The Betfair Chase card at Haydock races on Saturday, 22 November has the first Grade 1 action in Britain of the core National Hunt season. Last term’s first and second for another battle on Merseyside, but face new challengers as well.
It’s a day with plenty of handicaps making up the supporting races. Chief among those is the Betfair Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle, but also action over fences. Earlier on the card, the Grade 2 Newton Novices’ Hurdle kicks things off with some bright prospects.
There could be rain hitting Haydock races while events take place. It’s fair to say that the track gets testing in wet conditions and it doesn’t drain so well as other premier courses in the British Isles. That will suit some horses if the heavens open, but not others.
We set our experts to work on the Betfair Chase card. Their analysis of form, combined with available prices on the best horse racing betting sites in the UK, means hunting down value. Check out all of their Saturday selections from six races on Merseyside and why these horses appeal most below.
Haydock Races Preview for 22 November
12:08 – 1m 7f 144y Grade 2 Newton Novices’ Hurdle
STICKTOTHEPLAN lands the Grade 2 Dragonbet Persian War Novices’ Hurdle! 🏆@Sean_Bowen_ @O_J_murphy91 @Chepstow_Racing pic.twitter.com/BqZoTR8SJD
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) October 10, 2025
Sticktotheplan swerved last weekend’s Greatwood Hurdle for this and is the first in an eye-catching book of rides for champion jockey Sean Bowen. He may well give weight all-round and a beating to his rivals. Dan and Harry Skelton pitch hurdling maiden Double Measure into this graded race off a back of a debut second at Chepstow, so must think a lot of him.
At bigger odds, the form of Jony R‘s impressive Down Royal win over Kalypso’chance on home turf has been franked by the runner-up landing a Grade 3 at Navan on Monday. If building on that success for Stuart Crawford, he can have a say in the finish here. Diamond Hunter scored by a wide margin around Plumpton, but this demands more.
1:15 – 2m 2f 191y Class 2 Betfair Racing Podcasts Handicap Hurdle
Hartington wins the Stephex Trucks UK Castletown Handicap Hurdle in good style for Brendan Powell and Joe Tizzard pic.twitter.com/QEj4vGOWFz
— Carlisle Racecourse (@CarlisleRaces) November 2, 2025
Following two narrow defeats this season, FLORIDA DREAMS can make it third time lucky for Nicky Richards. He drops back a furlong at Haydock races after going down by a head on his chasing debut around Hexham on reappearance and a neck in Carlisle’s Castletown Handicap Hurdle last time.
Florida Dreams beat two graded novice winners on that occasion, so nudging him up 2lb looks lenient. Skelton new recruit Kabral Du Mathan is a big threat, however, but always seemed to find one too good last season. As a result of that. he makes his stable debut off 140 after improving 9lb for three consecutive seconds.
The Four Sixes has topweight here, but gave Florida Dreams a whole stone and six-length beating at Ayr in April. He resumed where he left off for Murphy with a first win over fences on his return to action. Florida Dreams is now 3lb better off with The Four Sixes, however, and may just be that bit sharper.
Course winner Milldam wants it heavy, so any rain helps his cause. Tax For Max wasn’t disgraced with his third in the Grade 2 Elite Hurdle around Wincanton a fortnight ago, meanwhile. Stepping him up in trip looks worth a try. Similar comments apply to Andashan for Chris Gordon and son Freddie. The others don’t appeal at all.
1:50 – 2m 5f 127y Class 2 Graduation Chase
Butch has bled in the past, while Paul Nicholls’ Knappers Hill has a racecourse absence of 742 days to somehow overcome. Mr Hope Street ran sixth on his chasing debut around Carlisle over this trip earlier in the month. Even receiving 8lb or 11lb from the others, he needs a massive career best. It’s at the mercy of The Jukebox Man.
2:25 – 3m 58y Betfair Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap)
The gamble has landed!
Ma Shantou wins the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle 🥇#ITVRacing | @ELavelleracing | @CobdenHarry pic.twitter.com/c0z8JdPLUE
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) October 25, 2025
Last year’s winner, Shoot First, and third, Phantomofthepoints, are back for more at Haydock races, but others appeal this time. A shortlist of three sees Emma Lavelle’s MA SHANTOU fancied most. The Albert Bartlett seventh bolted up back at Cheltenham in a Pertemps Qualifier on reappearance last month.
Ma Shantou looked well ahead of the handicapper, so he may well defy a 9lb hike. Also of interest is Joe Tizzard’s Hartington off a lovely racing weight of 10st 5lb. He’s only been nudged up 3lb for a neck success over Florida Dreams in the Castletown when staying on strongly in Cumbria. The yard is in great form too with Bowen now taking the ride.
Navajo Indy is often delivered late in his races, meanwhile, so going up in trip again is worth exploring by Tom Symonds. Richards steps Ayr winner Nab Wood in class and he’s been gambled on at this venue before. Skelton runs two in Ace Of Spades and Joyeux Machin. Both need the longer trip to bring out improvement.
Fergal O’Brien inmate Horaces Pearl isn’t the most fluent of jumpers, but makes his handicap bow with stable conditional Tom Broughton taking 5lb off with his claim. Co-topweight Jingko Blue went chasing for Nicky Henderson last term, so this could be a pipe opener. Electric Mason is 8lb better off with Ma Shantou from Cheltenham now Freddie Gordon claims 3lb off him. Harbour Lake won here in the spring, but has 12st on his back now.
3:00 – 3m 1f 125y Grade 1 Betfair Chase
That should put Haiti Couleurs spot on for this. Opposition includes last year’s Betfair Chase 1-2 of Royale Pagaille, seeking a hat-trick in the race, and Grey Dawning. Skelton hopes his eight-year-old can turn the tables on Venetia Williams’ veteran from 12 months ago.
Pauling runner Handstands also has a fitness edge, but saw past form reversed by Resplendent Grey in the Colin Parker. He must take a step forward from that return to action, but his Scilly Isles success and Sandown form in general reads well. Gordon Elliott and Gigginstown House Stud’s Stellar Story completes the line-up following placed efforts at the spring festivals in Grade 1 staying chases.
3:35 – 3m 1f 125y Class 2 Best Odds On The Betfair Exchange Handicap Chase (0-145)
Craig Nichol & Duke Of Deception land the @Edinburgh_Gin Chase pic.twitter.com/74KReF1djC
— Kelso Racecourse (@KelsoRacecourse) October 25, 2025
With course chase figures of 121, it’s worth chancing DUKE OF DECEPTION at Haydock races in this higher grade. Representing the Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero partnership, this eight-year-old also landed his reappearance around Kelso. If Duke Of Deception is going to defy a career high mark, then it’s surely on Merseyside.
Topweight Famous Bridge, who also likes it here, and Whistle Stop Tour ran over hurdles behind Nab Wood to ready them for this. The latter, trained by Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore hasn’t delivered over fences yet. Similar comments apply to Skelton’s Mr Hope Street. Konfusion made all at Wetherby, meanwhile, with Wa Wa back in third.
The unknown quantity in this line-up is Sam Thomas’ lightly-raced Shomen Uchi. He’s run just six times aged eight, so can’t be the easiest to train. Shomen Uchi landed his sole chase start at Carlisle when scoring eased down from Lunar Discovery and Butch, who both run earlier on the card. Up 5lb for that, he’s one the bookies fear with the yard enjoying plenty of first time out winners this autumn.
