3.35pm Haydock Tips & Betting Preview 21/11/2015

Race Details

Race Time: 3.35pm Meeting: Haydock Day: Saturday 21st November Full Race Name: Cash Out In Running With Betfair Handicap Chase (Class Two)

Betting Preview

Anyone would think the bookmakers were in collusion with the schedulers as we invariably end up with a close to impossible to solve handicap each and every Saturday and this three mile plus handicap chase is certainly no different. Even at first glance we knew we had to start with the David Pipe trained Vieux Lion Rouge (7/1), unbeaten so far this season with novice chase wins at Towcester and Market Rasen but off over the summer to mature and strengthen. He really does look like a chaser going places to us, hence his entry in this much tougher contest, and as he can either make all or come from off the pace, he seems adaptable which is a very useful weapon to have. We genuinely think he could go close to the top if he keeps this sort of form going in which case a rating of 139 may yet be pretty generous, though his lack of experience is a worry, and just about enough to put us off this afternoon.

Trainer Sue Smith has an 11% strike rate round here and a profit to level stakes as well, which is good news as we like the look of Straidnahanna (13/2) who ran a blinder last time out at Kelso when a length second to favourite Gold Futures up at Kelso. That was his first run over fences outside of novice class where he finished fourth to the classy Puffin Billy last season, and with improvement assured and Danny Cook in the saddle (who has a 26% strike rate here and even more profit to level stakes!), he just has to be the value call today.

No Planning (12/1) may have been pulled up last time out at Wetherby over hurdles but that turned out to be a pretty hot contest, and was no disgrace in the end. Back over fences, Sue Smith will again be hoping he can put his best hoof forward (maybe for a stable one-two), and put in a big effort here, and after all, he has won off a rating a mere two pounds lower and won’t have many better chances of picking up a decent prize. His added experience of seventeen starts over fences may help him here against less battle hardened rivals, though the yard have had more places than wins of late and that may yet be his fate today as well.

Looking for horses who have won on the predicted softer going cuts numbers down a bit (though they should all get through it), and certainly gives Sun Cloud (12/1) a better chance than his  odds imply. Two runs this season have seen the eight-year-old finish third at Perth and fourth at Sedgefield, but he will be cherry ripe this afternoon and more importantly loves this ground and stays a lot further. He may lack a touch of class that some of the others rely on, but as this could turn in to a slog in the mud come the last race his added stamina may yet be brought in to play, and for the each way thieves he looks as if he has every chance of getting in to the frame in a tough race to second guess.

Right down the bottom of the weights the superbly named Toby Lerone (11/2) will represent Dan Skelton here from a list of choices over the weekend, and off just ten stone nine, he must have chances? Returning to action at Towcester early this month, he made all the running to hold off For Instance and may have been a bit lucky with the runner up making a mistake at the last, but he showed plenty of resolution and fight and he may not be that easy to get past today either, especially as he may well get a soft lead.