2:15 Haydock Tips

The combo of Hughes/McCain is an extremely positive one. This horse is proven on deep ground and fits the Danalyzer Reliable Stayer profile perfectly.

Ballyeaston is the undisputed favorite and the horse with the strongest profile in the race. His best recent time is 113, with a Racing Post Rating (RPR) of 116, the highest in the field. He tends to run strongly. In his last start (December 28), he finished second after a hard-fought battle, showing great stamina in the final stretch. Ridden by Jonathan Burke for trainer Fergal O’Brien, this pair has a very high success rate in this type of hurdle race.

Yorkshire Man Sam showed me some decent promise in bumpers and now needs to prove he's still got his mojo intact. As a Black Sam Bellamy gelding from a Presenting family, he's bred for this 2m5f trip. One reason for picking him here is that he is up against less-tested runners, so a place isn't impossible if he takes to timber here

Shuile Warrior, although official speed statistics place him as an outsider, is an interesting contender for those looking for a high-odds upset (each-way) thanks to his proven stamina, the jockey's weight allowance, and his jumping experience. Huw Edwards is an amateur jockey who knows the horse well (he rode him during his podium run). His biggest advantage today is the 7-pound allowance, meaning the horse will carry less weight than the favorites??'a key factor on soft ground.