Haydock Grand National Trial Meeting Preview

Haydock stages one of its flagship jumping days on Saturday, featuring three Grade 2 hurdles as well as the Grand National Trial, in which Silver By Nature bids to repeat last year's success. Timeform run the rule over the leading contenders in each of the feature races...

The Victor Ludorum gets things underway (13:40), when Local Hero aims to continue his progression up the juvenile hurdling ranks. The Steve Gollings-trained gelding may have appeared only workmanlike in victory at Cheltenham last time, but he responded favourably to AP McCoy's urgings and it will be interesting to see if connections of the second-placed Third Intention take him on again after that horse pulled far too hard early on last time. Smad Place is a huge danger but has to put a disappointing run behind him, whilst Alan King also has Dhaafer, Jalail and Kumbeshwar to choose from. Houblon des Obeaux is the other horse to note after an encouraging British debut, when succumbing only to Marsh Warbler in a Grade 1 at Chepstow.

The Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle (14:10), formerly known as the Prestige, was won by the since-unbeaten novice chaser Wymott last year, and his trainer Donald McCain has the improving pair of Lively Baron and Tornado Bob entered at this stage. However, both will have to continue their rapid progress if they are to challenge the strong-travelling Court In Motion, who has already shown form good enough to win an average renewal of this race and is a high-class prospect indeed. Dangers include Mr Moonshine, who is a fluent jumper and is capable of better still, and Rose of The Moon, who was second to Bobs Worth at Cheltenham but needs to put a desperate run last time firmly behind him.

The Rendlesham Hurdle (14:45) has been won by some very good staying hurdlers in its history and has been a happy hunting ground for French maestro Francois Doumen in recent years, with Baracouda landing the spoils in 2002 before Kasbah Bliss provided two victories (2008 and 2009) in its new home at Haydock Park (moved from Kempton in 2006).

No French challengers this year and, indeed, it doesn't seem there are any horses likely to repeat the feat of winning both this and the World Hurdle in the same year last achieved by the aforementioned Baracouda in 2002. That said, trainer Alan King won this race in 2005 with World Hurdle third Crystal d'Ainay and looks set to saddle Bensalem here.

The fact that the trainer toyed with the idea of sending Bensalem back over fences but has entered him here suggests that he could have the Cheltenham contest firmly on his radar, albeit he will have his work cut out against Big Buck's and Grands Crus.

More immediately, though, he faces the challenge of the admirably-consistent Any Given Day, who finished seven-lengths second to Oscar Whisky over a shorter trip last time, despite being off the bridle early on. Donald McCain's grey is certainly genuine and rates a big danger to all here. The best of the rest could be the somewhat-tricky Ashkazar and the infrequently-raced Sentry Duty.

The Grand National trial has gone through a few incarnations in the past but remains a relevant precursor to the main event, even if the winner of the race isn't always the one to follow at Aintree.

Age doesn't seem to be a boundary, with a couple of 7-y-os and a pair of 11-y-os emerging victorious since 2005. Likewise weight isn't a huge hindrance, with two winners carrying top weight of 11-12 in the past eight years, something which last year's winner Silver By Nature has to deal with this time around.

One of those to shoulder that burden was 2008 winner Miko de Beauchene whose year younger brother Nicto de Beuachene attempts to follow in his footsteps and comes into the race on the back of a sixteen-length defeat of Quattrocento at Sandown. Soft ground is his bag and the same comment applies to the diminutive Le Beau Bai, who is usually a solid jumper and isn't without a chance granted his favoured conditions.

Trainer Kim Bailey knows what it takes to win the race, saddling none other than Master Oats to win in 1994, and he is represented by Sarde this time, who comes into the race unbeaten in handicap chases, but they all might have to give way to West End Rocker if he turns up in the same form he was in when victorious last time.

Alan King's 9-y-o has been let down by his jumping in the past but is doing very little wrong at present. What's more, he beat subsequent winners Cornish Sett and the aforementioned Nicto de Beauchene back in December before scoring again last time, so he looks to hold a very strong chance. His stiffest opposition may come from King Fontaine if he can just eliminate the mistakes he can sometimes make early on.