Horse Racing Tips: Bushy won’t get stuck in the mud at Haydock

The festive period has been a busy one thus far but there’s a return to normalcy on Monday, with just the three meetings taking place across Britain. Haydock kicks us off with a seven-race card on heavy ground and Taunton soon follows, where the good to soft conditions are much less testing. Wolverhampton’s sole all-weather meeting takes us through the evening.

Amongst my Monday horse racing tips is one for Philip Kirby who has won four times on heavy ground and should cope with conditions better than most up at Haydock.

12:30 Haydock - Bushypark @ 11/2

There are few tougher tracks to run at than Haydock when the ground is heavy and as a result, plenty of stamina and heavy ground form will be required to come out on top. BUSHYPARK could be well worth siding with, as he’s a four-time winner in nine starts on heavy ground.

His last success came over course and distance on similarly heavy ground last December and he’s now down to a 1lb lower mark. Making all the running that day, he wasn’t for catching and went on to score by two lengths, after being handed an uncontested lead.

Similar tactics could pay dividends once again here and he has won over 3m6f in the past, which suggests there won’t be many that can outstay him. The yard has been in very solid form of late, earning four winners from their 17 runners in the last fortnight. 

It would be unwise to rule out a return to winning ways for Bushypark here as there’s plenty in his favour and the 10-year-old should be bang in the mix.

14:17 Taunton - Listentoyourheart @ 5/2

The New Lion is the Skelton yard’s top novice hurdler this season but LISTENTOYOURHEART is a more than useful prospect in the mares’ division and is well set to claim a second successive victory in Listed company here.

She travelled smoothly throughout the race at Newbury last month and pulled a length-and-a-half clear of the runner-up on the run-in to maintain her unbeaten record over hurdles.

A 5lb penalty shouldn’t make too much difference and she already has the measure of one of her rivals, Jubilee Alpha, who was third behind her last time out.

Skelton’s five-year-old was impressive in two lesser races before that and looks like one to keep on side for the time being.

The ratings suggest that Gordon Elliott’s Disco Dancer is the biggest threat but she’s fairly exposed and Listentoyourheart has the scope to find further improvement.

15:10 Haydock - Montgomery @ 13/8

Stamina is going to be the most desirable trait at Haydock on Monday, as the heavy ground is likely to produce some slow-motion finishes. MONTGOMERY won his only start on heavy ground at Bangor in February and he went on to twice on soft after that.

Fifth in the London National on seasonal debut, that was his first attempt at a marathon trip, and he’s entitled to improve for the run. It’s likely that he can resume his progression from last term and Charlie Deutsch is on board.

It’s a commonly held opinion that Venetia Williams does well when we have a wet spell and the ground becomes testing. With that in mind, the fact that she’s been doing so well in the last couple of months, whilst it’s been largely dry, means she isn’t just a one-trick pony.

Click the links to find the latest Horse Racing Odds and Today's Horse Races

Find more Horse Racing Tips here at Betfred Insights