December 07 / 12.48 Wetherby

12.48

Good To Soft

William Hill Christmas Meeting Up Next Handicap Hurdle (Go North Sea Pigeon Series Qualifier)

  • Prize money: £5281
  • 2m 0f 0y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
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William Hill Christmas Meeting Up Next Handicap Hurdle (Go North Sea Pigeon Series Qualifier)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Rain and snow

11/2 (Won)

  • Win: £3.25
  • Place: £1.20

Form: 1121-5 D

Last run: 17 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Front-runner; in excellent form early this year, winning heavy-ground events at around 2m at Uttoxeter, Newcastle and Exeter; might have needed the outing when only fifth of seven at Warwick (2m3f) on reappearance, fading; one for the shortlist with that run under his belt.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

23rd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 20y

Class 2

15:10 Perth

Classic Maestro

10st 13lb

J: Luke Scott

T: Jennie Candlish

Good second at Sandown (1m7f, soft) in January and ran well before fading into 14 third at Ayr (2m4f, soft) last month; however, his best form has come on soft/heavy ground and such conditions seem unlikely today.

15/2

3rd

2

7th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 3

15:55 Ayr

Classic Maestro

11st 11lb

J: Luke Scott

T: Jennie Candlish

Predictably struggled in Grade 1 Ascot Chase three weeks ago but looked as good as ever when second in good Sandown handicap (1m7f, soft) two starts ago and will be fine over today's trip; good chance.

9/4

10/1

  • Place: £1.50

Form: 24-5F4

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Made the frame in two French 2m1f chases in April; better than the bare result suggests (bad mistake three out) when fourth of ten in novice hurdle at Bangor (2m1f, good to soft; 8-1) on British debut; hard to pin down but no surprise if he steps up on the Bangor form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

6th Mar 2025

Soft

2m 1f 165y

Class 4

16:10 Fontwell

Royal King

11st 11lb

J: Mr Jack Andrews

T: T Ellis

Couldn't justify favouritism at Huntingdon (extended 2m, good to soft) a fortnight ago, his first chase start in Britain; however, he went down only to a classy sort for a 0-120 in Teddy Blue and should have a part to play here.

7/2

2nd

5

20th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 104y

Class 4

16:15 Huntingdon

Royal King

10st 13lb

J: Mr Jack Andrews

T: T Ellis

Travelled comfortably until approaching the second-last when fourth in a handicap hurdle over an extended 2m4f here (soft) four weeks ago and the drop back to around 2m looks a good move on this first chase start in Britain (runner-up over fences in France); interesting runner.

11/2

4th

15

23rd Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 145y

Class 4

13:55 Huntingdon

Royal King

11st 2lb

J: Mr Jack Andrews

T: T Ellis

Ex-French maiden (nine races) who made the frame in his first two British starts but tailed off when 22-1 in a 2m handicap at Chepstow on latest; the step back up in trip (he tried 2m6f once in France) might help but he needs marked overall improvement and others have more pressing claims.

25/1

16/1

  • Place: £3.70

Form: P64P77 D

Last run: 11 days

W: 11st 1lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Scored off 6lb higher at Hexham (2m4f, good) in June but has struggled since, never dangerous at Sedgefield 11 days ago; needs a revival.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

5

4th Jun 2026

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 4

15:00 Uttoxeter

Belvedere Blast

11st 4lb

J: Oakley Brown

T: Adrian Paul Keatley

Five out of seven hurdles wins have been recorded in the month of June; mark and trip fine, but although once a winner after 151 days out his record following an absence is a bit mixed overall.

8/1

4

30th Oct 2025

Good To Firm

2m 7f 149y

Class 4

15:08 Newcastle

Belvedere Blast

11st 13lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Adrian Paul Keatley

Several flights were omitted when winning at Market Rasen (2m7f, good; visor refitted) but consistent in the main and perhaps needs further than the 2m4f he ran over last time; not ruled out.

6/1

Form: 123-13 CD

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 11lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Second-season hurdler who won over this C&D on reappearance and wasn't disgraced when a never-dangerous third of seven at Newbury four weeks ago; handles soft ground, 1-1 for Kevin Brogan and unlikely to be far away.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

25th Jul 2025

Good

1m 7f 214y

Class 4

16:58 Uttoxeter

Schmilsson

12st 2lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Flat bred but won his first two chases (2m, good), albeit with luck on his side the second time when left clear; latest run when last at Stratford just wasn't his true running; still looks competitively treated.

2/1

3

1st Jul 2025

Good To Firm

2m 0f 213y

Class 3

18:18 Stratford

Schmilsson

10st 5lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Not bred for chasing but is 2-2 since switched to fences in May; might have been fortunate at Perth last month (2m, good; leader fell at final fence) and is 2lb wrong here but still features prominently in calculations.

7/4

1st

2

8th Jun 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

15:22 Perth

Schmilsson

11st 4lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Flat/hurdles scorer; not totally fluent but easily beat Nathan Wells over C&D (good) last month on chase debut and looks open to further progress in this sphere; could well defy a 7lb rise.

11/10

Form: 1- CD

Last run: 308 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Filly

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Likeable 6yo with six Flat wins to her name, signing off her latest campaign with a good second at York in October; did everything right when making a winning hurdling debut over C&D (soft) last winter, jumping soundly and quickening readily; could be leniently treated for her handicap debut over hurdles and today's opposition does not look daunting.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13th

13

(20)

11th Oct 2025

Good

1m 2f 56y

Class 4

17:05 York

Yorkshire Lady

9st 8lb

J: Joanna Mason

T: Michael & David Easterby

Returned to winning form at Windsor (11.4f, soft) last month, but didn't shape as though he wanted a drop in trip when third of five at Pontefract (1m4f, good to soft) 17 days later; cheekpieces given a go.

16/1

3rd

1

(1)

18th Sep 2025

Good

1m 4f 5y

Class 4

14:52 Pontefract

Yorkshire Lady

10st 4lb

J: Joanna Mason

T: Michael & David Easterby

Took her Flat turf record to 7-29 when staying on to score at Windsor (11.5f, soft; 25-1) 17 days ago; despite her age she's not fully exposed at this sort of trip and a 2lb nudge looks workable; respected.

3/1

5

(9)

1st Sep 2025

Good

1m 3f 99y

Class 4

18:00 Windsor

Yorkshire Lady

9st 8lb

J: Joanna Mason

T: Michael & David Easterby

Northern mare whose overall record is 7-35; showed clear signs of a return to form last time; possibilities off same mark.

12/1

Form: 61165- D

Last run: 246 days

W: 11st 7lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Two Musselburgh wins in this sphere last winter and he was a fair fourth on the Flat there in November; may be capable of improvement now back over hurdles but it will be needed as his current mark looks stiff enough.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

(7)

1st Oct 2025

Good

1m 5f 216y

Class 6

16:38 Musselburgh

Rory The Cat

9st 3lb

J: Connor Beasley

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Went close off 8lb higher in this race (good) last year but he's generally struggled since (Flat and hurdles) and was a remote fourth of five here last time; that took his losing run to 12 and others are preferred.

15/2

4

(4)

14th Sep 2025

Good

1m 4f 104y

Class 6

15:25 Musselburgh

Rory The Cat

8st 11lb

J: Cian Horgan

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Won over 1m6f here last August off 3lb higher but below form since; showed a bit more when third of five over C&D (good) 19 days ago, however, and a further 2lb drop in the weights gives him a fighting chance.

5/2

2

(3)

26th Aug 2025

Good

1m 4f 104y

Class 6

16:50 Musselburgh

Rory The Cat

9st 9lb

J: Connor Beasley

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Now 1lb lower than his win here over 1m6f (good) last August but he's been well beaten in three starts this summer, on this track and at Ayr; bit to prove.

10/1

Form: 33-

Last run: 275 days

W: 10st 4lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 96

Form & Verdict
Third in two hurdles runs in the mud early in 2024, but didn't finish off two Flat races in the spring, running as if amiss on second occasion; bit to prove now back over hurdles in a handicap, although he's lightly raced at least.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

10

27th May 2026

Good

2m 6f 31y

Class 4

19:08 Cartmel

Rioja Alta

10st 11lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Micky Hammond

C&D winner off 2lb lower last summer (soft) and some respectable runs in the meantime; the latest at Perth wasn't one of them but he's hard to rule out.

8/1

5th

1

22nd Apr 2026

Soft

2m 7f 207y

Class 5

16:40 Perth

Rioja Alta

12st 0lb

J: Miss Becky Smith

T: Micky Hammond

Winner off 3lb lower at Cartmel last summer (2m6f, soft); two good runs this year, latest when third in a stronger race at Wetherby (3m, good to soft); chance down in grade.

9/2

3rd

11

17th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 26y

Class 4

16:22 Wetherby

Rioja Alta

10st 11lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Micky Hammond

Won at Cartmel (2m6f, soft) last July and he's worked his way back to form, finishing third of eight at Catterick (3m1f, soft) in January; faces tougher opposition today, however, and needs another step forward.

12/1

OUR TIP

Form: 77-179

Last run: 52 days

W: 11st 7lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Comes into the reckoning on a Bellewstown handicap win in a big field in August, but twice well held since (made a respiratory noise on first occasion) and subsequently sold cheaply from Gordon Elliott's yard; risky.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

18th Oct 2025

Good

2m 6f 7y

Class 5

17:05 Stratford

Leading Lion

10st 13lb

J: Freddie Mitchell

T: Max Comley

Won over hurdles for Gordon Elliott; lost his way for his next yard and struggles continued on debut for this one.

50/1

7

27th Sep 2025

Good

2m 2f 140y

Class 5

18:15 Market Rasen

Leading Lion

11st 4lb

J: Freddie Mitchell

T: Max Comley

Won over hurdles for Gordon Elliott in Ireland last summer but in poor form over hurdles and on the Flat for Tracy Leeson this year; makes debut for latest new stable with huge amount to prove; blinkers removed.

33/1

8

(10)

25th Aug 2025

Good

1m 2f 190y

Class 6

17:33 Ripon

Leading Lion

10st 8lb

J: Mr Joseph Stevenson

T: Tracey Leeson

Has been poor under both codes since his sole success over hurdles in Ireland a year ago; blinkers will need to have a dramatic effect.

66/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £10.50
Straight Forecast £13.54
Tricast £220.68
Trifecta £81.30

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Yorkshire Lady

D Express:

Rioja Alta

The Guardian:

Schmilsson

RP RATINGS:

Yorkshire Lady

TOPSPEED:

Yorkshire Lady

POSTDATA:

Yorkshire Lady

THE NORTH:

Yorkshire Lady

The Times:

Yorkshire Lady

Telegraph:

Yorkshire Lady

Daily Mail:

Yorkshire Lady

Daily Mirror:

Yorkshire Lady

The Sun:

Yorkshire Lady

The Star:

Yorkshire Lady

Daily Record:

Yorkshire Lady