SEVERAL previous course winners feature among the 25 entries for the Blue Square I-card Tommy Whittle Chase at Haydock Park on Saturday.
The three-mile handicap chase is the feature of a six-race card on the penultimate afternoon’s racing of the year at the Merseyside track.
Last year’s winner Malko de Balmont may make a quick return to the track and bid for back-to-back successes after finishing fourth to Flake at Wetherby at the weekend.
Sue Smith’s Coe, who won the Tim Molony Chase in January, again showed his liking for Haydock when a decent second over course and distance in November.
Saturday’s meeting is the first of Haydock’s two festive days of top-class action and will also be featured on Channel 4.
The final meeting of the season is two weeks tomorrow and features The Last Fling Steeplechase, sponsor-ed by Blackpool Tower & Circus and run over three and a half miles, commemorating one of the most popular horses to race at Haydock.
Coe’s trainer Smith – who trained The Last Fling – has a good record in the race, having saddled two of the last six winners.
Meanwhile Nicky Richards is also eyeing Haydock in the New Year for Skippers Brig after the eight-year-old finished third in the Boylesports.com Gold Cup at Cheltenham.
The Zaffaran gelding could head to Haydock for the Peter Marsh Chase in January where his trainer is hoping the conditions will be on the soft side to help his charge.
The Greystoke handler said: “He ran a good race, but I think at that distance he wants softer ground.
“Where he goes next is all ground dependent.
“He’s had two quick races so he’ll have a bit of a break.
“I’ve had a look through the programme book and it will either be the Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock or back to Cheltenham at the end of January. If he got heavy ground it would be ideal for him.”
HAYDOCK Admission details: Saturday, December 19 and Wednesday, December 30. First race times are 12.40pm and 1pm respectively. Admission to the Newton Enclosure is £10 (Saturday) and £8 (Wednesday); to Tattersalls £18 and £15 respectively; to the County Enclosure £28 and £23 respectively; and Premier Enclosure £43 and £34 respectively. Accompanied children under 16 enter free. Senior citizens and students, with appropriate identification, enter Tattersalls and the Newton Enclosure at half price. More details about racing at Haydock Park are available on web site www.haydock-park.co.uk.
