Colm O'Donoghue aims for Haydock Sprint crown

SUPERSUB Colm O’Donoghue will take over the reins on former Aussie speedball Starspangledbanner in tomorrow’s Betfred Sprint Cup at Haydock.

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JUMP IN FOR EMMA'S PAUSE AND CLAUSE

ABOVE: Emma Lavelle can score with Pause and Clause

21st November 2009

By Mark Winstanley

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YOU have to feel sorry for Ireland backers after their unfair defeat at the hands of the fiddling French last Wednesday in Paris.

To recoup losses I reckon PAUSE AND CLAUSE is a cracking each-way bet in the the Listed Timeform And Betfair Racing Club Handicap Hurdle (2.20) run over three miles and a fur- long at Haydock.

With 17 horses going to post, the bookie chappies will be paying out 1-2- 3-4 quarter the odds a place, so have a few quid each-way on this lightly-raced five-year-old.

He has only had seven starts, but showed he has the guts for a race of this nature when third of 27 in the Coral Cup off a mark of 137 at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

Emma Lavelle’s horse races off a perch of 143 in this contest, so has every chance of catching the judge’s
eye, with the excellent Jack Doyle doing the steering.

Many racing fans from the Emerald Isle have backed Notre Pere to beat KAUTO STAR in the Grade 1 Betfair Chase (2.55) run over three miles at Haydock, but once again they will come off second best.

In the lead up to this race, much has been made of the fact Kauto Star fell in last year’s event.

But Sam Thomas was in the plate and I’m sure the superb fencer would not have crashed to mother earth had regular pilot Ruby Walsh been in the irons.

Folk quickly forget the dual Gold Cup hero had previously captured this event in the previous two seasons, and Paul Nicholls reports the best chaser in training in rude health. Meeting inferior rivals at level weights, Kauto Star has 27lb - even a very thick Deptford comprehensive lad like me can work out that’s almost two stone - in hand according to the handicapper, so why can we back the good thing at 5-4?

The main reason is the ante-post support for Notre Pere, who was avail- able at 7-2 when the prices first came out last Tuesday.

Jim Dreaper’s huge beast was travelling well at Down Royal a fortnight ago before making an uncharacteristic mistake at the fifth last and losing his jockey.

He is an improving sort, but has a long way to go before beating the champ.

Imperial Commander may be betterat shorter trips while Halcon Genelardais needs a lot further.

Get the Christmas money in early, by lumping on Kauto Star.

Without changing channels, those of you who like a fire up on the sand dunes can enjoy the Listed Betdaq Churchill Stakes (3.40) run over ten furlongs. Likely favourite Presvis has not raced since May and I’m sure Luca Cumani is getting the horse primed for a winter campaign in Hong Kong and Singapore.

My idea of the best each-way wager in the race is SUITS ME, who never runs a bad race at this track and has the assistance of the brilliant Dazzler Holland in the saddle.

Tomorrow at Aintree, the Totesport Becher Handicap Chase (1.45) is run over three miles and three furlongs, and us Couch Potatoes can view the action over the famous Grand National fences on BBC 2.

I reckon CLENI BOY is a great each way bet at 20-1. Trained by J D Moore, the son of the legendary Arthur, the seven-year-old has no weight at all and looks a massive price.