The 2026 Grand National Trial at Haydock

Eleven declared for tomorrow's William Hill Half A Mill Grand National Trial Handicap Chase  (3.15 Haydock) run over three miles four and a half furlongs; the going is described as soft, heavy in places, with an 8.00 am inspection scheduled as overnight temperatures are forecast to fall to -2.

At the time of writing bet365 go 10/1 the field bar two, with more money for Myretown than Deafening Silence at the head of the market. 

Racing from the front Myretown beat The Changing Man 11 lengths in the Ultima at last year's Festival off a mark of 127. 

Next time we saw him the gelding took a crashing fall in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury in November and then four weeks ago held every chance in the Peter Marsh at this track when making a bad blunder three from home; to his credit he rallied bravely and was beaten less than three and a half lengths in fourth behind Imperial Saint (Richmond Lake second).

Generally Myretown's jumping is good but he can make a serious error in a race which is disconcerting; the stable has emerged from a protracted quiet spell (just one winner this year before today) with a treble at Kelso this afternoon: Triple Crown Ted (3/1jf); King Of Answers (11/8f); and Wal Buck's (4/1).

Whisper it quietly but Deafening Silence doesn't have too many miles on the clock.

On his first try beyond three miles, Dan Skelton's charge finished a very creditable third behind Haiti Couleurs and O'Connell in the Welsh Grand National at Chepstow (Monbeg Genius fifth, Git Maker pulled up). 

The general consensus is the going that day was quicker than the official good to soft recorded. On revised terms he looks weighted to conform placings with Monbeg Genius.

Rivers Corner won the Somerset National at Wincanton four weeks ago and has gone up nine pounds to a mark of 127. I thought he beat two doubtful stayers that day - Isaac Des Obeaux and Destroytheevidence.

Back in November, 35 minutes after Grey Dawning had won the Betfair Chase - with any amount in hand - over three miles one and a half furlongs at this track, Top Of The Bill put on a bit of a show of his own over same course and distance, making all to win unchallenged, finishing seven lengths clear of Saladins Son.  

Four weeks later Grand Geste looked well-named, winning the Tommy Whittle at the track (Saladins Son fourth, Grand Albert fifth, Top Of The Bill ninth). Top Of The Bill weakened quickly before entering the home straight on that occasion - no obvious excuse forthcoming - while, to date, Grand Albert appears to have experienced intermittent problems with his fencing.

Grand Geste was subsequently sent off 5/2 favourite for the Great Yorkshire Chase at Doncaster where the naming didn't appear quite so salient as he failed to give his running and was pulled up just after halfway. Joel Parkinson and Sue Smith's charge has been easy to back during the day.

Richmond Lake only just failed to collar Imperial Saint in the Peter Marsh, beaten a neck. Donald McCain's charge boasts a good record at Haydock - 2132 - but a standard benchmark for this event is a previous win over three miles; Richmond Lake's last win was over two years ago over a trip of two and a half miles.

Git Maker didn't go well for much of the trip when fourth in this race last year - beaten 19 lengths; he was subsequently promoted to third after 'winner' Famous Bridge was disqualified for a banned substance. 

His second behind Iknowthewayurthinkin in the 2024 Kim Muir reads well, as does his third behind Macdermott in the Scottish Grand National that year but his latest effort in the Welsh Grand National seven weeks ago didn't appear to indicate a revival was just around the corner. Connections try first-time blinkers.

Conversely Monbeg Genius' fifth in the Welsh Grand National, less than 12 lengths behind Haiti Couleurs, was a good effort (Deafening Silence third). 

After finishing fourth in the 2024 Welsh Grand National, he beat Richmond Lake five lengths in a three mile handicap chase at Uttoxeter off 142 and races off the same mark tomorrow. He meets Deafening Silence three pounds better off for a seven length deficit in the Welsh National. 

Holokea went into the notebook after narrowly failing to get back up when beaten a neck by Zertakt at Cheltenham in December; Mickey Bowen's charge looked all over the winner but idled on the run to the line. Last March Rivers Corner beat Zertakt just under four lengths in a novice chase at Newbury; Zertakt has been deliberately kept a novice with the National Hunt Chase at this year's Festival a target.

Next time out under top weight Holokea was collared in the shadow of the post by Neo King in the Fitzdares Personal Betting Service Stayers Handicap Chase at Windsor. Neo King starts here from four pounds out of the handicap but that penalty is offset by James Davies' five pounds claim; on revised terms the pair look closely matched once again.

Question marks everywhere, while a number in this field like to race from the front including Myretown, Top Of The Bill, Grand Geste and Rivers Corner; Monbeg Genius is often prominent.

This wouldn't be the strongest renewal and Myretown looks a big threat to all with a clear round. 

I'm going to take an each-way interest in Monbeg Genius, at the time of writing 10/1 with bet365 who are paying four places.  

Footnote:

After winning the Relkeel at Cheltenham on New Year's Day, Harry Skelton was of the opinion Kabral Du Mathan 'doesn't race like a three miler' while brother Dan said: "In my heart I think I trust him enough to relax enough and get the three mile trip..."

Doesn't sound like a 4/7f chance for the Rendlesham (2.05).

The 2026 William Hill Hurdle at Newbury

With today's meetings at Bangor and Sandown - and Sunday's at Exeter - abandoned, I was surprised to see Dan Skelton's mare Let It Rain chalked up clear favourite for tomorrow's William Hill Hurdle (3.20 Newbury) because I thought we'd seen more than enough of the wet stuff for the time being. 

The going on the hurdle track is currently described as heavy with 'one small area of standing water'; at the time of writing no inspection is planned, although further rain is forecast.

This race has a long history in various guises; since 1963 only two winners older than seven years of age have come home in front: Neblin (1987) and Geos (2009). 

My starting point is a Class 4 handicap hurdle at Ascot the Friday before Christmas, festively named the Ascot Shop Handicap Hurdle. 

Dance And Glance just held on to pip the fast-finishing All In You a head with Let It Rain third and The Hardest Geezer fourth; one and a quarter lengths covered the first four home and all were ridden from well off the pace.

Let It Rain raced off a mark of 120 for that handicap debut and was subsequently raised four pounds for her troubles; we haven't seen her since. 

Of course, Mr Skelton knows how to lay one out for a race - Superb Story in the 2016 County Hurdle is one that tends to spring to my mind, primarily because I stubbornly refused to bet the beast. 

Earlier this season the trainer saddled another mare, Panic Attack, to win the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham over two and a half miles and then, 14 days later, sent the same mare out to win the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury over three and a quarter miles. 

The suspicion is this mare is ahead of her mark; the degree of understatement contained in that particular statement will be revealed in due course.

One day after the Ascot Shop Handicap Hurdle Hot Fuss separated winner Wilful and third Alexei in another festively named feature, the Ascot Rotary Club Festive Handicap Hurdle, previously more mundanely referred to as the Ladbrokes.

That was a decent effort from Tom Dascombe's four-year-old, having previously finished well behind Tutti Quanti in the Gerry Feilden. 

On the third day of the new year All In You reversed Ascot form with Dance And Glance (Hot Fuss fourth) at Sandown, coming from well off the pace to beat that rival with something to spare. After that race handler Warren Greatrex said [RP Weekender 07-11.01.26]:

"I took a risk running him so quickly after Ascot but I needed him to get into the William Hill Hurdle at Newbury. I was worried about the heavy ground, which rode like glue, but he handled it well and actually quickened on it. I've got five weeks to get him ready for Newbury. He has plenty of gears and likes a fast pace. I'd also like to run him at Royal Ascot in the summer."

One slight concern - much of his racing to date has been on right-handed tracks. 

13 days later Hot Fuss reversed Ascot form with Wilful in the Fitzdares Sovereign Handicap Hurdle at Windsor (The Hardest Geezer fourth, Milldam fifth, Poet Laureate ninth, Go Dante tenth and Bubl Dubi withdrawn after crashing through the rails and getting loose). A gutsy display from the winner, now rated six pounds higher than when contesting the Gerry Feilden, but that looked a hard race.

The Twiston-Davies yard has previously won this race with a novice (Splash Of Ginge in 2014, Ballyandy in 2019); Un Sens A La Vie makes his handicap debut off a mark of 132. 

His second to Old Park Star at Kempton in November, beaten three lengths conceding six pounds, reads well now, given that Old Park Star is currently 15/8 favourite for the Supreme at the Festival next month. To date he has raced on ground no worse than good to soft.

I must have been the only one who didn't know about Lanesborough when Ben Pauling's charge hosed up eight and a half lengths ahead of Williethebuilder (winner twice since) in a Doncaster handicap hurdle before Christmas. 

He was raised 14 pounds to a mark of 130; some were disappointed with fifth in the Lanzarote next time but it was a respectable effort, beaten 10 lengths.

Top weight Tutti Quanti finished sixth in the Supreme last year and needed the run on seasonal debut behind Celtic Dino in the Welsh Champion Hurdle at Chepstow. 

He looked good in the Gerry Feilden; Persian War carried 11-13 to victory in 1968 and, in more recent times, Al Dancer (2019), Glory And Fortune (2022) and Iberico Lord (2024) all carried 11-08.

 The Hardest Geezer looks a tough nut and has been thereabouts in his four starts this term without really threatening to do the business.

Milldam has a good record on heavy ground, with Isabelle Ryder's five pounds claim an added bonus. Jamie Snowden's charge has been supported in the market during the day.

Wellington Arch and Wreckless Eric represent the O'Neill yard. The former looks the pick of the pair and beat the latter over two and a half miles at Aintree last spring; his best form is over that longer trip.

Writing in this week's RP Weekender handler Neil Mulholland says of Bucephalus:

"He probably would be a big price for a horse, who if the ground is very soft, will carry a light weight. He could give a good account of himself at decent odds. He was second last time at Haydock and we're very happy with him. He's a tough horse who gives his best."  

I'd imagine the trainer was envisaging a lower weight than 11-08; Harriet Tucker claims seven.

Go Dante, third in the 2024 renewal behind Iberico Lord and L'Eau Du Sud, finished seventh last year behind Joyeuse; Olly Murphy's charge was 26 lengths behind Hot Fuss at Windsor last time and boasts a better record in the Imperial Cup at Sandown.

Veteran Faivoir finished a creditable third in the Greatwood in November but has been well beaten twice since while Poet Laureate looked in the mix in Hot Fuss' race at Windsor before weakening very quickly at the business end.

Of the principals I like the chance of All In You, a £90,000 purchase from the David Maxwell dispersal sale who should have no problems with underfoot conditions. 

At the prices though I'm going to take an each-way interest in Dance And Glance who meets All In You four pounds better off than when beaten one and a half lengths at Sandown last month. The stable has sent out four winners from 12 runners in the past fortnight.

Dance And Glance is the each-way suggestion, 18/1 at the time of writing with bet365, Sky and Paddy Power paying five places.

The 2026 Irish Gold Cup

Willie Mullins is responsible for eight of the 13 runners declared for tomorrow's Irish Gold Cup (3.30 Leopardstown); the going on the chase track is is currently described as soft to heavy - the card is subject to an inspection tomorrow morning, with heavy rain forecast overnight.

Favourite Galopin Des Champs has won the past three renewals, going on to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2023 and 2024 before being beaten by Iknowthewayurthinkin at Prestbury Park last year. 

His first defeat over fences at this track came in the Savills Chase just after Christmas when he finished third behind Affordale Fury - managed to prevail despite jumping persistently to his right - and I Am Maximus.

The consensus opinion is that a lack of fitness / ring rustiness were behind that defeat; we'll know whether age was also a contributing factor in due course.

Having the pick of the J.P. McManus owned runners, Mark Walsh has opted for Fact To File ahead of I Am Maximus and Iknowthewayurthinkin. 

Fact to File finished third behind Galopin Des Champs and Grangeclare West in last year's renewal, with Iknowthewayurthinkin fourth and I Am Maximus eighth. 

The likelihood is I Am Maximus has the Aintree Grand National as his target, having won the 2024 renewal by seven and a half lengths and then finishing second behind stablemate Nick Rockett last year (Grangeclare West third). 

That said, he ran a fine race in the Savills at odds of 50/1, hampered at the final fence and doing his best work on the run to the line.

Iknowthewayurthinkin has shown no worthwhile form since winning last year's Cheltenham Gold Cup six lengths; his jumping in the Savills looked a cause for concern. 

Gavin Cromwell's yard emerged from a protracted barren spell when the appropriately named Now Is The Hour pipped Better Times Ahead in the Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park eight days ago.

2024 Arkle winner Gaelic Warrior proved he was effective over further when beating Grey Dawning at Aintree in April the following year over three miles one furlong. 

Down in trip he pipped Fact To File a neck in the John Durkan in November and went mighty close in the King George at Kempton, beaten a nose and a nose by The Jukebox Man and Banbridge. He has yet to win a chase at this track.

Both Spindleberry and Firefox race beyond two miles five for the first time - although, back in 2022, the mare Spindleberry won a three mile point at Dromahane. Better judges than me have highlighted her chance and she has been supported in the market throughout the day.

Grangeclare West, Monty's Star, Lecky Watson and Stellar Story finished fourth, fifth, seventh and eighth respectively in the Savills, while Champ Kiely clipped heels and slipped up after the fourth flight. 

Grangeclare West looks to offers each-way potential; Lecky Watson and Stellar Story ran well for a long way before fading. The Henry De Bromhead yard (Monty's Star) is currently enduring a quiet spell.

With a number of layers paying four places, I looked at I Am Maximus, Grangeclare West and Lecky Watson for an each-way wager; the price about I Am Maximus has contracted.

Racing on the inside, Lecky Watson was in with a shout jumping the last in the Savills but could only stay on at the one pace, so Grangeclare West gets the nod.

Grangeclare West is the each-way suggestion, 20/1 generally at the time of writing but still 25/1 with bet365 who pay four places.

In the event the course fails its early morning inspection, the Racing Post is reporting this evening that the card will be moved to Monday.  

The 2026 Great Yorkshire Handicap Chase at Doncaster

Ten have been declared for the Great Yorkshire Handicap Chase (2.05 Doncaster); the going on Town Moor is now described as soft, heavy in places - there were several non-runners at the track today on account of the ground.

Grand Geste is priced up favourite. 

Rated 108 over hurdles, Joel Parkinson and Sue Smith's charge has certainly improved for a switch to fences, last time out beating My Silver Lining with something to spare in the Tommy Whittle at Haydock. The handicapper subsequently raised him ten pounds to a mark of 129.

Back in the autumn Deep Cave was given a favourable mention in a blog post, holding an entry in the Dragonbet / Native River Handicap Chase at Chepstow at the time. Christian Williams' inmate missed that appointment on account of quick ground but has since won at Bangor (11/1) and Ascot (10/1), on both occasions carrying none of my money.

Last time he looked a tad fortunate to sneak up the inside and pip Rex Dingle and Leave Of Absence a head on the line; carrying top weight here, he bids for a fourth consecutive win and looks to face a stiff task on the ground but it should be noted he has only gone up two pounds for Ascot.

Docpickedme beat The Changing Man two and a quarter lengths off a mark of 129 in last year's renewal of this race but that's only half the story - Walking On Air (125) looked all over the winner approaching the final flight before taking a crashing fall.

In November Docpickedme finished a creditable third behind Konfusion in the Rehearsal at Newcastle and was as tough as teak when seeing off allcomers - including Joyeux Machin in fourth, beaten just under five lengths -  in the Pennine Handicap Chase over course and distance six weeks ago.

Walking On Air was pulled up lame in the Scottish Grand National on his first outing for current connections and was well beaten over an inadequate trip at Newbury just before Christmas. Rated 137 over hurdles, he is potentially well treated on 127, although his profile overall appears inconsistent; the booking of Brian Hughes and the fitting of first-time cheekpieces both catch the eye.

Josh The Boss tries this trip for the first time.

A quick look through New Order's recent form shows the gelding jumped right on occasions at Bangor in November and then left at Sandown in December. Nonetheless Charlie Longsdon's charge was only beaten a neck by Welcom To Cartries at Sandown and his subsequent third behind Herakles Westwood and Katate Dori at Cheltenham reads very well; stable form is a concern, without a winner for 54 days.  

Sporting a first-time tongue-tie Dartmoor Pirate won his first chase at the third attempt, scooting clear of No Tackle to win nine lengths at Lingfield just before Christmas. Relatively unexposed, Anthony Honeyball's charge held two other five-day entries - the 12.05 Cheltenham (a hot novice contested by stablemates Jordans Cross and Kdeux Saint Fray) and the 2.38 Doncaster (a novice chase run over the same trip as the Great Yorkshire). I'm assuming the handler feels Dartmoor Pirate can be competitive here.

King's Threshold won the Mandarin at Newbury with something to spare last time, although his jumping took a while to warm up. Writing in the RP Weekender handler Emma Lavelle has said:

"I hope the ground isn't too soft for King's Threshold...as he's a better horse on a decent surface." 

Along with a number in this field Kelce likes to front run. On Boxing Day 2024 he was in the process of giving O'Connell a run for his money in the Lincolnshire National at Market Rasen when he came to grief at the last. 

Joyeux Machin was just under five lengths behind Docpickedme last time, yet there was a hint he didn't see out the trip that day, losing third after the last. Underfoot conditions tomorrow will be of no help in that regard.

Trainers with charges who prefer better ground often target Doncaster in the winter months for some respite from testing conditions but the weather hasn't obliged on this occasion. Five of the ten runners - Grand Geste, Docpickedme, Josh The Boss, Kelce and New Order - like to race from the front while Walking On Air tends to race up with the pace as well.

In what could turn out to be a slog in the mud I'm going to chance bottom weight Kelce, placed in six of his nine chase starts to date. Bradley Harris reduces the burden to be carried by a further three pounds and the yard has sent out seven winners from 32 runners in the past fortnight. 

Kelce is the each-way suggestion, at the time of writing 12/1 generally, with the vast majority of layers paying three places.

The 2025 Peter Marsh Handicap Chase at Haydock

Small fields, small fields... 

Just six declared for tomorrow's Peter Marsh Handicap Chase (2.00 Haydock) but bet365, Sky and Paddy Power are paying three places.

The going is described as good to soft, soft in places, with no significant rainfall forecast before racing.

The top two in the market, Myretown and Konfusion, both hold Gold Cup entries; the former is quoted at 66/1, the latter 150/1.

Myretown shot to prominence when making all to win the Ultima 11 lengths at the Festival last year off a mark of 127. Next time out, seven weeks ago in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury, off 142 he jumped to his left on occasions and took a crashing fall at the third fence in the home straight on the first circuit. 

The gelding has won three of his last five starts - and fallen in the other two. 

He certainly wouldn't want the ground to dry out much more while current stable form is a concern with just one winner recorded from 21 runners in the past fortnight.        

Racing off a mark of 115 on seasonal debut, Konfusion beat Ribeye four lengths in a Class 4 handicap chase on Wetherby's Charlie Hall Chase card. 

He's now officially rated 145, having won the Rehearsal at Newcastle and the Rowland Meyrick back at Wetherby on Boxing Day. Seven days before the Rehearsal, he nodded on landing when jumping one in the back straight at Haydock, unseating Danny McMenamin in the process. All wins to date have been at distances up to - and including - three miles.

Johnnywho and Mr Derek O'Connor looked to have the Fulke Walwyn in the bag approaching the last at the Festival in March but the partnership weren't particularly fluent at that flight and couldn't reel in Daily Present up the hill, eventually beaten a neck.

Five weeks later the gelding finished fifth behind Haiti Couleurs in the Irish Grand National where he didn't appear to stay three miles five furlongs.

On seasonal debut he came home fifth behind Colonel Harry in the Grand Sefton over the National fences and was doing his best work at the finish when third behind Deep Cave at Ascot just before Christmas.

12 year old Royal Pagaille, a Haydock specialist, is burdened with a top weight of 12 stones. 

Venetia Williams' charge won the 2021 and 2022 renewals of this race and last time out ran with great credit when second behind Grey Dawning over course and distance in the Betfair Chase eight weeks ago.

However stable form has been a concern all through this season and remains so, currently without a winner for 32 days.

Back on Boxing Day 2024 Imperial Saint (137) beat Richmond Lake (142) six and a half lengths over two and a half miles at Aintree. 

In the 2025 Freebooter Handicap Chase, run over three miles and one furlong at Aintree on Grand National day, Cruz Control beat Imperial Saint (144) five lengths with Richmond Lake (140) looking all over the winner coming to two out before making a mistake and fading into eighth, beaten 34 lengths.

I've watched a replay of that race a couple of times now. Racing TV commentators seemed quick enough to say post race that Richmond Lake didn't stay the trip there but Donald McCain's charge had already finished third behind Mr Vango in last year's Peter Marsh, beaten just over three lengths off 142. 

Perhaps Richmond Lake doesn't find a lot for pressure but off 134 this year he has been given a chance by the handicapper.

Imperial Saint appeared the stronger stayer in the Freebooter, coming back to reclaim second from Erne River on the line. 

This season the gelding disappointed badly when sent off favourite for the Old Roan (won by Hitman). He appeared to become upset during the preliminaries and was reluctant to race, eventually finishing fifth. 

Next time he finished sixth behind Glengouly in the December Gold Cup at Cheltenham.

I'm going to chance Imperial Saint, owned by Richard Johnson Racing, hoping there are no further withdrawals. He's one of the runners that won't be inconvenienced by drying ground and Callum Pritchard takes off a handy three pounds. 

Imperial Saint is the each-way suggestion; 14/1 earlier in the day, he has been backed and at the time of writing is 10/1 with bet365 who pay three places.

The Classic Chase at Warwick (2025 renewal)

Warwick's Classic Chase card is subject to an 8.00am inspection with frost forecast overnight; the course has been completely covered.

A select field of eight are set to face the starter at 2.55; the going is described as soft.

L'Homme Presse, fourth behind Galopin Des Champs in the 2024 Gold Cup (Nassalam pulled up) and then third that same year behind Banbridge in the King George at Kempton, heads the weights off a mark of 162. As a result three race from out of the handicap: Destroytheevidence; Joyeux Machin; and Val Dancer.

As far as I can recall Venetia Williams' charge is the highest rated horse to contest this race - and I remember he won the 2022 Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle off 164. Hey Big Spender won the 2012 renewal of this race off 156. 

L'Homme Presse didn't come up the hill in the Gold Cup but four weeks ago he was doing his best work at the business end over the same course and distance when beaten five lengths by Blaze The Way.

Favourite Myretown appeared to win the Ultima at the 2025 Festival off 127 with something to spare. 

Next time, racing off 142 in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury, he took a crashing fall at the third in the home straight. He attempts this marathon trip for the first time; Lucinda Russell and Michael Scudamore clearly hold this one in high regard as they've given their charge a Gold Cup entry for which he's quoted a 66/1 chance.

Twelve months ago Mr Vango won the London National off 135 and then added the Peter Marsh and the Midlands Grand National to his tally. Five weeks ago he was pipped a short head by Twig in the Becher Chase at Aintree and was raised a further three pounds for his trouble to a mark of 155. 

After the race handler Sara Bradstock said:

"I couldn't be more delighted with him as he wants all of the trip and slightly softer ground, then you've got a big chance. He's such a big horse, you can't make definite plans."    

Resplendent Grey finished fourth behind Haiti Couleurs in the National Hunt Challenge Cup at the Festival in March, beaten 11 lengths conceding seven pounds. A fine effort - and next time Olly Murphy's charge improved again - sporting first-time cheekpieces - to win the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown.

I'm not inclined to take his defeat of Handstands in the Colin Parker at Carlisle too literally as that was a tactical affair and was meant to blow away cobwebs before a run in the Coral Gold Cup. Unfortunately he never established any sort of rhythm at Newbury and, ultimately, was disappointing in eleventh, beaten some 27 lengths.

After the Colin Parker, pilot Sean Bowen said:

"I said at the start of the season that I hope he will end up as my Grand National horse."

From a yard in fine form (2 wins from 8 runs in the past fortnight) Destroytheevidence has come in for some support during the day.

In a recent Straight from the Stable article [RP Weekender 24-28.12.25] Kim Bailey and Mat Nicholls said:

"He's handicapped off beating Haiti Couleurs at Chepstow first time out last season [11.10.24]. If you took that form literally then he's incredibly well handicapped, but I think we were probably ready that day and he wasn't. He ran very well last time, fighting off the horse on the outside (Hunter Legend) and then getting mugged up the inside by one (Ballycamus) he didn't see coming. He's consistent and because of that the handicapper doesn't help him. It's tough for him, but I hope he'll win something like the Forbra Gold Cup at Ludlow [run over three miles towards the end of February]. 

Connections have decided to replace the usual cheekpieces with a first-time visor.

Val Dancer won the 2024 Welsh Grand National off a mark of 126. He usually races with the pace but last time lost his pitch after the third in the Becher Chase before staying on to claim third behind Twig and Mr Vango.

Four weeks ago Joyeux Machin weakened approaching the last, ceding third place in a three mile handicap chase at Doncaster to stablemate Prince Zaltar; Harry Atkins' seven pounds claim more than compensates for the fact he races from out of the handicap.  

Nassalam won the 2023 Welsh Grand National 34 lengths off 145 and, for the first time since, races off that mark tomorrow. He underwent wind surgery after being pulled up behind Marble Sands at Cheltenham in November - he has failed to complete in five of his six starts since that Welsh National win.

Not a typical renewal of this mid-season marathon with the emphasis more on quality than quantity. Several like to race prominently including Myretown, Mr Vango, L'Homme Presse and Val Dancer. 

To my mind only four of the eight declared are guaranteed to stay; I'm going to chance the lowest rated in the field, Val Dancer, hoping he can lie up with the classier sorts likely to be cutting out the pace.

Val Dancer is the each-way suggestion, 10/1 generally with the bare eight set to go to post. 

Finally I thought Green Book worth a second look in the Pertemps Qualifier (3.32) at 20/1 with Paddy Power (four places). Last time at Sandown he jumped nicely in front and ran well up to a point before tiring on his first outing for 996 days. Fourth in the 2023 Pertemps Final off 139, he races off 133 tomorrow, although stable form is the worry with no winner for the past 25 days.   

A Sandown situation

Earlier today, on hearing of the death of Ian Balding, I dug out my copy of Brough Scott's 'Of Horses and Heroes', to read the section dedicated to Mill Reef. It begins:

"Mill Reef was so small you could put your arm over his withers. He may have measured 15.2 hands, but he was so neatly put together that he seemed even less than that - until he moved. Then there was absolute assurance at every step: at the walk, the trot, the the canter and on into the gallop. He was mesmerising."

I've struggled to get my ducks in a row for tomorrow's card at Sandown - and Hurricane Bay, my pick for the 1.50, has just been declared a non-runner.

Not the best of starts to the new year; what follows is only for those who enjoy reading about form... 

At present the course is completely covered but temperatures are forecast to fall to -3C overnight. An 8.00am inspection has been called, with clerk of the course Andrew Cooper saying the covers give the meeting 'a fighting chance'.

Small fields and good ground wouldn't constitute typical mid-winter fare at Sandown. The 2025 Veterans' Chase Final, due off at 3.05, is the feature but I've taken a passing interest in the other chase for veterans on the card, the Unibet Middle Distance Veterans' Chase Qualifier, due off at 1.50.

At the time of writing Jet Plane heads the market. 

In March 2024 Dan Skelton's charge, in receipt of two pounds, beat Can You Call two and a quarter lengths over course and distance off a mark of 124. 

He didn't jump particularly well then but stayed on to collar the eventual runner-up in the final 110 yards (as entries in the form book habitually say). The gelding went off the 22/1 outsider of eight that day; the trainer could offer no explanation for the apparent improvement in form (as entries in the form book regularly say).

Jet Plane's form rather took off after that. 

Raised two pounds, he beat William Cody 12 lengths next time out (eased inside final 110 yards) and then in October finished third behind Jagwar at Wetherby off 135. 

His second behind Gracchus De Balme in the 2025 Aintree Foxhunters reads well; after that run connections clearly decided to target the Grand Sefton (along with the Duty Free) and he was backed in to 4/1 favourite on the day. 

Pilot Harry Skelton looked to have a full tank of fuel two from home - a place looked a formality - but he stalled on the runway, finding nothing and finishing seventh, over ten lengths behind winner Colonel Harry.

Last time out he beat Moonshine Man comfortably at Leicester and the handicapper reacted by raising him seven pounds to a career-high mark of 137. The Topham in the spring is a likely target.

Can You Call's profile suggests he would prefer more cut underfoot.

Evan Williams' charge finished third behind Eldorado Allen (Numitor pulled up) in a series qualifier on the Old Course at Cheltenham in November and returned four weeks later to beat Torn And Frayed and Eldorado Allen on the New Course from a mark three pounds out of the handicap. Now rated 128, he certainly looks weighted to reverse placings with Jet Plane on their meeting in 2024.

Triple Trade appeared to have a hard enough time behind David's Well and JPR One over two miles at Cheltenham three weeks ago. The first two established a clear lead; Joe Tizzard's charge made up some ground from the rear but finished ten lengths adrift in a race that was run in a time below standard.

Minella Trump was last seen winning a hunter chase at Carlisle in May so could lack a race fitness edge while the grey Numitor has failed to complete on his last three starts and has since undergone wind surgery.

Hurricane Bay won the Prince Of Wales Cup at Fakenham in June where he wore a first-time tongue tie after it was reported he had made a noise when pulled up behind Coco Mademoiselle in the Staffordshire Plate at Uttoxeter. 

Lucy Wadham's inmate underwent wind surgery in October and ran well behind the well-regarded Moon Rocket at Doncaster at the end of November. Fifteen days later he returned to the South Yorkshire track where he ran well but only to a point, weakening badly up the home straight when fifth behind Docpickedme.

He doesn't have too many miles on the clock - in a recent Straight from the Stable article [RP Weekender 10-14.12.25] his handler described him as 'a good ground horse'. I was hoping, racing off a mark two pounds higher than when winning at Fakenham, he could be competitive on the better ground at around 11/1 - but the gelding has just been declared a non-runner.

Sigh. 

Wishing all readers a happy new year.