Haydock

1.00pm

Maid In Manhattan

She has a fair bit to find with a few of these off levels in this Listed race but she was a really progressive sort on the Flat this year, well suited by heavy ground and ending up being rated 82 after winning at Nottingham in October, and she shaped really well when second at Wetherby last time. Hopefully, there is a lot more to come from her and, given that improved hurdles run against a progressive sort at Wetherby and her progressive form on the Flat, I reckon she could run a nice race with conditions in her favour.

2.40pm

Late Romantic

I rode him when he was third over an extended 3m3f at Market Rasen on Boxing Day and maybe he didn’t quite see out that extreme trip. And that was possibly the case again for him here over 3m4f+ last time, where he travelled well on the outside for a long way before weakening in the straight. But I don’t see many problems over this shorter trip, and all his best form has come on soft or heavy ground, which he is obviously going to get here. He was good when winning for me at Wetherby on his return, and I still think he is fairly treated off an 8lb higher mark.

3.15pm

Poetic Rhythm

Things certainly haven’t gone his way on both his starts over fences, so we have decided to bring him back to hurdles to get his confidence back. He certainly returns to the smaller obstacles off a fair mark of 142 if he is in anywhere like the form of his Challow win in 2017. Ground is clearly no problem, and neither is the shorter trip in these conditions, so I hope his class can come to the fore here. He’s had a really good preparation for this and I actually think he has a massive chance, especially with the race cutting up.