Jonjo and AJ O’Neill’s 10-year-old to grab victory on Merseyside while Heather Honey, Williethebuilder, Imperial Bede, Brookside La, First Candidate, My Bobby Dazzler, Democracy Dilemma, Al Qareem, Moon Over Miami, Goldmoyne, Water Of Leith, Tricky Jenny and Red Cadillac may also be Easter Saturday scorers
Jonjo and AJ O’Neill’s Genois can continue his recent renaissance with victory at Haydock Park on Saturday, April 4 2026(Image: Mike Egerton/PA)
GENOIS can secure victory in the Unibet Middle Distance Veterans’ Handicap Chase (3.20pm) at Haydock Park this afternoon to provide his trainers Jonjo and AJ O’Neill and owner JP McManus with a boost ahead of Johnnywho’s bid for glory in next Saturday’s Randox Grand National at Aintree Racecourse.
The 10-year-old, who was formerly trained in Ireland by Enda Bolger, has been in good form so far this season – winning two of his four starts and finishing second in one of the others.
Genois was fifth at Market Rasen last July but returned to action on Boxing Day to win a 2m3½f Handicap Chase at Wetherby, jumping well and staying on well to beat Joecooker by a length-and-three-quarters. He was second to Geryville back at Wetherby in January before returning to winning ways at Exeter last month. That victory was in the qualifier for this final of the Veterans’ series as he beat the reopposing Outlaw Peter, from the Paul Nicholls’ stable, by a length.
Despite being a ‘veteran’ he still looks open to more improvement and he can uphold the form with Outlaw Peter and the JP McManus-owned gelding can triumph again.
Course and distance winner Minella Drama – from the Cheshire stable of Merseyside-born Grand National winner Donald McCain Jnr – is another who could go well. But it’s Genois who looks the most likely to triumph.
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Stable-mate IMPERIAL BEDE may bring up a double for the O’Neills in the JCB Fastrac Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (3.55pm). The eight-year-old, who also sports the famous green and gold colours of powerful Irish owner McManus, was fourth over course and distance in January. But he won well at Carlisle on his penultimate start the following month. He can bounce back from a disappointing effort a couple of weeks later at Hereford and return to winning ways on Merseyside.
Course and distance winner HEATHER HONEY can land successive successes at Haydock in the Pertemps Network Challenger Stayers Hurdle Series Final Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (2.46pm). The Joel Parkinson and Sue Smith-trained seven-year-old, who had scored at Catterick in November, returned to winning ways at Haydock last month, having also been third at the same Merseyside course in January. Despite one untidy jump at the last, the mare was impressive that day to book her place in the Final of this Stayers’ Series. In what is a competitive contest, she can come out on top again ahead of chiefly the Dan Skelton-trained Blue Carpet and Jamie Snowden’s hat-trick-seeking course and distance winner Super Survivor.
Christian Williams’ WILLIETHEBUILDER can bounce back to form to win the Pertemps Network Challenger Two Mile Hurdle Series Final Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (2.12pm). The seven-year-old looked to be progressing well with back-to-back wins at Kempton over Christmas and in early January. Things haven’t gone so well since with a fourth-placed finish in the Scottish County Handicap Hurdle at Musselburgh, followed by a lacklustre showing when down the field in the William Hill County Hurdle at last month’s Cheltenham Festival. This should be more to his liking and Williethebuilder can resume his progress with another win in the two-mile contest.
Skelton – who will send another mare Panic Attack to bid for Grand National glory at Aintree next Saturday – can land the opener, the Peter Sunderland Cheltenham Certainty Mares’ Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race) (1.37pm), with FIRST CANDIDATE. The six-year-old has been runner-up on her last two starts and can finally get off the mark over obstacles with victory in the two-mile opener.
It could be a good afternoon for Skelton and BROOKSIDE LA can win the JCB Hydrogen Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (4.30pm). The six-year-old won at Wetherby on Boxing Day and ran well to be third to Judicial Deference in a 2m5f handicap hurdle at Haydock in January. Stepped up to three miles for the first time Brookside La can resume winning ways.
The Mel Rowley-trained MY BOBBY DAZZLER – who was back to winning ways in a 3m1f chase at Hereford in February – may be able to score again in the finale, the JCB Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (5.05pm).
At Musselburgh AL QAREEM can show his class to win the Listed Virgin Bet Goliath Cup Stakes (2.30pm). Liverpool FC fan Karl Burke’s seven-year-old will be running in his 29th stakes contest and will be out to land a 10th career success. The son of Awtaad has won the Group Three Cumberland Lodge at Ascot three times and has to shoulder a 5lb penalty for those successes. But he can prove too good for his rivals, under regular partner Clifford Lee, who is back in action after he suffered a serious neck injury in October.
Ralph Beckett’s MOON OVER MIAMI can make a winning return to action in the Virgin Bet Daily Price Boost Queen’s Cup Handicap (GBBPlus Race) (3.05pm). The five-year-old remains open to more improvement, having had just six career starts. He hasn’t run for almost a year since winning an extended two-mile handicap at Newbury around last April. This looks a good starting point and Moon Over Miami can score, dropped back in trip slightly to 1m6f.
DEMOCRACY DILEMMA can win the Virgin Bet Scottish Sprint Cup Handicap (3.42pm). The Robert Cowell-trained six-year-old won the Listed Beverley Bullet in 2024 and scored at Haydock Park in a handicap on his penultimate start of last season in September. He was third on his return to action on the all-weather at Lingfield in February and he can build on that reappearance to return to winning ways.
James Owen’s GOLDMOYNE can land a five-timer in the Livescore Bet Silver Arrow Handicap (1.55pm). The six-year-old has won four in a row on the all-weather tracks of Southwell, Newcastle and Lingfield over the past two months. He runs on Turf for the first time since he was trained in Ireland by Timothy Doyle, but he can make it five-in-a-row.
Others who can win in Scotland are Andrew Balding’s COMIC HERO in the opener, the Virgin Bet A Good Bet Royal Mile Handicap (1.25pm); the Jim Goldie-trained WATER OF LEITH in the finale, the Livescore Bet A Total Betting Experience Handicap (4.45pm); and another Owen runner, debutant TRICKY JENNY, in the EBF Restricted Maiden Stakes (For horses In Bands C And D) (EBF Restricted Race Qualifier) (GBB Race) (4.12pm).
At Carlisle Nicky Richards’ RED CADILLAC can win the Book In Advance Save 5 Handicap Hurdle (Division Two) (4.40pm); and veteran course and distance scorer SUPER CITIZEN – from the Lucinda Hughes stable – can land the Flat Season Opener Monday 18th May Handicap Chase (3.27pm).
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Wright Ones
HAYDOCK PARK
1.37pm First Candidate 2.12pm Williethebuilder 2.46pm Heather Honey 3.20pm Genois (NAP) 3.55pm Imperial Bede 4.30pm Brookside La 5.05pm My Bobby Dazzler
MUSSELBURGH
1.25pm Comic Hero 1.55pm Goldmoyne 2.30pm Al Qareem 3.05pm Moon Over Miami 3.42pm Democracy Dilemma 4.12pm Tricky Jenny 4.45pm Water Of Leith
NEWTON ABBOT
2pm Dutch Corner 2.35pm Begin The Luck 3.10pm Reel Orange 3.49pm Calimystic 4.20pm Top Guy 4.55pm Numero Ventotto
CARLISLE
12.43pm Tap Tap Shamie 1.13pm Eaton Anne 1.48pm Ballin Bay 2.23pm Kicksaftersix 2.57pm Knockeranna Rose 3.27pm Super Citizen 4.05pm Ryebridge 4.40pm Red Cadillac
HUNTINGDON
3.47pm Katarcice 4.17pm Overabottleofred 4.50pm U S Marshall 5.25pm Homme D’Un Soir 6pm Hello Sweety 6.30pm Crystal Connemara
WOLVERHAMPTON
5.15pm Chasing Time 5.50pm Coloane 6.20pm Constant Star 6.55pm Kirkdale 7.30pm Pride Of Donegal 8pm Shalaa Asker 8.30pm Lexington Express
FAIRYHOUSE
2.05pm Jo’s Secret 2.40pm Kilbarry Saint 3.15pm Kings Hill 3.50pm Petit Secret 4.25pm Hens Tooth 5pm Karbau 5.35pm Some Pretender
SUNDAY’S NAP: Bobby Dassler (Bath 5.25pm)