March 19 / 17.35 Haydock

17.35

Good

Racing TV Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £5281
  • 3m 0f 58y
  • Class 4
  • 5 runners
RTV
View Course
Racing TV Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

OUR TIP

7/2 (Won)

  • Win: £7.80
  • Place: £2.70

Form: FP-523 D

Last run: 96 days

W: 12st 1lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
Three-time hurdle winner who ran respectably when second of two over fences at Newcastle in November; didn't jump well when well beaten at Doncaster next time; has since had wind surgery and could bounce back with a bold show now reverting to hurdles.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

17th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 26y

Class 4

16:22 Wetherby

Imperial Merlin

12st 0lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: John & Sean Quinn

Pulled up at Warwick in January last time but was in pretty good heart towards the end of last year and he's now 1lb lower than when winning at Haydock (3m, good) last March; also handles soft; capable of going well.

12/1

1

23rd Jan 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 5y

Class 4

14:37 Warwick

Imperial Merlin

12st 2lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: John & Sean Quinn

Only 1lb higher than for his Haydock win over a similar trip last March; does have a lot of weight though and was only fifth at Haydock last time, finishing just behind Gwennie May Star.

8/1

2

5th Sep 2025

Good

2m 7f 32y

Class 3

16:45 Bangor-on-Dee

Imperial Merlin

11st 10lb

J: James Bowen

T: John & Sean Quinn

Not well handicapped but arrives here after a 3l second of eight at Uttoxeter when tried in cheekpieces (2m7f, good); no reason why he won't be involved once more.

6/1

6/1

  • Place: £1.50

Form: 57-146 CD

Last run: 79 days

W: 11st 9lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Won over C&D (good to soft) in April 2023 and returned to form to win on stable debut at Cartmel (2m6f, heavy) last August; however, two lesser runs have followed and he needs to get back on track after a break.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

14th Apr 2025

Good

3m 1f 0y

Class 4

18:40 Warwick

Tiger Jet

12st 0lb

J: Mr Jamie Neild

T: Jennie Candlish

took keen hold, led, not fluent 3rd, hit 4 out, headed before 2 out, mistake 2 out, soon weakened

6/4

3rd

1

14th Apr 2025

Good

3m 1f 0y

Class 4

18:40 Warwick

Tiger Jet

12st 0lb

J: Mr Jamie Neild

T: Jennie Candlish

took keen hold, led, not fluent 3rd, hit 4 out, headed before 2 out, mistake 2 out, soon weakened

6/4

2nd

3

19th Mar 2025

Good

3m 0f 58y

Class 4

17:35 Haydock

Tiger Jet

11st 9lb

J: Mr Jamie Neild

T: Jennie Candlish

Won over C&D (good to soft) in April 2023 and returned to form to win on stable debut at Cartmel (2m6f, heavy) last August; however, two lesser runs have followed and he needs to get back on track after a break.

6/1

Form: 43-142

Last run: 17 days

W: 12st 1lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
Two-time bumper winner who scored at Stratford (2m6f, good) last May on third hurdle start; returned to form with close second of three in Doncaster novice (3m, good) recently and holds solid claims on handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

17th Jun 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 3

15:50 Worcester

Minella Rescue

12st 0lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Gary Hanmer

Well beaten on all four starts this year, the latest over 2m7f at Uttoxeter last month (race he won in 2025); dips into a much less competitive event here, though, and the booking of Sean Bowen catches the eye.

9/2

7th

2

16th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 2

18:50 Uttoxeter

Minella Rescue

11st 9lb

J: James Davies

T: Gary Hanmer

Won this race off this mark in 2025 (good; 2-1 favourite) having run poorly on his previous start; was rather disappointing later on last season and has a bit to prove at present.

14/1

14th

7

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 149y

Class 1

13:20 Aintree

Minella Rescue

11st 3lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Gary Hanmer

Second in the C&D Grade 1 novice at this meeting last year; went on to finish first and second in handicaps over the extended 2m7f at Uttoxeter at the start of the summer but well below par both starts since a break, latterly at the Cheltenham Festival; combination of first-time cheekpieces and a return to this C&D needs to spark a revival.

40/1

Form: /1-7P3

Last run: 28 days

W: 10st 10lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Won a bumper and maiden hurdle in spring 2023; has gradually worked his way back into form this winter following a long absence and he was a fair third at Doncaster (2m3f, good) last month; he was placed in a 3m point and there's stamina in his pedigree, so this step up in trip may suit.
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: 55-058

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 1lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
His mark continues to fall and he showed some spark when fifth at Ludlow in December; however, he's since been tailed off back there and this regressive 10yo is back to having something to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

7

28th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 4

14:55 Worcester

Zacony Rebel

10st 11lb

J: Charlie Price

T: Sarah-Jayne Davies

Won from well out of the weights at Ludlow and off only 3lb higher he followed up at the expense of three rivals (3m, good), taking his record there to 3-5; has another 6lb rise to contend with but has won here and has to be taken seriously.

13/2

1st

5

10th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 171y

Class 4

15:27 Ludlow

Zacony Rebel

11st 1lb

J: Charlie Price

T: Sarah-Jayne Davies

Veteran who bounced back with 33-1 success from well out of the weights over C&D (good) most recently, taking Ludlow record to 2-4; just no certainty to follow up, having been inconsistent for a while.

7/2

1st

8

22nd Apr 2026

Good

2m 7f 171y

Class 4

15:30 Ludlow

Zacony Rebel

10st 2lb

J: Charlie Price

T: Sarah-Jayne Davies

Won a five-runner handicap at Huntingdon (2m7f, soft) in December but this veteran has struggled in five subsequent runs; has lots to prove and he's a long way out of the weights.

40/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £25.50
Straight Forecast £32.05
Trifecta £39.90

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Minella Rescue

RP RATINGS:

Lune De La Mer

The Guardian:

Minella Rescue

Daily Mail:

Minella Rescue

D Express:

Minella Rescue

Daily Mirror:

Minella Rescue

The Sun:

Minella Rescue

Daily Record:

Minella Rescue

TOPSPEED:

Lune De La Mer

POSTDATA:

Lune De La Mer

The Times:

Lune De La Mer

Telegraph:

Lune De La Mer

The Star:

Lune De La Mer