December 30 / 15.10 Haydock

15.10

Heavy

Betfred Last Fling Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £13007.5
  • 3m 4f 97y
  • Class 2
  • 7 runners
RTV
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Betfred Last Fling Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

12/1 (Won)

  • Win: £10.00
  • Place: £3.60

Form: /P4-54 C

Last run: 21 days

W: 10st 6lb

12 yo Gelding

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
12yo who has been lightly raced in the last two seasons and he's not the force of old; however, he showed some spark when fifth at Fontwell (3m3f, good) two starts ago on the back of an absence, and he won over 3m1f on soft ground here in November 2022; not ruled out off much-reduced mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14

16th Apr 2025

Good

3m 4f 21y

Class 3

15:15 Cheltenham

Saint Xavier

10st 13lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Richard Hobson

Long in the tooth now and no longer the force of old; exploited some considerable help from the handicapper when winning at Haydock (3m4f, soft) just after Christmas but was well beaten next time (albeit on heavy ground) and younger rivals have much more appealing profiles.

25/1

14

16th Apr 2025

Good

3m 4f 21y

Class 3

15:15 Cheltenham

Saint Xavier

10st 13lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Richard Hobson

Long in the tooth now and no longer the force of old; exploited some considerable help from the handicapper when winning at Haydock (3m4f, soft) just after Christmas but was well beaten next time (albeit on heavy ground) and younger rivals have much more appealing profiles.

25/1

12/1

  • Place: £4.70

Form: 7317/P D

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 8lb

12 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
5lb lower than for 2022 Welsh National win (soft) and he may have needed the run here 26 days ago, when pulled up on his first outing since March 2023; however, this 12yo needs to prove how much ability he retains.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

31st Jan 2025

Soft

3m 4f 178y

Class 3

14:45 Lingfield

The Two Amigos

11st 4lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Nicky Martin

13yo, 2lb lower today than for his win in the 2022 Welsh National (3m7f, soft); only three runs since, absent 627 days before this season but he showed that plenty of fire remains when front-running second to Saint Xavier at Haydock (3m4f) last time; that returns him to serious calculations.

8/1

4

31st Jan 2025

Soft

3m 4f 178y

Class 3

14:45 Lingfield

The Two Amigos

11st 4lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Nicky Martin

13yo, 2lb lower today than for his win in the 2022 Welsh National (3m7f, soft); only three runs since, absent 627 days before this season but he showed that plenty of fire remains when front-running second to Saint Xavier at Haydock (3m4f) last time; that returns him to serious calculations.

8/1

2nd

4

30th Dec 2024

Heavy

3m 4f 97y

Class 2

15:10 Haydock

The Two Amigos

11st 8lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Nicky Martin

5lb lower than for 2022 Welsh National win (soft) and he may have needed the run here 26 days ago, when pulled up on his first outing since March 2023; however, this 12yo needs to prove how much ability he retains.

12/1

Form: U-1136 BF

Last run: 16 days

W: 12st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 128

Form & Verdict
Won two handicaps (3m, good) in autumn 2023 and three hunter chases this spring (3m1f/4m, soft); reappeared with staying-on third in the Grand Sefton at Aintree (2m5f, good to soft) and a bad mistake was costly when only sixth at Doncaster (3m, good to soft) recently; could be worth another chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

10

9th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 19y

Class 2

15:30 Aintree

Gaboriot

12st 0lb

J: Mr Huw Edwards

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Pulled up in the Becher here in December and his two subsequent hunter chase runs have yielded an early fall and disappointing defeat; twice placed over these fences, however, most recently in the Grand Sefton over C&D in November, and could have an each-way shout if back on song in change of headgear.

25/1

3rd

2

19th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 11y

Class 4

16:50 Ludlow

Gaboriot

12st 6lb

J: Mr Huw Edwards

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Pulled up in the Becher Chase at Aintree in December but finished a very good second in the Grand Sefton (2m5f, good to soft) the previous month; returned to hunter chasing with quite a spill at Catterick a fortnight ago but holds leading claims if that hasn't left a mark.

5/4

1

4th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 54y

Class 5

16:10 Catterick

Gaboriot

12st 6lb

J: Mr Huw Edwards

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Pulled up in the Becher Chase at Aintree last time but had previously finished a very good second in the Grand Sefton (2m5f, good to soft); did well hunter chasing back in 2024 and the one to beat.

10/11

Form: 623-P3

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 6lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Returned to form when keeping on for third at Uttoxeter (3m, soft) three weeks ago; could give another good account and he ran pretty well in this race last year (heavy) when a 19l third, but he finished tired and may prove vulnerable in the straight once more.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

17th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 177y

Class 4

17:12 Ffos Las

Fantastikas

11st 11lb

J: James Turner

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

led, headed 14th, weakened before 4 out, pulled up before 3 out

10/1

4

17th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 177y

Class 4

17:12 Ffos Las

Fantastikas

11st 11lb

J: James Turner

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

No win since January 2022; shaped reasonably well when third at Uttoxeter (3m, soft) in December but lesser efforts at Haydock and Plumpton since temper enthusiasm; first run since January.

10/1

4th

1

27th Jan 2025

Soft

3m 1f 152y

Class 4

15:50 Plumpton

Fantastikas

12st 0lb

J: Mr Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

Returned to form when keeping on for third at Uttoxeter (3m, soft) in early December but failed to really build on that when a well-held fourth at Haydock three weeks later, albeit in a higher grade; hasn't won for three years but he's plied his trade at a higher level for some time and could find life easier contesting a class 4 with a capable 7lb-claiming amateur booked.

9/2

OUR TIP

Form: P66-P2

Last run: 37 days

W: 12st 0lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 128

Form & Verdict
It's a long time since he's posed a threat but he continues to drop down the weights and kept on for a distant second at Ascot (3m5f, good) last month on his second stable start; has run well on soft ground here in the past and it's possible he'll be able to build on that latest effort.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

16

24th Jan 2026

Soft

3m 5f 56y

Class 2

13:50 Cheltenham

The Big Breakaway

10st 2lb

J: Paddy Hanlon

T: Syd Hosie

Smart in his prime but has not shown a great deal this season and was tailed off in C&D contest won by Final Orders last month; effectively 1lb higher today; difficult to enthuse over.

66/1

3rd

2

9th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

3m 5f 54y

Class 3

16:58 Warwick

The Big Breakaway

12st 0lb

J: Miss Anna Johnston

T: Anthony Charlton

Regular in marathon chases who bounced back to form when second of 14 in this headgear combination at Bangor (3m6f, soft; 40-1) last month; back up 5lb and despite some fine efforts he has gone 22 starts without a win since November 2020; others more solid.

11/2

2nd

1

7th Feb 2025

Soft

3m 5f 142y

Class 4

14:12 Bangor-on-Dee

The Big Breakaway

12st 0lb

J: Miss Anna Johnston

T: Anthony Charlton

Former Welsh National runner-up but rarely seems up for the challenge these days and was beaten a distance on his sole completion this season; new headgear provides some cause for optimism but far too risky to trust.

33/1

Form: 1119-5 BF

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 13lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 127

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced 7yo who won his first three chase starts earlier this year (2m6f/3m, soft/heavy) and he reappeared with a fair fifth at Sandown (3m4f, soft) this month; could improve for that latest outing and he's one of two for a trainer with a fine record in this race; likely player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

30th Jan 2025

Heavy

3m 1f 30y

Class 3

14:55 Wincanton

Montgomery

11st 8lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Low-mileage 8yo who is 3-6 over fences and was a highly commendable fifth in Sandown's London National (3m4f, soft) before a puzzling effort when only 6-4 at Haydock; strong contender on that penultimate effort.

3/1

5th

4

30th Jan 2025

Heavy

3m 1f 30y

Class 3

14:55 Wincanton

Montgomery

11st 8lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Low-mileage 8yo who is 3-6 over fences and was a highly commendable fifth in Sandown's London National (3m4f, soft) before a puzzling effort when only 6-4 at Haydock; strong contender on that penultimate effort.

3/1

3

30th Dec 2024

Heavy

3m 4f 97y

Class 2

15:10 Haydock

Montgomery

11st 13lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Lightly raced 7yo who won his first three chase starts earlier this year (2m6f/3m, soft/heavy) and he reappeared with a fair fifth at Sandown (3m4f, soft) this month; could improve for that latest outing and he's one of two for a trainer with a fine record in this race; likely player.

7/4

Form: 10/PP-

Last run: 321 days

W: 11st 2lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Pulled up on both starts last season and reappears with plenty to prove, but he won on heavy ground at Ffos Las (3m) in March 2023 and his trainer has won three of the last seven runnings of this race; one of two for the yard today; not written off.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £159.60
Straight Forecast £129.44
Trifecta £758.10

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Montgomery

RP RATINGS:

Gaboriot

Telegraph:

The Two Amigos

POSTDATA:

Fantastikas

The Times:

The Big Breakaway

The Guardian:

Montgomery

Daily Mail:

Montgomery

D Express:

Montgomery

Daily Mirror:

Montgomery

The Sun:

Montgomery

Daily Record:

Montgomery

TOPSPEED:

Gaboriot

The Star:

The Two Amigos