15.45

J: Jordan Nailor

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

5/1 (Won)

Win: £6.50
Place: £2.80

Form: -63113 D

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 10lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 133

Form & Verdict

Quirky customer who was evidently very well suited by switch to very positive tactics when winning consecutive races at Exeter (3m, soft/good to soft) this winter; tailed off in three runner race there on latest outing, though, and it's hard to know what to expect from him here.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
32	11th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 4m 2f 74y Class 1	16:00 Aintree Top Of The Bill 10st 5lb J: Toby McCain-Mitchell T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies	One of several who are now in the veteran stage but also in the form of their lives; 7l winner at Haydock (extended 3m1f) in November and returned there with an excellent, rallying second in the Grand National Trial (extended 3m4f, again good to soft) in February; ridden last three starts by Toby McCain-Mitchell; back up 2lb and an interesting prospect for 4m2f but this is a much stronger race.	50/1
2nd 1	14th Feb 2026 Good To Soft 3m 4f 97y Class 1	15:15 Haydock Top Of The Bill 12st 0lb J: Toby McCain-Mitchell T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies	10yo who posted a career-best performance with comfortable win here (extended 3m1f, good to soft) in November, and he's also won on soft ground; not written off after just one below-par run but he was well held in the Tommy Whittle here in December and has to leave that effort miles behind.	25/1
1st 1	21st Mar 2025 Good 2m 7f 177y Class 3	15:40 Ffos Las Top Of The Bill 12st 0lb J: Jordan Nailor T: Nigel Twiston-Davies	Took very well to fences last season, winning three times over 3m (good to soft-soft), but returned with two disappointing runs in the autumn; needs to get back on track and will have something to prove if the ground stays good (unraced on anything quicker than good to soft).	11/2

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

32

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

10st 5lb

J: Toby McCain-Mitchell

One of several who are now in the veteran stage but also in the form of their lives; 7l winner at Haydock (extended 3m1f) in November and returned there with an excellent, rallying second in the Grand National Trial (extended 3m4f, again good to soft) in February; ridden last three starts by Toby McCain-Mitchell; back up 2lb and an interesting prospect for 4m2f but this is a much stronger race.

50/1

2nd

1

14th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 4f 97y

Class 1

15:15 Haydock

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

12st 0lb

J: Toby McCain-Mitchell

10yo who posted a career-best performance with comfortable win here (extended 3m1f, good to soft) in November, and he's also won on soft ground; not written off after just one below-par run but he was well held in the Tommy Whittle here in December and has to leave that effort miles behind.

25/1

1st

1

21st Mar 2025

Good

2m 7f 177y

Class 3

15:40 Ffos Las

12st 0lb

J: Jordan Nailor

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

Took very well to fences last season, winning three times over 3m (good to soft-soft), but returned with two disappointing runs in the autumn; needs to get back on track and will have something to prove if the ground stays good (unraced on anything quicker than good to soft).

11/2

2nd

6

Shighness

J: Brian Hughes

T: Micky Hammond

9/2

Place: £2.20

Form: -4P214 C BF

Last run: 29 days

W: 10st 5lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 113

Form & Verdict

Came good over fences at fourth attempt, in four-runner mares' race at Catterick (3m1f, soft) last month; not quite in same form on latest outing and competes from 1lb out of the weights here but has a fighting chance if aided by first-time cheekpieces.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
1	19th May 2026 Good To Soft 2m 7f 63y Class 5	17:50 Hexham Shighness 12st 0lb J: Joshua Thompson T: Micky Hammond	Hasn't won for a couple of years and that was over fences, but she shaped encouragingly reverting to hurdles when third at Sedgefield (3m3f, soft) in February, albeit beaten nearly 19l, and has fallen back over fences since; however, she's on a handy mark and is hard to dismiss.	15/2
7	25th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 3m 7f 199y Class 4	15:41 Hexham Shighness 11st 3lb J: Conor O’Farrell T: Micky Hammond	She's struggled to get competitive since finishing a close second in this last year (good to soft) but is 7lb lower this time around and didn't run badly over hurdles at Sedgefield (3m3f, soft) last month; not written off.	10/1

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

1

19th May 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 63y

Class 5

12st 0lb

Hasn't won for a couple of years and that was over fences, but she shaped encouragingly reverting to hurdles when third at Sedgefield (3m3f, soft) in February, albeit beaten nearly 19l, and has fallen back over fences since; however, she's on a handy mark and is hard to dismiss.

15/2

7

25th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 7f 199y

Class 4

11st 3lb

She's struggled to get competitive since finishing a close second in this last year (good to soft) but is 7lb lower this time around and didn't run badly over hurdles at Sedgefield (3m3f, soft) last month; not written off.

10/1

3rd

3

Donny Boy

J: Lorcan Williams

T: N W Alexander

11/4

Form: 25-224

Last run: 52 days

W: 11st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict

Slightly disappointing when only fourth at Doncaster in January and now 0-5 over fences but his close second at Newcastle (2m7f, good) two starts ago was a good performance and he'll be fine on the slower ground here.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
2	29th Jan 2026 Good To Soft 3m 0f 20y Class 3	14:13 Ayr Donny Boy 11st 4lb J: Bruce Lynn T: N W Alexander	Point, bumper and maiden hurdle winner who ran well in two handicap chases here in 2024; however, this 10yo has been absent since being pulled up at Newbury that November and faces a very tough assignment on his return.	25/1
10	30th Nov 2024 Good 2m 7f 91y Class 1	15:20 Newcastle Donny Boy 10st 9lb J: Bruce Lynn T: N W Alexander	0-8 over rules fences but knocking at the door for a while, finishing a highly creditable third at the Scottish National meeting at Ayr (3m, soft) in April and reappearing with a good second there (2m4f, good) four weeks ago; effective here and there's every chance he'll be thereabouts.	8/1
10	30th Nov 2024 Good 2m 7f 91y Class 1	15:20 Newcastle Donny Boy 10st 9lb J: Bruce Lynn T: N W Alexander	0-8 over rules fences but knocking at the door for a while, finishing a highly creditable third at the Scottish National meeting at Ayr (3m, soft) in April and reappearing with a good second there (2m4f, good) four weeks ago; effective here and there's every chance he'll be thereabouts.	8/1

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

2

29th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 20y

Class 3

11st 4lb

Point, bumper and maiden hurdle winner who ran well in two handicap chases here in 2024; however, this 10yo has been absent since being pulled up at Newbury that November and faces a very tough assignment on his return.

25/1

10

30th Nov 2024

Good

2m 7f 91y

Class 1

10st 9lb

0-8 over rules fences but knocking at the door for a while, finishing a highly creditable third at the Scottish National meeting at Ayr (3m, soft) in April and reappearing with a good second there (2m4f, good) four weeks ago; effective here and there's every chance he'll be thereabouts.

8/1

10

30th Nov 2024

Good

2m 7f 91y

Class 1

10st 9lb

0-8 over rules fences but knocking at the door for a while, finishing a highly creditable third at the Scottish National meeting at Ayr (3m, soft) in April and reappearing with a good second there (2m4f, good) four weeks ago; effective here and there's every chance he'll be thereabouts.

8/1

4th

2

T: Jonjo O’Neill

6/1

Form: -454P7 D

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 127

Form & Verdict

Kept on well to snatch fourth in first-time cheekpieces at Sandown (3m, soft) in December but was generally disappointing during four-race spell over fences towards end of last year; soundly beaten when reverting to hurdles last month; switches back to chasing with quite a bit to prove.

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

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

10st 13lb

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

11st 9lb

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

12st 1lb

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

5th

5

J: Daryl Jacob

T: Sue Smith

4/1

Form: 313PF3 C

Last run: 21 days

W: 10st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict

Made good start to chasing career in the autumn, notably when winning here (1m7f, soft), and put two non-completions behind him when very respectable third at Catterick (2m3f, soft) last month; contender if suited by today's step up in trip.

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

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

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

11st 2lb

J: Peter Kavanagh

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

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

11st 9lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

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