December 08 / 14.15 Sedgefield

14.15

Heavy

JTC Pizzalicious Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4356.8
  • 2m 3f 188y
  • Class 4
  • 6 runners
SKY
View Course
JTC Pizzalicious Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

OUR TIP

Form: 86

Last run: 16 days

W: 11st 4lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Not devoid of promise on debut in a Carlisle bumper (soft); 50-1 for last month's hurdling debut at Hexham (2m, heavy), when he was tailed off; should appreciate this step up in trip and remains open to improvement; stable also represented by Yealand.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

1st Jul 2024

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

17:30 Worcester

Great Warford

10st 12lb

J: Lewis Stones

T: Jennie Candlish

Well beaten when 66-1 for last month's handicap debut (2m, good to soft; first-time cheekpieces); that came after a break and he remains unexposed, but he could be considered only if much stronger in the betting here.

25/1

6th

9

4th Jun 2024

Good

1m 7f 182y

Class 5

16:50 Southwell

Great Warford

10st 10lb

J: Lewis Stones

T: Jennie Candlish

Pretty poor so far but he's into handicaps on the driest ground he will have encountered to date and cheekpieces are fitted; possible improver.

25/1

4

6th Jan 2024

Soft

2m 4f 62y

Class 4

14:15 Newcastle

Great Warford

11st 0lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jennie Candlish

Hasn't shown enough across his three starts (the last two over hurdles) to suggest he'll be making an impact this afternoon.

100/1

Form: 15446-

Last run: 228 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
Dual French AQPS bumper winner, including on soft; best effort for this trainer was on stable debut at Wetherby in February (2m3f, good); place claims if back to that form on reappearance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

5

6th Jun 2026

Good

2m 4f 15y

Class 5

17:40 Hexham

Halpha Soleil

11st 5lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Micky Hammond

Yet to win over fences (0-13); third at Doncaster (3m, soft; on first start since wind surgery) in February, but well beaten at Sedgefield a fortnight later; absent since (107 days) and now 5lb lower in the handicap; others far safer.

12/1

5th

1

19th Feb 2026

2m 5f 28y

Class 5

16:17 Sedgefield

Halpha Soleil

12st 0lb

J: Joshua Thompson

T: Micky Hammond

Yet to win over fences; fair run having had a wind op at Doncaster last time (3m, soft) and could go well off his current good mark.

3/1

3rd

5

5th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 214y

Class 4

15:00 Doncaster

Halpha Soleil

11st 2lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Micky Hammond

Runner-up at Hexham (2m4f, good to soft) last May and runs off 8lb lower today; however, he struggled on his four starts towards the end of last year; major turnaround required on first run since wind surgery.

11/1

Form: 23-U35

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Placed four times from seven hurdles starts at up to 3m1f in Ireland; acts on testing ground; peak effort came over further than this but sets the standard on form and no surprise if he breaks his duck.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

20th Sep 2024

Good

2m 5f 110y

15:55 Downpatrick

Rowdy Romeo

12st 0lb

J: J J Slevin

T: Mrs Caroline McCaldin

towards rear but in touch with leaders early, prominent on outer from 5th, disputing second after 3 out, went second after 2 out, weakened before last

11/2

17th

8

30th Apr 2024

Yielding

2m 3f 93y

15:05 Punchestown

Rowdy Romeo

11st 1lb

J: Richard Deegan

T: Mrs Caroline McCaldin

midfield

16/1

17th

8

30th Apr 2024

Yielding

2m 3f 93y

15:05 Punchestown

Rowdy Romeo

11st 1lb

J: Richard Deegan

T: Mrs Caroline McCaldin

midfield

16/1

Form: 9-

Last run: 365 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Well beaten in a Newcastle bumper this time last year (sole start for Mark Walford) and in three points last spring; best watched on his return to rules, having changed hands.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

12th Feb 2024

Heavy

3m 1f 71y

Class 4

14:30 Catterick

Samillier

11st 4lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Jacqueline Coward

raced in second

100/1

0

9

30th Jan 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 62y

Class 4

15:00 Newcastle

Samillier

11st 5lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jacqueline Coward

Has shown no worthwhile form in points, a bumper or two hurdle races.

100/1

7th

6

1st Jan 2024

Soft

2m 3f 66y

Class 4

12:45 Catterick

Samillier

11st 5lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Jacqueline Coward

held up in rear, headway and prominent 4th, lost position 7th, dropped to rear 3 out, soon lost touch, tailed off

66/1

Form: 2-5

Last run: 33 days

W: 11st 4lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Showed ability on debut in a Chepstow juvenile hurdle (2m, soft) in April; not as good on his reappearance at Carlisle (2m4f, soft) last month but may do better with that outing under his belt; stamina should be his forte.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

13th Mar 2026

Good

2m 4f 181y

Class 4

16:20 Doncaster

Yealand

11st 6lb

J: Benjamin Macey

T: Gary Hanmer

Three chase wins for Jennie Candlish last season (one a walkover); perhaps best watched back over hurdles on stable debut after a 335-day break.

10/1

2nd

2

12th Apr 2025

Good

2m 4f 72y

Class 4

15:59 Bangor-on-Dee

Yealand

12st 0lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: Jennie Candlish

prominent, jumped right on occasions, pressed winner run-in, kept on

5/2

2nd

2

12th Apr 2025

Good

2m 4f 72y

Class 4

15:59 Bangor-on-Dee

Yealand

12st 0lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: Jennie Candlish

prominent, jumped right on occasions, pressed winner run-in, kept on

5/2

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Left in lead when the favourite fell two out, going on to win Irish maiden point in May (good; second such start); check the market for clues on his rules debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

18th Apr 2026

Soft

3m 0f 20y

Class 2

13:45 Ayr

Young Jack

10st 13lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Chris Grant

Runner-up on three of his first four chase starts (2m7f/2m5f, soft/heavy) before winning at Newcastle (2m7f, good to soft) last month; it was a small field last time and he's in a hotter race today, but he did it nicely and could have more to offer in the cheekpieces, which he's worn just twice.

14/1

1st

3

14th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 91y

Class 3

15:25 Newcastle

Young Jack

11st 10lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Chris Grant

Sound efforts on three of his four starts this term, last time finishing runner-up over 2m5f here (heavy; cheekpieces first time); headgear retained and a possible back up in trip.

11/8

2nd

3

13th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 5f 133y

Class 3

15:35 Kelso

Young Jack

11st 4lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Chris Grant

Course hurdles winner who was runner-up on chase debut here (2m7f, soft) in December and bounced back from Ayr flop to go close at Newcastle (2m7f, heavy) last time; he has an up-and-down profile but he's a key player if once more on a going day; wears first-time cheekpieces.

4/1

Verdict

The Irish raider ROWDY ROMEO sets the standard on form and also acts in these conditions. He looks to have been found a good opportunity to break his duck. The most likely potential improver looks to be Yealand, who can chase home the selection, while Halpha Soleil is respected and Great Warford is not written off.[Jonathan Doidge]