Another Premier Raceday over jumps at Haydock races on Saturday, 15 February sees the official Grand National Trial as the feature contest. This Premier Handicap Chase over three-and-a-half miles seldom produces the winner of the big one on Merseyside’s other track Aintree, but still excites punters.
This year’s edition of the Grand National Trial contains some big guns. Royale Pagaille is on the comeback trail after flopping and pulling up in the Peter Marsh Chase here in January. Venetia Williams runs two with another course specialist Fontaine Collonges also looking to bounce back.
The Welsh Grand National winner Val Dancer is one of five running from out of the handicap, meanwhile. Mel Rowley feels Aintree comes too soon in the burgeoning career of this staying steeplechaser, but still looks to follow-up on Chepstow success over the festive period.
On the supporting card at Haydock races for their Grand National Trial day are a couple of Grade 2 hurdles. The Rendlesham Hurdle is the last chance for horses to lay markers down for the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham. As for the Albert Bartlett Prestige Novices’ Hurdle, it’s the last in a series of trials for a race during the Festival.
All that and more besides keeps punters wagering on horse racing betting sites busy. We have our experts on hand to give their take on all the action happening on Merseyside. Read on and see which horses they fancy as a bit of value and why…
Haydock Races Preview for Grand National Trial Day
12:55 – 3m 1f Class 2 Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle Series Qualifier
You never can be totally sure which horses genuinely try to win these races and those just trying to finish in the first four. Many have claims, but two towards the foot of the weights catch the eye. The suggestion is to hedge your bets on both I AM MAX and KILBARRY HILL. There’s no way that either will get into the Final at Cheltenham off their current marks.
In other words, both Sandy Thomson’s Scottish raider I Am Max and Olly Murphy inmate Kilbarry Hill must build on course seconds last time out. All three staying hurdle races on the card have an extra 146 yards added to them. The way that I Am Max shaped when just missing out behind Solar System here the last day suggestions he’s worth trying over the longer trip.
Kilbarry Hill isn’t better off at the weights with Uncle Bert, but does have Sean Bowen taking over in the saddle. Windsor third Jipcot is also prominent in the betting, but he’s gone up for that. Nigel Twiston-Davies has the same problem with course and distance winner Uncle Bert and Dr Richard Newland with joint-topweight Supremely West.
Gordon Elliott brings two over from Ireland with Minella Sixo apparently the pick of the pair. A couple of Yorkshire stables cross the Pennines with runners in Gale Mahler and in-form joint bottom weight Chasingouttheblues. Nicky Richards brings Nab Wood down from Cumbria, while One Big Bang goes well here. It’s a very competitive opener indeed.
1:28 – 2m Class 2 Victor Ludorum Juvenile Hurdle
Give It To Me Oj ran third to subsequent dual Grade 2 scorer East India Dock on his hurdling bow around Wincanton. The runner-up has gone in since as well. On a form line through Hot Fuss, Jamie Snowden’s Marche d’Aligre also has claims after finishing in front of that one in the Finale at Chepstow.
As the handicapper allots James Owen’s Lavender Hill Mob the same rating as March D’Aligre, he must also be in the frame here. Sedgefield scorer Gibbs Island beat a next time out winner on his sole hurdles outing to date, but must step forward for Tom Lacey. The filly Sophie Power gets weight all-round, but this is pretty deep water relative to her.
2:05 – 2m 3.5f Class 3 Middle Distance Chase Series Veterans’ Handicap Chase (0-135)
Another great performance in the @unibet Middle Distance Veterans’ Series 🤩
Le Milos rolled back the years at @WarwickRaces 💪 pic.twitter.com/xJCEDmMuub
— The Jockey Club (@TheJockeyClub) February 10, 2025
Some old favourites and Market Rasen form under the microscope at Haydock races in this, but the one who appeals most is last week’s Warwick second WHISTLEINTHEDARK. Laura Morgan’s charge chased home Le Milos, a former winner of the Coral Gold Cup, who had dropped to an exploitable mark for another race in this series.
The handicapper has been kind to Whistleinthedark in dropping him 2lb for that latest effort. With nothing the calibre of Le Milos in this, he can go one better. Market Rasen 1-2-3 The Flier Begley, Nocte Volatus and The Edgar Wallace all re-oppose. It’s far from certain over a sharper trip that they’ll finish in the same order, however.
A lack of race fitness for last season’s Series Finale second Dubai Days is a concern. Nick Alexander sends him down from Scotland regardless, however. Eaton Collina is back down to his last winning mark for Kerry Lee, meanwhile, but appears out of form at this time.
2:40 – 3m 1f Grade 2 Rendlesham Hurdle
🦁 A brave Nemean Lion outbattles Salver to win the £50,000 pot at Windsor.
Langer Dan finished out the back of the telly after drifting from 5/1 to 16/1 🤯pic.twitter.com/17zooWNpUd
— Stephen R Power (@racingblogger) January 17, 2025
Instead, the interesting one is NEMEAN LION for Lee and regular jockey Richard Patrick. Although carrying a penalty here, he’s unexposed over this sort of trip but could get it. Nemean Lion won the Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton 12 months ago, so it looks significant that connections run here instead.
Botox Has bolted up in this last year, but doesn’t look the force of old this season. This course and distance definitely suits the Moore family’s runner, though. There are question marks over the other five declared runners. Gwennie May Boy and Kerryhill have plenty to find on ratings, while the latter’s Ruth Jefferson stable companion Sounds Russian hasn’t had much racing in the last two years.
Thunder Rock and Indiana Dream are even more difficult to assess at this stage. Both look like failed chasers, although it’s surprising that the former runs here and isn’t being saved for Kelso in a fortnight’s time. Indiana Dream hasn’t done anything wrong over hurdles, meanwhile, but must make major strides on his stable debut for Jonjo O’Neill from Windsor.
3:15 – 3m 4f Grand National Trial Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap)
⭐️ 𝐃𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐲 𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐞 success in the p2p sphere with The Jukebox Kid taking the 5yo Geldings Maiden at Tinahely.
👆 The son of Jukebox Jury is a half-brother to Saturday’s Grand National Trial winner Yeah Man. He was purchased in June 2022 from Brandon View Stud by… pic.twitter.com/bRRrQqSfXk
— Tattersalls Ireland (@Tattersalls_ie) February 18, 2024
Gavin Cromwell can probably hardly believe his luck that despite being 11lb higher than 12 months ago, it only translates to a very nice racing weight of just 10st 8lb here. Yeah Man also shaped like going back up to this trip would suit when a keeping on fourth in the Thyestes Chase around Gowran Park last month.
There are three mares all running here from within the handicap here. Fontaine Collonges also likes Haydock, but hasn’t demonstrated she stays this far yet. She pulled up in the Welsh National won by Val Dancer, who has the hindrance of an 8lb rise for Chepstow coupled with being 6lb out of the weights. It means Rowley’s runner is a whole stone higher now.
Instead, the two other females Galia Des Liteaux and particularly Apple Away won’t find better chances to win a staying handicap chase than this. The latter has shaped as though another half-mile might be just what she needs for Lucinda Russell and stable jockey Derek Fox is back from injury for the ride.
Galia Des Liteaux must do better than her Welsh Grand National fifth here, but has Tristan Durrell taking 3lb off with his claim. Of the others from out of the weights, Git Maker placed in both the Kim Muir and Scottish Grand National, so clearly relishes stamina tests. Both Jubilee Express, another previous course and distance winner, and Famous Bridge also like running on Merseyside.
3:50 – 3m 1f Grade 2 Albert Bartlett Prestige Novices’ Hurdle
Also better off at the weights with Russell’s Scottish raider is Roaring Conquest for Murphy and Bowen. A close fourth to Derryhassen Paddy around Uttoxeter, he has scored at Lingfield since and should appreciate this longer trip. Kepler’s Law seems best with cut in the ground, meanwhile, and also goes up in distance.
The Hexham form of Battle Born Lad has been franked the runner-up Wendigo, who came second in the Grade 1 Challow at Newbury and won his Cheltenham prep race around Wetherby in midweek. Joecooker also won when last in action, but a Grade 2 Festival trial like this demands more. The others don’t make any real appeal.
4:25 – 2m 6f Class 3 Walrus Hunter Chase
Jet Plane could do no more than win the Wetherby equivalent of this over further last time. There is no obvious reason why Skelton’s charge shouldn’t confirm form with re-opposing runner-up Irascible. Meanwhile, the underdog Take All beat Famous Clermont in a Point, but the latter has won this race before and should strip fitter.
Hollow Games is an interesting recruit to the Hunter Chase sphere for Elliott and Bective Stud. Third in the Galway Plate two summers ago, he should find life in this discipline much easier. Only My Drogo has a higher official rating than Hollow Games. The others need improvement either at the weights or on known form.
