Tote Placepot tips: Haydock picks from Dan Overall

Last year's Tipstar winner and jumps racing expert Dan Overall shares his picks for Saturday's Tote placepot at Haydock, headlined by the Grade One Betfair Chase. Enjoy every moment live on Racing TV.

A competitive novice hurdle which Tahmuras won last season en-route to Grade One success in the Tolworth. He was the 7/4 favourite this time last year, and the favourite has won four of the last five renewals of this race, with the other finishing second.

BOWENSPARK achieved a lot in bumpers, culminating in an admirable fourth-place finish in the Grade Two Aintree bumper. His exploits in that sphere were all the more impressive given he was not the type, physically or on paper, to achieve so much without obstacles in front of him. An emphatic winner at Stratford on his hurdling debut, the sharp test that day would not have been ideal and yet he still sauntered to victory. A track like Haydock should be far more suitable, and he has a leading chance.

PRIMOZ caused a mini-upset when he beat the well-regarded duo of Florida Dreams and Indeevar Bleu, although it wasn’t a significant shock to connections who hold this horse in high regard. In a recent stable tour, Lucinda Russell said “the world is his oyster”; a straightforward type, he should be in the shake up and while I Love My Baie has a favourable 6lb swing in the weights, Primoz looks to have more upside and I expect him to confirm the form.

Selections: Bowenspark and Primoz

Real Stone has been well touted for this following an eyecatching reappereance at Aintree, and with the Skelton runners generally improving for the run, he is respected.

However, with Placepot purposes in mind, preference is for CHEDDLETON, who is admirably consistent for all that he hasn’t won as much as he perhaps should have. Caught in the high 140s for all of the 2021/2022 campaign, he still managed to place on two of his three starts in handicaps over two miles, including at Cheltenham behind Editeur Du Gite. Last season was cut short, but he reappeared with a promising effort over hurdles last time out which should put him spot on for this. He is capable of winning off 142, and given he looks likely to have a solo lead a bold effort seems likely. The softer the ground, the better.

Selection: Cheddleton

A race that has been won by some very useful types in recent years: Tommy’s Oscar, War Lord and More Of That to name a few. Quite whether there’s anything with that level of potential lurking here remains to be seen.

Stainsby Girl and Albert’s Back are course and distance specialists who will be popular Placepot picks, but I’m siding with one with potential in the form of CARNFUNNOCK. His bumper form is just short of top-class; he finished third at the Dublin Racing Festival and beat the well-regarded Better Days Ahead at the start of last season. His novice campaign over hurdles progressed steadily, and I liked the way he won at Naas from off the pace in race that was dictated by a trio of runners at the head of affairs. That was only his second handicap start and his one (and only) run over an intermediate trip. This looks an ideal starting point and he could prove better than a mark of 128 in time.

Selection: Carnfunnock

It seems borderline criminal that Gaillard Du Mesnil is still eligible for a Graduation Chase given his exploits! This is a much easier starting point than the John Durkan would’ve been, and while he is undoubtedly the class act of the race there will undoubtedly be bigger targets further down the line.

Apple Away is a fascinating recruit to chasing but preference is for GREY DAWNING, who shaped very well in a good novice chase at Exeter behind Stay Away Fay. Dropping back to this intermediate trip seems wise for now, and given how Dan Skelton’s runners have generally been improving for the run this one should step forward considerably for his chasing debut. He jumped well in the main with a slight tendency to go out to his left, which will be aided by going that way here. Connections have always held him in high regard, and this looks an opportunity to show that he can compete at graded level this season.

Selection: Grey Dawning

The Placepot buster is here – an ultra-competitive renewal of the Betfair Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle, featuring a mixture of established handicappers, veterans returning to form and some unexposed types with the potential to climb even higher.

Regular readers of my columns and tips will know I’m far from shy when it comes to including big-priced selections, but every time I look at this race I come back to CRAMBO.

The confidence Connor Brace exuded at Aintree last time out was notable; he barely moved a muscle on Crambo, gently pushing him out to achieve a facile victory in the manner of a horse with plenty in hand. That was his fourth victory over hurdles, with his two defeats coming in Grade One company; you can forgive his Challow Hurdle run as he had wind surgery straight after, and his seventh-place finish in the Mersey - a race which is working out well - can be marked up as he was badly hampered at a vital stage. Both Stoney Mountain and Paisley Park won the same Aintree handicap before winning at Haydock, and while a mark of 139 will require a career-best effort there’s no reason not to expect one.

Selection: Crambo

After all the toing and froing, we finally have our Betfair Chase field. Shishkin may not be here, but BRAVEMANSGAME has stepped up to plate to fill his shoes and add a much-needed element of intrigue to what could’ve been a drab affair.

There is no doubt that Protektorat will be as ready as can be for his main aim of the season, but I can’t get away from Bravemansgame despite the slightly disappointing effort in the Charlie Hall. He travelled and jumped with his usual zest, only to be foiled by an errant jump at the last for all that I don’t believe he would’ve found much for pressure anyway.

To me, it was indicative of the Bravemansgame of last season that improved significantly for the run, and by all accounts, he has done so again this term based on his homework. Silviniaco Conti finished fifth in the 2014 Charlie Hall before completing the Betfair Chase and King George double, so this is a route Paul Nicholls knows well and it may prove astute race-planning given he’s unlikely to run in an easier Grade One all season.

Selection: Bravemansgame