No Hassle Hoff ran a cracker when runner-up last time out, so looks worth a wager at 7/1 with Coral to go one better and land the spoils in the 2m 6f Pertemps Network Long Distance Handicap Hurdle that gets proceedings underway on a top class mixed card of racing at Haydock on Saturday (14:00).
That run came in a competitive 15-runner contest at Cheltenham following wind surgery, where the Dan Skelton trained seven-year-old came from off the pace and kept on strongly to finish a 3 1/2 lengths second to Le Patriote off a mark of 132.
The winner is a progressive sort who went into the race on the back of a success and there were a whole host of decent and in-form horses in-behind, so that gives the form a solid look.
No Hassle Hoff is able to race in this off an unchanged mark, but has to run from 5lb out of the weights due to the presence of Whisper in the line-up.
However, that is offset by the 7lb claimer of young rider William Marshall and the son of Endless Patience has been rated as high as 141 in the past.
No Hassle Hoff also ran well over course and distance in February 2018 when a 6 1/4 lengths third to Donna’s Diamond in the Grade 2 Rendlesham Hurdle, so is clearly on a handy mark at present and weighted to go in again at any time.
So, with the stable continuing to be amongst the winners and off a featherweight of just 10st, this looks a nice opportunity for No Hassle Hoff to notch a third career success.
Wait For Me feared most
Trainer Philip Hobbs is another trainer in fine form and his Wait For Me looks the obvious danger – if consenting to put his best foot forward.
This nine-year-old is on a ling losing run having not scored since landing a novice chase at Worcester back in September 2017.
He is notoriously tricky to win with as he does nothing when hitting the front, as was the case last time out when he looked all over the winner after leading at the last only to get worried out of it close home and get beaten a length by Colonial Dream.
Wait For Me has been hit with a 6lb rise in the weights for that, but ran well of his revised rating of 140 in this 12 months ago when third.
However, he is ideally suited by a strongly run race and may not get that here. Wait For Me is also prone to mistakes, so at 100/30 with William Hill there is enough to suggest he is worth taking on.
Sharja Silk can spark double for Varian
Sharja Silk ran very well when runner-up on seasonal reappearance, so now eased significantly in grade looks a worthy favourite at 6/5 with Ladbrokes to belatedly open his account in the 1m 6f Pertemps Network Stayers Handicap (14:35).
This four-year-old, who hails from the red hot yard of Newmarket handler Roger Varian, is still a maiden following nine attempts but has made the frame in all of his last six starts.
In the latest of those at Kempton three weeks ago in the class 2 Queen’s Prize Handicap over 2m, he ran on well to finish a 1 1/4 lengths second to Eden Rose.
The pair pulled five lengths clear of the field, so that gives the form a strong look in relation to this lower grade class 4 contest.
Sharja Silk is able to race in it off just 3lb higher and also now gets fitted with cheekpieces for the first time.
The drop back in trip will also hold no fears so, if the new headgear has the desired effect, the son of Dubawi is going to be very hard to beat.
Laugh A Minute can cash-in on class drop
Laugh A Minute, who like Sharja Silk carries the famous yellow and black colours of Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum, looks to have leading claims of securing a quick-fire double for Varian in the 6f Pertemps Network Conditions Stakes (15:45).
This four-year-old son of Mayson had some smart form to his name last season and ran well on return to action in a Listed contest over 7f at Leicester, when racing keenly on the heels of the leaders until weakening late on to finish a 2 3/4 lengths fourth to Hey Gaman.
The drop back down to 6f looks a shrewd move, judged on that effort, and this represents a drop in class. It makes Laugh A Minute look the one to be on and he can be backed at 9/4 with Betway.
Suedois holds solid claims in Spring Trophy
In the Listed 7f Pertemps Network Spring Trophy Stakes (16:20), the David O’Meara trained Suedois makes plenty of appeal at the 7/2 on offer with Bethard now dropped in grade and trip following a fine run on seasonal reappearance.
That came in a Group 2 contest at Sandown where the eight-year-old travelled nicely and ridden to lead at the furlong marker, before weakening to finish a 2 1/4 lengths fourth of seven to the very smart Beat The Bank.
It should that Suedois retained plenty of ability despite his advancing years and he is a Group 2 winner who competed in some top class races last season, including when seventh of 16 to Rhododendron in the Group 1 Lockinge Stakes at Newbury.
This represents by far the easiest assignment the son of Le Havar has faced for some time, and he has won once and been placed four times in eight starts over the 7f trip of this.
So, with ground conditions holding no fears, and on official rating of 115 which gives him 6ln and upwards in hand on his seven rivals, the chances of Suedois look glaringly obvious in this.
Should he fail to live up to expectations, then Happy Power could be the one to take advantage.
This Andrew Balding trained three-year-old has won three of his five starts, and looked a pattern performer in the last of those at Newbury last month when quickening clear to impressively land a handicap by five lengths.
Happy Power looks well worth a crack at this level – judged on that taking performance – and can be backed at 5/2 with Unibet.
