Robbie Wilders from the Racing Post eyes up four horses across Wednesday’s three meetings in Britain.
Icon D’Aubrelle @ 4/1
1pt win
Alnadam @ 7/2
1pt win
No Cruise Yet @ 3/1
1pt win
Cornerstone Lad @ 9/1
1pt win
Icon D’Aubrelle was presumably bought to be a staying chaser by Grand National and Gold Cup-winning owner Robert Waley Cohen and gets three miles and a fence for the first time in the 3m handicap chase (3.15) at Ffos Las.
Grade 1-entered in last season’s Triumph Hurdle, Icone D’Aubrelle was never good enough for that level but ran an encouraging third at Ffos Las on his chasing debut and seasonal return in February, shaping as if a step up in trip on a slower surface would be in his favour.
He gets that here off 3lb lower and his pedigree is all about soft ground, so the stage looks set for a career-best effort off a mark of 114 against a raft of older, exposed types.
Alnadam shaped like the best horse in the race when third in a Wetherby handicap hurdle in February and redemption awaits in the 2m3f handicap hurdle (3.35) at Haydock.
Harry Skelton failed to spot the omitted final flight at Wetherby until late in the day as Alnadam, who was clear and hugging the stands’ side rail, was forced to quickly switch around the hurdle and squandered plenty of ground in that manoeuvre.
That he only lost by two and a quarter lengths was a fair effort and although he is 1lb higher now, 5lb claimer Tristan Durrell takes the ride and he will surely be competitive returned to his favoured soft ground.
Alnadam has recorded his five best performances on Racing Post Ratings on soft/heavy.
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The Tim Moloney Handicap Chase later on the card at Haydock (4.10) will turn into a right slog over three and a half miles and early favourite Your Own Story is worth taking on with No Cruise Yet.
Your Own Story’s second to Stumptown at Sandown was franked by the winner almost landing the Kim Muir at Cheltenham next time, but he reopposes off the same terms with No Cruise Yet for an eight-length defeat by my selection over this course and distance in November.
Your Own Story’s profile suggests he prefers a quicker surface and No Cruise Yet arrives in tip-top form having placed behind the well-handicapped Kitty’s Light in the Eider in February from 2lb out of the weights.
Back on his correct mark and with stamina assured, a bold bid is anticipated.
Cornerstone Lad once lowered the colours of dual Champion Hurdle winner Buveur D’Air in the Grade 1 Fighting Fifth at Newcastle and might be able to roll back the years in the 2m handicap hurdle (5.20) that concludes Haydock’s card.
It seems surprising that Cornerstone Lad is still only nine and the handicapper is giving him a real chance off a mark of 134.
His latest fourth at Wetherby in January is worth completely dismissing as he scoped dirty post-race and his previous two outings this season, in which he twice finished fourth in two strong races at Kelso and Wetherby and recorded RPRs of 143 and 144, are better races in which to judge him.
Cornerstone Lad relishes soft ground and form figures of 2312 at Haydock point towards a big run.
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