December 30 / 12.50 Haydock

12.50

Heavy

Betfred TV EBF ‘National Hunt’ Novices’ Hurdle (Qualifier) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £7079.8
  • 1m 7f 144y
  • Class 3
  • 6 runners
RTV
View Course
Betfred TV EBF ‘National Hunt’ Novices’ Hurdle (Qualifier) (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Rain

6/5 (Won)

  • Win: £2.25
  • Place: £1.20

Form: /210-2 D

Last run: 42 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Dual bumper winner; good second to a subsequent Grade 1 novice runner-up at Wetherby on hurdles debut (2m, heavy); sound chance of going on one better.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

6

17th Apr 2026

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

13:45 Ayr

Berties Ballet

11st 11lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: Dianne Sayer

Won a Class 3 handicap at Haydock last season off this mark so wouldn't be too dismissive about his chances despite failing to reach anything like the same level in two of his three races this campaign.

20/1

12th

14

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 51y

Class 2

14:55 Kelso

Berties Ballet

10st 9lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Dianne Sayer

On a handy mark on last winter's form and he was an encouraging fourth of nine over C&D recently on his second start back from a long absence; however, this is a higher grade than he's used to; could be vulnerable.

33/1

4th

1

13th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 0f 51y

Class 4

14:30 Kelso

Berties Ballet

12st 0lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Dianne Sayer

Others have less to prove regarding current form but he shaped at Haydock last month as though he may have needed that comeback run; on a competitive mark and he's well suited by testing ground; not discounted.

6/1

OUR TIP

11/10

  • Place: £1.10

Form: 1-F211 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 10lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 126

Form & Verdict
Dual bumper winner who has progressed well over hurdles, last time scoring by nearly 4l on testing ground at Aintree (2m1f); has a double penalty; should go well.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

7

18th Jul 2026

Good

2m 1f 46y

Class 3

15:10 Cartmel

Norman Fletcher

11st 2lb

J: Miss Amber Jackson-Fennell

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Appreciated drop to 0-110 grade when second under Amber Jackson-Fennell at Newton Abbot (2m1f, good; wore cheekpieces) last month but is not as good as he was and needs change of headgear to give him a boost here.

10/1

2nd

1

23rd Jun 2026

Good

2m 0f 167y

Class 4

17:35 Newton Abbot

Norman Fletcher

12st 1lb

J: Miss Amber Jackson-Fennell

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Useful in his prime but was largely disappointing last season, and suffered 46l defeat at Warwick (2m5f, good) on latest outing five weeks ago; drops in grade again and may benefit from the drop back in trip but needs to turn a corner.

8/1

7th

4

20th May 2026

Good

2m 5f 5y

Class 4

16:00 Warwick

Norman Fletcher

11st 8lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Has had three wins over hurdles but yet to convince on his suitability for this distance, latest when seventh of eight finishers at Haydock (2m5f, good) last month in first-time cheekpieces (retained).

10/1

Form: 3

Last run: 42 days

W: 11st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Beat a subsequent four-time chase winner (now rated 120) when winning a point in March (3m, good to soft); fair third in a Uttoxeter bumper on stable debut (2m, heavy; 14-1); should fare better now going hurdling but has no easy task.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

13th Jun 2026

Good

3m 0f 10y

Class 5

19:12 Uttoxeter

Jo Arengeot Bey AA

10st 8lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Donald McCain

Point winner who got off the mark at the third time of asking over fences over C&D (good) last month, finding plenty when challenged; there should be more to come.

4/1

1st

9

2nd May 2026

Good

3m 0f 10y

Class 5

15:10 Uttoxeter

Jo Arengeot Bey AA

10st 6lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Donald McCain

0-11 under rules; didn't run badly when back over hurdles in March but was safely held in both chases last season (2m7f/3m) and has become disappointing.

16/1

6th

11

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 32y

Class 5

14:45 Bangor-on-Dee

Jo Arengeot Bey AA

10st 5lb

J: William Maggs

T: Donald McCain

No worthwhile form in his handicaps over hurdles and last two chase runs were also underwhelming.

20/1

Form: 6/8

Last run: 10 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Showed more temperament than ability in two points in March (refused to race on second occasion); well beaten on hurdles debut; plenty to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

6th Jul 2025

Good

2m 7f 191y

Class 5

16:55 Market Rasen

Top Of The Bay

11st 11lb

J: Tom Midgley

T: Sam England

Generally solid for this yard, winning his latest two races on officially good ground, at 2m5f and 2m3f, just prevailing over a well-treated one here latterly; up in trip but the first win was on Carlisle's stiff track so he could stay this far; considered.

3/1

3

13th Jun 2025

Good

2m 3f 34y

Class 5

20:10 Market Rasen

Top Of The Bay

11st 11lb

J: Tom Midgley

T: Sam England

Gentle progression this spring culminated in April's Carlisle win (2m5f, good), and possible excuses both starts since (boiled over; 2m1f too sharp); no RPR better than 91 when there's been give in the ground.

8/1

6

28th May 2025

Good To Soft

2m 1f 46y

Class 5

18:10 Cartmel

Top Of The Bay

11st 9lb

J: Jonathan England

T: Sam England

Came good for Sam England at third attempt, readily winning Carlisle chase (2m5f, good) by over 8l last month, and reportedly boiled over in the preliminaries before this month's poor run at Hexham; can be dangerous if back on song for this return to hurdling.

7/2

Form: 653

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Fair form in two runs over hurdles but well behind Norman Fletcher at Aintree last time; plenty to find.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

20th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

15:22 Ffos Las

Fresh Speculation

12st 2lb

J: Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: Henry Daly

Royally suited by a galloping 2m4f and slow ground; last month's win here took his C&D record to 161 and didn't feature the late mistake of several previous outings; 6lb rise leaves him with little in hand.

3/1

Form: P6

Last run: 15 days

W: 10st 7lb

5 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
In second place when falling at the last in an Irish point in May (3m, good) but has not shown much in two runs over hurdles and others have stronger claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

14th Apr 2025

Good

2m 0f 54y

Class 5

17:40 Warwick

Orbys River

11st 2lb

J: Toby Wynne

T: Sam Allwood

chased clear leader, mistake 1st, soon dropped to midfield, not fluent 4 out, not fluent 3 out, some headway on turn before 2 out, weakened approaching last

9/4

5th

3

14th Apr 2025

Good

2m 0f 54y

Class 5

17:40 Warwick

Orbys River

11st 2lb

J: Toby Wynne

T: Sam Allwood

chased clear leader, mistake 1st, soon dropped to midfield, not fluent 4 out, not fluent 3 out, some headway on turn before 2 out, weakened approaching last

9/4

1st

7

22nd Mar 2025

Good

2m 1f 77y

Class 4

14:52 Bangor-on-Dee

Orbys River

10st 6lb

J: Toby Wynne

T: Sam Allwood

Caused 22-1 surprise at Market Rasen (2m1f, good to soft) in January and backed up that performance with keeping-on second at Market Rasen (2m1f, good to soft) soon afterwards but her form dipped last month and she needs to rebound.

7/1

Non-runners

Kingofthegame

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £2.80
Straight Forecast £2.87
Trifecta £5.60

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Bertie's Ballet

RP RATINGS:

Norman Fletcher

TOPSPEED:

Norman Fletcher

POSTDATA:

Norman Fletcher

The Guardian:

Norman Fletcher

Daily Mirror:

Norman Fletcher

The Times:

Bertie's Ballet

Telegraph:

Bertie's Ballet

Daily Mail:

Bertie's Ballet

D Express:

Bertie's Ballet

The Sun:

Bertie's Ballet

The Star:

Bertie's Ballet

Daily Record:

Bertie's Ballet