15:35 Haydock

Saturday 16 February 2019

All12:5013:2513:5514:2514:5515:3516:1016:45

William Hill Grand National Trial Handicap Chase (Grade 3)

Off time: 15:35 | Winning time: 7m 30.0s

Yala Enki⁵¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Hugh Nugent⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 156| CD

7/1

Stayed on resolutely up the home straight to beat Blaklion by 54L in testing conditions in this contest in 2018 - 10lb higher today; has enjoyed a productive season, finishing 5¼L third to Elegant Escape in the Welsh Grand National in December.

Form: F166-13

Ballyoptic^t⁵¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 155

14/1

Beaten by the minimum margin (a nose) in the Scottish Grand National at Ayr in April (4m, good) - 6lb higher today; bounced back from a fall in the Becher to finish sixth to Elegant Escape in the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow.

Form: 4142-F6

Royal Vacation^b²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: P J Brennan| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 152| D

10/1

Grade 1 winner as a novice (albeit fortuitous); comes into this race off the back of some solid performances this term, namely when running away with the 3m4f+ Portman Cup at Taunton (good to soft) four weeks ago; 6lb higher today.

Form: 50P-261

Wakanda²⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 150| C

8/1

Boasts an impressive record in long-distance chases and despite pulling up in this contest in 2017 (made mistakes) has won both of his other previous Haydock starts; 4lb higher than when beating Robinsfirth by 1¾L in the Peter Marsh.

Form: 1P0-541

Ramses De Teillee^t⁵¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: David Noonan| T: D Pipe| OR: 149

6/1

Fast improving 7yo with some seriously impressive Chepstow form figures (2,1,1,1,2); made a mistake at a crucial stage in the Welsh Grand National in December before rallying to finish 1¼L second to Elegant Escape; 5lb higher; Haydock debut.

Form: 279-512

Robinsfirth^t²⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: S Bowen| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 148

7/1

Runner-up on both previous Haydock starts, including when beaten 1¾L by Wakanda in the 3m1f+ Peter Marsh Chase; this longer trip could see him in a better light, although does require a career best off a 2lb higher mark.

Form: 1U/421-2

Vieux Lion Rouge^p,t⁵¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 146| CD

12/1

Stablemate of Ramses De Teillee and a regular feature over the National fences at Aintree since winning the Becher Chase in 2016 (runner-up in that contest on his penultimate start); same mark as when beating Blaklion by 3¼L in this race in 2017.

Form: 4749-2P

Red Infantry^b1²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: T J O'Brien| T: Ian Williams| OR: 142| CD

12/1

Progressive this season, now 10lb higher than when beating Bishops Road by 2¾L over C&D (good) in November; stays well, appreciates cut in the ground and hasn't that much to find with Wakanda & Robinsfirth on Peter Marsh form.

Form: 1F-9125

The Two Amigos⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Matt Griffiths| T: Nicky Martin| OR: 142| D

14/1

Prolific in PTP's and has flourished at a lesser level under rules (3-4) this season; enthusiastic, jumps well and enjoyed his day in the limelight when a ready 2¼L winner of the Sussex National at Plumpton in January; 8lb higher.

Form: 1-R1211

Ballyarthur^t²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: Jamie Bargary| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 140

16/1

Stablemate of Ballyoptic; caught close home by Daklondike in the 2m7f Tommy Whittle Chase (heavy) here in December and again on the premises when fourth to Wakanda in the 3m1f+ Peter Marsh latest; slight stamina reservations.

Form: 1-5P624

Impulsive Star^p³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: Mr Sam Waley-Cohen⁽³⁾| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 139

8/1

Off the mark over fences at the sixth attempt when driven right out to take the 3m5f+ Grade 3 Classic Chase off a light-weight at Warwick (good) latest; 6lb higher today, yet remains largely unexposed in handicap company; handles softer ground.

Form: F234-21

Carole's Destrier^p³⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 10-8| J: Aidan Coleman| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 138

16/1

Stablemate of Impulsive Star, and has 9L to make up on that rival from Warwick (finished a respectable fourth); pulled up on his sole previous Haydock start but 5-21 over fences, and just 3lb higher than when winning the Mandarin (Newbury).

Form: P5-3P14

Bishops Road^b⁴²

Age: 11| Weight: 10-7| J: Mitchell Bastyan⁽⁵⁾| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 137| CD

20/1

Not wholly reliable although is a capable performer at this track; forged clear to take this race by 9L in 2016 (heavy) and has made the frame on both subsequent course visits; 8lb better off with Red Infantry for a 2¾L C&D beating in November.

Form: U632UP

Ah Littleluck^t²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-5| J: D J Mullins| T: T Gibney| OR: 135

16/1

Irish raider; useful handicap hurdler (4-21); gradually getting his act together over fences and was an easy winner of a 3m Navan Beginners Chase (yielding) latest; feasibly handicapped, but this race is a whole new level for one so inexperienced.

Form: 20U341

Pobbles Bay⁹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-1| J: L P Aspell| T: Evan Williams| OR: 131

20/1

Without a win since landing a 3m novices' limited handicap at Chepstow (good to soft) in December 2016; well beaten in the Welsh Grand National of 2018; must up his game considerably after making just a sole hurdles start this time around.

Form: 5/974P-3

Chef D'Oeuvre⁴⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-0| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 127| C

16/1

Competes from just outside of the handicap proper after a spell in the wilderness for Warren Greatrex; signs that he is slowly rediscovering a spark for Sam England - beat Back To The Thatch by 2¾L over 3m3f here in December.

Form: P62-431

Forecasts

Ramses De Teillee (6/1), Robinsfirth (7/1), Yala Enki (7/1), Impulsive Star (8/1), Wakanda (8/1), Royal Vacation (10/1), Vieux Lion Rouge (12/1), Red Infantry (12/1), Ballyoptic (14/1), The Two Amigos (14/1), Chef D'Oeuvre (16/1), Ah Littleluck (16/1), Ballyarthur (16/1), Carole's Destrier (16/1), Bishops Road (20/1), Pobbles Bay (20/1)

A superb renewal which features the last three winners of this race - Yala Enki (2018), Vieux Lion Rouge (2017) and Bishops Road (2016) - as well as a plethora of interwoven Haydock form-lines from key races such as the Tommy Whittle and the Peter Marsh. Wakanda, Robinsfirth, Ballyarthur and Red Infantry are all closely matched (form franked by Captain Redbeard), whilst the likes of Royal Vacation and Impulsive Star are on an upward curve. However, the Welsh Grand National also holds potential clues with the stamina-laden Ballyoptic (sixth) a possible and the youthful RAMSES DE TEILLEE still well-weighted off a mark of 149.