December 10 / 12.55 Huntingdon

12.55

Soft

TrustATrader trustarader.com Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race) (Div II)

  • Prize money: £4520.18
  • 1m 7f 171y
  • Class 4
  • 9 runners
RTV
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TrustATrader trustarader.com Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race) (Div II)

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

OUR TIP

Form: 7

Last run: 32 days

W: 11st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
£36,000 buy after second of five in good-ground maiden point in April; 22-1, some promise when 28l seventh of 12 in maiden hurdle at Chepstow (2m, heavy) but others are preferred; non-runner at Chepstow on Saturday.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

30th May 2026

Good To Firm

3m 3f 119y

Class 3

19:20 Stratford

Ballynaheer

11st 2lb

J: Rian Corcoran

T: David Dennis

Landed his fourth win over fences, at Market Rasen (3m, good) last month but below his best at Fontwell since; is the type to bounce back and he should get the trip (has won over 3m2f).

5/1

5th

1

24th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 210y

Class 4

17:45 Fontwell

Ballynaheer

12st 0lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: David Dennis

Progressive 7yo who has form figures of 1221141 over fences since September; only two completed when he scored at Market Rasen (3m, good) 19 days ago but he still looks on a workable mark and his first chase win was over C&D; strongly respected.

7/2

1st

3

5th Apr 2026

Good

2m 7f 191y

Class 4

15:23 Market Rasen

Ballynaheer

11st 9lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: David Dennis

In excellent form on good ground in the autumn, winning three times over fences (3m1f-3m2f); well behind Dangerous Touch when reappearing in four-runner race at Huntingdon last month but might have needed that outing and his usual cheekpieces are refitted here.

3/1

Form:

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Fairly useful Flat stayer; however, he was 28-1 for hurdling debut at Hereford (2m, good) 19 days ago and beaten 91l; well beaten both starts on good to soft, unraced on worse.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

25th Jul 2024

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 5

17:45 Worcester

Blow Your Horn

11st 11lb

J: Mr Alex Chadwick

T: Ian Williams

Flat winner who is 0-6 over hurdles but has responded positively to this headgear combination the last twice in handicaps over 2m5f and 2m3f (both on good); strong stayer on the Flat so this longer trip is worth a go.

7/2

Abandoned

Form: 2

Last run: 16 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Pretty useful on Flat up to 1m3f, including on soft; 40-1 outsider of four when second on hurdling debut at Ascot (1m7f, good) 16 days ago against three previous hurdle winners and the Henderson-trained winner went 4-4; strong claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

(5)

12th Jul 2025

Good

1m 6f 34y

Class 3

14:57 Ascot

Junkanoo

9st 1lb

J: Ashley Lewis

T: Gary & Josh Moore

About 7l behind Diamond Bay at Goodwood (1m6f, good) on final Flat run but has since won well with the blinkers back on over hurdles, albeit an ordinary handicap; Ashley Lewis also takes off a handy 7lb; could have some role to play.

8/1

2

10th Jun 2025

Good

2m 1f 162y

Class 4

19:20 Fontwell

Junkanoo

12st 0lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Generally disappointing over hurdles since Plumpton novice win (2m, good to soft) in early 2024 and not seen in this sphere since down-the-field finish in Ascot handicap in December; in fairly good form on the Flat this year, though, and his current hurdle mark ought to be workable; market may guide.

5/1

Form: 07

Last run: 8 days

W: 11st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Tailed off in bumper at Newbury (good to soft; 12-1) and novice hurdle at Doncaster (2m, good; 25-1).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

20th May 2026

Good

2m 5f 5y

Class 4

16:00 Warwick

King Of The Road

11st 6lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Ben Pauling

Won three races in 2024; inconsistent since but ran well when second at Kempton (2m5f, good) on Boxing Day; two poor runs since but has undergone wind surgery and a first-time tongue-tie replaces cheekpieces; interesting if the market speaks favourably.

11/1

15th

4

27th Mar 2026

Good

2m 5f 56y

Class 4

15:20 Wetherby

King Of The Road

11st 9lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Ben Pauling

Soft ground provides an excuse for two defeats of late; sole attempt in cheekpieces resulted in good second at Kempton (2m5f) on penultimate start; could go well in the reapplied headgear.

12/1

9th

1

15th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 179y

Class 4

14:27 Wincanton

King Of The Road

11st 11lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Ben Pauling

Surprising to see the cheekpieces left off as they were on for the first time when pushing an improver close at Kempton (2m5f, good; all wins on good to soft); he was 12l clear of the third so a 4lb rise could have been worse; respected.

7/2

Form: 3/67

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Third in bumper here (2m, soft) in March 2021; not seen again until this autumn when well beaten over hurdles at Carlisle (2m4f, soft) and Warwick (2m, soft); latter was at least a step back in the right direction.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

17th Feb 2026

2m 4f 118y

Class 4

16:30 Newbury

One Eye On Vegas

12st 1lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Stuart Edmunds

Won a Leicester handicap (2m4f, soft) for the second season running in early December, edging out Cast's Tasha; Wincanton was disappointing but remains on a fair mark if he can shrug aside that run.

8/1

6th

5

15th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 179y

Class 4

14:27 Wincanton

One Eye On Vegas

11st 7lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Stuart Edmunds

Won a Leicester handicap (2m4f, soft) for the second season running in early December; the front two were clear but the second has disappointed since; this is likely to take more winning and he's 4lb higher.

7/1

9th

1

24th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 84y

Class 4

14:38 Doncaster

One Eye On Vegas

11st 13lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Stuart Edmunds

midfield

7/1

Form: 32-4

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
First foal of a staying hurdler for these connections; minor honours in his two bumpers (one on soft) and 19l fourth of seven when co-second favourite for a maiden hurdle at Uttoxeter (2m4f, heavy); should build on that but he looks a longer-term prospect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

31st Mar 2026

Good

3m 0f 30y

Class 5

16:20 Bangor-on-Dee

Pearl Island

11st 6lb

J: Lee Edwards

T: Belinda Clarke

Record of 1-14 for Henry Daly, the win coming in a 3m handicap chase at Uttoxeter in late 2024 (in first-time blinkers that were retained until now); has lost his way but still only a 7yo and he's on a fair mark for this yard debut; may prefer slower ground, however.

20/1

2

27th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 7f 171y

Class 5

15:10 Ludlow

Pearl Island

12st 0lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Henry Daly

6yo who won in first-time blinkers (retained since) at Uttoxeter (2m7f, soft) in December on second chase start; however, two lesser runs have followed and he has to raise his game if he's to return to winning ways.

10/1

6th

3

17th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 60y

Class 5

13:35 Southwell

Pearl Island

11st 9lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Henry Daly

disputed lead, reminder after 12th, lost position before 14th, weakened after 4 out

11/2

Form: 37

Last run: 10 days

W: 11st 2lb

4 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Fairly useful 1m2f Flat winner (probably acts on soft) who had over a year off before about 19l third of 11 on hurdle/stable debut at Stratford (2m, good) in October; first-time hood (retained here) when not so good at Lingfield (2m, good to soft) ten days ago; place chance on the former effort.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

25th Jul 2025

Good

1m 7f 214y

Class 4

16:58 Uttoxeter

Schmilsson

12st 2lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Flat bred but won his first two chases (2m, good), albeit with luck on his side the second time when left clear; latest run when last at Stratford just wasn't his true running; still looks competitively treated.

2/1

3

1st Jul 2025

Good To Firm

2m 0f 213y

Class 3

18:18 Stratford

Schmilsson

10st 5lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Not bred for chasing but is 2-2 since switched to fences in May; might have been fortunate at Perth last month (2m, good; leader fell at final fence) and is 2lb wrong here but still features prominently in calculations.

7/4

1st

2

8th Jun 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

15:22 Perth

Schmilsson

11st 4lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Flat/hurdles scorer; not totally fluent but easily beat Nathan Wells over C&D (good) last month on chase debut and looks open to further progress in this sphere; could well defy a 7lb rise.

11/10

Form: 5

Last run: 165 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Modest Flat maiden, short-headed over 1m2f on AW in September; sole run over hurdles, in a Worcester maiden in June, was also modest form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

25th May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 7f 171y

Class 5

14:35 Huntingdon

Sunset In Paris

10st 4lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: J R Jenkins

Low grade on the Flat; pulled up in a Southwell handicap two weeks ago when 80-1; now visored.

20/1

10

11th May 2026

Good

1m 7f 182y

Class 5

16:42 Southwell

Sunset In Paris

10st 11lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: J R Jenkins

This is a belated return to hurdling and he's now a bottom-grade Flat performer; opposable.

50/1

4th

8

(5)

17th Mar 2026

Standard

1m 1f 104y

Class 6

19:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Sunset In Paris

9st 9lb

J: Jonny Peate

T: J R Jenkins

Record of 2-3 over C&D, all in classified events, most recently winning last June; far from consistent since but looks interesting returned to this scenario.

10/1

Form: 76

Last run: 24 days

W: 10st 9lb

4 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Close second in a point bumper in April but she's been beaten over 30l in hurdle races at Ludlow and Taunton this autumn, all three runs on good to soft; tongue tied last time and now hooded as well.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

17th May 2024

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

20:05 Aintree

Sammys Guarantee

11st 7lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Tom Lacey

Pick of her beaten handicap form rates a step up on that shown when victorious in a Doncaster novice previously (16.5f, good to soft), though can't say she's anything much in hand of her mark now.

14/1

6

17th May 2024

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

20:05 Aintree

Sammys Guarantee

11st 7lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Tom Lacey

Pick of her beaten handicap form rates a step up on that shown when victorious in a Doncaster novice previously (16.5f, good to soft), though can't say she's anything much in hand of her mark now.

14/1

5th

4

25th Mar 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 145y

Class 4

16:35 Huntingdon

Sammys Guarantee

11st 8lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Tom Lacey

Improved to win at Doncaster (2m. good to soft) in January; stepped up on that when second on handicap debut at Hereford (2m3f, soft); fell at Chepstow only eight days ago but considered on the earlier form.

3/1

Verdict

A soft-ground run in October was among his best Flat form and his hurdling debut at Ascot 16 days ago was a bold show which stands out a mile in this line-up, so this race looks all about JUNKANOO. Blow Your Horn and Schmilsson were also pretty useful on the Flat, which the latter gave an echo of in the first of his two runs over hurdles, so he may be the one to follow the selection home. Pearl Island looks best of the rest.[Richard Austen]

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Junkanoo

WEST COUNTRY:

King Of The Road

D Express:

One Eye On Vegas

RP RATINGS:

Junkanoo

POSTDATA:

Junkanoo

The Times:

Junkanoo

Telegraph:

Junkanoo

Daily Mirror:

Junkanoo

The Sun:

Junkanoo

The Star:

Junkanoo

Daily Record:

Junkanoo