14:40 Haydock 14 Feb 2026
Albert Bartlett Prestige Novices' Hurdle
Grade 2 | GBB Race | Class 1 | 5YO plus
Winner £45,560 - 9 ran
led, close up when headed before 4th, led going best before 3 out, pushed along before 2 out, went clear before last, kept on well
held up in rear, pushed along before 3 out, soon made headway, ridden next, went second before last, kept on well but no match for winner
in touch, outpaced in rear when not fluent 3 out, no chance from 2 out, went third after last, never dangerous
chased leaders, shaken up before 3 out, soon ridden, blundered 2 out, soon no impression, weakened flat
in rear early, bad mistake 3rd, midfield 4th, blundered 7th, shaken up after 10th, ridden and lost ground after 3 out, rallied after last, made little impression
front rank, not fluent 2nd, pressed leader after 3rd, led before 4th, shaken up after 10th, ridden and headed before 3 out where not fluent, weakened before 2 out
tracked leaders, blundered 6th, not fluent 9th, went second and keeping on when hit 2 out, soon no chance with winner, faded before last
midfield, pushed along after 10th, soon outpaced, made brief headway after 3 out, faded before 2 out
wore hood to post, ran in snatches, prominent, dropped to rear and ridden after 4th, mistake 9th, pushed along and made brief headway on outer after 10th, hung left and weakened from 3 out
Expert Analysis
Dalston Lad was about three seconds clear of Lud’or (winner of the Rendlesham half an hour earlier) when comparing the pair from their first hurdles to the winning post with a circuit to go. The pace really slowed down mid-race according to the ATR sectionals before the winner produced a finishing speed of 105%.
DALSTON LAD His prominent style of racing played to his advantage here and he never looked like being caught once Harry Skelton kicked him clear from the second last hurdle.
UBATUBA He stayed on in pleasing fashion and finished full of running before running out of race. He should be suited to a longer trip and/or softer ground.
TASHKHAN Along with the eventual runner up he could do with much softer ground. He was given a pick up the pieces type of ride and is perhaps a little flattered to finish in third place.
LEGENDARY LUKE This was his first try over three miles and the jury remains out regarding the extent of his stamina. He made a bad mistake at the second last hurdle which was a vital stage of the race and just at the point the winner was kicked into a race winning lead.
WHISKEY YANKEE I doubt very much we will be seeing him competing round a speed track like this anytime soon. At Ascot last time out he was able to work his way slowly into the race before looking tremendously impressive in the closing stages. Here, he was run off his ‘feet’ in the early stages and then outpaced again as the pace quickened half way up the home straight. He was always going a stride too fast and this in turn produced a very ordinary round of jumping which included particularly bad errors at the third hurdle and also the last hurdle in the home straight with a circuit to go. To his credit he still managed to plug on for fifth place despite not enjoying very much about the way this race unfolded. I expect we will see plenty more for him when he is returned to competing on a more galloping track.
RECKLESS SPENDING He was given a potentially flattering mark of 134 after beating his stable mate by 15 lengths at Kempton on his previous start. I would suggest he has actually run much better than his finishing position would suggest here as he made a chance ending mistake two out just as the winner began to draw clear. I am not suggesting he would have troubled the winner in the end, but I suspect he would have finished a fair bit closer.
Future Form
| Type | Stats | Type | Stats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | 1 run, 0 wins (0 horses), 0 placed, 1 unplaced | Next time out | 1 run, 0 wins, 0 placed, 1 unplaced |
| Class analysis | 0 runs up in class, 0 wins, 0 placed, 0 unplaced | Ratings check | Highest winning OR: 0; Highest placed OR: 0 |
Betting returns
| Type | Winnings |
|---|---|
| CSF | £15.72 (2, 9) |
| Tricast | £202.84 (2, 9, 8) |
| Win | £3.50 (2) |
| Place | £1.40 (2), £1.70 (9), £4.70 (8) |
| Swinger | £11.80 (2, 8), £3.70 (2, 9), £17.30 (8, 9) |
| Exacta | £15.40 (2, 9) |
| Trifecta | £258.10 (2, 9, 8) |
Previous winners
| Year | Going | Ran | Winner | Draw | Age | Weight | OR | Form | Last run | Trainer (Distance) | Jockey | SP | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Good to Soft | 6 | Battle Born Lad | 6 | 11 2 | - | 32-31 | 126 days | M Walford (96 miles) | Jamie Hamilton | 7/ 2 | 6:20.30 | |
| 2024 | Heavy | 10 | Now Is The Hour | 7 | 11 2 | - | 12-89F1 | 21 days | G P Cromwell | Sean Flanagan | 12/ 1 | 6:49.50 | |
| 2023 | Good to Soft | 12 | Makin'yourmindup | 6 | 11 2 | - | 362-112 | 35 days | P F Nicholls (192 miles) | Lorcan Williams | 17/ 2 | 6:10.20 | |
| 2022 | Heavy | 7 | Hillcrest | 7 | 11 5 | - | 21-111U | 21 days | H D Daly (93 miles) | Richard Patrick | EVENS | 6:32.65 | |
| 2021 | Soft | 8 | Alaphilippe | 7 | 10 12 | - | P1-1112 | 28 days | F O'Brien (133 miles) | Paddy Brennan | 10/ 3 | 6:31.38 | |
| 2020 | Heavy | 5 | Ramses De Teillee | 8 | 11 3 | - | 22P-141 | 21 days | D Pipe (209 miles) | David Noonan | 5/ 6 | 6:26.30 | |
| 2019 | Good | 9 | Lisnagar Oscar | 6 | 10 12 | - | 1-3221 | 29 days | Miss R Curtis (167 miles) | Sean Bowen | 6/ 1 | 6:07.90 | |
| 2018 | Heavy | 8 | Chef Des Obeaux | 6 | 11 0 | - | 572-211 | 35 days | N J Henderson (170 miles) | Noel Fehily | 13/ 8 | 6:01.00 | |
| 2017 | Good to Soft | 7 | The Worlds End | 6 | 11 7 | - | F1-311 | 29 days | T R George (149 miles) | Adrian Heskin | 11/ 4 | 5:39.38 | |
| 2016 | Heavy | 5 | Jonniesofa | 6 | 11 4 | - | 1-31212 | 50 days | R Dobbin (195 miles) | Craig Nichol | 8/ 1 | 6:36.06 | |
| 2015 | Soft | 7 | Definitly Red | 6 | 11 4 | - | 117-121 | 44 days | B Ellison (107 miles) | Richard Johnson | 9/ 4 | 5:58.06 | |
| 2014 | Heavy | 9 | Toubeera | 8 | 11 1 | - | 117411 | 6 days | Miss V Williams (118 miles) | Aidan Coleman | 5/ 1 | 6:21.40 | |
| 2013 | Heavy | 5 | Two Rockers | 6 | 11 8 | - | 1-11 | 58 days | A King (177 miles) | Wayne Hutchinson | 15/ 8 | 6:16.00 | |
| 2012 | Heavy | 9 | Brindisi Breeze | 6 | 11 8 | - | B1211 | 23 days | Miss Lucinda V Russell (239 miles) | C Gillies | 9/ 2 | 6:12.20 | |
| 2011 | Heavy | 8 | Back In Focus | 6 | 11 4 | - | F-21 | 34 days | J Howard Johnson (136 miles) | Brian Hughes | 16/ 1 | 6:04.72 | |
| 2010 | Soft | 7 | Wymott | 6 | 11 8 | - | 210-212 | 31 days | D McCain Jnr (34 miles) | J Maguire | 4/ 1 | 6:10.84 | |
| 2009 | Soft | 6 | Tarablaze | 6 | 11 9 | - | 12-121 | 28 days | P Hobbs & J White (192 miles) | A P McCoy | 1/ 2 | 6:11.20 | |
| 2008 | Good to Soft | 7 | Tazbar | 6 | 11 11 | - | 11-4211 | 21 days | K G Reveley (121 miles) | P Kinsella | 5/ 4 | 6:00.70 | |
| 2007 | Heavy | 7 | Chief Dan George | 7 | 11 11 | - | 34F111 | 14 days | James Moffatt (77 miles) | Mr A Dempsey | 9/ 1 | 6:18.00 | |
| 2006 | Heavy | 6 | Neptune Collonges | 5 | 11 11 | - | 1-14121 | 14 days | P F Nicholls (192 miles) | C Williams | 2/ 11 | 6:08.70 |