December 30 / 15.45 Haydock

15.45

Heavy

Betfred Supports Jack Berry House Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £6337.2
  • 1m 7f 144y
  • Class 3
  • 5 runners
RTV
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Betfred Supports Jack Berry House Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

100/30 (Won)

  • Win: £5.50
  • Place: £2.10

Form: 115-42 D

Last run: 41 days

W: 11st 7lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
He's not as good as he was but he won three times last season and was a good second of five at Fakenham (2m, soft) last month on his second start since wind surgery; this front-runner can make another bold bid.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

3rd May 2025

Good

2m 3f 207y

Class 3

18:30 Uttoxeter

For Pleasure

10st 13lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

led, headed 3 out, weakened after 2 out

11/4

5th

5

3rd May 2025

Good

2m 3f 207y

Class 3

18:30 Uttoxeter

For Pleasure

10st 13lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Multiple winner but a 10yo now and the handicapper knows the score with him; no match for the winner last time at Fakenham (2m4f, good) where he kept jumping to the right; wouldn't want to repeat that here.

11/4

2nd

1

1st Apr 2025

Good

2m 4f 1y

Class 3

16:20 Fakenham

For Pleasure

12st 0lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

jumped right throughout, led, headed before last, kept on

5/1

9/2

  • Place: £1.60

Form: 54-342

Last run: 20 days

W: 10st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Built upon previous promise when second on handicap debut at Uttoxeter (2m, soft) three weeks ago; he could do with settling better, and he hung left last time, but this lightly raced 5yo could have more to offer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

17th Apr 2026

Soft

2m 0f 110y

Class 3

14:20 Ayr

The Grafter

11st 6lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Sam England

Built upon his hurdling promise to win on chase/seasonal debut at Newcastle (2m, heavy) in January and he followed up there (2m, good to soft) in February; climbing the weights but this unexposed 7yo had something to spare for both wins and may well have more left in the tank.

100/30

1st

2

21st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 75y

Class 4

14:10 Newcastle

The Grafter

11st 12lb

J: Jonathan England

T: Sam England

Runner-up in four handicap hurdles last season; heavy ground could have been a factor in him showing improved form on his successful chase debut over C&D last month, though was well backed prior to comfortably repelling Spadestep; 9lb worse off with the runner-up but clearly open to further improvement.

11/4

1st

4

27th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 75y

Class 4

13:50 Newcastle

The Grafter

11st 2lb

J: Jonathan England

T: Sam England

Maiden; runner-up in four handicap hurdles last season; has no easy task on chase debut having been off for 278 days.

8/1

Form: 3-P362 CD BF

Last run: 9 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Promising novice last season (won over C&D on heavy) and he returned to form when second in a C&D handicap (heavy) nine days ago; can play a leading role in first-time cheekpieces if this doesn't come too soon.
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

Form: 3-1413 D

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 7lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Made it three wins for the year (2m/2m1f, soft-good) when scoring at Ayr last month and fair third in a warm handicap at Kelso (2m, soft) subsequently; can give another good account.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

7th Jun 2025

Good

2m 0f 48y

Class 4

18:20 Hexham

Mack The Man

11st 3lb

J: Mr Kit Alexander

T: N W Alexander

Regressive and inconsistent veteran; seemingly perked up by change of headgear when close second in refitted visor at Perth (2m, good) last month and remains on a very good mark but it's not easy to predict whether he'll be in the right mood again here.

8/1

4

15th May 2025

Good

2m 0f 47y

Class 3

15:53 Perth

Mack The Man

11st 4lb

J: Mr Kit Alexander

T: N W Alexander

Exposed; goes well on testing ground but latest win (off 10lb higher) was on good ground at Ayr in November (2m) when returning from a break; beaten 20l when eighth over C&D last month (good to soft; blinkers replaced regular visor); visor back on today; well handicapped, but a bit to prove.

33/1

Form: 1114/ D

Last run: 1395 days

W: 12st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 127

Form & Verdict
Very promising novice hurdler in 2020-21 season; well treated on that form and he can't be ruled out on his return to action, but he has to defy a mammoth absence and it remains to be seen how much ability he retains.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

21st Jul 2025

Good

2m 1f 61y

Class 3

15:45 Cartmel

Bareback Jack

11st 5lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Returned to form with hurdle win in first-time tongue-tie in April, his third run after a mammoth absence, and ran big race when close second in small-field chase at Bangor (2m1f, good) last month; ought to be favoured if the ground is slower than good here; might be the answer.

3/1

2nd

1

21st Jun 2025

Good

2m 1f 77y

Class 4

15:55 Bangor-on-Dee

Bareback Jack

12st 2lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Has not been the same horse since a 1,395-day break but the first-time tongue-tie helped him to a 2m1f hurdles success here in April (good to soft) and the hurly-burly of the Swinton Hurdle wasn't for him last time; chasing debut.

11/2

16th

10

10th May 2025

Good

1m 7f 144y

Class 1

13:35 Haydock

Bareback Jack

11st 0lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Won three on the bounce before fourth in a Grade 2 during his novice days; very low key on his first two runs back after an absence but then won comfortably under an enterprising ride at Bangor (2m, good to soft) 16 days ago when tongue tied for the first time, beating Dance And Glance; back up 6lb but may have turned a corner and he looked classy in his younger days.

14/1

Non-runners

Hurricane Ali

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £12.30
Straight Forecast £14.47
Trifecta £27.40

Selections

RP RATINGS:

For Pleasure

TOPSPEED:

The Grafter

SPOTLIGHT:

Bertie's Ballet

D Express:

Bareback Jack

The Times:

The Grafter

Daily Mirror:

The Grafter

Telegraph:

Bertie's Ballet

Daily Record:

Bertie's Ballet

POSTDATA:

For Pleasure

The Guardian:

For Pleasure

Daily Mail:

For Pleasure

The Sun:

For Pleasure

The Star:

For Pleasure