The ground is expected to extremely testing for Saturday's Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock (3.30), and one horse who won't mind the conditions is last year's winner Cloudy Lane.
Donald McCain's ten-year-old produced a fantastic performance 12 months ago under the welter burden of 11st 10lb on what was bottomless ground and has now won five times at the track, including twice over this trip on the new chase course. He's also won a Kim Muir at Cheltenham and a Grimthorpe Chase at Doncaster, but he seems particularly effective around here and, after running an encouraging third behind subsequent Lexus Chase runner-up Money Trix on his reappearance at Kelso last month, he looks primed to run another big race off a mark only 1lb higher than last year.
There are several dangers lurking down at the bottom of the weights, including the Nigel Hawke-trained Fortification, who has been a revelation since being sent over fences. After 23 races without success over hurdles, he has now won all four of his chases in succession, and his latest success in a Grade 2 at Kempton was his most impressive yet. He's climbed 36lb in the ratings as a result but the style of that latest victory suggests he's still improving and, while he's 1lb out of the handicap here, that doesn't take into account his amateur rider's 7lb claim. This is a big step up in class, though.
Nine of the last 13 winners of this race had triumphed at Haydock previously, so According To Pete - apart from Cloudy Lane, the only other course winner in the field - is respected. He has run twice this season, both times at Cheltenham, finishing fifth in the Paddy Power behind Tranquil Sea and filling the same berth in a hot handicap won by The Package, so this is slightly easier.
Mr Strachan must also come into the reckoning as, while he's yet to win over fences here, he's twice placed over hurdles, and showed he had the necessary stamina when winning on heavy ground at Hexham last month. His trainer, Sue Smith, is always to be feared in these big Northern handicaps and has taken this prize twice before with The Last Fling and Arctic Jack.
An interesting runner at the bottom of the handicap is the ex-French Palypso De Creek. He's had two runs for Charlie Longsden, winning on his British debut over 3m at Towcester and then running a respectable fourth in the Becher Chase. He's 6lb out of the handicap here but I suspect his current mark underestimates him and I'm sure he'll pop up in one of these big staying chases before too long.
However, I would much rather back a horse who has been there and sports the t-shirt, which brings me back to CLOUDY LANE, who can be backed at 6/1 with Paddy Power - his winning SP from last year.
Recommended Bet:
Cloudy Lane 1pt @ 6/1 Paddy Power
