November 18 / 15.57 Uttoxeter

15.57

Heavy

Marston’s Pedigree Open National Hunt Flat Race (Category 1 Elimination) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £2614.08
  • 1m 7f 168y
  • Class 5
  • 8 runners
SKY
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Marston’s Pedigree Open National Hunt Flat Race (Category 1 Elimination) (GBB Race)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: NH Flat

Surface: Turf

Weather: Rain

OUR TIP

5/1 (Won)

  • Win: £8.50
  • Place: £2.20

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Black Sam Bellamy half-brother to 1m-1m2f Flat and 2m hurdle winner Gamesters Icon out of a fairly useful dual-purpose mare; stable's 3-8 strike-rate in bumpers increases interest in this newcomer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

18th Apr 2026

Soft

3m 0f 20y

Class 2

13:45 Ayr

Gamesters Guy

11st 7lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Good form when winning a two-runner novice chase at Doncaster (3m, good to soft) in December on his second run over fences; however, he hasn't kicked on since and needs to raise his game if he's to win this.

20/1

2nd

1

5th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 203y

Class 3

13:45 Haydock

Gamesters Guy

11st 10lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Not fully exposed over fences and has winning form in a match, downing a 1-3 shot at Doncaster (3m, good to soft) in December; has jumping frailties, however, which again came to the fore when an 18l second of two finishers over this sort of trip at Chepstow (soft) three weeks ago; tongue-tie added and maybe this race won't be a stern examination of his jumping technique.

10/11

2nd

2

13th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 3f 98y

Class 3

14:40 Chepstow

Gamesters Guy

11st 1lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Won a match race at Doncaster (3m, good to soft) in December, his second chase, and certainly didn't run badly when last of five in Windsor handicap (3m, soft) last month, where a last-fence error magnified his margin of defeat; not sure to benefit from this drop back in trip but still enters calculations.

6/1

16/1

  • Place: £3.10

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Son of Spanish Moon, beaten around 6l in two Irish points towards end of 2022; yard 12% in bumpers; worth monitoring in the market.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

26th Feb 2026

Soft

3m 0f 26y

Class 3

16:10 Wetherby

Moonset

11st 7lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Neil Mulholland

Won at Market Rasen (2m4f, good to soft) last March on second hurdle start and followed up on handicap debut at Newton Abbot (3m2f, heavy); tailed off at Wincanton (3m, good to soft) on Boxing Day on sole run this season but retains potential; wears first-time cheekpieces; one to watch in the betting.

10/1

1st

5

19th Apr 2025

Soft

3m 2f 105y

Class 4

17:29 Newton Abbot

Moonset

11st 7lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Neil Mulholland

in rear

3/1

1st

5

19th Apr 2025

Soft

3m 2f 105y

Class 4

17:29 Newton Abbot

Moonset

11st 7lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Neil Mulholland

Not an obvious stayer on pedigree but he kept on well when losing out late in 2m7f maiden at Worcester (good) in September before getting off the mark at Market Rasen (2m4f, good to soft; narrowly) last month; acts on soft; potential improver now handicapping.

3/1

11/4

  • Place: £2.40

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Changed hands for £50,000 after winning an English point in March and the runner-up has since won four handicap chases; yard 16% in bumpers; looks to have plenty in his favour.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

9

2nd May 2026

Good

3m 0f 10y

Class 5

15:10 Uttoxeter

Jo Arengeot Bey AA

10st 6lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Donald McCain

0-11 under rules; didn't run badly when back over hurdles in March but was safely held in both chases last season (2m7f/3m) and has become disappointing.

16/1

6th

11

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 32y

Class 5

14:45 Bangor-on-Dee

Jo Arengeot Bey AA

10st 5lb

J: William Maggs

T: Donald McCain

No worthwhile form in his handicaps over hurdles and last two chase runs were also underwhelming.

20/1

4th

4

26th Feb 2026

Soft

3m 0f 45y

Class 5

17:15 Wetherby

Jo Arengeot Bey AA

10st 8lb

J: William Maggs

T: Donald McCain

Struggled in handicap hurdles last season and soundly beaten at 40-1 on his chase/seasonal debut at Kelso in November; however, this point winner could improve for that latest outing and take a step forward today.

20/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
By Black Sam Bellamy; dam bumper and 2m hurdle winner, half-sister to the high-class chaser Master Tommytucker; stable has done very well in bumpers over the years, including with this one's dam who made a winning debut in this sphere back in 2013; interesting newcomer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

7

1st Apr 2026

Good

2m 5f 82y

Class 4

14:50 Wincanton

Matthias

11st 9lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Anthony Honeyball

Returned from two-year absence with some promising runs during the winter including when fifth of 18 in a maiden here (1m7f, good to soft; tongue tied) in February; now goes handicapping off what looks a fair mark and she has a high-class 2m5f winner on her dam's side; respected at this new trip.

4/1

5th

10

25th Feb 2026

Soft

1m 7f 50y

Class 4

13:50 Wincanton

Matthias

11st 7lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Anthony Honeyball

Came back from two-year absence with encouraging third in Chepstow novice (good to soft) in December; 7-4 from 3-1 but he took a big step backwards when tailed-off last of five finishers at Lingfield (also about 2m3f, heavy) three weeks ago; new tongue-tie/drop in trip might help and he's not confidently ruled out.

12/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
9,500euros 3yo; brother to 2m4f hurdle winner Man At Work, half-brother to winners Timeforben (point/2m7f-3m2f hurdle), Timetoroe (point/2m and 2m1f hurdle) and Timetobenefit (point); yard 0-7 in bumpers in recent seasons; hooded for debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

17th Apr 2026

Soft

2m 0f 110y

Class 3

14:20 Ayr

The Grafter

11st 6lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Sam England

Built upon his hurdling promise to win on chase/seasonal debut at Newcastle (2m, heavy) in January and he followed up there (2m, good to soft) in February; climbing the weights but this unexposed 7yo had something to spare for both wins and may well have more left in the tank.

100/30

1st

2

21st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 75y

Class 4

14:10 Newcastle

The Grafter

11st 12lb

J: Jonathan England

T: Sam England

Runner-up in four handicap hurdles last season; heavy ground could have been a factor in him showing improved form on his successful chase debut over C&D last month, though was well backed prior to comfortably repelling Spadestep; 9lb worse off with the runner-up but clearly open to further improvement.

11/4

1st

4

27th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 75y

Class 4

13:50 Newcastle

The Grafter

11st 2lb

J: Jonathan England

T: Sam England

Maiden; runner-up in four handicap hurdles last season; has no easy task on chase debut having been off for 278 days.

8/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
72,000euros 3yo; brother to 2m1f/2m3f hurdle winner Findthetime; dam maiden half-sister to useful 2m-2m4f hurdle/chase winner The West's Awake; stable (21% in bumpers), pedigree and price tag combine to make him one of the more attractive newcomers.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

17th Apr 2026

Soft

2m 0f 110y

Class 3

14:20 Ayr

Pleasington

11st 10lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Two-time novice hurdle winner who ran well in defeat this term on two of his first three chase starts (1m7f/2m, soft/good) and is on a handy mark on that form; he's struggled on his last two runs and has something to prove but perhaps the wind op and first-time cheekpieces will make a difference.

13/2

10

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 187y

Class 1

15:45 Newbury

Pleasington

10st 7lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Olly Murphy

Has two pieces of encouraging form since switched to fences, including a Newbury effort (2m) that suggests he should be suited by 2m4f; disappointing favourite (looked beaten when falling) at Wetherby last time but it's difficult to write off this low-mileage 8yo, who represents last year's winning stable.

11/1

1

22nd Jan 2026

Soft

2m 3f 85y

Class 3

13:20 Wetherby

Pleasington

12st 0lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Low mileage on the clock for this two-time heavy-ground hurdle winner who is improving; close third on his chase debut here (1m7f, soft); still in it at Aintree next time (2m4f, soft) when a mistake two out cost him; career-best effort latest at Newbury (2m; good); big player back up in trip.

9/4

Form: 4-2 BF

Last run: 35 days

W: 11st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Improving with experience and pulled a few lengths clear with the winner when second of eight at Hexham (soft; 15-8) five weeks ago; should encounter similar conditions here; unlikely to be far away.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

19th May 2026

Good To Firm

2m 7f 129y

Class 5

20:30 Huntingdon

Kandor

11st 12lb

J: Mr Daniel Williams

T: M Gill

Fair handicapper when trained by Lucinda Russell and 2-6 in points for current stable, the latter win gained in three-runner mixed open at Edgcote (3m, good) last month; probably has a big role to play in this.

5/2

4

15th May 2025

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 4

14:50 Perth

Kandor

11st 6lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell

Won a novice hurdle here last July (2m4f, good); four runs over fences, best effort when 1.75l fourth of eight over C&D last time (good to soft); contender.

4/1

4

15th May 2025

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 4

14:50 Perth

Kandor

11st 6lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell

Won a novice hurdle here last July (2m4f, good); four runs over fences, best effort when 1.75l fourth of eight over C&D last time (good to soft); contender.

4/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
£15,000 3yo; Mahler half-brother to bumper and 2m4f hurdle winner Green Glory out of a 2m AW winning half-sister to 1m2f-1m5f Flat and smart 2m hurdle winner Cockney Sparrow; that's an appealing pedigree for a race of this nature but his trainer is 0-18 in bumpers in the last five years.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

9th Oct 2024

Good

2m 5f 55y

Class 4

15:05 Ludlow

Billy Butcher

11st 0lb

J: Lee Edwards

T: Dave Roberts

Not beaten far when seventh in good-ground course bumper in April but struggled to get competitive when 50-1 for hurdle debut at Worcester (2m, good) in June; tries a new trip here.

66/1

6th

1

26th Jun 2024

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

17:05 Worcester

Billy Butcher

11st 4lb

J: Jay Tidball

T: Dave Roberts

Displayed improvement and was not beaten far when seventh of 16 in good-ground Ludlow bumper in April, his third start, but needs to make further progress to land a significant blow on today's hurdling debut.

33/1

7th

1

24th Apr 2024

Good

1m 7f 169y

Class 4

17:45 Ludlow

Billy Butcher

11st 3lb

J: Jay Tidball

T: Dave Roberts

Poor claims on form, having finished down the field in both runs.

100/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £71.80
Straight Forecast £92.85
Trifecta £763.00

Selections

POSTDATA:

Kandor

SPOTLIGHT:

Matthias

The Sun:

Pleasington

The Times:

Jo Arengeot Bey AA

WEST COUNTRY:

Matthias

The Guardian:

Matthias

The Star:

Pleasington

Telegraph:

Kandor

Daily Mail:

Kandor

D Express:

Kandor

Daily Mirror:

Kandor

Daily Record:

Kandor