January 03 / 12.45 Musselburgh

12.45

Soft

Fitzdares Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £3812.2
  • 2m 7f 180y
  • Class 4
  • 7 runners
RTV
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Fitzdares Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

5/1 (Won)

  • Win: £9.50
  • Place: £2.70

Form: 45

Last run: 35 days

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Irish point winner; finished a place ahead of Ballyporeen at Kelso (2m6f, good to soft) on stable debut and might have been unfavoured by dropping back to 2m3f next time; has a stout pedigree and 3m should suit; interesting contender in first-time hood.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

19th Mar 2026

Good

3m 3f 9y

Class 5

16:10 Sedgefield

Community Rebel

10st 10lb

J: Joshua Thompson

T: Micky Hammond

Won maiden hurdle in January 2023; however, this 10yo is 0-15 since and hasn't shown enough of late to suggest he's the one to be on today.

12/1

4th

7

4th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 71y

Class 5

15:40 Catterick

Community Rebel

10st 6lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Micky Hammond

Won a Musselburgh maiden hurdle for James Ewart in January 2023 (3m, soft); has run mainly over fences since (beaten 20l when third of five at Sedgefield last time); hard to know how he will fare now back hurdling.

10/1

11/2

  • Place: £5.30

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Changed hands for £17,000 after an easy Irish point win in November (soft ground); starting off over the right sort of trip on rules debut; has to be respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

15th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 91y

Class 4

14:00 Newcastle

Shadows In The Sky

11st 12lb

J: Alex Chadwick

T: James Owen

10yo whose form has been mixed this season but he's edged back down the weights and his Newmarket yard is 3-6 here; capable of a big run.

10/1

1

17th Oct 2025

Good

2m 5f 44y

Class 4

16:25 Fakenham

Shadows In The Sky

11st 8lb

J: Alex Chadwick

T: James Owen

Most consistent win or lose over either obstacle for this stable until finding a brush hurdle series final at Worcester all too much last time (2m4f, good); swimming in calmer waters again on this return to fences, albeit still above any class he's ever won in.

3/1

12

26th Sep 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 2

14:42 Worcester

Shadows In The Sky

11st 2lb

J: Nathan Howie

T: James Owen

Consistent over fences and hurdles for new stable this season, winning once under each discipline; suited by this C&D but may find less exposed rivals better handicapped today; swaps cheekpieces for refitted visor.

20/1

Form: 172

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Third in a point before winning bumper at Perth in September; just beaten in a blanket finish on hurdling debut at Kelso (2m, good to soft) last month and the winner has since followed up in good style; enough encouragement from pedigree to suggest he'll stay this much longer trip; key player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

10

25th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 2f 127y

Class 3

15:52 Perth

Jem In Em

10st 6lb

J: Conner McCann

T: Lucinda Russell

Bumper/hurdle winner who appreciated the return to this discipline when going down narrowly over nearly 3m at Hexham last month; this is a stronger race, however.

7/1

3rd

10

25th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 2f 127y

Class 3

15:52 Perth

Jem In Em

10st 6lb

J: Conner McCann

T: Lucinda Russell

prominent

7/1

2nd

1

13th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 63y

Class 5

17:00 Hexham

Jem In Em

12st 0lb

J: Conner McCann

T: Lucinda Russell

jumped right on occasions, midfield

8/1

Form: 553253

Last run: 46 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
0-6 in bumpers/over hurdles but has been running creditably, third of nine over 2m3f at Catterick on latest outing; faded over 2m6f the time before so has stamina to prove over this trip, but unlikely to be far away.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

10th May 2023

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 4

14:50 Kelso

Ballyporeen

11st 13lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

prominent on inner, led before 7th

4/7

1st

1

17th Apr 2023

Good To Soft

2m 2f 25y

Class 4

13:40 Kelso

Ballyporeen

11st 12lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

Built upon promise shown for Rebecca Menzies when winning Musselburgh handicap (2m4f, good to soft) by 24l on last month's stable debut; tackles stronger opposition and has penalty to carry here but still respected.

11/4

1st

3

24th Mar 2023

Good To Soft

2m 3f 171y

Class 4

16:00 Musselburgh

Ballyporeen

11st 7lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

Showed enough in qualifying runs to be competitive on handicap debut at Sedgefield but found little (2m5f, good to soft); left Rebecca Menzies since; still time for better but takes on high-flying rivals.

12/1

OUR TIP

Form: 8-27

Last run: 76 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Beaten over 40l all three starts, including when second of five on hurdling debut at Southwell (3m, good to firm); needs to improve for the fitting of a tongue-strap.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

14th Feb 2023

Good To Soft

3m 0f 20y

Class 5

16:30 Ayr

Cuddly Dudley

11st 9lb

J: Patrick Cowley

T: L J Morgan

Didn't achieve much when remote second on hurdle debut in the autumn, and the form of last month's fifth of seven at Musselburgh (3m, soft) isn't anything to get too excited about either; that said, he's open to significant improvement on today's chase/handicap debut.

11/2

5th

3

3rd Jan 2023

Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 4

12:45 Musselburgh

Cuddly Dudley

11st 2lb

J: Patrick Cowley

T: L J Morgan

Beaten over 40l all three starts, including when second of five on hurdling debut at Southwell (3m, good to firm); needs to improve for the fitting of a tongue-strap.

20/1

7th

1

19th Oct 2022

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 4

16:20 Worcester

Cuddly Dudley

11st 4lb

J: Patrick Cowley

T: L J Morgan

in rear throughout, tailed off from 4 out

50/1

Form: U/5

Last run: 12 days

W: 10st 9lb

8 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Big odds and limited promise in two hurdles runs, off over 600 days in between; may be of more interest when handicapping.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

7

3rd Jan 2023

Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 4

12:45 Musselburgh

Miss Smartypants

10st 9lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Michael & David Easterby

Big odds and limited promise in two hurdles runs, off over 600 days in between; may be of more interest when handicapping.

33/1

5th

6

22nd Dec 2022

Good To Soft

2m 5f 91y

Class 4

14:30 Ayr

Miss Smartypants

10st 7lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Michael & David Easterby

held up in rear

50/1

Form: 58-

Last run: 267 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Unplaced in two bumpers in the spring for Tim Reed but not beaten all that far on either occasion; has changed stables and Brian Hughes is booked for his hurdling debut; worth monitoring in the market.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

6

3rd Jun 2023

Good

2m 4f 28y

Class 5

16:40 Hexham

Shantous Temple

11st 6lb

J: Henry Brooke

T: Pauline Robson

Beaten about 25l when sixth of 12 on last month's handicap debut at Kelso (2m5f, good to soft) but was quite badly hampered by a mid-race faller there and remains unexposed.

20/1

6th

5

10th May 2023

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 5

15:25 Kelso

Shantous Temple

11st 4lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Pauline Robson

Shaped with promise on bumper debut; has not built on that effort but may well improve now handicapping; pedigree suggests he should have something to offer off this modest opening mark; shortlisted.

10/1

6th

6

24th Mar 2023

Good To Soft

2m 1f 87y

Class 4

13:20 Musselburgh

Shantous Temple

11st 6lb

J: Henry Brooke

T: Pauline Robson

Regressive RPRs in four runs (two bumpers, two hurdles); best watched.

50/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £64.20
Straight Forecast £108.76
Trifecta £224.70

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Jem In Em

RP Ratings:

Community Rebel

D Express:

Ballyporeen

Telegraph:

Shadows In The Sky

POSTDATA:

Community Rebel

The Times:

Jem In Em

The Guardian:

Jem In Em

Daily Mail:

Jem In Em

Daily Mirror:

Jem In Em

The Sun:

Jem In Em

The Star:

Jem In Em

Daily Record:

Jem In Em