December 26 / 13.40 Aintree

13.40

Soft

William Hill Epic Value Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £33299.2
  • 2m 4f 0y
  • Class 2
  • 7 runners
RTV
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William Hill Epic Value Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

10/1 (Won)

  • Win: £7.50
  • Place: £3.00

Form: 13311-

Last run: 246 days

W: 10st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
4-8 overall and 3-5 over hurdles, with all his wins at Hexham, including over 2m (soft/heavy) in his two handicaps in the spring; could have more to offer but has fitness to prove after eight-month break and, after a heavy defeat on his only attempt, there's a question mark over the suitability of this trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 118y

Class 3

16:23 Newbury

Bingoo

11st 4lb

J: Charlie Price

T: Robbie Llewellyn

Lightly raced and inconsistent since completing a hat-trick in 2023; last off five finishers at Hereford most recently, failing to back up reappearance effort; others preferred.

33/1

5th

1

11th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 3f 147y

Class 4

16:33 Hereford

Bingoo

12st 0lb

J: Charlie Price

T: Robbie Llewellyn

Four-time hurdles winner for James Moffatt but disappointing during light campaign for that yard last season; encouraging stable debut when clear second of four at Leicester (1m7f, soft) in December; well handicapped on older form, while he's won over this sort of trip and on heavy; considered.

7/1

14/1

  • Place: £3.50

Form: 116-38 D

Last run: 23 days

W: 10st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 131

Form & Verdict
Won four of first five starts over hurdles; staying-on third of 15 in a handicap at Galway (heavy) in October was an upturn again, which he followed with a fair eighth of 19 in valuable event at Fairyhouse (soft); they were both over 2m and this return to 2m4f may well be in order; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

(8)

28th Feb 2025

Standard

1m 7f 169y

Class 2

16:10 Lingfield (AW)

Ted Hastings

8st 10lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: Gordon Elliott

held up in rear, bit short of room when headway over 2f out, hung left over 1f out, no impression

20/1

5th

5

(5)

7th Feb 2025

Standard

2m 0f 0y

17:25 Dundalk (AW)

Ted Hastings

9st 4lb

J: Declan McDonogh

T: Gordon Elliott

prominent on inner, weakened on far side of group over 1f out

10/1

5th

5

(5)

7th Feb 2025

Standard

2m 0f 0y

17:25 Dundalk (AW)

Ted Hastings

9st 4lb

J: Declan McDonogh

T: Gordon Elliott

prominent on inner, weakened on far side of group over 1f out

10/1

OUR TIP

Form: 311-27

Last run: 38 days

W: 10st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 127

Form & Verdict
Hooded all starts; 2m wins at Wetherby and Perth (soft) in April on first two over hurdles; second in Grade 2 novice at Chepstow (2m3f, good to soft) on return but he disappointed on handicap debut at Cheltenham (2m5f, soft); something to prove after that but stable is in good form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

25th Apr 2026

Good

3m 4f 146y

Class 1

15:30 Sandown

Resplendent Grey

12st 0lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Won this race (good ground) last year in first-time cheekpieces off a 10lb lower mark; first and second in two small fields this season, alongside two heavy defeats in top handicaps; tried blinkers when fading right out of it at the Cheltenham Festival last time and now reverts to cheekpieces; also back on firmer ground but a new career best is needed.

12/1

15th

3

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 0y

Class 1

15:20 Cheltenham

Resplendent Grey

11st 10lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Won the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown (extended 3m4f, good) last April in first-time cheekpieces and returned to form when second at Windsor (2m6f, soft) in January; his jumping can sometimes lack fluency but, with first-time blinkers replacing the cheekpieces, he has an each-way chance if minimising the mistakes; fourth of 18 in the NH Chase here (3m6f, good to soft) last March.

16/1

2nd

3

18th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 6f 50y

Class 2

15:00 Windsor

Resplendent Grey

11st 6lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Won the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown (3m4f, good) last April and reappeared with Listed Intermediate win at Carlisle (2m4f, good to soft); also effective on soft ground; however, soundly beaten in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury (3m2f, good to soft) last time and has something to find today.

10/1

Form: 2F2-12 D

Last run: 17 days

W: 10st 3lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
Ex-French 4yo who won narrowly at Lingfield (2m3f, good to soft; maiden event) in November on British debut; improved when second of ten on handicap debut at Sandown (2m, heavy; ridden by 5lb claimer) 17 days ago, always prominent and staying on as if this step back up in trip would suit; up 4lb but one to consider seriously.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

7th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 42y

Class 3

15:35 Sandown

Bucksy Des Epeires

11st 2lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Had fallen in the weights prior to winning at Ludlow (3m, soft) 17 days ago, perked up by first-time cheekpieces; nudged back up 3lb but remains on a workable mark; high on the list.

100/30

1st

1

18th Feb 2026

2m 7f 171y

Class 4

15:35 Ludlow

Bucksy Des Epeires

12st 0lb

J: Miss Lucy Turner

T: Venetia Williams

Below best on his four outings in 2025 and unseated at the first fence at Taunton recently; also needs to prove his stamina; however, this 7yo has plenty of time to get his career back on track and is on a handy mark on his 2024 exploits; perhaps the new cheekpieces will give him a boost.

4/1

4

3rd Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 7f 3y

Class 3

15:45 Taunton

Bucksy Des Epeires

11st 6lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Back on a good mark now but ended last season on a low note and has not really fired on either appearance this term (favourite both times); comes here with a bit to prove, including stamina.

3/1

Form: 0-7311

Last run: 11 days

W: 10st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Dam French 2m1f/2m6f hurdle/chase winner; useful at 1m6f on Flat in 2021; delivered on Irish hurdling promise with impressive wins at Fontwell (2m1f) and Bangor (2m) on last two outings; they came from the front in novice hurdles on heavy ground and this handicap hurdle debut demands more, especially as he is 5lb out of the handicap (7lb claimer is recruited), but he did it most fluently and this return to 2m4f is interesting.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

23rd Oct 2024

Soft

2m 3f 29y

Class 3

15:40 Fontwell

Classic Lord

11st 3lb

J: Alan Johns

T: Tim Vaughan

raced wide, towards rear, steady headway 6th, weakened before 2 out, pulled up and dismounted run-in

10/1

17

27th Apr 2024

Good

2m 3f 173y

Class 2

17:20 Sandown

Classic Lord

10st 4lb

J: James Best

T: Tim Vaughan

Seems best with positive tactics; dual novice winner in late 2023 (2m1f/2m, heavy) and returned to form when second over C&D (soft) in February; however, he was put firmly in his place at Plumpton last time and others have more scope for improvement.

25/1

17

27th Apr 2024

Good

2m 3f 173y

Class 2

17:20 Sandown

Classic Lord

10st 4lb

J: James Best

T: Tim Vaughan

Seems best with positive tactics; dual novice winner in late 2023 (2m1f/2m, heavy) and returned to form when second over C&D (soft) in February; however, he was put firmly in his place at Plumpton last time and others have more scope for improvement.

25/1

Form: 16F-06 D

Last run: 17 days

W: 10st 3lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
Very lightly raced 7yo; chasing last season, impressing in a four-runner handicap at Lingfield (2m4f, good to soft; has won on soft); jumping issues got the better of him afterwards and he wasn't great over his hurdles either when a never-dangerous outsider in his two starts this season; thrown in if judged just on that Lingfield win.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

9

26th Jan 2024

Soft

2m 3f 173y

Class 3

15:35 Sandown

Sholokjack

11st 5lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Fell in two of his four chases last season and confined to hurdles so far this campaign; also prone to mistakes in this discipline and he's not been seeing his races out from 2m4f to 3m.

12/1

6th

4

26th Dec 2023

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 2

13:40 Aintree

Sholokjack

10st 3lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

held up in rear, awkward jump 3rd

7/1

6th

6

9th Dec 2023

Soft

2m 7f 98y

Class 2

12:40 Sandown

Sholokjack

10st 8lb

J: Tristan Durrell

T: Dan Skelton

Very lightly raced 7yo; chasing last season, impressing in a four-runner handicap at Lingfield (2m4f, good to soft; has won on soft); jumping issues got the better of him afterwards and he wasn't great over his hurdles either when reappearing in a hot handicap at Haydock two weeks ago (held up, always behind at 33-1); should have come on since that run and is thrown in if judged just on that Lingfield win.

12/1

Form: 113-23 D

Last run: 31 days

W: 12st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 150

Form & Verdict
Usually gives his running, but didn't in an Ascot Grade 2 chase on latest outing and has since had wind surgery; hood (absent last five starts) returns; this is his first run over hurdles since April 2021 (runner-up in a C&D Grade 1 novice) and he has a good mark judged on this year's best chase efforts.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

23rd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 3

15:40 Perth

Minella Drama

12st 2lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Very useful chaser at his best, last win coming in the 2024 Old Roan Chase at Aintree (2m4f, good); highly tried this term, best run when second in a Listed chase at Kelso in February (2m7f, good to soft); on a fair mark now.

9/1

1

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 203y

Class 2

15:20 Haydock

Minella Drama

12st 0lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Inconsistent nowadays but ran well in second when facing an impossible mission behind Protektorat at Kelso (2m7f, good to soft) last time; now 5lb lower than when third in the Old Roan Chase at Aintree (2m4f, good to soft) in October and this C&D winner is capable of being involved.

11/1

2nd

1

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 96y

Class 1

13:40 Kelso

Minella Drama

11st 8lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

Smart on his day and ran creditably when third in the Old Roan at Aintree (2m4f, good to soft) in October, a race he'd won in 2024; however, two runs since have been poor and he has to concede weight all round.

11/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £54.50
Straight Forecast £51.44
Trifecta £209.30

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Bucksy Des Epeires

The Times:

Minella Drama

TOPSPEED:

Classic Lord

D Express:

Resplendent Grey

RP RATINGS:

Bingoo

POSTDATA:

Bucksy Des Epeires

The Guardian:

Bucksy Des Epeires

Daily Mirror:

Bucksy Des Epeires

Daily Mail:

Classic Lord

The Star:

Classic Lord

Telegraph:

Minella Drama

The Sun:

Minella Drama

Daily Record:

Minella Drama