Haydock Last Fling Festival Tips

Haydock's final meeting of 2023 is a midwinter treat, with several good-quality handicaps and indicative novices promising to give plenty of clues into 2024. Conditions give punters a sound chance of ending the year on a high, too.

Here are tips for all seven races at Haydock on Saturday, including the feature marathon handicap at 1.25.

12.15pm – Betfred Nifty 50 Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle (3m½f)

HILL OF TARA is likely to relish the deep conditions here. He has improved quickly on moving into handicaps this season, winning in deep ground at Ffos Las and Leicester before finishing second at Southwell. That was a bit of a shock reverse, but he was running for the third time in little more than a fortnight and, having had a bit of a break this time, can resume progress.

Selection: Hill Of Tara

12.50pm – Betfred TV EBF 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle (1m7½f)

A race that can quickly be whittled down to Norman Fletcher and BERTIE'S BALLET. The latter had better form in bumpers and proved himself on deep ground when second at Wetherby on his hurdling debut. He can improve on that, while he also escapes the double penalty shouldered by his main rival. That could make the difference here.

Selection: Bertie's Ballet

1.25pm – Betfred Last Fling Handicap Chase (3m4½f)

When he was last seen, FORTESCUE finished just over six lengths behind recent Welsh National winner Nassalam in fourth. He will benefit from the longer trip and deeper ground here, while it is unlikely there is anything so well-handicapped as Nassalam in this company. Hopefully regular rider Hugh Nugent will reprise the positive tactics, as this horse can get behind if allowed to take his time.

Selection: Fortescue

2.00pm – Betfred Goals Galore Novices' Handicap Chase (3m1½f)

It is fair to say that SOUTHERN SAM has been frustrating to follow. He has run 12 times under rules, winning just once, while amassing nine seconds and thirds from his other 11 outings. Some of those represent decent form, though, which is likely to be more than can be said for this lower-grade handicap, essentially a 0-115 with him as the class angle. He acts on heavy ground and can deliver a belated first win over fences.

Selection: Southern Sam

2.35pm – Betfred Supports Jack Berry House Handicap Hurdle (2m3f)

Again, we are presented with a class-dropper who acts in the mud and perhaps has not won as often as his talent demands. PUNTA DEL ESTE ran into Richmond Lake on his seasonal return at Wetherby and then ran in a Class 2 at Sandown. He was third there, well beaten but hampered, which did not help his cause. Tristan Durrell is up again, having ridden him perfectly well the last twice and his 5lb claim comes in handy

Selection: Punta Del Este

3.10pm – Betfred 'Hot Shots' Handicap Chase (2m4f)

Quite a warm race in which preference is for NED TANNER, who has been pretty luckless since winning at Kelso in February. He ran into Richmond Lake next time and did not get a stellar ride when second back at Kelso in November. Either side of that he has run over 3m, a trip he barely stays. This distance on soft ground seems to be ideal.

Selection: Ned Tanner

3.45pm – Betfred Happy New Year Open National Hunt Flat Race (1m7½f)

The only one of these with experience under rules is SAN FRANDISCO, who won his completed point to point before turning up at Chepstow a month ago. He was second that day in among several well-connected types. He will probably not need to improve much on that to win here.

Selection: San Frandisco