of the weights but there are a host of interesting and progressive performers lurking further down the weights, of which Minella Awards, No Hassle Hoff and Sam Spinner make greatest appeal. All could take a hand if staying this trip in the anticipated arduous conditions.
2.40 Ascot
Defi Du Seuil bids to become the first four-year-old winner of this since Silviniaco Conti in 2010. The Triumph Hurdle winner beat what looked a strong field at Cheltenham and had no problems following-up at Aintree where he gained his seventh victory in as many starts over hurdles. He arrives without a prep-run and L'AMI SERGE should have a slight fitness advantage having scored over 3m1f at Auteuil in June. Nicky Henderson's charge proved himself a genuine Grade 1 performer that day and though the trip could be a bit on the short side he can concede weight to his younger rival. Lil Rockerfeller is another who might prefer further having been beaten narrowly in the Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham though he'll be better for his comeback in the West Yorkshire Hurdle at Wetherby. The remaining pair look outclassed.
3.00 Haydock
BRISTOL DE MAI has enough factors in his favour to make him the one to beat in this prestigious prize. He has assured fitness on his side after making an impressive winning reappearance in the Charlie Hall at Wetherby and as the youngest member of the field remains open to most improvement. He also has an excellent record here and relishes the forecast heavy ground - all of which makes him the logical choice. Elsewhere, the appointment of Harry Cobden as Cue Card's new partner adds a new dimension to the 11-year-old's attempt to land a remarkable fourth win in this contest. He has fallen on two of his last three starts but was still travelling well enough last time in the Charlie Hall before departing and a clear round must see him go close. Outlander is far from easy to catch right as his form figures demonstrate but on his day he remains a staunch opponent, having landed two Grade 1s in his last five starts. He will be competitive if on a going day. The remaining trio need to improve although the height of Tea For Two's form reads well and he looks next best.
3.15 Ascot
San Benedeto crowned a brilliant novice campaign when completing a four-timer in the Grade 1 Maghull at Aintree in April. He hasn't quite managed to go on from that though he's continued to run at a high level. Upsilon Bleu has an excellent strike-rate and is well capable of winning this if near his best though last year's winner SIRE DE GRUGY is taken to repeat the performance. Runner-up in the Tingle Creek a couple of weeks after that triumph, he fell at the second in the Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton and didn't run again until a spin over hurdles at Ffos Las last month and should be ready for this. Quite By Chance is a smart handicapper who was conceding 28lb to the winner when runner-up in a Listed handicap here three weeks ago while Arthur Moore doesn't send horses to the UK without chances so he must believe Dandridge is well handicapped.
3.35 Haydock
Henri Parry Morgan makes most appeal at the weights after a strong reappearance run but he's been most disappointing on the only two occasions he's tackled heavy ground and is therefore reluctantly passed over, although a saver may be the way to go with him. He'll also need to be on his best behaviour jumping-wise which has been an issue in the past. In the circumstances a chance is taken with CHASE THE SPUD. He hasn't been seen for over 250 days but the stable is rolling along impressively and he is one about whom there are no doubts about handling ground and trip. Hopefully, he's ready to roll. Baywing will handle conditions but looks harshly treated and it could well be the less exposed pair of Sir Ivan and Robinsfirth who provide the main threat if handling conditions, whilst Catamaran Du Seuil has definite place claims in this ground off the bottom rung.