HAYDOCK

3.15pm

Pentland Hills

He was obviously something of a late-season revelation last term, and to do what he did in the Triumph Hurdle – and win pretty comfortably, too – after just one Plumpton win was pretty extraordinary. And then he went to Aintree and showed us he can battle for victory, too. I think everyone saw how well he travelled into the race on his reappearance in the International at Cheltenham last month before getting tired, so he clearly ran a lot better than his final position would suggest. Hopefully, that would have sharpened him up a good deal, and we have certainly been very happy with him since. I schooled him on Thursday morning and he felt great. It will be hard work in this ground, which will be comfortably the worst he has ever encountered I imagine, so that is an unknown, but the race has obviously cut up a fair bit.

4.15pm

Imperial Knight

He still looked to be going okay when making a mistake and unshipping his rider on his chasing debut at Chepstow last month. He returns to hurdles here and I’d say he is on a fair mark judged on his Southwell second for me last season, and he was placed in bumper company on this type of ground, too.