Dan Skelton’s nine-year-old set to grab victory in the feature on Merseyside and set up a potential crack at the Randox Grand National at Aintree Racecourse while Kabral Du Mathan, Dalston Lad, Nurse Susan, Throatlash, Manlaga, Good Boy Bobby, Jonbon, John Barbour, Alexei, To Guy, The Jukebox Kid and The Egyptian Ginge may also be Saturday scorers
Dan Skelton’s nine-year-old set to grab victory in the feature on Merseyside and set up a potential crack at the Randox Grand National at Aintree Racecourse while Kabral Du Mathan, Dalston Lad, Nurse Susan, Throatlash, Manlaga, Good Boy Bobby, Jonbon, John Barbour, Alexei, To Guy, The Jukebox Kid and The Egyptian Ginge may also be Saturday scorers
DEFEANING SILENCE can secure another victory in the William Hill Half A Mill Grand National Trial Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (3.15pm) at Haydock Park on Saturday afternoon – if the meeting passes a precautionary inspection at 8am on race-day morning.
Dan Skelton’s nine-year-old can land the feature on Merseyside and give himself a chance at having a crack at the Randox Grand National at Aintree Racecourse on Saturday, April 11.
Deafening Silence would currently be struggling to make the cut for the world’s greatest steeplechase but victory at Haydock would likely move him up in the handicap and give him a chance of bidding for the £500,000 bonus put up by bookmakers William Hill for any horse who goes on to win the Grand National later in the season having won one of recognised trials – the Becher Chase (won by Ben Pauling’s Twig), the Classic Chase at Warwick (which was abandoned) and this Haydock feature.
Skelton’s chaser still remains relatively unexposed over fences having run just seven times, winning one at Warwick around this time last year. That was over three miles in soft conditions and he will encounter similar at Haydock. He returned to be second to Konfusion in the BETMGM Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle over just short of three miles at the end of November. He was no match for the winner that day but he looks to be improving.
READ MORE: Full list of 78 entries for the 2026 Randox Grand National
And stepped up to this type of staying distance over 3m6½f in the Coral Welsh National at Chepstow over Christmas he ran another fine race in defeat. He was prominent throughout and stayed on well. There was no disgrace in being beaten by the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup-bound Haiti Couleurs and another progressive chaser O’Connell and he was just under five lengths back in third.
There is nothing of the calibre of those rivals in opposition this time and Deafening Silence looks to be worthy favourite to land the extended 3m4f contest. Whether he is good enough to follow up at Aintree is debatable. But he can at least give himself a chance of competing for the bonus with victory at Haydock.
Deafening Silence’s chief rivals looks to be Joe Tizzard’s Somerset National winner Rivers Corner, who is another open to more improvement; and Cheltenham Festival scorer Myretown – from the Lucinda Russell and Michael Scudamore stable – if he can brush up on recent jumping errors.
It could be a good afternoon at Haydock and elsewhere for championship-chasing Skelton and the exciting KABRAL DU MATHAN can continue his progress with victory in the Grade Two ZYN Rendlesham Hurdle (GBB Race) (2.05pm). The six-year-old is two from two since joining Skelton from Paul Nicholls’ Ditcheat stable. He won at Haydock over 2m3f in November and also in the Grade Two Relkeel Hurdle at Newbury on New Year’s Day. He will step up to 3m½f for the first time and can make it three from three for the season before a potential trip to the Cheltenham Festival.
Another Skelton runner, course and distance winner DALSTON LAD, can also triumph in the Grade Haydock Park Albert Bartlett Prestige Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race) (2.40pm). The six-year-old is bidding for a hat-trick after wins at Sedgefield in December and a Handicap success over this course and distance. He steps up to Grade Two company but can take it in his stride and make it three in a row before a potential trip to the Cheltenham Festival.
Skelton’s NURSE SUSAN can also win the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle (Pertemps Hurdle Series Qualifier) (GBB Race) (3.50pm). The nine-year-old mare can also land a hat-trick after victories at Cheltenham and Sandown.
Nicky Henderson’s French MANLAGA import can go one better than on his British debut at Doncaster last month and win the Richard Howard 80th Birthday Celebration Victor Ludorum Juvenile Hurdle (GBB Race) (12.55pm).
The Donald McCain-trained THROATLASH can make it four wins from four starts this season with victory in the QED Scaffolding Ltd Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (1.28pm). The seven-year-old won at Wetherby and Aintree on Boxing Day before scoring over this 2m4f at Haydock last month. Throatlash is in such good form that he can triumph again and maintain his perfect run this season.
Nigel and Willy Twiston-Davies’ teenager GOOD BOY BOBBY can take the finale on Merseyside, the Walrus Open Hunters’ Chase (4.30pm).
At Ascot JONBON can win the Grade One Betfair Ascot Chase (GBB Race) (3.35pm). Nicky Henderson’s 10-year-old can land a 12th Grade One victory stepped up to an extended 2m5f at the chief expense of the Paul Nicholls-trained Pic D’Orhy, who is bidding for a record fourth win in the Ascot contest.
Ben Pauling’s THE JUKEBOX KID can win the Grade Two Injured Jockeys Fund Ambassadors Programme Reynoldstown Novices’ Chase (GBB Race) (1.50pm). The seven-year-old won over course and distance last month and can continue his progress with another victory.
Fergal O’Brien’s JOHN BARBOUR can land the Betfair Exchange Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (2.25pm). The seven-year-old has won twice at Uttoxeter in his last three starts and can score again.
Tom Lacey’s course and distance scorer MONTREGARD can land another victory in the Betfair Swinley Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (3pm).
Hobbs and White’s STARZAND should win the opener at Ascot, the Betfair Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race) (1.15pm).
Others who may score in Berkshire are the Skelton-trained duo TOP GUY and BURNING EMBERS in the Betfair Handicap Hurdle (Challenger Stayers Hurdle Series Qualifier) (4.10pm) and the Betfair Mares’ Open National Hunt Flat Race (GBB Race) (4.45pm) respectively.
At Wincanton Joe Tizzard’s ALEXEI can continue his progress with a third win in his last four starts in the Grade Two BetMGM Kingwell Hurdle (GBB Race) (1.35pm).
Others who can score at Wincanton are Robert Walford’s course and distance winner MUTLEY CREW in the No One’s As Vegas As BetMGM Handicap Chase (2.50pm); and the Jeremy Scott-trained JOE COTTON in the BetMGM Who Wants A Nine-Darter Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (GBB Race) (3.23pm).
Wright Ones
HAYDOCK PARK
12.55pm Manlaga 1.28pm Throatlash 2.05pm Kabral Du Mathan 2.40pm Dalston Lad 3.15pm Deafening Silence (NAP) 3.50pm Nurse Susan 4.30pm Good Boy Bobby
ASCOT
1.15pm Starzand 1.50pm The Jukebox Kid 2.25pm John Barbour 3pm Montregard 3.35pm Jonbon 4.10pm Top Guy 4.45pm Burning Embers
WINCANTON
12.35pm At The Oche 1.05pm Bluey 1.35pm Alexei 2.10pm The Egyptian Ginge 2.50pm Mutley Crew 3.20pm Joe Cotton 4pm Saladins Son 4.35pm Don’t Tell Rosie
LINGFIELD
12.50pm Johnny Boom 1.25pm Al Azd 2pm Mick’s Spirit 2.35pm Elouise’s Prince 3.10pm Legal Reform 3.45pm Who’s On First 4.20pm Combustion
NEWCASTLE
4.25pm Star Cast 4.55pm Mersea 5.25pm Ruby Red Gove 5.55pm Aisling Oscar 6.25pm Mystical Land 6.55pm Brazilian Rose 7.25pm Archangel Josepi
GOWRAN PARK
12.45pm Madness D’elle 1.20pm Storm Heart 1.55pm Bally Free 2.30pm Dancing Jeremy 3.05pm Luciole Des Bordes 3.40pm Impaire Et Passe 4.15pm King Alexander 4.50pm Happy Dreams
SUNDAY’S NAP: Lucky Lyreen (Punchestown 2.30pm)
