December 01 / 12.47 Leicester

12.47

Good To Soft

Dale Hall & Hickman Associates Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £3975.58
  • 2m 4f 110y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
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Dale Hall & Hickman Associates Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

7/4 (Won)

Form: 53F3-1 D

Last run: 9 days

W: 11st 4lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Made the most of his reduced mark when winning with a bit in hand at Southwell (3m, soft; front two clear) nine days ago and, having escaped a penalty for that, he's officially 6lb well-in for this; obvious claims with the drop back in trip no cause for concern; all wins have been on soft or heavy but good to soft is fine.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

8

5th Nov 2023

Soft

3m 2f 34y

Class 3

15:40 Carlisle

Apple Rock

11st 3lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Ben Pauling

Posted a handicap hurdle hat-trick late last year (2m4f/3m, soft/good to soft); this 9yo is making a belated chase debut but he showed promise in points in 2018 (including runner-up to Shishkin) and he has a good reappearance record (including a win here); not ruled out.

16/1

6th

8

8th Apr 2023

Good To Soft

3m 0f 58y

Class 2

15:15 Haydock

Apple Rock

11st 4lb

J: Beau Morgan

T: Ben Pauling

Finished a well-held sixth (behind Itso Fury) at Ascot when bidding for a four-timer but ran respectably and Beau Morgan now takes off 7lb with his claim; enters calculations.

20/1

2

30th Mar 2023

Soft

2m 7f 198y

Class 3

15:50 Taunton

Apple Rock

11st 13lb

J: Luca Morgan

T: Ben Pauling

Just out of the money at Ascot last month when bidding for a four-timer but ran respectably on bare figures and likely remains in form; C&D winner the time before and enters calculations back here.

5/2

Form: /7/2P- D

Last run: 302 days

W: 11st 2lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced 11yo whose sole win came off a 4lb higher mark over this trip in May 2019; absent since pulling up here in February and others are more convincing.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

2

10th Jan 2024

Good To Soft

3m 0f 84y

Class 5

12:20 Doncaster

Iron Horse

12st 0lb

J: Harry Atkins

T: Richard Phillips

13yo who has had 18 races, winning a handicap hurdle in 2019; tailed off when last seen in June/November and this is only his second venture beyond 2m5f; the switch back from chasing looks a positive.

25/1

9/2

Form: 1157-4

Last run: 33 days

W: 11st 12lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Won two juvenile hurdles last season (on good to soft and soft) and, although beaten in all three handicaps, he ran well for a long way in a Class 2 at Ascot a month ago; needs considering back down in class.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

6th Apr 2026

Good

2m 0f 219y

Class 2

14:35 Plumpton

Kotmask

10st 7lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

His jumping has been an issue this season and he was soundly beaten at Newbury last time; however, two starts ago he was a close second of four there (2m, good to soft) and he has a good record at this track; might not be far away if finding some fluency.

4/1

3rd

2

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 92y

Class 3

16:10 Newbury

Kotmask

11st 12lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Almost as good as ever this season and he kept on well when 1l second of four over C&D (good to soft) three weeks ago; a repeat of that form would see him go close, with a tongue-strap added for the first time in Britain, but a losing sequence is developing and he tends to make mistakes.

7/4

2nd

1

27th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 92y

Class 3

16:08 Newbury

Kotmask

12st 0lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Resurgent in first-time blinkers when second to an improver at Sandown in January (good; fine on soft) and fell midrace back there last time; it's surprising to see cheekpieces back on (beaten 10l in December when tried in them once before) but he has a big effort in him off this mark.

8/1

Form: P66-16

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 9lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Returned from six months off to win a Stratford 2m6f handicap last month (good), in front when his closest pursuer came down at the last; didn't look straightforward then and he was below par off this 6lb higher mark at Ludlow; cheekpieces replaced by visor.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

3

19th May 2026

Good To Firm

3m 1f 10y

Class 3

19:30 Huntingdon

Ballintubber Boy

11st 11lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Gained the last three of his seven hurdle wins over C&D (including 2024 edition of this race); absent since two small-field seconds in October (2m5f/2m7f) but there's a good chance he'll be primed for a big run on this return to Huntingdon.

9/2

1

21st Oct 2025

Good To Firm

2m 7f 25y

Class 3

14:50 Exeter

Ballintubber Boy

12st 0lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Record of 7-17 over hurdles and just missed out on return to this discipline last week at Hereford (2m5f, good; stays this far); only three completed that day but this 8yo should again be seriously involved.

4/5

1

13th Oct 2025

Good

2m 5f 163y

Class 4

16:15 Hereford

Ballintubber Boy

12st 2lb

J: Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Record of 7-16 over hurdles; started off promisingly over fences with two seconds in small fields but disappointing the last twice; on a competitive mark back over hurdles.

6/4

Form: 6414-

Last run: 272 days

W: 11st 5lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Irish point winner who edged home in a maiden hurdle at Uttoxeter (2m, good) in January; offered little on his switch to handicaps at Doncaster (2m3f, soft) but he's better than that.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

22nd Dec 2022

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

12:30 Ayr

Sullivans Brow

12st 1lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

midfield on inner, pushed along briefly after 3rd, pushed along after 5th

6/1

5th

6

1st Dec 2022

Good To Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 4

12:47 Leicester

Sullivans Brow

11st 5lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

Irish point winner who edged home in a maiden hurdle at Uttoxeter (2m, good) in January; offered little on his switch to handicaps at Doncaster (2m3f, soft) but he's better than that.

6/1

Form: 22254- D

Last run: 242 days

W: 11st 10lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Better known for his chasing exploits (four wins) and he didn't offer much on his return to hurdling (novice winner) at Plumpton when last seen in April; nothing wrong with this mark if returning to anything like his best.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

23rd Apr 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 88y

Class 4

13:45 Southwell

Luckofthedraw

11st 8lb

J: Jordan Nailor

T: Toby Bulgin

Claims on last season's best but he made an underwhelming return from 320 days off at Plumpton 23 days ago; needs to leave that effort behind him.

14/1

5

23rd Apr 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 88y

Class 4

13:45 Southwell

Luckofthedraw

11st 8lb

J: Jordan Nailor

T: Toby Bulgin

Claims on last season's best but he made an underwhelming return from 320 days off at Plumpton 23 days ago; needs to leave that effort behind him.

14/1

3

31st Mar 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 164y

Class 4

16:50 Plumpton

Luckofthedraw

11st 7lb

J: Jordan Nailor

T: Toby Bulgin

Beat just two rivals at Huntingdon in March (2m4f, soft) and hasn't fared so well since in deeper races; bit to prove.

14/1

Form: 44161-

Last run: 251 days

W: 12st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Ex-French gelding who has raced only twice over hurdles and won two of his three starts as a chaser (2m2f/2m3f; very soft); hard to know what to make of this sort of mark and he'd possibly appreciate softer ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

16th Jul 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

15:38 Uttoxeter

Imac Wood

11st 4lb

J: Lewis Stones

T: Deborah Cole

6-16 over fences, the latest win gained in this race a year ago (soft ground; also suited by good); returned from seven-month with encouraging run a fortnight ago and should now be teed up to defend his crown.

16/1

4

1st Jul 2025

Good To Firm

2m 3f 98y

Class 4

20:18 Stratford

Imac Wood

12st 1lb

J: Finn Lambert

T: Deborah Cole

Has a good strike-rate over fences (6-15), latest win at Uttoxeter (2m4f, soft) nearly a year ago; not at his best late last year on last two starts; now only 1lb above that win and Finn Lambert's claim will help, but needs to bounce back after his break.

16/1

9

3rd Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 88y

Class 4

12:15 Southwell

Imac Wood

11st 7lb

J: Chris Ward

T: Deborah Cole

Already has six chase wins under his belt but he hasn't been quite on song since the latest of them, at Uttoxeter (2m4f, soft) in July; will do well to add to his haul in this race.

14/1

OUR TIP

Form: 320/6- D

Last run: 294 days

W: 11st 10lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Dual hurdle winner, once for this yard (2m5f, soft); was returning from 1136 days off when tailed off on his chase debut in February and now returns from another absence; stable form bodes well and he's nicely handicapped if as good as he was.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

18th Mar 2023

Soft

2m 3f 49y

Class 4

13:25 Fontwell

Shalakar

10st 12lb

J: Shane Quinlan

T: Venetia Williams

Dual winner on the Flat in France whose sole success for this yard came over hurdles at Ludlow (2m5f, soft) in April 2018; has only made the track four times since the beginning of 2019 and has shown nothing (bled on one occasion); lots to prove.

16/1

10th

8

9th Feb 2023

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

15:43 Ffos Las

Shalakar

11st 6lb

J: Shane Quinlan

T: Venetia Williams

Made low-key return from mammoth absence a year ago (chase debut) and was pulled up when reverting to hurdling after another layoff in December (bled from the nose); connections are persisting but he urgently needs to prove some ability remains, and Charlie Deutsch evidently prefers Oxygen today.

16/1

3

1st Dec 2022

Good To Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 4

12:47 Leicester

Shalakar

11st 10lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Dual hurdle winner, once for this yard (2m5f, soft); was returning from 1136 days off when tailed off on his chase debut in February and now returns from another absence; stable form bodes well and he's nicely handicapped if as good as he was.

5/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Straight Forecast £28.59
Tricast £53.20

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Apple Rock

The Times:

Kotmask

Daily Mail:

Kotmask

Daily Mirror:

Kotmask

The Sun:

Kotmask

Daily Record:

Kotmask

RP Ratings:

Apple Rock

TOPSPEED:

Apple Rock

POSTDATA:

Apple Rock

WEST COUNTRY:

Apple Rock

Telegraph:

Apple Rock

The Guardian:

Apple Rock

D Express:

Apple Rock

The Star:

Apple Rock