Truckers on a roll at Haydock

Punters can look forward to a bumper day tomorrow with top-class racing at three jumps tracks, but the bet of the day is Truckers Tavern in the Bet Direct Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock.

Ferdy Murphy’s charge was due to run in the Tote Classic Chase at Warwick last week but bad weather saw that meeting called off and he heads for this £60,000 (€91,000) event instead.

The eight-year-old made a satisfactory seasonal debut when third at Kelso on very testing ground but he subsequently disappointed when falling at the first in the cantorsport.co.uk Silver Cup Handicap Chase at Ascot on his last run in December.

Since then Truckers Tavern has visited Yogi Breisner in an attempt to freshen up his jumping and some expert tuition is sure to have sharpened up his fencing.

Truckers Tavern sneaks into this three-mile contest on a nice mark, receiving a fair bit of weight from his main rivals, and he can take the spoils.

The Red Square Vodka Champion Hurdle Trial looks to be at the mercy of Noel Chance’s Flame Creek.

The trainer holds this horse in the highest regard and fancies him as a live outsider for the Blue Riband event at Cheltenham in March.

There was much to like about his six-length defeat of Sonevafushi at Cheltenham last time and he can underline his Champion Hurdle claims here.

Paul Nicholls looks set to have a good day, starting with Young Devereaux in the Tote Exacta Chase at Kempton.

The 10-year-old has had his problems in the past which has limited him to just nine starts since 1998 but when he is on form he is hard to beat.

Nicholls seemed to have him spot at Ascot before Christmas and although he was a little ring rusty in his first race for over a year, Young Devereaux saw off Seebald in a tight finish.

If Young Devereaux can reproduce that kind of performance here, he should have enough in the tank to hold all challengers.

Nicholls’ roll can continue at Wincanton, where Poliantas looks an obvious choice in the Connaught plc John Bull Chase.

The six-year-old is certainly one of the most promising chasers around as he proved when second to Cyfor Malta in the Thomas Pink Gold Cup at Cheltenham on his seasonal reappearance.

That was an impressive performance considering Poliantas is only a second-season chaser and he has since taken an intermediate chase from the ill-fated Golden Goal over this course and distance last month.

Although he faces some more experienced rivals here, Poliantas can still take the £25,000 (€38,000)-added race.

The Grade One Tolworth Hurdle can also go Nicholls’ way with Thisthatandtother.

The six-year-old has twice been successful over course and distance this season but the step up to two and a half miles at Sandown last time found him out when runner-up to Coolnagorna.

The move back to two miles here can see Thisthatandtother land a first success at the top level.