December 02 / 15.30 Sandown

15.30

Soft

Pertemps Network Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £6153.98
  • 1m 7f 216y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
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Pertemps Network Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

11/4 (Won)

  • Win: £2.63
  • Place: £1.40

Form: 19-21 D

Last run: 27 days

W: 12st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Half-brother to the same stable's classy chaser Black Corton; won a bumper last autumn and he confirmed the promise of his hurdling debut when scoring in workmanlike style in a small-field novice at Wincanton (1m7f, good) last month; that form's probably ordinary but he retains plenty of untapped potential for today's handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

13th Jun 2025

Good

3m 1f 170y

Class 3

18:45 Newton Abbot

Hugos New Horse

11st 9lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Five-time hurdle winner who came good over fences at third attempt, keeping on well for 3l success at Plumpton (3m1f, good) in April; not yet fully exposed over this sort of trip; likely contender.

7/4

1st

4

20th Apr 2025

Good

3m 1f 152y

Class 3

15:30 Plumpton

Hugos New Horse

11st 9lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

in touch with leaders, headway after 14th, led 3 out

8/1

9/2

  • Place: £1.80

Form: 3-2P55

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Fairly useful on the Flat; 0-5 hurdling but it could be beginning to click for him and he was only a place behind Mothill in a big field at Cheltenham three weeks ago; should be in the mix.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

7th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 5

15:25 Kelso

Galahad Threepwood

12st 0lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Ewan Whillans

Dual AW Flat winner (1m4f); only hurdle win was for Ben Pauling off 11lb higher at Doncaster in March 2023 (2m3f, good); some fair form last term, stable in good form and he's a possible.

7/1

3rd

1

7th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 5

15:25 Kelso

Galahad Threepwood

12st 0lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Ewan Whillans

Dual AW Flat winner (1m4f); only hurdle win was for Ben Pauling off 11lb higher at Doncaster in March 2023 (2m3f, good); some fair form last term, stable in good form and he's a possible.

7/1

6th

9

11th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 100y

Class 4

16:58 Ayr

Galahad Threepwood

10st 9lb

J: Murray Dodd

T: Ewan Whillans

Kept on for fair third at Newcastle (2m1f, good to soft) in January and is now 4lb lower; however, his subsequent form hasn't come up to scratch and he's won just one of his 18 hurdle starts; needs something extra.

20/1

20/1

  • Place: £3.40

Form: 2-F149 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 10st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
Won over hurdles at Worcester (2m, good) in June and on the Flat at Southwell in November, but he finished behind Mothill and Galahad Threepwood at Cheltenham (40-1) three weeks ago and more will be needed here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

15th Oct 2025

Good

2m 0f 110y

Class 5

14:57 Worcester

Alioski

11st 6lb

J: James Davies

T: Gary Brown

Sole success under NH rules was when landing a maiden hurdle at this track in June 2022; has been running at a low level on the Flat this year without success and makes chasing debut; difficult to fancy.

33/1

10th

3

(4)

14th Sep 2025

Heavy

1m 2f 37y

Class 6

14:00 Bath

Alioski

9st 13lb

J: Taylor Fisher

T: Gary Brown

Absent since safely held on Tapeta in April but his penultimate AW run was a good effort and his 2-2 record on heavy ground brings him into each-way calculations.

12/1

OUR TIP

Form: 624-

Last run: 325 days

W: 11st 11lb

7 yo Horse

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Still capable of useful Flat form at the age of seven and won a 1m4f conditions stakes at Doncaster in the spring; not disgraced in a French Group 2 last time; handicapped on three hurdle runs last winter (best of them when second over 2m at Newbury) and dangerous now back in this sphere; versatile ground-wise.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

1

25th Jan 2024

Good

2m 4f 145y

Class 4

14:35 Huntingdon

Raymond Tusk

12st 2lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Alan King

Still well short of replicating his smart Flat best over hurdles when fourth on December 2022's handicap debut, but finally gets to try further than 2m in this sphere now and has been gelded; won't mind a dryout.

5/1

5th

4

(1)

7th Jul 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 50y

Class 1

15:05 Sandown

Raymond Tusk

9st 2lb

J: James Doyle

T: Alan King

Satisfactory third in handicap at Newmarket (1m4f) in May after a four-month break, but no show from a wide draw at Royal Ascot (1m6f) latest; still capable of smart form last year but very rarely seen over this far (second in 2m Ascot Group 3 in 2019) and looks set for a supporting role.

14/1

Form: 72-114 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 12st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Progressive 4yo with some solid form this season, doubling his hurdling tally at Chepstow in October and running well when fourth in a big field at Cheltenham (again 2m, good; Galahad Threepwood and Alioski behind) the following month; handles softer ground; high on the list from an unchanged mark.
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: 33-

Last run: 280 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Twice-raced 5yo; clear promise when third in 2m novices at Exeter (good to soft/soft) last winter; hard to pin down but he's almost certainly open to improvement on today's handicap debut and Brian Hughes is a positive booking (8-36) for this yard.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

16th Apr 2025

Good

2m 7f 177y

Class 5

19:15 Ffos Las

Sadlers Bay

12st 0lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Richard J Bandey

0-7 over hurdles and the same over fences but he's been a consistent sort for Tom Gretton, including a big run from out of the handicap in the Sussex National at Plumpton (3m4f, soft) last time; tongue tied on last two outings; needs each-way respect on this debut for new yard.

13/2

5th

2

16th Apr 2025

Good

2m 7f 177y

Class 5

19:15 Ffos Las

Sadlers Bay

12st 0lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Richard J Bandey

0-7 over hurdles and the same over fences but he's been a consistent sort for Tom Gretton, including a big run from out of the handicap in the Sussex National at Plumpton (3m4f, soft) last time; tongue tied on last two outings; needs each-way respect on this debut for new yard.

13/2

3rd

11

10th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

3m 4f 102y

Class 3

15:45 Plumpton

Sadlers Bay

10st 2lb

J: Freddie Mitchell

T: Tom Gretton

midfield, in touch with leaders when not fluent 12th

20/1

Form: 064-41 D

Last run: 18 days

W: 10st 11lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Dual Flat scorer; off the mark over hurdles at the eighth attempt in four-runner maiden at Leicester (2m, good to firm) last month, digging deep; not dismissed lightly but this is a stronger race.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

(7)

5th Jul 2023

Firm

1m 2f 37y

Class 6

20:10 Bath

Order Of St John

9st 9lb

J: Christian Howarth

T: D J Jeffreys

Out of form on the Flat this spring and also ran poorly over fences on latest outing one month ago; comes here with a lot to prove; swaps cheekpieces for blinkers; considered only if lively in the betting.

10/1

1

4th Jun 2023

Good

2m 0f 59y

Class 5

15:30 Fakenham

Order Of St John

12st 0lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: D J Jeffreys

Won four-runner maiden hurdle at Leicester (1m7f, good to firm) last November and soft ground may not have suited in Sandown handicap next time; however, he's failed to shine on the Flat this year which dents confidence in his claims on this chase debut.

10/1

Form: 325-P5

Last run: 34 days

W: 10st 6lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
0-8 over hurdles; has a chance judged on his second at Wincanton (1m7f, soft) in February but two runs this season have been subdued; needs to get back on track.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

7

16th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 5

17:20 Uttoxeter

Universal Secret

11st 4lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Helen Nelmes

In excellent form over fences since undergoing a second breathing operation, scoring at Wincanton (2m4f) in February before a clear second of seven over that C&D last month; up 2lb but that form is working out well so he's a big player.

5/2

2nd

6

1st Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 5

16:20 Wincanton

Universal Secret

10st 6lb

J: Robert Dunne

T: Helen Nelmes

Pulled up in his first two starts this season but he returned after another wind operation with a win over C&D (good to soft; tongue-tie added; Hatos second) in February; up 6lb but he remains feasibly treated and has claims if he can back up that last run.

100/30

1st

6

25th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 4f 35y

Class 5

15:50 Wincanton

Universal Secret

10st 6lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Helen Nelmes

Went close here (about 2m, good to soft) in December 2024 but he's 0-9 over fences and his two runs this term have been troubling; has his first start following wind surgery, with a tongue-tie joining the cheekpieces of latest start; needs a revival.

25/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £9.60
Straight Forecast £10.27
Tricast £91.30
Trifecta £63.80

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Hugos New Horse

The Times:

Raymond Tusk

RP Ratings:

Galahad Threepwood

Daily Mirror:

Universal Secret

Telegraph:

Mothill

WEST COUNTRY:

Hugos New Horse

The Guardian:

Hugos New Horse

The Star:

Hugos New Horse

Daily Record:

Hugos New Horse

POSTDATA:

Galahad Threepwood

Daily Mail:

Raymond Tusk

D Express:

Raymond Tusk

The Sun:

Raymond Tusk