As it happened – the Trackside Live team provided parade ring updates from the Betfair Chase meeting at Haydock Park.
Full result
1. TOP OF THE BILL 18/1
2. Saladin’s Son 5/1
3. Wa Wa 11/1
Winning reaction
Toby McCain Mitchell: “He’s a great spin. I have to give a shout out to Jordan Nailor; last time when he won on this horse at Ffos Las, it was an exhibition of jumping and I spoke to him last night, had a good chat, and he said just be confident everywhere. He took a bit of warming up over the first two but other than that he was deadly and he’s just as good, you can rely on him everywhere and have a cut, go long, go long, but when I need to I can take him back, it might not look pretty but for a big horse, he doesn’t half shorten up. Betfair Chase Day, I remember coming here as a kid with Mum when Donald had runners and it makes it extra special. Credit to Jim Old as well, he filled me with confidence on the horse; we were a bit worried the ground might be a bit lively and it took a bit of bottle for Jim to say we’ll run so all credit.”
Parade ring updates
VERDICT
I’ll take Saladins Son and Wa Wa the best pair. Never got to see Major Fortune again.
Rug off the 3 (Shomen Uchi), he’s okay but too keen and messing about.
5 Whistle Stop Tour – fit, no issues.
2 Top Of The Bill – looks pretty straight after long absence too, won’t come on a lot for this.
9 Major Fortune – rugged and can’t see a lot.
8 Wa Wa – fit and good, positive walk, like.
6 Konfusion – a big unit, looks well.
7 Saladins Son – looks fit after absence, one of the better ones seen so far.
3 Shomen Uchi – also a little keen early.
10 Hudson De Grugy – a touch keen, is okay.
1 Famous Bridge – looks like another run is required for full fitness.
4 Duke Of Deception – first in, fit, fine.
Still waiting for anything to appear.
Gone very dark now, hard to see a lot!
Full result
1. GREY DAWNING 10/11 favourite
2. Royale Pagaille
Winning reaction
Harry Skelton: “He was great, 365 days I’ve been waiting to come back and put it right. Just proud of the horse, the team, to get him back in that position. Tom Messenger, he’s got two kids and that’s like his third one. The team just got him bang on and to come here and just enjoy it all. Robert Kirkland has got lots of faith in myself and Dan; we bought this horse from Brendan Bashford as a store for less than a hundred, I think, so it just shows you what can happen and you can make them and Dan has just guided his career and made him what he is.
“You can go on now ‘oh he’s not good enough for a Gold Cup, is he this or is he that?’. You try and win a Grade 1 and that’s what he’s done in open company and that’s hard. He was in first gear, I pulled the teeth out of him three out and two out, I didn’t want to get involved with the other horse too soon, as long as I just kept him company he was just going to help me.
“We won’t be rushing him back now, I’d say we’ll enjoy this and see where we’ll go.”
Parade ring updates
VERDICT
Grey Dawning has to be the pick. Stellar Story needs the run and has been misbehaving.
Rug off the 1 (Grey Dawning) and there’s not a scrap of fat on him.
5 Stellar Story – messing about quite badly.
2 Haiti Couleurs – quite a compact chaser, overall.
4 Royale Pagaille – back to defend his crown. I thought he looked spot on last year, but whilst by no means unfit, one or two others appeal more.
2 Haiti Couleurs – looks in good order. Fit, little busy in the walk, wants to get on with things.
First impression of the 5 (Stellar Story) is that he’ll come on for the run.
3 Handstands – a different sort of chaser, more compact than the 1 but he’s fit and well for this.
1 Grey Dawning – first in and clearly today is the day for him. Loose-rugged but very tight at the back and fit as a fiddle. Relaxed, walking around without a bother and looks in great condition.
Full result
1. ELECTRIC MASON 17/2
2. Hartington 5/1
3. Phantomofthepoints 18/1
4. Ace Of Spades 6/1
Winning reaction
Freddie Gordon: “We’ve had an unbelievable day. It’s surreal, I came here with three [winners] left in my claim and rode it out in a day which big Saturday meetings, you wouldn’t think that would you? My old man has done a brilliant job with these horses, he’s trained them to perfection for the day – a brilliant day for the team. It’s a day I’ll never forget.
“For him, he can get a little bit lairy if he gets covered up. Tactically the plan was to keep him wide, give him plenty of space and it just went to plan. He tanked with me the whole time, took me into the race. To be honest I thought the one in front that kicked clear was going to win it but he’s battled on gamely; he’s just a lovely horse. That [three out] was a bit too close for comfort that was but he’s a tough, hardy horse and hopefully he can keep producing more for us.”
Parade ring updates
VERDICT
Plenty look well. Esprit Du Potier – Hartington – Joyeux Machin the best three.
5 Ma Shantou – definitely not as sharp as Cheltenham.
7 Horaces Pearl (see below also) – is fine, just a touch keen.
6 Joyeux Machin – also very fit.
4 Red Risk – on toes, but very fit.
Rug off 1 (Shoot First), needs the run.
7 Horaces Pearl – out, fit but on toes, needs monitoring.
12 Phantomofthepoints – needs run and has got warm.
1 Shoot First – just okay.
8 I Love My Baie – rugged up, will wait.
14 Nab Wood – very fit, relaxed, makes appeal.
3 Harbour Lake – fine, just needs this.
5 Ma Shantou – was bang fit at Cheltenham for reappearance and to my eyes isn’t maybe as sharp here.
17 Hartington – big chasing type for next year, very fit.
16 Karafon – okay, fit.
10 Electric Mason – fit and well, maybe hasn’t come on much from Cheltenham.
15 Esprit Du Potier – lovely sort, fit, excellent walk.
11 Ace Of Spades – fit but has already got warm.
9 Navajo Indy – very fit and well.
2 Jingko Blue – first out, needs the run, will come on plenty.
Full result
1. THE JUKEBOX MAN 8/11 favourite
2. Iroko 5/2
Post-race update
On return – The Jukebox Man barely blowing. Iroko small blow, soon recovered. Knappers Hill blowing heavily, needed it most.
Winning reaction
Ben Jones: “To be honest, I thought he’d be a little bit more ‘on it’ going around, he was full of it going down to the start, full of it at the start, jig-jogging and proper enjoying being back at the track. To be fair to him, as soon as the flag went down he was very professional; took everything in his stride, his jumping was probably the most accurate he’s been. I knew, once I turned for home, that I lit him up at one he was going to take off and it was just a matter of hoping his fitness was going to hold out. He gave me my first Grade 1 and he’s always going to have a spot in my heart. I think he’s going to improve from today. Ben and the team have done a brilliant job in getting him back and if we can just kick on now through the season and hopefully enjoy more good days like today. He obviously liked the track [at Kempton], we were wondering whether he needed to go left-handed but he put that under the carpet last year and I think, now, that will do his confidence the world of good and he’ll come on for it and, hopefully, he’s got a little bit left up his sleeve.”
Parade ring updates
VERDICT
Hard call. The Jukebox Man should be fit enough, can see Mr Hope Street outrunning big odds.
4 Iroko – fine, will come on, far from tight.
2 The Jukebox Man – fit enough – no issues.
Rugs coming off.
3 Butch – in last, rug already off, he’ll come on a lot for the run.
The 4 (Iroko) isn’t as sharp at the back as the 5 (Mr Hope Street).
1 Knappers Hill – lacks the size of the others and makes less appeal as such. Will come on a lot for this too.
Can’t fault the 5 (Mr Hope Street) for fitness, he’s pretty much spot on, regardless of form.
4 Iroko – out next, also rugged. Again, will wait for removal but he looks fine.
2 The Jukebox Man – first out and has been out for a few minutes now. Been watching him walk round, good as gold. The rug is on, but he looks tight at the back. Will wait for the others to appear.
Full result
1. KABRAL DU MATHAN 6/5 favourite
2. Andashan 7/2
3. Florida Dreams 7/1
Winning reaction
Harry Skelton: “I was just wary of letting Sean off in front too far; he jumped down the back quite well, went and got up as close as I could to him just so I could give him a bit of a chance then so once we did straighten up he was ready to go. As soon as I’ve asked him he’s put the race to bed well, hit the line strong, good. I think he’s raced at two miles quite a bit, just bumped into one, but I think going further might just open a few doors for him. He’s only young, first time at two and a half, he won well, finished through the line strong, he needs to keep improving but he could, couldn’t he? [He’s a graded horse isn’t he?] Yeah, so we’ll see where he takes us. Good to soft, lovely, no excuses.”
Parade ring updates
VERDICT
Florida Dreams and Milldam the best pair.
Rug off the 2 (Kabral Du Mathan) and he’s fit enough, no issues
5 Minella Missile (see below also) – better with the rug off.
Rug off the 3 (Milldam), and that’s very fit.
7 Tax For Max – much more settled these days, fit and well.
1 The Four Sixes – fine, fit.
2 Kabral Du Mathan – has the rug on, so will wait for removal before full assessment; I’d say he will come on for this, though, seen a few from the yard look sharper recently.
9 Kinbara Firstdraft – good coat but needs the run on initial assessment.
4 Florida Dreams – very fit, barely anything on him; just a touch keen but you’d struggle to get him any fitter.
6 Andashan – fit, relaxed, no issues.
3 Milldam – loose-rugged but looks very fit underneath given long absence; relaxed, makes appeal.
5 Minella Missile – next, okay, doesn’t stand out.
8 Cormier – first in, just fine, coat just starting to turn.
Full result
1. DAVID’S WELL 11/4
2. Escapeandevade 5/2 favourite
Winning reaction
Chris Gordon: “It’s fantastic, I’m over the moon. It’s a long way for us to come to Haydock but got two more though so let’s hope it goes well with those guys. He’s riding great, I think we’re getting towards the end of his 3 lb, we might only have two left, anyway he’s using it on the right day.
“John [Costello] caught myself and Dan at a weak moment at Punchestown, probably after about three Bloody Marys and things, so luckily Dan puts his money where his mouth is and got stuck in [to buy Diamond Hunter]. John has been a fantastic source of horses for us and so have the Doyle boys who David’s Well came from.
“Eleven months off and he had a little injury after his last run. The softer the better for the horse and I was a bit worried they hadn’t had quite as much rain as we wanted but it worked out really well. Maybe we’ll go to Sandown one day. Funnily enough Andy Gibson keeps on going on about that particular race [Castleford Chase, Wetherby] for him so that might be one we might have to look at.
“Andashan seems in very good form at home, he had a really nice run at Newbury and finished off his race very well over two miles and it wasn’t really soft enough for him; fingers crossed, we’re hoping for a good run but our luck has to run out at some point.”
Parade ring updates
VERDICT
Miralago best of the paddock.
Rug late off David’s Well (4), looks straight enough but might improve a touch for it
Gentleman Bill (2) also a little warm now.
Rug off Escapandevade (5), very fit but has got a touch warm underneath.
4 David’s Well – a big unit, on toes a touch, rugged up – will await removal.
5 Escapandevade – wouldn’t be what you’d call your archetypal chasing type, maybe lacks the size of one or two of these, but he’s fit. Two handlers too.
1 Cossack Chach – another that definitely needs the run, looks on the big side.
2 Gentleman Bill – looked very well at Aintree and does again here. Fit, nice chasing type, no issues.
7 Sunnyvilla – has clearly done plenty of work looking at the back but there’s plenty to work on under the cloth, and he’ll come on plenty for this.
3 Miralago – loose-rugged but clearly fit underneath. Very relaxed, nice walk. Makes appeal.
Winning reaction
Freddie Gordon: “We’ve got a cracking strike rate here, 100% I think, and it’s lovely, we always send nice horses up here and we’ve got three more today, hopefully we can keep going.
“He jumped off a bit keen but once I let JJ get on with it he settled lovely, I almost had to go and wake him up a few times because he just, sort of, dropped it a bit but once we got going he just keeps ploughing along. He loves that ground, he’s a good hardy horse and it’s brilliant to have such a nice horse for my old man.
“He’s been in training since he was four and I think we were very lucky to pick him up because they say he was very keen in his races pointing and that’s why he didn’t finish as well as they [the Costello family] thought he would but they’ve always said he was a lovely horse of theirs and thought he was a real, real nice one and luckily he is; just brilliant for my Dad.
“We did bolt up that day but it’s Plumpton and the race probably wasn’t the strongest so it’s hard to tell but today really showed us what he’s made of. It’s the biggest win of my career so far and happy days to do it on a big day like this.”
Parade ring updates
VERDICT
Sticktotheplan gets the vote again. Looks in superb condition. Double Measure (3) second best.
4 Jony R – fit
Rug left on Double Measure (3).
2 Diamond Hunter – just okay
1 Sticktotheplan – bang fit with rug off.
Rug off Masked Man (5), fit. I’d like to see him loosen up a bit in the walk.
Will await rugs off.
1 Sticktotheplan – now in. Was paddock pick at Chepstow and looks well again. Walks really well, fluid. Wouldn’t be the biggest of these but that didn’t stop him last time.
Awaiting the 1 (Sticktotheplan).
4 Jony R – lengthy, chaser all day long. Looks fit enough on what can be seen. Await rug off.
5 Masked Man (see below also) – just starting to get on his toes.
3 Double Measure – made plenty of appeal at Chepstow and does again. Fit and well, good chasing type, solidly built and has done plenty of work for this.
6 The Egyptian Ginge – a stockier sort, another run will bring him on again.
2 Diamond Hunter – a bigger unit, looks a chaser for next year. Much more a galloping type. Fit, no issues at present.
First in is Masked Man (5) and he looks like he’s come on from Chepstow. Isn’t overly big, but has enough size, quite athletic.
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