Haydock & Musselburgh selections Saturday 19th April
We are at the stage of the year now where we get into crossover territory between flat and jump racing and today I am looking at two races under both codes. A valuable flat card at Musselburgh and two legs of the Challenger series finals at Haydock come under the microscope. Kalif du Berlais gave us a winner in the previous column (advised 9/4) whilst Iroko was placed for the each-way Grand National bet (advised 8/1).
Haydock 2.05: Givemefive
With so many decent 2m handicap hurdles around at this time of year, this race is not as competitive as it might have been and that gives GIVEMEFIVE a chance to defy top weight against lesser opposition.
This horse looked very useful when winning the valuable 4yo hurdle at the Cheltenham October meeting, loving the good ground that day. That looked like it would set him up for a decent season, but he was found wanting in top handicaps and a Grade 3 at Fairyhouse over the winter.
Those races though were generally on softer going. In slightly calmer waters at Newcastle last month, he made all to win a qualifier for this final at Newcastle, jumping slickly throughout and again enjoying the faster going. On a track that favours front-runners, I expect Paul O’Brien to ride him up with the pace throughout and again he should enjoy a class advantage over his rivals.
Musselburgh 3.00: Jer Batt
An unusually small field for such a big prize and this can go to JER BATT a wide margin winner on his only previous visit to the Scottish track.
This will be his first run since an excellent second at Doncaster last autumn on his favoured soft ground when defeated just a head by the favourite today Cover Up (my selection is 4lbs better off today). However Jer Batt has a solid record first time out including winning in 2023.
He can handle good ground as well as soft, winning at Haydock last summer under such conditions, and today’s going should be somewhere between the two. He also has a good record on sharp tracks such as Musselburgh, an impressive 3l winner here a couple of seasons ago.
Haydock 3.15: Dubai Days
A battling second in this race twelve months ago, a quiet campaign means DUBAI DAYS should be coming here fresh and well in a bid to go one place better in 2025.
Whether a belated started to the campaign was planned or not, Dubai Days started his season here in February with an excellent win in a qualifier for this race. Since then he has had just the one more outing when chasing home Credo over 3m at Carlisle.
To my mind Dubai Days is at his best over a flat 3m so a return to Haydock will suit and he does not have the miles on the clock this season that the majority of rivals have. He enjoys decent ground so today’s conditions won’t present a problem.
Musselburgh 3.35: Struth
The draw could have been kinder with STRUTH drawn 14 of 14, but there is no other jockey around more capable than Silvestre de Sousa to overcome that disadvantage. Usually a prominent racer, expect de Sousa to send him forward early to allow him to cut across the field before the first bend, thus negating that wide stall.
If he can do that Struth has dropped to a mark that he surely must be capable of being competitive from. Last season was a virtual write off, but if he is anywhere near back to the form he was showing in 2023, he must rate a danger. He started that campaign with a first time out win at the big Chester meeting, enjoying the soft ground, and whilst he did not win again, he put in some cracking efforts in defeat.
That included second places at the Shergar Cup and in the November Handicap (switched that year to the AW track at Newcastle). He does seem at his best with a hint of cut, something he will get today. He has done most of his racing at 12f, but should stay this sharp 14f and if de Sousa can pull off another tactical blinder, this horse could be overpriced.
Recommended bets:
1pt each-way – Givemefive – 2.05 Haydock – 4/1 general (most bookies 1/5 odds 1st 3)
1pt each-way – Jer Batt – 3.00 Musselburgh – 4/1 general (most bookies 1/5 odds 1st 3)
1pt each-way – Dubai Days – 3.15 Haydock – 13/2 general
1pt each-way – Struth – 3.35 Musselburgh – 18/1 Bet365 (1/5 odds 1st 4)
