IT is the best of both worlds for racing fans today as the Flat and National Hunt meet in a bumper afternoon’s racing.
Haydock Park and Carlisle provide the main National Hunt fayre, while
the rescheduled William Hill Lincoln meeting sits alongside chiefly Kempton Park on the level.
All of them, though, are naturally the starter to the main course at Aintree next week, but Merseyside racing fans can at least find out the well-being of plenty of jockeys and trainers ahead of the John Smith’s Grand National meeting which starts on Thursday.
Before the National is the first leg of the ‘Spring Double’ the William Hill Lincoln Handicap (3.05pm) at Doncaster.
Due to the cold and snowy conditions it was called off last week, but the foresight to reschedule gives us the chance of seeing the early-season highlight.
Last week the Lincoln looked to be about two John Gosden runners – Esthibaak and Lahaag. And a week on there is no reason to believe it still won’t be.
The former was due to be ridden by Warrington jockey Paul Hanagan last week. But the two-time champion jockey is needed in Dubai by his boss Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum for this evening’s World Cup event.
In his absence the Sheikh’s duo are to be ridden by Dane O’Neill and Rab Havlin. Havlin rides Lahaag and he can just get the better of his stable-mate.
The four-year-old ran four times last season but was never out of the first two. He progressed all year with wins at Yarmouth and York.
He finished the season off when just going down a head to Chapter Seven, who re-opposes this afternoon.
You have to be near Group class to win the Lincoln and many have progressed to a higher grade following victory.
Gosden will be hoping Lahaag is just the improving type to give him a second win in the race after Expresso Star’s success in 2009. And then go on to bigger and better things over the course of the season.
Put him in with Cappa Bleu for next week’s National for a decent chance at landing the ‘Spring Double’.
At Haydock Donald McCain and Jason Maguire can warm up for their bid to win another Grand National with 2011 hero Ballabriggs by landing the BetVictor.com Levy Board Handicap Chase (3.15pm) with Sydney Paget.
Since falling at Kelso on his chase debut the six-year-old has been very consistent, winning twice and finishing second twice and third in five starts.
On his most recent run he won by eight lengths at Chepstow. That was a second win in testing conditions, but the drying ground should hold no
fears for him as he won in good to soft over hurdles. He should go well today.
Brian Ellison won the BetVictor Are 6 Places On The National Handicap Hurdle (Jockey Club Grassroots Hurdle Series Final) (2.40pm) at Haydock last year with Hada Men. He has three entered this time and Fleet Dawn could help him win the 2m4f contest again.
The seven-year-old has been in good form this season winning twice early on. He was fourth at Carlisle last time in soft conditions. But on better ground he can return to winning ways. Others with chances at Haydock are Colin Tizzard’s Handy Andy in the BetVictor.com National 6 Places Tim Molony Handicap Chase (2.05pm) and the Caroline Bailey-trained Noble Legend in the BetVictor Grand
National 6 Places Handicap Chase (Jockey Club Grassroots Chase Series Final, 3.50pm).
Wright Ones
DONCASTER
1.20pm Colonel Mak
1.55pm Haaf A Sixpence
2.30pm Our Jonathan
3.05pm Lahaag (NAP)
3.40pm Space Ship
4.15pm Brockfield
4.50pm Canary Wharf
5.25pm Amazing Blue Sky
HAYDOCK
2.05pm Handy Andy
2.40pm Fleet Dawn
3.15pm Sydney Paget
3.50pm Noble Legend
4.25pm Tornado In Milan
5pm Dare Me
5.35pm Salto Chisco
KEMPTON
1.45pm Hedy
2.20pm Miblish
2.55pm Tepmokea
3.30pm Moortahan
4.05pm Dance And Dance
4.35pm Crew Cut
5.10pm Red Refraction
TOMORROW’S NAP Porgy (3.50pm Musselburgh)
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