Morning folks
This is unusual for me, and something I may do more of this year as following my beaten horses has ALWAYS paid. We may lose our stake but I’m confident one of our old friends, who won for us over C & D last December at a good price and very favourable place terms will run and it is for Saturday—
Haydock
BUSHYPARK – 1/2 PT EW @ 33/1 1/4 odds Bet365, 25/1 4 places 1/4 odds generally
The Sky Bet Cheltenham Non-Runner No Bet Handicap Hurdle has the potential to cut up a lot so if he runs we get a cracking position with 4 places, 1/4 odds.
Admittedly, he isn’t the most consistent, and he has failed to complete on both starts so far this season, but he loves it at Haydock (three-time course winner) and all of those victories have come on ground that Timeform described as soft or heavy (other wins elsewhere came on heavy also!)
He scored by eight and a half lengths from a mark of 120 over this course and distance a few years ago, while his latest success at this course, when tipped by me, came from a mark of 115 last season, so he’s handicapped to go well from his current 114.
Bushypark was also well supported to win a lesser handicap than this back over this course and distance at the end of December and he looked on good terms with himself, going with his usual verve out in front and having a fair few of his rivals off the bridle when he departed at the ninth hurdle.
Front-running tactics can lend themselves well to Haydock, especially when the ground is testing, and I can see him running a big race at fancy odds.
Philip Kirby is also in decent form, having several winners over the Christmas period and he’s also had plenty of horses hitting the frame in recent weeks. This may not turn out to be that competitive or many runners for the grade and Bushypark is just the type of horse who can bounce back from a couple of blips and get his season up and running under his winning jockey who is already locked up u like 10 in there who are not. As I say it is ante post but worth chancing IMO.