December 12 / 12.20 Ffos Las

12.20

Soft

Sky Sports Racing HD Virgin 519 Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £4224.8
  • 2m 7f 191y
  • Class 4
  • 9 runners
SKY
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Sky Sports Racing HD Virgin 519 Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Rain

9/2 (Won)

  • Win: £8.50
  • Place: £2.10

Form: 322-34

Last run: 20 days

W: 12st 0lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Has very modest 1-30 strike-rate over jumps but scores good marks for consistency and is now 2lb lower than when placed over C&D (heavy; just behind Balkardy) last month; ought to be in the thick of things again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

13

22nd Feb 2025

Soft

2m 7f 131y

Class 2

14:32 Chepstow

Ballymagroarty Boy

10st 2lb

J: Lorcan Murtagh

T: Nigel Hawke

Now 3lb lower than for Ffos Las win (3m, heavy) in December 2023 but this season was a major struggle even before he clipped heels and fell early on latest outing; overall score is 2-40, with 32 of those races over hurdles.

33/1

3/1

  • Place: £1.60

Form: 23-222 C BF

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
Gained all four wins on good ground over shorter trips (three of them over fences) but last month's two C&D seconds were on heavy and soft ground; recent 1lb nudge doesn't help but another good run seems very likely.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

5th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 177y

Class 4

16:18 Ffos Las

Balkardy

10st 13lb

J: Miss Eleanor Williams

T: Mrs C Williams

Multiple winner but hasn't become easy to predict and followed two modest runs over hurdles with a pull-up on his return to fences at Ludlow; others safer.

20/1

3

16th Oct 2025

Good

2m 7f 191y

Class 4

16:22 Ffos Las

Balkardy

12st 0lb

J: Isabel Williams

T: Evan Williams

Found Class 2 race at Newton Abbot slightly too hot last time but is now only 2lb higher than when winning here (2m4f, good to soft) in June, and today's longer trip probably suits him better; one to consider.

11/2

9

30th Aug 2025

Good

2m 5f 122y

Class 2

16:30 Newton Abbot

Balkardy

10st 2lb

J: Isabel Williams

T: Evan Williams

Kept on well to assert at Ffos Las (2m4f, good to soft) when back over hurdles in June, his fourth hurdling success, and does not look harshly treated by a 3lb rise for that but moves up from 0-115 company today and others in this line-up look stronger.

12/1

OUR TIP

10/1

  • Place: £2.70

Form: 8U-876

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 11lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Useful when trained in Ireland but unplaced all six starts for Jonjo O'Neill since returning from two-year absence in January; too well handicapped to rule out but needs to turn a corner.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

8

6th Jun 2024

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 4

16:18 Uttoxeter

Front View

11st 6lb

J: Benjamin Macey

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Formerly a very useful 2m chaser/hurdler for Joseph O'Brien; not as good these days although fair hurdle runs when second at Haydock in December (3m1f, heavy) and at Exeter in March (2m5f, soft); cheekpieces tried; each-way chance.

10/1

5th

4

19th Apr 2024

Soft

2m 4f 100y

Class 4

16:30 Ayr

Front View

11st 8lb

J: Benjamin Macey

T: Jonjo O’Neill

Runner-up on two of his last three starts but was no match for the winner when occupying that position at Exeter (2m5f, soft) last month, and he's just 1-15 over hurdles; others are more compelling.

9/1

5th

4

19th Apr 2024

Soft

2m 4f 100y

Class 4

16:30 Ayr

Front View

11st 8lb

J: Benjamin Macey

T: Jonjo O’Neill

Runner-up on two of his last three starts but was no match for the winner when occupying that position at Exeter (2m5f, soft) last month, and he's just 1-15 over hurdles; others are more compelling.

9/1

Form: 81-556 C

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Well beaten in two chases this autumn and now switches back to hurdling with cheekpieces fitted; has more to prove than some but is a contender if judged on form of last-gasp win at Plumpton (3m1f, soft) in April.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

7

6th Apr 2025

Yielding

3m 0f 0y

16:12 Fairyhouse

Crossing The Bar

11st 6lb

J: Tiernan Power Roche

T: Cian Collins

Won his fourth hurdle race when scoring at Catterick over an extended 3m in January and a solid run over 2m6f at Thurles since; this trip suits better and can be involved.

8/1

5th

7

6th Apr 2025

Yielding

3m 0f 0y

16:12 Fairyhouse

Crossing The Bar

11st 6lb

J: Tiernan Power Roche

T: Cian Collins

Won his fourth hurdle race when scoring at Catterick over an extended 3m in January and a solid run over 2m6f at Thurles since; this trip suits better and can be involved.

8/1

Form: 6P-075 BF

Last run: 16 days

W: 10st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Has not progressed from his shock novice win 13 months ago and was unable to justify good market support when well-held fifth at Uttoxeter (2m4f, soft) on latest outing; tries a new trip here; needs to up his game.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

4th May 2026

Good

3m 5f 24y

Class 3

16:38 Fakenham

Always Busy

10st 7lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Christian Williams

Back in good nick for his two runs last month, latterly when close third to Wicked Thoughts at Taunton (3m4f, good); still unexposed over marathon trips and still on a workable mark; could have a say.

7/1

3rd

5

9th Apr 2026

Good

3m 4f 85y

Class 4

16:15 Taunton

Always Busy

10st 11lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Christian Williams

Dual winning chaser who confirmed his well-being when second of four finishers at Southwell (3m, good) eight days ago; steps up in trip and if that brings about any improvement then he should be in the firing line.

11/4

2nd

3

1st Apr 2026

Good

3m 0f 60y

Class 4

14:30 Southwell

Always Busy

11st 7lb

J: Mr J J Murphy-Knight

T: Christian Williams

Hasn't obviously been shaping as if likely to strike again (pulled up in Chepstow race Fern Hill was second in last time) but the fact he won over C&D on good off an identical mark last spring makes him a dangerous one to dismiss.

11/2

Form: 2FPP-P D

Last run: 49 days

W: 10st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Pulled up over fences on final three starts for Tim Vaughan, most recently on seasonal debut in October; combination of recent regime change, new headgear and switch back to hurdling might rekindle his enthusiasm, but it takes a leap of faith to support him.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

10

30th Jan 2024

Heavy

2m 7f 131y

Class 5

14:10 Chepstow

Galop Du Bosc

10st 11lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Bernard Llewellyn

Pulled up in three consecutive chases for Tim Vaughan last year and there was no revival when he switched back to hurdling in new headgear for new stable last month; blinkers refitted today.

33/1

Form: 141P-3 CD BF

Last run: 42 days

W: 11st 5lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Scored in good style over C&D (soft) on handicap debut last December and added to her tally at Chepstow (2m7f, soft) in March; not quite in same form when back at Chepstow for last month's seasonal debut but is not yet fully exposed and features prominently in calculations.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

7

22nd Jan 2024

Frozen

3m 1f 0y

Class 4

15:05 Warwick

Jasmiwa

11st 5lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

Has won two soft-ground handicaps at about 3m but found heavy too taxing when a disappointing favourite at Ffos Las last time; wasn't at her very best first time back either but there are further races in her off this mark.

8/1

14

27th Dec 2023

Good

3m 0f 121y

Class 2

15:40 Kempton

Jasmiwa

10st 1lb

J: Finn Lambert

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

Form: 1/11-0 C

Last run: 35 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Won three in a row on good ground in spring 2022 (2m3f-2m6f) but, following a long absence, was tailed off at Warwick (2m5f, soft) last month; needs to have taken significant benefit from that outing and he remains unproven on slow ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

12th Mar 2025

Good

2m 3f 189y

Class 5

15:38 Huntingdon

Mourzouk

11st 6lb

J: Alan Johns

T: Tim Vaughan

prominent early, in rear after 1st

4/1

3rd

3

12th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 194y

Class 5

14:53 Hereford

Mourzouk

11st 11lb

J: Alan Johns

T: Tim Vaughan

prominent, jumped left 1st, led clearly 2 out, headed after last, no extra run-in

14/1

6th

2

11th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 194y

Class 5

12:35 Hereford

Mourzouk

12st 0lb

J: Tristan Durrell

T: Tim Vaughan

Lightly raced and generally very disappointing since winning three consecutive hurdles on good ground in spring 2022 but arguably ran better than bare form suggests on last two outings, and makes chasing debut from another career-low mark; worth a second look.

16/1

Form: 5-13

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 9lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Kept on well to make winning hurdle debut at Hexham (2m4f, soft) in October; not obviously well handicapped on that form and was a shade disappointing when well-held third at Aintree last month but moves up in trip here and has plenty of scope for improvement.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

20th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 3f 0y

Class 5

16:05 Warwick

Minella Double

11st 12lb

J: Beau Morgan

T: Rob Summers

Having dropped down the weights he returned to form with a close second at Huntingdon (2m4f, good) last May; absent since; in the shake-up if resuming where he left off; it's a long time since he raced on soft/heavy ground but he won on soft going in October 2023.

4/1

2nd

4

26th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 145y

Class 5

16:55 Huntingdon

Minella Double

11st 11lb

J: Beau Morgan

T: Rob Summers

Now 4lb lower than for last summer's 40-1 win at Worcester (2m4f, good), but hasn't come close to matching that performance in his subsequent hurdling starts.

16/1

2nd

4

26th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 145y

Class 5

16:55 Huntingdon

Minella Double

11st 11lb

J: Beau Morgan

T: Rob Summers

Now 4lb lower than for last summer's 40-1 win at Worcester (2m4f, good), but hasn't come close to matching that performance in his subsequent hurdling starts.

16/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £31.60
Straight Forecast £34.52
Tricast £228.18
Trifecta £250.70

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Jasmiwa

TOPSPEED:

Minella Double

RP RATINGS:

Always Busy

POSTDATA:

Ballymagroarty Boy

The Times:

Balkardy

D Express:

Always Busy

Telegraph:

Minella Double

Daily Mirror:

Minella Double

The Sun:

Minella Double

WEST COUNTRY:

Jasmiwa

Daily Mail:

Jasmiwa

The Star:

Jasmiwa

Daily Record:

Jasmiwa

The Guardian:

Ballymagroarty Boy