December 30 / 14.35 Haydock

14.35

Heavy

Betfred Supports Jack Berry House Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £7710.26
  • 2m 2f 191y
  • Class 3
  • 7 runners
RTV
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Betfred Supports Jack Berry House Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Rain

Form: 307-23

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
Left behind by front pair when third in valuable Sandown handicap (2m, heavy) three weeks ago but that still goes down as a good effort and he remains lightly raced; moves up in trip here; leading contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

15th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 150y

Class 3

15:02 Wincanton

Punta Del Este

11st 8lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

Well handicapped on form shown for Dan Skelton and ran his best race since joining David Pipe when a rallying third at Ascot (2m5f, soft); this return to further is worth exploring.

8/1

1

29th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 122y

Class 3

14:53 Newton Abbot

Punta Del Este

12st 0lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

Triple hurdle winner who has claims on his best form for Dan Skelton but he's failed to beat a rival in two runs for current yard; has had wind surgery but he needs a major revival after another break.

14/1

1

29th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 122y

Class 3

14:53 Newton Abbot

Punta Del Este

12st 0lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

Triple hurdle winner who has claims on his best form for Dan Skelton but he's failed to beat a rival in two runs for current yard; has had wind surgery but he needs a major revival after another break.

14/1

Form: 4-1374

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 2lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
Five-time hurdle winner (three times on heavy ground); behind Punta Del Este when modest fourth in valuable Sandown handicap (2m, heavy) three weeks ago and probably doesn't have much margin for error off current mark but will appreciate today's ease in grade.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

1

1st Nov 2025

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

15:04 Ayr

Thereisnodoubt

12st 1lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

12yo who returned to winning ways over C&D (soft) in March when last seen; he won on his reappearance two seasons ago and has gone back up just 3lb for last time; respected on his comeback.

6/1

9th

1

1st Nov 2025

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

15:04 Ayr

Thereisnodoubt

12st 1lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

12yo who returned to winning ways over C&D (soft) in March when last seen; he won on his reappearance two seasons ago and has gone back up just 3lb for last time; respected on his comeback.

6/1

1st

6

8th Mar 2025

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

15:25 Ayr

Thereisnodoubt

11st 2lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell

led early, headed but prominent 2nd, mistake and lost position 5th, went second again after 6th, pressed leader 2 out, pushed along and led again before last, faced challenge run-in, kept on final 110yds, won going away

9/1

Form: 239-31

Last run: 23 days

W: 10st 4lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
Built upon encouraging seasonal debut when keeping on well to score under William Maggs at Market Rasen (2m, soft) this month; 3lb higher in a stronger race here, though, and the increased emphasis on stamina is not certain to suit.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

3rd Feb 2024

Soft

2m 3f 154y

Class 3

14:42 Wetherby

Start In Front

10st 9lb

J: William Maggs

T: Rebecca Menzies

Won here (2m, soft) last season and back on the scoresheet at Market Rasen (2m, soft) in December; well beaten at Haydock (2m3f, heavy) last time and remains unproven at today's sort of trip, but perhaps the very testing ground was too much and this 5yo is not written off.

9/1

3rd

7

30th Dec 2023

Heavy

2m 2f 191y

Class 3

14:35 Haydock

Start In Front

10st 4lb

J: William Maggs

T: Rebecca Menzies

prominent, lost position 6th, dropped to rear after 7th

7/2

1st

3

7th Dec 2023

Soft

2m 0f 125y

Class 4

11:55 Market Rasen

Start In Front

11st 7lb

J: William Maggs

T: Rebecca Menzies

Racing from out of the weights in an 0-140 was more the issue than the eight-month absence (has defied similar) at Wetherby latest (2m, heavy); player with easier grade, the ground and lower mark all positives.

11/4

OUR TIP

Form: 4/131-

Last run: 306 days

W: 11st 5lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 126

Form & Verdict
2-3 over hurdles, with both wins gained in 2m novice races at Ayr (2m, soft/good to soft) last season; has fitness to prove after ten-month absence but could easily have improvement to come in handicaps.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

5th Feb 2024

Soft

1m 7f 207y

Class 3

14:02 Carlisle

Fortescue Wood

11st 9lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: N W Alexander

in touch with leaders, bad mistake 1st

8/1

4th

3

30th Dec 2023

Heavy

2m 2f 191y

Class 3

14:35 Haydock

Fortescue Wood

11st 5lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

towards rear, headway and in touch with leaders 7th

4/1

1st

4

27th Feb 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

14:45 Ayr

Fortescue Wood

12st 0lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

took keen hold, prominent, led 2nd, clear 4th, reduced lead 4 out, went well clear from 2 out, easily

5/1

Form: 97P-09

Last run: 35 days

W: 11st 11lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 132

Form & Verdict
Smart in his prime for Henry de Bromhead but has plummeted down the weights this year; tailed off over C&D on latest outing five weeks ago and needs a huge boost from the first-time cheekpieces today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

3

26th Apr 2024

Soft

2m 0f 47y

Class 4

13:30 Perth

Jason The Militant

11st 13lb

J: Joe Williamson

T: Philip Kirby

Was always up against it at the Cheltenham Festival last month but his good days for Henry De Bromhead are a fading memory; remains opposable.

25/1

8th

3

26th Apr 2024

Soft

2m 0f 47y

Class 4

13:30 Perth

Jason The Militant

11st 13lb

J: Joe Williamson

T: Philip Kirby

Was always up against it at the Cheltenham Festival last month but his good days for Henry De Bromhead are a fading memory; remains opposable.

25/1

22

15th Mar 2024

Soft

2m 4f 56y

Class 2

17:30 Cheltenham

Jason The Militant

10st 4lb

J: Joe Williamson

T: Philip Kirby

Capable of very useful form for Henry de Bromhead; however, record for current stable is far from convincing and latest defeat came in lower grade at Newcastle; hopes of revival are pinned on first-time blinkers (replacing cheekpieces worn the last twice).

100/1

Form: F60-63

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 2lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
Not beaten far when third of six at Doncaster (2m3f, good) this month, after a break, and remains very well handicapped on some of last year's form but has become unreliable, and heavy ground is probably not ideal.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

2

25th Jul 2024

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

16:00 Worcester

Gaelik Coast

11st 12lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Donald McCain

Six wins divided between hurdles and fences but he's seemingly on the decline and ideally needs further these days; the cheekpieces are new.

20/1

5th

2

2nd Jun 2024

Good

2m 0f 3y

Class 4

15:45 Fakenham

Gaelik Coast

11st 6lb

J: Abbie McCain

T: Donald McCain

No longer the force of old and may be better suited by longer trips nowadays but he won over fences here in 2020 and didn't run badly when returning here for 2m4f hurdle two months ago; too well handicapped to rule out.

8/1

4th

3

1st Apr 2024

Good

2m 4f 1y

Class 4

15:07 Fakenham

Gaelik Coast

11st 10lb

J: Peter Kavanagh

T: Donald McCain

Hurdle and chase successes on ground ranging from good to soft; winner of one course start, over fences in 2020, and well handicapped on much of his form at about 2m4f; some way off his best on last two starts, though, and blinkers worn once last winter weren't much help.

5/1

Form: /32-44 C

Last run: 35 days

W: 12st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 137

Form & Verdict
Mixes hurdling with chasing; ran poorly over fences here five weeks ago, having bled from the nose, but his seasonal debut (over hurdles) was very encouraging and conditions are very much in his favour today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

7th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

3m 0f 45y

Class 3

12:14 Wetherby

Cheddleton

12st 1lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jennie Candlish

prominent, disputed lead 7th, led 10th

14/1

1

7th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

3m 0f 45y

Class 3

12:14 Wetherby

Cheddleton

12st 1lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jennie Candlish

prominent, disputed lead 7th, led 10th

14/1

7th

5

13th Nov 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 123y

Class 2

15:35 Bangor-on-Dee

Cheddleton

11st 6lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jennie Candlish

Returned to form and won four-runner chase in first-time cheekpieces in February but was pulled up on consecutive outings in the spring (hurdle/chase) and has done all his winning on soft/heavy ground; others preferred.

16/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Straight Forecast £18.57

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Start In Front

SPOTLIGHT:

Punta Del Este

The Times:

Cheddleton

Daily Mail:

Fortescue Wood

THE NORTH:

Thereisnodoubt

POSTDATA:

Punta Del Este

D Express:

Punta Del Este

Daily Record:

Punta Del Este

TOPSPEED:

Start In Front

The Guardian:

Start In Front

Daily Mirror:

Start In Front

The Star:

Start In Front

Telegraph:

Cheddleton

The Sun:

Cheddleton