December 04 / 12.45 Huntingdon

12.45

Good

Fitzdares Salutes Ben Pauling Racing Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £6753.04
  • 2m 4f 145y
  • Class 4
  • 10 runners
RTV
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Fitzdares Salutes Ben Pauling Racing Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 10 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

11/4 (Won)

  • Win: £3.50
  • Place: £1.20

Form: 1113-1 CD

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Has won on his last three visits here, latterly beating one who was 12lb out of the weights (well beaten since) over this trip last month; not sure about the strength of that form even with a subsequent winner back in third, and he's gone up 5lb.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

12th Nov 2024

Good

2m 4f 145y

Class 5

12:20 Huntingdon

Poker Master

12st 0lb

J: Tom Buckley

T: Philip McBride

led narrowly, not fluent 7th, hit 3 out, headed and lost position home turn, weakened quickly before 2 out, tailed off

5/1

5th

1

12th Nov 2024

Good

2m 4f 145y

Class 5

12:20 Huntingdon

Poker Master

12st 0lb

J: Tom Buckley

T: Philip McBride

led narrowly, not fluent 7th, hit 3 out, headed and lost position home turn, weakened quickly before 2 out, tailed off

5/1

8th

4

27th Oct 2024

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 5

15:52 Wincanton

Poker Master

11st 10lb

J: Tom Buckley

T: Philip McBride

didn't jump with fluency, midfield, dropped to rear 1st

14/1

4/1

  • Place: £1.30

Form: P3-P33 CD

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 4lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Has become well handicapped and arrives here after solid thirds in Class 5 handicaps at Chepstow and Southwell; unlikely to be far away.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

26th May 2024

Good

2m 5f 164y

Class 4

15:50 Fontwell

Sermando

11st 6lb

J: Nick Scholfield

T: Alexandra Dunn

Has mainly run well off higher marks since winning at Fakenham (2m4f, good) last summer and his record suggested he would have needed last month's run after 224 days off, but it would still have been preferable had he shown more.

12/1

5

26th May 2024

Good

2m 5f 164y

Class 4

15:50 Fontwell

Sermando

11st 6lb

J: Nick Scholfield

T: Alexandra Dunn

always behind, tailed off when pulled up after 3 out

12/1

5

21st Apr 2024

Good

2m 3f 179y

Class 5

13:22 Wincanton

Sermando

11st 12lb

J: Sgt Nick Oliver

T: Alexandra Dunn

Has mostly run well since joining this yard, with his only blip two runs ago over fences; wasn't far away off this mark at Fontwell (2m3f, good) when last seen in September and hard to rule out.

13/2

16/1

  • Place: £5.50

Form: 5F13-9 C

Last run: 40 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Mare

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Won a moderate novice over 2m3f here (soft) but was tailed off next time under a penalty and duly struggled off what looked a tough opening handicap mark at Bangor; down 4lb but may need more help than that.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

31st May 2025

Good

2m 6f 0y

18:15 Tramore

Maid On The Moon

12st 0lb

J: Ms H Phillips

T: Miss Elizabeth Anne Lalor

Easy winner over hurdles off 87 at Leopardstown (2m4f, yielding) in March; has come up short three times since off revised mark; 0-6 over fences; needs more to win off this rating.

16/1

1

31st May 2025

Good

2m 6f 0y

18:15 Tramore

Maid On The Moon

12st 0lb

J: Ms H Phillips

T: Miss Elizabeth Anne Lalor

Easy winner over hurdles off 87 at Leopardstown (2m4f, yielding) in March; has come up short three times since off revised mark; 0-6 over fences; needs more to win off this rating.

16/1

6

17th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

15:00 Wexford

Maid On The Moon

11st 2lb

J: Ms H Phillips

T: Miss Elizabeth Anne Lalor

Easy winner off 87 at Leopardstown (2m4f, yielding) in March; has come up short twice since off revised mark, though wasn't beaten far latest; needs more to win off this rating.

8/1

OUR TIP

Form: 6-1324 C

Last run: 15 days

W: 11st 10lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Dual Flat winner and off the mark over hurdles here in May (2m, good); went up 6lb for that 6l defeat of four rivals and there's been no further progress, for all that he's continued to hold his own (2m-2m4f).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

12

(3)

8th Mar 2023

Standard To Slow

1m 7f 218y

Class 4

17:05 Kempton (AW)

Rhebus Road

9st 0lb

J: Thomas Greatrex

T: Oliver Sherwood

Has won over hurdles for current yard; never landed a blow at Wolverhampton (1m4f; first Flat start since 2021) last month but shaped as if this extra distance may help.

25/1

7th

9

(1)

13th Feb 2023

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 4

19:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Rhebus Road

9st 7lb

J: Thomas Greatrex

T: Oliver Sherwood

Not seen on the Flat since 1m2f turf win for Ralph Beckett in September 2021 and was well beaten on only previous AW start; in fairly good form over hurdles in the autumn but probably best watched here.

14/1

5

(11)

1st Feb 2023

Standard To Slow

1m 3f 219y

Class 5

20:00 Kempton (AW)

Rhebus Road

9st 12lb

J: Thomas Greatrex

T: Oliver Sherwood

Two Flat wins for Ralph Beckett in the second half of 2021; successful over hurdles for this yard last May; not at his best in that sphere when last seen in December; career best required to take this.

Form: P/594P

Last run: 71 days

W: 11st 11lb

5 yo Mare

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
Prolific juvenile hurdler in 2020 but missed all of the following year and it's been a struggle under both codes since returning.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

14th May 2026

Good

2m 3f 29y

Class 4

18:10 Fontwell

Hiconic

11st 12lb

J: Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: Alex Hales

Came second off basement Flat mark on latest outing in January and is well handicapped for this return to hurdling but she's not as good as she was and has become inconsistent; others appeal more.

16/1

2nd

8

(8)

29th Jan 2026

Standard

2m 0f 0y

Class 6

19:30 Chelmsford (AW)

Hiconic

8st 12lb

J: Hollie Doyle

T: Alex Hales

Seven-time winner over hurdles but 0-12 on Flat (0-10 on the AW); ran respectably when fourth of nine at Wolverhampton (2m, AW) last month but she was behind Taranjerine at Lingfield 22 days ago; others preferred.

14/1

Form: 213-73 CD

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Mare

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Bumper/maiden hurdle winner last season and went well here (including at this trip); stuck to her task over 2m around Fakenham last time and that looked on the sharp side for her; can do better.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

3rd Mar 2024

Soft

3m 1f 10y

Class 5

16:15 Huntingdon

Hillfinch

11st 5lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Stuart Edmunds

Dual course winner, latterly off 3lb higher over C&D (soft) just under a year ago; out of form this season, though, and needs to turn a corner; wore cheekpieces the last twice; visor tried today.

14/1

10th

3

7th Feb 2024

Soft

3m 3f 9y

Class 5

16:40 Sedgefield

Hillfinch

11st 8lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Stuart Edmunds

Now back on same mark as for hard-fought win at Huntingdon (3m1f, soft) last March but dropped out of contention very tamely on final two starts last year (cheekpieces added last time) and comes here with a point to prove.

12/1

5th

4

19th Dec 2023

Good To Soft

2m 7f 95y

Class 4

15:10 Fakenham

Hillfinch

11st 3lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Stuart Edmunds

Ended last season in good form, most notably when winning at Huntingdon (3m1f, soft); made a satisfactory reappearance last month but dropped out very quickly after making the running at Market Rasen on latest outing and needs to put that performance behind her; sports first-time cheekpieces.

8/1

Form: 623-8P

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Found some improvement last season when second in a Fontwell maiden (2m1f, good to soft) and third in a Newbury handicap (2m, soft); chance if back to that level but it's been a quiet start to this campaign.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

19th Apr 2025

Good

2m 7f 129y

Class 4

16:14 Huntingdon

Pearly Island

11st 5lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Lucy Wadham

held up in last

9/2

1st

3

19th Apr 2025

Good

2m 7f 129y

Class 4

16:14 Huntingdon

Pearly Island

11st 5lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Lucy Wadham

held up in last

9/2

4th

3

1st Apr 2025

Good

2m 4f 1y

Class 3

16:20 Fakenham

Pearly Island

11st 6lb

J: Joshua Parker

T: Lucy Wadham

in touch with leaders, lost ground and detached before 4 out, weakening when mistake 2 out

12/1

10/1

Form: -41325 CD

Last run: 103 days

W: 11st 6lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Triple Flat winner who won a C&D handicap during the summer off 7lb lower; did get very warm before latest disappointment in August but his new mark is looking an issue.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

9th Mar 2023

Good

2m 3f 179y

Class 5

16:25 Wincanton

Justified

12st 0lb

J: Ms Laura Ward

T: Neil King

midfield on inner, ridden and no impression after 5 out, pulled up after 3 out

12/1

6th

6

10th Feb 2023

Good

2m 5f 0y

Class 4

15:35 Kempton

Justified

11st 7lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: Neil King

Won quite decisively off 4lb lower at Huntingdon last summer and has shown he can cope with this higher mark; however, his recent efforts were well below par.

10/1

8th

5

4th Dec 2022

Good

2m 4f 145y

Class 4

12:45 Huntingdon

Justified

11st 6lb

J: Jack Wildman

T: Neil King

disputed lead, prominent after 2nd, ridden and dropped to rear after 4 out, weakened before 2 out

10/1

Form: 3F4/3F

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Bumper winner who ran okay in maiden hurdles without suggesting this mark is particularly lenient; duly appeared to be unfancied at 20-1 when coming down early on his handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

8

26th Dec 2022

Good To Soft

2m 2f 140y

Class 4

14:15 Market Rasen

Masteroftheheights

11st 6lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Milton Harris

in touch with leaders on outer, lost position when not fluent 5th, reminders after 6th

50/1

3

4th Dec 2022

Good

2m 4f 145y

Class 4

12:45 Huntingdon

Masteroftheheights

11st 8lb

J: Lilly Pinchin

T: Milton Harris

held up in last, slow jump 1st, refused 2nd

16/1

6

13th Nov 2022

Good To Soft

2m 1f 162y

Class 3

14:40 Fontwell

Masteroftheheights

10st 6lb

J: Mitchell Bastyan

T: Milton Harris

in touch with leaders 1st, fell 2nd

8/1

Form: 211-70 CD

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 6lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Two handicap wins in April came off the same 7lb lower mark, the first of them over C&D; however, he's not jumped well enough to get competitive in either of his runs this season; a blemish-free round would see him competitive.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

9th May 2025

Good

2m 7f 16y

Class 3

16:23 Market Rasen

Hardy Boy

11st 10lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

C&D winner last August and his close fourth at Cheltenham three runs back was his best form yet; soft ground was no good to him on final appearance; nothing wrong with his mark.

12/1

4th

4

9th May 2025

Good

2m 7f 16y

Class 3

16:23 Market Rasen

Hardy Boy

11st 10lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

C&D winner last August and his close fourth at Cheltenham three runs back was his best form yet; soft ground was no good to him on final appearance; nothing wrong with his mark.

12/1

9th

9

29th Nov 2024

Soft

3m 0f 52y

Class 3

15:40 Newbury

Hardy Boy

10st 12lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

Ready winner over 2m7f at Market Rasen in August and he ran at least as well in defeat at Cheltenham in October but he has his share of weight now and soft ground has not been helpful so far.

14/1

Non-runners

Hardy Boy

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £9.80
Straight Forecast £9.75
Tricast £147.16
Trifecta £142.80

Selections

Telegraph:

Poker Master

RP Ratings:

Sermando

SPOTLIGHT:

Hillfinch

TOPSPEED:

Justified

The Times:

Hillfinch

Daily Mail:

Poker Master

D Express:

Poker Master

The Star:

Poker Master

Daily Record:

Poker Master

POSTDATA:

Sermando

WEST COUNTRY:

Sermando

Daily Mirror:

Sermando

The Sun:

Sermando