December 09 / 15.00 Cheltenham

15.00

Good

Catesby Estates Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £11109.84
  • 2m 0f 179y
  • Class 3
  • 11 runners
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Catesby Estates Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 11 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly sunny

9/2 (Won)

  • Win: £5.50
  • Place: £1.70

Form: 5911-1 D

Last run: 19 days

W: 10st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
Three from three since joining Fergal O'Brien and fitted with tongue-tie, the wins gained over 2m/2m4f on soft going; open to further improvement for current stable; big player provided he's as effective back on forecast faster ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

15th

19

14th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 56y

Class 2

17:20 Cheltenham

Punctuation

10st 12lb

J: Freddie Mitchell

T: Nicky Henderson

Respectable strike-rate (Flat/hurdles) during his spell with Fergal O'Brien; encouraging placed effort at Kempton (2m5f; second run for new yard) most recently; won a race of this nature at Aintree (2m, soft; off 2lb lower) two years ago.

33/1

3rd

4

22nd Feb 2025

Good

2m 5f 0y

Class 3

13:15 Kempton

Punctuation

11st 9lb

J: James Bowen

T: Nicky Henderson

towards rear, headway after 3 out

5/1

4th

2

25th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 88y

Class 2

15:50 Doncaster

Punctuation

11st 7lb

J: James Bowen

T: Nicky Henderson

in rear

7/2

15/2

  • Place: £1.90

Form: 455-42 D

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
Quite a useful juvenile hurdler last season (fifth in Fred Winter) and has posted a couple of sound efforts this term, latest at Wetherby (2m, good) on first attempt against his elders; may still have more progress in him; one to consider.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

7

(8)

29th Jun 2024

Standard

2m 0f 56y

Class 2

15:10 Newcastle (AW)

Too Friendly

8st 7lb

J: Callum Shepherd

T: James Owen

Seen far more often over hurdles; lost his way in that discipline but smooth 2m winner on the Kempton AW in March (first Flat start since 2021) and he's run well on turf since over 1m6f and 1m5f; often wears cheekpieces, which return today after he was hooded instead on penultimate start and had no headgear on latest; others are preferred for the win.

20/1

4th

4

(1)

2nd Jun 2024

Good To Soft

1m 5f 16y

Class 3

16:40 Hamilton

Too Friendly

9st 8lb

J: David Egan

T: James Owen

Seen far more often over hurdles (winner on varied ground); lost his way in that discipline but smooth 2m winner on the Kempton AW in March (first Flat start since 2021) and close second of six to Hope You Can Run at Newmarket (1m6f) two weeks ago; often wears cheekpieces, but hooded instead on latest start and has no headgear today; may still have more to offer on Flat.

8/1

2nd

6

(1)

19th May 2024

Good

1m 6f 0y

Class 3

16:15 Newmarket

Too Friendly

9st 3lb

J: Callum Shepherd

T: James Owen

Seen far more often over hurdles (winner on varied ground); has lost his way in that discipline but he was a smooth 2m winner on the Kempton AW in March (first Flat start since 2021) and was not discredited when tenth in the Chester Cup nine days ago; first-time hood replaces cheekpieces; may still have more to offer on Flat.

4/1

12/1

  • Place: £3.10

Form: 3918-4 D

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 8lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 131

Form & Verdict
More exposed than some of today's rivals, including Too Friendly who was two places in front of him at Wetherby last month; close second off 3lb higher in this race in 2019 but isn't certain to repeat that effort.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

5

2nd Dec 2023

Good

2m 0f 128y

Class 3

13:31 Doncaster

Oakley

11st 2lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Richard J Bandey

Not had much racing since his last win off a 5lb higher mark in March 2022; now a 10yo and he was beaten a long way out on his return from a break at Newbury.

25/1

7th

4

9th Nov 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 69y

Class 3

12:05 Newbury

Oakley

11st 12lb

J: Joe Anderson

T: Richard J Bandey

midfield, lost ground before 4th

20/1

7th

1

16th Jul 2023

Good

2m 0f 70y

Class 3

16:00 Stratford

Oakley

12st 0lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Richard J Bandey

prominent

5/1

Form: 211-63 D

Last run: 5 days

W: 11st 13lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 136

Form & Verdict
Still not fully exposed; scored twice on left-handed tracks last term; shaped promisingly at Huntingdon (2m, good) last Sunday while leaving the firm impression this return to a counter-clockwise course will suit; interesting off same mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

13th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 216y

Class 4

18:30 Newton Abbot

Anyharminasking

11st 5lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Three-time hurdle winner who made it 0-5 over fences with another disappointing show at Bangor in late March, despite returning to good ground; clearly needs to raise his game in the new blinkers (replacing cheekpieces).

7/1

6th

3

31st Mar 2026

Good

2m 4f 72y

Class 4

15:50 Bangor-on-Dee

Anyharminasking

11st 13lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Three-time hurdle winner who is 0-4 over fences, with only effort of note in discipline when beaten in a match at Warwick in October (2m4f); does seem happier on good ground than soft, so last two efforts could be excused; cheekpieces return after going without them last time.

8/1

7th

4

9th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 0f 70y

Class 3

15:20 Stratford

Anyharminasking

11st 11lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

3-20 hurdles, his latest win at Newcastle (2m1f Class 3; from 2lb higher) 11 months ago; a switch to fences hasn't suited (0-4, including being beaten in a match) but it's possible he'll strip fitter since his latest start; reverting to the smaller obstacles is helpful.

12/1

Form: 0-7105 D

Last run: 27 days

W: 12st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 137

Form & Verdict
Irish 5yo; won over 2m1f in the summer; creditable fifth over 3m here (good) most recently, while shaping as if a return to shorter will prove ideal; however, still looks weighted to the hilt (mark unchanged).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

18th Jul 2025

Good

2m 6f 180y

14:30 Killarney

Zoffanien

11st 5lb

J: John Shinnick

T: Terence O’Brien

Has hit the frame in both handicap hurdle outings in 2025, the latest when runner-up at Cork beaten 2l in April; mixed signals on the strength of that form but fit after respectable Flat outing last month and feasibly treated on old form.

9/1

10

(8)

7th Jun 2025

Good

1m 6f 0y

17:05 Navan

Zoffanien

9st 11lb

J: Adam Caffrey

T: Terence O’Brien

Three-time hurdles winner and 2-12 on the Flat; has run well on every outing since joining this yard, including four Flat runs in the second half of last year; stayed on well when second over hurdles at Cork when last seen; will be doing best work late.

14/1

Form: -32111 C

Last run: 9 days

W: 10st 12lb

5 yo Mare

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Progressive mare whose recent hat-trick came at sharp tracks but she handles Cheltenham, having performed well in two good-ground bumpers here (including Listed win) last term; respected under 7lb penalty for last week's ready success at Ludlow; future mark 1lb higher.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

13

16th Mar 2023

Soft

2m 0f 179y

Class 1

16:50 Cheltenham

Mullenbeg

11st 2lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Milton Harris

Winner of a Listed bumper here; has won only a maiden and two handicaps over hurdles but she ran well against male opposition in a Grade 2 at Kempton 19 days ago despite racing freely, as is her way; this bigger field will suit but she looks up against it on the figures and she seems ideally suited by good ground.

33/1

2nd

6

25th Feb 2023

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:40 Kempton

Mullenbeg

10st 12lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Milton Harris

Did well in bumpers last term and registered a hat-trick over hurdles (Plumpton, Fakenham and Ludlow) in the autumn, the last two legs of which were in handicaps; while she did not come near to justifying favouritism in Cheltenham handicap 11 weeks ago when last seen, she was not discredited; this test could suit and she's one to consider.

12/1

6th

8

9th Dec 2022

Good

2m 0f 179y

Class 3

15:00 Cheltenham

Mullenbeg

10st 12lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Milton Harris

Progressive mare whose recent hat-trick came at sharp tracks but she handles Cheltenham, having performed well in two good-ground bumpers here (including Listed win) last term; respected under 7lb penalty for last week's ready success at Ludlow; future mark 1lb higher.

11/4

Form: 4P/P0- D

Last run: 364 days

W: 11st 4lb

8 yo Mare

OR: 127

Form & Verdict
Successful three times against her own sex in 2020; less convincing judged on 2021 efforts and 2022 Flat form; something to prove on first hurdles start for a year.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

24th Feb 2023

Good

2m 0f 161y

Class 4

14:10 Exeter

Perfect Myth

11st 11lb

J: David Noonan

T: Stuart Kittow

held up in last, jumped left 4th, jumped left 5th, pushed along after 3 out, went second last, soon ridden, kept on but always held

9/2

7th

1

7th Feb 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 104y

Class 4

14:30 Taunton

Perfect Myth

12st 0lb

J: Bryony Frost

T: Stuart Kittow

Won three times in autumn 2020 and is well handicapped on that form, but she's not the same force nowadays and has finished soundly beaten in seventh the last twice; needs to raise her game.

50/1

7th

1

31st Dec 2022

Good To Soft

2m 0f 69y

Class 3

12:10 Newbury

Perfect Myth

12st 0lb

J: James Bowen

T: Stuart Kittow

Useful in the autumn of 2020 for Neil King, winning three mares' races, but winless on the Flat this year and well held on her return to hurdling at Cheltenham (100-1) three weeks ago; on the back burner for now.

20/1

Form: 1834-1 D

Last run: 38 days

W: 10st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Made a successful seasonal debut at Warwick (2m, good to soft) but isn't certain to progress, as he failed to properly build on his reappearance win last term; either way has more on his plate upped in grade.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

11

21st Feb 2025

Soft

2m 3f 0y

Class 4

15:40 Warwick

Iontach Cheval

10st 13lb

J: Murray Dodd

T: Alastair Ralph

Ran fairly well over 2m here on seasonal debut in November but two very disappointing runs have followed (2m/2m7f; blinkers added last time) and it's hard to predict whether he'll be in the right mood today.

33/1

8th

2

31st Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 70y

Class 5

13:30 Uttoxeter

Iontach Cheval

12st 0lb

J: Murray Dodd

T: Alastair Ralph

Made quite encouraging seasonal debut last month (2m, good) but ran poorly over that trip three weeks later and also struggled on only previous attempt at 2m7f; sports first-time blinkers; risky.

12/1

8th

2

31st Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 70y

Class 5

13:30 Uttoxeter

Iontach Cheval

12st 0lb

J: Murray Dodd

T: Alastair Ralph

Made quite encouraging seasonal debut last month (2m, good) but ran poorly over that trip three weeks later and also struggled on only previous attempt at 2m7f; sports first-time blinkers; risky.

12/1

OUR TIP

Form: 434-F5 C

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 12lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 135

Form & Verdict
Very useful chaser earlier in career but has lost his spark to a large extent; soundly beaten returned to hurdles last month (first run since rejoining this stable); far from solid on recent evidence.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

21st Apr 2025

Good

2m 0f 11y

Class 4

14:59 Chepstow

Rouge Vif

12st 0lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Alex Hales

Smart 2m chaser in his prime; generally very disappointing in recent years and absent since pulled up for Richard Bandey last May, but makes debut for latest new stable on a very tempting mark; worth a second look.

10/1

4th

1

21st Apr 2025

Good

2m 0f 11y

Class 4

14:59 Chepstow

Rouge Vif

12st 0lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Alex Hales

Smart 2m chaser in his prime; generally very disappointing in recent years and absent since pulled up for Richard Bandey last May, but makes debut for latest new stable on a very tempting mark; worth a second look.

10/1

2

9th May 2024

Good

2m 0f 104y

Class 4

15:25 Huntingdon

Rouge Vif

12st 2lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Richard J Bandey

Wins this all day on back class (RPRs peaked at 164 in 2020), but he lost his way in 2022-23 and second place (beaten 23l; made mistakes) on his stable debut in March owed plenty to others' mishaps; down in class and dropped another 5lb, but still couldn't have absolute faith in a revival.

8/1

Form: 126-07 CD

Last run: 21 days

W: 10st 8lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Has done well in this contest for the last two years (runner-up in 2020, won in 2021) but on both occasions he was in better form at the time; couple of below-par efforts this season and needs to bounce back.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

15th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 209y

Class 4

19:30 Aintree

Lively Citizen

11st 12lb

J: Harry Atkins

T: D J Jeffreys

Long in the tooth and no longer the force of old but bounced back from two poor chase runs with respectable effort over hurdles at Haydock (1m7f, good) last month and is now 5lb lower than when going close in this race a year ago; could have a say.

12/1

5th

7

15th Apr 2026

Good

1m 7f 144y

Class 3

17:35 Haydock

Lively Citizen

11st 6lb

J: Harry Atkins

T: D J Jeffreys

Very capable over fences but pulled up in that discipline on his last two starts following a break of 217 days; he did go close over hurdles at Aintree three runs ago so there's a big effort in him if he can get his act together.

25/1

Form: F53-12

Last run: 170 days

W: 10st 7lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
In good form on last two French starts, winning by 5l at Nancy (2m3f) then clear second at Auteuil (2m2f), both 4yo hurdle races; wears a refitted hood on British debut; still an unexposed sort and market confidence should be heeded.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

26th Apr 2025

Good

2m 6f 164y

Class 1

14:25 Sandown

Le Patron

11st 5lb

J: David Noonan

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Won the Grade 1 Henry VIII Novices' Chase here (1m7f, heavy) in December 2023 and comfortably won handicap at Newbury (2m4f, good to soft) last November; the return to Sandown is an interesting angle but he's been well beaten the last twice and needs to be better than ever today; headgear applied.

16/1

8

26th Apr 2025

Good

2m 6f 164y

Class 1

14:25 Sandown

Le Patron

11st 5lb

J: David Noonan

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Won the Grade 1 Henry VIII Novices' Chase here (1m7f, heavy) in December 2023 and comfortably won handicap at Newbury (2m4f, good to soft) last November; the return to Sandown is an interesting angle but he's been well beaten the last twice and needs to be better than ever today; headgear applied.

16/1

5

15th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 8y

Class 1

15:37 Ascot

Le Patron

11st 10lb

J: David Noonan

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Record of 4-7 over fences includes a Grade 1 novice win last term and impressive handicap performance at Newbury (2m4f, good to soft) on reappearance; perhaps unsuited by the return to Cheltenham last time; has something to find at the weights but looks interesting as a second-season chaser who could rate higher still.

16/1

Non-runners

Lively Citizen, Le Patron

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £24.20
Straight Forecast £26.91
Tricast £445.34
Trifecta £229.00

Selections

RP Ratings:

Anyharminasking

SPOTLIGHT:

Mullenbeg

WEST COUNTRY:

Punctuation

POSTDATA:

Zoffanien

The Times:

Too Friendly

TOPSPEED:

Oakley

Telegraph:

Anyharminasking

D Express:

Anyharminasking

Daily Mirror:

Anyharminasking

The Guardian:

Mullenbeg

Daily Record:

Mullenbeg

The Sun:

Zoffanien

Daily Mail:

Punctuation

The Star:

Punctuation