Haydock Park Tips: Two for a super Saturday on Merseyside

Haydock is my local track and Betfair Chase day is one of my favourite on the calendar. This year is no different, even if the big one has just four runners.

Its supporting cast is particularly competitive, however, and I've picked out a couple of interest.

12:05 - Primoz @ 11/4

The curtain-raiser is the G2 Newton Novices' Hurdle over just shy of two miles. Nine go to post, but for me it's all about the four at the head of the market - namely Bowenspark, Primoz, Kamsinas and Making Headway.

Fergal O'Brien's 128-rated Kamsinas sets the standard on his second to subsequent Greatwood Hurdle runner-up Lookway in this grade at Cheltenham last month, but he faces stiff competition from two exciting prospects in Bowenspark and Primoz.

The former is respected, but I'm siding with Lucinda Russell's five-year-old after his impressive hurdling debut in a strong novice event at Ayr earlier this month.

Sure, joint-favourites Florida Dreams and Indeevar Bleu possibly underperformed that day, but the selection - a £150,000 purchase after placing in a couple of good PTPs - won it by nine lengths in very taking fashion. He looks smart.

Making Headway isn't without a chance, but it was a poor race he won at Carlisle over a month ago and I'm not sure he has as much upside as the others - especially Primoz.

13:50 - Grey Dawning @ 5/2

Russell runs another hot prospect in the Graduation Chase over an extended 2m5f just under two hours later in Apple Away - a Grade 1-winning novice hurdler who makes her debut over the bigger obstacles.

She's blessed with a wonderful attitude to match her ability and isn't written off lightly. Nor is Gaillard Du Mesnil, who's a rare runner on Merseyside for Willie Mullins.

He's one of my favourite horses in training having given me a great day on-course at the Cheltenham Festival back in March when winning the National Hunt Chase, and I was on each-way when he came third in the Grand National subsequently.

However, the latter is his big target this season and the cynic in me reckons connections will want that mark of 156 to drop a little in the meantime. He also has to give upwards of 11lbs to three of his four rivals, which could prove difficult over a trip shorter than ideal.

The one I like is Dan Skelton's Grey Dawning.

He's race-fit having made his debut over fences at Exeter a couple of weeks ago. That was a very promising start, giving Albert Bartlett hero Stay Away Fay plenty to think about - and given how much Skelton's runners have been coming on for their seasonal reappearance, I'm expecting a much-improved showing here.

Over this trip, I can see him coming out on top.