SUNDAY WEEKENDER

14:00 Haydock

A competitive race that will test the stamina of many. Ami Debois ran a cracker to finish third in the Welsh Grand National Trial at Chepstow earlier this month, with the winner Ramses De Teillee going on to finish second in the National itself just two days ago. A prior winner at the course, it would be no surprise to see another big run.

Back To The Thatch was just a length behind Ami Desbois in the aforementioned National Trial but he is re-united with Champion Jockey Richard Johnson who was in the saddle for both of the six-year-olds prior career wins and has an excellent strike rate when riding for Henry Daly, with twenty wins from forty-three rides and a level stakes profit of +£37.55 in 2018. This strike rate cannot be ignored and the extra distance should bring about improvement so he is given the nod today.

With three wins and two seconds from eight runs over fences since switching to Dr Newland, a final mention goes to West Of The Edge who is a consistent runner who will have no stamina worries having won over similar trips and even further. At a likely bigger price, he is one who will be staying on when others have given up and is not without a chance.

Back To The Thatch (WIN) – NAP