Streamstown is set for that four-timer

13 April 2012

First it was rain, now it's frost - National Hunt racing hasn't fared too well against the elements so far this season. All four of tomorrow's turf meetings are under threat, so we may yet again rely on the artificial surfaces of journeymen tracks, Lingfield Park and Wolverhampton, to keep racing's show on the road.

Inspections have been scheduled by the turf quartet, with Catterick alone waiting until Saturday morning to seal its fate. Stratford's outlook is plain bleak and officials at Kempton are "not at all confident" the capital's feature meeting, the Tote Bookmakers Lanzarote Hurdle card, will take place.

Until yesterday, Haydock had held realistic hopes of its high-class fixture beating the frost. Although prospects are "becoming more pessimistic" with daytime temperatures struggling to realise positive figures, the Merseyside track still offers the best chance of action for jumping fans.

If it does beat the odds, tradition tells us it's well worth attending. Among the exciting sorts strutting their stuff here in 2000 were Toto Toscato, Irbee and Man On The Hill. But The Last Fling and Bobby Grant fought out the day's most exciting finish in the Peter Marsh Limited Handicap Chase.

Both horses re-oppose in tomorrow's Bet Direct-sponsored renewal, with the winner 3lb better off this time. The Last Fling was in the form of his life last year, notching up three wins in good company at Haydock. It earned him a shot at the Cheltenham Gold Cup, but he was outclassed and tailed off when pulled up three fences out.

But he was back again just over three weeks later to contest the Grand National, in which he finished a creditable seventh under 11st 5lb. His exertions appeared to have taken their toll this season with two sorry efforts, but he showed some of his old zest back at his favourite track in the Tommy Whittle Chase here last month.

The Last Fling was still the one to beat when stumbling and unseating his rider five out, leaving it to old rival Bobby Grant to account for King's Road. But his revival may be best ascribed to the fact he led uncontested - something neither Upgrade nor Lady Of Gortmerron will allow here. His yard is only hitting the crossbar of late, too.

Fellow course specialist, Bobby Grant, has more in his favour. An unerring jumper, he took two starts to reach his peak this term before scoring decisively last time out. But he's gone up 9lb for that and, although only narrowly beaten from a 3lb lower mark last year, is certainly handicapped to the upper reaches of his ability.

So he's vulnerable to a young, progressive rival like Streamstown. He's the latest in a string of staying-chase talent unearthed by trainer Ferdy Murphy, who also houses Scottish Grand National hero Paris Pike, Midlands Grand National winner Ackzo, Ballinclay King and Native Wit at his Yorkshire yard.

Streamstown will be 5lb out of the handicap here, but a hat-trick of victories this term suggests he's progressing fast. Staying is his forte, but he doesn't lack gears and is a sound jumper. Of the rest, Upgrade and Hescondido won't stay, Kingsmark looks over-rated and Red Marauder badly handicapped.

General Wolfe has claims from this mark but, like Hanakham, has been plagued by injury too long to retain the zip of his youth. Good Lord Murphy can win from this mark, but looked moody last time and may be better racing right-handed. The rest are out of their depth.

Dato Star beat Relkeel out of sight in Haydock's Champion Hurdle Trial last year. In 2001, Red Square And Red Alert Energising sponsor and Barton is now the north's representative in claims for Istabraq's crown. Jockey Tony Dobbin will surely force a stronger pace than that which contributed to his defeat in the Bula last time out.

But this is a sharp, flat track and Barton may only reach his full potential over longer trips. He can confirm superiority over Hitman - albeit that this talented novice is open to huge improvement - and over-faced Seebald, but may find Youlneverwalka-lone in the Istabraq silks of owner JP McManus too hot to handle.

Christy Roche's charge can be forgiven finding the Bula coming too quickly after his impressive win at Fairyhouse over Istabraq's subsequent conqueror, Moscow Flyer. But he displayed a classy cruising speed on native territory and can finally gird his tall reputation with a win over here. Of the others, only Mr Cool has even a shout at this.

In the Tote Credit Club Premier Hurdle, Merry Masquerade has a decent chance of going one better than last year when pipped by Behrajan, who went on to finish an excellent third in the Cheltenham Festival's Stayers' Hurdle. But he ideally needs further than this - a comment that also applies to 1999 Stayers' victor, Anzum.

Teaatral was highly progressive last term but is at nothing like his best on these left-handed tracks. Deano's Beeno has the talent but finds it difficult to sustain both form and enthusiasm form race to race. 1998 Stayers' Hurdle champion, Princeful is yet to prove he's the force of old after returning from injury.

With so many buts about the class acts, it may be worth looking to an outsider. Two to consider are Splendid Thyne and Celtic Native. The former was second to Princeful at the 1998 Festival and showed some sparkle on his return last month. But preference is for the improving and race-fit latter, relying on Deano's Beeno having an off day.