Grand Geste Springs a Surprise as Haydock Card Delivers Compelling National Hunt Action

Haydock Park passed its precautionary morning inspection and went ahead with a full card on 14 February 2026, providing a fixture heavy in ante-post Cheltenham and Grand National interest. The meeting was headlined by the £100,000 Grand National Trial and the ZYN Rendlesham Hurdle, from which Dan Skelton’s Kabral Du Mathan was withdrawn on the morning due to the testing ground.

12:55, Victor Ludorum Juvenile Hurdle (Class 2, GBB Race), 1m 7f 144y

**Winner:** [horse, 7/4 2nd fav], B.S. Hughes / N.J. Henderson

Nicky Henderson’s representative opened the meeting at 12:55, winning the juvenile hurdle under Barry Geraghty’s old weighing-room ally B.S. Hughes. The winner made headway behind the leaders before the third-last, went second before two out, and led approaching the last to win comfortably by two and a quarter lengths. The runner-up, sent off 13/8 favourite, had disputed the lead throughout but was headed in the closing stages.

1:28, QED Scaffolding Ltd Handicap Chase (Class 3, GBB Race), 2m 3f 203y

**Winner:** [7/4 2nd fav, OR 126], S. Bowen / O. Murphy

Sean Bowen rode a confident winner for Olly Murphy in the QED Scaffolding handicap chase, chasing the leaders and going well from three out before pressing the leader and drawing clear before the last. The winner, a seven-year-old rated 126, won readily by three and a half lengths from the 33/1 shot who had led throughout.

2:40, Haydock Park Albert Bartlett Prestige Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2, GBB Race), 3m 0f

**Note:** Dan Skelton withdrew Kabral Du Mathan on the morning of the race due to the testing ground, significantly reducing the race’s competitive quality.

**Winner:** Lud’or (11/8F), Tom Symonds, 4 lengths over Henri The Second

Despite the high-profile absentee, Lud’or ran out a convincing winner of the ZYN Rendlesham Hurdle (as this Grade 2 is commercially known), producing a strong display over three miles on Soft ground to win by four lengths. French Ship unseated Lorcan Williams at the third-last when still travelling well, which coloured the final result, but Lud’or’s performance was nonetheless creditable on his first run at three miles-plus. For the full sectional breakdown, see the dedicated Sectional Spotlight article.

3:15, William Hill Half A Mill Grand National Trial Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap, GBB Race), 3m 4f 97y

**Winner:** Grand Geste (13/2), Danny McMenamin / Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith, 1 length from Top Of The Bill.

The feature race of the afternoon produced a surprise winner in the form of Grand Geste, the seven-year-old grey novice chaser who bounced back to his best after a below-par effort at Doncaster. Ridden by Danny McMenamin, he made his winning move approaching the third-last fence, led before the second-last, and idled slightly in front on the run to the finish before holding on from top-weight Top Of The Bill by one and three-quarter lengths. Neo King (Stoneacre Racing) stayed on from the rear to snatch third on the line.

The favourite, Myretown, who had attempted to make all, was headed at the third-last and weakened quickly, eventually being pulled up. His trainer confirmed post-race that a Grand National bid had been shelved, with the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival now the revised plan.

**11 ran. Winning time: 7m 46.27s (slow by 22.27s). Going: Good to Soft.**

For the full race narrative and connections’ quotes, see the dedicated Replay Review.

3:50, [Later races]

Meeting Summary

The Haydock card of 14 February provided a genuine National Hunt test for staying chasers, with Grand Geste’s Grand National Trial success throwing up a fascinating young stayer who may yet be capable of much better. The absence of Kabral Du Mathan from the Rendlesham slightly deflated that race’s status as a Festival pointer, though Lud’or’s convincing win on Soft ground still has merit. The going throughout the card was testing, reflected in Grand Geste’s winning time of 7m 46.27s, 22.27 seconds below standard.