December 30 / 13.25 Haydock

13.25

Heavy

Betfred Last Fling Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £13007.5
  • 3m 4f 97y
  • Class 2
  • 6 runners
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Betfred Last Fling Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Rain

9/1 (Won)

  • Win: £4.34
  • Place: £2.00

Form: P12-1F

Last run: 22 days

W: 10st 3lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Made if two wins in three starts when seeing off eight rivals on his Ludlow reappearance (3m1f, good to soft) in November; fell around halfway at Sandown since; this trip and heavy ground both unknowns but his yard continues in good form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

20th Mar 2024

Soft

3m 4f 97y

Class 3

15:50 Haydock

Robyndzone

11st 7lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

prominent, raced wide after 2nd, not fluent and lost position 5th, mistake and reminder 6th, dropped to last 9th, pulled up before 10th

6/1

5

23rd Feb 2024

Soft

3m 6f 153y

Class 3

15:40 Exeter

Robyndzone

11st 7lb

J: Ned Fox

T: Venetia Williams

10yo who is still improving; won on reappearance at Ludlow (3m1f, good to soft) in November and, following a mid-race fall at Sandown, won when upped in trip at Haydock (3m4f, heavy); did it nicely under Ned Fox last time and a 7lb rise may not stop him this afternoon.

4/1

1st

6

30th Dec 2023

Heavy

3m 4f 97y

Class 2

13:25 Haydock

Robyndzone

10st 3lb

J: Ned Fox

T: Venetia Williams

Made if two wins in three starts when seeing off eight rivals on his Ludlow reappearance (3m1f, good to soft) in November; fell around halfway at Sandown since; this trip and heavy ground both unknowns but his yard continues in good form.

9/1

OUR TIP

4/1

  • Place: £2.30

Form: 4P50-4

Last run: 21 days

W: 12st 0lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 138

Form & Verdict
Creditable reappearance fourth to Wednesday's easy Welsh Grand National winner Nassalam at Chepstow (2m7f, heavy) three weeks ago; below form in four attempts over 3m4f+ but they came in the Grand National (twice), Welsh Grand National and the Grand National Trial here; this is clearly easier and he shapes as if he'll stay.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

1st Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 191y

Class 4

14:55 Market Rasen

Fortescue

11st 11lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Henry Daly

Veteran who was a very useful staying chaser in his prime but has regressed and become inconsistent; left behind in home straight at Doncaster (3m, good) five weeks ago and needs headgear switch to perk him up here.

10/1

4th

6

16th Apr 2025

Good

3m 4f 21y

Class 3

15:15 Cheltenham

Fortescue

11st 11lb

J: Hugh Nugent

T: Henry Daly

Six-time chase winner over 3m; began season with respectable second behind revitalised opponent at Aintree (3m1f, good) in October and should be fine stamina-wise today but his last three runs were disappointing.

20/1

4th

6

16th Apr 2025

Good

3m 4f 21y

Class 3

15:15 Cheltenham

Fortescue

11st 11lb

J: Hugh Nugent

T: Henry Daly

Six-time chase winner over 3m; began season with respectable second behind revitalised opponent at Aintree (3m1f, good) in October and should be fine stamina-wise today but his last three runs were disappointing.

20/1

Form: 300-62

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
Well handicapped on peak form and ran his best race for a while when second of seven over 3m1f at Ludlow (soft) 24 days ago; has won on heavy and James Turner takes 7lb off, so there are reasons to be positive; also declared for 2.25 Newbury but this is his first preference.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

17th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 177y

Class 4

17:12 Ffos Las

Fantastikas

11st 11lb

J: James Turner

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

led, headed 14th, weakened before 4 out, pulled up before 3 out

10/1

4

17th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 177y

Class 4

17:12 Ffos Las

Fantastikas

11st 11lb

J: James Turner

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

No win since January 2022; shaped reasonably well when third at Uttoxeter (3m, soft) in December but lesser efforts at Haydock and Plumpton since temper enthusiasm; first run since January.

10/1

4th

1

27th Jan 2025

Soft

3m 1f 152y

Class 4

15:50 Plumpton

Fantastikas

12st 0lb

J: Mr Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

Returned to form when keeping on for third at Uttoxeter (3m, soft) in early December but failed to really build on that when a well-held fourth at Haydock three weeks later, albeit in a higher grade; hasn't won for three years but he's plied his trade at a higher level for some time and could find life easier contesting a class 4 with a capable 7lb-claiming amateur booked.

9/2

Form: 3PF-66

Last run: 13 days

W: 11st 8lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 132

Form & Verdict
Failed to complete on three of his last four starts over fences and hasn't offered enough in two handicap hurdles this winter to be positive about his prospects here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

4th Dec 2024

Heavy

3m 1f 125y

Class 2

14:45 Haydock

Omar Maretti

11st 0lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Alex Hales

Easy winner of a four-runner handicap off this mark at Catterick in February (3m1f, heavy); not run quite as well since; usually needs a race after a break.

8/1

4th

4

4th Dec 2024

Heavy

3m 1f 125y

Class 2

14:45 Haydock

Omar Maretti

11st 0lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Alex Hales

Easy winner of a four-runner handicap off this mark at Catterick in February (3m1f, heavy); not run quite as well since; usually needs a race after a break.

8/1

Form: 23-454 BF

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 129

Form & Verdict
Went very close in Grade 2 novice hurdle here (3m, good to soft) in February; has matched that useful hurdle form in 3m handicap chases on his last two outings, staying on well in the closing stages after getting outpaced when fourth over 3m at Sandown (soft) in first-time cheekpieces (retained) 22 days ago; the extra 4f now should be very much in his favour.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

16

18th Apr 2026

Soft

3m 7f 176y

Class 1

15:35 Ayr

Collectors Item

10st 13lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Won the Somerset National over an extended 3m2f at Wincanton in January 2025 and second in the Welsh National Trial at Chepstow in December this term; he also showed last season that he stays 3m4f but there have been too many disappointing shows in major long-distance handicaps for him to be greatly fancied for this one.

50/1

4

14th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

4m 2f 8y

Class 1

15:00 Uttoxeter

Collectors Item

11st 9lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Has a National in the bag already having captured the Somerset version over an extended 3m2f at Wincanton 14 months ago (good to soft; fine on softer), and best run since was his second in the Welsh National Trial in December; however, his form has dipped markedly on his last two starts, and his two runs over extreme distances have ended in disappointment.

20/1

4th

2

29th Jan 2026

Heavy

3m 1f 30y

Class 3

15:33 Wincanton

Collectors Item

12st 1lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Has contested some competitive staying chases since winning the Somerset National over 3m3f here last January and found only one too good in the Welsh National Trial in December; offered little when only 11-1 for the real thing over Christmas but capable of bouncing back from that; hasn't shone on heavy ground previously but he's effective on soft.

5/2

Form: 13-P12 BF

Last run: 16 days

W: 10st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Third Wetherby win when shading a tight finish over 3m (heavy) last month; off the bridle a long way out (also didn't jump with fluency) but did stay on to good effect when going down by only a neck at Newcastle (2m7f, heavy) since, suggesting this longer trip could suit; Brian Hughes retains the ride.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

1st Nov 2025

Good

3m 0f 45y

Class 4

16:05 Wetherby

East Street

11st 10lb

J: Alex Chadwick

T: James Owen

Moved to this yard last season and won three in a row towards the end of last year (2m4f/3m, good to soft/soft); disappointing subsequently but perhaps a break will have helped and he's down to a handy mark; interesting to see how he goes in the betting.

20/1

4

1st Nov 2025

Good

3m 0f 45y

Class 4

16:05 Wetherby

East Street

11st 10lb

J: Alex Chadwick

T: James Owen

Moved to this yard last season and won three in a row towards the end of last year (2m4f/3m, good to soft/soft); disappointing subsequently but perhaps a break will have helped and he's down to a handy mark; interesting to see how he goes in the betting.

20/1

1

23rd Mar 2025

Good

3m 0f 110y

Class 2

15:20 Carlisle

East Street

12st 0lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: James Owen

always behind

14/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £16.50
Straight Forecast £17.89
Trifecta £54.00

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Collectors Item

TOPSPEED:

Fortescue

The Star:

East Street

RP RATINGS:

Fantastikas

The Times:

Robyndzone

Daily Record:

East Street

Daily Mail:

Fantastikas

POSTDATA:

Fortescue

Daily Mirror:

Fortescue

Telegraph:

Collectors Item

The Guardian:

Collectors Item

D Express:

Collectors Item

The Sun:

Collectors Item