December 19 / 14.10 Fakenham

14.10

Good To Soft

Betting Better With Sky Bet Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £6601.25
  • 2m 0f 3y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
RTV
View Course
Betting Better With Sky Bet Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

OUR TIP

9/2 (Won)

Form: -5VP95 D

Last run: 57 days

W: 12st 1lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
Zippy front-runner who developed into a smart novice for Alex Hales in 2020-21 season; has become very disappointing over the last year or so but drops in grade for today's stable debut and might have been revitalised by the recent change of regime.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

3rd May 2025

Good

2m 3f 207y

Class 3

18:30 Uttoxeter

For Pleasure

10st 13lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

led, headed 3 out, weakened after 2 out

11/4

5th

5

3rd May 2025

Good

2m 3f 207y

Class 3

18:30 Uttoxeter

For Pleasure

10st 13lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Multiple winner but a 10yo now and the handicapper knows the score with him; no match for the winner last time at Fakenham (2m4f, good) where he kept jumping to the right; wouldn't want to repeat that here.

11/4

2nd

1

1st Apr 2025

Good

2m 4f 1y

Class 3

16:20 Fakenham

For Pleasure

12st 0lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

jumped right throughout, led, headed before last, kept on

5/1

16/1

Form: 1F377P C

Last run: 40 days

W: 10st 4lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Dual chase winner (once here) in June but seems badly to have lost his way in recent months and it's hard to predict whether he'll warm to the task on this return to hurdling.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13

19th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 44y

Class 5

13:40 Fakenham

Go Fox

10st 2lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Neil King

midfield, jumped right 6th

20/1

13

19th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 44y

Class 5

13:40 Fakenham

Go Fox

10st 2lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Neil King

midfield, jumped right 6th

20/1

9

22nd Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 95y

Class 5

12:13 Fakenham

Go Fox

10st 2lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: Neil King

Won over fences here (2m, good) in June 2023 but was well beaten here on both starts this autumn (2m4f hurdle/3m chase); still has stamina to prove over this sort of trip and is 3lb wrong today; others preferred.

14/1

Form: 5/12-P

Last run: 51 days

W: 11st 11lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Won claiming hurdle in France last year but pulled up when 33-1 for British debut at Wincanton (2m5f) in October; drops back in trip here; others have considerably less to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

6

12th Nov 2024

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 5

15:55 Lingfield

Seignor Gringo

11st 5lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Richard J Bandey

Ex-French; fourth of seven at Fontwell (3m2f, good) in May was easily his closest finish in five British handicaps but even that gives him serious work to do; 63l behind the winner four weeks ago; tongue-tie (worn initially in France, where he did better without) returns.

16/1

3rd

6

12th Nov 2024

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 5

15:55 Lingfield

Seignor Gringo

11st 5lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Richard J Bandey

Ex-French; fourth of seven at Fontwell (3m2f, good) in May was easily his closest finish in five British handicaps but even that gives him serious work to do; 63l behind the winner four weeks ago; tongue-tie (worn initially in France, where he did better without) returns.

16/1

5th

6

16th Oct 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

17:10 Worcester

Seignor Gringo

11st 7lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Richard J Bandey

Well held in three handicaps for this stable (2m-2m5.5f) before finishing a respectable fourth of seven at Fontwell upped to 3m2f in May (refitted cheekpieces, retained); others make more appeal with the drop back in trip a concern, returning from a five-month break.

14/1

Form: 12P-52 CD

Last run: 40 days

W: 12st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Tends to race too freely and is not without risk but made all in C&D maiden in February and creditable second in competitive Newbury handicap last month (2m, good to soft); leading contender in this grade.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

14th Jul 2024

Good

2m 0f 47y

Class 5

16:45 Perth

Sergeant Wilson

11st 9lb

J: Emma Smith-Chaston

T: R Mike Smith

Left Nigel Twiston-Davies for £3,000 in May; easy to back, he was well beaten when sixth of eight on his stable debut over C&D ten days ago.

10/1

6th

4

4th Jul 2024

Good

2m 0f 47y

Class 4

14:48 Perth

Sergeant Wilson

11st 1lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: R Mike Smith

prominent, raced in second after 2nd

10/1

5th

5

12th May 2024

Good

1m 7f 169y

Class 4

15:28 Ludlow

Sergeant Wilson

11st 9lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

Temptingly treated on the pick of his handicap form at about 2m on ground not too slow; Taunton last time was disappointing (2m3f, good) but coming back to a sharp 2m will help and could run well if his jumping holds up (can make mistakes).

7/1

Form: 321560 CD

Last run: 40 days

W: 11st 1lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
Did not need to improve to win a modest, small-field maiden over C&D (good; made all) in June and has been rather disappointing in handicaps since; combination of step up 2m5f and switch to patient tactics did not pay dividends on latest outing; returns here with questions to answer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

2

(10)

25th Jul 2024

Good To Firm

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

19:45 Newbury

State Of Bliss

10st 2lb

J: Charles Bishop

T: Neil King

raced wide

40/1

7th

15

30th Jun 2024

Good

2m 3f 207y

Class 4

16:10 Uttoxeter

State Of Bliss

10st 4lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: Neil King

Didn't run badly when fifth of ten at Fontwell (2m3f, good) this month and continues to slip down the weights but is only 1-12 over hurdles and others in this field have much more appealing profiles.

20/1

5th

5

12th Jun 2024

Good

2m 3f 29y

Class 5

16:43 Fontwell

State Of Bliss

11st 3lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: Neil King

Won four-runner maiden (2m, good) a year ago but yet to make an impact in handicaps as a hurdler; didn't run badly when fourth at Uttoxeter (2m4f, good to soft; first run back from a second wind operation) last month but failed to build on that at Fakenham last time.

9/1

Form: 03F645

Last run: 29 days

W: 11st 9lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Ex-Irish 5yo who was well beaten in novice company on first two stable starts (2m3f/2m4f) and is now 0-11 over hurdles; drops back in trip and swaps usual cheekpieces for first-time visor here; may yet turn things around but it takes a leap of faith to support him at present.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

1

29th Jan 2024

Soft

1m 7f 195y

Class 5

16:20 Plumpton

Jimmy Boy

12st 0lb

J: Lilly Pinchin

T: James Owen

midfield

12/1

Form: 316 D

Last run: 43 days

W: 11st 9lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Smart on the Flat when trained in Germany and came good over hurdles at second attempt with easy win at Plumpton (2m, good to soft) in October; well beaten after racing too freely over that C&D on last month's handicap debut but, given his Flat ability, he remains very much of interest.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

19th May 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 48y

Class 5

20:50 Hexham

Western Soldier

11st 13lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Seamus Mullins

Scored in pretty good style at Wincanton (1m7f, good) in November and today's 4lb higher mark is probably workable but not much has gone to plan since and he arrives here with a bit to prove.

4/1

4

23rd Mar 2026

Good

1m 7f 50y

Class 4

14:15 Wincanton

Western Soldier

10st 11lb

J: Bdr Jody Sole

T: Seamus Mullins

Good-ground C&D winner in November, despite racing a bit too freely; just over 19l behind Thankyouandplease over C&D this month but his margin of defeat was magnified by a last-flight jumping error and the good to soft ground probably wasn't ideal for him; he has a nice pull in the weights today and the services of top military rider Jody Sole.

5/1

9th

4

5th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 50y

Class 5

15:07 Wincanton

Western Soldier

11st 12lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Seamus Mullins

Scored over C&D (good) in November, despite racing too freely; looked a non-stayer over 2m4f on next outing and had soft ground as his excuse last time but others appeal more all the same.

14/1

Form: 63318P D

Last run: 12 days

W: 10st 13lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Signed off in France with wide-margin win on slow ground in July but has struggled on first three British starts (one on the Flat); tends to race too freely and makes handicap hurdle debut with considerable amount to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

8

4th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

17:00 Warwick

Seraphic

10st 2lb

J: Isabelle Ryder

T: David Killahena & Graeme McPherson

Won twice on the Flat this year and was competitive over hurdles during the opening half of last year; belatedly tries a hood this afternoon; considered with so little weight to carry.

12/1

5th

5

(6)

13th Apr 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 179y

Class 5

14:52 Leicester

Seraphic

9st 6lb

J: Callum Hutchinson

T: David Killahena & Graeme McPherson

Won at Brighton (1m2f) on almost this day last year and has scored twice (1m2f/1m3f) on AW in 2026, including at Kempton on latest start; also effective at 1m4f and well capable of another bold show.

4/1

1st

6

(3)

18th Mar 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 2f 219y

Class 5

20:00 Kempton (AW)

Seraphic

9st 3lb

J: Luke Morris

T: David Killahena & Graeme McPherson

Can flatter to deceive, like when trading at 11-10 in-running before giving best to Enthused at Southwell two runs ago having beaten him at Chelmsford in January; ran better than finishing position suggests latest but is two poor runs from two here.

6/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Straight Forecast £111.25
Tricast £2075.01

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Sergeant Wilson

RP RATINGS:

For Pleasure

The Times:

Western Soldier

WEST COUNTRY:

Sergeant Wilson

Telegraph:

Sergeant Wilson

The Guardian:

Sergeant Wilson

Daily Mail:

Sergeant Wilson

D Express:

Sergeant Wilson

Daily Mirror:

Sergeant Wilson

The Sun:

Sergeant Wilson

Daily Record:

Sergeant Wilson

POSTDATA:

For Pleasure

The Star:

For Pleasure