December 06 / 13.10 Haydock

13.10

Heavy

TrustATrader Approved And Reviewed Tradespeople ‘Introductory’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £15843
  • 1m 7f 144y
  • Class 2
  • 6 runners
RTV
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TrustATrader Approved And Reviewed Tradespeople ‘Introductory’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

Abandoned

Form: 513-1 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
His bumper win was on soft at Ffos Las and it was also soft ground when he scored in 17-runner novice at Warwick (2m) on hurdle/seasonal debut four weeks ago; had to work at 10-11 for the latter win but should build on that, as is suggested by his bumper form, so he's in the mix.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

7

9th May 2026

Good

1m 7f 144y

Class 1

13:15 Haydock

Helnwein

11st 5lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Alan King

Often gives his running in strong handicaps (second in this event 12 months ago) but losing sequence is up to 11 and he looked held when falling two out in the Plumpton race won by Indemnity last time; cheekpieces left off today; opposable off unchanged mark.

10/1

3

5th Apr 2026

Good

1m 7f 195y

Class 2

16:05 Plumpton

Helnwein

11st 11lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Alan King

Had strong handicap form even before finishing second to Alexei in the Greatwood and fifth in an Ascot handicap that could barely have worked out any better, with the four ahead of him all delivering high-profile efforts in the meantime (well in with fourth-placed Mondo Man); failed favourite backers in a lower grade at Newbury but this strong traveller might have won had he not been left in front two out (then idled); every chance should this pan out more favourably; all ground seems fine.

13/2

2nd

1

20th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 69y

Class 3

15:00 Newbury

Helnwein

12st 2lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Alan King

Had some very strong handicap form even before his last two runs when second to Alexei in the Greatwood and fifth in an Ascot handicap that could barely have worked out any better, with the four ahead of him all delivering high-profile efforts in the meantime; must have every chance in this lower grade; drying ground won't bother him.

13/8

OUR TIP

Form: 13-1 D

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Favourite all three starts; won well at Bangor (2m1f, good to soft) in October in the first of his two bumpers; 2-5, won six-runner maiden at Ffos Las (2m, soft) on hurdling debut two weeks ago despite having plenty of room for more fluency in his jumping, asserting easily from two out; looks classy.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

31st Oct 2025

Good

1m 7f 214y

Class 3

15:05 Uttoxeter

Lump Sum

11st 5lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Sam Thomas

Smart hurdler who won Welsh Champion Hurdle at Ffos Las (2m, good to soft) on last season's reappearance and was subsequently second in Fighting Fifth at Newcastle and William Hill Hurdle at Newbury; absent since below-par run in March but still commands respect on chasing debut.

13/8

1st

4

31st Oct 2025

Good

1m 7f 214y

Class 3

15:05 Uttoxeter

Lump Sum

11st 5lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Sam Thomas

Smart hurdler who won Welsh Champion Hurdle at Ffos Las (2m, good to soft) on last season's reappearance and was subsequently second in Fighting Fifth at Newcastle and William Hill Hurdle at Newbury; absent since below-par run in March but still commands respect on chasing debut.

13/8

Form: 1

Last run: 29 days

W: 11st 7lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Third in heavy-ground Irish point in March and readily won a novice hurdle at Warwick (2m3f, soft) on rules debut four weeks ago from last Saturday's Newbury winner Jingko Blue; his jumping was not foot-perfect in the latter, including at the last, but he looked an exciting prospect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

16th May 2026

Good

2m 1f 77y

Class 2

15:55 Bangor-on-Dee

Personal Ambition

11st 2lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

Won three-runner novice chase by 17l at Newbury (2m, soft; first-time blinkers) in February but that form is tricky to evaluate, and he was pulled up in the Grand Annual at Cheltenham in March; still needs to prove he can handle his current handicap mark and that he's fully effective on the forecast good ground.

4/1

15

11th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 199y

Class 1

16:40 Cheltenham

Personal Ambition

10st 11lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Ben Pauling

He's had jumping issues and should have won a Grade 2 novice chase at Ascot in December 2024 (2m3f, good to soft; bad mistake at final fence); beat just two rivals when getting off the mark in this sphere at Newbury (2m, soft) recently but that was still a very encouraging effort in first-time blinkers (retained); could make a bold bid if minimising the errors.

14/1

1st

3

17th Feb 2026

2m 0f 92y

Class 3

14:15 Newbury

Personal Ambition

11st 2lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

Three-time hurdle winner; 0-6 over fences but highly tried on occasions and unlucky not to win a Grade 2 at Ascot last season; disappointed in that same race two months ago but new headgear could help him turn things around.

100/30

Form: /210-2 D

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Won two of his five bumpers, including one on soft; 9-1, 3l second of seven when he reappeared in an introductory hurdle at Wetherby (2m, heavy) 18 days ago, travelling well and keeping on well; receives 5lb from the hurdle winners and is not dismissed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

6

17th Apr 2026

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

13:45 Ayr

Berties Ballet

11st 11lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: Dianne Sayer

Won a Class 3 handicap at Haydock last season off this mark so wouldn't be too dismissive about his chances despite failing to reach anything like the same level in two of his three races this campaign.

20/1

12th

14

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 51y

Class 2

14:55 Kelso

Berties Ballet

10st 9lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Dianne Sayer

On a handy mark on last winter's form and he was an encouraging fourth of nine over C&D recently on his second start back from a long absence; however, this is a higher grade than he's used to; could be vulnerable.

33/1

4th

1

13th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 0f 51y

Class 4

14:30 Kelso

Berties Ballet

12st 0lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Dianne Sayer

Others have less to prove regarding current form but he shaped at Haydock last month as though he may have needed that comeback run; on a competitive mark and he's well suited by testing ground; not discounted.

6/1

Form: 131-2 D

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
First three races were bumpers on good to soft, disappointing on second start but leaving a very favourable impression with his wins in the other two; 11-2, improved when never-nearer second of nine in maiden hurdle at Sandown (2m, soft) last month, building up a head of steam late on; big player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

12

7th Mar 2026

Soft

1m 7f 216y

Class 2

14:27 Sandown

Spirits Bay

10st 13lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Ran okay when seventh in this last year and he reappeared with a win at Newton Abbot (2m1f, good to soft) in October; however, his subsequent form has been mixed (fences/hurdles) and Top Jimmy looks the yard's chief hope.

33/1

7th

4

12th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 0f 104y

Class 3

15:25 Taunton

Spirits Bay

11st 1lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Made a winning reappearance in Newton Abbot handicap hurdle (2m1f, good to soft) in October; switched to fences subsequently, matching his peak RPR over timber when fourth in 2m3f Exeter novice handicap (good to soft) five weeks ago; won his previous outing on heavy.

8/1

1

19th Nov 2025

Soft

2m 0f 54y

Class 3

12:55 Warwick

Spirits Bay

11st 10lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Two wins during his novice campaign included a handicap (2m, soft); 0-5 last season but ran well at the weights behind Constitution Hill at Cheltenham in January and comfortably regained the winning thread on his reappearance at Newton Abbot (2m1f, good to soft) three weeks ago; up 4lb but he's bred for fences and looks a player on debut in this sphere.

11/8

Form: 120-F D

Last run: 7 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
First and second at Huntingdon (good to soft/good) in his first two bumpers; remote in Grade 2 at Aintree in April on final start for Lucy Wadham and fell at the third on hurdling debut at Wetherby (4-1) one week ago for new yard, so he needs a major upturn in fortunes.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

11

14th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 203y

Class 3

13:28 Haydock

Taras Halls

11st 0lb

J: Callum Bewley

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

Resumed winning ways in first-time blinkers at Newcastle (2m4f) in November but very in and out since, pulled up in 2m6f Leicester handicap chase 25 days ago; he's not easy to warm to today.

14/1

4

20th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 6f 151y

Class 3

14:02 Leicester

Taras Halls

11st 9lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

Inconsistent this season but won in first-time blinkers at Newcastle in November and looked unlucky not to add to his tally at Haydock (also 2m4f, good to soft) three weeks ago, when a last-fence error was costly; up another 4lb for that but could have more to offer if in the right mood again.

9/2

1

31st Oct 2025

Good

2m 3f 207y

Class 4

14:30 Uttoxeter

Taras Halls

12st 0lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

Won over fences here (2m4f, good to soft) on New Year's Eve but began this year with two disappointing runs; reverts to hurdling after 261-day break and with usual cheekpieces missing; others have much less to prove.

20/1

Verdict

Choosing between these highly promising sorts at such an early stage of their hurdling careers is not easy but PERSONAL AMBITION looked good at Warwick, as did Spirits Bay with his finishing effort at Sandown, so they top the list narrowly ahead of the easy Ffos Las winner Lump Sum. Bertie’s Ballet and Helnwein must also be considered seriously.[Richard Austen]

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Personal Ambition

Telegraph:

Lump Sum

RP RATINGS:

Spirits Bay

The Star:

Helnwein

The Sun:

Bertie's Ballet

POSTDATA:

Personal Ambition

WEST COUNTRY:

Personal Ambition

The Times:

Personal Ambition

The Guardian:

Personal Ambition

TOPSPEED:

Spirits Bay

Daily Mail:

Lump Sum

D Express:

Lump Sum

Daily Mirror:

Lump Sum

Daily Record:

Lump Sum