Five horses to keep an eye on at Haydock Park on Saturday

A Plus Tard will take centre stage when he defends his Betfair Chase crown at Haydock Park on Saturday but connections of mud-loving Protektorat, who is a class act in his own right, will have enjoyed all the rain falling at the track this week.

It’s not that A Plus Tard does not handle deep ground but it will be a surprise if the Cheltenham Gold Cup winner is fully wound up for his return, especially with his connections working backwards from Cheltenham in March. Testing conditions will examine his fitness and, if he’s not quite on his A Plus game, then Protekotorat might easily make life uncomfortable for him.

The £200,000 showpiece rarely disappoints and there is plenty of intriguing contenders among the supporting races. Here are five runners to keep an eye on – all of them proven on soft/heavy ground.

Horse: Sizing Pottsie. Odds: 3-1 with William Hill.

This Listed contest is usually won by an up-and-coming young horse and I imagine Tahmuras, who fits that description and is set to represent the Paul Nicholls/Harry Cobden combination, will be popular after a taking win on his hurdling bow at Chepstow. However, his wins have been achieved with the word “good” in the going description and this promises to be a very different test.

SIZING POTTSIE will be at least three years older than all his rivals if taking up this option – he’s also entered in two handicaps this weekend - and is better known for his exploits over fences, but he successfully reverted to hurdles last time and will be well equipped if underfoot conditions turn testing.

Four of his career wins have coming on heavy going. He’s rated 143 over hurdles (and 10lb higher again over fences) and, often a front-runner, he may just gallop the opposition into submission. This option makes more sense than then the handicaps he’s engaged in.

Horse: Achille. Odds: A general 7-1.

The grey is a stout stayer and ran well off a rating of 141 in his first two races last season, when fifth in the Becher Chase and fourth in the Welsh Grand National. He was a bit flat on his next two races but was tanking along in second place in the Midlands National on his final start only for his rider to be unseated when a stirrup leather snapped on the final circuit.

Achille will be able to race off a 5lb lower mark on Saturday – his mark has swiftly slipped to 128 – and he has a good record when fresh. The trip won’t be a problem and he’s well served by deep ground. He’s also proven at the track, running track specialist Lord Du Mesnil to half a length in the Grand National Trial over course and distance the season before last, when 10lb higher in the ratings. He’s going to have a lot going for him.

Horse: Hitman. Odds: a general 8-13.

He’s no bigger than 8-13 in the ante-post betting but I wouldn’t want to be laying him at that price as this looks something of an open goal for a horse placed in Grade One company on three occasions. His form is on another level to his seven potential rivals, reflected by him being officially rated between 10lb and 25lb superior to them.

Hitman probably ran as well as he has ever done when splitting Riders On the Storm and Ga Law in the Old Roan Chase at Aintree last month, when Paul Nicholls suggested he was short of his peak. He was trying to give 20lb to the winner, a horse with strong course form, and the third, who has since won the Paddy Power Gold Cup, was getting 17lb from him. Hitman is at home in the mud and this could be a stepping stone to next month’s King George VI Chase.

Horse: Good Risk At All. Odds: 7-1 with William Hill.

I made a case for backing Good Risk At All earlier in the week at a top price of 6-1 - and William Hill promptly responded by pushing him out to 7-1! Perhaps I’ve misread the situation and he will instead run in the Coral Hurdle over a shorter trip at Ascot, but he’d be badly in at the weights with several of his rivals there. Constitution Hill, rated almost 2st superior, will surely get the green light to run now that the ground has eased, and why would you choose to tackle him?

Good Risk At All could end up running well in that Grade Two event for little reward with his handicap mark completely blown at the same time. The Haydock handicap is worth considerably more cash – first prize is £15,000 higher for starters – and it surely makes more sense for him to run there, especially given his penchant for soft/heavy going. His comeback win at Carlisle confirmed he’s still on the upgrade and the longer trip should be within range.

Horse: Lord Du Mesnil. Odds: 7-1 with bet365.

Last of this week’s five, but certainly not least. Lord Du Mesnil is in his element at Haydock when the mud is flying and seems likely to have his optimum conditions. Two of his three wins at the venue have been achieved over further but this will almost certainly be a searching test of stamina. Heavy rain is on the cards at the track through Wednesday night into most of Thursday.

Lord Du Mesnil is now 3lb lower in the ratings than when edging out Achille in the Grand National Trial here the season before last and his return run at Bangor, when chasing home a transformed Le Milos, suggests he will soon be taking advantage. Where better than at his favourite stomping ground?