December 21 / 14.40 Haydock

14.40

Soft

Betfred Hat-Trick Heaven Handicap Hurdle (Challenger Two Mile Hurdle Series Qualifier)

  • Prize money: £6865.3
  • 1m 7f 144y
  • Class 3
  • 8 runners
ITV4
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Betfred Hat-Trick Heaven Handicap Hurdle (Challenger Two Mile Hurdle Series Qualifier)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

4/1 (Won)

  • Win: £3.50
  • Place: £1.40

Form: 1411-4 D

Last run: 13 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
Three wins (1m7f/2m, heavy) from his final four starts last season and he may have needed his recent reappearance run at Huntingdon (2m, soft); no surprise if he plays a leading role with conditions to suit.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

12th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

15:50 Ffos Las

Milldam

12st 2lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

Five-time hurdle winner; inconsistent this season and not yet proven over this far but the form of his fifth in a valuable race at Windsor (2m, soft) in January reads very well in this context, and he didn't run badly when fourth at Stratford (2m, soft) last month; big player if on song.

8/1

4th

1

9th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 0f 70y

Class 3

15:20 Stratford

Milldam

12st 0lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

Won this from 3lb lower in 2024; ran creditably at Windsor (2m Class 2; fifth, 20-1) in January but pulled up in a premier handicap at Newbury subsequently; drying ground wouldn't play to his strengths.

20/1

11

7th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 0f 69y

Class 1

15:20 Newbury

Milldam

11st 3lb

J: Isabelle Ryder

T: Jamie Snowden

Steadily finding his form this season, respectable fifth to Hot Fuss at Windsor (soft) most recently; may be about to reach boiling point and he'll be particularly interesting if the ground is heavy, having been successful in last four attempts on that surface.

12/1

11/2

  • Place: £1.30

Form: 43-P36 CD

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Hasn't been at his best this term and needs to raise his game, but he's on a handy mark judged on last season's novice hurdle exploits (including a heavy-ground win over C&D) and he's not written off.
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

6/1

  • Place: £3.20

Form: 122/2U D

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
He could do with settling better and he'd been overtaken when unseating at the final flight at Doncaster (2m, good) three weeks ago, but that was still a good run and prior to that this 5yo went close at Wincanton (1m7f, good) when back from a long absence; also effective on soft; chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

7

20th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 1f 87y

Class 2

15:22 Musselburgh

Admiralty House

11st 4lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Sandy Thomson

0-11 since winning on hurdle debut in October 2022 but he ran pretty well when third at Kelso (2m, heavy) last month following wind surgery; he's in with an each-way shout if backing up that latest performance.

9/2

3rd

5

13th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 0f 51y

Class 4

14:30 Kelso

Admiralty House

11st 7lb

J: Callum Bewley

T: Sandy Thomson

He's won just one of his 18 starts and could do with settling better; however, he took a step back in the right direction when fifth of nine at Musselburgh (1m7f, good to soft) on New Year's Day and has had wind surgery since; also effective on soft ground; might not be far away.

11/1

11th

5

2nd Nov 2025

Good To Soft

2m 1f 33y

Class 4

15:47 Carlisle

Admiralty House

11st 10lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Sandy Thomson

Maiden on the Flat; placed in three handicap hurdles last season for Alan King so has a race in him off this mark and new trainer (after £14,000 sale) has booked Sam Twiston-Davies; could be interesting.

15/2

OUR TIP

11/4

Form: 05-422

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Beaten on last 15 starts but has often run well in that spell, including on heavy ground and when runner-up at Warwick (2m3f, good to soft) last month; came clear with a progressive winner and can be in the mix once more.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

1

15th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 207y

Class 3

13:50 Uttoxeter

Jilaijone

12st 0lb

J: Freddie Mitchell

T: David Pipe

Just one win from his last 18 starts but that came by a wide margin over C&D (good to soft) in January and he ran another big race when fourth of 17 at Ascot (2m7f, good) last time; every chance he'll be thereabouts.

10/1

3

15th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 118y

Class 3

13:15 Ascot

Jilaijone

12st 0lb

J: Freddie Mitchell

T: David Pipe

Had to wait over two years for his second win but when it came at Uttoxeter (2m4f, good to soft) three weeks ago it was by a huge margin; back up 8lb and that's the furthest he's been, but now the possibility arises that he'll be interesting at this trip as well.

10/1

Form: 411-85 D

Last run: 15 days

W: 10st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Won twice in a row over hurdles at Musselburgh (1m7f, good to soft/soft) in February but not at his best on the Flat subsequently and it's been the same story back over hurdles the last twice; needs something extra.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

7th Jun 2025

Good

2m 0f 48y

Class 4

18:20 Hexham

Bashful

11st 11lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Iain Jardine

Showed benefit of latest wind op when winning twice at around 2m in February (good to soft/soft); slightly disappointing on latest outing in April, though, and needs to be back in peak form to have a chance off current mark.

8/1

6th

4

24th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 47y

Class 4

17:05 Perth

Bashful

11st 12lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Iain Jardine

in touch with leaders

5/1

6th

4

24th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 47y

Class 4

17:05 Perth

Bashful

11st 12lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Iain Jardine

A dual 2m winner and progressive over hurdles this season but he failed to translate that form back onto the Flat at Doncaster last month; he's the sort to bounce back here though.

5/1

Form: 089-62 D

Last run: 65 days

W: 10st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Had been looking regressive but he dropped down the weights and was a fair second off this mark at Carlisle (2m1f, soft) in October on his second start for this yard; has an each-way shout once more.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

21st Oct 2025

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 4

16:40 Perth

Coventry

10st 5lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Lisa Harrison

Unable to justify prominence in the betting when well beaten at Kelso (2m5f, good) this month and remains without a win since 2021; others have much more appealing profiles.

20/1

12

24th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 35y

Class 4

15:08 Perth

Coventry

10st 5lb

J: Peter Kavanagh

T: Lisa Harrison

Soundly beaten over 3m here this month and remains without a win since Irish maiden success in 2021; continues to slide down the weights and may benefit from this drop back in trip but still makes only limited appeal.

20/1

Form: 31/1- D

Last run: 582 days

W: 10st 13lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Won a bumper at Kelso (2m, good) in April 2023 and followed up on hurdle debut at Aintree (2m4f, good) that May; absent since and unproven on slow ground, but he could be on a good mark if retaining all of his promise; interesting to see how he goes in the betting.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

4th Jul 2025

Good

2m 7f 32y

Class 5

17:56 Bangor-on-Dee

Lune De La Mer

12st 0lb

J: Toby Wynne

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Made the frame on all four hurdling starts since cheekpieces were fitted in February (2m3f-3m) and also ran well in first-time blinkers (retained) on recent chasing debut; suited by this track and still unexposed over this sort of trip; likely contender on return to hurdling.

5/2

2nd

3

6th Jun 2025

Good

2m 4f 72y

Class 4

14:15 Bangor-on-Dee

Lune De La Mer

11st 0lb

J: Henry Brooke

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Seemingly aided by cheekpieces over hurdles in recent months, making the frame four consecutive times on good ground (2m3f-3m); tries blinkers on this chase debut; can make his presence felt if he takes well to fences.

3/1

2nd

4

12th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 88y

Class 4

16:40 Southwell

Lune De La Mer

11st 5lb

J: Henry Brooke

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

prominent, led after 3 out, going easily home turn, headed approaching last, kept on

11/4

Form: 6-0843 D

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
He's back down to the same mark as for his last win at Taunton (2m, good) in February and he seems fine on soft ground; however, he has to produce more than he's managed on his four runs in the second half of this year.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

25th May 2025

Good To Firm

2m 0f 51y

Class 2

15:58 Kelso

Rewired

11st 0lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Tristan Davidson

Has come good off his much reduced mark and a 4lb rise for Hereford last time is more than fair (2m, good); one of his career-best runs was on soft so rain won't bother him.

11/8

3rd

2

25th May 2025

Good To Firm

2m 0f 51y

Class 2

15:58 Kelso

Rewired

11st 0lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Tristan Davidson

Has come good off his much reduced mark and a 4lb rise for Hereford last time is more than fair (2m, good); one of his career-best runs was on soft so rain won't bother him.

11/8

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £9.70
Straight Forecast £8.34
Tricast £62.64
Trifecta £79.00

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Jilaijone

SPOTLIGHT:

Milldam

POSTDATA:

Bertie's Ballet

The Guardian:

Coventry

The Sun:

Lune De La Mer

TOPSPEED:

Jilaijone

WEST COUNTRY:

Jilaijone

The Times:

Jilaijone

Daily Mail:

Jilaijone

Telegraph:

Bertie's Ballet

D Express:

Bertie's Ballet

LAMBOURN:

Milldam

Daily Mirror:

Milldam

Daily Record:

Milldam

The Star:

Coventry