FAMOUS BRIDGE can win the Betfred Tommy Whittle Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (2.05 pm) for a second successive season at Haydock Park on Saturday afternoon.

The Nicky Richards-trained eight-year-old looks set to land the feature again at the Merseyside track. Famous Bridge won twice over course and distance around this time last year, winning a 3m1½f Handicap Chase in the November before following up in good style in the Tommy Whittle, both in testing conditions. He handles softer ground well and he looks ready to return to winning ways and grab a third victory at Haydock.

Things didn’t go to plan after those two Haydock successes last winter. He was pulled up in the Great Yorkshire Chase at Doncaster and unseated rider Sean Quinlan when sent off joint favourite when stepped up in trip to 3m4½f for the Virgin Bet Grand National Trial back at the Merseyside track in February. But he ran a fine race when fourth, admittedly at a wide margin behind winner Chianti Classico, in the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

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Following his summer break, Famous Bridge again ran well to be second to Elvis Mail in the Edinburgh Gin Chase at Kelso on his seasonal return at the end of October. With that run under his belt and off a handicap mark just 2lb higher than which he triumphed in the Tommy Whittle last year he can become the third back-to-back winner of the a race which has been won by some top-class chasers in the past including Cheltenham Gold Cup winners Little Owl (1982), Forgive ‘n Forget (1986) and The Thinker (1988) as well as dashing grey One Man (1995) and dual Grand National runner-up Suny Bay (1998).

The Tommy Whittle is not quite at that level these days but Famous Bridge may book a potential crack at the Randox Grand National at Aintree Racecourse on April 5 if he does triumph again.

Emma Lavelle’s RED ROOKIE can win the Betfred ‘Bet Builder’ Handicap Chase (1.30pm). The nine-year-old hasn’t won since scoring at Warwick over two miles in March 2023 but having been stepped up to three miles on his last three starts and dropped down the handicap markedly, he may be able to break that losing run back. Red Rookie was a staying-on fourth at Uttoxeter in May and on his belated return back down in trip to two miles he can return to winning ways.

LUNE DE LA MER can also make a winning return to action in the Listed Betfred Hat-Trick Heaven Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Registered As The Abram Hurdle) (GBB Race) (2.40pm). Trained in Cheshire by Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero, the seven-year-old has only had three runs for the stable but has won a bumper at Kelso and also over hurdles on his only start over obstacles in a 2m4f contest at Aintree in May. The gelded son of Sea Moon remains open to improvement and may be able to make it three wins in a row ahead of potentially bigger and better things.

MY BOBBY DAZZLER is another horse on a long losing run but may bounce back in the Betfred Merry Christmas Handicap Hurdle (Challenger Stayers’ Hurdle Series Qualifier) (3.15pm). Mel Rowley’s nine-year-old has won on all conditions and has track and trip form. He is just 3lb higher than his last winning mark, when scoring over 2m4f at Worcester in June 2023 and was a fine second, beaten just a head by Zain Nights, over course and distance in May. Having blown off the cobwebs when seventh at Carlisle over 2m4f last month, My Bobby Dazzler may be ready to win again on Merseyside.

Nicky Henderson’s HOLLOWAY QUEEN can make it two wins from starts with victory in the Betfred Supports Jack Berry House Handicap Hurdle (Challenger Two Mile Hurdle Series Qualifier) (12.55pm) following on from his success at Lingfield on his debut for the Seven Barrows stable at Lingfield at the end of last month.

Following wind surgery Merseyside-born, Cheshire-based trainer Donald McCain’s SPEED DAVIS can return to winning ways in the Betfred ‘Classic Bookmaker’ Beginners’ Chase (GBB Race) (12.20pm). And Bankhouse stable-mate BARROWDALE may upset his better-fancied rival – the Jenny Candlish-trained, hat-trick-seeking Classic Maestro – in the two-runner Betfred Nifty 50 Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (11.45am).

At Ascot STRONG LEADER can win the Grade One Howden Long Walk Hurdle (GBB Race) (2.25pm). Olly Murphy’s seven-year-old can confirm himself as Britain’s leading staying hurdler with victory in the Grade One. He won at the top level when taking the JRL Liverpool Hurdle at the Grand National meeting at Aintree in April. And having returned with another victory in the Grade Two Coral Long Distance Hurdle, he can score again and continue on the road to throw down the challenge to the Irish hordes and last year’s Stayers’ Hurdle hero Teahupoo at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

Dan Skelton’s BE AWARE can go one better than at Cheltenham last time and win the Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (3.35pm). The five-year-old has only won one of his five starts over hurdles so far but has been runner-up in the other four. One of those was on his seasonal return in the Unibet Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham last month, only just going down to talented winner Burdett Road. With that run under his belt he can score ahead of chiefly Paul Nicholls’ unbeaten Kabral Du Mathan.

VICTTORINO can give the in-form Venetia Williams’ stable another big Saturday success over fences with a second win in a row in the Howden Silver Cup Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (3pm). The six-year-old won twice at Ascot last season, the second of which was in this three-mile handicap. He returned to action to stay on well to take third in the Coral Gold Cup Handicap Chase at Newbury at the end of last month. He’s only 1lb higher in the handicap than for last season’s Silver Cup success and at the track he clearly relishes, Victtorino can score again.

Others who can win at Ascot are another Williams-trained chaser, GALOP DE CHASSE, in the Howden Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (1.15pm); Greenall and Guerriero’s progressive IROKO in the Howden Graduation Chase (GBB Race) (1.50pm); and GOLDEN AMBITION, from the Ben Pauling stable, in the Thames Materials Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (12.40pm).

At Hereford Matt Sheppard’s course and distance winner FAMOSO can land a four-timer in the Book Your Fishing Trips With DragonBet Handicap Chase (2.48pm).

Others who can score at Hereford are another from the Pauling stable, HARRYS HOPE, in the DragonBet Better Odds Than Nessa’s Slots Mares’ Handicap Chase (1.38pm); Kerry Lee’s NEMEAN LION in the DragonBet, Chicken-Bhuna, Lamb-Bhuna, Prawn-Bhuna Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (2.13pm); and the Alastair Ralph-trained SCHERBOBALOB in the Accasion Marquees Handicap Hurdle (12.28pm).

Wright Ones

HAYDOCK PARK

11.45am Barrowdale
12.20pm Speed Davis
12.55pm Holloway Queen
1.30pm Red Rookie
2.05pm Famous Bridge (NAP)
2.40pm Lune De La Mer
3.15pm My Bobby Dazzler

ASCOT

12.40pm Golden Ambition
1.15pm Scherbobalob
1.50pm Face d'Music
2.25pm Strong Leader
3pm Victtorino
3.35pm Be Aware

HEREFORD

11.58am Big Ginge
12.28pm Scherbobalob
1.03pm Face d’Music
1.38pm Harrys Hope
2.13pm Nemean Lion
2.48pm Famoso
3.23pm Secret Sniper

NEWCASTLE

3.10pm Socialist Agenda
3.45pm Mambha
4.20pm Orangesandlemons
4.55pm Auntie Jo
5.30pm Nikovo
6pm Alfa Whiteburd
6.30pm Bobby Joe Leg
7pm Yaahobby

WOLVERHAMPTON

4.05pm Molly Valentine
4.40pm Georginio
5.15pm Rosezan
5.45pm Triumph Of Peace
6.15pm Alfheim
6.45pm Havana Sky
7.15pm Darlo Pride
7.45pm The Spotlight Kid

SUNDAY'S NAP: Bobby On The Beat (Lingfield 2pm)