Friday, January 17, 2014

Heavy going at Haydock...

A couple of my 'potential' value plays at Haydock have fallen by the wayside this evening.

Melodic Rendezvous is a horse I like and on his best form would serve up a stiff test for Ptit Zig in the Champion Hurdle Trial at 2.40 but handler Jeremy Scott told At The Races:

'In reality he's probably just a little bit short of where we'd like him to be... We may lack for a bit of fitness, but there's plenty of time [for the Champion Hurdle], so it would be nice to get a run into him now and another one in February and then see where we are.'

The value about O'faolains Boy in The Altcar Novices' Chase at 1.30 has also disappeared with the withdrawal of  David Pipe's Gevrey Chambertin. In last week's Weekender, Rebecca Curtis said of her charge:

'He is the one horse in the yard who is under the radar yet could be a real star this season... I hope this horse has a big future.'

Nicky Henderson and Barry Geraghty boast a strong record at Ascot so it's interesting to see the stable jockey prefers to travel north to ride Stand To Reason in The Rossington Main Novices' Hurdle (2.05).

Having cost a pretty penny, Un Temps Pour Tout has his first run in this country for owners Professor Caroline Tisdall and Bryan Drew; David Pipe's inmate is likely to be all the rage.

Zandy Man made all to win the listed Newton Novices' Hurdle over course and distance in November and similar tactics may be employed tomorrow; in search of some value I'm tempted to chance Stand To Reason, 9/2 generally at the time of writing.

Ten are declared for the Peter Marsh (3.15) in which Katenko will have underfoot conditions to suit but Venetia Williams' gelding has to race off a mark ten pounds higher than when winning the Murphy Group Chase at Cheltenham last January.

Four in the field obliged last time out and as a result have seen their handicap mark rise; Merry King's rating is travelling in the opposite direction and he may benefit from the application of a first-time visor but Jonjo O'Neill's yard has been out of sorts in recent weeks.

Vintage Star ran well for a long way in the Welsh National before fading to finish sixth; prior to that he was pipped a neck in Newcastle's Rehearsal Chase by Hey Big Spender. Owned by Haydock stalwart Trevor Hemmings, Vintage Star is the selection in an open race; he's priced 7/1 with Stan James this evening.

1 comment:

GeeDee said...

Sent off 7/2 joint second favourite Stand To Reason was never at the races. Geraghty had the gelding racing wide in search of better ground; he made some modest headway approaching the home turn but the principals had flown. The value was with Zandy Man, the other joint second favourite, who held Un Temps Pour Tout (11/8f) just under two lengths on the line - a disappointing debut from the £450,000 purchase who didn't hurdle fluently.

A much better effort from Vintage Star (6/1) in the Peter Marsh. The selection led from two out but couldn't cope with 16/1 chance Wychwoods Brook on the run-in, going down one and a half lengths.