December 20 / 14.00 Plumpton

14.00

Good To Soft

Theo’s Charm Memorial Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4901.4
  • 1m 7f 195y
  • Class 4
  • 13 runners
SKY
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Theo’s Charm Memorial Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 13 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

5/1 (Won)

  • Win: £3.50
  • Place: £1.50

Form: 1-

Last run: 306 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Closely related to useful hurdler Easy As That; created pretty good impression when winning soft-ground Fontwell bumper for Anthony Honeyball in February; changed hands for £26,000 soon afterwards and now makes his stable/hurdle debut; must be considered.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

17th Dec 2023

Good To Soft

3m 1f 0y

Class 2

14:10 Carlisle

Howlingmadmurdock

11st 12lb

J: Cameron Iles

T: Tom Lacey

in touch with leaders in centre of group, not fluent 5th

5/2

8th

3

25th Nov 2023

Good To Soft

3m 0f 58y

Class 1

14:20 Haydock

Howlingmadmurdock

11st 11lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Tom Lacey

Progressed every time in his five-race career, all on soft, including when winning his only handicap (Sandown 2m4f) and when fifth of 15 when 40-1 in Grade 1 novice at Aintree in April; there's a concern that the latter has blown his handicap mark (10lb rise) but he's so lightly raced, he's surely open to further improvement.

25/1

5th

4

14th Apr 2023

Good To Soft

3m 0f 149y

Class 1

16:40 Aintree

Howlingmadmurdock

11st 8lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Tom Lacey

Drew a long way clear of the others with a next-time-out winner when scoring on handicap debut at Sandown (2m4f) last month and is now 2-3 over hurdles; this is a big jump up in grade from 0-120 company but he could quite plausibly have a lot more improvement to come over 3m; raced only on soft ground.

20/1

4/1

  • Place: £1.50

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Useful Flat-racer who looked as good as ever when winning at Nottingham (1m6f, soft; RPR 101) in October; looks a very interesting recruit to hurdling.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

22nd May 2026

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 4

19:41 Worcester

Prince Imperial

12st 0lb

J: Beau Morgan

T: Jake Thomas Coulson

Won four of his first five for Olly Murphy (including a handicap off 12lb higher) but looks to have lost his way, having been pulled up on his last three starts.

100/1

5

5th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 2f 191y

Class 4

15:15 Haydock

Prince Imperial

11st 8lb

J: Philip Armson

T: Jake Thomas Coulson

Won four of his first five for Olly Murphy (including a handicap off 8lb higher) but he's yet to get going for this yard and was pulled up on his last two starts, latterly when 200-1 at Southwell one month ago.

100/1

1

2nd Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 88y

Class 4

15:52 Southwell

Prince Imperial

12st 0lb

J: Sean Grantham

T: Jake Thomas Coulson

Flat winner who won four handicap hurdles at around this trip on good/good to soft for Olly Murphy; below-par on both starts for new yard; bit to prove now.

40/1

6/1

  • Place: £2.60

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Unplaced in three Irish Flat maidens for Johnny Murtagh in 2021 but ran to a fair level on two occasions (1m5f/1m4f) and has joined a top stable for his hurdling career; had wind op during the summer and is fitted with a first-time tongue-tie today; interesting to see how he fares.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

8th Jan 2024

Soft

2m 3f 1y

Class 3

15:00 Taunton

Killaloan

11st 9lb

J: Angus Cheleda

T: Paul Nicholls

Triple hurdle winner last season (twice here); ran very poorly on the Flat in October, after a break, but was very respectable third when back over hurdles at Wincanton (2m4f, soft; first-time cheekpieces) in November; seemingly overlooked by Harry Cobden today but still enters calculations.

10/1

3rd

4

23rd Nov 2023

Soft

2m 3f 179y

Class 3

14:40 Wincanton

Killaloan

11st 9lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

in touch with leaders, headway and prominent 5th

4/1

11th

1

(4)

18th Oct 2023

Soft

2m 1f 24y

Class 6

17:45 Bath

Killaloan

10st 3lb

J: Jim Crowley

T: Paul Nicholls

5yo who made it 3-5 over hurdles when completing a hat-trick in Ludlow handicap (2m, soft) in March; pulled up in final run in the spring but he's on a dangerous mark on this return to the Flat and is still unexposed in this sphere; interesting contender for yard that won this in 2018 and 2020.

7/2

Form: 934-64

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Showed ability in Irish bumpers but ended up 0-8 in that sphere, and made just a mildly encouraging stable/hurdle debut when well-held fourth at Southwell (2m, good) three weeks ago.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

17th Jul 2025

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 5

19:50 Worcester

Shandancer

11st 11lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole

Often lacks fluency over his hurdles but started off for current stable with two good efforts last spring (2m4f/2m3f); will be fine over today's longer trip and Harry Cobden is a good booking for this reappearance run.

7/1

2nd

1

18th May 2024

Good

2m 3f 123y

Class 5

18:50 Bangor-on-Dee

Shandancer

12st 0lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole

0-12 over hurdles and much more exposed than some of these but kept on for very respectable third on last month's stable debut at Plumpton (2m4f, good; clear winner has won twice again since) and will probably be competitive again here.

3/1

2nd

1

18th May 2024

Good

2m 3f 123y

Class 5

18:50 Bangor-on-Dee

Shandancer

12st 0lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole

0-12 over hurdles and much more exposed than some of these but kept on for very respectable third on last month's stable debut at Plumpton (2m4f, good; clear winner has won twice again since) and will probably be competitive again here.

3/1

Form: 6-25

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
No match for wide-margin winner when second of six on hurdling debut in October and again raced too freely when well-held fifth at Newbury (2m, good) last month; can do better if/when he learns to settle but others appeal more here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

5

1st Feb 2025

Soft

2m 3f 85y

Class 3

14:08 Wetherby

No No Tango

11st 5lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Harry Derham

Lightly raced for his age and produced career-best performance when making all on seasonal/stable debut at Wincanton (2m3f, soft) in December; fell mid-race at Haydock a fortnight ago but remains open to further progress for Harry Derham; must be considered.

5/2

Form: 7

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Fairly useful Flat-racer at his best but raced too freely and finished last of seven on recent hurdling debut at Leicester (1m7f, good to soft); needs to have learnt a lot from that experience.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

2

(6)

1st Jun 2023

Good To Firm

2m 0f 68y

Class 5

17:12 Lingfield

Downsman

9st 9lb

J: Neil Callan

T: Jim Boyle

dwelt start, took keen hold, in rear

7/1

3rd

5

(3)

8th May 2023

Good To Soft

1m 3f 99y

Class 4

18:45 Windsor

Downsman

9st 0lb

J: Hector Crouch

T: Jim Boyle

Failed to shine when tried over hurdles on last five starts; no significant impact last year on the Flat except for first time out but the handicapper is giving him a chance and he's not ruled in new headgear; both wins were in 2021 on heavy going.

11/2

6

(8)

4th May 2023

Soft

1m 4f 5y

Class 4

16:20 Salisbury

Downsman

9st 2lb

J: Charlie Bennett

T: Jim Boyle

Failed to shine when tried over hurdles on last five starts; no significant impact last year on Flat except for first time out but the handicapper is giving him an increasing chance; both wins were in 2021 on heavy going.

33/1

Form: 32-11 D

Last run: 33 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Delivered on earlier promise when winning good-ground Sedgefield bumper in October and finished well to follow up on last month's hurdling debut at Wincanton (1m7f, good); takes on males and has a penalty to shoulder this time, but still enters calculations.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

9

21st Apr 2023

Good To Soft

3m 0f 70y

Class 2

15:35 Ayr

Ebonello

10st 4lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

held up in rear on inner, mistake 9th

14/1

12th

9

25th Mar 2023

Good To Soft

2m 4f 118y

Class 1

14:40 Newbury

Ebonello

11st 6lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

Disappointing favourite on penultimate start but otherwise consistent; creditable second at Carlisle (2m3f) latest; however, likely needs some improvement to win this prize.

20/1

2nd

2

6th Feb 2023

Soft

2m 3f 61y

Class 4

14:45 Carlisle

Ebonello

11st 9lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

Steadily progressive until flopping on soft ground seven weeks ago when bidding for hat-trick; her wins (2m1f/1m7f) in Sedgefield bumper and Wincanton maiden hurdle came on good going so soft ground is a concern.

9/2

Form: 5

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
0-19 on the Flat; has some fairly useful form on his record but knocks about in run-of-the-mill handicaps nowadays and was soundly beaten when 50-1 for recent hurdling debut at Southwell.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

9th Feb 2023

Good To Soft

1m 7f 182y

Class 5

13:58 Ffos Las

Knowwhentorun

10st 13lb

J: David Noonan

T: Roger Teal

took keen hold, held up in rear, not fluent 2nd, ridden and became detached after 4 out, pulled up before 3 out

7/1

6th

4

9th Jan 2023

Soft

2m 0f 104y

Class 4

14:30 Taunton

Knowwhentorun

11st 8lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Roger Teal

19-race maiden on Flat; comfortably held in two attempts over hurdles, modest fifth at Southwell then eighth at Plumpton; unappealing.

25/1

8th

9

20th Dec 2022

Good To Soft

1m 7f 195y

Class 4

14:00 Plumpton

Knowwhentorun

11st 0lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Roger Teal

0-19 on the Flat; has some fairly useful form on his record but knocks about in run-of-the-mill handicaps nowadays and was soundly beaten when 50-1 for recent hurdling debut at Southwell.

100/1

Form: 774/7

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Made fairly encouraging hurdle debut over 2m7f in April 2021 but wasn't seen again until tailed off at Newbury last month (2m4f) and is not the percentage call today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

2

20th Dec 2022

Good To Soft

1m 7f 195y

Class 4

14:00 Plumpton

American Legacy

11st 0lb

J: James Bowen

T: Warren Greatrex

Made fairly encouraging hurdle debut over 2m7f in April 2021 but wasn't seen again until tailed off at Newbury last month (2m4f) and is not the percentage call today.

33/1

7th

3

25th Nov 2022

Good

2m 4f 118y

Class 3

13:20 Newbury

American Legacy

11st 0lb

J: James Bowen

T: Warren Greatrex

Point winner who showed ability in a bumper and maiden hurdle in spring 2021, but improvement is required on this first outing since.

40/1

Form: 9-0

Last run: 48 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Won slow-ground Irish point in April but was well beaten on last month's stable/hurdle debut and is probably one for further down the line.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

4

20th Dec 2022

Good To Soft

1m 7f 195y

Class 4

14:00 Plumpton

Doubtcha Mossy Boy

11st 0lb

J: Mitchell Bastyan

T: Paul Henderson

Won slow-ground Irish point in April but was well beaten on last month's stable/hurdle debut and is probably one for further down the line.

100/1

12th

3

2nd Nov 2022

Good To Soft

2m 3f 100y

Class 4

15:22 Chepstow

Doubtcha Mossy Boy

11st 4lb

J: Tom O’Brien

T: Paul Henderson

Looked nice in winning his Irish point but then finished stone-cold last when 11-1 for a Cork bumper (2m3f, soft/heavy); wore a tongue-tie then but not now; rather watch.

40/1

Form: 77-

Last run: 335 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Not beaten far when midfield in Listed Ascot bumper a year ago; well beaten after refusing to settle in Newbury bumper a few weeks later and comes with risk attached on today's seasonal/hurdle debut but is seemingly held in some regard.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

(7)

29th May 2025

Standard

1m 7f 169y

Class 6

14:30 Lingfield (AW)

Onesteptwosteps

9st 8lb

J: Rhys Clutterbuck

T: Nick Gifford

0-11 (Flat/jumps); made most when fifth of ten at Kempton (1m4f, AW) last August but pulled up when reported to have made a respiratory noise over fences at Lingfield (2m, soft) in December; best watched on return from 171 days off.

20/1

2

(7)

29th May 2025

Standard

1m 7f 169y

Class 6

14:30 Lingfield (AW)

Onesteptwosteps

9st 8lb

J: Rhys Clutterbuck

T: Nick Gifford

0-11 (Flat/jumps); made most when fifth of ten at Kempton (1m4f, AW) last August but pulled up when reported to have made a respiratory noise over fences at Lingfield (2m, soft) in December; best watched on return from 171 days off.

20/1

6

9th Dec 2024

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

13:00 Lingfield

Onesteptwosteps

10st 2lb

J: James Davies

T: Nick Gifford

Well beaten in three maiden/novice hurdles during 2022-23 season and has not raced over jumps since he was pulled up on chase/handicap debut 13 months ago; can't be recommended on that evidence but has shown some ability on the Flat this year and remains very unexposed over fences.

10/1

Form: 16

Last run: 39 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

25th Jul 2025

Good

2m 3f 207y

Class 4

16:23 Uttoxeter

Getaway Drumlee

11st 4lb

J: Elliott England

T: Ben Pauling

Ran fairly well when second over hurdles at Fontwell (2m5f, good) in May, albeit no threat to winner Doc McCoy and subsequently disqualified after rider weighed in light, but was tailed off over fences last month and has become unreliable.

20/1

4th

3

18th Jun 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 3

15:15 Worcester

Getaway Drumlee

11st 4lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

Ran fairly well when second over hurdles at Fontwell (2m5f, good) last month, albeit no threat to winner and subsequently disqualified after rider weighed in light; reverts to chasing on a workable mark but seemingly not in peak form this year.

6/1

1

25th May 2025

Good

2m 5f 164y

Class 4

14:58 Fontwell

Getaway Drumlee

12st 2lb

J: Elliott England

T: Ben Pauling

Ran well on both visits here, winning over hurdles last March and second over fences in December; however, he's been out of form elsewhere on his last three outings, back hurdling on last two, and now has tongue tied first time; not proven over this far; 10lb claimer is recruited.

8/1

OUR TIP

Form: 53-1 D

Last run: 229 days

W: 11st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Shaped with significant promise in first two bumpers before justifying odds-on favouritism at Huntingdon (good) in May; makes hurdling debut after 229-day absence but is a contender if fully tuned up.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

14th Feb 2025

Good

2m 0f 3y

Class 5

14:38 Fakenham

Diamond Egg

11st 9lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Henrietta C Knight

Won maiden hurdle for Chris Gordon in spring 2023 but returned from long absence with two very disappointing handicap runs for new stable this season; drops in grade here and may be aided by the refitted tongue-tie but needs to prove some ability remains.

25/1

14

1st Feb 2025

Good To Soft

1m 7f 124y

Class 4

16:27 Musselburgh

Diamond Egg

11st 3lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Henrietta C Knight

Bumper winner who landed a maiden hurdle at Wincanton (1m7f, good) in April 2023 for Chris Gordon; he was returning from a long absence when tailed off at 66-1 at Ascot six weeks ago (stable debut) and may have needed that run, but he needs to prove how much ability he retains.

25/1

14

1st Feb 2025

Good To Soft

1m 7f 124y

Class 4

16:27 Musselburgh

Diamond Egg

11st 3lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Henrietta C Knight

Bumper winner who landed a maiden hurdle at Wincanton (1m7f, good) in April 2023 for Chris Gordon; he was returning from a long absence when tailed off at 66-1 at Ascot six weeks ago (stable debut) and may have needed that run, but he needs to prove how much ability he retains.

25/1

Non-runners

Getaway Drumlee, Diamond Egg

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £11.90
Straight Forecast £11.75
Trifecta £96.60

Selections

RP Ratings:

Ebonello

Daily Mail:

Diamond Egg

SPOTLIGHT:

Prince Imperial

LAMBOURN:

Ebonello

The Times:

Ebonello

Telegraph:

Ebonello

The Guardian:

Ebonello

D Express:

Ebonello

The Sun:

Ebonello

The Star:

Ebonello

Daily Record:

Ebonello

Daily Mirror:

Diamond Egg

POSTDATA:

Prince Imperial