December 28 / 14.35 Leicester

14.35

Heavy

Pertemps Network Leicestershire Bronze Fox Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £6426.28
  • 1m 7f 113y
  • Class 3
  • 9 runners
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Pertemps Network Leicestershire Bronze Fox Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

6/4 (Won)

  • Win: £3.00
  • Place: £1.20

Form: 2/1-42 D

Last run: 25 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 128

Form & Verdict
Ex-French 7yo who is very lightly raced; scored at Wetherby (2m, heavy) in March on British debut and back on song when plucky second to Cheltenham Festival winner Love Envoi on handicap debut at Sandown (2m, soft) early this month; raised 3lb but needs plenty of respect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

25th May 2024

Soft

2m 1f 61y

Class 3

18:15 Cartmel

Playful Saint

11st 10lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Three-time hurdle winner who recovered from significant jumping error at penultimate fence to make winning chase debut at Hexham (2m4f, good to soft) three weeks ago; can cope with today's drop back in trip and is probably still on a workable mark after recent 4lb rise.

2/1

1st

1

25th May 2024

Soft

2m 1f 61y

Class 3

18:15 Cartmel

Playful Saint

11st 10lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Three-time hurdle winner who recovered from significant jumping error at penultimate fence to make winning chase debut at Hexham (2m4f, good to soft) three weeks ago; can cope with today's drop back in trip and is probably still on a workable mark after recent 4lb rise.

2/1

OUR TIP

11/2

  • Place: £1.30

Form: 313-5P D

Last run: 32 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 126

Form & Verdict
Won a bumper on soft; largely consistent at about 2m on better ground last season as a novice hurdler, taking third of 16 in handicap at Aintree in April; below form at Ascot on reappearance and pulled when hooded over 2m4f at Newbury four weeks later but he could bounce back.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

10

28th Apr 2026

Yielding

2m 0f 132y

15:40 Punchestown

Washington

10st 4lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

Won well on seasonal return at Chepstow in October off 128 and 1lb lower now but he's suffered heavy defeats on his four starts since that success; leap of faith required to back him here.

40/1

3

1st Nov 2025

Good

1m 7f 157y

Class 2

15:10 Ascot

Washington

11st 9lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

Won at Chepstow last October and followed up in a valuable handicap in Ireland; struggled afterwards last season but returned three weeks ago with a win from Moveit Like Minnie in the same Chepstow race (2m, good) when they finished miles clear of the other four; back up 4lb; shortlisted.

11/2

3

1st Nov 2025

Good

1m 7f 157y

Class 2

15:10 Ascot

Washington

11st 9lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

Won at Chepstow last October and followed up in a valuable handicap in Ireland; struggled afterwards last season but returned three weeks ago with a win from Moveit Like Minnie in the same Chepstow race (2m, good) when they finished miles clear of the other four; back up 4lb; shortlisted.

11/2

16/1

  • Place: £3.60

Form: 7333-6 D

Last run: 25 days

W: 10st 12lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Can front-run; nearly all his best efforts have been on heavy going, albeit with last win in January 2020; thrown in on his old form and has a good shout judged on two of his efforts early this year; well beaten on reappearance this month (cheekpieces on last two starts) but it's possible he will have come on markedly since.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

6

25th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

1m 7f 168y

Class 5

12:47 Uttoxeter

Mcgowans Pass

11st 10lb

J: Ellis Collier

T: Jennie Candlish

Won on soft ground over 2m4f here last May but has suffered three serious defeats in the meantime and he's a 14yo now.

14/1

6th

6

25th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

1m 7f 168y

Class 5

12:47 Uttoxeter

Mcgowans Pass

11st 10lb

J: Ellis Collier

T: Jennie Candlish

Won on soft ground over 2m4f here last May but has suffered three serious defeats in the meantime and he's a 14yo now.

14/1

5th

8

31st Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 207y

Class 3

13:00 Uttoxeter

Mcgowans Pass

10st 9lb

J: William Shanahan

T: Jennie Candlish

disputed lead, not fluent 3rd, lost position after 4 out

16/1

Form: 30F-37 D

Last run: 39 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
Ran some creditable races last season, including on heavy ground, and he was not discredited on reappearance in October; tailed off on latest start, however, and his sole win from 22 starts was in March 2020; tongue tied last three starts and now has cheekpieces as well.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

3rd Jun 2026

Good

2m 0f 167y

Class 5

17:00 Newton Abbot

Zambezi Fix

12st 0lb

J: Ellis Collier

T: Bernard Llewellyn

Has been struggling for form since reappearing in October and offered little encouragement on April's return from just over two months off; has come a long way down in the weights and drops into a Class 5, but that's for good reason and he needs to turn things around.

12/1

6th

9

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 16y

Class 3

14:15 Chepstow

Zambezi Fix

10st 7lb

J: Harry Atkins

T: Bernard Llewellyn

All three hurdle wins have come over C&D but he failed to beat a rival here in December and was tailed off again at Ffos Las in January; overall record is now 4-48 and others are preferred.

16/1

6th

4

30th Jan 2026

Heavy

1m 7f 182y

Class 4

16:00 Ffos Las

Zambezi Fix

11st 11lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Bernard Llewellyn

Veteran who is normally suited by Chepstow but failed to beat a rival back there last time; not particularly solid on his form this season.

20/1

Form: 10/9P- D

Last run: 377 days

W: 11st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Won a 2m1f maiden and 2m2f novice early in 2021 on soft ground, but he's been tailed off or pulled up in all three of his handicaps; latest was in cheekpieces; had wind surgery later last December and not seen since; worth a market check.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

3rd Feb 2023

Good To Soft

2m 3f 100y

Class 4

16:05 Chepstow

Martinhal

11st 11lb

J: Fergus Gillard

T: David Pipe

Won a 2m1f maiden and 2m2f novice early in 2021 on soft ground, but he's done little in his four handicaps since; tongue tied last three starts and had wind surgery before latest; wore cheekpieces on penultimate start and now it's blinkers.

16/1

5th

5

28th Dec 2022

Heavy

1m 7f 113y

Class 3

14:35 Leicester

Martinhal

11st 6lb

J: Tom Scudamore

T: David Pipe

Won a 2m1f maiden and 2m2f novice early in 2021 on soft ground, but he's been tailed off or pulled up in all three of his handicaps; latest was in cheekpieces; had wind surgery later last December and not seen since; worth a market check.

8/1

Form: 330-23 BF

Last run: 42 days

W: 11st 1lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Tough task in the Fred Winter at Cheltenham on British debut; placed over 2m in a maiden at Fakenham (good) and novice at Hexham (soft) in his two races this season, coming from the rear on first occasion and soon having a big lead on second; tongue-tie returns (it was used in France, along with a hood); better may be possible in this handicap but it is needed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

12th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

15:50 Ffos Las

Milldam

12st 2lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

Five-time hurdle winner; inconsistent this season and not yet proven over this far but the form of his fifth in a valuable race at Windsor (2m, soft) in January reads very well in this context, and he didn't run badly when fourth at Stratford (2m, soft) last month; big player if on song.

8/1

4th

1

9th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 0f 70y

Class 3

15:20 Stratford

Milldam

12st 0lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

Won this from 3lb lower in 2024; ran creditably at Windsor (2m Class 2; fifth, 20-1) in January but pulled up in a premier handicap at Newbury subsequently; drying ground wouldn't play to his strengths.

20/1

11

7th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 0f 69y

Class 1

15:20 Newbury

Milldam

11st 3lb

J: Isabelle Ryder

T: Jamie Snowden

Steadily finding his form this season, respectable fifth to Hot Fuss at Windsor (soft) most recently; may be about to reach boiling point and he'll be particularly interesting if the ground is heavy, having been successful in last four attempts on that surface.

12/1

Form: 3781-P D

Last run: 43 days

W: 11st 3lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Seven races in France saw him win a bumper and in good style from the front (2m2f, soft) in one of his two starts over hurdles; bought for 55,000euros in November 2021; 16-1 and pulled up in handicap at Lingfield (2m3f, soft) six weeks ago when finally seen in Britain, making most, but that may have blown away a few cobwebs; market may guide again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

20th Apr 2025

Good

2m 3f 164y

Class 4

16:40 Plumpton

Heros

11st 10lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

disputed lead

12/1

2

20th Apr 2025

Good

2m 3f 164y

Class 4

16:40 Plumpton

Heros

11st 10lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

disputed lead, lost position and squeezed out 5th, dropped to rear 7th, struggling 9th, jockey looked down to see if something was amiss after 10th, soon eased and pulled up

12/1

4th

2

27th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 5f 150y

Class 4

15:00 Taunton

Heros

11st 7lb

J: Ned Fox

T: Venetia Williams

Dual 2m2f course winner last season; not at best on either outing this term but ran well to a point in stronger race than this at Sandown (2m4f, good to soft) a fortnight ago and is sure to be suited by the return to this track; might be the answer.

11/2

Form: UU53-3

Last run: 242 days

W: 11st 9lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
Won twice (2m3f/2m4f) over hurdles in Ireland in 2020; appeared to be running with credit when he twice unseated over fences last winter but he's been below form since; tried cheekpieces/visor on last two outings (both are absent today) and the latter was a step back in the right direction, before today's return to hurdles, but others have more pressing claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

21st Feb 2025

Soft

2m 3f 0y

Class 4

15:40 Warwick

Barnaviddaun

11st 6lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: David Bridgwater

Won twice over hurdles in Ireland in 2020 but was out of form over fences when last seen in February/March 2023 and it's hard to tell how much ability he retains as a 12yo.

40/1

9th

10

6th Mar 2023

Good

3m 0f 60y

Class 4

13:15 Southwell

Barnaviddaun

11st 2lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: David Bridgwater

disputed lead, pressed leader from 6th, not fluent and lost position 14th, ridden when towards rear after 16th

25/1

Form: /1P-17

Last run: 46 days

W: 11st 5lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Three wins from six starts when trained in France, including in May (2m2f, soft) on final outing there; well beaten in handicap at Wetherby last month on British debut but that was on good ground and it's possible he will be a very different proposition today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

3

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 187y

Class 1

15:45 Newbury

Issam

11st 9lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Tom Symonds

Seemed a non-stayer over 3m on penultimate start; readily justified favouritism at Kempton (2m4f, good to soft) latest, taking chase record to 3-6 and overall strike-rate to 9-25; largely progressive and a useful 3lb is claimed with Callum Pritchard back on board; one to consider.

8/1

1st

3

2nd Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 3

15:07 Kempton

Issam

11st 10lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Tom Symonds

Out of the money over 3m at Ascot last time, seeming a non-stayer; solid record otherwise since switched to fences, winning twice and posting two sound efforts; may have more to offer back down in trip; not ruled out.

9/2

6th

2

17th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 185y

Class 3

13:00 Ascot

Issam

12st 0lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Tom Symonds

Overall strike-rate is 8-23; solid set of form figures (1213) since switch to fences, keeping on for creditable effort at Ascot (2m3f, good to soft) most recently; should be thereabouts provided he stays this new trip.

9/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £8.30
Straight Forecast £7.64
Tricast £58.35
Trifecta £63.40

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Playful Saint

TOPSPEED:

Washington

LAMBOURN:

Milldam

The Star:

Issam

The Guardian:

Martinhal

RP Ratings:

Zambezi Fix

WEST COUNTRY:

Barnaviddaun

Telegraph:

Washington

POSTDATA:

Playful Saint

The Times:

Playful Saint

Daily Mail:

Playful Saint

D Express:

Playful Saint

Daily Mirror:

Playful Saint

The Sun:

Playful Saint

Daily Record:

Playful Saint