16:25 Haydock

Wednesday 15 April 2026

All13:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:0017:35

Read Nicky Hendersons Unibet Blog Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 16:25 | Winning time: 6m 1.96s

Red Risk^p³²

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Paddy Hanlon⁽⁵⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 142| D

14/1

Veteran who bounced back to form with a bang to land another nice pot at Musselburgh (3m, good to soft) in February. Shaped as if still in good form at Uttoxeter subsequently but remains vulnerable to better treated sorts.

Form: 310-018

Dartan^t,v¹⁸⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: S Bowen| T: Mrs S J Humphrey| OR: 135| D

66/1

Useful hurdler but below that level over fences, turned over in a match on first start for this yard at Uttoxeter in October. Reverts to hurdling now with enough to prove. Has had a breathing operation.

Form: 8-02032

Moon Rocket^t³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 132| D

4/1

Quick to get off the mark sent chasing this season, easily taking 3m handicap at Doncaster in November. Hasn't progressed in 3 starts since though, and now reverts to hurdling.

Form: 2P-126P

Red Dirt Road³⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 131| D

13/2

Relished the step up in trip when bagging a major pot at Sandown last season. Back on track after a couple of disappointing efforts when fourth of 13 over C&D in February but was let down by his jumping in the Pertemps Final at the Cheltenham Festival latest.

Form: 11P-P40

Serious Chat^p⁴⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Theo Gillard| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 127

12/1

Posted a career best when resuming winning ways at Doncaster in November and quickly returned to form when second of 5 back there (3m, soft) in February. This is tougher, though.

Form: 215172

Kilwaughter⁴⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Mr Jack Stenhouse⁽⁷⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 125

10/3

Useful bumper winner who has really got his act together over hurdles of late, posting an excellent second of 13 in 19f Taunton novice prior to going one better with an improved performance on handicap debut at Newbury (2½m). Open to further progress. especially now tackling a still longer trip.

Form: 63-7421

King Of The Lake^t³²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Chad Bament⁽⁷⁾| T: J Scott| OR: 125| D

14/1

Back to winning ways at Chepstow (3m) in December and showed himself none the worse for a fall in the Lanzarote at Kempton when fourth of 11 back at Chepstow (3m, soft) in February. However, needs to bounce back from a lesser effort at Uttoxeter last time.

Form: 341F40

Firestream^p³²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Chester Williams| OR: 124

10/1

Shaped as if retaining all his ability on his second start for current yard in first-time cheekpieces when fifth in 14-runner handicap at Uttoxeter (40/1) last month. Stamina still to prove back at 3m, though.

Form: 24/13-P5

Smokeringinthedark¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Danny McMenamin| T: N G Richards| OR: 121

7/2

Well suited by a return to less testing ground when registering a first handicap success in 6-runner event at Newcastle (20.3f, good) 15 days ago, bit in hand. Step back up to 3m should suit under speed-favouring conditions and he's fresher than most.

Form: 3-27251

Lord Snootie²⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-7| J: Jack Tudor| T: Christian Williams| OR: 121| D

10/1

Last win came in 2022 but he stopped the slide when second in 6-runner handicap at Bangor (23.2f, good) last month, despite needing a stiffer test. Task is to now build on that.

Form: 2/87-0P2

Forecasts

Kilwaughter (10/3), Smokeringinthedark (7/2), Moon Rocket (4/1), Red Dirt Road (13/2), Lord Snootie (10/1), Firestream (10/1), Serious Chat (12/1), King Of The Lake (14/1), Red Risk (14/1), Dartan (66/1)

KILWAUGHTER has really got his act together over hurdles and promises to improve again now that his stamina is drawn out further, so he's a straightforward choice to follow up his Newbury win. Smokeringinthedark should be suited by the return to 3m under speed-favouring conditions and is an interesting contender, with Lord Snootie taken to fill the places having stopped the slide at Bangor on his most recent outing.