'He has picked a nice target here' - Irish runners at Haydock on Saturday Saturday is the biggest afternoon of the jumps season at Haydock Park as the Merseyside venue hosts the Grade 1 Betfair Chase (3.00). The three-miler perhaps doesn't quite have the allure of days gone by, but it remains a key race and the first top-level event for staying chasers on British soil in the season. There's a smattering of Irish representation on the card at Haydock on Saturday and we're looking at the runners crossing the channel hoping for glory — including Gordon Elliott's attempt to win a first Betfair Chase. Crawford opens card with improved Jony R 12:08 Betfair Supports Safer Gambling Week Newton Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2) — Jony R The card opens with this Grade 2 contest for novice hurdlers over just shy of two-miles and Larne-based trainer Stuart Crawford is sending over Jony R with Sam Ewing set to take the mount. The Leading Light gelding was twice beaten in maidens at Ayr and Navan earlier this year but he returned with a much-improved showing at Down Royal at the start of this month, winning a maiden from the Elliott-trained odds-on jolly Kalypso'chance in really good style by nine-lengths. That Gigginstown runner won the Grade 3 Monkstown Novice Hurdle at Navan last weekend. Crawford's inmate looked a more physically imposing sort off his summer break when he ran at Down Royal, and though keen early on, his trainer suggested there was 'nothing flukey about it on the day. He has picked a nice target here and having clocked a good time at Down Royal, he could serve it up to Chepstow winner Masked Man — the mount of JJ Slevin for Nigel & Willy wiston-Davies in the Simon Munir & Isaac Souede silks. 1.15 Betfair Racing Podcasts Handicap Hurdle - Kinbara Firstdraft Crawford also sends out Kinbara Firstdraft in the Class 2 handicap hurdle over two-miles- and-three-furlongs, race three on the card. The six-year-old chestnut gelding is a two-time winner over sticks, from 11 runs, scoring at Perth (2m, good) and Ayr (2m41/2f, good) in June and November last year. He's returning from a break here and is racing from 3lb out of the handicap, while his record on soft ground raises some doubts if conditions ease. Munir/Souede challenge in Stayers' Hurdle 2.25 Betfair Stayers' Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) - Shoot First, I Love My Baie, Karafon A busy afternoon on Merseyside for the Crawford team concludes with a double hit in the Betfair Stayers' Handicap Hurdle, boasting a top prize of £56,950. I Love My Baie for the Munir & Souede team looks to be their main contender with the owners retained rider Slevin in the plate. He was third in the Grade 2 novice on this card two years ago in similar conditions and won twice over timber that season He stays three-miles well and put in a good effort in a Listed Handicap Hurdle at Punchestown in May (seventh of 23) before unseating at Kilbeggan in June. A mark of 134 demands a career-best now. Running in the same silks is Karafon, the mount of Ewing. The ex-Willie Mullins inmate ran a decent race at Carlisle (2m4f, good) this month on his return/stable bow. He has a tongue-tie added now but is not yet proven at this trip, though he does have a handy mark to work from. Top-weight in this valuable event will be carried by Shoot First for Charles Byrnes. The 145- rated Westerner gelding should have no fears on the ground but is rated 6lb higher than when bagging this contest 12 months ago. Benjamin Macey takes off 7lb in the saddle and while an attritional test suits, his form since winning this contest is uninspiring. Stellar Story seeks Elliott's first Betfair Chase 3.00 Betfair Chase (Grade 1) — Stellar Story Just five runners for this Grade 1 feature, with last year's hero Royale Pagaille going for three in a row for Venetia Williams. Grey Dawning travelled like the winner 12 months ago before emptying after the last, trainer Dan Skelton may have him sharper this time for what looks a major target. Irish Grand National winner Haiti Couleurs runs for Rebecca Curtis and Handstands goes for Ben Pauling leaving Elliott's Stellar Story to complete the line-up. A Plus Tard for Henry de Bromhead in 2021 is the sole Irish-trained winner of this contest since its inception in 2005. Stellar Story is cast as the outsider of the quintet. He was a promising novice last season despite winning just once and he has an excellent record when fresh. He stays well and won the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham in 2024 on heavy going, so the sort of testing surface Haydock can produce could suit well. He's a second-season chaser with more to come and shouldn't be discounted as such.
