It could be Grey's day at Haydock in Betfair Chase

CHRIS WRIGHT AIMS TO BE FIRST PAST THE FINISHING POST WITH TODAY'S TOP TIPS

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Grey Dawning, ridden by Harry Skelton, winning the Turners Novices' Chase at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival. He can triumph again at Haydock today ADAM DAVY/PA

(ADAM DAVY/PA)

GREY Dawning can secure victory in the Betfair Chase (Registered As The Lancashire Chase) (GBB Race) (3pm) at Haydock Park today.

Dan Skelton's eight-year-old can go one better than 12 months ago and turn the tables on dual winner Royale Pagaille in the Grade One feature at the Merseyside track.

Grey Dawning was a hugely promising novice during the 2023-24 campaign, when winning three times with the highlight of his successes his victory over 2m4f in the Grade One Turners' Novice Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March 2024.

He was third the following month when failing to win the Grade One double in the Close Brothers Manifesto Novices' Chase at the Randox Grand National Festival at Aintree Racecourse.

Last season things didn't go quite to plan when stepped up to this 3m1½f trip in the Betfair Chase.

He couldn't get the better of the reopposing Venetia Williams-trained Royale Pagaille.

The latter's love of Haydock - where he has won five times and also been runner-up in the Betfair in 2022 - and the testing conditions were against Grey Dawning that day as he was outstayed.

Things went awry when disappointingly pulled up in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day, but he got back on track dropped back to Listed level when winning the Premier Chase at Kelso. And Grey Dawning was placed again at the Grand National meeting when runner-up to Gaelic Warrior in the Bowl Chase at Aintree on his final start back in April.