Haydock Park

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Wadham Pair Target Valuable Haydock Prizes
04/05/06

Newmarket trainer Lucy Wadham is planning a two-pronged assault on Haydock's two valuable jump prizes this Saturday, May 6, with United and Ken's Dream aiming to score a notable double in the £27,500 betfredpoker.com Long Distance Handicap Hurdle and £75,000 Betfred Swinton Handicap Hurdle respectively.

A total of 35 horses have been entered in the betfredpoker.com Long Distance Handicap Hurdle (1.25pm), over two miles, seven and a half furlongs, with the Alan King-trained Mughas heading the weights on 11st 12lb, and United allotted 10st 10lb.

United gave Wadham the biggest win of her training career when landing the Grade One four-year-old hurdle at last year's Punchestown Festival, but has only raced three times so far this season following an injury, running fifth of nine in the Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr on April 22 on her last start.

Wadham said: "United will go for the staying race. Ideally I would have liked to step her up to two and a half miles, but we'll go for the two miles, seven and a half furlongs race - she is bred to stay the trip as there's plenty of stamina in her pedigree.

"I think on good ground she probably needs further than two miles but it's a bit of an experiment really. She actually stayed on quite well at Ayr last time - she made a mistake in the home straight but kept on well and was only beaten a head for fourth.

"She lost a bit of confidence with her jumping after going to France [pulled up over two and a half miles on heavy ground at Auteuil on April 2] and in the circumstances we were happy with her last run.

"It appears she has come out of the race really well and is in good form. She's a versatile sort and the track and ground should be fine."

The Betfred Swinton Handicap Hurdle (1.55pm), a Grade Three contest over two miles, is the richest race on a great mixed card, and has attracted 29 entries, with Blazing Bailey currently topping the weights on 11st 12lb.

Ken's Dream, allotted 10st in the handicap, has had three runs for Wadham over hurdles, after returning to action following an 18-month break, and comes into the race in winning form, having run away with a two-mile maiden hurdle at Plumpton by 18 lengths on April 17.

Wadham revealed: "Ken's Dream will run in the Betfred Swinton Handicap Hurdle and is in great order at present. He's a fresh horse and will love the good ground.

"It will be his first time in a handicap so it will be interesting to see how he fares, but I think he's earned a tilt at the race and he gets in on a nice racing weight.

"The two-mile trip will be prefect for him and we're hoping he's going to run a big race. Leighton Aspell will ride both of mine and I think we go to Haydock with two decent each-way chances."

The Irish could mount a strong challenge for the Betfred Swinton Handicap Hurdle, with County Kildare handler Jessica Harrington, who landed the contest in 2004 with Macs Joy, set to run Callow Lake. He could be joined by the Charlie Swan-trained Emmpat and Francis Flood's Pom Flyer.

The ground at Haydock is currently good on both the hurdle and Flat courses. The hurdle course has been watered, with the aim of maintaining good ground.