July 04 / 17.40 Stratford

17.40

Good

Royal Equestrian Racing Club Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race) (Div I)

  • Prize money: £4356.8
  • 2m 0f 70y
  • Class 4
  • 9 runners
RTV
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Royal Equestrian Racing Club Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race) (Div I)

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

4/1 (Won)

  • Win: £3.25
  • Place: £1.20

Form: 4605-3 BF

Last run: 44 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Flat winner but 1-26 overall and 0-15 as a hurdler; disappointing favourite in a seller here last time and doesn't look straightforward; now with new stable.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

7th Sep 2024

Good

2m 2f 148y

Class 5

16:12 Stratford

Call Me Rocky

11st 5lb

J: Tristan Durrell

T: Anthony Charlton

Very well handicapped on some of last year's form for Milton Harris and but was out of sorts during three-race spell for Syd Hosie and pulled up on recent debut for latest new trainer; headgear refitted; revival needed.

25/1

9

28th Aug 2024

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

19:10 Worcester

Call Me Rocky

10st 11lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Anthony Charlton

Well treated now but lost his way badly after leaving Milton Harris and tried chasing last time; too risky.

20/1

4

1st Jun 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 213y

Class 4

20:30 Stratford

Call Me Rocky

11st 13lb

J: Micheal Nolan

T: Syd Hosie

in touch with leaders, prominent after 8th, weakened 3 out, pulled up after 2 out

8/1

Form: 4620-

Last run: 188 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
Just missed out in a fast-ground maiden at Leicester (four ran) before getting stuck in the mud on his return visit; off since Christmas and one or two others appeal more.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

8th Oct 2025

Good

2m 0f 178y

Class 5

16:15 Sedgefield

The Geordie Ginge

10st 9lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Hannah McMahon

0-16 and he came in a well-held sixth in 2m Perth handicap hurdle 13 days ago; blinkers are reached for now.

50/1

40/1

  • Place: £8.50

Form: 98

Last run: 17 days

W: 11st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
0-9 but showed some fair form at up to 1m5f for Andrew Balding before changing hands for 18,000gns; difficult to recommend on his hurdling and he's held by Thorpeness.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

1

(2)

1st Nov 2023

Standard To Slow

1m 4f 0y

Class 6

15:38 Lingfield (AW)

Love Mystery

10st 1lb

J: Kieran Shoemark

T: Olly Murphy

Has run some fair races on the Flat for Andrew Balding and over hurdles since joining this yard, but is 0-14 under rules; drops in class for this return to the level, but others still look more solid.

7/1

4th

5

24th Aug 2023

Good

2m 1f 162y

Class 4

17:40 Fontwell

Love Mystery

11st 1lb

J: Lewis Stones

T: Olly Murphy

Another personal best hurdling RPR last time when about 7l fourth in a Perth handicap (2m, good to soft), though a bit surprising he didn't hit the line more strongly given he stays at least 1m5f on the Flat; further to travel returned to maiden company this evening.

3/1

4th

4

1st Aug 2023

Good

2m 0f 47y

Class 5

21:00 Perth

Love Mystery

11st 8lb

J: Mr James King

T: Olly Murphy

Showed some fair form on the Flat for Andrew Balding and seemed to be getting his act together over hurdles when keeping-on third in Stratford maiden (2m, good) last month; open to more improvement in handicaps and top amateur James King is booked today; unraced on ground slower than good.

11/4

Form: /4F-72

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Best run was his latest when chasing home an Irish challenger at Bangor (2m, good), where he might have given the winner more of a fright with better jumping late on; considered.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

18th May 2024

Good

2m 3f 123y

Class 5

18:50 Bangor-on-Dee

Trick Of The Tail

11st 12lb

J: William Maggs

T: Donald McCain

Never looked dangerous when well-held fifth here (2m, soft) last month, after a break, and now 0-10 over hurdles; getting back on good ground ought to be in his favour but others have more pressing claims.

14/1

3rd

2

18th May 2024

Good

2m 3f 123y

Class 5

18:50 Bangor-on-Dee

Trick Of The Tail

11st 12lb

J: William Maggs

T: Donald McCain

Never looked dangerous when well-held fifth here (2m, soft) last month, after a break, and now 0-10 over hurdles; getting back on good ground ought to be in his favour but others have more pressing claims.

14/1

5th

10

20th Apr 2024

Soft

2m 0f 145y

Class 4

15:25 Bangor-on-Dee

Trick Of The Tail

11st 1lb

J: Peter Kavanagh

T: Donald McCain

Placed off 2lb higher over C&D (good) on last summer's handicap debut but absent since a poor run in November and the ground may not dry out quickly enough for him today; had wind op in December; tongue-tie added.

16/1

Form: 09-32

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 101

Form & Verdict
Tongue-tie fitted for his thirds over hurdles, beaten just over 3l on both occasions; handles a tight, left-handed venue and won't be far away.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

18th Jun 2024

Good

2m 0f 70y

Class 5

17:50 Stratford

Thorpeness

11st 12lb

J: Philip Armson

T: Rob Summers

Left Dan Skelton after last summer's very disappointing handicap debut and has been pulled up (with various issues cited) on all three starts for current stable; has too much to prove.

40/1

7

7th May 2024

Good

2m 0f 53y

Class 4

18:00 Hereford

Thorpeness

11st 6lb

J: Philip Armson

T: Rob Summers

Went backwards for Dan Skelton; offered little for his new yard last time, back from a second round of wind surgery, when said to have suffered with his breathing and been unsuited by soft ground; is hard to recommend.

100/1

7

7th May 2024

Good

2m 0f 53y

Class 4

18:00 Hereford

Thorpeness

11st 6lb

J: Philip Armson

T: Rob Summers

Went backwards for Dan Skelton; offered little for his new yard last time, back from a second round of wind surgery, when said to have suffered with his breathing and been unsuited by soft ground; is hard to recommend.

100/1

OUR TIP

Form: 2

Last run: 33 days

W: 11st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Dual Flat winner who didn't look a complete natural when runner-up in a small field on his hurdling debut at Market Rasen (good) but probably won't be far away with a repeat of that; easily forgiven his subsequent defeat in a York handicap.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

8

(2)

6th Mar 2025

Standard

1m 0f 5y

Class 4

19:00 Newcastle (AW)

Outsmart

8st 6lb

J: Cam Hardie

T: Ollie Pears

Both wins gained in 2022 including C&D maiden; missed 2024; some encouragement on recent comeback at Wolverhampton; needs to build on that.

12/1

6th

7

(4)

8th Feb 2025

Standard

1m 0f 142y

Class 5

16:40 Wolverhampton (AW)

Outsmart

10st 9lb

J: Miss Chelsea Brooks

T: Ollie Pears

reared in stalls before start, prominent, in touch with leaders over 3f out, short of room over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong

20/1

6th

7

(4)

8th Feb 2025

Standard

1m 0f 142y

Class 5

16:40 Wolverhampton (AW)

Outsmart

10st 9lb

J: Miss Chelsea Brooks

T: Ollie Pears

reared in stalls before start

20/1

50/1

Form: P8

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Looks moderate and was well behind Trick Of The Tail at Bangor 24 days ago; now tongue tied.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

8th May 2025

2m 6f 7y

Class 5

19:05 Stratford

Carapaz

10st 5lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: David Dennis

Ten-race maiden; back over hurdles when returning from a 543-day absence at Huntingdon (3m1f, good; fourth of nine, beaten 39l) recently; is entitled to strip fitter for that comeback run and, even from 3lb out of the handicap, this represents a realistic next objective.

9/1

6

8th May 2025

2m 6f 7y

Class 5

19:05 Stratford

Carapaz

10st 5lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: David Dennis

Ten-race maiden; back over hurdles when returning from a 543-day absence at Huntingdon (3m1f, good; fourth of nine, beaten 39l) recently; is entitled to strip fitter for that comeback run and, even from 3lb out of the handicap, this represents a realistic next objective.

9/1

4th

9

19th Apr 2025

Good

3m 1f 10y

Class 5

16:49 Huntingdon

Carapaz

10st 2lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: David Dennis

held up in rear, steady headway after 6th

25/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
All four Flat wins came on the AW at a fairly ordinary level, the latest on his final start at Wolverhampton in May (9.4f); probably up against it on hurdling debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

2

(8)

30th Apr 2026

Standard

1m 3f 23y

Class 6

17:52 Southwell (AW)

Its A Love Thing

9st 7lb

J: Oisin McSweeney

T: Sam England

7-47 on AW but has struggled for form since finishing third at Newcastle (1m, Class 5; from 12lb higher) last November; failed to beat a rival in each of his last two starts (9.4f/1m4f) so it's difficult to have confidence.

25/1

10th

2

(8)

6th Apr 2026

Standard

1m 1f 104y

Class 6

17:55 Wolverhampton (AW)

Its A Love Thing

9st 9lb

J: Jonny Peate

T: Sam England

4lb lower than when winning over C&D last March and 11lb lower than when successful at Pontefract in April; little inspiration from his recent AW efforts, though, beaten 11l, 17.5l, and 23l respectively in three starts in 2026.

14/1

Form: 35-113 D

Last run: 2 days

W: 10st 11lb

5 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Dual bumper winner but raced freely when a well-held third on her hurdling debut at Cartmel on Sunday.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

20th Mar 2025

Good

2m 0f 11y

Class 4

15:30 Chepstow

Hard As Nails

11st 12lb

J: Jack Hogan

T: Fergal O’Brien

Made all at Southwell last May and Stratford in October, so carries a double penalty today; both were on soft ground but she does have some form on good and good to firm; appearances at about 2m4f may help to explain the two heavy defeats among her last four starts; a leading form contender.

7/4

6th

1

26th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 3f 154y

Class 4

17:00 Wetherby

Hard As Nails

12st 0lb

J: Fern O’Brien

T: Fergal O’Brien

Won on handicap debut at Stratford (extended 2m2f, soft) in October then bounced back from lesser run at Sandown to finish second at Newcastle (2m1f, soft) last time; didn't see out 2m4f on heavy ground at Sandown but may have the necessary stamina for today's assignment; key player if so.

7/2

2nd

3

28th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 190y

Class 4

13:55 Newcastle

Hard As Nails

11st 7lb

J: Jack Hogan

T: Fergal O’Brien

Consistent sort who won on her handicap debut at Stratford (2m2f, soft) in October and faded when fourth at Sandown (2m4f, heavy) last month; retains potential now back down in trip and could have a say.

4/1

Non-runners

Hard As Nails

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £16.10
Straight Forecast £16.05
Trifecta £562.90

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Outsmart

SPOTLIGHT:

Trick Of The Tail

WEST COUNTRY:

The Geordie Ginge

POSTDATA:

It's A Love Thing

Daily Record:

Thorpeness

The Star:

The Geordie Ginge

D Express:

Trick Of The Tail

Daily Mirror:

Trick Of The Tail

The Times:

Outsmart

Telegraph:

Outsmart

The Guardian:

Outsmart

Daily Mail:

Outsmart