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2026 Stayers Hurdle

I was also very confused why after the race Skelton came out about going to aintree it makes no sense.
 
Haydock latest going report (but only as at Friday):

Going/Track:
GOOD TO SOFT, SOFT (IN PLACES)
(GoingStick:4.3 on 06-02-2026 at 16:00)
(Soil moisture average: 60% on 06-02-2026 at 16:00)

Between 10 and 20mm rain expected from today after 26mm since that going report.
 
archie said:
Haydock latest going report (but only as at Friday):

Going/Track:
GOOD TO SOFT, SOFT (IN PLACES)
(GoingStick:4.3 on 06-02-2026 at 16:00)
(Soil moisture average: 60% on 06-02-2026 at 16:00)

Between 10 and 20mm rain expected from today after 26mm since that going report.
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They reckon it's 5.2 on the going stick and they've had no rain today, as of 5pm. I work 15 mins away and that's bollocks, it's pissed it down all day
 
Ellisgittings said:
They reckon it's 5.2 on the going stick and they've had no rain today, as of 5pm. I work 15 mins away and that's bollocks, it's pissed it down all day
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Been pissing down all night and still is as of 7am so that will have changed :ROFLMAO:
 
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There will be an early morning update from Haydock tomorrow for declarations but this is the latest from the BHA site as at last night:

Going/Track:
GOOD TO SOFT, SOFT (IN PLACES)
(GoingStick:5.2 on 10-02-2026 at 17:00)
(Soil moisture average: 48% on 10-02-2026 at 17:00)
(Going updated 17:32, 10th Feb)
Rail Movements:
Stables bend out from innermost line by 10yds Hurdle & 7yds
Chase, fresh ground provided.
Back straight obstacles moved to the inner by 5yds, fresh ground
provided.
East home-turn bend innermost line, fresh ground provided.
Home straight divots visible, level and repaired. Final fence
dolled out wing allows for fresh ground provided on the run-in.

Weather:
17mm Friday. 9.6mm Saturday. 9mm Tuesday overnight.

Outlook: Wednesday 4-9mm daytime then a further 1-8mm overnight.
Thursday 4-6mm. Friday & Saturday dry turning much colder.
Max Temp 11.2°C mid-week. Min Temp -1.0°C Saturday.
 
It pissed down all day yesterday in Wigan so Haydock will have had exactly the same. Heavy rain expected today with a drier Friday and sunny Saturday.

Id say heavy
 
Yosser said:
It pissed down all day yesterday in Wigan so Haydock will have had exactly the same. Heavy rain expected today with a drier Friday and sunny Saturday.

Id say heavy
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turftrax.co.uk

Maybe they've built a retractable roof and not told anyone....
 
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Kabral Du Mathan has been declared to run in the Rendlesham by Skelton (along with Henri the Second and French Ship so far)
 
Anyone work out what Skelton was playing at? It was always going to be testing so what was the point of entry? If he now doesn't run at Cheltenham - which I fully expect - then it looks absolutely pointless. Lucky him to be able throw away leading chances - how many others has he got in Grade 1 that will be in the first few in the betting?
 
kinloch brae said:
Anyone work out what Skelton was playing at? It was always going to be testing so what was the point of entry? If he now doesn't run at Cheltenham - which I fully expect - then it looks absolutely pointless. Lucky him to be able throw away leading chances - how many others has he got in Grade 1 that will be in the first few in the betting?
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Going ended up being good to soft but withdrew when they thought it was heavy. I'm guessing he would have raced him if they knew the ground wasn't heavy like first reported.
 
Just reading the quotes from Skelton on the Racing Post site. Does anyone talk more rot? Apparently, there is now more chance of Kabral Du Mathan running at Cheltenham, and he would definitely run if he was 7. What's the point of even saying that? Just checked and since 1972 17 7yo's and 16 6yo's have won the Stayers. That hardly shouts inconvenience, and if you add in the fact he is french bred and they are that much more precocious it becomes even more of a ridiculous excuse. In fact he might be actually losing an advantage by waiting a year, particularly as we know it is a weak division this year. He also quotes Teahupoo and Bob Olinger as if they are strong stayers. I can buy Teahupoo, but Bob Olinger is speed over stamina. He got the sort of ride last year that you might expect Kabral Du Mathan to get.

What exactly is he waiting for, surely he could commit to running now, if that is the actual intention? To my mind he is just continuing to play silly buggers with backers.
 
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kinloch brae said:
Just reading the quotes from Skelton on the Racing Post site. Does anyone talk more rot? Apparently, there is now more chance of Kabral Du Mathan running at Cheltenham, and he would definitely run if he was 7. What's the point of even saying that? Just checked and since 1972 17 7yo's and 16 6yo's have won the Stayers. That hardly shouts inconvenience, and if you add in the fact he is french bred and they are that much more precocious it becomes even more of a ridiculous excuse. In fact he might be actually losing an advantage by waiting a year, particularly as we know it is a weak division this year. He also quotes Teahupoo and Bob Olinger as if they are strong stayers. I can buy Teahupoo, but Bob Olinger is speed over stamina. He got the sort of ride last year that you might expect Kabral Du Mathan to get.

What exactly is he waiting for, surely he could commit to running now, if that is the actual intention? To my mind he is just continuing to play silly buggers with backers.
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I understand your frustration. I think there is a dynamic creeping in with both Dan and with Gordon. Gordon has seen any prize money advantage he has held early and mid season be eroded year after year after year. Similarly Dan is desperate to win the title over here and last year would have really hurt. Both trainers will be thinking exactly what do I have to do to beat this guy.

Couple this with what hasn’t been the best start to a season for Willie either side of the pond and I think this is playing on both of their minds. By now Gordon would have seen the writing on the wall and apart from a few obvious targets like the Irish National he would be all guns blazing for Cheltenham. I genuinely don’t think he’d have been thinking of anywhere but Cheltenham for Romeo Coolio if Willie had performed ytd as well as normal and similar comment if he didn’t feel he had the best squad he has had in relative terms for many years if ever. He is likely thinking this may be my best ever chance …now or never if you like and I’m not going to let this chance go begging. I am expecting a few others to be held back for domestic targets that otherwise would have travelled over. The range he gave I think was 30-50 . That’s a big range and the fact he’s even thinking it could be as low as 30 is evidence of the difference in his mind set.

I think a similar dynamic is playing out with Dan. I think secretly Dan believes he’s got this in the bag as long as he doesn’t fuck up. This coupled with his own ….what more do I have to do paranoia….plus what looks like a number of gaps in Willies Cheltenham squad (at least on paper) plus the fact that he will be looking at his own squad and starting to think you know what Willies not got anything better than me in this division perhaps I’ll give this a go after all. I fully expected him to be his usual emphatic self with regard to Bossman Jack after yesterday’s victory and say he’s not quite ready. Instead I think he’s at least in part thinking I’m not sure Willies got anything better than my fella and I could grab some prize money off him and it’s making him reevaluate his decisions. I think he is looking at the stayers now and realising exactly the same thing. What has Willie got that’s better than my fella, I think this is a race that I can steal prize money off of him. I genuinely don’t think he had any intention of running KDM in the stayers. Now he’s looking at the field and looking at Willies hand and saying to himself could me running KDM be the difference and it’s causing indecision.

Basically Willie has got under both of their skins and it’s fucking with their heads a bit and the hope and expectation they now both have is making them rethink decisions.
 
I think Kabral Du Mathan has a right chance in this anyway. The Skeltons were looking at this race the wrong way for me. If they amble around like they did last year, Kabral could easily be the fastest horse in a finish. It's well worth chancing their arm.
 
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Yosser said:
I think Kabral Du Mathan has a right chance in this anyway. The Skeltons were looking at this race the wrong way for me. If they amble around like they did last year, Kabral could easily be the fastest horse in a finish. It's well worth chancing their arm.
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As a non backer, I hope you’re wrong 😂 but agree, if he turns up and stays, he’s a right chance. One of the most impressive hurdlers this year over mid trips for sure.
 
They play him right he could be another Morley Street...without the CH win.
 
Yosser said:
I think Kabral Du Mathan has a right chance in this anyway. The Skeltons were looking at this race the wrong way for me. If they amble around like they did last year, Kabral could easily be the fastest horse in a finish. It's well worth chancing their arm.
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He wouldn't be out of place in the champion hurdle so if they do go no pace he'd be very tough to beat.

I think then missing the race yesterday has lessened the chance that they go for it though.
 
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