15:50 Haydock

Saturday 15 February 2025

All12:5513:2814:0514:4015:1515:5016:25

Albert Bartlett Prestige Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:50 | Winning time: 6m 20.30s

Battle Born Lad¹²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: M Walford

7/2

Fair form when placed all 3 starts in bumpers and off the mark at first attempt over hurdles when making all in a Hexham novice (16.2f, soft) in October, form boosted by the runner-up Wendigo since. Markedly up in trip but there's plenty of stamina in his pedigree.

Form: 32-31

Bright Legend³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Daniel King| T: D Hogan| OR: 127

14/1

Fairly useful winner on the Flat but remains a maiden over hurdles. However, he has found some progress in this sphere last 2 starts, good third of 16 in handicap at Punchestown (20.6f, heavy) last time. Can give his running again upped further in trip.

Form: 0-93923

Gold Cup Bailly^t⁴⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Sean Flanagan| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 131| D

20/1

Won first 3 starts over fences in 2022/23 but ran only once last season. However, after 8 months off he shaped encouragingly when fourth of 5 in handicap at Ayr (24.1f, soft) in January, sticking on after a bad error 6 out. Needs to build on that effort back hurdling.

Form: 249/P-34

Joecooker⁶⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Danny McMenamin| T: R Menzies| OR: 120

12/1

Landed a Wexford bumper for Mary E Doyle in July and has been going the right way in 3 starts over hurdles for current yard, recording a straightforward success in maiden at Hexham (20.1f, soft) in December. This is much tougher but he remains with potential.

Form: P/41631

Moon Rocket²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 134| D

7/4

Irish point winner who created good impression when winning maiden at Doncaster and novice at Southwell first 2 starts over hurdles. Narrowly denied in River Don at Doncaster (24.4f, good to soft) 3 weeks ago, though shaped as the best prospect, so he's not taken lightly.

Form: 61-112

Roaring Conquest⁵⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 126| D

2/1

Off mark in Irish points at third attempt and confirmed the promise of his hurdling debut when winning 12-runner maiden at Lingfield (19.5f, good to soft) in December, leading 2 out and soon clear. Up in grade but he's open to further improvement over this longer trip.

Form: 6-3141

Non-Runners

Derryhassen Paddy²⁹

Weight: 11-5| Age: 6

T: Miss Lucinda V Russell J: D R Fox

Grand Geste¹⁴

Weight: 11-2| Age: 6

T: J Parkinson & S Smith J: Non Runner

Kepler's Law²⁵

Weight: 11-2| Age: 6

T: L Morgan J: B S Hughes

Forecasts

Moon Rocket (7/4), Roaring Conquest (2/1), Derryhassen Paddy (3/1), Battle Born Lad (7/2), Kepler's Law (6/1), Joecooker (12/1), Bright Legend (14/1), Gold Cup Bailly (20/1), Grand Geste (25/1)

DERRYHASSEN PADDY has looked a good prospect when winning all 4 of his starts in varied company, showing a very willing attitude in a Windsor novice last month, and he can take this step up in grade in his stride. Heading the list of dangers is Moon Rocket, who shaped well when edged out close home in the River Don at Doncaster, with Kepler's Law also one to note.