March 30 / 14.05 Haydock

14.05

Soft

My Pension Expert Challenger Two Mile Hurdle Series Final Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £25720
  • 1m 7f 144y
  • Class 2
  • 9 runners
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My Pension Expert Challenger Two Mile Hurdle Series Final Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

15/8 (Won)

  • Win: £3.50
  • Place: £1.40

Form: -61321 D

Last run: 14 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 140

Form & Verdict
A model of consistency over hurdles, and his latest win at Newcastle (2m1f, heavy) two weeks ago was a career best; should again have the measure of third-placed Salsada; big player once more despite a 5lb rise.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 69y

Class 3

14:10 Newbury

Brentford Hope

11st 12lb

J: Megan Fox

T: Harry Derham

Won by a neck at Haydock (2m, good to soft) last month under Megan Fox and is 4lb higher today; performed as well as could be expected in the face of a stiff task when third of four in Grade 2 at Cheltenham a week later and has each-way claims on this return to handicap company.

3/1

3rd

4

24th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 0f 179y

Class 1

15:00 Cheltenham

Brentford Hope

11st 4lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

Took advantage of a handy mark in Haydock handicap last Saturday, bringing record over hurdles to 6-20; has the worst chance at the weights back up in class and seems unlikely to match his second-place finish, which was a realistic outcome at the time, in this race last year.

66/1

14/1

  • Place: £4.90

Form: 8-8514 D

Last run: 26 days

W: 10st 10lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Has a rather in-and-out profile; won eased-down at Market Rasen (2m, good to soft) in January but then found little at Plumpton two months later; might need a personal best even if she's on a going day.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

14/1

  • Place: £3.10

Form: /25-03

Last run: 14 days

W: 10st 8lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Well treated on her fifth in the 2023 Scottish Champion Hurdle (2m, good); has possibly needed her two outings this season at Kelso (well beaten in the Morebattle) and Newcastle (beaten 12l by Brentford Hope); more required here but she's fresher than most and drying ground would help her cause.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

15th May 2025

Good To Firm

1m 6f 44y

Class 3

14:25 Salisbury

Salsada

9st 9lb

J: Ben Robinson

T: Brian Ellison

Seen far more often over hurdles in recent years and she's pretty useful, but pulled up in March on latest outing; stiff task in a three-runner race last September and that's her only Flat run since a creditable show over C&D (good to firm) in June 2022; down the weights but not solid.

9/1

1

15th May 2025

Good To Firm

1m 6f 44y

Class 3

14:25 Salisbury

Salsada

9st 9lb

J: Ben Robinson

T: Brian Ellison

Seen far more often over hurdles in recent years and she's pretty useful, but pulled up in March on latest outing; stiff task in a three-runner race last September and that's her only Flat run since a creditable show over C&D (good to firm) in June 2022; down the weights but not solid.

9/1

1

22nd Mar 2025

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 2

14:25 Kelso

Salsada

12st 0lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Brian Ellison

Won two handicaps in a row at Sedgefield (2m4f, good/good to soft) towards the end of last year before tough Grade 2 task at Doncaster; however, only fifth when back in a handicap at Newcastle (2m1f, good to soft) last month and needs a bigger performance this afternoon.

14/1

Form: 154922

Last run: 26 days

W: 10st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
1-11; good second at Hereford and Plumpton (2m, soft) last two starts, but this is a stronger race and he'll need improvement to go one better.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

24th Mar 2025

Good

2m 5f 82y

Class 4

15:00 Wincanton

Mr Mackay

11st 8lb

J: Mr Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

Pretty consistent over fences and hurdles on good/good to soft ground this season and has slipped to a good mark; campaigned mainly at around 2m but has won over an extended 2m3f; probably won't be far away.

5/2

5th

8

1st Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 128y

Class 4

17:07 Doncaster

Mr Mackay

11st 4lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

Seemed in good form over fences before the turn of the year and reportedly suffered an overreach on his return to hurdling at Musselburgh; on a competitive mark.

12/1

5th

2

1st Feb 2025

Good To Soft

1m 7f 124y

Class 4

16:27 Musselburgh

Mr Mackay

11st 13lb

J: James Turner

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

Fair efforts in the autumn across first three chase starts, finishing second last time (2m, good) despite not jumping well; on a handy mark on last season's best hurdle form; could be a contender now back in this sphere.

8/1

Form: -61374 D

Last run: 35 days

W: 10st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Surprise winner of novice at Ffos Las (2m, heavy) in November on his second start over hurdles, but hasn't built on that; needs a personal best, and by some margin, from 4lb out of the handicap.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

15th May 2024

Good

1m 7f 182y

Class 4

14:30 Ffos Las

Three Cliffs Bay

11st 9lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: Evan Williams

Surprise winner of C&D novice (heavy; 25-1) in November but he hasn't gone on from that in four runs since including three handicaps; had tough task from out the weights at Haydock last time but he needs to find more back at this track.

6/1

5th

6

15th May 2024

Good

1m 7f 182y

Class 4

14:30 Ffos Las

Three Cliffs Bay

11st 9lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: Evan Williams

Surprise winner of C&D novice (heavy; 25-1) in November but he hasn't gone on from that in four runs since including three handicaps; had tough task from out the weights at Haydock last time but he needs to find more back at this track.

6/1

Form: 4213-2 D BF

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 8lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 134

Form & Verdict
Fine third in the 2023 Imperial Cup at Sandown (2m, heavy) and ran close to his best after a year off when a rallying neck second to Milldam at Stratford 19 days ago; again has conditions to suit; solid chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

25th May 2024

Soft

2m 1f 61y

Class 3

18:15 Cartmel

Playful Saint

11st 10lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Three-time hurdle winner who recovered from significant jumping error at penultimate fence to make winning chase debut at Hexham (2m4f, good to soft) three weeks ago; can cope with today's drop back in trip and is probably still on a workable mark after recent 4lb rise.

2/1

1st

1

25th May 2024

Soft

2m 1f 61y

Class 3

18:15 Cartmel

Playful Saint

11st 10lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Three-time hurdle winner who recovered from significant jumping error at penultimate fence to make winning chase debut at Hexham (2m4f, good to soft) three weeks ago; can cope with today's drop back in trip and is probably still on a workable mark after recent 4lb rise.

2/1

Form: -31257 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 10st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced 7yo; third off 1lb higher in a big field at Cheltenham (2m, good) in the autumn and he shaped better than the result suggests when seventh of 17 in the Morebattle at Kelso (2m, good to soft; short of room closing stages) four weeks ago; handles the mud; may have more to offer yet.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

11th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 88y

Class 4

17:47 Southwell

Ballygeary

11st 13lb

J: William Maggs

T: Mike Sowersby

Beaten 6l in his penultimate race but following run was a reminder of his inconsistency; others safer.

20/1

6th

7

27th Mar 2026

Good

3m 0f 26y

Class 3

16:20 Wetherby

Ballygeary

10st 3lb

J: William Maggs

T: Mike Sowersby

Has inconsistent form for current stable but ran encouragingly last time (2m5f) while shaping as if this return to further is worth exploring; well treated on historical data, which includes wins off higher marks in 2023 and 2024.

12/1

3rd

6

13th Mar 2026

Good

2m 4f 181y

Class 4

16:20 Doncaster

Ballygeary

11st 5lb

J: William Maggs

T: Mike Sowersby

Ex-Donald McCain; creditable third on stable debut in July (2m4f, good) but hasn't been in top form since.

33/1

Form: 721324 CD

Last run: 28 days

W: 10st 9lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
Likeable front-runner with a consistent record; made all over C&D (heavy) just before Christmas and ran close to his best despite late mistakes when fourth in the well-contested Morebattle at Kelso four weeks ago; should be in the thick of things once more.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

1

9th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 68y

Class 4

14:15 Musselburgh

The Churchill Lad

12st 0lb

J: Ross Chapman

T: Rebecca Menzies

sweating, took keen hold, led, headed but prominent before 5th, mistake and lost position 8th, rallying when mistake 4 out, weakened before 3 out

4/1

1

9th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 68y

Class 4

14:15 Musselburgh

The Churchill Lad

12st 0lb

J: Ross Chapman

T: Rebecca Menzies

Front-runner who won on chase debut at Hexham (1m7f, good) in October and has run well in second the next twice (2m/1m7f, good to soft/good); he's fine at this trip (and on a variety of ground) and was effective here over hurdles; can make another bold bid.

4/1

2nd

2

8th Nov 2024

Good

1m 7f 133y

Class 4

14:45 Hexham

The Churchill Lad

11st 13lb

J: Ross Chapman

T: Rebecca Menzies

Winning hurdler who has taken well to fences, beating Caithness by a head over C&D on debut last month before fair second off this 4lb higher mark at Carlisle (2m, good to soft); should go well again.

11/4

Form: 143812 C

Last run: 7 days

W: 10st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Has had a productive season, winning four times, the latest at Sedgefield (2m1f, soft) earlier this month; again gave his running when second of seven at Bangor last week but he meets a significantly higher calibre of rival here and he's 5lb out of the weights.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Non-runners

Milldam

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £52.80
Straight Forecast £47.40
Tricast £499.03
Trifecta £563.40

Selections

POSTDATA:

Brentford Hope

SPOTLIGHT:

Ballygeary

Telegraph:

Playful Saint

The Times:

El Jefe

WEST COUNTRY:

Mr Mackay

Daily Mail:

The Churchill Lad

RP RATINGS:

Ballygeary

TOPSPEED:

Ballygeary

LAMBOURN:

Brentford Hope

Daily Mirror:

Brentford Hope

The Sun:

Brentford Hope

Daily Record:

Brentford Hope

The Star:

El Jefe

The Guardian:

Playful Saint

D Express:

Playful Saint