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Liverpool Echo

Sport

Chris Wright

Horse Power: Lostintranslation can win the Betfair Chase at Haydock Park again

Lostintranslation can come out on top again and win a second successive Betfair Chase (3pm) at Haydock Park on Saturday afternoon.

Colin Tizzard’s eight-year-old beat dual Betfair Chase winner Bristol De Mai 12 months again and he may be able to do something similar in the Grade One feature on Merseyside.

Nigel Twiston-Davies’ Haydock specialist is back to bid for a hat-trick again, while Paul Nicholls – who has a record six wins in the race – sends dual King George hero Clan Des Obeaux to Merseyside to aim for more Grade One glory.

This trio are likely to fight out the finish, but there looks no reason why Lostintranslation can’t come out on top.

A Grade One winner as a novice at the Randox Health Grand National Festival at Aintree Racecourse, Lostintranslation cemented his claims to be one of the top staying chasers with victory in last year’s Betfair Chase, beating Bristol De Mai by two-and-a-quarter-lengths in a superb tussle up the straight.

Things didn’t go to plan for the rest of the season – he was pulled up behind Clan Des Obeaux in the King George VI Chase before finishing third to dual Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Al Boum Photo at the Cheltenham Festival.

That was still an excellent effort and with only 10 chase starts, there could still be more improvement to come. He will be a player again in the Gold Cup come the spring.

He arrived at Haydock with a win under his belt last year, but he should be ready to score again despite making his seasonal reappearance.

He can hold off Bristol De Mai – who despite getting older will go well again at a track he thrives on – before bidding for more Grade One glory throughout the season.

The Jam Man can keep on winning in the Grade Three Betfair Exchange Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle (Gbb Race) (2.25pm).

Ronan McNally’s seven-year-old has won 10 times in his 40 career starts on the Flat, over hurdles and most recently over the bigger obstacles.

He keeps on defying the odds and having landed big gambles on the Flat at York and earlier this month in the Ladbrokes Troytown Handicap Chase at Navan, he may be able to bring up a unique treble over hurdles.

He runs off a career-high mark over these smaller obstacles, but he has shown some good form and has seven successes over hurdles. He was also ninth in the Stayers’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

It looks a competitive running of the Handicap Hurdle with David Pipe’s Main Fact and Imperial Alcazar from the Fergal O’Brien stable both holding big chances. But The Jam Man may be able to grab more success for his connections.

Arrivederci can win the Betfair Racing Only Bettor Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (1.50pm).

The Jonjo O’Neill-trained five year-old ran out a good winner of a big-field handicap at Wetherby last time out. The reopposing War Lord was back in second and although he has an 8lb pull for a two-and-three-quarter-length defeat, Arrivederci can confirm that form.

He is still open to more improvement and can land another success.

Twiston-Davies’ Good Boy Bobby made a fine winning return at Bangor last month and he can score again in the Back And Lay On Betfair Exchange Graduation Chase (GBB Race) (1.15pm).

The seven-year-old has two wins and two seconds in his five chase starts and looks to be progressing well. He can add another victory in the near 2m6f contest.

A chance is taken on Bob Mahler bouncing back to form to win the Betfair Supports Safer Gambling Week Handicap Chase (12.40pm).

Warren Greatrex’s eight-year-old progressed really well last season, winning the Edinburgh National at Musselburgh before a superb third in the Kim Muir Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. He was disappointingly pulled up on his seasonal return back at Prestbury Park at the end of last month.

He is better than that and has since undergone a breathing operation.

Hopefully that has had the desired affect and he could get back to winning ways.

Don Poli was a smart stayer when trained by both Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott and may be able to get back on track in the My Odds Boost On Betfair Stayers’ Handicap Chase (3.35pm).

He hasn’t done much since winning the Grade One Lexus Chase at Leopardstown in 2015 and is now on his third trainer, Dan Skelton, since leaving Elliott. But he hinted that he still has some ability at this level when fourth at Aintree last month.

He will relish this 3m4f trip and he can show he is no back number despite being an 11-year-old now.

Paul Nicholls’ Flic Ou Voyou can land a fourth straight success this season in the Listed Betfair Weighed In Podcast Newton Novices’ Hurdle (12.05pm).

At Ascot Kim Bailey’s Imperial Aura – a fine winner at the Cheltenham Festival in March and also on his return to action at Carlisle – can score again in the Grade Two Chanelle Pharma Chase (Gbb Race) (2.05pm).

Stable-mate First Flow – who landed three wins in a row on his final three starts last season – may also continue his run in the Coral Hurst Park Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (3.17pm).

Others who may score in Berkshire are Nicholls’ Laurina in the Grade Two Coral Hurdle (Registered As The Ascot Hurdle) (2.40pm) and Same Circus – from Merseyside-born trainer Donald McCain’s Cheshire base – in the Veolia Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (1.30pm).