15:15 Haydock

Thursday 5 March 2026

All13:4514:1514:4515:1515:5016:2517:00

Safer Gambling At CopyBet Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:15 | Winning time: 4m 37.88s

Dream Diamond¹⁶⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 12-2| J: Alex Chadwick⁽³⁾| T: James Owen| OR: 122| BF

17/2

Proved consistent over hurdles in Ireland for Michael G. Kennedy but looked a different model on debut for James Owen when easily winning a 2m maiden hurdle at Worcester in August. Disappointing when favourite on handicap debut there a month later and absent since.

Form: 7333-10

The Cistercian³³

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Charlie Hammond| T: S Edmunds| OR: 120

11/2

Left his Irish form behind to make a winning start for Stuart Edmunds in 2m Leicester maiden hurdle on heavy in December and backed that up when third under a penalty at Haydock. Back on track at Sandown last time and he's respected now making switch to handicap company.

Form: 63-13U3

Is This For Real^t⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: J J Burke| T: F O'Brien| OR: 116

3/1

£80,000 point winner who landed bumper at Kelso last March and has improved with each run over hurdles, getting off the mark in this sphere at the third attempt in an 11-runner novice at Newcastle 49 days ago. Open to further progress now handicapping.

Form: 1/51-441

Static^h³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Charlie Maggs⁽³⁾| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 116

12/1

Fairly useful sort who has finished third in 2m handicaps at Huntingdon and Kelso this winter. Soundly beaten in better company at Musselburgh since but this is more his level.

Form: 70-F339

Prince Imperial³¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: Philip Armson⁽³⁾| T: J Coulson| OR: 114| D

150/1

Won 4 times over hurdles in 2024/25 and signed off for Olly Murphy with a creditable third at Bangor (23.2f) in September. Little show in 3 starts for this yard, though.

Form: 4630PP

King Ulanda^t⁷⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Craig Nichol| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 114| BF

11/2

Betting than ever when winning impressively at Carlisle (17.2f, good to firm) on return following breathing op. Thereabouts on each of his 3 subsequent starts, most recently chasing home an in-form rival off this mark at Haydock, and he's high on the shortlist.

Form: 33-1242

Notnowlinda¹⁰³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Miss Heidi Palin⁽⁷⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 113

20/1

Winless since early 2024 and yet to fire after 18 months off, down the field in a pair of handicap hurdles at Newbury and Ascot in November. Has work to do.

Form: 14/22-09

Sunray Shadow^t,p1⁶⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Tristan Durrell| T: D Skelton| OR: 112

16/1

Looked a nice prospect when landing 2m4f Aintree maiden hurdle last October. Limited impact in a trio of handicaps this season but has seemingly been brought along gradually and it'll be interested in market speaks in his favour now sporting cheekpieces.

Form: 313-575

Marlacoo^v,t²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Stan Sheppard| T: T Lacey| OR: 111| BF| D

3/1

Bumper winner who opened his hurdles account at Ayr last Febraury. However, has proved expensive to follow in handicaps since and was again soundly beaten at short odds at Catterick last month. Visor goes back on.

Form: 3-32036

The Egyptian Ginge¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Mr Jamie Neild⁽⁷⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 111

16/1

Fair in bumpers last term and ran to similar level when fifth on Cheltenham hurdles bow in October. Again didn't look the most straightforward but got back on track when third of 10 in novice hurdle at Wincanton (15.2f, heavy) 19 days ago. Will benefit from this longer trip now handicapping.

Form: 42-5553

Goldwyn³⁹⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Danny McMenamin| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 106

12/1

Fairly useful form at best over hurdles but he struggled last season and can only be watched starting out for new yard after 13-month break (formerly trained by Mark Walford).

Form: 321/8P0-

Phineas Bunce¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Liam Harrison| T: D Skelton| OR: 106

33/1

Reached the frame in both bumpers last season and showed promise again when third of 8 in Fontwell novice hurdle on reappearance. Has looked one with problems since, though, only sixth of 8 after a wind-op in handicap hurdle at Ludlow (15.8f, soft, 8/1) 15 days ago.

Form: 42-3576

Mistral Milly⁵⁰⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: R P McLernon| T: D J Jeffreys| OR: 104

80/1

Steadily progressive in handful of hurdle outings for Emma Lavelle in 2024, last seen when an encouraging fourth at Wincaton that October. Absent since, though, and others make more appeal now starting outing for new yard.

Form: 4432/P4-

Forecasts

Marlacoo (3/1), Is This For Real (3/1), King Ulanda (11/2), The Cistercian (11/2), Dream Diamond (17/2), Static (12/1), Goldwyn (12/1), The Egyptian Ginge (16/1), Sunray Shadow (16/1), Notnowlinda (20/1), Phineas Bunce (33/1), Mistral Milly (80/1), Prince Imperial (150/1)

IS THIS FOR REAL has been going the right way and looks to have been given a workable mark ahead of his handicap debut so Fergal O'Brien's gelding is taken to continue on his upward curve and make it back-to-back wins. King Ulanda again shaped well in defeat at Haydock prior to Christmas and he should be in the mix again, with another handicap newcomer The Egyptian Ginge also of interest.