It's one of these events that happens once in a decade.

No, not Glasgow Rangers winning the Scottish Premiership. Nor The Trainer standing his round.
Both equally valid answers of course but since we're discussing horses (on occasion), it's soft-cum-heavy ground at Jumps Meetings on Easter Saturday. No artificial soft ground through watering, no soft on the top 2 inches but high water table ground with plenty of give in it much like what we've been racing on during the Winter.

And we're delighted (sorry, Mr. Farnsworth) and take a runner to each of Carlisle & Haydock today

Shoeshine Boy at Haydock

Haydock 30th March : 2.40 pm 3m ½f Handicap Hurdle (Class 2)

And not just any old handicap. This is the final of the Challenger Stayers Series worth 25 grand to the winner.

Shoeshine Boy is our tilt at the windmill here, at the foot of the handicap for sure, but he's no forlorn hope having won his last 2 races. The trip will suit as should the ground so he has a good chance of being there with a shout over the last couple of flights.

An extremely competitive race though, with the underfoot conditions having a big say in the outcome. The normally reliable Judicial Law is at the top of the handicap and should go well while of the likely improvers, the 6yr old Doughmore Bay could spring a surprise.

Craig Nichol rides and best of luck to Mouse Young and his mates.

Enemy At The Gate at Carlisle

Carlisle 30th March : 4.15 pm 3m 1f 0-120 handicap hurdle (Class 4)

Enemy At The Gate has been fairly consistent these past races and he returns to the sort of distance that has seen his best display of the season when beaten just over 2 lengths by our own Shoeshine Boy at Ayr a couple of runs back.
Just a small bit of improvement on his last run when 3rd over a shorter distance would put him bang in the mix here especially with Brian Hughes in the saddle.

The big danger is the ex Irish Pointer (beaten a head on sole start) Clovis Island from Nicky Richards' yard. Lightly raced, he won a maiden hurdle at Hexham last time over 2½ miles and you'd have to reckon there would be more improvement on this, his handicap debut.
The more exposed Artic Mann always runs his race though, and will be there to take advantage of any slip up from the main protagonists.