Haydock racing tip: Plenty more progress expected from Bali Body

15:35 Haydock: Betfair Free Racing Multiple Today Handicap Chase  (3 miles 1½  furlongs)  

Warm favourite Famous Bridge appears to be the one to beat here after finishing last season with back-to-back wins at Wetherby, and then picking up where he left off with a close-up fourth of ten in a blanket finish at Ayr three weeks ago.

He is likely to find Credo a capable challenger under Sam Twiston-Davies, with the eight-year-old following up a successful campaign last term (two wins and three seconds from seven outings) with another tidy win on season debut at Wincanton last month.

Another to watch is Eleanor Bob, who was last seen falling at Fontwell in March after back-to-back wins earlier in the year, and he could hit the ground running here for the in-form yard of Venetia Williams.

Planet Sport Bet: Bet £20+ cash on any runner in the race and if Eleanor Bob finishes in the first 3 places, get a £5 Free Bet!

Bali Body looked to have a bright future over fences after winning on his second attempt over the larger obstacles at Sandown this time two years ago.

He had previously run well in a 3-mile point-to-point and also landed one win and one runner-up spot in just four hurdles starts won in that discipline, but turned quickly to chasing which suggested that is where his main future lay.

It must have been frustrating for connections to see Bali Body suffer an injury which saw him absent from the track for two years, but they must have been buoyed by his recent return to action where he was weak in the market, suggesting that connections anticipated he would need the run.

He exceeded modest expectations to finish runner-up of nine behind Not Sure at Wetherby three weeks ago, making light of the heavy conditions in a solid jumping performance.

Having also benefited from a wind op during his extended lay-off, this gelding should come on for that run and has all the makings of becoming a 130+ chaser, so off a mark of 116 (he won off 115) this race should be well within his sights.

Annoyingly Bali Body has been well backed since we first picked him out, but he still looks a fair price, and that market support only reinforces our belief that he will go well here under Charlie Hammond.

 

• Suggested bet: Bali Body in the 15:35 at Haydock

• Tip and analysis provided by Richard Hutchinson, whose Read Between The Lines is available on Tipstrr

 

READ MORE: Harry Cobden assesses his Ascot rides in his Planet Sport Bet blog