Haydock today

Haydock stages one of its most interesting cards of the year today, with two valuable hurdle races as well as 5 flat races. The 3 mile hurdle that opens the card at 15.00 CET has 19 runners and is wide open, but we like the top-weight Cross Kennon (Jennie Candlish/ Alan O´Keeffe), who has been running in top races, likes it here and goes well on the soft. The 2 mile hurdle at 16.40, also with 19 runners, looks much tougher. Nicky Henderson has won the last two editions, and now saddles 3 runners - top-weight Lifestyle (Barry Geraghty), Petit Robin (Jerry McGrath) and All the Aces (Andrew Tinkler); we like the last-named best, as he was a group horse on the flat and seems well handicapped here. Red Merlin (Donald McCain/ Jason Maguire), whose stable is in great form, looks sure to run well and Charm School (Evan Williams/ Adam Wedge) is another danger.
On the flat, we expect Markab (Henry Candy/ Dane O´Neill) to take the conditions race over 6 furlongs at 16.05; he won a Group One over this CD in 2010, and has Ayr Gold Cup winner Our Jonathan (Kevin Ryan/ Franny Norton) to beat. The listed race over 7 furlongs at 17.15 should lie between Beacon Lodge (David and Adrian Nicholls) and Red Jazz (Charlie and Michael Hills), although Firebeam, (William Haggas/ Richard Hughes) could possibly improve past them both.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Pateese - American Trilogy - Victors Serenade
2. Race: Annunciation - Barracuda Boy - Red Dragon
3. Race: Our Jonathan - Markab - Regal Parade
4. Race: Red Merlin - Arab League - Caravel
5. Race: Red Jazz - Firebeam - Beacon Lodge
6. Race: Assizes - Dance The Rain - Mr Spiggott
7. Race: Sugar Hiccup - Braveheart Move - Jo`Burg