Silence can be golden in Haydock's National Trial

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

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DEAFENING Silence can secure victory in the William Hill Half A Mill Grand National Trial Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (3.15pm) at Haydock Park this afternoon - if the meeting passes a precautionary inspection at 8am.

Dan Skelton's nine-year-old can land the feature on Merseyside and give himself a chance at having a crack at the Randox Grand National at Aintree on Saturday, April 11.

Deafening Silence would currently be struggling to make the cut for the world's greatest steeplechase but victory at Haydock would likely move him up in the handicap and give him a chance of bidding for the £500,000 bonus put up by bookmakers William Hill for any horse who goes on to win the Grand National later in the season having won one of recognised trials the Becher Chase (won by Ben Pauling's Twig), the Classic Chase at Warwick (which was abandoned) and this Haydock feature.

Skelton's chaser still remains relatively unexposed over fences having run just seven times, winning one at Warwick around this time last year. That was over three miles in soft conditions and he will encounter similar at Haydock.

He returned to be second to Konfusion in the BETMGM Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle over just short of three miles at the end of November. He was no match for the winner that day but he looks to be improving.

And stepped up to this type of staying distance over 3m6½f in the Coral Welsh National at Chepstow over Christmas he ran another fine race in defeat. He was prominent throughout and stayed on well. There was no disgrace in being beaten by the Cheltenham Gold Cup-bound Haiti Couleurs and another progressive chaser O'Connell and he was just under five lengths back in third.