February 11 / 15.20 Uttoxeter

15.20

Good To Soft

Huntsman Celebrating Roger Martin’s 75th Birthday Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £5819.65
  • 2m 3f 207y
  • Class 3
  • 12 runners
SKY
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Huntsman Celebrating Roger Martin’s 75th Birthday Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 12 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

25/1 (Won)

  • Win: £29.00
  • Place: £5.90

Form: 1PP-P7 CD

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 9lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
Made all over C&D (heavy) when sporting first-time blinkers in December 2021 but pulled up in his two runs prior to that and three further non-completions followed; he did at least finish here two weeks ago but was tailed off in first-time visor; no headgear this time but he's riddled with risks.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

25th Jul 2025

Good

2m 3f 207y

Class 4

16:23 Uttoxeter

Ballybegg

11st 11lb

J: Richard Patrick

T: Kerry Lee

Dual C&D winner; went close off today's mark at Ludlow (2m5f, good) in March but this regressive 10yo was soundly beaten over fences when last in action and would appeal much more on slower ground.

25/1

3

1st Jul 2025

Good To Firm

2m 3f 98y

Class 4

20:18 Stratford

Ballybegg

12st 1lb

J: Richard Patrick

T: Kerry Lee

Inconsistent 10yo who was well beaten when back over fences in May (2m6f), then unsuited by the drop back to 2m on his most recent start at Newton Abbot last month when a well-held third of six; on a good mark if the mood takes him now back up to a more suitable test.

10/1

3rd

3

13th Jun 2025

Good

2m 0f 75y

Class 4

19:55 Newton Abbot

Ballybegg

11st 6lb

J: Richard Patrick

T: Kerry Lee

Went close over hurdles at Ludlow (2m5f, good) in March but this inconsistent and steadily regressive 10yo was well beaten when back over fences last month (2m6f); drops back to about 2m for first time since hurdle debut in 2020; has done all his winning on ground slower than good.

10/1

10/1

  • Place: £2.20

Form: /1-756 D

Last run: 42 days

W: 11st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 126

Form & Verdict
Often races too freely and got away with it when making all in a Fontwell novice (2m3f, soft) last season; has found it tougher in handicaps, despite being reined back the last twice (heavy ground was perhaps not ideal last time); however, the ability is there and the likelihood of a strong pace here will suit if he is again ridden patiently.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

8th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 189y

Class 1

13:50 Huntingdon

Nickle Back

11st 7lb

J: James Best

T: Sarah Humphrey

Often goes off in a clear lead and he wasn't for catching a few times as a novice chaser last season, the highlight his success in Grade 1 at Sandown (2m4f, good); could steal this race but the removal of his usual hood presents a question mark.

9/1

4th

4

8th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 189y

Class 1

13:50 Huntingdon

Nickle Back

11st 7lb

J: James Best

T: Sarah Humphrey

Often goes off in a clear lead and he wasn't for catching a few times as a novice chaser last season, the highlight his success in Grade 1 at Sandown (2m4f, good); could steal this race but the removal of his usual hood presents a question mark.

9/1

1

27th Apr 2024

Good

2m 4f 10y

Class 2

16:45 Sandown

Nickle Back

12st 0lb

J: James Best

T: Sarah Humphrey

took keen hold, led, clear 2nd, not fluent 4th, reduced lead after 6th, mistake 12th, headed just before 3 out, soon weakened quickly and pulled up

11/4

15/2

  • Place: £1.80

Form: 243113 D

Last run: 41 days

W: 10st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
The clearcut winner of handicaps at Market Rasen (2m, good to soft) and Taunton (2m3f, good) before seemingly anchored by a 12lb rise when beaten 12l at Musselburgh; still ran well though and Bradley Harris takes off a welcome 7lb this time; by no means out of it.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

12th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 1y

Class 3

14:40 Taunton

Ilanz

11st 9lb

J: Lewis Stones

T: Olly Murphy

Placed in two of his three starts for new stable; remains on career-high mark but Lewis Stones takes off a useful 3lb and record of 1-1 at Taunton bodes well; in the mix.

8/1

4th

3

12th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 1y

Class 3

14:40 Taunton

Ilanz

11st 9lb

J: Lewis Stones

T: Olly Murphy

held up in rear, raced wide home turn, good headway before 2 out, soon pressed leaders, kept on run-in

8/1

3rd

2

20th Jul 2024

Good

2m 4f 139y

Class 3

14:05 Market Rasen

Ilanz

11st 11lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

3-10 over hurdles; arguably posted career-best form when second on stable debut at Plumpton (2m4f, good) in May but ran no race when dropped back to 2m at Stratford last month; needs to put that performance behind him.

14/1

11/4

Form: 221-13 D BF

Last run: 33 days

W: 11st 13lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 129

Form & Verdict
Consistent and improving, even allowing for him coming up short when made favourite for his latest handicap at Taunton (2m3f, soft); ran right through the line there and he's arguably 6lb lower for this with Kai Lenihan taking away 7lb.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

9

1st Feb 2025

Soft

2m 3f 154y

Class 3

14:43 Wetherby

Sayadam

11st 5lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Mel Rowley

in touch with leaders

14/1

11th

9

1st Feb 2025

Soft

2m 3f 154y

Class 3

14:43 Wetherby

Sayadam

11st 5lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Mel Rowley

in touch with leaders

14/1

3rd

1

12th May 2023

Good

2m 7f 16y

Class 3

15:25 Market Rasen

Sayadam

12st 1lb

J: David Bass

T: Kim Bailey

Yet to finish out of the frame; creditable third to one completing a hat-trick on first run over 3m at Taunton last time; has won on good/soft; a possible.

9/1

OUR TIP

Form: 14-231

Last run: 43 days

W: 12st 1lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 131

Form & Verdict
Prominent racer who has won three of his last six starts and couldn't have been more impressive in the latest at Haydock (2m3f, soft; effective on good); has an 8lb rise to contend with now, and while softer ground is probably ideal for him, he smacks of a sharp improver.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

1

22nd May 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

17:32 Worcester

Fine Casting

12st 1lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

Below par when returning to hurdling at Southwell (2m4f, good) in March; has dropped 2lb since finishing fourth at Wetherby (2m3f, soft) on his most recent chase start and has claims if able to reproduce the form of that or his Bangor success (2m4f, soft) last November; acts on a sound surface.

10/1

3rd

1

24th Mar 2026

Good

2m 4f 88y

Class 4

16:30 Southwell

Fine Casting

12st 0lb

J: Elliott England

T: Ben Pauling

Good and bad since returned to fences (1P4); runs off a lower hurdles mark but he is a 10yo and without a win in this discipline since 2022.

6/1

Form: 11-5U5 D

Last run: 51 days

W: 11st 13lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 129

Form & Verdict
Signed off last season with a hat-trick of wins at about 2m4f, all of them under Isabel Williams; yet to replicate that form this term and the handicapper has eased him only 2lb in the process; others appeal more.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

4th Mar 2023

Good

2m 4f 118y

Class 3

14:10 Newbury

Bold Plan

11st 10lb

J: Isabel Williams

T: Evan Williams

Hat-trick of wins in early 2022, the middle leg in this race (soft; subsequent Cheltenham win on good); hasn't been in the same form this winter but he ran more promisingly than the distance beaten suggests at Uttoxeter recently and is now only just above his latest winning mark; respected.

13/2

6th

2

11th Feb 2023

Good To Soft

2m 3f 207y

Class 3

15:20 Uttoxeter

Bold Plan

11st 13lb

J: Isabel Williams

T: Evan Williams

Signed off last season with a hat-trick of wins at about 2m4f, all of them under Isabel Williams; yet to replicate that form this term and the handicapper has eased him only 2lb in the process; others appeal more.

12/1

Form: 15-5F6 D

Last run: 35 days

W: 11st 11lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 127

Form & Verdict
Something to prove after not really taking to fences but his best form as a novice hurdler last season brings him into the equation; dangerous to dismiss./
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

2nd Oct 2025

Good

3m 0f 60y

Class 4

14:30 Southwell

Peejaybee

11st 13lb

J: James Bowen

T: Mickey Bowen

Defied a virtually identical absence to today's at Perth this time last year (good); inconsistent when last seen, however, and over three and a half years since he last lowered a mark in the 120s.

6/1

1

15th May 2025

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 4

14:50 Perth

Peejaybee

12st 1lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Mickey Bowen

Course winner here last September (2m4f, good); back to winning ways last time at Ffos Las (3m, good to soft); interesting contender off this 5lb higher mark.

2/1

1

15th May 2025

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 4

14:50 Perth

Peejaybee

12st 1lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Mickey Bowen

Course winner here last September (2m4f, good); back to winning ways last time at Ffos Las (3m, good to soft); interesting contender off this 5lb higher mark.

2/1

Form: 05-00P

Last run: 33 days

W: 11st 9lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
Smart hurdler/chaser in Ireland and he ran okay in last season's cross-country race at the Cheltenham Festival; it's been a poor 12 months otherwise and pulling up in a recent hunter chase makes him very opposable back over hurdles.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

3rd May 2024

Good

4m 0f 97y

Class 4

19:30 Cheltenham

Mitchouka

11st 12lb

J: Mr Charlie Case

T: M Kehoe

always behind, never going well, lost touch 21st, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out

25/1

10

3rd May 2024

Good

4m 0f 97y

Class 4

19:30 Cheltenham

Mitchouka

11st 12lb

J: Mr Charlie Case

T: M Kehoe

Seeing out trips better since returned to points, in March almost adding a 3m6f High Easter conditions event to an earlier 3m Horseheath success (soft); 9l to find with Pym on their last-time clash, however.

25/1

6

11th Feb 2023

Good To Soft

2m 3f 207y

Class 3

15:20 Uttoxeter

Mitchouka

11st 9lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Fiona Kehoe

Smart hurdler/chaser in Ireland and he ran okay in last season's cross-country race at the Cheltenham Festival; it's been a poor 12 months otherwise and pulling up in a recent hunter chase makes him very opposable back over hurdles.

50/1

Form: 78-599 D

Last run: 69 days

W: 11st 9lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
Won twice as a juvenile hurdler before his season fizzled out disappointingly and his struggles have continued this campaign, having yet to beat a finisher in any of his runs; his mark is in freefall but for good reason.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

6

28th Aug 2024

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

19:10 Worcester

Doctor Parnassus

11st 2lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Had a spell in Ireland but back with his former yard he didn't pick up at all when beaten 19l at Stratford; doesn't look as good as he was; now tongue tied.

7/1

6th

5

14th Jul 2024

Good

2m 2f 148y

Class 3

16:00 Stratford

Doctor Parnassus

10st 12lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Has returned to his former yard after a spell in Ireland; won his first two races over hurdles for this stable in January/February 2022; has dropped to a decent mark; any market move should be noted.

3/1

4th

8

21st Jan 2024

Yielding

1m 7f 132y

15:20 Thurles

Doctor Parnassus

10st 9lb

J: Danny Mullins

T: Richard John O’Brien

Dual winner over hurdles for the Skeltons; two good efforts on the Flat and not disgraced in a 2m4f handicap hurdle at Leopardstown; could have more to offer.

14/1

Form: 133-24 D

Last run: 121 days

W: 11st 3lb

12 yo Gelding

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Consistent but has won only once in more than four years, when collecting off 9lb lower over this trip at Carlisle last February; some good runs since and he probably needed his October outing, but others appeal more for win purposes.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

1

19th Apr 2024

Soft

2m 4f 100y

Class 4

17:00 Ayr

Better Getalong

12st 0lb

J: Miss Ella McGarry

T: Nicky Richards

disputed lead early, raced in second after 2nd, raced slightly wide with one circuit to go

14/1

Form: 3P12-P

Last run: 36 days

W: 11st 1lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Odds-on winner of a Newbury maiden last February (2m, soft) and ran well under a penalty (2m4f); his handicap debut at Ludlow (3m, soft; 3-1) was too bad to be true and it's unlikely that it was the longer trip that beat him; possibilities if showing his true colours.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

6th Jun 2023

Good

2m 4f 88y

Class 4

16:20 Southwell

Kincardine

11st 13lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

Returned to form with win in first-time cheekpieces at Exeter (2m, good to soft; first run after wind surgery) in April but was back in the doldrums at Ludlow last month; should be fine over today's trip but it's hard to predict whether he'll be in the right mood.

7/1

11th

8

9th May 2023

Good

1m 7f 169y

Class 3

19:00 Ludlow

Kincardine

11st 5lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

Pulled up on his first two starts this season but then landed 2m Exeter handicap on the back of a wind op (also cheekpieces on) four weeks ago; still low mileage so he's not taken lightly despite a 4lb rise.

4/1

1st

8

11th Apr 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 161y

Class 4

14:15 Exeter

Kincardine

11st 7lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

jumped right on occasions, made all, mistake 5 out, ridden and hard pressed from 2 out, mistake last, kept on well run-in

6/1

Form: -518P8 CD

Last run: 14 days

W: 10st 8lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Won a small-field handicap at Hereford (3m1f, good to firm) in October but soundly beaten three times since and this is a tough race in which to bounce back.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

5

22nd Aug 2023

Good

3m 2f 105y

Class 5

17:00 Newton Abbot

Ernesto

11st 5lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Ian Williams

midfield

16/1

7th

5

4th Aug 2023

Good

2m 7f 7y

Class 5

13:40 Bangor-on-Dee

Ernesto

11st 5lb

J: Daire McConville

T: Ian Williams

Lurks on a very dangerous mark even before Daire McConville's useful 8lb claim is considered but has been out of form this year and needs to turn a corner; visor replaced by cheekpieces; tongue-tie removed.

8/1

Non-runners

Better Getalong

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £215.60
Straight Forecast £211.08
Tricast £841.91
Trifecta £936.00

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Fine Casting

RP Ratings:

Sayadam

The Times:

Ilanz

LAMBOURN:

Kincardine

The Star:

Bold Plan

TOPSPEED:

Sayadam

WEST COUNTRY:

Sayadam

The Guardian:

Sayadam

Daily Mirror:

Sayadam

POSTDATA:

Fine Casting

Telegraph:

Fine Casting

Daily Mail:

Fine Casting

D Express:

Fine Casting

The Sun:

Fine Casting

Daily Record:

Fine Casting