December 30 / 15.10 Haydock

15.10

Heavy

Betfred ‘Hot Shots’ Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £7921.5
  • 2m 3f 203y
  • Class 3
  • 7 runners
RTV
View Course
Betfred ‘Hot Shots’ Handicap Chase

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Rain

OUR TIP

15/8 (Won)

  • Win: £4.50
  • Place: £1.80

Form: 133-31 D

Last run: 17 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
Has run well on both starts over fences, last time getting off the mark in four-finisher event at Leicester (2m4f, heavy; first two clear); up 3lb; chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 136y

Class 4

14:50 Chepstow

Happy And Fine

12st 1lb

J: Jack Hogan

T: Alex Hales

Scored at Warwick (3m, good to soft) in December but he's failed to complete in three subsequent runs and didn't get very far at Stratford (unseated at first) two weeks ago; only 2lb lower than for his last success but he comes with risks attached.

12/1

3

28th Mar 2026

Good

2m 6f 125y

Class 3

14:47 Stratford

Happy And Fine

11st 7lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Alex Hales

Scored at Warwick (3m) in December but he isn't the easiest to catch right and was pulled up in 2m7f handicap at Newbury last time; others are preferred.

10/1

4

17th Feb 2026

2m 7f 91y

Class 3

15:55 Newbury

Happy And Fine

11st 7lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Alex Hales

Back to form when winning for a third time over fences in a 3m handicap at Warwick (good to soft) and would have won easier had he not idled late on; unseated midrace off this 4lb higher mark at Leicester three weeks later; respected.

10/1

4/1

  • Place: £2.50

Form: 16-P3 D

Last run: 17 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
Point/hurdle winner on soft/heavy; creditable third in a Leicester handicap on chase debut this month (2m4f, heavy); chance off this 1lb lower mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

19th Jan 2026

Soft

3m 4f 178y

Class 3

13:50 Lingfield

Regal Blue

11st 7lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Inconsistent 9yo who often looks very unenthusiastic; made all in valuable novices' handicap chase at Uttoxeter (3m, heavy) in March 2024 but absent since two lacklustre runs at end of that year; had wind in September and now sports first-time cheekpieces; this first run after a layoff might be a good day to catch him in the right mood, but others are much less risky.

25/1

3

21st Dec 2024

Soft

3m 1f 125y

Class 2

14:05 Haydock

Regal Blue

11st 8lb

J: Nick Scholfield

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Inconsistent and pulled up on last month's reappearance at Bangor but he may have needed the run and this lightly raced 7yo could be tailor-made for today's assignment in view of last season's best efforts, including two fine runs on heavy ground here and a win at Uttoxeter (3m, heavy) in March.

8/1

3

21st Dec 2024

Soft

3m 1f 125y

Class 2

14:05 Haydock

Regal Blue

11st 8lb

J: Nick Scholfield

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Inconsistent and pulled up on last month's reappearance at Bangor but he may have needed the run and this lightly raced 7yo could be tailor-made for today's assignment in view of last season's best efforts, including two fine runs on heavy ground here and a win at Uttoxeter (3m, heavy) in March.

8/1

Form: 12-52U D

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Dual winner over fences at Kelso last season (2m7f, soft/good); good second over 2m5f on same course two runs back (good to soft); could go well again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

14th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 4

14:33 Perth

Ned Tanner

11st 5lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: N W Alexander

Dual winner over 2m4f on soft ground in 2024-25 season but has been rather inconsistent and didn't offer enough when fifth of seven over C&D (good) three weeks ago to suggest he's likely to cash in on his reduced mark now.

9/1

5th

7

23rd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 3

15:40 Perth

Ned Tanner

10st 2lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: N W Alexander

Dual winner over 2m4f on soft ground last season; has been rather inconsistent since wind surgery this term; has won over this trip, but perhaps better at shorter and has no easy task from 3lb out of the handicap.

12/1

3

25th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 15y

Class 4

16:41 Hexham

Ned Tanner

11st 11lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: N W Alexander

He's down to a dangerous mark and showed some spark at Haydock in December three starts ago; however, two disappointing performances have followed from this 10yo and he needs to get back on track.

6/1

Form: 416-3F C

Last run: 35 days

W: 11st 13lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 129

Form & Verdict
Mudlark who has won five times over hurdles, including over 2m3f on heavy ground here; has shown some fair form in four runs over fences, but hasn't run in a chase since February 2020; others stronger.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

16th Mar 2024

Heavy

2m 0f 190y

Class 3

14:37 Newcastle

Alberts Back

11st 3lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Michael & David Easterby

held up in last, lost touch from 3 out, never on terms

9/1

2

3rd Feb 2024

Soft

2m 3f 85y

Class 3

13:32 Wetherby

Alberts Back

12st 0lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Michael & David Easterby

Mudlark who has won five times over hurdles, four of them here; 0-5 over fences and was under pressure some way out when only fourth of five finishers at Haydock in December; dropped 4lb as a result but needs to raise his game.

14/1

4th

1

30th Dec 2023

Heavy

2m 3f 203y

Class 3

15:10 Haydock

Alberts Back

11st 13lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Michael & David Easterby

Mudlark who has won five times over hurdles, including over 2m3f on heavy ground here; has shown some fair form in four runs over fences, but hasn't run in a chase since February 2020; others stronger.

12/1

Form: 12-513 D

Last run: 10 days

W: 11st 2lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Has won six races over fences, the latest at Wetherby in November (1m7f, soft); has won at 2m4f but a bit to find with Happy And Fine on their form over this trip at Wetherby earlier in November.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

5

1st Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 1f 14y

Class 3

13:10 Kelso

Gallic Geordie

10st 7lb

J: Benjamin Macey

T: Samuel Drinkwater

12yo who doesn't appear to be as good as he was and hasn't really threatened this season, but he's been a fair third on two of his last three starts and continues to edge down the weights; might not be far away.

16/1

3

19th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 78y

Class 4

14:50 Doncaster

Gallic Geordie

11st 6lb

J: Ned Fox

T: Samuel Drinkwater

Now 12 but showed when third of six at Lingfield (2m4f, soft) in December that he retains plenty of spark; effective on good to soft ground earlier in career; mid-race unseat at Wetherby last time; possible player.

9/2

7

1st Feb 2025

Soft

2m 3f 85y

Class 3

14:08 Wetherby

Gallic Geordie

11st 2lb

J: Ned Fox

T: Samuel Drinkwater

Long in the tooth now but was not that far off his career-best form when third of six at Lingfield (2m4f, soft) in December, after a layoff; 2lb lower here and has a fighting chance if aided by combination of refitted tongue-tie and first-time cheekpieces.

7/1

Form: 20-313 D

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Three good runs over fences, winning at Doncaster on second occasion (1m7f, soft); stays 2m4f, has won on testing ground and worth considering.
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

Form: 233300 D

Last run: 41 days

W: 11st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Bought for £7,500 out of Gordon Elliott's yard in November; wasn't in the best of form when last seen out but was second in a decent Cartmel handicap chase off this mark in July (2m5f, good to soft); chance on stable debut on that form although testing ground a concern.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

13th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 63y

Class 5

17:00 Hexham

Arctic Ambition

11st 4lb

J: Tom Midgley

T: Paul Robson

in touch with leaders, not fluent 6th

33/1

6th

1

16th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 68y

Class 5

15:30 Musselburgh

Arctic Ambition

12st 0lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Paul Robson

10yo who has been pulled up the last twice but he ran well for a fair way over hurdles last time following a break, over a 3m trip that probably stretches him; now 2lb lower than when runner-up over fences at Cartmel last June and he's not written off.

16/1

9

21st Jan 2025

Soft

3m 0f 70y

Class 4

14:30 Ayr

Arctic Ambition

10st 11lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Paul Robson

It's now 13 starts since his last success and he was tried in blinkers when pulled up in 2m5f Cartmel handicap chase in August; others appeal more.

33/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £15.60
Straight Forecast £18.78
Trifecta £63.10

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Happy And Fine

The Times:

Cerendipity

RP RATINGS:

Ned Tanner

TOPSPEED:

Arctic Ambition

Daily Record:

Gallic Geordie

Telegraph:

Regal Blue

D Express:

Cerendipity

The Star:

Cerendipity

The Guardian:

Happy And Fine

Daily Mail:

Happy And Fine

Daily Mirror:

Happy And Fine

The Sun:

Happy And Fine

POSTDATA:

Ned Tanner