12:50 Haydock

Saturday 17 January 2026

All12:1512:5013:2514:0014:3515:1015:45

Sky Bet Club Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 12:50 | Winning time: 3m 51.14s

Cracking Rhapsody⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 12-2| J: Craig Nichol| T: Ewan Whillans| OR: 137| DWS

13/2

Winner of the Morebattle at Kelso (for second year running) and Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr (2m) last spring. Shaped as if on his way back to form when sixth at Aintree last time and can't dismiss having dipped back to the mark he defied at Ayr. Has had wind surgery.

Form: 0171-06

Brentford Hope^t,p¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-13| J: Megan Fox⁽⁷⁾| T: Harry Derham| OR: 134| BF| CD

5/1

Smart performer at his best and is a former C&D winner. Latest C&D third in refitted cheekpieces (tongue tie also back on now) was respectable but he'll need more to resume winning ways here.

Form: 48-4463

Bertie's Ballet³³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Sean Quinlan| T: Mrs Dianne Sayer| OR: 122| CD

9/1

Better than ever when winning this race last year. Another decent effort when second at Wetherby a month later. Not seen since but he has gone well fresh before.

Form: 362312-

Caballo De Guerra⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: D R Fox| T: L Russell & M Scudamore| OR: 121| D

18/1

Plenty of promise in bumpers and looked a good prospect as he spearheaded a 1-2-3 for his yard in 2m Kelso novice on hurdle debut in October, readily coming clear. Only fourth in 2 subsequent outings but retains potential now handicapping.

Form: 337-144

Captain Butler¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: Ruth Jefferson| OR: 120| D

9/2

Point winner who landed a Newcastle bumper and Kelso maiden hurdle for Pauline Robson. Good start for this yard when runner-up in Ayr handicap hurdle off this mark on reappearance in November. Below that level in 2 chases since but respected back over the smaller obstacles.

Form: 1/15-264

A Different Kind^t²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 120| CD

10/1

Useful hurdler/chaser earlier in career. Showed that a good chunk of his ability remains on second outing back from a long absence when fifth over 19f here in first-time tongue-tie (retained) just before Christmas. Well treated if he can build on that.

Form: 15/80-85

Smart Decision²²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Mr William Easterby⁽⁵⁾| T: T D Easterby| OR: 120| D

15/8

Won all his 3 completed junior hurdles last term and has enhanced his excellent strike-rate with success in novice at Leicester (2m, soft) and handicap at Market Rasen (18.5f, good) this winter. This demands more but his attitude should continue to hold him in good stead.

Form: U11-311

Coumeenoole⁷⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Tristan Durrell| T: D Skelton| OR: 119

12/1

Not obviously well treated on his efforts over hurdles/fences over much longer trips in Ireland for Paul Nolan but still one to keep a close eye on in the betting having switched to Dan Skelton ahead of his first run in Britain.

Form: 4F-2F37

Forecasts

Smart Decision (15/8), Captain Butler (9/2), Brentford Hope (5/1), Cracking Rhapsody (13/2), Bertie's Ballet (9/1), A Different Kind (10/1), Coumeenoole (12/1), Caballo De Guerra (18/1)

CAPTAIN BUTLER returns to hurdles off the same mark as when a good second at Ayr in November and might prove the answer to this tight-looking handicap. A Different Kind travelled like one who still retains the vast majority of his ability when fifth over a longer trip here last month and is second choice ahead of last year's winner Bertie's Ballet.