December 08 / 13.52 Newcastle

13.52

Good To Soft

Living North Christmas Fair Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4901.4
  • 2m 6f 0y
  • Class 4
  • 5 runners
SKY
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Living North Christmas Fair Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

OUR TIP

4/5 (Won)

  • Win: £1.40

Form: 21-1

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Showed promise in bumpers, winning his second one when odds-on at Sedgefield (good) in April; looked useful when the easy 17l winner of a Catterick novices' contest (2m3f, soft) on last month's hurdling debut; should improve again up in trip and will be hard to beat under a penalty.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

17th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 26y

Class 4

16:22 Wetherby

Imperial Merlin

12st 0lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: John & Sean Quinn

Pulled up at Warwick in January last time but was in pretty good heart towards the end of last year and he's now 1lb lower than when winning at Haydock (3m, good) last March; also handles soft; capable of going well.

12/1

1

23rd Jan 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 5y

Class 4

14:37 Warwick

Imperial Merlin

12st 2lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: John & Sean Quinn

Only 1lb higher than for his Haydock win over a similar trip last March; does have a lot of weight though and was only fifth at Haydock last time, finishing just behind Gwennie May Star.

8/1

2

5th Sep 2025

Good

2m 7f 32y

Class 3

16:45 Bangor-on-Dee

Imperial Merlin

11st 10lb

J: James Bowen

T: John & Sean Quinn

Not well handicapped but arrives here after a 3l second of eight at Uttoxeter when tried in cheekpieces (2m7f, good); no reason why he won't be involved once more.

6/1

Form: 193

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Dual British point winner (2m4f/3m) who won a point-to-point bumper at Aintree (good) on his rules debut; well beaten on hurdles debut at Wetherby (2m3f, good to soft) but returned to that C&D (good) to post a much better effort latest; needs more improvement and has a bit to prove on slow ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

4th Oct 2024

Good

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

16:05 Hexham

Macavity

11st 6lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Tristan Davidson

Has won a point and a bumper; placed twice in handicap chases this summer until below-par run at Worcester last time; more exposed than most.

12/1

10th

4

1st Sep 2024

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 5

14:10 Worcester

Macavity

11st 9lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Tristan Davidson

Won his only bumper; 0-13 jumping under rules (3-6 in points) but placed in good-ground handicap chases at Uttoxeter (3m2f) and Perth (3m) on last two outings; place chance again.

15/2

2nd

6

17th Aug 2024

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 5

18:05 Perth

Macavity

11st 4lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Tristan Davidson

Turned over at short odds on final start for Jack Teal, and didn't offer much on his first two starts for this trainer; better when a staying on third in similar company at Uttoxeter (3m2f, good 14-1) latest; 2lb higher and others favoured.

4/1

Form: 536

Last run: 12 days

W: 11st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Has shown glimpses of ability in two bumpers and most recently a maiden hurdle here (2m, good to soft) last month; this step up in trip looks positive but he needs significant improvement to get involved.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

10

6th Sep 2024

Good

2m 0f 145y

Class 5

17:05 Bangor-on-Dee

Brians Jet

10st 11lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Brian Ellison

0-16 over hurdles but all five of this season's runs were respectable and he continues to edge down the weights; swaps cheekpieces for refitted blinkers here; probably won't be far away.

12/1

6th

10

17th Aug 2024

Good

2m 2f 140y

Class 5

19:50 Market Rasen

Brians Jet

10st 5lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Brian Ellison

midfield, headway after 3 out, disputing fourth 2 out, no extra run-in

12/1

Form: 2263-1

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Irish point winner (third start); placed in three of his four bumper runs for this trainer; showed a good attitude to score by 3l on his hurdling debut at Uttoxeter (2m4f, good) last month (the third gave that form a solid look when placed again on Tuesday); player under a penalty.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

11

9th May 2026

Good

3m 2f 0y

16:45 Killarney

Supreme Gift

10st 2lb

J: G B Noonan

T: E McNamara

Second runner for yard; won five times over hurdles and once over fences when trained in UK; three chase starts for this yard with best run coming when fifth at Limerick; needs a fair bit more.

25/1

16

6th Apr 2026

Yielding To Soft

3m 0f 120y

17:40 Fairyhouse

Supreme Gift

10st 10lb

J: Calum Hogan

T: E McNamara

Useful performer for Henry Daly, winning six races, including an Ascot handicap chase; modest form in two starts for this stable, albeit trip and testing ground probably not ideal on latest; new cheekpieces need to spark.

25/1

Form: 58

Last run: 172 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Had one or two issues to contend with in his two bumper runs but from a good family and could turn out to be better than he was able to show, now tackling obstacles; check the market for clues on hurdles debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

8th Dec 2022

Good To Soft

2m 6f 0y

Class 4

13:52 Newcastle

Im Dougal Rocks

11st 0lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Micky Hammond

Had one or two issues to contend with in his two bumper runs but from a good family and could turn out to be better than he was able to show, now tackling obstacles; check the market for clues on hurdles debut.

25/1

1

22nd Nov 2022

Soft

2m 3f 188y

Class 4

13:25 Sedgefield

Im Dougal Rocks

11st 4lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Micky Hammond

Had excuses in early-season bumpers at this course (bit slipped through mouth) and Hexham (finished lame); from a good family and looks a possible improver now hurdling.

33/1

Non-runners

I'm Dougal Rocks

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £4.70
Straight Forecast £5.70
Trifecta £20.40

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Imperial Merlin

TOPSPEED:

Supreme Gift

RP Ratings:

Imperial Merlin

The Times:

Imperial Merlin

Telegraph:

Imperial Merlin

The Guardian:

Imperial Merlin

D Express:

Imperial Merlin

Daily Mirror:

Imperial Merlin

The Star:

Imperial Merlin

Daily Record:

Imperial Merlin

POSTDATA:

Supreme Gift

Daily Mail:

Supreme Gift

The Sun:

Supreme Gift