'He goes there with a massive chance' - which trainer expects a big run in the competitive Tommy Whittle Chase?

This is a battle between a few course lovers, and Famous Bridge is chief among them. He is unbeaten in two completed starts around Haydock and one of his wins came in this race last year.

Famous Bridge is only 2lb higher than that victory and appeared to be running back into form when beaten only three lengths by Elvis Mail at Kelso last time.

That probably wasn’t a strong race, but it’s likely he wouldn’t have been suited by the way it was run and good to soft ground wasn’t ideal. He needs it as testing as can be. Haydock heavy evidently suits him and it’s hard to find many chinks in Famous Bridge’s armour.

He isn’t the only one for whom that statement rings true, though. Take Frenchy Du Large, who finished second on his sole start at the course in April 2023 and loves testing ground.

Frenchy Du Large: represents the in-form Venetia Williams stableCredit: David Davies (Getty Images)

He is trained by in-form Venetia Williams, who won a similar race at the course on Betfair Chase day with Fontaine Collonges and also landed the big race with Royale Pagaille. Frenchy Du Large is attempting to end a run of seconds and defy a 3lb rise.

East Street and Regal Blue are two other course winners and Regal Blue either wins or finishes pulled up judging on recent form figures that read P1P1P. However, both of the victories were on heavy ground and conditions could come right to continue his sequence.

East Street recorded his third win at the track at the third attempt 17 days ago and completed a hat-trick. His victory here last time might have been over hurdles, but he had won two in succession over fences before and may improve further. This is a career-high mark, though.
Analysis by Graeme Rodway

Unexposed Regal Blue bids to bounce back

Nick Scholfield is hoping to keep his recent good run going when he is reunited with the unexposed Regal Blue.

The Cheltenham Festival-winning rider steered Don’t Rightly Know to a ten-length win in a £20,000 race over fences at Exeter on Thursday and hopes to add to his week's tally on Regal Blue, although the seven-year-old was pulled up on his return to action at Bangor last month.

Scholfield said: “I schooled Regal Blue on Thursday and he jumped very well, and if they get any further rain up there it would be a bonus. The form of his win at Uttoxeter last year looks good now as the runner-up, The Changing Man, ran very well in the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle recently.”

He added of the Jonjo and AJ O’Neill-trained chaser: “He’s come on for his comeback and is a previous course winner, so I think he goes there with a good shout.”

What they say

Nicky Richards, trainer of Famous Bridge
He ran a great comeback race to be second at Kelso when he blew up in the closing stages. We then hoped to take him to the Betfred meeting at Haydock but his blood wasn’t 100 per cent, so we decided to give it a miss. He’s spot on again now and should make a bold bid to win it again.

Venetia Williams, trainer of Frenchy Du Large
This is always a really competitive race and stronger than the sort he’s used to running in. He gave us a lot of encouragement on his comeback run after some time off and that makes us hopeful that he can be competitive in a race such as this.

Alan King, trainer of Egbert
He probably found the ground too quick on his comeback at Exeter, where he also lost a shoe. He was quite sore when he came back and I hope we can put a line through that run. He's been working well since and will be suited by this step up in trip.

Alan King: runs Egbert in the Tommy WhittleCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

James Owen, trainer of East Street
We think he goes there with a massive chance. He’s won his last three and we think he’s a better chaser than a hurdler. Callum Pritchard is massive value for his 7lb.

Oliver Greenall, joint-trainer of Jacks Parrott
We weren’t really thinking about this race for him, but it seems to have cut up, so we're giving it a go. He blew up on his comeback the other day and should like the ground.
Reporting by David Milnes

Saturday previews:

1.50 Haydock: Iroko faces three formidable rivals from Ireland's top stables in intriguing graduation chase 

2.25 Ascot: 'He's going to take an awful lot of beating' - Long Walk Hurdle quotes and insight 

3.00 Ascot: Can huge Coral Gold Cup eyecatcher Victtorino continue Venetia Williams' run of big Saturday winners? 

3.35 Ascot: 'It's a huge pot to play for and he's got his ideal conditions' - trainers on their Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle contenders 

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