THE big chase at Haydock has four runners with favourite Bravemansgame Unibet 8/11, Protektorat, Royal Pagaille and the Grand National winner Corach Rambler. The drying ground is very much in favour of Bravemansgame, who only gave best after a mistake at the last in the Charlie Hall on his reappearance. He looked 95% fit beforehand, with a little left to work on, and although the King George was the immediate plan, he came out of the race so well that a few days later, this was mentioned as the new target. He can take this en route to Kempton. 

Protektorat returns after wind surgery but it is worth remembering he has almost eight lengths to find with Bravemansgame on their Gold Cup running, and conditions are arguably more in favour of Bravemansgame today. It is hard to see why that form should be reversed and although Royal Pagaille does go well fresh he will find one of these too strong, whilst the remarkable Corach Rambler will be unable to keep company with these Grade 1 performers after a below par performance at Kelso.

At Ascot Shishkin is Unibet 8/13 on for Unibet Ambassador Nicky Henderson in the Nirvana Spa 1965 Chase Grade 2 and can beat the talented Pic D’Orhy once again, having won by 16 lengths in the Ascot Chase in February. Shishkin is wearing cheekpieces for the first time and has worked with cheekpieces at home so he will run smoothly here. It is worth pointing out that Shishkin is Unibet 12/1 for the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup, which is an attractive ante post bet!

At Punchestown. the Unibet Morgiana Hurdle Grade 1 sees State Man at Unibet 3/10 on and he looks unopposable here. Pied Piper, one of my Unibet Ten to Follow, makes his first appearance since his second on the flat in the Cesarewitch at Newmarket and I’m looking forward to a good run in this race

Enjoy whether at the races or watching #athome on ITV Racing.

Cheers!

The Wine Tipster

1.15 Haydock – Handicap Hurdle (2m 3f)

Park Hill Dancer (nap) for Unibet Ambassador Nicky Henderson is looking for a three-timer here on his first start since May when he won at Huntingdon and Uttoxeter. These two victories were a marked improvement from his previous runs, with his Uttoxeter success looking particularly impressive. Those two starts were on good ground and with the dry forecast at Haydock that with suit Park Hill Dancer, who can win again.

1.50 Haydock – Graduation Chase (2m 5½f)

Apple Away on chasing debut is in receipt of eighteen pounds from the favourite Galliard Du Mesnil, who was third in this year’s Grand National. The front running Apple Away was a remarkable winner of the Grade 1 Sefton Hurdle, with Iroko in third and Stay Away Fay in fourth. That success saw her achieve a three timer and this mare was so progressive last season that if she takes to chasing in the same way Apple Away can strike here.

2.20 Haydock – Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle (3m ½f)

Emitom makes plenty of appeal on only his third start for Alan King, having run a good second to Young Butler in a Pertemps Qualifier at Newbury on seasonal debut earlier this month. He had on his previous appearance in March beaten Hyland in really good style at the same course, with the runner-up franking the form this season with two good successes including at The Showcase at Cheltenham. Emitom has proven himself to be much more effective over hurdles than fences and this nine-year-old is having only his twenty third career start with an eighth career success in sight here off a workable mark of 130.

Unibet are paying an EXTRA PLACE in this race

Scalke was marked up in my Unibet blog on his last appearance back in February at Sandown when coming from off the pace to finish fourth to Green Book in a classy hurdle, having won well by six lengths on his previous start at Kelso. He had an entry for The Festival, however, didn’t take up the option so we hadn’t seen Schalke for nine months when held up at the back as normal at Ayr earlier this month when given no chance of getting in the race from off the pace to finish eighth to Glinger Flame.  He is much better than that and providing the ground remains good to soft he is definitely in the mix for each way players.

3.35 Haydock – Handicap Chase (3m 1½f)

Famous Bridge finished fourth on seasonal debut at Ayr over a shorter trip when only beaten three quarters of a length in a very tight finish! He was keeping on well that day and the return to this type of trip will suit him as he showed when winning at Wetherby in March, having won at the same course earlier in the month. The drying ground will suit Famous Bridge and you can see him return to winning ways for the Nicky Richards team.

Coconut Splash has been marked up in my Unibet blog previously and as yet he has failed to score over fences on 13 attempts, with four seconds and six thirds to his name. He has finished third on his two most recent starts and has been dropping down the handicap since April with a mark of 122 now 10lbs lower than when brought down at the Grand National meeting. This gives Coconut Splash each way claims as this eight-year-old shouldn’t be written off yet.

The Wine Tipster’s Fourfold

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