15:15 Haydock

Saturday 14 February 2026

All12:5513:2814:0514:4015:1515:5016:30

William Hill Half A Mill Grand National Trial Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)

5YO plus | Class 1 | 3m 4f 97y | 11 Runners | Turf

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Toby McCain-Mitchell⁽⁵⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 145| C

Has proved temperamental but he signed off last term with success at Ffos Las and returned from 8 months off with a comfortable all-the-way victory over 25f here. Not in the same mood in the Tommy Whittle last time though and others rate as more solid propositions.

Form: 1/4P1-19

Monbeg Genius^t,p⁴⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-11| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 142

9/1

Smart staying chaser who most recently scored at Uttoxeter last February. In the firing line for a long way when fifth of 17 in the Welsh National at Chepstow (30.6f, good to firm) 49 days ago and he holds solid claims from 2 lb lower mark.

Form: 41P6-P5

Myretown²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: D R Fox| T: L Russell & M Scudamore| OR: 142

11/4

Looked smart prospect when landing the Ultima in good style at last season's Cheltenham Festival. Prone to the odd mistake, though, and that has held him back both starts this term, in front and yet to be asked for an effort when blundering 3 out in the Peter Marsh here. Remains open to progress.

Form: 1F11-F4

Richmond Lake²⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 136| C

8/1

Regular in these staying handicaps and he arrives in decent form, placed for the third time this season when runner-up in the Peter Marsh here (25.6f, good to soft) 28 days ago. Others rate as likelier winners but he can give another good account.

Form: 2P8-322

Deafening Silence^p⁴⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 133

4/1

Goes well in the mud, including a Warwick novice success last season. Good reappearance second behind a handicap blot in the Rehearsal at Newcastle and shaped well again when third in the Welsh National after Christmas, the only one to keep tabs with the winner when that one pressed on. Shortlisted.

Form: 4215-23

Git Maker^b1⁴⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 129

9/1

Placed in Kim Muir at the Cheltenham Festival and Scottish Grand National in spring 2024. Hasn't reached the same heights since and ran no sort of race when pulled up in the Welsh National last time. Blinkers now reached for.

Form: 3/030-3P

Grand Geste^p²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Danny McMenamin| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 129| BF| C

12/1

Has proved a different proposition switched to fences this season, finding just one too good at Carlisle and Newcastle prior to easily landing the Tommy Whittle at Haydock (25.6f, good to soft). Too bad to be true at Doncaster last time and it'd be no surprise to see him get back on track.

Form: 4P-221P

Rivers Corner^b,t³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: Freddie Gingell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 127

10/1

Better than ever sporting a first-time tongue stap when easily winning 7-runner handicap chase at Wincanton (26.7f, heavy, 11/4) 30 days ago. This will be tougher from 9 lb higher but stamina is clearly his strong suit and he's worth a crack at this grade.

Form: 12-3331

Holokea²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: James Bowen| T: M Bowen| OR: 124

10/1

Confirmed the promise of his chase debut when getting off the mark at Ffos Las in October. Has continued to shape well in finishing runner-up all 3 starts since, collared only by Neo King's late surge in a 16-runner event at Windsor 4 weeks ago. Can continue on the upgrade.

Form: 2-21222

Grand Albert^p⁵⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: S Bowen| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 122

10/1

Lightly-raced sort who has tasted success over both hurdles and fences and he's resumed from an absence in reasonable heart, a very patient ride possibly not suiting ideally when fifth in the Tommy Whittle here (25.6f) in December. Career best needed this time, however.

Form: 2/313-45

Neo King^p²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: James Turner⁽⁵⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 115

11/1

Narrow second in the Southern National in November and produced an improved effort when finally getting off the mark in a 16-runner handicap chase at Windsor (28.7f, soft, 16/1) 27 days ago by 1½ lengths from Holokea. Ben Jones replaced by 5-lb claimer but not fully discounted despite 9 lb rise.

Form: 32-2261

Forecasts

Deafening Silence (10/3), Myretown (7/2), Rivers Corner (15/2), Grand Geste (15/2), Git Maker (10/1), Richmond Lake (10/1), Holokea (10/1), Monbeg Genius (12/1), Grand Albert (12/1), Neo King (16/1), Top Of The Bill (20/1)

DEAFENING SILENCE bumped into a thrown-in rival on return and shaped really well when third in the Welsh National last time, arguably just paying the price late for pressing on with the Gold Cup-bound Haiti Couleurs. He can gain a deserved first win of the season here, though Myretown remains potentially very well treated if his jumping holds up trying this marathon trip for the first time. Holokea is steadily progressive and can make his presence felt in this higher grade.