BLADE CAN CUT IT AT HAYDOCK!
 
The Red Square Vodka Gold Cup Chase at Haydock is invariably one of they most competitive staying chases in the calendar, and is often used as a stepping stone by trainers aiming their horses at the Grand National.
 
Saturday’s renewal of this Grade 3 contest is shaping up to be a cracker.  And, if one thing’s for sure, it’s that the winner will have to be a sound jumper and possess stamina in abundance, as three and a half miles on what is likely to be testing conditions – and with a decent pace assured – means that a premium will be placed on these key attributes.
 
Course form is a pretty good thing for a horse to have on its side going into this race as four winners since 1997 either won or finished runner-up on their most recent start at the Lancashire venue, while, as you might expect given the going is usually pretty soft at this time of year, seven winners during the same period carried 10st 10lb or less.
 
The horse that stands out for me is the Tom George-trained Kilbeggan Blade, who has gone up a total of 28lb for winning his last three starts but is unexposed and there’s a good chance that the handicapper hasn’t got to grips with just yet, plus he gets in here off a nice racing weight of 10st 8lb and will have been freshened up by a two-month break.
 
The eight-year-old has barely touched a twig in completing his hat-trick and recorded the most impressive of those victories over this very course and distance last time when dishing out a nine-length beating to Truckers Tavern in the Tim Molony Handicap Chase. In the process, Kilbeggan Blade also demonstrated his aptitude to act in the mud.
 
Indeed, the going is currently soft, heavy in places on the chase course at Haydock, but it will probably be heavy all round come the weekend, conditions which could pose problems for Kandjar d’Allier, who looked out on his feet when scoring over three miles here last time out, while Preacher Boy and Cloudy Lane may both also be inconvenienced by such a surface.
 
Last year’s winner Ossmoses hasn’t looked so good so far this term and the handicapper appears to have his measure, a remark which also extends to Cornish Rebel, Wild Cane Ridge and Mon Mome. Kelami could also do with dropping a few pounds, but he shaped well when chasing home Rambling Minster at Sandown earlier this month and could make his presence felt.
 
The main danger to the selection, however, looks to be The Outlier. Venetia Williams’ charge is similar to Kilbeggan Blade in that he is lightly raced in this sphere and very much on the upgrade. I don’t think the assessor has been overly harsh in raising him 8lb for a facile victory in the Peter Marsh Chase and, if he sees out this trip, as seems likely, he should give a good account.
 
Verdict - 1pt Kilbeggan Blade @ 7/1 (Blue Square)