Clyne grinds it out in Haydock mud

The rest of the news from Haydock Park, where Clyne completed a hat-trick of wins in the opening contest under Adam Wedge.

Clyne belied a nine-month absence when completing his hat-trick in the Read Paul Nicholls Exclusively On Betfair Handicap Hurdle at Haydock.

The Evan Williams-trained six-year-old looked a progressive individual after winning his previous two starts at Ffos Las and Warwick and with the testing conditions in his favour, he was a 9/2 chance on his first start since February.

With rank outsider Akula sent straight to the lead, Adam Wedge positioned Clyne in second for much of the two-mile journey before hitting the front before the home turn.

Fellow market principals Verni and Baby King both loomed up as dangers, but Clyne saw them off and passed the post seven lengths clear of the former.

Wedge said: "He improved last season and he's improved again. The ground is wet and deep and he loves it.

"Jumping two out the other horses were coming and I wasn't sure what I had left, but once I've given him a squeeze he's gone again."

Nigel Twiston-Davies and Jamie Bargary combined to land the Better Odds With Betfair Exchange Handicap Hurdle with 9/4 favourite El Terremoto.

The four-year-old failed to fire on his British debut at Chepstow last month, but raised his game to score decisively at Stratford a few weeks later and followed up in good style, coming home with two and three-quarter lengths in hand.

French challenger Fyrmyin travelled well for a long way before fading into third place. Irish raider Massini's Trap was doing his best work at the finish and grabbed the runner-up spot.

"He's a horse we like a lot at home and he was disappointing at Chepstow," said Bargary. "He won very easily at Stratford and he's done it well again today, so he's obviously a horse that's improving with each run.

"He travelled like the winner and jumped like the winner throughout and hopefully he can step up again. He's a good horse to have on our side."

With three and a half miles facing the 11 runners, the Cash Out In Running With Betfair Handicap Chase was not for the faint-hearted and it was Mysteree who clinched a tenacious victory.

Making his first appearance for Michael Scudamore having previously been trained by Lucinda Russell, the eight-year-old was the 4/1 favourite in the hands of champion jockey Richard Johnson.

Admirable veteran Rigadin De Beauchene took the field along for a long way, but Mysteree was never too far off the pace and fought gamely in the straight.

Some bold leaps helped Chase The Spud maintain an advantage, but Scudamore's charge hit the front at the second-last and battled on for a three-and-a-half-length success.

Chase The Spud was a clear second ahead of Wood Yer in third and Rigadin De Beauchene in fourth.

Scudamore said: "He was a good fourth in the Eider last season, which showed he is up to this sort of level and he obviously stays well.

"He's only an eight-year-old, so he was only going to get bigger and stronger and the owners felt he would be better suited by coming to a smaller yard like ours.

"It was a tough race and he had to battle. Thankfully he did and Richard has given him a very good ride.

"We'd like to look at something like the Welsh National. Whether he's high enough in the weights, we'll have to wait and see.

"We might look at the Eider again and races like that. Going left-handed is important to him.

"It's nice to have a Saturday winner on a big day like this."

Johnson, successful in the feature handicap aboard Kruzhlinin, completed a hat-trick aboard the Philip Hobbs-trained Three Faces West (3/1) in the concluding Better Value With Betfair Handicap Chase, appearing to appreciate first-time cheekpieces.

Hobbs said: "I don't know whether it's just that, but at Carlisle last time he never really travelled."

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