Richards star all ready to return with a bang

Felix de Giles can put his local knowledge to good use at Haydock 12.40

Felix de Giles has followed in the footsteps of James Reveley by turning his career around with a move to France. The British jockey has been making hay across the Channel since joining forces with trainer Emmanuel Clayeux and De Giles will seek to put his local knowledge to good use at Haydock today as he and Clayeux have two darts to fire.

Vezelay’s chances in the Betfair Chase are pretty slim, but Clayeux and De Giles have more going for them with Fyrmyin in the 2m3f handicap hurdle.

The five-year-old comes into today’s contest in top form having won his last three starts, including a 15-length romp on heavy ground.
How he’ll fare against this stronger opposition has to come with a degree of guesswork, although there aren’t many who will enjoy the conditions. Connetable handles heavy ground, but he has to give quite a bit of weight away for this step up in trip and it’s tough reappearance for the Nicholls horse.


Give one more chance to How About It 1.15 Haydock

Having made an encouraging start over fences last season, the Rebecca Curtis-trained seven-year-old has been pretty disappointing in his last four starts and you are certainly taking a chance he will return to form here. However, with a change of headgear, it could be a chance worth taking.

At his best How About It has plenty going for him in today’s long-distance handicap chase off a mark of just 119. He impressed when winning by 11 lengths on his chase debut at Exeter last year and was also good enough to finish a length third behind Double Shuffle (now rated 144) and Fourth Act (rated 137) at Ludlow last December. That is form which leaves him thrown in at Haydock today and the ground and trip can play to his strengths; his dam had plenty of form on heavy and there’s scope for him to see out this 3m4½f distance.

Of course none of this will matter if he continues putting in the below-par efforts he has of late, including at Ludlow on his return. But the ground would have been quick enough for him that day and he has since been dropped 5lb in the weights.


Eduard 2.05 Ascot

Nicky Richards has more success than he’s given credit for when he sends his runners down south. Monet’s Garden twice won the Ascot Chase with exhilarating displays, while last week Simply Ned flew the Greystoke flag with honour when a fine second behind Fox Norton at Cheltenham. At the 2015 festival Eduard put up a career best when finishing fourth in a furiously-run Ryanair Chase. And that renewal was a hot one with future Gold Cup hero Don Cossack just a place in front of him and last week’s BetVictor Gold Cup winner Taquin Du Seuil miles further back in ninth.

Eduard missed last season through injury but he returns today and it’s hoped he’ll be firing on all cylinders for this £70,000 prize, as with no penalty to carry he has plenty in his favour.

Of his six rivals the biggest danger is expected to be former Champion Chase winner Dodging Bullets, who also has no penalty, although he is yet to prove himself at this distance and has been well beaten in two previous attempts at 2m4f.