December 31 / 13.43 Uttoxeter

13.43

Good To Soft

In Memory Of June Taylor Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £11109.84
  • 2m 3f 207y
  • Class 3
  • 13 runners
SKY
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In Memory Of June Taylor Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 13 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

9/1 (Won)

  • Win: £4.60
  • Place: £1.80

Form: 5F31-2 C BF

Last run: 37 days

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Bumper winner; showed improved form as a chaser last season and he's still a maiden over hurdles, albeit a lightly raced one who was clear of the rest when second in a Taunton novice last month; won off this mark over fences and he'll like the ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

7

6th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 48y

Class 3

15:40 Exeter

Can You Call

11st 3lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Evan Williams

All wins have come on left-handed tracks, the latest comfortably at Cheltenham in December (2m4f, good to soft; 7lb lower); does have form going this way around and just appeared to have an off-day last time at Sandown; considered.

5/1

11

26th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 104y

Class 2

14:05 Fontwell

Can You Call

10st 9lb

T: Evan Williams

Just 1-12 over fences but was in good form last winter when last seen, finishing second on consecutive outings at Chepstow (2m3f, soft) and Ludlow (2m4f, good to soft), and Sean Bowen is a good booking here.

5/1

12/1

  • Place: £2.20

Form: 423-54

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 3lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Beaten favourite on four occasions last season during his novice campaign, winning just the once; his second run back, finishing fourth to Love Envoi at Sandown (2m, soft), was better than the first, and he can improve again; stays this far.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

13th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

16:22 Hexham

Hermes Boy

11st 10lb

J: Ross Chapman

T: Russell Ross

A fair winning hurdler at 2m5f but he's offered little in two runs over fences this term, pulled up at Carlisle (2m4f) 24 days ago; others are much preferred.

20/1

5

17th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 210y

Class 4

16:30 Carlisle

Hermes Boy

11st 9lb

J: Ross Chapman

T: Russell Ross

Won over hurdles for Jane Williams last February but struggled on final two runs for that yard and same story when back over fences at Ayr last month on his stable and seasonal debut; others have less to prove.

50/1

5

2nd Jan 2025

Soft

2m 0f 110y

Class 4

13:10 Ayr

Hermes Boy

11st 8lb

J: Ross Chapman

T: Russell Ross

Won over hurdles for Jane Williams last February; however, struggled on final two runs for that yard and he was pulled up in his sole chase in November 2023; sold for £2,000 last May; may be best watched on stable debut.

12/1

6/1

  • Place: £2.00

Form: 3-4172

Last run: 41 days

W: 11st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Had 11 runs for Henry De Bromhead, winning a maiden hurdle but steered clear of handicaps; made a very positive debut for Kerry Lee when pushing subsequent clearcut Cheltenham winner Punctuation to a neck over C&D (soft) last month; finished 9l clear of everything else so hard to grumble about a 4lb rise.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

21st Mar 2024

Soft

2m 4f 11y

Class 4

15:05 Ludlow

Kings Keeper

11st 6lb

J: Richard Patrick

T: Kerry Lee

Runs off a mark fully 10lb lower than when winning over hurdles at Ffos Las (2m4f, soft) in January 2023; however, he's been a long way below that level this season over fences and the first-time blinkers (replacing cheekpieces) need to prompt major improvement.

13/2

4th

2

9th Mar 2024

Soft

2m 4f 194y

Class 4

14:52 Hereford

Kings Keeper

11st 5lb

J: Richard Patrick

T: Kerry Lee

Hurdle winner of 5lb higher in early 2023; entitled to have needed the run when well-held fifth on return to chasing in November but dropped away very tamely in straight at Chepstow in January and comes here with some questions to answer.

9/2

0

1

24th Jan 2024

Soft

2m 3f 98y

Class 4

15:45 Chepstow

Kings Keeper

12st 2lb

J: Richard Patrick

T: Kerry Lee

held up in rear, outpaced 4 out

7/1

Form: 1- D

Last run: 421 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Runner-up in an Irish point (yielding) and awarded a Warwick novice hurdle (2m3f, good) last November after a narrow defeat; on that form he looks temptingly handicapped.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

7

21st Aug 2024

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 4

17:25 Worcester

Blue Stello

11st 3lb

J: Joe Anderson

T: Emma Lavelle

Good-ground novice winner in these colours for Nicky Henderson, for whom he signed off with a modest first attempt at chasing; found to have an irregular heartbeat after disappointing over hurdles on return from an absence; bit to prove on a few counts.

14/1

8

21st Jul 2024

Good

2m 6f 7y

Class 4

13:50 Stratford

Blue Stello

11st 3lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Emma Lavelle

Good-ground novice winner in these colours for Nicky Henderson, for whom he signed off with a modest first attempt at chasing; remains lightly raced and stable can ready one after an absence.

9/1

3rd

2

13th May 2023

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

18:55 Warwick

Blue Stello

11st 6lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

led, hit 5th, briefly headed 7th, joined 10th, headed after 3 out, ridden before 2 out, soon weakened

9/2

Form: 1332-3 C BF

Last run: 49 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Won a course maiden over 2m (soft) and later remained competitive in novice company; also plenty to like about his handicap debut at Wetherby (good) when perhaps in need of the run; back on softer ground and up in trip, he's well worth considering.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

24th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 123y

Class 5

19:40 Bangor-on-Dee

Risk DArgent

12st 0lb

J: Mr Frederick Philipson-Stow

T: Alastair Ralph

prominent, lost ground after 2nd, towards rear when fell 7th

25/1

1

24th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 123y

Class 5

19:40 Bangor-on-Dee

Risk DArgent

12st 0lb

J: Mr Frederick Philipson-Stow

T: Alastair Ralph

prominent, lost ground after 2nd, towards rear when fell 7th

25/1

11

29th Mar 2025

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 4

17:05 Uttoxeter

Risk DArgent

10st 11lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Alastair Ralph

mistake 8th

16/1

OUR TIP

Form: 2/1-75 D

Last run: 27 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
Raced freely and made all to win by a distance in a Fontwell novice (2m3f, soft) last season; unable to repeat the feat in a Cheltenham handicap three weeks ago (2m5f, good), and again raced freely when ridden with restraint in a hood at Huntingdon (2m); ability is respected but he's looking his own worst enemy at the minute.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

8th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 189y

Class 1

13:50 Huntingdon

Nickle Back

11st 7lb

J: James Best

T: Sarah Humphrey

Often goes off in a clear lead and he wasn't for catching a few times as a novice chaser last season, the highlight his success in Grade 1 at Sandown (2m4f, good); could steal this race but the removal of his usual hood presents a question mark.

9/1

4th

4

8th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 189y

Class 1

13:50 Huntingdon

Nickle Back

11st 7lb

J: James Best

T: Sarah Humphrey

Often goes off in a clear lead and he wasn't for catching a few times as a novice chaser last season, the highlight his success in Grade 1 at Sandown (2m4f, good); could steal this race but the removal of his usual hood presents a question mark.

9/1

1

27th Apr 2024

Good

2m 4f 10y

Class 2

16:45 Sandown

Nickle Back

12st 0lb

J: James Best

T: Sarah Humphrey

took keen hold, led, clear 2nd, not fluent 4th, reduced lead after 6th, mistake 12th, headed just before 3 out, soon weakened quickly and pulled up

11/4

Form: 133114 CD BF

Last run: 108 days

W: 11st 0lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Well placed to win five handicaps during 2022 but perhaps high in the weights now after finishing only fourth of five at Kelso in September.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

3rd Oct 2023

Good

2m 5f 28y

Class 4

15:10 Sedgefield

Latino Fling

12st 0lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

raced in third

6/5

1st

2

31st Aug 2023

Good

2m 4f 205y

Class 4

17:30 Stratford

Latino Fling

11st 7lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

took keen hold, prominent, raced in second from 3rd, led narrowly 4 out

3/1

Form: 3/221/

Last run: 798 days

W: 10st 6lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Progressive when last seen, winning a Kelso handicap by 8l off only 2lb lower; however, has a 798-day absence to overcome in a warm race.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

6th Apr 2023

Good To Soft

2m 3f 154y

Class 4

15:10 Wetherby

Rob Royal

11st 0lb

J: Max Kendrick

T: Jake Thomas Coulson

raced in last

33/1

6th

4

19th Mar 2023

Soft

2m 1f 0y

Class 5

16:45 Carlisle

Rob Royal

11st 9lb

J: Toby Wynne

T: Jake Thomas Coulson

towards rear, jumped left 1st

25/1

8th

1

28th Jan 2023

Good To Soft

1m 7f 168y

Class 5

12:15 Uttoxeter

Rob Royal

12st 0lb

J: Toby Wynne

T: Jake Thomas Coulson

took keen hold, soon led at steady pace, disputed lead from 3rd, shaken up after 5th

20/1

Form: /3P32-

Last run: 298 days

W: 11st 1lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Only 2-35 and his last win was well over four years ago; running okay over fences when last seen and he was placed on his final hurdle start, though that was more than three years ago; closing in fast on turning 12 and would be a surprise winner.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

24th May 2023

Good

3m 1f 100y

Class 5

15:20 Warwick

Ballycross

12st 0lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: D J Jeffreys

Regressive 12yo who struggled on all three starts for new stable last season, most recently when swapping cheekpieces for first-time blinkers (retained) over C&D in March; urgently needs to stop the rot.

16/1

1

8th May 2023

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 5

13:15 Worcester

Ballycross

11st 11lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: D J Jeffreys

Regressive 12yo who struggled on all three starts for new stable last season, most recently when swapping cheekpieces for first-time blinkers (retained) in March; urgently needs to stop the rot.

25/1

7

23rd Apr 2023

Good

3m 1f 152y

Class 4

15:30 Plumpton

Ballycross

11st 2lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: D J Jeffreys

Over five years since his last win; some promise last season but yet to fire in three runs for current stable; down in the weights but with a lot to prove.

25/1

Form: 1/124-

Last run: 367 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 128

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

5th

2

24th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 3

15:47 Perth

Go Dante

12st 1lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Added to his excellent Sandown record when winning over 2m on soft in December; below par since, including a never-dangerous seventh when bidding for a third successive Imperial Cup back at Sandown, but this is the first time he's dropped to a Class 3 since winning at Cheltenham in December 2023; yard has won the last two runnings of this.

7/1

7th

4

7th Mar 2026

Soft

1m 7f 216y

Class 2

14:27 Sandown

Go Dante

11st 7lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

10yo who was well beaten at Windsor in January and pulled up at Newbury last month; however, he's had wind surgery since and there can be optimism he'll be a different proposition now back here, having won the last two runnings of this race (soft/good to soft) and also scored over C&D in December.

12/1

2

7th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 0f 69y

Class 1

15:20 Newbury

Go Dante

11st 10lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Beaten twice off lower marks in this race (third in 2024, seventh in 2025) and seems unlikely to make it third time lucky; unbeaten at Sandown and likely to be more persuasive back there next month for a crack at an Imperial Cup hat-trick.

33/1

Form: 41522- BF

Last run: 311 days

W: 11st 8lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
French juvenile hurdle winner on heavy; beaten when prominent in the market in his three runs last winter but he finished a respectable second in last two starts (2m/2m3f) and has had wind surgery since; still has potential after only five runs and he needs a close look on his handicap/seasonal debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

1

25th Apr 2023

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

16:00 Ffos Las

Message Personnel

12st 1lb

J: Bridget Andrews

T: Dan Skelton

Returned from an absence last December, having had wind surgery, and was pulled up on his handicap debut; has had another wind op since; something to prove but this 5yo is in top hands and showed promise in novice hurdles early last year; cheekpieces go on and he's not written off.

10/1

3

31st Dec 2022

Good To Soft

2m 3f 207y

Class 3

13:43 Uttoxeter

Message Personnel

11st 8lb

J: Bridget Andrews

T: Dan Skelton

French juvenile hurdle winner on heavy; beaten when prominent in the market in his three runs last winter but he finished a respectable second in last two starts (2m/2m3f) and has had wind surgery since; still has potential after only five runs and he needs a close look on his handicap/seasonal debut.

11/2

5

9th Dec 2022

Good

2m 3f 88y

Class 3

14:45 Doncaster

Message Personnel

11st 3lb

J: Bridget Andrews

T: Dan Skelton

Stayed on strongly to win a French juvenile hurdle (2m1f, heavy) last July; held when prominent in the market in his three runs for Dan Skelton last winter but he finished a respectable second in last two starts (2m/2m3f) and has had wind surgery since; still has potential after only five runs and he needs a close look on his handicap/seasonal debut.

5/2

Form: 21 D

Last run: 53 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Made a lot of the running and overcame a late mistake to win a 2m3f soft-ground novice at Lingfield, and the runner-up had previously beaten Hermes Boy in a novice; nice prospect and open to plenty of improvement.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

8

16th Dec 2023

Good To Soft

2m 3f 31y

Class 3

14:05 Doncaster

Mister Who

10st 11lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Toby Lawes

prominent, awkward jump 3rd, bad mistake 10th, fell 11th

9/2

2nd

6

14th Nov 2023

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

13:20 Lingfield

Mister Who

11st 9lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Toby Lawes

Just four career starts; won the novice hurdle on this card a year ago but pulled up on handicap debut the following month and absent since; could be a threat if all's well on chasing debut.

13/2

4

7th Nov 2023

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

15:05 Warwick

Mister Who

11st 10lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Toby Lawes

Delivered on earlier promise when game winner of Lingfield novice hurdle (2m3f, soft) a year ago; off since poor run on handicap hurdle debut on New Year's Eve but could have significant untapped potential over fences.

14/1

Form: 453-1

Last run: 48 days

W: 10st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Slight concern that he jumped right on occasions before hanging that way on the run-in when off the mark over hurdles at Fontwell (2m2f novice; 11-8 favourite); however, probably on a fair mark if that trait is ironed out with time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

8th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 135y

Class 4

15:40 Fontwell

Maclaine

12st 2lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Richard J Bandey

Now only 1lb higher than for emphatic win at Newbury (2m6f, good to soft) in March 2024 but absent since a lesser effort the following October and entitled to benefit from this outing.

6/1

8

22nd Oct 2024

Good To Soft

3m 0f 54y

Class 3

16:28 Exeter

Maclaine

11st 6lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Richard J Bandey

Did not jump well enough when disappointing favourite at Ayr on final start last season but came good over fences with ready win at Newbury (2m6f, good to soft) in March and still has plenty of scope to progress from that performance.

4/1

7th

12

20th Apr 2024

Soft

3m 0f 20y

Class 2

13:50 Ayr

Maclaine

10st 5lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Richard J Bandey

On a career-high mark after going up 8lb for winning at Newbury (2m6f, good to soft) but impressed with how he jumped and travelled that day (won easily); that was also a new trip for him, offering plenty of encouragement for this far.

8/1

Non-runners

Go Dante, Maclaine

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £28.60
Straight Forecast £25.11
Tricast £87.80
Trifecta £101.50

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Kings Keeper

LAMBOURN:

Blue Stello

POSTDATA:

Hermes Boy

The Times:

Mister Who

Daily Mail:

Message Personnel

Telegraph:

Go Dante

RP Ratings:

Nickle Back

The Star:

Can You Call

TOPSPEED:

Risk D'Argent

The Guardian:

Rob Royal

WEST COUNTRY:

Hermes Boy

D Express:

Kings Keeper

Daily Mirror:

Kings Keeper

The Sun:

Blue Stello

Daily Record:

Blue Stello