Lucky 15 Tips: Superb Betfred-sponsored card at Haydock on Tuesday

Hello everyone. I hope you had a lovely time with family and friends over recent days - and whether you're busy or nicely chilling, there's still the small matter of some fantastic sport to enjoy.

We've a cracking Betfred-sponsored seven-race card at Haydock Park on Tuesday that kicks in at 12:35, and that's a perfect fit for our Lucky 15 tips. Must confess I'm still purring over that sensational King George we witnessed on Boxing Day, with some good judges saying it's the best National Hunt race they've ever seen. Wasn't it something?

Here's our preview of the action.

Horse Racing odds

Fast Racing results

13:05 - The Cistercian @ 15/8

A novice hurdle to kick-off our L15, over just less than two miles.

Our selection is The Cistercian, a five-year-old gelded son of the brilliant stayer Yeats, who won Ascot's Gold Cup on the flat a stunning four times.

Stuart Edmonds trains, in Buckinghamshire, and Charlie Hammond has the riding assignment. Charlie rode a couple of winners at Fakenham just over a week ago for the stable and I'm hoping that this will be another.

Stuart's only had the horse since early December, and within a week of arriving was winning on debut for the yard at Leicester in a maiden, scoring by an easy 12l under today's pilot. It was only his third hurdle race all told and fourth all-time spin (includes one bumper appearance).

Our winner jumped to his left on occasion, but his superiority was such that it had no bearing upon the result. Leicester is a right-handed track and it wouldn't have helped - but with Haydock being the opposite, left-handed, any repeat today should have even less impact if any at all.

It was a lovely performance in the East Midlands and a follow-up at a track where, similarly, you really do need to get home up that long straight is a distinct possibility in my book. It was heavy that day so it's all the more meritorious.

Best bet on the card for me.

14:05 - Sole Solution @ 9/4

Right - it's about time that the oldest cliché in racing started to really bear fruit.

It's that time of year - you know the drill. Venetia Williams mops up staying chases for fun on ground with a bit of juice in it, and we all fill our boots - ish.

Her seven-year-old gelding Sole Solution looks absolutely ready to slip into gear after a seasonal reappearance pipe-opener at Uttoxeter three weeks ago produced a respectable third beaten 8.25l, on chase debut, at around this trip on heavy ground.

Slightly better underfoot conditions are anticipated today but it will doubtless still take a bit of getting, as per, at this proper Grade 1 venue. All told the selection is an outstanding four-from-seven lifetime, and has a win at Sandown over hurdles to his name.

Only decent animals succeed there, and I'm really looking forward to seeing this one do his stuff.

15:05 - Wa Wa @ 3/1

This is an extreme test - 3m 4.5f - and 38 days ago at this very track Wa Wa ran well in a higher-value race (same grade), under Sean Bowen no less. He was staying on over around half-a-mile less, and beaten 14+l.

He's another gelded son of the mighty Yeats, a ten-year-old with five wins from 45 starts, and has attracted another top-drawer jockey booking in the person of former champion Brian Hughes.

He must replicate his lowest riding weight of the last 12 months, as he's set to carry just 10st 2lb. No turkey sandwiches/curry/risotto then for Brian, and with trainer Olly Murphy in good order (20% strike-rate in the last fortnight), as long as he gets this trip he's surely got a huge chance off that featherweight.

15:40 - Brentford Hope @ 7/4

Class 3 handicap hurdlers go virtually 2m in this finale - sponsored by Betfred, as are all seven on the card.

My selection Brentford Hope is a course-and-distance winner rated right at the pinnacle of this 0-135, so carries topweight of 12st. The eight-year-old gelding is by Derby hero Camelot out of a Raven's Pass mare so is bred to be very smart on the level; and indeed won three times from 14 starts on the flat when trained by Richard Hughes, including here.

Present trainer Harry Derham has had the horse since March 2023, and in amongst his hurdling assignments has run in two chases since reappearing for the season in November (respectable mid-div efforts without troubling the judge).

At Cheltenham 18 days ago he ran in one of these and was beaten 6.75l into a never-nearer sixth, which should have put him spot on for this. Jockey Megan Fox has I believe just the one career success to date but does claim a very handy 7lb.

I'm sure Harry wouldn't pop her up top if he wasn't confident that she'll do a grand job, and our 'Hope' might just have a bit too much class for these opponents. Today's mark of 135 is his lowest for 18 months and when throwing in that claim too I'm thinking 'opportunity.'

If all four of our selections won, today's notional 50p win Lucky 15, at the prices indicated (they can of course fluctuate), would return around £150 for a £7.50 total stake.

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Lucky 15 tips with Betfred Insights.