December 30 / 14.35 Haydock

14.35

Heavy

Betfred Happy New Year EBF Junior “National Hunt” Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £5446
  • 1m 7f 144y
  • Class 4
  • 6 runners
RTV
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Betfred Happy New Year EBF Junior “National Hunt” Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

7/4 (Won)

  • Win: £4.00
  • Place: £2.00

Form:

Last run:

W: 10st 7lb

3 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Second foal; dam unraced; grandam from classy family; takes on males on debut but is in top hands and could play a leading role.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

6

30th Dec 2024

Heavy

1m 7f 144y

Class 4

14:35 Haydock

Itstonitejosephine

10st 7lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

made all, took keen hold, shaken up and 2 lengths ahead when left clear last

7/4

1st

6

30th Dec 2024

Heavy

1m 7f 144y

Class 4

14:35 Haydock

Itstonitejosephine

10st 7lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

made all, took keen hold, shaken up and 2 lengths ahead when left clear last

7/4

3/1

  • Place: £1.70

Form: 1 D

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 0lb

3 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
10-1 winner on this month's debut in a junior bumper at Wetherby (2m, soft); there's stamina in his attractive pedigree, which may be no bad thing on the testing ground; could have a big say on hurdle debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

17th Apr 2026

Soft

2m 5f 91y

Class 2

16:05 Ayr

Eagles Reprieve

10st 13lb

J: Jack Power

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Bumper winner who got off the mark over hurdles at the fourth attempt at Kelso (2m5f, soft) in November and was back on the scoresheet in a novice there (2m5f, good to soft) four weeks ago; did it easily last time and has potential off his opening mark.

9/1

1st

1

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 189y

Class 4

15:48 Kelso

Eagles Reprieve

11st 9lb

J: Jack Power

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Solid record comprises two wins, including over C&D on penultimate start, and four second-place finishes; beat all bar the market leader at Newcastle (2m4f) most recently; major contender.

7/4

2nd

2

27th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 62y

Class 4

13:20 Newcastle

Eagles Reprieve

11st 12lb

J: Jack Power

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Wetherby bumper winner in December 2024; off the mark on fourth start over hurdles in a four-runner Kelso maiden in November (2m5f, soft); likely improver.

9/4

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 0lb

3 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Fourth foal; half-brother to bumper and 2m/2m4f hurdle winner Moon Chime (RPR 122; including on heavy ground); dam 2m hurdle winner (118) from useful family; not ruled out on debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 128y

Class 5

15:40 Doncaster

The Resdev Tyke

12st 0lb

J: Tom Midgley

T: Michael & David Easterby

Justified favouritism in his last two handicaps on soft and good to soft; it was harder work after a 6lb hit last time and now has to defy the same rise, but he has momentum behind him.

3/1

1st

1

16th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 125y

Class 5

12:18 Market Rasen

The Resdev Tyke

12st 0lb

J: Ben Smith

T: Michael & David Easterby

Off the mark over hurdles at fifth attempt, rewarding strong market support with clearcut success at Wetherby (2m, soft) on Boxing Day; could easily have more improvement to come and goes on the shortlist.

11/4

Form: 4 BF

Last run: 76 days

W: 11st 0lb

3 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
It's very early days and he was sent off the 7-4 favourite on his debut in a bumper at Market Rasen (2m, good) in October; however, he was well beaten and needs to leave that performance miles behind.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

4th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 188y

Class 5

16:28 Sedgefield

LAir Du Large

10st 8lb

J: Alice Stevens

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Unexposed after only five hurdle runs but struggled when 50-1 for first two handicaps (2m/2m3f; cheekpieces added last time) and needs a transformation.

13th

11

27th Oct 2025

Good

2m 0f 145y

Class 3

15:55 Bangor-on-Dee

LAir Du Large

10st 13lb

J: Charlie Todd

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Didn't show a great deal in a bumper and two junior hurdles last season; returns from 257-day absence.

66/1

13th

11

27th Oct 2025

Good

2m 0f 145y

Class 3

15:55 Bangor-on-Dee

LAir Du Large

10st 13lb

J: Charlie Todd

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Didn't show a great deal in a bumper and two junior hurdles last season; returns from 257-day absence.

66/1

Form: 5

Last run: 23 days

W: 10st 7lb

3 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
There's some potential in her pedigree but she was 16l behind stablemate Eagles Reprieve when fifth of 19 at 16-1 on this month's debut in a junior bumper at Wetherby (2m, soft); considerable improvement needed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

17th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

15:12 Wetherby

Mystical Martika

11st 6lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Soundly beaten at Kelso (2m5f, good to soft) in November in her sole handicap and same story in Hexham novice (2m, heavy) in December; this lightly raced 5yo is in good hands and today's trip, on better ground than last time, could prove to be a good fit; not discounted.

12/1

8

3rd Oct 2025

Good

2m 0f 48y

Class 4

14:10 Hexham

Mystical Martika

10st 6lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Not disgraced on bumper debut last December and had excuses for both subsequent hurdling defeats but returns from seven-month absence here and stable has much more obvious chance with Spadestep.

33/1

5

26th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

13:45 Wetherby

Mystical Martika

11st 0lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell

prominent on outer, took keen hold early, lost ground from 4th, tailed off after 4 out, pulled up before last

100/1

OUR TIP

Form: 1 D

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 7lb

3 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Found plenty to win at 5-1 over hurdles on debut at Doncaster (2m, good to soft) last month; open to improvement and respected under penalty.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 144y

Class 2

14:12 Haydock

Smart Decision

10st 11lb

J: James Bowen

T: Tim Easterby

Won four of his five starts in 2025 and went close off 1lb higher than today over C&D (good to soft) in January; below par on last two starts but the 2m5f trip then soft ground are possible excuses; no surprise if he bounces back with a good performance in first-time cheekpieces.

14/1

5th

1

25th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 48y

Class 4

15:11 Hexham

Smart Decision

12st 1lb

J: Mr Thomas Easterby

T: Tim Easterby

A two-time winner (around 2m) either side of Christmas and he has continued in good nick, failing to stay when stepped up to 2m5f at Kelso last month; this C&D winner can bounce back.

8/1

7th

6

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 189y

Class 2

15:30 Kelso

Smart Decision

11st 3lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Tim Easterby

Won five of his first six completed starts over hurdles (1m7f-2m2f) and has run well in defeat on his last two; now up in distance, which may well suit him, and he handles any ground; solid claims.

7/1

Non-runners

Aotano

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £11.90
Straight Forecast £12.27
Trifecta £28.70

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Smart Decision

Telegraph:

Itstonitejosephine

SPOTLIGHT:

Eagles Reprieve

The Times:

The Resdev Tyke

D Express:

Itstonitejosephine

The Star:

Eagles Reprieve

Daily Record:

Eagles Reprieve

POSTDATA:

Smart Decision

The Guardian:

Smart Decision

Daily Mail:

Smart Decision

Daily Mirror:

Smart Decision