Betfair Stayers' Handicap Hurdle
We get stuck into the Betfair Stayer's hurdle at Haydock today.
It's a competitive race with 16 runners declared, four of which are Irish raiders.
**Breaking news - the antepost favourite Doyen Quest is a non-runner due to the soft going! This has resulted in a shortening of the prices on every other runner in the race this morning.
A cracking result for us last Saturday in the Paddy Power Gold Cup. Il Ridoto won at SP of 10/1 while Ga Law finished second!
Let's see how our two selections go today at Haydock.
A good staying handicap with 16 runners declared, four of which are trained in Ireland. I think you need to have had a run already this season for such a strong staying handicap hurdle race. Dan Skelton runs three with decent chances and I am drawn to Catch Him Derry. He won easily at Newton Abbott over 2m5.5f in late October. Harry Skelton deserts him for inform Doyen Quest. That is understandable with Doyen Quest 5lbs well in at the weights. However, he did race only last weekend at Cheltenham. I think it is difficult for jump horses to recover quickly from three-mile races relative to two-mile races.
Back to Catch Him Derry, who is bang in form and has 3lb claimer Tristan Durrell booked. Tristan’s claim leaves Catch Him Derry only 4lbs higher than last time out. He stays well as last season he won over an extended three miles at Southwell and Ayr. This six-year-old remains unexposed and carries a nice low weight of 10-6.
Evan Williams runs the unexposed Patriotik down at the foot of the weights. Isabel Williams claims 3lbs leaving Patriotik with a lightweight of 10-2. This ex-Irish pointer won easily over 2m4f at Ffos Las on heavy ground in March. He found two miles on the sharp side when third behind Panjari and second to Rath Gaul Boy, both runs at Ffos Las. I felt it was inexperience and greenness that cost him victory when tried over 2m6f in May. He stayed on without getting a hard ride and ran through the line strongly.
Evan warmed Patriotik up for this premier handicap with a solid run in the Silver Trophy handicap hurdle at Chepstow. Doyen Quest renews rivalry here again. This time round, he meets Patriotik on 7lbs worse terms. The 5-year-old Slate Lane won this race last year and three other 5yo’s have won over the past ten years. Patriotik is open to any amount of improvement going out in trip on this seventh run over hurdles.
Haydock 2:30
0.5 point each way Catch Him Derry 4/1 Bet365 & Betvictor, 5 places.
0.5 point each way Patriotik 15/2 Bet365, 5 places else 8/1 Paddy Power, Betfair SB & William Hill, 4 places.
Compare Odds at https://www.oddschecker.com/horse-racing
Best of Luck,
Nicky
Past Results
Click to see past Big Saturday Race Preview Tips results
From 2007 to 2016 this race featured the use of Fixed Brush hurdles. These are based on the French hurdle design, similar to plain fences but lower in height. Unlike the traditional hurdle they are very rigid in construction. In 2017 the race reverted to standard hurdles.[1]
The race was first run in 2005. It was awarded Grade 3 status in 2011 (such races were rebranded as Premier Handicaps in 2022).[2] It has been sponsored by Betfair since its inception and the race title has changed to promote various Betfair websites and promotions. The race is currently run on the same day as the Betfair Chase. Prior to 2018 it was run over distances around 2 miles and 7 furlongs.
Betfair Stayers' Handicap Hurdle Winners Over The Past 10 years
| Year | Winner | Age | Weight | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Slate Lane | 5 | 10-12 | Donagh Meyler | Emmet Mullins |
| 2022 | Botox Has | 6 | 11-04 | Caoilin Quinn | Gary Moore |
| 2021 | Dans Le Vent | 8 | 10-07 | Isabel Williams | Evan Williams |
| 2020 | Main Fact | 7 | 10-11 | Fergus Gillard | David Pipe |
| 2019 | Stoney Mountain | 6 | 11-03 | Tom O'Brien | Henry Daly |
| 2018 | Paisley Park | 6 | 11-12 | Aidan Coleman | Emma Lavelle |
| 2017 | Sam Spinner | 5 | 10-09 | Joe Colliver | Jedd O'Keeffe |
| 2016 | Kruzhlinin | 9 | 10–13 | Richard Johnson | Philip Hobbs |
| 2015 | Baradari | 5 | 11-02 | Harry Skelton | Dan Skelton |
| 2014 | Aubusson | 5 | 10–13 | Lizzie Kelly | Nick Williams |
Best of Luck,
Nicky