January 18 / 12.45 Haydock

12.45

Heavy

Sky Bet Acca Freeze Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £10892
  • 1m 7f 144y
  • Class 3
  • 8 runners
RTV
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Sky Bet Acca Freeze Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

7/1 (Won)

  • Win: £7.50
  • Place: £1.60

Form: -P3623 CD BF

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 1lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Won C&D novice hurdle (heavy) last season and runner-up in C&D handicap (heavy) last month; didn't kick on from that when third of five over C&D (soft) nine days later, when his jumping lacked fluency in first-time cheekpieces, but the headgear is left off today and he's a possible player.
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

5/1

  • Place: £2.00

Form: 1330-3 D BF

Last run: 69 days

W: 11st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Soft-ground maiden hurdle winner who was a fair third of seven at Sandown (2m, good to soft) in November on his reappearance and second handicap start; this unexposed 6yo is in good hands to progress and could be a contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

23rd Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 31y

Class 3

13:15 Doncaster

Lario

11st 8lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

Useful hurdler who is 1-1 over fences having won a four-runner beginners' chase at Haydock (2m4f, soft) on last month's reappearance; today's task is tougher and he has something to find, but he's unexposed over fences and at this sort of trip, and he may well have more to offer.

4/1

7th

2

11th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

13:30 Ayr

Lario

11st 13lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

disputed lead, prominent with one circuit to go, not fluent 4 out

11/2

7th

2

11th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

13:30 Ayr

Lario

11st 13lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

disputed lead, prominent with one circuit to go, not fluent 4 out

11/2

9/2

  • Place: £1.40

Form: F115-5 D

Last run: 36 days

W: 11st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 126

Form & Verdict
Won two in a row at Exeter (2m, heavy/soft) early last year; merely fifth on his two outings since but made good headway before fading at Cheltenham (2m1f, good to soft) last month and he may have needed that reappearance outing; lightly raced and retains potential; he's one to be interested in.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

12

7th Mar 2026

Soft

1m 7f 216y

Class 2

14:27 Sandown

Spirits Bay

10st 13lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Ran okay when seventh in this last year and he reappeared with a win at Newton Abbot (2m1f, good to soft) in October; however, his subsequent form has been mixed (fences/hurdles) and Top Jimmy looks the yard's chief hope.

33/1

7th

4

12th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 0f 104y

Class 3

15:25 Taunton

Spirits Bay

11st 1lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Made a winning reappearance in Newton Abbot handicap hurdle (2m1f, good to soft) in October; switched to fences subsequently, matching his peak RPR over timber when fourth in 2m3f Exeter novice handicap (good to soft) five weeks ago; won his previous outing on heavy.

8/1

1

19th Nov 2025

Soft

2m 0f 54y

Class 3

12:55 Warwick

Spirits Bay

11st 10lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Two wins during his novice campaign included a handicap (2m, soft); 0-5 last season but ran well at the weights behind Constitution Hill at Cheltenham in January and comfortably regained the winning thread on his reappearance at Newton Abbot (2m1f, good to soft) three weeks ago; up 4lb but he's bred for fences and looks a player on debut in this sphere.

11/8

Form: 1-P471 D

Last run: 73 days

W: 11st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Three hurdle wins in France for Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm, the latest at Auteuil (2m2f, heavy) in November; has moved to an up-and-coming yard and he's an interesting contender on his British debut, especially if attracting market support (one of two for the stable).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

1st Nov 2025

Good

2m 3f 85y

Class 3

13:15 Wetherby

Ninth Loch

12st 0lb

J: Charlie Todd

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Won over hurdles at Chepstow (2m, good) in April and runner-up at Ffos Las (2m4f, soft) 11 days later on final run for Harry Derham; takes on proven chasers on first outing over fences but he's only six and it will be interesting to see how he goes in the market on stable debut; tongue-tie goes on.

10/1

1

1st Nov 2025

Good

2m 3f 85y

Class 3

13:15 Wetherby

Ninth Loch

12st 0lb

J: Charlie Todd

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Won over hurdles at Chepstow (2m, good) in April and runner-up at Ffos Las (2m4f, soft) 11 days later on final run for Harry Derham; takes on proven chasers on first outing over fences but he's only six and it will be interesting to see how he goes in the market on stable debut; tongue-tie goes on.

10/1

2nd

6

16th Apr 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 3

18:45 Ffos Las

Ninth Loch

11st 6lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

led, 3 lengths ahead last, kept on but headed towards finish

7/1

Form: 32-324 D BF

Last run: 36 days

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Two-time novice hurdle winner who has run well in defeat in all four handicaps, including on heavy ground; could be thereabouts once more.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

10th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 28y

Class 4

18:20 Hexham

Coniston George

12st 2lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

Not particularly consistent but has a chance on his best form; successful at Carlisle in March (2m3f, good to soft) when wearing a visor for the first time, but well beaten off this 7lb higher mark with same headgear when favourite at Newcastle last time (2m4f, good).

6/1

1

10th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 28y

Class 4

18:20 Hexham

Coniston George

12st 2lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

Not particularly consistent but has a chance on his best form; successful at Carlisle in March (2m3f, good to soft) when wearing a visor for the first time, but well beaten off this 7lb higher mark with same headgear when favourite at Newcastle last time (2m4f, good).

6/1

5th

4

31st Mar 2025

Good

2m 4f 62y

Class 3

16:00 Newcastle

Coniston George

11st 5lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

Bounced back quickly from last month's poor performance and took form to whole new level at Carlisle (2m3f, good to soft; first-time visor) three weeks ago, keeping on strongly to win readily by 6l; went up 7lb for that but must be considered in current mood.

7/4

Form: -08438 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 10st 13lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
He's 5lb lower than for his win at Taunton last February; however, struggled to get competitive on his five runs in the second half of last 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

Form: 4F1 D

Last run: 39 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Fell in a point when disputing the lead and again in novice hurdle at Bangor (2m, good to soft) in November when leading at the final flight; however, he put in a clear round to win readily at Uttoxeter (2m, soft) last month and this lightly raced 5yo has potential off his opening mark; yard in fine form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

28th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 70y

Class 4

16:20 Uttoxeter

Oh My Johnny

11st 10lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Dual hurdle winner who was placed in a big field at Ascot on his penultimate run and he backed that up with a front-running at Warwick (3m2f, good to soft) three weeks ago; remains on last winning mark and he should go well again back in trip.

6/1

3rd

7

8th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 2f 0y

Class 3

16:13 Warwick

Oh My Johnny

10st 9lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Last win was off this mark; no closer than about 9l this season but was third of 18 tried in cheekpieces at Ascot three weeks ago (extended 2m7f, good to soft) and he should give his running.

4/1

3rd

10

14th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 123y

Class 3

16:10 Ascot

Oh My Johnny

11st 5lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Scored off today's mark at Hereford (2m3f, good to soft) a year ago, his second handicap, but made his jockey work very hard before eventually plugging on for modest second at Uttoxeter (2m7f, soft) in December and was pulled up on latest outing; needs first-time cheekpieces to perk him up.

20/1

OUR TIP

Form: 36-676 D

Last run: 35 days

W: 12st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
Useful novice hurdler in 2022-23 campaign and well treated on last season's best novice chase form; however, he's run three times over hurdles this season and has failed to finish better than sixth; needs to raise his game.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

1

18th Jan 2025

Heavy

1m 7f 144y

Class 3

12:45 Haydock

Pembroke

12st 0lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

raced wide, prominent, mistake 3rd, not fluent and lost position 5th, dropped to rear 6th, soon lost touch

14/1

8th

1

18th Jan 2025

Heavy

1m 7f 144y

Class 3

12:45 Haydock

Pembroke

12st 0lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

raced wide, prominent, mistake 3rd, not fluent and lost position 5th, dropped to rear 6th, soon lost touch

14/1

6th

1

14th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 128y

Class 2

15:15 Doncaster

Pembroke

12st 0lb

J: Fergus Gillard

T: Dan Skelton

Well handicapped on last season's best novice chase form and he reappeared with a fair sixth in the Welsh Champion Hurdle; however, he was well beaten at Carlisle only a fortnight ago and needs to bounce back.

9/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £47.00
Straight Forecast £50.86
Tricast £185.11
Trifecta £171.90

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Oh My Johnny

TOPSPEED:

Lario

Telegraph:

Bertie's Ballet

POSTDATA:

Spirits Bay

RP RATINGS:

Oh My Johnny

The Times:

Oh My Johnny

The Guardian:

Oh My Johnny

D Express:

Oh My Johnny

Daily Mirror:

Oh My Johnny

The Star:

Oh My Johnny

WEST COUNTRY:

Spirits Bay

LAMBOURN:

Lario

The Sun:

Lario

Daily Mail:

Bertie's Ballet

Daily Record:

Bertie's Ballet