The 2025 Betfair Stayers' Handicap Hurdle at Haydock

Seventeen are set to face the starter for the Betfair Stayers' Handicap Hurdle (2.25 Haydock) tomorrow; the going on the hurdle course is currently described as good to soft.

Ma Shantou, seventh in the Albert Bartlett at the Festival, comfortably beat Electric Mason two and threequarters lengths at Cheltenham four weeks ago - and looked to have a bit left in the tank as well. 

Amongst those in behind that day were Supremely West (third), Long Draw (fourth); Prince Zaltar (sixth), Gowel Road (eleventh) and Patriotik (twelfth) - those listed also finished behind Kikijo over the same course and distance (on soft ground) last Saturday. Kikijo is now rated 127.

In this week's RP Weekender handler Emma Lavelle says of Ma Shantou:

"I suggested in my recent stable tour that he could step up to Graded company were he to win, and plenty of people have reminded me that we won this with a certain Paisley Park back in 2018.

"He was rated 147 that day and Ma Shantou is on 138, so he has a little way to go, but he's on an upward trajectory and we hope it can keep going." 

Ace Of Spades, owned by the Noel Fehily Racing Syndicate, won on the Old Roan undercard at Aintree 27 days ago; race reader Richard Lowther commented:

"If he continues to progress, he could be one for Graded contests later in the season." 

In a Sporting Life stable tour article, trainer Dan Skelton subsequently said:

"We are going to try and get him ready for the long distance handicap hurdle at Haydock Park. We could have a couple in that but it would be my intention to have him ready for that. 

"We stepped him up in trip midway through last season and he improved for it. He had a good season. He nicked a race at Cheltenham and not many do that, but we did."

The race referenced was the Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice Maiden Hurdle (17.11.24); last April Ace Of Spades was pipped a head by Billy Boi Blue in a Class 3 handicap hurdle over three miles at Ayr.

Joe Tizzard said of Hartington in his Sporting Life stable tour:

"I thought his final run last season at Windsor was good [four lengths second behind Emma Lavelle trained Guard Duty]. He was just weak last season and he just had a little setback which was enough that we couldn't run him, so we protected his mark a little bit.

"It was a good little race that he won up at Carlisle on Sunday [beat Florida Dreams - declared 1.15 Haydock - a neck, Karafon seventh 02.11.25], but we thought his Windsor run had worked out really well and we thought he had improved over the summer.

We went up there for that pot and it came off. It was a lovely first run and it looks like we could step him up to three miles now."  

Horaces Pearl looked a smart prospect winning at Newbury in February but, when last seen, his jumping remained a work in progress.

Jingko Blue sprawled on landing and unseated Nico De Boinville in the Reynoldstown at Ascot nine months ago; his hurdle mark (145) is six pounds lower than his chase mark and Brian Hughes rides. Stablemate Jango Baie, in the same ownership, won the Arkle at the Festival and goes in the Ladbrokes 1965 Chase (1.30 Ascot).

The Skelton second string Joyeux Machin is no mug. 

This gelding underwent wind surgery after finishing seventh behind Rambo T in the Silver Trophy at Chepstow six weeks ago. Back in March he looked to have a Class 2 handicap hurdle in the bag at Uttoxeter but was run out of it by Red Risk in the shadow of the post (Phantomofthepoints seventh). This one was put up by the Racing Post's Graeme Rodway as a horse to follow this season (RP Weekender 05-09.11.25). 

Navajo Indy won the Gerry Feilden at Newbury in November and was marked down as an eyecatcher when third behind Joyeuse and Lump Sum in the William Hill Hurdle (formerly known as the Betfair Hurdle and once upon a time as the Schweppes) at the same track in February, spotted doing his best work from two out. 

On seasonal debut four weeks ago he finished second behind French Ship over two and a half miles at Cheltenham and tries three miles for the first time here. Trainer Tom Symonds has sent out four winners from eight runners in the past fortnight.

Irish raider Shoot First won last year's renewal (with Phantomofthepoints third) off a mark of 139 (Alex Harvey claiming five); he races off 145 tomorrow with Benjamin Macey claiming seven. 

It's no surprise to see connections of Electric Mason decide to reoppose Ma Shantou, eight pounds better off when Freddie Gordon's three pound claim is taken into consideration. 

Best on good to soft, the gelding belied odds of 40/1 in the Challow, losing two places in the final 110 yards when fifth behind The New Lion, before finishing down the field in the Martin Pipe. 

Nab Wood appeared to win with something in hand off the steady pace set by Esprit Du Potier at Ayr three weeks ago. 

Nicky Richards' charge, sporting a sheepskin noseband, wasn't always fluent at the hurdles that day and looked as though he'd probably appreciate a stronger pace. Esprit Du Potier finished five lengths adrift in fourth, having lost third on the run to the line, and reopposes six pounds better off.

Titan Discovery won over this trip at Windsor in January and missed his intended comeback in the Welsh Champion Hurdle on account of the ground. Robbie Llewellyn identified this one as his trainer's pick in a 'Straight from the Stable' article (RP Weekender 31.01-04.02.24); sister Lunar Discovery moved to the yard from Jimmy Moffat's over the summer.  

Joint top weight Harbour Lake pipped Tiny Tetley over course and distance on good ground in May and has been raised five pounds for that effort while Phantomofthepoints, part owned by Kenny Alexander, tends to race prominently and won off this mark at Wincanton in January. 

Veteran Red Risk looks to face a stiff task on seasonal debut and would probably prefer more testing conditions.

I Love My Baie and Karafon are both in the ownership of Simon Munir and Isaac Souede. The former has had three runs since a spell on the sidelines while the latter was moved out the Willie Mullins yard over the summer.

Recent winners (with official ratings and SP) include:

2018 Paisley Park; 148; 4/1

2020 Main Fact; 147; 13/2

2021 Dans Le Vent; 135; 16/1

2022 Botox Has; 144; 17/2

2023 Slate Lane; 127; 11/4f

2024 Shoot First; 139; 22/1

The market leader has been placed in six of the past ten renewals but Slate Lane remains the only favourite to have obliged in that timeframe.

On the shortlist Navajo Indy and Electric Mason; Nab Wood was of some interest but his jumping the last day was, on occasions, a cause for concern.

I've missed the price about Navajo Indy so Electric Mason is the each-way suggestion, at the time of writing 9/1 with bet365, Betfred and Ladbrokes / Coral among those who are paying five places. 

To finish, another in an occasional series of random racing references overheard on the telly. 

Bella Ainsworth (Natascha McElhone), on welcoming family guests to the eponymous Hotel Portofino which she runs on the Italian Riviera for the rich and the wealthy, helpfully explains in hushed tones:

"Grand Papa is in Epsom, and Aunt Amelia in Aintree."

I've still to discover who spent the night in the Newton Abbot.