Horseracing: Red Sq Vodka Handicap Chase

Crucially, 17 go to post for the Red Square Vodka Handicap Chase at 2.45pm from Haydock, the big betting event for this weekend, meaning punters get paid out four places for each-way betting rather than three. Click here for a free £100 to bet on horseracing with Bet365 Should two horses drop out between now and post time, it will cue sneering noises from racing pundit John McCririck, who to be fair, only has punters' interests at heart. Racing aficionados will be training their eyes on Ascot where champion chaser Kauto Star clashes with Monet's Garden for a second time this season, but those who like to try and squeeze a profit from their racing will be fixing their eyes firmly on the form and the marathon chase at Haydock. Earlier in the week, we suggested backing Point Barrow to win the Grand National at 20/1. We fully expect the ten-year-old to put in an eye-catching performance in this race, although, ultimately, his 11st 10lbs burden may prove too much. Bet365 and VCbet have shortened our selection up for this contest however, and he is now trading as short as 7/1, having been as big as 9/1 earlier in the week. Coral Welsh National winner Miko de Beauchene heads the market at 4/1 on the back of his head-success over Halcon Generlardais in the Chepstow marathon over the Christmas period. It is an illustrative race however, because no fewer than four of today's rivals were struggling behind him that day. Nigel Twiston-Davies' Nauton Brook came in 18 lengths behind and can be backed at 16/1 with William Hill, while interestingly Paul Nicholls's Geveem, who was a length further behind is a full eight points shorter in the betting at 8/1 with Paddy Power. Click here for a free £100 to bet on horseracing with Bet365Nicholls's other runner, L'Aventure, who trailed in seventh over 30 lengths in arrears, is 16/1. The other runner to feature in that Chepstow race is Idle Talk, who unseated his rider that day. The mount of Richard McGrath is trained by the son of multiple Grand National-winning trainer Ginger McCain, and is as short as 10/1 with Blue Square, yet is also backable at 16/1 with Paddy Power. Although quite clearly a veteran, and the oldest in the field as a 12-year-old, Philson Run, who was fourth in the Grand National last year, looks over-priced at 11/1. Nick Williams's old stager is somewhat of a standing dish in these staying chases, presumably because he is pretty good in them. The old boy finished seven lengths adrift of another of today's rivals D'Argent 100 days ago, but with a significant weight advantage this time around, he should run well. Although this race is generally won by a horse carrying lighter loads, that should not put off punters from backing Bewleys Berry, who must lug 11st 12lbs around the three-and-a-half mile course. Belweys Berry ran a decent second to former Grand National favourite, Mr Pointment, last time out, and with the ground not so testing at Haydock for this contest, he should also run well. Verdict: 1pt each-way Philson Run @ 11/1 (Bet365)