Betfair Exchange Handicap Chase – Haydock Park – Saturday 19th November

Time is of the essence with this ante-post recommendation, as I realise that 5pm on Wednesday evening (the night before 10am declarations) is far from ideal for many.

For most of the last couple of days, it has been a case of trawling through form, checking weather forecasts, and generally letting a bit of water pass under the bridge in an attempt to allow bets to reveal themselves.

Generally, if there isn’t an obvious play early in the week, then it can be hard to find anything ante-post for the upcoming weekend, as any juice either wasn’t there in the first place, or gets squeezed out as others spot the opportunities.

However, I do feel there is a slither of value to be had in the current market for the Best Odds On The Betfair Exchange Handicap Chase, which is run at 3.35 at Haydock Park on Saturday.

With upwards of 20mm of rain forecast between now and Saturday afternoon, on ground that is already soft in places, we could be talking about that phenomenon known as ‘Haydock soft’ or even dare I say it, ‘Haydock heavy.’

It could be specialist type ground, which is why old boy Bristol De Mai has been popular in the ante-post market for the Betfair Chase at 3.00, and it is why I think 3-time Haydock winner Lord Du Mesnil should also be popular at 7/1 each-way with Bet365.

Again, I recognise Bet365 isn’t available to all, and so let it be clear that 6/1 each-way generally elsewhere is also very reasonable indeed.

Last season never happened for Lord Du Mesnil, which is a theme consistent with plenty of good horses from the Richard Hobson stable, and they have bounced right back to form in the early throes of this season.

Riders On the Storm, Fanzio, Fugitif, Family Business and Saint Xavier have all surpassed their 2021/22 form in the nascent stages of this 2022/23 campaign.

Lord Du Mesnil himself more than hinted that he was on great terms with himself on his seasonal reappearance at Bangor-On-Dee just over a week ago, when he came through to inherit 2^nd behind Le Milos, in a race where you had to be ridden prominently and wide on the course, to be able to even lift a leg come the closing stages!

Lord Du Mesnil was ridden quietly, without his usual cheekpieces, and at various stages was more central on the track, away from the best ground on the outside. Quite simply, it was a run that didn’t just catch the eye, but was more akin to standing in front of you shouting at the top of his voice!

Initially I was worried about the 10-day turnaround, but look back to his 2019/20 season, and you’ll see that Lord Du Mesnil ran 5 times in the space of 60 days, finishing 2^nd twice and winning on the other three occasions. When fit and in form, Lord Du Mesnil loves his racing it seems.

It is a race that could easily cut up plenty when declarations are made on Thursday morning, and assuming the cheekpieces are back on, the 7/1 each-way with Bet365 about Lord Du Mesnil could be more like 7/4 come late Saturday afternoon.