Graded National Hunt Action at Gowran Park, Ascot and Haydock on Saturday

There is plenty of high-quality graded action set to unfold at jumps courses around the UK and Ireland this weekend. The weather still might be an issue at several tracks but inspections tomorrow will confirm whether things go ahead or not. In this feature, we’ll be examining some of the graded contests happening on Saturday at Gowran Park, Ascot and Haydock.

Victor Chandler Chase

This one, as usual, is all about Master Minded. The multiple grade 1-winning chaser has never lost at Ascot and he has consistently tackled with, and beaten, many of the opposition he’ll face in this one. McCoy is booked for the trip and he will likely be considered one of the biggest bankers of the meet. Somersby and Petit Robin look like his biggest potential spoilers and both contenders trade at an 8/1 price with Master Minded well-fancied at 8/13.

Galmoy Hurdle

The going is already listed as heavy for this Saturday’s big hurdle in Ireland. Oscar Dan Dan will enjoy some betting support here but the Thomas Mullins-trained nine year-old has cooled off significantly after his flashy debut at Navan back in November. He has triumphed when going over the heavy stuff but never at 3m and he will be expecting a stiff tussle with the respected Powerstation. Lightly-raced with only two outings this season, Powerstation was stuffed by the in-form Hurricane Fly in the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at Leopardstown before capturing a solid second in the Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown. He boasts a solid reference at Gowran, having finished second in this race last year to the well-fancied War of Attrition. Expect him to take some money as he’ll enjoy the heavier going.

Champion Hurdle Trial

Eight talented contenders are set to do battle over a softer 2m in this exciting grade 2 clash. The bulk of the money is going to be heading towards the in-form Peddler’s Cross who remains undefeated in his career with five of those victories coming over hurdles. He boasts two previous scores at Haydock but he is taking on some solid opponents who will be looking to exploit any errors made by the son of Oscar. Soldatino was last seen at Cheltenham in the JCB Triumph Hurdle and he emerges after a lengthy layoff. He and Walkon are both co-listed on the Ascot card so wait until final declarations.  

Holloway’s Hurdle

Walkon will definitely be enjoying plenty of support if connections choose to point him towards Ascot instead of Haydock. He has been laid off for an extended period but acquitted himself very well in 2009 against some contenders that have gone on to achieve plenty. Before his lay-off he was hitting figures of 152 which puts him ahead of the game here if he jumps fluently. There appears to be a number of also-rans here but punters may want to keep an open mind on Paul Nicholls mysterious Sire Collonges who boasts a victory in his only career race which was run at Auteil. Nicholls has done well with juvenile French shippers and there may be a little Silviniaco Conti fairy dust floating around the Nicholls barn.