15:15 Haydock

Saturday 20 December 2025

All11:4512:2012:5513:3014:0514:4015:15

Betfred Merry Christmas Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:15 | Winning time: 6m 8.79s

Super Survivor^p²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 12-1| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 131| D

10/3

A dual 3m winner last term who resumed from 7 months off with a good second of 5 in handicap hurdle at Windsor (24f, good to soft) 27 days ago. Must enter calculations despite a 2 lb rise.

Form: 31109-2

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Idem⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: P W Wadge| T: L Russell & M Scudamore| OR: 128

7/1

Not seen to ideal effect when a staying-on fifth of 7 in handicap hurdle at Aintree (24.7f, good) 42 days ago, needing stronger gallop. One to consider off the same mark.

Form: R140-25

Secret Trix^t⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Aidan Weaver⁽⁷⁾| T: O Murphy| OR: 125| CD

14/1

C&D winner who arrives in better form than his recent form figures suggest, set a lot to do when eighth of 11 in handicap hurdle at Taunton (19f, good) 9 days ago. Merits serious consideration now stepping back up in trip.

Form: 2U2158

Ernest Gray^p⁵⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 124| D

5/1

Much improved on the back of a wind op this term and landed 12-runner handicap hurdle at Aintree (24.7f, good) in October. Up 4 lb but that form has been franked so he's a likely player.

Form: 2P-1521

Saint Palais²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: J M Quinlan| T: R Bandey| OR: 123| D

18/1

Lightly raced in recent seasons and he went backwards from his reappearance when last of 5 in handicap hurdle at Windsor (24f, good to soft) 27 days ago. Needs to bounce back.

Form: 6156-U5

Imperial Merlin³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: B S Hughes| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 123| CD

5/1

C&D winner who posted a creditable fourth of 9 in handicap hurdle at Wetherby (21.2f, soft) 35 days ago. Not ruled out off the same mark.

Form: 17-4274

Caughtinyourtrance^p,t⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Charlotte Jones| T: James Moffatt| OR: 121| D

33/1

Showed a good attitude when landing a double over 2m6f at Cartmel in the summer. Shaped as if in need of the run after 4 months off when last of 6 in handicap at Carlisle (25f, soft) 6 days ago and can take a step forward now.

Form: 8-31146

Gege Ville²⁹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-8| J: Danny McMenamin| T: N G Richards| OR: 110| C

7/1

Opened his hurdles account here last December but off the track since posting a good second of 8 in handicap hurdle at Ayr (20.4f, heavy) 9 months ago. Yard is going well though so can't be ruled out on his seasonal return.

Form: 2536/12-

Gwennie May Star^p³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: Lewis Saunders⁽⁵⁾| T: O Murphy| OR: 109

4/1

Failed to go on over fences for Dan Skelton but made a winning start for new yard back hurdling in 9-runner handicap at Warwick (25f, soft) 31 days ago, getting up on line. Usual cheekpieces go back on now and needs considering.

Form: 51P-351

Non-Runners

Jalisco Star¹¹

Weight: 10-12| Age: 7

T: L Horsfall J: Benjamin Macey

Forecasts

Super Survivor (10/3), Gwennie May Star (4/1), Imperial Merlin (5/1), Ernest Gray (5/1), Gege Ville (7/1), Idem (7/1), Jalisco Star (8/1), Secret Trix (14/1), Saint Palais (18/1), Caughtinyourtrance (33/1)

A competitive finale and it could go the way of Alan King's ERNEST GRAY who arrives on the up and is taken to bag a third win of the season with the form of his recent Aintree victory having been well advertised since. Secret Trix should prove suited by this return to 3m and rates a big threat though, while Super Survivor, Idem and Gwennie May Star all need factoring in too. Imperial Merlin completes the shortlist.