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Liverpool Echo

Sport

Chris Wright

Horse Power: See The Sea can win the Swinton Hurdle at Haydock Park

Haydock Donald McCain Haydock Park United Nations Aidan OBrien Charlie Appleby Clive Cox Merseyside

SEE THE SEA can win the Pertemps Network Swinton Handicap Hurdle (3pm) at Haydock Park on Saturday afternoon.

On the only mixed Flat and Jumps racing card in Britain Merseyside-born trainer Donald McCain can land the Grade Three feature for a second time with See The Sea.

The Grand National-winning trainer won the Swinton Hurdle with Red Merlin in 2013 and he looks to have a horse with a good chance of victory.

See The Sea has been in fine form this season with the eight-year-old mare winning four of her last seven starts and being second in two of them.

Following a hat-trick of successes at Ludlow, Wincanton and Taunton her only disappointing effort was when fifth at Kempton in November.

But she put that behind her when landing a three-runner two-mile handicap hurdle at Newcastle in good style last month.

She is now up to her highest handicap mark of 130 in the hardest contest she will have run in. But she looks a improving type, should handle whatever the ground throws up and is in fine form.

Talented conditional Peter Kavanagh takes off a handy 5lb and he gets on well with his partner, having ridden her to all her recent successes.

In a typically-competitive renewal she can come out on top ahead of chiefly Philip Hobbs’ Luttrell Lad, the Brian Ellison-trained Cormier and West Cork, from the Dan Skelton stable.

The Pertemps Network Long Distance Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (2.25pm) is another competitive contest with several in with chances including Paul Nicholls’ Red Risk and Irish raider Bronson In Blue, but the David Pipe-trained NEON MOON may triumph.

The stable do well in these type of races at Haydock and won this race with Dell’ Arca last year. And Neon Moon, a winner of three of his last four starts including at Wincanton last month, can give them another success.

On the Flat Archie Watson’s Group One performer GLEN SHIEL can triumph dropped back down in grade in the Pertemps Network Conditions Stakes (GBB Race) (1.50pm) on his seasonal return.

The eight-year-old is likely to be aimed at another crack at the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot next month and this may be an ideal stepping stone.

The main Flat contest at Haydock is the Listed Pertemps Network Spring Trophy Stakes (3.35pm) and Willie Haggas’ ALDAARY looks sure to notch up a hat-trick of wins on his seasonal return after two fine handicap successes at Ascot at end of last season.

Simon and Ed Crisford may take the opener, the Pertemps Newton Handicap (1.20pm), with CAESAR'S PALACE, who can build on his seasonal return second at Nottingham to land a first career success on his fourth start.

Others who may score on Merseyside are TWINJETS – from the Milton Harris’ stable who landed Grade One glory at Haydock’s sister track Aintree Racecourse at last month’s Randox Grand National Festival – in the Pertemps Network Open National Hunt Flat Race (Category 1 Elimination) (GBB Race) (4.10pm); the David O’Meara-trained SAFRAN in the Pertemps Handicap (4.45pm); and Ed Dunlop’s hat-trick-seeking MUHTASHIM in the Pertemps Network Handicap (5.15pm).

At Ascot Clive Cox’s ARATUS can win the tote+ Victoria Cup (Heritage Handicap) (4.05pm).

Cox won this race last year with River Nymph, who is back for more but out of form. But stable-mate Aratus is very much in form with the four-year-old winning three times over this seven furlongs at Doncaster, Newbury and Goodwood last season.

He warmed up for this competitive contest when third in a Listed event at Leicester. That should have the gelded son of Free Eagle spot-on for this and he can score ahead of the Gosden’s Magical Morning and the Charlie Appleby-trained Path Of Thunder.

AL AASY pulled out of an intended engagement at Chester’s May Festival this week and it can pay off with victory in the Listed tote+ Pays More At tote.co.uk Buckhounds Stakes (2.20pm).

Willie Haggas’ four-year-old didn’t quite go on from some fine form in Group contests last season. But back down into Listed company he should be hard to beat ahead of returning to the top level during the summer.

Others who may win at Ascot are STRIKE in the Ascot Shop Handicap (5.15pm); the Marco Botti-trained RISING STAR in the British EBF Fillies’ Handicap (3.30pm); DIAMOND BAY in the opener, the Royal Ascot Local Schools Art Competition Handicap(1.45pm); and Charlie Appleby’s hat-trick-seeking AFTER THE RAIN in the tote+ Exclusively At tote.co.uk Fillies’ Handicap (4.40pm).

It’s Classic Trials day at Lingfield and after more success on the Roodee in similar contests Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien can win the Listed Lingfield Derby Trial Stakes (Colts & Geldings) (2.40pm) with UNITED NATIONS.

The Galileo colt won on his debut at Naas, but was only fourth behind Nahanni in the Listed Cazoo Blue Riband Trial at Epsom on his return. But with that run under his belt he can add to O’Brien’s Epsom Derby hand.

Stable-mate EMILY DICKINSON can also book her Epsom ticket with victory in the Listed Lingfield Oaks Trial Fillies’ Stakes) (3.15pm).