Tom Collins on why Emitom is the joker in the pack in Rendlesham Hurdle

2.05 Haydock
Unibet Rendlesham Hurdle | Grade 2 | 3m2½f | 4yo+ | ITV/RTV

With heavy ground confirmed and further rain expected, any questions about the stamina of participants in this Grade 2 event will be answered.

The market expects recent Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle winner The Worlds End to come out on top for trainer Tom George, who has a 20 per cent strike-rate (9-44) at this track in the last five years.

That is clearly the best piece of recent form in the race but it didn't feature the greatest line-up for a top-level event you will ever see (Paisley Park was a non-runner) and it is easy to get carried away with the status of the victory.

However, he regularly proved himself in Grade 2 level before that, so it was by no means a fluke, and he proved he can find a second wind when rallying past the enigmatic L'Ami Serge after being headed last time. His grit may come into play here.

Layers will see that The Worlds End has to give 6lb to all his five rivals and may well oppose him with the youngster of the party, Emitom. Warren Greatrex's six-year-old captured the attention of bookmakers and ante-post tipsters last year when winning a bumper and three novice hurdles on the bounce before finishing second in the Grade 1 Sefton Novices' Hurdle behind Champ.

Emitom: could improve on his seasonal reappearanceCredit: Alan Crowhurst (Getty Images)

On that evidence he holds clear claims, but he jumped terribly on his return in the Relkeel Hurdle when finishing last of six and he will need to improve in that department if he is to return to the winner's enclosure. He is still young and improvement can be expected, so he rates the joker in the pack.

At the other end of the spectrum are West Approach and Clyne, a couple of ten-year-olds who will need the top two in the market to run below their best if they are to land the first prize.

West Approach looks the more likely of the duo as he reverts to hurdles for the first time since finishing sixth in the Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree. He has plenty of ability but relishes a quick gallop (won't get that here) and has disappointed over fences lately.

Donna's Diamond and One Night In Milan make up the field and appear to have it all to do, although the former landed a big gamble to take this race two years ago.

Tom Collins

Key stat

Punters should be very wary of supporting the favourite in this Grade 2 contest as they have a remarkably poor record with no market leader obliging in the last ten runnings.

What the trainers say

Tom George, trainer of The Worlds End
He is in great form and has had a good season so far as he has won a Grade 1 and Grade 2 so everything we pick up from now is a bonus. At one stage heavy ground might have been a problem but as he has got older the better he seems to handle those types of conditions - he actually seems to quite like it now.

Evan Williams, trainer of Clyne
He is simply the most genuine old horse you could wish for as he just does not know how to run a bad race. He is getting a handy 6lb from The Worlds End which will help and he will love the conditions, in fact, the tougher it is the better it will be for him.

Joe Tizzard, assistant to Colin Tizzard, trainer of West Approach
He has been very consistent this season which is something he has not been in the past. It’s a wide open race but it looks the right one for him. The switch back to hurdles is not a problem as he was second to Paisley Park twice last season.

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