Two runners at Haydock on Thursday

After such a dry Autumn, rainfall was sure to come - but not all at once. Incessant rain yesterday made the going at Kelso very, very testing. Our mare Lady Villanelle had been working well at home but just couldn't cope with such deep holding ground and was pulled up before 2 out. She wasn't ever travelling well but we'll monitor her closely over the next week or so.

Anyway, onto Haydock where we run Stolen Money in the opener and So Many Roads in the closer. The going will be heavy.

Just 7 runners in the Class 4 0-115 handicap hurdle at 12.30 over 3 miles but a very competitive race with most of the field having showing a liking for heavy ground.
Olly Murphy's Macho Mover has re-found his ability since moving over from Ireland to join his current yard this season. He's shown progressive form and has won twice including over course & distance last time at the beginning of the month. He looks the one to beat.

The couple of mares in the field each have strong claims. Kinneston Nick's Charm Offensive is a strong mare, acts on heavy and was steadily progressive last season including over 3 miles. She had a season pipe opener a month ago and looks primed for this.
Lady Bowes also acts on heavy and was staying on when 3rd over 2m 4f last time and should be suited by this step up to 3 miles for the first time.

Rebecca's Storm Lorenzo ran well on his first handicap appearance last time, over 3 miles on soft ground and comes into this in fine form.

But all of this is not to detract from Stolen Money who ran a very fine race a couple of months ago to win over 3 miles at Carlisle. He is another in this field who you would put the 'progressive' tag against but he's up in class slightly,  could improve further and still not win such is the nature of this race. As long as his jumping holds up though, Stolen Money will be there or thereabouts.......

A Conditional Jockeys' race so Theo Gillard has been secured to ride. Good luck!

 
Stolen Money (Connor)

While we are pleased with the progress of So Many Roads at home, he is not the type normally thought to do well in a bumper though. On debut.
He has the make and shape of chaser and we can't wait to set him on the road to that career by starting him off in novice hurdles. But we do like to give our youngsters racecourse experience first and the National Hunt Flat race at Haydock gives us that opportunity.

Heavy ground means that it could be attritional by the time of the last race, so we'd be looking for a nice run and for the gelding to still be enjoying himself at the finish.
A long way for just one ride so thanks to Craig Nichol who is in the saddle and we wish 'Lucky Dave' Leslie and Al Duncan all the best.

The rest of the field reads like a who's who of the top English trainers McCain, Lavelle, Venetia, Murphy. Delving a little deeper though......

There is quite a disparity between English Point-to-Point form and the Irish equivalent and there's a couple of horses from that field in this race but neither Blackwell Bay nor Hermes Du Gouet have the same appeal as McCain's Forpaddytheplumber who has been placed a couple of times across the Irish Sea. No more than quite good form though, at this stage.

 There are a couple that have already shown fairly useful form in bumpers this season already. Sporty Jim looks to be capable of better than his 4th in a Market Rasen bumper and with receipt of 7lb here, could improve to challenge the obvious form claims of Prairie Wolf, winner of a Kelso bumper in May.

The unraced Canty Bay has an eye catching pedigree as he is a brother to a fairly useful bumper winner and his dam is related to several winners in this sphere.

It may well come down to who can handle the heavy ground the best, but Prairie Wolf and Canty Bay may be to the fore at the finish.

So Many Roads (Callum)