Five key horses to follow at Haydock on Saturday

Freezing temperatures and snow have caused havoc over the past few days, and the forecast appears to be unfavourable for the rest of the week, with the majority of fixtures scheduled over Jumps facing early inspections.

That includes Haydock on Saturday where the track is “currently frozen”, and an inspection has been planned for Thursday to assess the situation.

We can only keep our fingers crossed that the seven-race card, featuring the Betfred Tommy Whittle Handicap Chase, is able to go ahead at the Merseyside venue this weekend, and below are five horses to keep a close eye on, if the meeting survives the cold snap.

General odds: --

Although she is yet to record a victory from six starts over hurdles, Ahorsewithnoname has some smart form next to her name, which includes three placed efforts at Listed level plus she was also second behind Love Envoi in the Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle last season.

Nicky Henderson’s seven-year-old has taken a big step forward on the Flat since that career-best effort over hurdles and is now rated 96 on the level having won a 0-105 handicap off a rating of 80 in April.

She was last seen recording a perfectly respectable effort when fifth in the Club Godolphin Cesarewitch and, based upon her recent Flat form, she could take her form to a new level over obstacles this season.

A repeat of her effort at the Cheltenham Festival should certainly see her go close here, and I expect connections will be keen for her to gain some more black type before she heads off to stud.

Race:Betfred Nifty Fifty Handicap Hurdle (1.30pm) or Betfred Supports Jack Berry House Handicap Hurdle (2.05pm).

General odds: 14-1 (for the 2.05pm race).

Romeo Brown holds two entries at Haydock on Saturday, but whichever race connections do decide to run him in, he is sure to prove competitive following his recent victory at Aintree.

That looked a useful handicap on paper, and the eight-year-old showed a good attitude to strike at 50-1, while a 4lb rise for that success seems fair, given the second and third looked well-handicapped rivals.

Sue Smith’s charge landed a valuable handicap over an extended three miles at Haydock in May, so clearly has a liking for this track, and he has been a consistent performer over the past 12 months.

Although another career-best effort will be required to score off a rating of 128, he will be worth supporting each-way in whichever race he runs in, especially with his handler in fine form.

General odds: 14-1.

This seven-year-old created a big impression over hurdles three seasons ago and looked a potential Graded performer in the making when winning the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at the 2019 Cheltenham Festival off a rating of 139.

Although he failed to land a blow in Grade One company the following month, he was narrowly denied in a Grade Three before finishing third in the Guinness Galway Hurdle that year.

However, he has endured two lengthy absences since and has clearly had an issue or two, but his return to action on the Flat at the Curragh in May was full of promise, especially as he wasn’t given the hardest time under pressure.

This will be his first start for Ben Haslam and if the Middleham handler can revitalise his new recruit, who should strip fitter for his recent outing, then he could be well handicapped off a rating of 142 on his return to hurdling.

General odds: 3-1.

Had he not fallen at the fourth last, it is likely Remastered would have gone close in last year’s Coral Gold Cup, and he looked a potentially well-handicapped performer when lining up in this race 12 months ago off the same rating.

It was therefore a slight disappointment that he was readily beaten by Enqarde before finishing fourth in the Peter Marsh Chase, especially as he travelled, and jumped, well on both occasions before tiring late on.

Based upon those two performances, it appeared as though he may not truly stay this trip, but those doubts were put to bed in this year’s Coral Gold Cup where he was narrowly denied by Le Milos, and the wind op he received ahead of this season seems to have worked the oracle.

He certainly finished his race off better there, anyway, and arrives here off the same rating (146) as last year following a 4lb rise for his Newbury exertions, so should be capable of being competitive again.

General odds: --

Connections were quick to advise that Washington did not appear to face a first-time hood when he was pulled up at Newbury on his latest start, and it is probably best to excuse that run, especially as he had been a consistent performer over the past 12 months.

The six-year-old showed plenty of ability during his first season over hurdles, including when runner-up to Unibet Greatwood Hurdle winner I Like To Move It plus he was not beaten far when third in a similar handicap to this at Aintree off a rating of 127.

He arrives here off a pound lower mark and his exploits last season suggest he is nicely treated, especially as some of the rivals he finished behind are rated much higher now having franked his form since.

It is almost certain we haven’t seen the best of him yet, and it will be disappointing if he isn’t capable of bouncing back from his blip last time out.