December 16 / 14.48 Hereford

14.48

Good

Get Emma’s Xmas Crackers At Planetsportbet Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £4224.8
  • 3m 1f 119y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
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Get Emma’s Xmas Crackers At Planetsportbet Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

6/4 (Won)

  • Win: £2.88
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 23F2-1 CD

Last run: 25 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Made all for a breakthrough win over hurdles in a C&D handicap on good ground last month, despite making a meal of some hurdles; 4lb rise is pretty fair.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

17

2nd May 2025

Good

4m 0f 97y

Class 4

19:30 Cheltenham

Norton Hill

11st 12lb

J: Mr William Biddick

T: H Ryall

Signed off for Anthony Honeyball with a disappointing hurdle run last spring but seemingly back in good form in points for Harry Ryall this year, most notably when beating Assassins Lullaby by 7l in Cothelstone open (3m4f, good) in March; has cheekpieces refitted here; could have a say.

9/1

4th

17

2nd May 2025

Good

4m 0f 97y

Class 4

19:30 Cheltenham

Norton Hill

11st 12lb

J: Mr William Biddick

T: H Ryall

Signed off for Anthony Honeyball with a disappointing hurdle run last spring but seemingly back in good form in points for Harry Ryall this year, most notably when beating Assassins Lullaby by 7l in Cothelstone open (3m4f, good) in March; has cheekpieces refitted here; could have a say.

9/1

8th

8

13th Jun 2024

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 3

19:25 Worcester

Norton Hill

10st 10lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Anthony Honeyball

Ended last year with two good-ground wins at Hereford (3m1f) and returned from break with good fourth at Plumpton (3m1f, good) in April; slightly disappointing on good to soft last month but may still have a bit more to offer; swaps blinkers for first-time visor today.

9/2

OUR TIP

8/1

  • Place: £2.80

Form: /21/77

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 13lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Absent for 1,058 days before his recent return to action and has been well held in handicaps at about 2m4f; however, this would be easier and the longer trip is worth a go.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

1

1st Feb 2024

Heavy

2m 7f 191y

Class 4

14:30 Ffos Las

Slip Road

12st 2lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Peter Bowen

held up in rear, not fluent 7th

11/2

2nd

2

16th Dec 2023

Good

3m 1f 119y

Class 4

14:48 Hereford

Slip Road

11st 13lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Peter Bowen

Absent for 1,058 days before his recent return to action and has been well held in handicaps at about 2m4f; however, this would be easier and the longer trip is worth a go.

8/1

5/2

  • Place: £1.20

Form: 523-32 BF

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 10lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Raised 6lb for finishing a clear second over 2m5f here last month when going down narrowly; now placed in all his handicaps and, although unraced over this far, he gives the impression that he stays well.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

6th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 48y

Class 5

14:10 Exeter

Bertie Wooster

11st 8lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Only 1-24, the win coming over this far as a hurdler nearly two years ago; however, twice runner-up over fences this season (2m7f) and capable of going well.

13/2

3rd

1

20th Oct 2025

Good

2m 3f 166y

Class 5

14:40 Plumpton

Bertie Wooster

12st 0lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

0-6 and generally disappointing during first season over fences, signing off with a poor performance in April; returns from six-month break on a good mark, though, and last month's wind op could quite plausibly aid a return to form; cheekpieces (worn for last three runs) discarded.

5/2

Form: 2-PV24 C

Last run: 182 days

W: 11st 3lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Very up and down over fences earlier this year and, after showing more on his return to hurdles in June, he was a remote fourth at Uttoxeter later that month; wouldn't be the percentage call.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

22nd May 2026

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 4

19:41 Worcester

Im A Starman

12st 0lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Mark Rimell

Grand veteran with eight wins over hurdles, including two over C&D last summer; down to his last winning mark and should be sharper for his fifth at Hereford last month following a five-month layoff, but you have to think that one of his younger rivals should have his measure.

12/1

5th

4

16th Apr 2026

Good

3m 1f 119y

Class 4

18:30 Hereford

Im A Starman

11st 6lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Mark Rimell

Registered a four-timer last April-June (3m1f/2m7f, good/good to soft); very in and out since and he's now a 13yo but he finished on the heels of the principals off today's mark at Warwick in November when last seen; more to prove after the break.

4/1

3

19th Nov 2025

Soft

3m 1f 5y

Class 4

15:10 Warwick

Im A Starman

11st 9lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Mark Rimell

Secured the second leg of a four-timer with wide-margin win over C&D (good) in May; now just 2lb above his last winning mark but generally well beaten since (the exception in a four-runner race) and he was tailed off last time; others look more likely.

16/1

Form: /P46/8

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 11lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Lost his way for Charlie Longsdon and finished a tailed-off last on recent stable debut following a mammoth absence.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

8

19th Mar 2024

Soft

2m 7f 25y

Class 4

14:00 Exeter

Diger Daudaie

11st 2lb

J: Lilly Pinchin

T: Henry Oliver

With Charlie Longsdon when last successful at Uttoxeter (3m, heavy) in March 2019; soundly beaten in three starts for this trainer, including when taking minor honours at Southwell (3m, good to soft, 16-1) last month; 3lb lower; others are more convincing.

16/1

3rd

4

2nd Feb 2024

Good To Soft

3m 0f 60y

Class 4

15:25 Southwell

Diger Daudaie

11st 10lb

J: Lilly Pinchin

T: Henry Oliver

Lost his way for Charlie Longsdon and, after 994 days off, did not show enough at 40-1 in his two runs for new yard; way down the weights; market can guide again.

25/1

5th

3

16th Dec 2023

Good

3m 1f 119y

Class 4

14:48 Hereford

Diger Daudaie

11st 11lb

J: Harriet Tucker

T: Henry Oliver

Lost his way for Charlie Longsdon and finished a tailed-off last on recent stable debut following a mammoth absence.

25/1

Form: 22-435

Last run: 40 days

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 101

Form & Verdict
Has only won a Fontwell maiden for which she was odds-on; a weakener over C&D last time but wasn't far away the time before (3m) and now goes in cheekpieces.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

2

2nd Nov 2025

Good

3m 1f 10y

Class 5

16:05 Huntingdon

Belles Benefit

12st 0lb

J: Mr Charlie Case

T: Ben Case

May not have achieved much when beating three rivals at Stratford (2m6f, good; first-time blinkers) in September and has been well held in both starts since; 3lb drop not enough to tempt.

14/1

8th

2

2nd Nov 2025

Good

3m 1f 10y

Class 5

16:05 Huntingdon

Belles Benefit

12st 0lb

J: Mr Charlie Case

T: Ben Case

May not have achieved much when beating three rivals at Stratford (2m6f, good; first-time blinkers) in September and has been well held in both starts since; 3lb drop not enough to tempt.

14/1

8th

2

2nd Nov 2025

Good

3m 1f 10y

Class 5

16:05 Huntingdon

Belles Benefit

12st 0lb

J: Mr Charlie Case

T: Ben Case

May not have achieved much when beating three rivals at Stratford (2m6f, good; first-time blinkers) in September and has been well held in both starts since; 3lb drop not enough to tempt.

14/1

Form: 4-1687

Last run: 34 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Between November of last year and this May he won six times in seven starts (2m3f-2m4f); however, shot up the weights as a consequence and he's beaten only one finisher in his last three appearances; has stamina to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

30th May 2024

Good

2m 3f 83y

Class 4

15:00 Ffos Las

Blue Shark

11st 4lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Strike-rate of 6-17 over hurdles and the latest of those wins was off a 3lb higher mark; however, there's been pretty much nothing to take from his last five appearances and would appear to be going chasing under a cloud.

12/1

0

8

25th Jan 2024

Good

2m 4f 145y

Class 4

14:35 Huntingdon

Blue Shark

11st 10lb

J: James Smith

T: Jonjo O’Neill

Six wins between November 2022 and May 2023 included one over C&D (good); back to within 1lb of the final winning mark in that sequence, but too far below par the last four times to expect him to capitalise.

16/1

0

5

16th Dec 2023

Good

3m 1f 119y

Class 4

14:48 Hereford

Blue Shark

11st 10lb

J: Benjamin Macey

T: Jonjo O’Neill

Between November of last year and this May he won six times in seven starts (2m3f-2m4f); however, shot up the weights as a consequence and he's beaten only one finisher in his last three appearances; has stamina to prove.

12/1

Form: 915-P0

Last run: 50 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Standout effort in his profile when a well-backed winner at Wincanton (2m5f, good to soft) in March off 6lb lower; that's the furthest he's been and not without hope of getting this far, though his last three runs (2m4f/2m; latterly in a tongue-tie) have been poor.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

27th Mar 2026

Good

3m 0f 45y

Class 4

14:50 Wetherby

Ithaka

11st 10lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Ryan Potter

Pulled up in both starts since opening his chase account in Hereford contest; still seeking first success above Class 5; cheekpieces added.

14/1

4

15th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 7f 136y

Class 4

15:20 Chepstow

Ithaka

11st 11lb

J: Freddie Mitchell

T: Ryan Potter

Perhaps found out by the 3m6f trip at Exeter and heavy ground wasn't ideal when best efforts have been on good to soft or good; again reservations on that score here, but he was running well prior to last time.

10/1

8

20th Feb 2026

Heavy

3m 6f 153y

Class 3

15:45 Exeter

Ithaka

10st 2lb

J: Freddie Mitchell

T: Ryan Potter

4l winner under Freddie Mitchell at Hereford (extended 3m1f) in January on latest outing but 8lb higher today, including 3lb out of the handicap; also not proven on worse than good to soft (had two attempts on soft) and this sort of trip is something new to him.

9/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £22.40
Straight Forecast £22.75
Tricast £43.42
Trifecta £48.40

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Bertie Wooster

POSTDATA:

Norton Hill

The Times:

Belles Benefit

Telegraph:

Slip Road

TOPSPEED:

I'm A Starman

RP RATINGS:

Bertie Wooster

WEST COUNTRY:

Bertie Wooster

Daily Mirror:

Bertie Wooster

The Star:

Bertie Wooster

Daily Record:

Bertie Wooster

The Guardian:

Norton Hill

Daily Mail:

Norton Hill

D Express:

Norton Hill

The Sun:

Norton Hill