The 2026 Grand National Trial at Haydock

Eleven declared for tomorrow's William Hill Half A Mill Grand National Trial Handicap Chase  (3.15 Haydock) run over three miles four and a half furlongs; the going is described as soft, heavy in places, with an 8.00 am inspection scheduled as overnight temperatures are forecast to fall to -2.

At the time of writing bet365 go 10/1 the field bar two, with more money for Myretown than Deafening Silence at the head of the market. 

Racing from the front Myretown beat The Changing Man 11 lengths in the Ultima at last year's Festival off a mark of 127. 

Next time we saw him the gelding took a crashing fall in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury in November and then four weeks ago held every chance in the Peter Marsh at this track when making a bad blunder three from home; to his credit he rallied bravely and was beaten less than three and a half lengths in fourth behind Imperial Saint (Richmond Lake second).

Generally Myretown's jumping is good but he can make a serious error in a race which is disconcerting; the stable has emerged from a protracted quiet spell (just one winner this year before today) with a treble at Kelso this afternoon: Triple Crown Ted (3/1jf); King Of Answers (11/8f); and Wal Buck's (4/1).

Whisper it quietly but Deafening Silence doesn't have too many miles on the clock.

On his first try beyond three miles, Dan Skelton's charge finished a very creditable third behind Haiti Couleurs and O'Connell in the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow (Monbeg Genius fifth, Git Maker pulled up). 

The general consensus is the going that day was quicker than the official good to soft recorded. On revised terms he looks weighted to conform placings with Monbeg Genius.

Rivers Corner won the Somerset National at Wincanton four weeks ago and has gone up nine pounds to a mark of 127. I thought he beat two doubtful stayers that day - Isaac Des Obeaux and Destroytheevidence.

Back in November, 35 minutes after Grey Dawning had won the Betfair Chase - with any amount in hand - over three miles one and a half furlongs at this track, Top Of The Bill put on a bit of a show of his own over same course and distance, making all to win unchallenged, finishing seven lengths clear of Saladins Son.  

Four weeks later Grand Geste looked well-named, winning the Tommy Whittle at the track (Saladins Son fourth, Grand Albert fifth, Top Of The Bill ninth). Top Of The Bill weakened quickly before entering the home straight on that occasion - no obvious excuse forthcoming - while, to date, Grand Albert appears to have experienced intermittent problems with his fencing.

Grand Geste was subsequently sent off 5/2 favourite for the Great Yorkshire Chase at Doncaster where the naming didn't appear quite so salient as he failed to give his running and was pulled up just after halfway. Joel Parkinson and Sue Smith's charge has been easy to back during the day.

Richmond Lake only just failed to collar Imperial Saint in the Peter Marsh, beaten a neck. Donald McCain's charge boasts a good record at Haydock - 2132 - but a standard benchmark for this event is a previous win over three miles; Richmond Lake's last win was over two years ago over a trip of two and a half miles.

Git Maker didn't go well for much of the trip when fourth in this race last year - beaten 19 lengths; he was subsequently promoted to third after 'winner' Famous Bridge was disqualified for a banned substance. 

His second behind Iknowthewayurthinkin in the 2024 Kim Muir reads well, as does his third behind Macdermott in the Scottish Grand National that year but his latest effort in the Welsh Grand National seven weeks ago didn't appear to indicate a revival was just around the corner. Connections try first-time blinkers.

Conversely Monbeg Genius' fifth in the Welsh Grand National, less than 12 lengths behind Haiti Couleurs, was a good effort (Deafening Silence third). 

After finishing fourth in the 2024 Welsh Grand National, he beat Richmond Lake five lengths in a three mile handicap chase at Uttoxeter off 142 and races off the same mark tomorrow. He meets Deafening Silence three pounds better off for a seven length deficit in the Welsh National. 

Holokea went into the notebook after narrowly failing to get back up when beaten a neck by Zertakt at Cheltenham in December; Mickey Bowen's charge looked all over the winner but idled on the run to the line. Last March Rivers Corner beat Zertakt just under four lengths in a novice chase at Newbury; Zertakt has been deliberately kept a novice with the National Hunt Chase at this year's Festival a target.

Next time out under top weight Holokea was collared in the shadow of the post by Neo King in the Fitzdares Personal Betting Service Stayers Handicap Chase at Windsor. Neo King starts here from four pounds out of the handicap but that penalty is offset by James Davies' five pounds claim; on revised terms the pair look closely matched once again.

Question marks everywhere, while a number in this field like to race from the front including Myretown, Top Of The Bill, Grand Geste and Rivers Corner; Monbeg Genius is often prominent.

This wouldn't be the strongest renewal and Myretown looks a big threat to all with a clear round. 

I'm going to take an each-way interest in Monbeg Genius, at the time of writing 10/1 with bet365 who are paying four places.  

Footnote:

After winning the Relkeel at Cheltenham on New Year's Day, Harry Skelton was of the opinion Kabral Du Mathan 'doesn't race like a three miler' while brother Dan said: "In my heart I think I trust him enough to relax enough and get the three mile trip..."

Doesn't sound like a 4/7f chance for the Rendlesham (2.05).