December 26 / 14.00 Sedgefield

14.00

Good To Soft

Castle Construction NE Ltd. Handicap Hurdle (Go North Cab On Target Series Qualifier)

  • Prize money: £4224.8
  • 2m 3f 188y
  • Class 4
  • 7 runners
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Castle Construction NE Ltd. Handicap Hurdle (Go North Cab On Target Series Qualifier)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Clear

Form: 542-21 D

Last run: 187 days

W: 12st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Triple hurdle winner at up to 2m4f who ran respectably on the Flat when last seen in August; won't mind if conditions dry out even further and a player back over hurdles.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

31st Mar 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 114y

Class 3

17:25 Plumpton

Mothill

11st 11lb

J: Joe Anderson

T: Neil Mulholland

Has won three of his last four hurdles, latterly edging home in the new cheekpieces at Ascot (2m3f, good to soft) after Joe Anderson had lost his whip (still a fine ride; always ideally positioned up with the pace); mark continues to rise (up another 5lb) but he's not easily knocked.

4/1

1st

13

17th Feb 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 58y

Class 2

14:25 Ascot

Mothill

10st 5lb

J: Joe Anderson

T: Neil Mulholland

Wins in 2023 came in Class 4 events at Uttoxeter and Sedgefield (both 2m4f, good to soft) and the rise in class seemed to find him out when he was only eighth in the Lanzarote at Kempton last time; needs first-time cheekpieces to spark a career-best effort.

16/1

8th

17

13th Jan 2024

Good To Soft

2m 5f 0y

Class 2

14:42 Kempton

Mothill

10st 9lb

J: Joe Anderson

T: Neil Mulholland

Solid record in Class 4 this term, winning at Sedgefield (2m4f, good to soft) most recently; 5lb claimer Joe Anderson (won on him last June) returns, in bid to offset 5lb rise; 4-12 over hurdles; upped sharply in grade but arrives in top form; shortlisted.

16/1

Form: -15015 D

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 7lb

8 yo Mare

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
All five wins have been over hurdles but failed by some way to match form of previous win when fifth at Market Rasen last time; needs to return to best.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

10

18th Nov 2024

Good To Soft

1m 7f 113y

Class 4

15:40 Leicester

Moonlight Glory

11st 6lb

J: Tom Midgley

T: Mark Walford

taken down early

25/1

10th

10

18th Nov 2024

Good To Soft

1m 7f 113y

Class 4

15:40 Leicester

Moonlight Glory

11st 6lb

J: Tom Midgley

T: Mark Walford

taken down early

25/1

9th

3

26th Oct 2024

Good

2m 0f 51y

Class 4

15:20 Kelso

Moonlight Glory

11st 10lb

J: Tom Midgley

T: Mark Walford

9yo with six successes to her name; now 7lb below her last winning mark but not seriously threatening to take advantage, fading when fifth of seven at Hexham on latest; needs a revival.

14/1

Form: 3-2114 CD

Last run: 17 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Followed up Hexham May win with victory over C&D (soft) in November; didn't get home over 3m on heavy ground at Aintree last time but likely he'll do better back in trip on this less testing surface.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

31st Oct 2025

Good

2m 3f 207y

Class 4

14:30 Uttoxeter

Harper Valley

11st 13lb

J: Ross Chapman

T: Rebecca Menzies

Took step back in right direction when respectable fourth at Perth (2m4f, good to soft) last month and is now 1lb below his last winning mark but still needs to build upon that recent effort here.

16/1

4

31st Oct 2025

Good

2m 3f 207y

Class 4

14:30 Uttoxeter

Harper Valley

11st 13lb

J: Ross Chapman

T: Rebecca Menzies

Took step back in right direction when respectable fourth at Perth (2m4f, good to soft) last month and is now 1lb below his last winning mark but still needs to build upon that recent effort here.

16/1

Form: -36037 D

Last run: 9 days

W: 10st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Form uneven since last win in March 2022; is 21lb lower than for that success and, although easy enough to excuse last run (could have come too quickly), he's not really one for maximum faith.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

1

2nd May 2026

Good

2m 0f 48y

Class 4

16:40 Hexham

Palm Beach

11st 6lb

J: Mr Sam Burton

T: Victor Thompson

Has won over hurdles for three different yards, most recently at Worcester (2m7f, good) last July, but he's been pulled up in three starts for this stable and drops into a seller with masses to find at the weights.

100/1

8

22nd Apr 2026

Soft

2m 7f 207y

Class 5

17:12 Perth

Palm Beach

10st 7lb

J: Miss Amy Milburn

T: Victor Thompson

Worcester winner for Ben Pauling last July (2m7f, good) but has been pulled up on both starts for Victor Thompson since, the first in a point, the second in a handicap hurdle at Newcastle; bit to prove.

50/1

9

3rd Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 149y

Class 4

15:35 Newcastle

Palm Beach

10st 3lb

J: Miss Pippa Brown

T: Victor Thompson

With Ben Pauling when taking advantage of a light weight at Worcester (2m7f, good) last July; changed hands soon after; pulled up on comeback at Friars Haugh (2m4f point; first time over fences); better to look elsewhere.

28/1

Form: 56P-PP

Last run: 28 days

W: 10st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Chase/dual hurdle winner in France; however, not scored for nearly three years and pulled up all three starts for current yard; down 13lb as a result but would want to see plenty of market support before getting involved.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

13th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 1f 109y

Class 4

15:08 Exeter

Polisud

10st 13lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Daisy Hitchins

Won a handicap hurdle for Micky Hammond, whom he left for £4,000; respectable first run for this yard at Lingfield (2m hurdle, soft) but he may still be a shade too high in the weights on this belated return to fences (won in France).

7/2

4

13th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 1f 109y

Class 4

15:08 Exeter

Polisud

10st 13lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Daisy Hitchins

Won a handicap hurdle for Micky Hammond, whom he left for £4,000; respectable first run for this yard at Lingfield (2m hurdle, soft) but he may still be a shade too high in the weights on this belated return to fences (won in France).

7/2

OUR TIP

Form: U1521/ CD

Last run: 660 days

W: 11st 13lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Matched best effort when winning over C&D in March 2022 but hasn't been seen since; has a good strike-rate over hurdles but would want to see plenty of market support.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

17th Aug 2024

Good

2m 7f 191y

Class 4

17:50 Market Rasen

Golfe Clair

11st 7lb

J: Joe Williamson

T: Philip Kirby

Took to fences immediately at Stratford in May (2m7f, good; RPR 117), and running to the same level on far softer ground at Uttoxeter since was highly commendable; credible contender off an unchanged mark.

7/1

3rd

5

17th Jul 2024

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

16:40 Uttoxeter

Golfe Clair

11st 10lb

J: Joe Williamson

T: Philip Kirby

Took to fences immediately at Stratford (2m7f, good; RPR 117), and a 4lb rise for that narrow success isn't excessive; missed a subsequent engagement here due to soft ground, so the wet forecast has to be a worry.

4/1

Form: 34-162 C

Last run: 40 days

W: 11st 11lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Winning hurdler/chaser here; campaigned over fences since 2020; not far off pick of chase form on latest start (after a five-month break, first run since a wind op); can't rule out returned to hurdles.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

19th Mar 2024

Soft

2m 3f 85y

Class 4

15:15 Wetherby

Heartbreak Kid

12st 0lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

prominent, went second and pressed leader 6th, outpaced and lost second after 5 out, weakened 4 out

9/2

5th

1

5th Jan 2024

Soft

2m 3f 171y

Class 4

13:55 Musselburgh

Heartbreak Kid

11st 13lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

prominent on inner

11/2

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Straight Forecast £30.34

Selections

TOPSPEED:

Mothill

SPOTLIGHT:

Harper Valley

The Guardian:

Heartbreak Kid

D Express:

Golfe Clair

RP RATINGS:

Harper Valley

POSTDATA:

Harper Valley

THE NORTH:

Harper Valley

The Star:

Harper Valley

The Times:

Mothill

Telegraph:

Mothill

Daily Mail:

Mothill

Daily Mirror:

Mothill

The Sun:

Mothill

Daily Record:

Heartbreak Kid