Dave Nevison's Saturday tips: best bets at Haydock

Icare Grandchamp may well have been a little rusty after more than a year off, but he still seemed to find the stiff Newbury fences a little challenging when he reappeared.

He made two significant errors, but it was only the one at the second last that finished his chance and he actually ran very well. The Moores' gelding is entitled to progress for that run and will definitely be better suited by the much easier Haydock fences (his previous chase wins were at Newton Abbot and Southwell) and he is also dropped down significantly in grade here so I am expecting a much stronger performance.

Dan Skelton’s six-year-old was quite an expensive purchase after winning a point-to-point, but rewarded connections with two wins in bumpers and he has improved with each of his runs in novice hurdles.

This is his first real test to see if he was worth the money but Dalston Lad bolted up last time and has been put in on a reasonable mark for his first run in a handicap.

It looks as though there is more to come, especially now he is stepped up to three miles which is very in keeping with his pedigree, and this looks a typically strong bit of placing by his trainer.

Brookside La is another Skelton bottom weight who looks as though he has more up his sleeve and can improve past more seasoned handicappers. The six-year-old went off a much shorter price than previously when making his handicap debut recently and won in good style.

He came from off the pace in a slowly run race to assert after jumping the last. He has gone up just 4lb for that Boxing Day success but could well have much more improvement in him, especially in a more truly run race which is highly likely this afternoon. He should stay today’s slightly longer trip without any issue. 

The other front runners in this race are either making their seasonal debut or have jumping issues so it looks very much as though Harry Derham’s improving gelding will be able to set his own pace and win this race from the front.

He ended a run of second places when winning by half a length over this course and distance last time. He seems to have turned the corner with his attitude and has seemed much stronger in a finish since joining Derham and, even though he is 5lb higher than last time, he has been handicapped higher in the past and looks a better horse for his new yard.