Well-treated Sam Brown near-perfect at Haydock and has more improvement in him

William Hill Grand National Trial Handicap Chase (Grade 3) | 5yo+ | 3m 4½f | ITV/RTV

The talented Anthony Honeyball-trained Sam Brown jumps off the page as being well handicapped on 149.

He's only 2lb higher than when a half-length second to Royale Pagaille in the Peter Marsh last time, shaped okay when a distant third to Protektorat in the Many Clouds on his return and registered a Racing Post Rating of 157 on his previous two completed chases.

Sam Brown has a near-perfect record in two starts at Haydock and is still open to improvement having run in only seven chases.

However, there are doubts over his aptitude to stay a further three furlongs on heavy going for a horse with the speed to lay up over two and a half miles.

He will face competition for the lead from several quarters and in a truly run race there will be no hiding place for Sam Brown.

Bristol De Mai is the class horse in the race and won't be far away in the early skirmishes.

Connections will also be encouraged by the successful weight-carrying performances of Grade 1 horses Royale Pagaille and Bravemansgame in similar races recently.

The three-time Betfair Chase winner, running in just his second handicap at the age of 11, stoops below the 160 mark for the first time since November 2017 back at his favourite stamping ground.

Bristol De Mai has been given a squeak by the assessor off 159, although there is a lack of evidence he will stay the marathon 3m4½f trip.

Secret Reprieve is a worthy favourite and his suitability to extreme distances is indubitable.

Evan Williams' stable star was a brilliant winner of the Welsh Grand National two starts back and, bar a postponement which enforced last season's running to take place in January, would have matched Native River and Elegant Escape as the only six-year-olds to capture the prize since Halcon Genelardais' success for Alan King in 2006.

Secret Reprieve: 'A brilliant winner of the Welsh Grand National'Credit: Edward Whitaker

There were credible excuses as to why Secret Reprieve was a well-beaten fifth and unable to follow up in the 2021 version. Williams was unable to get a run into him before his defence due to unusually fast ground for the time of year and he was running off a 6lb higher mark.

He has been dropped 2lb drop to 138, relishes testing conditions and will be fitter for his comeback. It is probable we are only just scratching the surface with the extent of his ability.

The final word goes to the old warrior Blaklion, whose enthusiasm has been rejuvenated in veterans’ chases this season.

The 13-year-old followed up a three-and-a-quarter-length defeat of Aso in early December with a comfortable 28-length triumph over this course and distance four weeks later.

That he recorded an RPR of 155 there, his highest figure since winning the Becher Chase in 2017, is testament to the exceptional training performance of Dan Skelton and his team. He might be vulnerable to younger legs but certainly isn't one to rule out.
Race analysis by Robbie Wilders

Back to the beginning

It's back to where it really started for the remarkable grey Bristol De Mai. It was in the Peter Marsh Chase on this course just over five years ago that he first stamped himself as something well out of the ordinary, grinding through the mud to win by a remarkable 22 lengths.

Three Betfair Chase wins later he returns to Haydock for the track's other big staying handicap chase, only 5lb higher in the weights and arriving after a close third over an inadequate 2m6f at Lingfield.

Bristol De Mai: a wide-margin winner of the Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock in 2017Credit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

This will be a more fitting test and jockey Sam Twiston-Davies said: "If you were going to invent a race for Bristol De Mai it would be a three-and-a-half-mile chase on heavy ground round Haydock.

"He seems in fantastic nick at home, his schooling has been good and his work has been pleasing since Lingfield. That was a really good run, it was only over two miles six, if there'd been a couple more furlongs I'd love to have known what might have been.

"He jumped well, he never gave up, it was great to see and it fills us with hope for a race like this."

Bristol De Mai was third in the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2019 but holds no entries at the festival this year and Twiston-Davies said: "There's so much in his favour this weekend, we'll really get a true picture of where we are with him.

"He won a handicap there before and he put up a good weight-carrying performance, with the size and scope of him the weight itself isn't a problem. But if somebody's got a few pounds in hand you're going to see it over three and a half miles."

Trying again

Lord Du Mesnil, who won by a game half-length last year, returns to Haydock trying to become just the second dual winner of this race and the first since Silver By Nature in 2010 and 2011.

Richard Hobson is confident the testing ground will see him in a much better light than when only sixth in the Peter Marsh Chase here last month.

"We want as much rain as possible," the trainer said. "The ground was just good to soft last time.

"He won the Grand National Trial off a mark of 149 last year and he's off 150 this time. He's in great order. He's been to Lambourn to do a piece of work and he went very well. We're hopeful he'll run a big race."

What they say

Anthony Honeyball, trainer of Sam Brown
He's in good form and schooled well on Friday. Conditions will suit him and I don't think the trip will be a problem, so he should have every chance.

Dan Skelton, trainer of Blaklion
I'm really looking forward to this. The ground is in his favour and he's won there the last twice. It's a big ask for a 13-year-old but he's in tremendous form and I have no negatives.

Jonjo O'Neill, trainer of Time To Get Up
He won on heavy at Wincanton last year and it was quite soft when he won at Uttoxeter, but he's had plenty of issues since then and he hasn't run for a while.

Ben Clarke, trainer of The Galloping Bear
He was put up 5lb for Lingfield, which I think was fair. The ground and track will suit and his stamina should come in to play in the last half mile. He won't stop galloping and we're very hopeful.

The Galloping Bear (near side) wins the Surrey NationalCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

Evan Williams, trainer of Secret Reprieve
Everything is grand with him and this is the type of race I've always thought would suit him. I'm not sure if these extreme conditions are what he wants but he's handled heavy ground round Chepstow. The top horse staying in is a help, but he's by far the classiest in the race and will love the ground.

Richard Newland, trainer of Enqarde
He's been trained for the race and he's in good form, but whether it's going to be too much of a slog stamina-wise we'll find out.

Alan O'Keeffe, assistant to Jennie Candlish, trainer of Mint Condition
He's a novice taking on experienced handicappers but he'll love the ground – it was too quick for him last time – and he's run well there twice before. If he gets into a rhythm early on he could run well.
Reporting by David Carr

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