December 14 / 15.40 Warwick

15.40

Heavy

eventmasters.co.uk Open National Hunt Flat Race (Category 1 Elimination) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £2178.4
  • 2m 0f 0y
  • Class 5
  • 6 runners
RTV
View Course
eventmasters.co.uk Open National Hunt Flat Race (Category 1 Elimination) (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: NH Flat

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

OUR TIP

Form: 2 BF

Last run: 40 days

W: 11st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Cost 105,000euros as a 3yo and has a useful pedigree; duly showed clear promise at Ayr (good to soft) last month, going down by only a whisker; takes on two rivals who have higher RPRs but is open to progress.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

28th Mar 2026

Good

2m 2f 148y

Class 5

14:15 Stratford

Junker DAllier

11st 10lb

J: Tom Hutsby

T: Olly Murphy

A three-time hurdles winner (around 2m) last season; failed to go on in three starts over fences this term and he was pulled up back in this sphere at Warwick (2m5f) last month; player in this grade if first-time cheekpieces spark a revival.

5/2

5

7th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 5f 5y

Class 3

16:10 Warwick

Junker DAllier

11st 2lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Olly Murphy

Won three novice hurdles last season and was highly tried in his defeats; it's been a mixed start over fences (after wind surgery), let down by his jumping on handicap debut latest; probably worthy of this mark and he's back over hurdles.

13/2

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
28,000euros yearling, £64,000 3yo; half-brother to French 1m5f AQPS Flat winner Effix De Brion, out of 1m4f/1m7f AQPS Flat and 2m3f hurdle winner; one of three runners for Dan Skelton; market informative.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

5

7th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 0y

Class 4

13:50 Kempton

Juventus De Brion

11st 5lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

prominent, hung left and weakened from 2 out

9/2

6th

5

7th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 0y

Class 4

13:50 Kempton

Juventus De Brion

11st 5lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

prominent, hung left and weakened from 2 out

9/2

2nd

4

16th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 62y

Class 4

13:00 Newcastle

Juventus De Brion

11st 10lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Fell at the first flight in Grade 2 Persian War at Chepstow (17-2) on penultimate start and never threatened to justify evens favouritism with an underpowered display in a maiden there (again about 2m4f on good to soft) later in October; last February's third at Ascot is the best form in this field but a lot now seems to depend on the wind surgery he had in November; also now tongue tied.

4/5

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
150,000euros 3yo; by Blue Bresil and the first foal of a point-winning half-sister to useful bumper/hurdle/chase winner American Mike; yard won this race with smart sorts in 2014 and 2015; interesting.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

5th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 191y

Class 5

15:48 Ffos Las

Less Destiny Star

11st 4lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

Good-ground bumper scorer; had wind surgery prior to a resurgent effort, finishing 5l third and one place behind Star Turn, over C&D (good to soft) last month in only his second handicap attempt; warrants respect off same mark, with a step forward possible.

5/1

3rd

2

12th Apr 2026

Good

2m 7f 191y

Class 5

17:20 Ffos Las

Less Destiny Star

11st 9lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

Bumper winner; remote when fourth on handicap debut at Doncaster (3m, good to soft) in February but was given a wind op last month and remains open to improvement over hurdles for his respected stable.

14/1

4th

4

27th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 84y

Class 5

15:57 Doncaster

Less Destiny Star

11st 9lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Ben Pauling

Course bumper winner (good) who ran okay when fourth of six on hurdle debut at Lingfield (2m3f, good to soft) in November; well beaten on both starts since (2m5f/2m3f, soft) but there's stamina in his family and he could be a different proposition now up in trip and back on better ground in a first-time tongue-tie on his handicap debut; monitor the betting.

8/1

Form: 2

Last run: 47 days

W: 11st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Looks a winner waiting to happen, having finished a good second in Irish point (beaten narrowly) and Cheltenham bumper (clear of remainder) on good/good to soft; still seemed green last time; holds solid claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

12th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 1

14:15 Ayr

Valgrand

11st 0lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Easily made all in Grade 2 novice hurdle at Cheltenham (2m, good) last October and he's on a handy mark on that form; it's possible he'll get back on track at some stage but he's finished down the field in all three handicaps, most recently the County Hurdle at Cheltenham, and has something to prove.

7/1

11

12th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 1

14:15 Ayr

Valgrand

11st 0lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Easily made all in Grade 2 novice hurdle at Cheltenham (2m, good) last October and he's on a handy mark on that form; it's possible he'll get back on track at some stage but he's finished down the field in all three handicaps, most recently the County Hurdle at Cheltenham, and has something to prove.

7/1

15th

12

14th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 179y

Class 1

14:00 Cheltenham

Valgrand

10st 10lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Easily made all in Grade 2 novice here in October (2m, good; has also won on soft); weakened when 11l second in 2m5f Grade 2 here next time; down the field since in his first two handicaps (2m1f/2m, good to soft) but a break may have helped this lightly raced 6yo and he's the sole representative of Dan Skelton, who has won four of the last nine runnings; not discounted.

8/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 10st 9lb

4 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
First foal; dam placed in bumper/2m hurdle/2m4f chase, closely related to smart 2m4f-3m5f hurdle/chase winner Milansbar and useful 2m3f-3m hurdle winner Theatrebar; market instructive with stable running three.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

8

15th Apr 2025

Good

3m 0f 60y

Class 5

15:50 Southwell

Jacksbar

11st 2lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Displayed a significant jolt of improvement when winning by over 6l at Uttoxeter (2m4f, soft) in December, her third handicap, and posted another good effort when keeping-on second at Exeter (2m2f, good) last month; has stamina in her pedigree and commands respect on this first attempt at 3m.

11/4

Form: 2-

Last run: 258 days

W: 10st 9lb

5 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Helps to set the form standard, having made a promising debut (close second, clear of remainder) in soft-ground mares' event at Wetherby in March; big player provided 258-day absence proves no issue.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

8

17th Dec 2023

Good To Soft

2m 1f 0y

Class 5

15:20 Carlisle

Unsinkable Molly B

11st 2lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo O’Neill

took keen hold, in touch with leaders on outer

15/8

2nd

8

31st Mar 2023

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

16:55 Wetherby

Unsinkable Molly B

11st 0lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo O’Neill

23,000euros foal, 45,000euros 3yo; first foal; dam 2m2f/2m6f chase winner (RPR 133), sister to three winners; trainer has healthy strike-rate in bumpers and she could go well on debut, especially if well backed.

15/2

Verdict

The runners with experience have shown clear promise with their second-place finishes. The percentage call goes to VALGRAND, who registered his latest effort at Cheltenham. Unsinkable Molly B is second choice, ahead of Junker D’Allier. Potentially useful Les’s Destiny Star looks the pick of the newcomers and will be all the more interesting if the market speaks positively.[Steve Boow]

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Valgrand

TOPSPEED:

Unsinkable Molly B

WEST COUNTRY:

Unsinkable Molly B

Daily Mail:

Unsinkable Molly B

Daily Mirror:

Unsinkable Molly B

Daily Record:

Unsinkable Molly B

RP RATINGS:

Valgrand

POSTDATA:

Valgrand

The Times:

Valgrand

Telegraph:

Valgrand

The Guardian:

Valgrand

D Express:

Valgrand

The Sun:

Valgrand

The Star:

Valgrand