Timeform’s Haydock Racing Tips
12:30 – Schalke
13:00 – Indeevar Bleu
13:30 – Classic Maestro
14:00 – Wal Buck’s
14:35 – Itstonitejosephine
15:10 – Montgomery
15:45 – Bertie’s Ballet
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
12:30 – Schalke
Schalke endured a disappointing campaign last season but he fell in the weights as a consequence and has offered promise on both starts this term for his new stable. Schalke was third at Bangor in October on his first start for Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero and then kept on well to finish runner-up at the same venue 17 days ago. This looks like a weaker race than the one he contested last time so he holds solid claims.
13:00 – Indeevar Bleu
Indeevar Bleu, an impressive bumper winner at Wetherby a couple of seasons ago, had shaped with promise when fourth on his hurdling debut at Ayr last year and he didn’t need to come off the bridle to score on his return at Leicester four weeks ago. That was a simple task for Indeevar Bleu but it was still encouraging how readily he completed it and he retains the potential to show much better form, as denoted by the Timeform Large P.
13:30 – Classic Maestro
Classic Maestro enjoyed a productive campaign last term, winning on three occasions, and he’s continued to progress this season. He needed the run on his return at Warwick last month but showed much-improved form to win back-to-back handicap hurdles at Wetherby and Bangor before landing a beginners’ chase here nine days ago. He was the 1/10 favourite against his only rival but still impressed with the accuracy of his jumping on just his second start over fences and there’s no reason why he shouldn’t prove at least as good in this sphere.
14:00 – Wal Buck’s
Wal Buck’s has shown run-by-run improvement in his three starts over fences and he was a long way clear of the third when beaten only a neck by an unexposed rival at Wetherby last time. He has a 5 lb higher mark to cope with here but he earned that rise in the weights and could still do better over fences given his progressive profile. He is taken to get off the mark.
14:35 – Itstonitejosephine
Itstonitejosephine catches the eye on pedigree as she’s from the family of high-class hurdler L’Ami Serge who trainer Nicky Henderson enjoyed so much success with, winning three times in Grade 1 company. Smart Decision made a winning start in a similar event at Doncaster last month, finishing well on top, so he’s an obvious danger despite having to carry a 7 lb penalty.
15:10 – Montgomery
Montgomery was unable to reward strong support on his return at Sandown a few weeks ago, though he ran respectably in fifth and could still do better given he has relatively few miles on the clock. He enjoyed a successful first campaign over fences last season, winning four of his five starts, and he remains on a competitive mark.
15:45 – Bertie’s Ballet
Bertie’s Ballet was disappointing at Carlisle on his penultimate start but he bounced back to form when runner-up over this course and distance nine days ago. It’s worth noting that Bertie’s Ballet won a novice hurdle last season on his only previous visit to this course and he looks likely to give another good account, with cheekpieces applied in a bid to eke out a bit extra.
Timeform’s Haydock betting tips
12:30 – Schalke
13:00 – Indeevar Bleu
13:30 – Classic Maestro
14:00 – Wal Buck’s
14:35 – Itstonitejosephine
15:10 – Montgomery
15:45 – Bertie’s Ballet
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
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