December 26 / 15.25 Aintree

15.25

Good To Soft

William Hill More Top Prices Open National Hunt Flat Race (Cat 1 Elim) (Go North Jodami Qual) (GBB)

  • Prize money: £8169
  • 2m 0f 209y
  • Class 2
  • 6 runners
RTV
View Course
William Hill More Top Prices Open National Hunt Flat Race (Cat 1 Elim) (Go North Jodami Qual) (GBB)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: NH Flat

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

Form: 1 D

Last run: 59 days

W: 11st 6lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Nicely bred and unbeaten in a point and a bumper; landed the odds in impressive fashion in Ayr bumper (good to soft) two months ago, showing signs of greenness but making all; that form has been boosted (runner-up an easy winner next time); looks a useful prospect, sure to win more races.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

2

10th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 149y

Class 1

16:40 Aintree

Dalston Lad

11st 8lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

He's gone 3-3 since the cheekpieces went on and it was pretty straightforward from the front in a Grade 2 at Haydock the last time (3m, good to soft) when 4l too good for the strong-finishing Ubatuba who ran a respectable seventh in the Albert Bartlett; arrives here fresher than some; respected.

8/1

1st

2

14th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 58y

Class 1

14:40 Haydock

Dalston Lad

11st 2lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Made it 2-2 in these cheekpieces when upped in trip on handicap debut over C&D (good to soft) four weeks ago; won a bumper on soft ground; open to further improvement for his top yard and is firmly in calculations.

3/1

1st

7

17th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 58y

Class 3

14:35 Haydock

Dalston Lad

10st 13lb

J: Tristan Durrell

T: Dan Skelton

3m point and two-time bumper winner who has improved with each of his three hurdle starts, winning easily at 4-9 at Sedgefield (2m4f, good to soft) last time in first-time cheekpieces (retained); bred to be suited by this step up in trip on handicap debut (half-brother to leading Peter Marsh contender Myretown, among others) and could have lots more to offer for top yard.

3/1

Form: 1 D

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 6lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Well-backed favourite on debut when winning a seven-runner race at Sedgefield (good ground; 9-4; runner-up successful since) in workmanlike style, leading over 1f out; today's opposition looks stronger but he's open to improvement and not dismissed lightly.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

27th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

15:20 Wetherby

Old Blue Eyes

11st 9lb

T: Donald McCain

2

27th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

15:20 Wetherby

Old Blue Eyes

11st 9lb

T: Donald McCain

OUR TIP

Form: 1

Last run: 36 days

W: 11st 6lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Fetched £130,000 after his promising second on point debut last winter and made a winning start for new connections at Ffos Las (soft; 11-2; led inside final 1f) five weeks ago; has plenty of untapped potential.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

18th

10

10th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 1

13:45 Aintree

Swindon Village

11st 7lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Charlie Longsdon

Weakened late on (shaped better than bare result) in the 3m Grade 1 novice hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival; won with plenty to spare at Newbury (soft) the time before, taking 2m4f record under rules to 311, and may have more to offer over this distance; interesting handicap debutant.

25/1

11th

16

13th Mar 2026

Good

2m 7f 213y

Class 1

15:20 Cheltenham

Swindon Village

11st 7lb

J: David Bass

T: Charlie Longsdon

This 6yo is a big lad with a bright future ahead of him; it's unlikely that Windsor played to his strengths when well behind Moneygarrow and he then stayed on much the best in a Newbury novice last month (extended 2m4f, soft); however, that latest race had no depth and the odds-on favourite wasn't on his game; this is a huge hike in class.

66/1

1st

2

17th Feb 2026

2m 4f 118y

Class 3

15:20 Newbury

Swindon Village

11st 8lb

J: David Bass

T: Charlie Longsdon

Bumper winner; made all at Leicester (2m4f, soft) and didn't appear to get home over 3m in a useful novice at Windsor; again has the penalty but this looks more suitable; holds the 2m5f/3m novice entries at Cheltenham.

13/8

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Changed hands for £80,000 at the Grand National sale here shortly after winning an English point; new stable has a solid record (17% last five seasons) in bumpers; well worth a market check on rules debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

3

16th May 2026

Good

2m 1f 77y

Class 4

17:05 Bangor-on-Dee

Is This For Real

11st 12lb

J: Liam Harrison

T: Fergal O’Brien

3-4 under Liam Harrison, gaining this year's Newcastle (good to soft) and Huntingdon (good) hurdles wins from the front but earlier bumper and point gains came under patient tactics; no chasers in immediate pedigree but his mark looks about right for this chasing/handicap debut.

5/2

1st

1

4th Apr 2026

Good

1m 7f 171y

Class 4

15:47 Huntingdon

Is This For Real

11st 12lb

J: Liam Harrison

T: Fergal O’Brien

Soft-ground 2m4f point winner who landed a valuable Kelso bumper for this yard; off the mark over hurdles on third attempt when taking Newcastle maiden (2m1f, good to soft) in January but pulled up on handicap debut at Haydock (2m3f, good to soft) last month; drops back in distance here and warrants another chance.

9/4

3

5th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 2f 191y

Class 4

15:15 Haydock

Is This For Real

11st 10lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Fergal O’Brien

Soft-ground 2m4f British point winner who landed a valuable Kelso bumper for this yard; off the mark on third hurdle start when taking Newcastle maiden (2m1f, also good to soft) seven weeks ago; up in trip and carries plenty of potential into this handicap debut.

5/2

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Dug deep to win an Irish point in October and subsequently joined Nigel Twiston-Davies for £75,000; plenty of stamina in his pedigree; another interesting rules debutant for a yard that wins its share of bumpers.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

9

25th Apr 2026

Good

1m 7f 216y

Class 2

13:45 Sandown

Race To Base

11st 3lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: Nick Scholfield

Had wind surgery since failing to convince over 2m4f in the EBF Final on this track last time on stable debut; return to 2m looks a plus but he's still seeking first rules win away from Hereford.

33/1

11

7th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 3f 178y

Class 1

13:50 Sandown

Race To Base

11st 3lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Nick Scholfield

Hasn't progressed as expected since Hereford win (2m, good) in the autumn and finished only fourth in handicap there in January; hopes rest on a change of trainer (same ownership) and the fitting of a tongue-strap.

16/1

1st

7

22nd Apr 2025

Good

2m 0f 53y

Class 5

19:43 Hereford

Race To Base

11st 6lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

Irish point winner; beaten about 7l at Aintree and then only a length here (good to soft) behind his market rival who had shown ability in points; has the best form and the benefit of course experience, so clear claims.

2/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Son of the champion stayer Order Of St George; shaped nicely when second of 12 in Irish point last spring, doing his best work late on; has joined a stable with a fine strike-rate (19% last five seasons) in bumpers; has an appealing profile and the market should be informative.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

24th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 4f 56y

Class 1

16:10 Cheltenham

The Blue Room

11st 5lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Bumper winner who scored on his hurdle debut at Chepstow (2m, good to soft) then finished second in Grade 2 at Sandown (2m4f, soft) behind easy winner No Drama This End, who followed up in the Grade 1 Challow; open to further improvement and he might not be far away.

6/1

1st

6

17th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

1m 7f 182y

Class 4

19:45 Ffos Las

The Blue Room

11st 3lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Runner-up in Aintree bumper on Boxing Day and ran to a similar level when fourth at Exeter in February; fully expected to have a major say on all known form.

2/1

Betting Forcast

13/8 Dalston Lad, 9/1 Old Blue Eyes, 10/1 Swindon Village, 7/2 Is This For Real, 9/2 Race To Base, 5/1 The Blue Room

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Dalston Lad

WEST COUNTRY:

Race To Base

Daily Mail:

The Blue Room

Daily Record:

Swindon Village

The Star:

Race To Base

RP RATINGS:

Dalston Lad

TOPSPEED:

Dalston Lad

POSTDATA:

Dalston Lad

The Times:

Dalston Lad

Telegraph:

Dalston Lad

The Guardian:

Dalston Lad

Daily Mirror:

Dalston Lad

The Sun:

Dalston Lad

D Express:

The Blue Room