December 12 / 14.45 Wincanton

14.45

Soft

Yarlington Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £6495.63
  • 1m 7f 50y
  • Class 3
  • 8 runners
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Yarlington Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

10/1 (Won)

  • Win: £4.50
  • Place: £1.50

Form: 4712-5

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Won Taunton novice (2m, good to soft) in March and confirmed that improvement when second there (2m, good to soft) in April; shaped on last month's handicap and seasonal debut at Sandown (2m, soft) as though he may have needed the run, and this unexposed 6yo could be a contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 123y

Class 2

15:20 Bangor-on-Dee

Aurigny Mill

12st 0lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Robert Walford

Goes well at Taunton where he won comfortably a month ago (2m, heavy; second run in cheekpieces), and has shown he can deal with this 3lb higher mark and this sort of ground; has won going left-handed and, with a strike-rate of 6-18 over hurdles, this 9yo is likable.

9/2

1st

2

12th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 0f 104y

Class 3

15:25 Taunton

Aurigny Mill

11st 11lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Robert Walford

Decent course record, including second in this last year off 4lb higher; showed himself none the worse for his chase debut fall at Kempton in November when third to Celtic Art over 2m3f here in first-time cheekpieces (retained) last month; claims if he can build on that; has won on heavy.

9/1

10/1

  • Place: £2.40

Form: 49-863 CD

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 5lb

9 yo Mare

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Won three times here (1m7f/2m4f, soft-good) last year; below par over C&D on first two runs this season but back on song when third at Taunton last time and could have a part to play.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

26th Mar 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 1y

Class 4

14:20 Taunton

No No Tonic

11st 13lb

J: Mr Sean O’Connor

T: Mark Gillard

prominent

14/1

5th

7

9th Feb 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

13:40 Kempton

No No Tonic

11st 5lb

J: Joe Anderson

T: Mark Gillard

Veteran who has done her winning at Wincanton; form dipped there on Boxing Day, following two placed efforts; first run at Kempton and isn't the percentage call.

14/1

9/4

  • Place: £1.30

Form: 3-2351 CD

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 1lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Built upon his previous promise when winning under Olive Nicholls over C&D (soft) last month; did it with something to spare and this unexposed 4yo could take a 5lb rise in his stride.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

19th Oct 2025

Good

2m 5f 0y

Class 4

17:00 Kempton

Him Malaya

11st 13lb

J: Miss Olive Nicholls

T: Paul Nicholls

Ran respectably at Taunton (2m3f) in April when last seen, taking record under Olive Nicholls to 13134; shapes as if this step back up in trip is worth exploring; solid claims.

7/2

4th

1

23rd Apr 2025

Good To Firm

2m 3f 1y

Class 4

19:30 Taunton

Him Malaya

12st 1lb

J: Miss Olive Nicholls

T: Paul Nicholls

Recorded his second hurdle win when scoring over C&D (good) in December; had a break after that but he returned to action with a 2l third back over C&D last month; should be sharper this time and he's still unexposed at this trip; respected.

9/4

Form: 1P-P16 CD

Last run: 10 days

W: 11st 11lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Two-time C&D winner who scored in first-time cheekpieces (retained since) at Lingfield (2m, soft) last month; drops back down in grade today after contesting a warm handicap at Newbury ten days ago, but he was tailed off and isn't easy to fancy on the back of that.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 16y

Class 3

14:15 Chepstow

Celtic Art

11st 11lb

J: Chad Bament

T: Jeremy Scott

Six-time hurdle winner who hit a personal best when scoring at Taunton (2m3f, good to soft) in January but his form has slumped in two subsequent runs; has bit to prove again and this is competitive on this drop back in trip.

14/1

8th

2

23rd Mar 2026

Good

2m 3f 179y

Class 3

16:57 Wincanton

Celtic Art

11st 8lb

J: Lorcan Williams

T: Jeremy Scott

Showed career-best form when comfortably winning from Bourbali at Taunton (2m3f, good to soft) in January and a subsequent lesser effort on heavy ground there is not viewed harshly; has been ridden by a good 7lb claimer lately, though, and might find others better handicapped.

9/2

5th

5

12th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 0f 104y

Class 3

15:25 Taunton

Celtic Art

11st 1lb

J: Chad Bament

T: Jeremy Scott

Has done very well over 2m3f here in recent months, winning twice and second in between; those results were achieved on good/good to soft and today's much deeper ground is a slight concern given he's been below par on both hurdle outings on heavy.

3/1

Form: P2115/

Last run: 602 days

W: 11st 11lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Absent since April 2022 (changed hands for 10,000euros this January) but he won two in a row over hurdles/fences in France in March 2022 (both on testing ground) and makes his British debut with his new trainer's horses running well; watch the betting.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

15

1st Mar 2025

Soft

2m 3f 187y

Class 1

15:45 Newbury

Prince Quali

10st 3lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Robert Walford

Mid-race faller last time (2m); consistent sort otherwise and ties in with two of these opponents on Ascot running (2m3f) in December; could go well off a low weight, provided he takes to first-time cheekpieces.

16/1

4

22nd Feb 2025

Soft

2m 0f 11y

Class 2

15:07 Chepstow

Prince Quali

10st 7lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Robert Walford

Won this race and another C&D contest last season, and has remained in good form this term; probably doesn't have much margin for error off current mark but the return to this track is an obvious plus and he copes very well with slow ground; major player.

4/1

2nd

4

18th Jan 2025

Heavy

2m 0f 67y

Class 3

15:40 Haydock

Prince Quali

11st 10lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Robert Walford

Won at Chepstow on final two starts last season (2m, heavy/soft) and respectable third on both starts this term (2m/2m3f, good to soft); perhaps the return to more testing ground will be in his favour; one to consider.

5/2

OUR TIP

Form: 56P9-2 D

Last run: 24 days

W: 12st 0lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
9yo who isn't the force of old but he's dropped down the weights and was a close second of five off this mark under Gearoid Harney at Uttoxeter (2m, heavy) last month; every chance he'll be in the mix once more.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

8

24th Apr 2024

Heavy

2m 3f 207y

Class 4

18:10 Uttoxeter

Sizing Pottsie

11st 2lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

led, not fluent and briefly headed 2nd, not fluent and headed 7th, lost position 3 out

10/1

7th

8

24th Apr 2024

Heavy

2m 3f 207y

Class 4

18:10 Uttoxeter

Sizing Pottsie

11st 2lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

led, not fluent and briefly headed 2nd, not fluent and headed 7th, lost position 3 out, weakened 2 out

10/1

3rd

3

31st Mar 2024

Heavy

1m 7f 182y

Class 4

16:00 Ffos Las

Sizing Pottsie

11st 10lb

J: Gearoid Harney

T: David Pipe

Smart chaser in his prime; on the downgrade now and has rather mixed record over hurdles this season but lurks on a very tempting mark and ought to handle today's ground well; will be very dangerous if perked up by first-time blinkers.

7/1

Form: 310-35 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 4lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
4yo who won two novice hurdles last season; hasn't run badly this autumn in two handicaps (2m, heavy/soft) but he has to raise his game today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

3

6th May 2026

Good To Soft

3m 2f 105y

Class 4

16:20 Newton Abbot

Despereaux

11st 9lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Jane Williams

Five-time hurdle winner who ended last year with a brave success at Hereford (3m2f, good to soft); well held there in both runs this spring but he got involved in a battle up front last time; a player if he can get back near his best.

13/2

5th

3

6th Apr 2026

Good

3m 1f 119y

Class 4

15:20 Hereford

Despereaux

11st 10lb

J: James Best

T: Jane Williams

Steadily worked his way back to form this season, culminating in a narrow win over C&D (good to soft; 5lb higher today) in December under 7lb claimer; reverted to a lesser show 19 days ago but perhaps he needed that run after more than three months off.

3/1

5th

4

18th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 119y

Class 4

14:30 Hereford

Despereaux

11st 6lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Jane Williams

Had been struggling but has steadily got himself back on track and prevailed narrowly over C&D in December on latest appearance; 6lb higher for this and connections claimed another 7lb last time through Isabelle Ryder, but he had dropped to a fair mark anyway.

2/1

Form: 32-051 CD

Last run: 13 days

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Won at Hereford (2m3f, good) recently on second start back from a break; on that latest evidence this drop back in trip isn't an obvious plus but he went close over 2m at Taunton (soft) in April; entitled to respect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

7th Aug 2025

Good

2m 4f 168y

19:35 Sligo

Great Ocean

11st 0lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Cian Collins

Won over fences here on yard debut in October 2024 but was tailed off on return at Cartmel in June; lower hurdle mark to work with and may have needed the run so not ruled out.

6/1

9th

8

29th Jun 2025

Soft

2m 5f 34y

Class 2

16:30 Cartmel

Great Ocean

10st 13lb

J: Jordan Gainford

T: Cian Collins

Returned from layoff with ready win in Sligo begninners' chase (2m5f, good) on stable debut in October but absent since and needs to prove he can cope with a handicap mark this high; effective on good and soft ground.

8/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £35.50
Straight Forecast £37.52
Tricast £94.93
Trifecta £137.10

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Him Malaya

The Sun:

Sizing Pottsie

RP RATINGS:

Him Malaya

TOPSPEED:

Him Malaya

POSTDATA:

Him Malaya

WEST COUNTRY:

Him Malaya

The Times:

Him Malaya

Telegraph:

Him Malaya

The Guardian:

Him Malaya

Daily Mail:

Him Malaya

D Express:

Him Malaya

Daily Mirror:

Him Malaya

The Star:

Him Malaya

Daily Record:

Him Malaya