November 23 / 12.40 Haydock

12.40

Good

Bet At Your Best With Betfair Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £13202.5
  • 2m 0f 67y
  • Class 3
  • 7 runners
RTV
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Bet At Your Best With Betfair Handicap Chase

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Rain

11/1 (Won)

  • Win: £15.40
  • Place: £4.40

Form: 2434-3 D

Last run: 24 days

W: 10st 11lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Won handicap chases at Worcester (2m, good to soft) and Ludlow last season (2m, soft) last season; fair efforts since then, including third at Newton Abbot on return to action last month; on a feasible mark; could go well.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

14

9th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 176y

Class 1

16:40 Aintree

Dr T J Eckleburg

10st 2lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Mrs C Williams

Runs off a mark 10lb lower than when fifth of 14 in this last year, beaten just over 13l; he's run a couple of reasonable races this season but hasn't shown enough to suggest he's the one to be on today.

33/1

3rd

5

21st Feb 2026

Soft

2m 0f 16y

Class 2

15:40 Chepstow

Dr T J Eckleburg

10st 9lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Evan Williams

Led close home to win this race off 5lb higher a year ago (soft ground) and was seemingly perked up by cheekpieces when third on both outings last month; made up considerable ground from the rear at Sandown (1m7f, soft) on latter occasion and has strong claims here if the headgear continues to aid him.

15/8

3rd

9

31st Jan 2026

Soft

1m 7f 99y

Class 2

14:02 Sandown

Dr T J Eckleburg

10st 3lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Evan Williams

Acts on any ground; half-length second off 4lb higher in this contest 12 months ago; out of sorts this term until posting a resurgent effort, behind solid rivals, in first-time cheekpieces at Windsor most recently; enters calculations in the retained headgear.

11/2

OUR TIP

4/1

  • Place: £2.30

Form: 25437- D

Last run: 215 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 129

Form & Verdict
Won handicaps at Uttoxeter (2m, good to soft) and Huntingdon (2m, good to soft) on first two starts last season; some fair runs after that and could go well, but significant rain would be against him; back after a wind operation.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

6

1st Nov 2025

Good

2m 0f 172y

Class 1

14:05 Ascot

General Medrano

10st 11lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Emma Lavelle

Very well in with Petit Tonnerre on their Doncaster clash in January, after which he ran okay in the Grand Annual before a disappointing run at Aintree; this mark isn't beyond him and he returns with his stable ticking along very nicely.

9/2

4th

6

1st Nov 2025

Good

2m 0f 172y

Class 1

14:05 Ascot

General Medrano

10st 11lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Emma Lavelle

Very well in with Petit Tonnerre on their Doncaster clash in January, after which he ran okay in the Grand Annual before a disappointing run at Aintree; this mark isn't beyond him and he returns with his stable ticking along very nicely.

9/2

10th

5

3rd Apr 2025

Good To Soft

1m 7f 176y

Class 1

16:40 Aintree

General Medrano

11st 5lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Emma Lavelle

Generally quite progressive over the winter and there shouldn't be much between him and Dr T J Eckleburg on Haydock form (2m, soft) in November; however he couldn't play a part in the Grand Annual at Cheltenham in March and he's been left on the same mark in another warm race.

10/1

Form: 31114- CD

Last run: 230 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 129

Form & Verdict
Won three on the trot on soft/heavy ground in the middle of last season including over C&D; now 19lb higher than first of those wins (5lb higher than the last) so up against it without having a recent run.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

7th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 0f 110y

Class 4

14:07 Ayr

Netywell

12st 0lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Regressive 9yo who is sliding down the weights; has two wins over C&D and has won off 9lb higher so cannot be discounted.

2/1

4th

2

29th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 110y

Class 4

15:43 Ayr

Netywell

11st 13lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

C&D winner who is well handicapped on form as recent as last March and today's drop back in grade could help; however, his performances have been patchy this season and he needs to get back on track.

20/1

Form: 15-211 D

Last run: 26 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 129

Form & Verdict
Has won both his races since a wind operation, both with a tongue-tie on, scoring at Uttoxeter (2m, good; four ran) and following up at Ayr (2m, good to soft; won by 11l); 10lb higher than last time in what looks a stronger race, but has won on testing ground and is a contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

27th Dec 2024

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 1

13:55 Kempton

Home Free

11st 4lb

J: Fergus Gillard

T: Dan Skelton

3

27th Dec 2024

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 1

13:55 Kempton

Home Free

11st 4lb

J: Fergus Gillard

T: Dan Skelton

4th

2

23rd Nov 2024

Good

2m 0f 67y

Class 3

12:40 Haydock

Home Free

12st 0lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

prominent, led after 4th, jumped right 5 out, not fluent and headed 3 out, not fluent 2 out, soon lost third and weakened

9/4

10/1

Form: 3U764- D

Last run: 265 days

W: 12st 0lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 129

Form & Verdict
Has won five of his 18 races over fences, the latest off 5lb higher at Sandown last November (1m7f, good to soft; already had a run); slightly low-key end to his season so starts this campaign on a good mark but usually needs a run.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 92y

Class 3

16:10 Newbury

Xcitations

11st 2lb

J: Robert Dunne

T: Pam Sly

Grand servant for the yard with eight wins (six over fences) and he showed he was no back number when second of four at Leicester (2m, soft; handles good) in February; took the wrong course last time; has form here and should be thereabouts.

7/1

1

9th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 0f 213y

Class 4

14:50 Stratford

Xcitations

12st 1lb

J: Jack Andrews

T: Pam Sly

Grand servant for the yard with eight wins (six over fences); showed he was no back number when second of four in returning cheekpieces (left off here) at Leicester (2m, soft) 13 days ago; should run his race.

9/4

2nd

2

24th Feb 2026

Heavy

1m 7f 201y

Class 4

15:50 Leicester

Xcitations

12st 0lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Pam Sly

Veteran who achieved nothing at Uttoxeter on reappearance but may be back in better form with that outing under his belt; gained last three wins at Sandown but he's 1-1 at Leicester.

4/1

Form: 2/11-1 D

Last run: 192 days

W: 11st 9lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced; only beaten once; last season won a novice hurdle at Hexham in March (2m, heavy) and a handicap hurdle at Bangor (2m3f, soft) in April; made it three on the trot when making a winning chase debut in a novice handicap at Perth in May (2m, good to soft); unexposed and an interesting contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

12

3rd Apr 2025

Good To Soft

1m 7f 176y

Class 1

16:40 Aintree

Galunggung

10st 5lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

Kept the excellent rules strike-rate going with a Carlisle win (2m, soft; effective on good to soft) in February but quicker ground raises some doubts against this more forbidding opposition.

33/1

12th

12

3rd Apr 2025

Good To Soft

1m 7f 176y

Class 1

16:40 Aintree

Galunggung

10st 5lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

Kept the excellent rules strike-rate going with a Carlisle win (2m, soft; effective on good to soft) in February but quicker ground raises some doubts against this more forbidding opposition.

33/1

Form: P2P/4- D

Last run: 336 days

W: 11st 13lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 128

Form & Verdict
Won a 2m3f Ffos Las handicap in November 2022 (2m3f, good to soft); good second off 7lb higher at Sandown the following March; lightly raced since (had wind surgery in August 2023) and returns after nearly a year off; worth a market check.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

9

1st Feb 2025

Soft

3m 0f 37y

Class 2

15:42 Sandown

Eden Du Houx

10st 9lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

midfield

11/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £62.60
Straight Forecast £69.18
Trifecta £273.50

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Home Free

The Star:

Galunggung

The Times:

General Medrano

TOPSPEED:

Dr T J Eckleburg

WEST COUNTRY:

Eden Du Houx

POSTDATA:

Home Free

Telegraph:

Home Free

The Guardian:

Home Free

Daily Mail:

Home Free

D Express:

Home Free

Daily Mirror:

Home Free

The Sun:

Home Free

Daily Record:

Galunggung