Mahlermade back again in bid to win staying chase final for second time

2.40 Haydock
Betway Challenger Staying Chase Series Final Handicap Chase | 3m1½f | 5yo+ | RTV/ITV4

Not many horses reach the highest level, but each one deserves their day in the sun and shrewd connections regularly do their best to make that happen.

This is Mahlermade's Gold Cup. The Alan King-trained eight-year-old has a career record of 1-24 and has regularly just come up short (ten second or third-placed finishes). It took him 14 attempts to finally get his head in front, but the long wait was worthwhile as that elusive success came in this race in 2019.

Mahlermade hasn't been able to double his winning tally since and has been sparingly raced due to his need for good ground, but he followed a creditable jumpers' bumper effort at Kempton in February with a solid third to qualify for this final and gets to race off a mark of 110, which is 9lb lower than when he won.

The return here is a positive as is his low weight, though this is the stiffest competition he has faced for a while. Mahlermade will need a hearty performance to win, but he's done it once before.

His main dangers on recent form are Crossley Tender and Checkitout, both of whom race from the top of the handicap after successful seasons.

Crossley Tender has been a model of consistency and was unlucky to lose out in a thrilling finish to the Eider last time. His new mark of 130 leaves nothing to hide but you know what you're going to get – a gutsy display.

Checkitout seeks a quickfire hat-trick after a couple of spring victories following a break. His Southwell form has worked out well with the third and fourth winning since, though he was rather handed victory last time with crucial mistakes from close challengers in the straight and now races off 6lb higher.

Quick conditions might catch out course winner Silva Eclipse, who returned to form on just his second chase start with a convincing two-length Sedgefield win. However, the ground should suit Tea Time On Mars. The Sue Gardner-trained chaser last encountered good ground in February 2019 and won well at Wincanton.
Race analysis by Tom Collins

What they say

Nigel Twiston-Davies, trainer of Checkitout
He's improving all the time and won very nicely at Ludlow last Thursday. I just hope this race hasn’t come too soon for him.

Dan Skelton, trainer of Debece
He's in good form and it was a nice first run for us. I don't think Haydock will be a problem for him and you'd have to give him a chance.

Nicky Henderson, trainer of Versatility
He's versatile! It's a very competitive race, but he goes there in good form. It's a good prize.

Sue Smith, trainer of Silva Eclipse
He won last time at Sedgefield quite nicely. He would perhaps have preferred the ground to be a little softer, but hopefully it'll be good to soft. He appears to be in very good form, so I'm hopeful he'll run a very nice race.

Tom George, trainer of Sumkindofking and Smuggler's Blues
They're both in good form and it's a race we've had a bit of luck in in the past. They're both qualified runners so we thought we'd take our chance. I wouldn't read too much into the jockey bookings, the lad [Thomas Doggrell, yard conditional] won on Sumkindofking last time and 10lb is a lot to take off and they get on well.

Alan King, trainer of Mahlermade
Mahlermade won the staying handicap chase final the last time it was staged in 2019. He does not seem to be the force of old and is down to a mark of 110 and may need lesser company now.
Reporting by Stuart Riley

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