'Unfortunate' Ladbrokes Trophy faller Remastered gets shot at redemption

Saturday: 2.40 Haydock
Virgin Bet Tommy Whittle Handicap Chase | 3m1½f | 4yo+ | ITV4/RTV

The pivotal question in this year's Tommy Whittle requires casting the mind back three weeks. How would Remastered have fared in the Ladbrokes Trophy had he stood up?

To answer that question needs a longer memory. The same horse's Reynoldstown win in February was marked by dogged stamina. The inference is he was not going anywhere at Newbury and would have been right there at the finish.

The straights on the Newbury and Haydock chase courses are similar, in a tale-of-the-tape sense. Both contain four fences, rise by about 10-15 feet to the finish line and are comfortably more than half a mile in length – Haydock is approximately 4.45f, Newbury 4.75f, a difference of about 60 yards.

There is a qualitative sense that horses get more tired at Haydock, where the ground at this time of year tends to be more testing. It is heavy here, whereas it was good to soft on Ladbrokes Trophy day. In short, you had better hope Remastered was going to see it out three weeks ago if he is to win here.

To further that impression, the Tommy Whittle was won last year by Sam's Adventure, who went on to take the Eider two months later. He defends the title and gets the heavy ground that seems to be important to him.

His two runs this winter can be largely ignored, conditions and his SPs suggesting he has been on the road back to Haydock. He is 9lb higher than last year, but only 3lb above his Eider mark.

The others worthy of mention are Acey Milan and Enqarde. Like Sam's Adventure, Acey Milan departed before the straight in the Peter Marsh here in January when going well, although he would have done extremely well to beat Royale Pagaille.

Enqarde won at Ascot the same day and then seemed not to stay in the Grand National Trial here. He jumps left and caught the eye a little at Exeter on his reappearance. Like Sam's Adventure – and Acey Milan – the sense is that a return to Haydock has been the aim.
Race analysis by Keith Melrose

Remastered bids for compensation

Remastered was poised to play a major part in the finish to last month's Ladbrokes Trophy before a heavy fall four out and trainer David Pipe is hoping that incident has not left a mark.

Strong in the betting before the big Newbury handicap, Remastered travelled well and was mounting his challenge when suffering his first fall in 15 runs over obstacles.

The Grade 2 novice chase winner, who has form on heavy ground, is able to run off the same mark and has regular rider Tom Scudamore back on board as he bids to gain compensation.

Pipe said: "He's come out of it well. He's had lots of physio and treatment since, and we've done lots of work on him. He's pleased us in his schooling since and, touch wood, his confidence hasn't been dented; but it was a horrible fall and you can't tell until you go back on the racecourse.

"He's back on soft ground and if that fall hasn't left a mark, hopefully he's got to have a big chance."

Remastered had an alternative engagement on the day but Pipe believes the Tommy Whittle, a race the trainer will be looking to win for the third time in eight years, offers a more suitable challenge.

"He was in at Ascot but over three miles there, it's a quick run downhill to the first and it's important he gets in a rhythm and gets the first few fences right," he said.

"It's important for him to get round in this race, but he's a very good jumper and it was just unfortunate."

What they say

Sue Smith, trainer of Vintage Clouds and Silva Eclipse
Vintage Clouds is in good form but has plenty of weight to carry in the ground. He likes it round there and all is well with him. Silva Eclipse also has good course form, more over hurdles than fences. He's very well in himself going there and the ground will suit him, if they're not going quite so quick.

Alan King, trainer of Notachance
I'd like to get another run into him before next month's Classic Chase at Warwick. While he was a little disappointing in the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle, the ground probably wasn't slow enough for him there.

Evan Williams, trainer of Fado Des Brosses
He needs to start as he's been ready to run for a long time. Like a lot of the soft-ground horses, we've been struggling to find an opportunity. He needs plenty of cut in the ground, so we're going there with him.

Anthony Honeyball, trainer of Acey Milan
I'm very happy with him. He's got that class and form; he finished second in a £100,000 hurdle race here before. We've got the cheekpieces back on him today and he won at Aintree last season, so we know he copes with those sort of fences. I'm hopeful of a good run from him, is on an okay mark, and could still be a little bit unexposed. It wouldn't be the biggest shock to see him win a race like this.

Olly Murphy, trainer of Calipso Collonges
He's in great form and he loves testing ground. Touch wood, he's a solid jumper as well and has run well in the race before. He's going there on a high having won last time, having not done so for a while prior to that, and in what looks a competitive race I'd say he holds a solid each-way chance.

Venetia Williams, trainer of Fuji Flight
It's a big step up in class for him but the form of his last race has worked out well. The track and the ground should suit him and hopefully the light weight might bring him into it stepped up in class. It's a big ask though.
Reporting by Andrew Dietz

Scoop6 bonus up for grabs

Christmas could come early for the appropriately named Chris Carroll, who won last weekend's Scoop 6 and goes for the £237,909 bonus on Saturday.

The £2 Betfred shop punter successfully found all six winners last Saturday to win £27,566.30, with Martello Sky sealing the prize when holding on by a neck from Indefatigable in the mares' handicap hurdle at Cheltenham.

And Carroll will have his work cut out if he is to land the six-figure bonus as he must find the winner of the Tommy Whittle.

The 3m1½f handicap chase promises to be a slog in heavy ground at Haydock and has attracted 16 runners, with unlucky Ladbrokes Trophy faller Remastered the likely favourite.

Saturday's race previews:

1.50 Ascot: has the handicapper given 'frustrating' Palmers Hill a winning chance?

2.05 Haydock: 'I don't know how good he is' – Oliver Sherwood in the dark over Little Awkward

2.25 Ascot: trainer insight on Thyme Hill, Paisley Park, Ronald Pump and more

3.00 Ascot: 'He comes alive here' – veteran Regal Encore back for more at favourite track

3.35 Ascot: 'He's got a real chance' – analysis and key quotes for valuable handicap hurdle

Navan: Champion Bumper favourite American Mike bids to join illustrious roll of honour