15:40 Haydock

Tuesday 30 December 2025

All12:3513:0513:3514:0514:3515:0515:40

Betfred 'Happy New Year' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:40 | Winning time: 3m 44.45s

1^st

Serious Challenge

511-6

13/8j

T: F O'BrienJ: J J Burke

Took keen hold, held up in rear, awkward 3rd, headway 3 out, soon disputed second, ridden and disputed lead before last where led outright, kept on tchd 11/8

2^nd

1 ½

Bucephalus

811-9

12/1

T: N P MulhollandJ: Harriet Tucker (7)

Led, went clear before 3 out, diminished advantage 2 out, soon ridden and joined, headed approaching last, kept on same pace op 16/1

3^rd

3 ½

Brentford Hope

812-0

13/8j

T: Harry DerhamJ: Megan Fox (7)

Close up in touch, disputed second 3 out where not fluent, soon ridden, lost second before last, kept on same pace run-in tchd 11/8 and tchd 7/4

4^th

2 ¼

Geromino

911-4

8/1

T: D McCain JnrJ: William Maggs (5)

Took keen hold, close up in touch, disputed second 3 out, soon dropped to fourth, ridden and weakened before last op 11/1

5^th

Stoner's Choice

1011-2

7/1

T: F O'BrienJ: Fern O'Brien (5)

Tendency to jump right, prominent, joined for second 3 out, soon ridden and dropped to fifth, no impression before last tchd 13/2 and tchd 15/2

6^th

6 ½

Rauzan

510-10

22/1

T: Lizzie QuinlanJ: Sean Quinlan

Never better than midfield tchd 25/1

7^th

Col Du Pre'

411-2

22/1

T: Miss V WilliamsJ: Charlie Deutsch

Midfield, ridden and weakened before 3 out op 18/1

Also Ran

Sun Lady Marine

410-10

66/1

T: Paula SmithJ: Charlie Maggs (5)

Held up in rear, tailed off before 5th, pulled up before 3 out op 40/1

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Betting Breakdown

Tote Win:£2.63Pl:£1.10, £2.70, £1.10EX:£18.40Trifecta:£45.40Tricast:£37.01SF:£20.76Swingers:£4.00, £1.40, £4.10

Forecasts

Serious Challenge (13/8), Brentford Hope (13/8), Stoner's Choice (7/1), Geromino (8/1), Bucephalus (12/1), Rauzan (22/1), Col Du Pre' (22/1), Sun Lady Marine (66/1)

Clearly amiss in the Greatwood at Cheltenham last time, SERIOUS CHALLENGE is taken to get back on track by bagging this prize. He didn't shape badly when too keen over 2½m on return at Aintree and, judged on his exploits as a novice last term, he surely has races in him in 2m handicaps off this sort of mark. Brentford Hope rates the clear main danger ahead of Geromino, who will be a live each-way player if ready to roll following a lengthy absence.

SERIOUS CHALLENGE (IRE)
BRENTFORD HOPE
GEROMINO (FR)

Previous Winners

2024

For Pleasure

Weight: 11-7 |Age: 9

J: S Bowen | T: O Murphy

9/2

Prize Money

1st: £10,562.002nd: £4,860.003rd: £2,430.004th: £1,216.005th: £606.00