December 22 / 12.30 Uttoxeter

12.30

Heavy

Richard Winterton Auctioneers Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4356.8
  • 2m 3f 207y
  • Class 4
  • 10 runners
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Richard Winterton Auctioneers Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 10 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

Evs (Won)

  • Win: £1.84
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 52

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Impressive Irish point winner who bettered his rather underwhelming rules debut when close second in very similar race to this over C&D (soft) last month; could easily have more in the locker; leading contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

7th Mar 2025

Soft

2m 6f 151y

Class 5

14:50 Leicester

Itsnoteasy

12st 0lb

J: Beau Morgan

T: Olly Murphy

Has won over hurdles but below best in four handicaps since returning from a lengthy break, the last two over fences; has 13l to find with Innisfree Lass on latest running; cheekpieces may help.

8/1

3rd

3

9th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 7f 131y

Class 4

15:20 Chepstow

Itsnoteasy

11st 12lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Olly Murphy

Won a heavy-ground maiden hurdle last season (2m4f) but has been a long way below that form in three runs after a long break, the latest when pulled up on his chase debut; should be fine over this far with his pointing background but comes with risks right now.

12/1

3rd

3

9th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 7f 131y

Class 4

15:20 Chepstow

Itsnoteasy

11st 12lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Olly Murphy

Won a heavy-ground maiden hurdle last season (2m4f) but has been a long way below that form in three runs after a long break, the latest when pulled up on his chase debut; should be fine over this far with his pointing background but comes with risks right now.

12/1

9/2

  • Place: £1.30

Form: 327/F-

Last run: 353 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Absent since falling on chase/handicap debut for Michael Scudamore at start of this year but was placed in two soft-ground maiden hurdles at Ffos Las towards end of 2021 and will play a significant role here if able to replicate that form on stable debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

24th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 4

15:25 Perth

Gris Gris Top

11st 8lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Donald McCain

towards rear, struggling after 11th, pulled up before 4 out

7/1

6

24th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 4

15:25 Perth

Gris Gris Top

11st 8lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Donald McCain

towards rear, struggling after 11th, pulled up before 4 out

7/1

3

11th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 4f 100y

Class 4

14:40 Ayr

Gris Gris Top

11st 9lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

Has finished runner-up in a point and a bumper and also in two maiden hurdles, one at Ffos Las (2m4f, soft) the other at Uttoxeter (2m4f, heavy); back after 417 days off; quite interesting.

5/1

4/1

  • Place: £1.20

Form: 2/88-2 BF

Last run: 33 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Seemed to have benefited from a wind op when runner-up in Fontwell maiden (2m1f, heavy) last month, his second start over hurdles, but was no match for the comfortable winner there and probably needs to improve again over today's longer trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

15th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

16:45 Uttoxeter

Intimate

11st 7lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Bounced back to form when second of six in 2m3f Hereford handicap chase 20 days ago; he must enter calculations nudged up 1lb in his bid for a breakthrough chasing victory.

3/1

2nd

1

23rd Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 2f 208y

Class 4

14:40 Hereford

Intimate

12st 2lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Ended last season with emphatic hurdle win here (2m, soft) and was creditable second on seasonal/chase debut at Sandown (1m7f, soft) in December; two lesser efforts have followed but it would be dangerous to write him off at this stage.

100/30

4th

4

15th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 4f 194y

Class 4

13:45 Hereford

Intimate

11st 8lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Won a 2m soft-ground handicap hurdle by 10l here last March; his jumping lacked fluency so did well to go so close on chase debut at Sandown (1m7f, soft) and conditions were extremely testing when fourth at Haydock; massive shout on that penultimate effort.

3/1

Form: 0-P

Last run: 13 days

W: 11st 4lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Well beaten on bumper debut in March and pulled up when 80-1 for recent hurdling debut at Chepstow (2m3f, heavy); may settle better in first-time hood here but is probably one for further down the line.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

20th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 207y

Class 5

15:15 Uttoxeter

Joker De Thaix

10st 9lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Neil Mulholland

Fair fourth in maiden hurdle here last December but well beaten/pulled up on his four runs since, including three handicaps.

8/1

10

20th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 207y

Class 5

15:15 Uttoxeter

Joker De Thaix

10st 9lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Neil Mulholland

Fair fourth in maiden hurdle here last December but well beaten/pulled up on his four runs since, including three handicaps.

8/1

9

17th Oct 2024

Good

3m 0f 150y

Class 5

14:18 Wincanton

Joker De Thaix

10st 6lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Neil Mulholland

held up in rear, not fluent 7th, not fluent 8th, no impression after 3 out, pulled up after 2 out

12/1

Form: 7

Last run: 228 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Beaten about 37l when seventh of ten in good-ground Worcester bumper in May; hooded for today's hurdling debut; can only be watched.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

3

3rd May 2025

Good

3m 0f 10y

Class 5

19:00 Uttoxeter

Westbrook Lad

11st 13lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Mel Rowley

Second in novice hurdle here (2m7f, good) but then tailed off in a handicap and fared no better on his switch to fences; absent since July and others are safer.

25/1

10th

3

3rd May 2025

Good

3m 0f 10y

Class 5

19:00 Uttoxeter

Westbrook Lad

11st 13lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Mel Rowley

Second in novice hurdle here (2m7f, good) but then tailed off in a handicap and fared no better on his switch to fences; absent since July and others are safer.

25/1

1

26th Jul 2024

Good

3m 2f 13y

Class 5

17:35 Uttoxeter

Westbrook Lad

12st 0lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Mel Rowley

Displayed good jolt of improvement when second in novice hurdle here (2m7f, good) last month but was well beaten on subsequent handicap hurdle debut and it's hard to know what to expect from him on this chasing debut.

16/1

Form: 7

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Displayed some ability in points in March/April but was unable to land any sort of blow when 300-1 for last month's rules debut at Ascot (2m3f, good); this race is easier but he still can't be recommended.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

22nd Jan 2026

Soft

2m 7f 129y

Class 5

13:30 Huntingdon

Theres Claude

11st 4lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Polly Gundry

Refusal to settle on first start for over 22 months inevitably caught up with him on last month's chase/handicap debut over C&D; needs to help himself more, but already okay mark lowered 3lb more; tongue tie added.

25/1

4th

9

9th Feb 2024

Good To Soft

2m 5f 0y

Class 4

14:10 Kempton

Theres Claude

11st 5lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Polly Gundry

Displayed some ability in points last March/April and was only beaten about 30l on his two hurdling starts towards the end of last year (2m3f/2m4f) but significant improvement is required here.

50/1

Form: 00

Last run: 13 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Won on the Flat in France last year but cut little ice in two slow-ground novice hurdles for new stable in the autumn.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

8

7th May 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

15:25 Ffos Las

Parliament

10st 8lb

J: Alan Johns

T: Tim Vaughan

Soundly beaten in three slow-ground novice/maiden hurdles towards end of last year but has a lowly mark for this handicap debut, and his French Flat win on good to firm in 2022 offers hope the less testing conditions will enable improvement.

8/1

6th

8

7th May 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

15:25 Ffos Las

Parliament

10st 8lb

J: Alan Johns

T: Tim Vaughan

midfield, mistake 3 out, weakened gradually after 2 out

8/1

Form: P7

Last run: 13 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Placed in an Irish point in 2021 (form worked out quite well) but, following a long absence, weakened quickly and was well beaten in two novice hurdles this autumn (albeit after travelling well for a long way); will need to last much longer here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

5

8th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 135y

Class 4

15:40 Fontwell

Hawaii Du Mestivel

11st 2lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Neil Mulholland

Progressive over hurdles in 2024, winning three times, but missed 2025 and has been pulled up in two chases this year; combination of return to better ground and first-time cheekieces might aid a revival but others in this field have much less to prove.

6/1

2

14th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

16:45 Uttoxeter

Hawaii Du Mestivel

11st 11lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Neil Mulholland

Completed a hurdles hat-trick in 2024 but was then absent until achieving nothing switched to to chasing last month; had wind surgery since; difficult to ascertain exactly how much ability he retains.

12/1

6

2nd Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 0y

Class 4

13:27 Kempton

Hawaii Du Mestivel

11st 6lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Neil Mulholland

In excellent form in second half of 2024, winning three good-ground handicap hurdles (2m3f-2m5f) in a row; also has form on slower ground and could quite plausibly have more improvement to come over fences at some stage but this chasing debut comes after a 458-day absence.

9/1

Form: 70-206

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Beaten out of sight at huge odds on both hurdling starts (2m3f/2m4f) and needs the first-time blinkers to generate miraculous improvement.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

6

22nd Dec 2023

Heavy

2m 3f 207y

Class 4

12:30 Uttoxeter

Johnthepostman

11st 4lb

J: Mr Geoff Barfoot-Saunt

T: Tracey Barfoot-Saunt

Beaten out of sight at huge odds on both hurdling starts (2m3f/2m4f) and needs the first-time blinkers to generate miraculous improvement.

200/1

6th

2

22nd Nov 2023

Heavy

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

13:40 Ffos Las

Johnthepostman

11st 4lb

J: Mr Geoff Barfoot-Saunt

T: Tracey Barfoot-Saunt

raced in second, lost position with one circuit to go, dropped to last before 6th, struggling from 4 out, tailed off

100/1

13th

5

31st Oct 2023

Good To Soft

2m 3f 100y

Class 4

12:55 Chepstow

Johnthepostman

11st 4lb

J: Mr Geoff Barfoot-Saunt

T: Tracey Barfoot-Saunt

Tailed off in first two bumpers and again in a match last time.

200/1

OUR TIP

Form: 0/

Last run: 787 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Half-brother to same connections' useful jumper Le Chiffre D'Or; well down the field on debut in France in October 2021 and not seen again since but has joined a top British stable; market may guide
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

27th Dec 2023

Good To Soft

2m 3f 100y

Class 4

12:00 Chepstow

Chindit Warrior

11st 4lb

T: Paul Nicholls

0

1

22nd Dec 2023

Heavy

2m 3f 207y

Class 4

12:30 Uttoxeter

Chindit Warrior

11st 4lb

J: Lorcan Williams

T: Paul Nicholls

Half-brother to same connections' useful jumper Le Chiffre D'Or; well down the field on debut in France in October 2021 and not seen again since but has joined a top British stable; market may guide

4/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £5.20
Straight Forecast £5.60
Trifecta £11.30

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Itsnoteasy

Telegraph:

Intimate

Daily Mail:

Chindit Warrior

D Express:

Gris Gris Top

RP RATINGS:

Itsnoteasy

POSTDATA:

Itsnoteasy

The Times:

Itsnoteasy

Daily Mirror:

Itsnoteasy

The Sun:

Itsnoteasy

The Star:

Itsnoteasy

Daily Record:

Itsnoteasy

The Guardian:

Intimate