Today's Tote Placepot Tips for Haydock

Leg 1 Selections: Sizing Pottsie

Tahmuras and Snake Roll were very impressive last time but SIZING POTTSIE can outclass them here. The eight-year-old made the most of a good opportunity on stable debut for David Pipe when winning by eighteen lengths over hurdles at Ayr and while this is a much stiffer race, he sets a clear standard, will love conditions and his form looks far superior to what his two market rivals have achieved to date. 

Leg 2 Selections: Achille, Sam’s Adventure 

ACHILLE was running well when in second place in the Midlands National on his final start only for his rider to be unseated when a stirrup leather snapped on the final circuit. The good news though, is that the assessor has reduced his mark two pounds since and he made the frame in both the fifth in the Becher Chase and fourth in the Welsh Grand National last season off a mark of 141, alongside a decent seventh in the Classic Chase at Warwick off 138. He has a good record fresh and ran well on his only previous visit here when pushing course specialist Lord Du Mesnil to half a length in the Grand National Trial over course and distance when rated ten pounds higher, so the course will suit. 

The Brian Ellison-trained SAM’S ADVENTURE ran two stinkers at this course on his final couple of starts last season but he drops in grade ahead of his return today off an eight pounds lower mark than when last spotted and that means he’ll compete in this race off an eight pounds lower mark than when successful which came in the Eider Chase last year under similar conditions. That was over 4m+, so he clearly stays further and won at this course a couple of years ago in the Tommy Whittle on heavy ground off this exact mark. He has a bit to prove at the moment but he’ll have no issue at the course, on the ground or over the trip. 

Leg 3 Selections: Cheddleton

CHEDDLETON looks too big a price to overlook in this race. He’s well-treated on last year’s consistent chase form and goes well fresh, while his versatility to handle all conditions has been proven too. The seven-year-old has won two of his four starts over hurdles and placed in the other two, including a Grade Two. 

He didn’t do much wrong in defeat over fences last term and is interestingly unbeaten at this course (two-from-two). While it would be asking a lot of him to go and win this off top-weight on deepish ground after eight months off, he is more than capable of making his presence felt here. 

Leg 4 Selections: Hitman, Erne River 

Paul Nicholls’ HITMAN has run well in various Grade One and Grade Two events on his last six starts and ran a huge race off top-weight in the Old Roan at Aintree last-time-out when narrowly denied. He goes up in distance here and drops down in grade, and he handles most conditions, so he should take all of the beating here. ERNE RIVER could give him most to think about though, who won his first two chase starts and is a lot better than he shown last-time-out. If the favourite fluffs his lines, he might be the one to take full advantage. The other two cannot be ruled out but I’ll be surprised if one of these two doesn’t take the spoils. 

Leg 5 Selections: Complete Unknown, Brinkley 

COMPLETE UNKNOWN has a great each-way chance in this. He beat a decent horse on debut in a bumper on heavy ground and since joining Paul Nicholls, he’s been rock-solid over hurdles, making the frame five times and winning a Grade Three easily on the other occasion from just six hurdle starts. He ran well when stepped up to three miles last time, finishing second in a Listed event, and returns with his stable in really good form. He will be suited to this bigger-field, loves soft ground, will like this galloping track and is open to further improvement. 

David Pipe’s BRINKLEY also goes well on soft ground and makes his return off a nice mark with a good record fresh. He beat a couple of good horses on his chase debut last year following a nine month absence and completed a solid campaign with a third place effort at Chepstow back over hurdles in February. He’s two pounds lower than when beating some good yardsticks at Exeter last year and is ten pounds lower than when 12th of 22 in the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. This race is likely to have been a long-term project and he’s only seven, so there should be more to come this season. 

Leg 6 Selections: A Plus Tard, Frodon

The feature race of the day, the Grade One Befair Chase, and it’s hard to see past last years winner of this race and Gold Cup winner A PLUS TARD, who will be suited to conditions and was so impressive in this twelve months ago. He’s a strong-traveller, who jumps fluently, and this high-class Irish raider is the one to beat in his quest to win this race again. 

FRODON is wildly overpriced though, who wouldn’t be running here unless Paul Nicholls’ feels as though he came out of his win in the Badger Beers two weeks ago in great form. He was only third in this race back in 2019 but he’s improved again since and he should be suited to conditions under a positive ride. I have a feeling he’ll take Bristol De Mai out of his comfort zone if Bryony decides to send him to the front and, considering he’s so high in the betting, he can’t be discounted.