December 26 / 12.40 Huntingdon

12.40

Good To Soft

racingtv.com Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4084.5
  • 2m 3f 137y
  • Class 4
  • 14 runners
RTV
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racingtv.com Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 14 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly sunny

9/2 (Won)

  • Win: £5.00
  • Place: £1.60

Form: 263-1O D

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Irish point winner; improved on bumper efforts when making a winning hurdle debut at Uttoxeter; still travelling well enough when running out (short of room) at the fourth last at Kelso since; retains potential.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

11

9th May 2026

Good

3m 2f 0y

16:45 Killarney

Supreme Gift

10st 2lb

J: G B Noonan

T: E McNamara

Second runner for yard; won five times over hurdles and once over fences when trained in UK; three chase starts for this yard with best run coming when fifth at Limerick; needs a fair bit more.

25/1

16

6th Apr 2026

Yielding To Soft

3m 0f 120y

17:40 Fairyhouse

Supreme Gift

10st 10lb

J: Calum Hogan

T: E McNamara

Useful performer for Henry Daly, winning six races, including an Ascot handicap chase; modest form in two starts for this stable, albeit trip and testing ground probably not ideal on latest; new cheekpieces need to spark.

25/1

4/1

  • Place: £2.30

Form: 2-7

Last run: 61 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Pleasing bumper debut when a clear second here in the spring (soft; winner and third won over hurdles recently); this longer trip should help on pedigree but he needs to improve somewhat upon his Chepstow hurdle debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

17th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 210y

Class 3

13:50 Carlisle

Butch

11st 9lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

led narrowly, raced in second 3rd, briefly left in lead after 7th, pecked on landing 11th, not fluent and outpaced 3 out, rallied and disputed lead 2 out, no extra and lost second inside final 110yds

4/9

1st

2

28th Dec 2024

Soft

2m 4f 25y

Class 3

12:15 Leicester

Butch

11st 4lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

soon pressed leader, led narrowly or disputed lead from 3rd, led and going best before 4 out, went clear before 3 out, went further clear approaching last, readily

1/2

1st

2

28th Dec 2024

Soft

2m 4f 25y

Class 3

12:15 Leicester

Butch

11st 4lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

soon pressed leader, led narrowly or disputed lead from 3rd, led and going best before 4 out, went clear before 3 out, went further clear approaching last, readily

1/2

9/4

  • Place: £1.30

Form: /53-21

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Proving much better over hurdles than he was in bumpers, making Hall Lane work for it at Wetherby (2lb better off today, plus Eddie Edge's 10lb claim) before landing the odds in a small field last month; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

31st May 2026

Good

2m 5f 44y

Class 3

16:37 Fakenham

Hurricane Bay

11st 12lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Lucy Wadham

Well below best last season but exploited some help from the handicapper when winning in pretty good style at Huntingdon (2m4f, good) this month; even after a 5lb rise, he's still 5lb lower than when winning this race in 2025; good chance.

7/4

1st

2

7th May 2026

Good

2m 3f 189y

Class 4

13:45 Huntingdon

Hurricane Bay

11st 11lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Lucy Wadham

Well handicapped if judged on his two good-ground wins in cheekpieces last spring (2m7f/2m5f) but has been well below best (in various headgear) in recent months; ran well for a long way before weakening quickly at Market Rasen (3m, good) last time and might benefit from this drop back in trip but others have much less to prove.

10/1

5th

1

14th Apr 2026

Good

2m 7f 191y

Class 4

13:35 Market Rasen

Hurricane Bay

12st 0lb

J: Mr Cian Murphy

T: Lucy Wadham

Well handicapped if judged on his two good-ground wins in cheekpieces last spring (2m7f/2m5f) but has been out of form (in various headgear) in recent months; sure to appreciate this ease in grade but needs to turn a corner; cheekpieces refitted.

10/1

Form: 86

Last run: 32 days

W: 11st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Tailed off in two similar races in the autumn and remains best watched until showing something.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

24th Mar 2026

Good

2m 7f 3y

Class 4

15:45 Taunton

A Definite Getaway

11st 6lb

J: James Bowen

T: Mickey Bowen

A dual winner (at about 3m) last April but he's not been seen since coming in a well-held third of five in 3m2f handicap chase at Newton Abbot ten months ago; he needs to hit the ground running.

8/1

Form: 6-65

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Irish maiden point runner-up who ran below market expectations in his one bumper start in the spring; has shown more since switched to hurdles but needs to improve for this stiffer test, which is possible given he's a brother to a dual 2m7f winner.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

3

18th Sep 2024

Good

2m 2f 25y

Class 5

18:05 Kelso

Upagainstit

11st 10lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Won a Warwick novice handicap chase (2m, soft) off an 8lb higher mark in March 2023; fair run when over hurdles at Bangor in June (2m, good); cheekpieces tried; bit to prove.

7/1

10th

2

21st Aug 2024

Good

2m 0f 110y

Class 5

16:50 Worcester

Upagainstit

11st 10lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

Generally disappointing since winning chase debut in March 2023 but posted a couple of decent efforts over hurdles in June (albeit a late faller on latter occasion) and reverts to fences with renewed hope.

8/1

7

28th Jun 2024

Good

2m 0f 145y

Class 4

18:48 Bangor-on-Dee

Upagainstit

11st 0lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

Narrow winner off 7lb higher over fences at Warwick (2m, soft) last March; has not matched that form since but he returned to hurdling with a second in C&D novice (good) three weeks ago; was allowed to dictate in that race but that was more like it and he's in the mix back in a handicap; one of two runners for yard.

5/1

Form: 48

Last run: 44 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Bought for £14,000 after finishing fourth in an Irish hunter chase in the spring for Shark Hanlon; started 66-1 and ran accordingly behind Supreme Gift on hurdles debut for his new yard six weeks ago.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

20th Sep 2024

Good

3m 1f 170y

Class 4

17:30 Newton Abbot

Jigginstown King

12st 0lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Oliver Signy

disputed lead, badly hampered and unseated before 1st

7/1

1st

4

30th Aug 2024

Good

3m 1f 210y

Class 4

18:10 Fontwell

Jigginstown King

11st 6lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Oliver Signy

made all, jumped well, stayed on run-in, ridden out

8/1

10

25th Jul 2024

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 4

14:50 Worcester

Jigginstown King

11st 0lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Oliver Signy

disputed lead

6/1

6/1

Form: 8/2/2

Last run: 38 days

W: 11st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Over two years off when best of the rest behind an easy winner at Chepstow last month; entitled to have come on for that and is shortlisted for an experienced 5lb claimer and a trainer who has a fair record here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

6

11th May 2024

Good

3m 0f 41y

Class 4

17:10 Hexham

Sponthus

12st 0lb

J: Mr Thomas Easterby

T: W H Easterby

in rear

11/4

4th

6

11th May 2024

Good

3m 0f 41y

Class 4

17:10 Hexham

Sponthus

12st 0lb

J: Mr Thomas Easterby

T: W H Easterby

in rear

11/4

5th

3

26th Mar 2023

Good To Soft

2m 2f 111y

Class 4

13:07 Exeter

Sponthus

11st 11lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Sam Thomas

Very lightly raced 8yo who made pleasing return from long absence when second (albeit no match for winner) in Chepstow maiden (2m3f, good to soft) in November; below that form after racing too freely at Huntingdon on Boxing Day but should have some improvement to come in handicaps.

11/2

OUR TIP

Form: 5-1 D

Last run: 58 days

W: 11st 7lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Made a fair bumper debut in the spring and improved on that when coming away with two subsequent winners at Wetherby (good to soft; Hurricane Bay second) in October; open to further improvement and shortlisted under a penalty.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

10th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 171y

Class 4

15:27 Ludlow

Hall Lane

11st 4lb

J: Jack Hogan

T: Fergal O’Brien

Only 1-13 over fences but is threatening to double his tally, having stayed on for second in the last two of three starts for new yard, latest at Taunton (2m7f, good); possibilities off same mark.

2/1

2nd

1

9th Apr 2026

Good

2m 7f 3y

Class 5

17:20 Taunton

Hall Lane

12st 0lb

J: Jack Hogan

T: Fergal O’Brien

Both wins when trained by Alan King; showed little on return from 404-day layoff at Leicester in January for new yard but much better when runner-up at Huntingdon (2m7f, good) last month; runs off the same mark and holds place claims at least.

3/1

2nd

1

11th Mar 2026

Good

2m 7f 129y

Class 5

16:55 Huntingdon

Hall Lane

12st 0lb

J: Jack Hogan

T: Fergal O’Brien

Won a four-runner chase at Market Rasen (3m, good; all out) for Alan King in 2024 but didn't match that in three subsequent starts, including over this C&D; suffered a big defeat on his stable debut in January, when coming back from a 404-day absence, but was a little weak in the market that day so maybe better can be expected this time; career-low mark.

13/2

Form: 0-49

Last run: 48 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Nothing exciting in two bumpers or on hurdles debut early last month, when behind Upagainstit; needs a step forward to take this.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

5

15th Jun 2024

Good

2m 3f 207y

Class 5

18:10 Uttoxeter

We Gotta Getaway

11st 6lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: David Killahena & Graeme McPherson

Off the mark over hurdles at fifth attempt, rallying gamely to regain lead on run-in at Market Rasen (2m4f, good) last week; has plenty of scope for further progress but the forecast rain is a worry here.

9/2

1st

7

7th Jun 2024

Good

2m 4f 139y

Class 5

15:18 Market Rasen

We Gotta Getaway

10st 10lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: David Killahena & Graeme McPherson

Fourth in a bumper in October 2022 (2m1f, good); not shown a great deal over hurdles and well beaten after a break at Musselburgh when last seen out in December (tongue-tie on for first time); probably best watched on return from another break.

16/1

Form: 05-742

Last run: 115 days

W: 11st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Best effort in Irish bumpers when upped to this sort of trip at Kilbeggan in September; 50-1 second that day in a race that hasn't worked out and he needs to improve now hurdling for his new yard, having fallen in a point last month.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

30th Mar 2025

Good

2m 5f 141y

Class 3

17:05 Ascot

Court Cian

11st 9lb

J: Murray Dodd

T: Stuart Edmunds

Consistent gelding who won by a comfortable 3l at Market Rasen (2m7f, good to soft; won on good) last time and the runner-up has since filled the same berth at Newbury; this 7yo was ideally positioned that day in what developed into a sprint finish but a 5lb rise could have been worse; Murray Dodd rides again claiming his 7lb.

9/4

1st

2

4th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 16y

Class 4

17:15 Market Rasen

Court Cian

11st 11lb

J: Murray Dodd

T: Stuart Edmunds

Mostly consistent in his six runs for Stuart Edmunds, winning twice (2m4f/2m7f); a well-held third over C&D last month but Murray Dodd takes off 7lb and drying conditions are a further bonus.

6/1

3

4th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 16y

Class 4

15:10 Market Rasen

Court Cian

11st 12lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Stuart Edmunds

Has won two of his five starts since returning to rules action in September, the latest by a wide margin at Fakenham (2m7f, good to soft); a 10lb rise asks questions of him but he's strongly considered.

6/4

Form: 6

Last run: 71 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Runner-up in an Irish maiden point in the spring; inclined to jump left on his hurdling debut at Sedgefield in October, which would be a worry now he's tackling a right-handed course.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

15th Oct 2023

Soft

2m 7f 191y

Class 5

15:55 Ffos Las

Jacks Orchard

11st 6lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Dr Richard Newland

Made promising late headway over 2m on handicap debut in March and returned from break with 2m4f win at Uttoxeter (good; first-time cheekpieces) in August; open to significant further progress over staying trips and a major player here; unraced on ground slower than good to soft under rules but was placed in a soft-ground point.

4/1

1st

7

30th Aug 2023

Good

2m 3f 207y

Class 5

19:50 Uttoxeter

Jacks Orchard

11st 3lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Dr Richard Newland

Not beaten far on handicap debut at Exeter in March, despite looking unsuited by going right-handed (not for the first time); absent since but still unexposed and could well figure, especially if cheekpieces help.

8/1

Form: 70-55

Last run: 52 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Offered a bit more on his hurdling debut in October but failed to build on it when tailed off next time; like stablemate A Definite Getaway, his future probably lies in handicaps.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

8th May 2024

Good

2m 3f 104y

Class 5

18:10 Fontwell

Phil The Sock

10st 3lb

J: Tabitha Worsley

T: Phil York

always behind

66/1

9

8th May 2024

Good

2m 3f 104y

Class 5

18:10 Fontwell

Phil The Sock

10st 3lb

J: Tabitha Worsley

T: Phil York

always behind

66/1

7

22nd Apr 2024

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

16:55 Kempton

Phil The Sock

10st 13lb

J: Mr Phillip York

T: Phil York

held up in rear, mistake and detached 4th, struggling when pulled up after 3 out

50/1

Form: 0000-

Last run: 442 days

W: 11st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Tailed off in four runs in Ireland last year (2m-3m); can't be considered unless there's serious money for him.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

8th Feb 2023

Good

2m 4f 88y

Class 5

13:35 Southwell

Red Romeo

10st 12lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: Ben Case

took keen hold, midfield

33/1

10

26th Dec 2022

Good To Soft

2m 3f 137y

Class 4

12:40 Huntingdon

Red Romeo

11st 0lb

J: Lilly Pinchin

T: Ben Case

Tailed off in four runs in Ireland last year (2m-3m); can't be considered unless there's serious money for him.

100/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Half-brother to two useful Irish winners, notably Castlebawn West; Flat-oriented yard is 3-8 with hurdlers this season (two for Beat The Heat) and he's well worth tracking in the market.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14

26th Dec 2022

Good To Soft

2m 3f 137y

Class 4

12:40 Huntingdon

Wetakecareofourown

11st 0lb

J: James Davies

T: Jim Boyle

Half-brother to two useful Irish winners, notably Castlebawn West; Flat-oriented yard is 3-8 with hurdlers this season (two for Beat The Heat) and he's well worth tracking in the market.

16/1

Non-runners

Court Cian

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £34.00
Straight Forecast £29.49
Trifecta £93.40

Selections

TOPSPEED:

Supreme Gift

RP Ratings:

Hurricane Bay

The Guardian:

Sponthus

SPOTLIGHT:

Hall Lane

WEST COUNTRY:

Phil The Sock

POSTDATA:

Supreme Gift

The Times:

Supreme Gift

D Express:

Supreme Gift

Telegraph:

Hurricane Bay

Daily Mail:

Hurricane Bay

Daily Record:

Hurricane Bay

Daily Mirror:

Sponthus

The Sun:

Sponthus

The Star:

Sponthus