Mixed card at Haydock

Haydock has one of the best mixed cards of the season this afternoon, with 4 flat races and 3 over jumps. Main event is the valuable Swinton handicap hurdle over an extended 2 miles at 14.35 CET. With 24 runners, 15 of them first or second last time out, this is wide open. Overturn (Donld McCain/ Jason Maguire) and Ciceron (Venetia Williams/ Aidan Coleman) have both won their last 3 races, but have shot up the ratings as a result. Ex-German Acambo (David Pipe/ Graham Lee) also seems too high in the weights, and has been off the track for almost a year. In any case we prefer Hunterview of the Pipe stable´s 4 runners. Paul Nicholls´ ex-French Toubab (Paul Townend) is unexposed but has got in the race with a very light weight. However we prefer horses with experience in these tough handicaps; top-weight Dee ee Williams (Nick Gifford/ Liam Treadwell) was a narrow winner from Issaquah (Malcolm Jefferson/ James Halliday) in a similar event with 21 runners on Grand National day at Aintree, and at these weights Issaquah is our suggestion.

The other handovap hurdle, over 3 miles 1 furlog t 16.00, has 22 runners and looks equally difficult. The very lightly-raced Penylan Star (Philip Hobbs/ Richard Johnson) must be considered, as well as last-time-out winners Al Co (Jonjo O´Neill/ Tony McCoy) and Picture This (Nicholls/ Harry Skelton) but our main hope is Mous of Men (Tommy Murphy) from the in-form Pipe stable, raised just 7 lbs for an easy win at Sandown last time.

Best race on the flat here is the opening listed race over 7 furlongs at 15.00. Veteran Welsh Emperor (Tom Tate/ Micky Fenton) would have a good chance if it rained non-stop, but that seems unlikely, so we make this between Godolphin´ s Marching (Mahmoud al Zarooni/ Ted Durcan), and Ordnance Row (Richard Hannon/ Pat Dobbs).

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Lovelace - Marching - Mia`S Boy
2. Race: Plea - Clarke Lane - Ahtoug
3. Race: Picture This - Al Co - Mous Of Men
4. Race: Overturn - Toubab - Hunterview
5. Race: Mahonia - Bluegun - Earth Magic
6. Race: Elnawin - Evens And Odds - Prime Defender
7. Race: Sam Sharp - Lady Luachmhar - Tropical Blue