12:55 Haydock

Saturday 14 February 2026

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

Richard Howard 80th Birthday Celebration Victor Ludorum Juvenile Hurdle (GBB Race)

4YO only | Class 2 | 1m 7f 144y | 8 Runners | Turf

Age: 4| Weight: 11-8| J: S Bowen| T: G & J Moore| BF| D

French bumper winner who created a good impression when readily defeating Pourquoi Pas Papa on 2m Sandown hurdle debut for new connections but was undone by his jumping when well beaten favourite in Grade 2 juvenile at Chepstow later in December. Well worth another chance in first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 114

The Mighty Celt^h1,t1⁹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-8| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 134WS

11/2

Fairly useful debut winner at Auteuil prior to finishing runner-up in listed/Grade 2 company there. Below form final start for N. George & A. Zetterholm (sold for €145,000) but looks a very interesting runner for top yard, now hooded following wind/gelding operation.

Form: 15-3228

Pourquoi Pas Papa¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-5| J: Freddie Gingell| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 121

7/2

Solid second on hurdle debut for David Cottin (sold for €200,000) and having filled the same position first two starts for new yard, improved to get off the mark in 17-runner novice hurdle at Wincanton (15.2f, heavy), quickening clear quite impressively. Open to further improvement.

Form: 2221

Love Sonnet⁵⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: James Davies| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 116| D

11/1

Progressive 2-time scorer on the Flat in Ireland and has made a bright start to her hurdle career, improving further to follow up Hereford success in 10-runner juvenile at Newbury (16.3f) in December, suited by way race developed. More on her plate for hat-trick bid but could have more to offer.

Form: 211

Manlaga²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-1| J: B S Hughes| T: N J Henderson| OR: 127

4/5

Won newcomers hurdle at Auteuil (15f) in March for Marcel Rolland and shaped with plenty of encouragement when runner-up in fillies' listed juvenile on stable debut at Doncaster (16.6f, soft) last month, only bettered by one with fitness/experience edge. Likely improver for powerful connections.

Form: 1-2

Try Them^h⁴⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Donagh Meyler| T: E Mullins

40/1

Not bred for jumping and shaped accordingly when sixth in a 15-runner juvenile hurdle at Leopardstown (18f, good to soft) on debut in December. Interesting that shrewd yard pitch him into this sort of company though and one to note in the betting.

Form: 6

Whatsgoingonmarvin¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: James Bowen| T: M Bowen

28/1

Progressed into a useful sort on the Flat (changed hands for 115,000 gns) and left behind a forgivable hurdle debut when runner-up at Catterick (15.7f, soft) last time, pulling clear with a fellow improver. In deeper waters here but unlikely we've seen the best of him as a hurdler.

Form: 82

Word For Word¹⁹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Craig Nichol| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero

100/1

Harzand gelding. Dam half-sister to fairly useful hurdler/chase winner (stayed 2¼m) Esporao. Showed fair form in second of 3 maidens on Flat in 2025 for John Joseph Murphy but faces no easy task on hurdle/stable debut. Likely a longer-term project, unless betting suggests otherwise.

Form:

Forecasts

Manlaga (6/4), The Mighty Celt (10/3), Pourquoi Pas Papa (9/2), Macktoad (5/1), Love Sonnet (10/1), Whatsgoingonmarvin (25/1), Try Them (33/1), Word For Word (33/1)

The sole entrant in next month's Triumph hurdle at Cheltenham, MANLAGA can improve to go one better than she did in listed company on stable debut. Fellow ex-French recruit The Mighty Celt is a fascinating contender on first start for the Dan Skelton yard, while Macktoad is surely worth another chance in first-time headgear, the form of his impressive Sandown win since franked by the re-opposing Pourquoi Pas Papa, who still has more to offer himself.