December 21 / 13.30 Haydock

13.30

Soft

Betfred ‘Bet Builder’ Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £10562
  • 2m 0f 67y
  • Class 3
  • 8 runners
RTV
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Betfred ‘Bet Builder’ Handicap Chase

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

13/2 (Won)

  • Win: £7.50
  • Place: £2.10

Form: 84413- D

Last run: 246 days

W: 10st 13lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Three chase wins in Ireland for Donal Hassett, the latest at Cork (2m, soft) in April; changed hands for £27,000 in May; reappears with new yard among the winners and could have a part to play.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

22nd Apr 2026

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

15:40 Perth

Sunnyvilla

11st 0lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

Veteran of the field but he won over 2m with plenty of give underfoot on first and fifth races for this yard, latterly at Uttoxeter in January on penultimate start; 2m4f a plausible excuse last time and he needs consideration.

9/2

4th

6

21st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 19y

Class 3

15:58 Newcastle

Sunnyvilla

11st 0lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

Ex-Irish 11yo, a zestful front-runner in recent campaigns who has won over 2m in the mud on the first and latest of his five races for current yard; the latter was a five-runner race at Uttoxeter four weeks ago, since which he's gone up another 4lb but it's this trip (despite 2m4f and 2m5f wins much earlier in career) which provides the most glaring question.

11/2

1st

2

24th Jan 2026

Soft

1m 7f 214y

Class 3

13:57 Uttoxeter

Sunnyvilla

11st 5lb

J: Callum Bewley

T: Nicky Richards

Ex-Irish 11yo who made all at Haydock (2m, heavy) on stable debut in December 2024 and lost out only narrowly in this season's edition of that race five weeks ago (soft); has to take recent 4lb rise on the chin but can still make his presence felt here.

9/4

Form: F351-6

Last run: 66 days

W: 11st 8lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Can make mistakes but he's of interest judged on his win at Bangor (2m4f, soft) in April and shaped on his reappearance at Wetherby as though he would improve for the run; the form of his stable is a positive and this second-season chaser could be a contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

11

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 125y

Class 3

17:05 Haydock

Cerendipity

11st 2lb

J: Peter Kavanagh

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

Well treated on his best form, now 9lb lower than when winning at Newcastle (2m7f, good to soft) in March 2025, but he has been struggling, including with his jumping; cheekpieces off, tongue-strap on.

12/1

9th

4

22nd Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 210y

Class 2

16:27 Carlisle

Cerendipity

11st 9lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

Has lacked fluency at times this season; otherwise an interesting type as he's on a very handy mark and this looks the time to catch him (gained last two wins in spring months).

9/1

5th

12

14th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 203y

Class 3

13:28 Haydock

Cerendipity

10st 13lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

Yet to score this term but he arrives in decent nick, scuppered by a bad error when sixth over C&D last month; possibilities off a 2lb lower mark.

20/1

12/1

  • Place: £2.50

Form: U764-5 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 12lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 126

Form & Verdict
Low-key end to last season and also below par on last month's reappearance here; however, he's won on his second start of the season in each of his last two campaigns and has dropped to an enticing mark; interesting.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 92y

Class 3

16:10 Newbury

Xcitations

11st 2lb

J: Robert Dunne

T: Pam Sly

Grand servant for the yard with eight wins (six over fences) and he showed he was no back number when second of four at Leicester (2m, soft; handles good) in February; took the wrong course last time; has form here and should be thereabouts.

7/1

1

9th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 0f 213y

Class 4

14:50 Stratford

Xcitations

12st 1lb

J: Jack Andrews

T: Pam Sly

Grand servant for the yard with eight wins (six over fences); showed he was no back number when second of four in returning cheekpieces (left off here) at Leicester (2m, soft) 13 days ago; should run his race.

9/4

2nd

2

24th Feb 2026

Heavy

1m 7f 201y

Class 4

15:50 Leicester

Xcitations

12st 0lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Pam Sly

Veteran who achieved nothing at Uttoxeter on reappearance but may be back in better form with that outing under his belt; gained last three wins at Sandown but he's 1-1 at Leicester.

4/1

Form: 3651-2 D

Last run: 15 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced 6yo who showed improved form when winning a handicap hurdle by 10l at Hereford (2m, soft) in March, and he reappeared with a promising second on his chase debut at Sandown (1m7f, soft); there's room for improvement in his jumping and he could play a leading role.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

15th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

16:45 Uttoxeter

Intimate

11st 7lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Bounced back to form when second of six in 2m3f Hereford handicap chase 20 days ago; he must enter calculations nudged up 1lb in his bid for a breakthrough chasing victory.

3/1

2nd

1

23rd Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 2f 208y

Class 4

14:40 Hereford

Intimate

12st 2lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Ended last season with emphatic hurdle win here (2m, soft) and was creditable second on seasonal/chase debut at Sandown (1m7f, soft) in December; two lesser efforts have followed but it would be dangerous to write him off at this stage.

100/30

4th

4

15th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 4f 194y

Class 4

13:45 Hereford

Intimate

11st 8lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Won a 2m soft-ground handicap hurdle by 10l here last March; his jumping lacked fluency so did well to go so close on chase debut at Sandown (1m7f, soft) and conditions were extremely testing when fourth at Haydock; massive shout on that penultimate effort.

3/1

Form: 11P-46 D

Last run: 29 days

W: 11st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Soundly beaten on both runs this season but the first was over hurdles and the second was on good to soft ground; this 6yo won five soft-ground handicaps chases last term and is not written off now back on a deeper surface.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

5th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 35y

Class 4

16:15 Wincanton

Royal Mer

12st 0lb

J: Rian Corcoran

T: David Pipe

Six chase wins, the latest here (1m7f, heavy) under Rian Corcoran 19 days ago; still on workable mark after recent 5lb rise and will be fine over today's longer trip but the faster ground is probably not in his favour.

9/2

1st

1

14th Feb 2026

Heavy

1m 7f 149y

Class 4

14:50 Wincanton

Royal Mer

12st 2lb

J: Rian Corcoran

T: David Pipe

Five-time chase winner who relishes testing ground; runner-up in his first two starts this season including a close call at Exeter (2m1f, good to soft), but his form cooled at Hereford last time; needs to step up again after that but he remains well treated on his old form.

7/2

3rd

1

26th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 0f 8y

Class 4

15:00 Hereford

Royal Mer

11st 13lb

J: Rian Corcoran

T: David Pipe

Five-time chase winner who relishes testing ground; runner-up on both starts this term and looks sure to go close.

13/8

OUR TIP

Form: 3743-4 D

Last run: 217 days

W: 11st 10lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
He's not as good as he was and his fair efforts in the spring, when last seen, were over 3m; however, he's done all of his winning at 2m/2m1f and returns with his trainer in good form; not discounted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

17th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 6f 41y

Class 3

16:08 Windsor

Red Rookie

11st 7lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Emma Lavelle

10yo who is 2-16 over fences with latest win in March 2023, but he took some minor honours over a wide variety of trips last January-May; has a recent run under his belt and, having run creditably in the first of two runs with cheekpieces, he now tries a visor.

25/1

11

17th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 6f 41y

Class 3

16:08 Windsor

Red Rookie

11st 7lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Emma Lavelle

10yo who is 2-16 over fences with latest win in March 2023, but he took some minor honours over a wide variety of trips last January-May; has a recent run under his belt and, having run creditably in the first of two runs with cheekpieces, he now tries a visor.

25/1

8

11th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

15:34 Ffos Las

Red Rookie

10st 11lb

T: Emma Lavelle

Form: 1114-3 CD

Last run: 28 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 128

Form & Verdict
Won three in a row last winter (soft/heavy, including C&D); fair efforts in defeat the last twice and he could improve for last month's reappearance third over C&D (soft); he's one to consider.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

7th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 0f 110y

Class 4

14:07 Ayr

Netywell

12st 0lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Regressive 9yo who is sliding down the weights; has two wins over C&D and has won off 9lb higher so cannot be discounted.

2/1

4th

2

29th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 110y

Class 4

15:43 Ayr

Netywell

11st 13lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

C&D winner who is well handicapped on form as recent as last March and today's drop back in grade could help; however, his performances have been patchy this season and he needs to get back on track.

20/1

Form: 14-P24 D

Last run: 35 days

W: 11st 5lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Two wins last season (1m7f/2m, heavy/soft) and he ran well for a long way at Wetherby (2m3f, good) last month when back from a break; may improve for that run, and also this drop back in trip; possible player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

3

23rd Aug 2025

Good

3m 1f 83y

Class 5

15:20 Cartmel

Findthetime

11st 10lb

J: James Bowen

T: Stuart Coltherd

Regressive 9yo who ought to have been favoured by the soft ground when never-dangerous fourth (about 19l behind Dusky Days) here (2m6f) last month; on a very good mark now but needs to stage a revival.

14/1

2

21st Jul 2025

Good

2m 6f 31y

Class 5

14:42 Cartmel

Findthetime

11st 11lb

J: James Bowen

T: Stuart Coltherd

Took step back in right direction when respectable fifth at Worcester (2m7f, good) this month and has the services of James Bowen again here but this regressive 9yo is patently not the force of old; others preferred.

14/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £44.10
Straight Forecast £42.16
Tricast £274.11
Trifecta £259.30

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Intimate

Telegraph:

Cerendipity

POSTDATA:

Netywell

RP RATINGS:

Royal Mer

TOPSPEED:

Xcitations

The Guardian:

Intimate

Daily Mail:

Intimate

D Express:

Intimate

Daily Mirror:

Intimate

The Sun:

Intimate

Daily Record:

Intimate

The Star:

Cerendipity

The Times:

Netywell