Herefordshire trainer Tom Symonds has his string in fine form with four winners from his last eight runners for a strike rate of 50 per cent over the past fortnight. Even his supposed no-hoper Gaelic Saint comfortably outran her odds at Warwick yesterday when second at 50-1 in a mares’ novices’ hurdle.

Tomorrow one of Symonds’s stable stars NAVAJO INDY will try to keep up the good work for the yard at Haydock when he contests the Betfair Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle (2.25 p.m.) in search of a first prize to winning connections of nearly £57,000.

At six years old, this progressive and consistent hurdler should be reaching his peak and Navajo Indy shapes as though this three-mile trip, which he is trying for the first time, will suit, even though all his best form last season was over two miles.

There was plenty to like about his seasonal debut when he was runner-up to French Ship at Cheltenham last month despite a mistake at the second last. Back Navajo Indy 1 point each way at 11-1 with BetVictor or Coral, both paying five places.

I had expected to go into this race double handed with Hartington, from another in-form stable, but his price has halved over the past 48 hours after trainer Joe Tizzard booked champion jockey Sean Bowen for the ride. At odds of around 6-1, I am happy to let him go unbacked in this competitive 17-runner contest.

In the big race of the day at Haydock tomorrow, the Grade 1 Betfair Chase (3 p.m.), only five horses line up for a first prize of more than £112,000. Grey Dawning is the hot favourite for the in-form Skelton team, while Royale Pagaille, who has won the last two runnings of the race, bids for a hat-trick but on ground likely to be faster than ideal for him. I am a great admirer, too, of both Haiti Couleurs and Handstands and so, on balance, I will simply watch........

© The Spectator