December 06 / 12.38 Haydock

12.38

Heavy

TrustATrader You Can Trust Our Traders Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £7393.4
  • 2m 2f 191y
  • Class 3
  • 5 runners
RTV
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TrustATrader You Can Trust Our Traders Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

Form: 4521-5 D

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 9lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 127

Form & Verdict
Four of his six wins have been on soft, unraced on heavy; ended last season on a high and disputed the lead two out at Carlisle (2m4f, soft) on reappearance, so ran a good deal better than the 18l defeat suggests; considered.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

3

22nd Apr 2025

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 3

16:12 Kelso

Fostersisland

11st 6lb

J: Emma Smith-Chaston

T: Micky Hammond

Good servant to connections over the years (six hurdle wins); on the downgrade now, though, and was just a respectable fifth in first-time cheekpieces (retained) at regular haunt Wetherby (2m5f, good) last month.

10/1

3rd

3

22nd Apr 2025

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 3

16:12 Kelso

Fostersisland

11st 6lb

J: Emma Smith-Chaston

T: Micky Hammond

prominent, no extra run-in

10/1

5th

3

28th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 56y

Class 4

15:32 Wetherby

Fostersisland

11st 11lb

J: Emma Smith-Chaston

T: Micky Hammond

Has often run well here and he's well treated on course form as recent as November; however, his subsequent form has been patchy and this 10yo needs to raise his game in first-time cheekpieces.

20/1

OUR TIP

Abandoned

Form: 614OF- C

Last run: 300 days

W: 11st 9lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 127

Form & Verdict
Often front-runs; 3m winner here in May 2022 and 2m4f winner at Aintree one year ago; fortunes subsided on last three outings (ran out early on penultimate start; fell on final outing) but he's shown on occasions before that he can go well after a break; has bits of form on soft and heavy but more lesser efforts.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13th

7

20th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 2

16:30 Musselburgh

Romeo Brown

11st 3lb

J: Oscar Palmer

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

12yo who exploited a career-low mark in reapplied cheekpieces (retained since) at Doncaster (3m, good to soft) in November and followed up there (3m, good to soft) in December, making all under Oscar Palmer each time; he's a player if resuming where he left off.

6/1

5

15th Oct 2025

Good

3m 0f 26y

Class 5

16:20 Wetherby

Romeo Brown

11st 8lb

J: Peter Kavanagh

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

Not the force of old but, following a wind operation, arrested decline and was placed twice at Hexham (2m4f; stays 3m) in the spring; absent since falling quite heavily there in May but has a fighting chance if ready to roll.

7/1

Form: 3285-6 C

Last run: 45 days

W: 11st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
Won his only race here, in his highly fruitful 2021-22 season; started last term with three creditable minor honours (one on heavy) over fences, which have been followed by three lesser displays (one this term) as a hurdler and he's now tongue tied first time; down the weights.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

8th Jun 2024

Good

2m 0f 145y

Class 4

14:50 Bangor-on-Dee

Barrichello

11st 5lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

Won four times as a novice during 2021-22 season but has been out of form over the last 18 months or so and needs a significant boost from the first-time blinkers today.

14/1

8th

3

14th May 2024

Good

1m 7f 182y

Class 4

16:30 Southwell

Barrichello

11st 10lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

Rather disappointing since two wins in early 2022 (both over 2m on good to soft); very well handicapped (19lb lower than last success) so quite interesting back from a break on second run after wind surgery.

13/2

8th

3

14th May 2024

Good

1m 7f 182y

Class 4

16:30 Southwell

Barrichello

11st 10lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

Rather disappointing since two wins in early 2022 (both over 2m on good to soft); very well handicapped (19lb lower than last success) so quite interesting back from a break on second run after wind surgery.

13/2

Form: 19P5-5 BF

Last run: 54 days

W: 11st 4lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Pulled up facing a stiff task on sole start here; won reappearance last season for Michael Scudamore before losing his way; disappointing favourite this October on return from wind surgery, racing without his declared tongue-tie, so he has a bit to prove, but he's on the same mark as for that latest win one year ago.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

18th Oct 2024

Good To Soft

1m 7f 214y

Class 4

16:30 Uttoxeter

Lebowski

12st 2lb

J: Lilly Pinchin

T: Charlie Longsdon

jumped right throughout, set fast pace, headed after 3 out (usual 4 out), weakened and hung right after 2 out (usual 3 out)

7/2

2nd

3

14th Dec 2023

Heavy

2m 0f 190y

Class 3

13:40 Newcastle

Lebowski

11st 9lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell

Runs off same mark as for his win at Wetherby (2m, soft) last December; hasn't shone since but, having had a wind op, he was well backed at Chepstow on his stable and seasonal debut only to run without the declared tongue-tie; due to wear that appendage today; interesting to see if backers return.

7/2

Abandoned

Form: P221-3 D

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Dual hurdle winner on soft ground in France but pulled up both starts on heavy, one last December on his second British start; on the up in his next three outings (on good and good soft, including 2m2f Exeter win) and shaped as though he needed the run on soft-ground reappearance last month; just a 5yo and probably well handicapped if back to his best.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

3

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 187y

Class 1

15:45 Newbury

Issam

11st 9lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Tom Symonds

Seemed a non-stayer over 3m on penultimate start; readily justified favouritism at Kempton (2m4f, good to soft) latest, taking chase record to 3-6 and overall strike-rate to 9-25; largely progressive and a useful 3lb is claimed with Callum Pritchard back on board; one to consider.

8/1

1st

3

2nd Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 3

15:07 Kempton

Issam

11st 10lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Tom Symonds

Out of the money over 3m at Ascot last time, seeming a non-stayer; solid record otherwise since switched to fences, winning twice and posting two sound efforts; may have more to offer back down in trip; not ruled out.

9/2

6th

2

17th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 185y

Class 3

13:00 Ascot

Issam

12st 0lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Tom Symonds

Overall strike-rate is 8-23; solid set of form figures (1213) since switch to fences, keeping on for creditable effort at Ascot (2m3f, good to soft) most recently; should be thereabouts provided he stays this new trip.

9/1

Non-runners

Molly Ollys Wishes

Verdict

The withdrawal of Molly Ollys Wishes puts ISSAM at the top of the list, followed by Foster’sisland.[Richard Austen]

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Issam

Telegraph:

Molly Ollys Wishes

Daily Mirror:

Lebowski

RP RATINGS:

Issam

TOPSPEED:

Issam

POSTDATA:

Issam

The Times:

Issam

The Guardian:

Issam

D Express:

Issam

The Star:

Lebowski

Daily Mail:

Molly Ollys Wishes

Daily Record:

Molly Ollys Wishes