Can the well-backed Duel At Dawn make winning reappearance in Tommy Whittle?

2.40 Haydock
Smarkets Tommy Whittle Handicap Chase | 2m7f | 4yo+ 0-145 | ITV4/RTV

Key questions

Can Duel At Dawn overcome lack of recent run?

Although lacking the prestige it once had – Gold Cup winners Little Owl, Forgive ‘n Forget and The Thinker all won this race during the 1980s, while dual King George hero One Man triumphed in 1995 – the Tommy Whittle, which became a handicap in 2005, is still one of Haydock’s best-known jumps races.

Another competitive field of useful staying handicappers will take part this time, and plenty of eyes are likely to focus on the returning Duel At Dawn, the Alex Hales stable star.

Last seen when pulling up in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham in March, after which he was diagnosed with an extension injury to the back of his knee, the eight-year-old had previously chased home Ms Parfois in a Listed novice chase at Warwick.

Duel At Dawn has attracted market support this week ahead of his reappearance, and Hales said: “We’ve had to be patient with him but he’s ready to go again.

"It would take a big performance to win the Tommy Whittle first time out, but he’s been working as well as ever and has enjoyed a couple of away days in Lambourn.

"I'm very happy with him. He's as fit as I can get him first time out. If he'd had a run under his belt you'd have to seriously fancy him."

Will Clan Legend extend excellent first-time-out record?

Clan Legend: goes well in the mudCredit: John Grossick

Clan Legend has won first time out for the last three seasons – at Hexham (twice) and Kelso – and it looks a shrewd move by connections to target such a valuable prize on his reappearance.

A progressive sort over hurdles and fences in recent years, Clan Legend goes particularly well in the mud and should find underfoot conditions ideal.

He will require a career-best performance to land this £50,000 Class 2 contest but seems sure to run a bold race.

Trainer Nick Alexander said: “He seems in great form and this has been the plan for some time. We’re going up to three miles for the first time, and the wetter the better for him.”

What they say

Donald McCain, trainer of Testify
He has plenty of form at Haydock – he won two races there last season on heavy ground – and will like the conditions. He has a lot of weight but it looks the right race to run him in.

Nigel Twiston-Davies, trainer of Splash Of Ginge and Ballyarthur
The ground has come right now for 'Splash', and it will suit Ballyarthur too, so they're two live chances.

Venetia Williams, trainer of Houblon Des Obeaux
There were a lot of front-runners at Chepstow and he didn't really partake there after being taken off his legs early on. We've taken the cheekpieces off as they didn't have any useful effect there. Conditions will suit and it's a nice prize.

Tom Lacey, trainer of Kimberlite Candy
He’s in really good order, it looks the ideal race for him and he’ll love the ground.

Richard Hobson, trainer of Valadom
He’s well. He probably didn’t stay three and a quarter miles at Carlisle last month; this is more his trip. He’s a bit of an old-stager now so I put the visor on this morning and it appears to have woken him up. He pulled too hard in behind horses at Bangor over hurdles last time and came back fresh as paint.

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