December 23 / 12.30 Newcastle

12.30

Good To Soft

Never Ordinary At bet365 Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £3406.24
  • 2m 0f 190y
  • Class 5
  • 8 runners
SKY
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Never Ordinary At bet365 Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

Form: 8P6P9- D

Last run: 261 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Chase and three-time hurdle winner when trained in France; well beaten on all five British starts (two chases, three hurdles) and not seen since April but has plummeted down the weights and needs very close attention in the betting.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

7

22nd Jan 2025

Good To Soft

3m 1f 54y

Class 5

14:08 Catterick

Batman For Ever

11st 2lb

J: Sam Coltherd

T: Stuart Coltherd

Ex-French; last April's win was in a point and he's 0-9 under rules in Britain; third of 13 in handicap at Uttoxeter (3m, good) last June on latest outing, which gives him a place chance if he's okay after the break.

5/1

7

22nd Jan 2025

Good To Soft

3m 1f 54y

Class 5

14:08 Catterick

Batman For Ever

11st 2lb

J: Sam Coltherd

T: Stuart Coltherd

Ex-French; last April's win was in a point and he's 0-9 under rules in Britain; third of 13 in handicap at Uttoxeter (3m, good) last June on latest outing, which gives him a place chance if he's okay after the break.

5/1

3rd

6

6th Jun 2024

Good

3m 0f 0y

Class 5

16:50 Uttoxeter

Batman For Ever

11st 3lb

J: Sam Coltherd

T: Stuart Coltherd

Won a 2m3f chase (soft) when trained by Guillaume Macaire; unable to replicate his French form for either Rebecca Menzies or Stuart Coltherd but did win a point for the latter in April; more needed back under rules.

9/1

OUR TIP

Form: 773634 BF

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Made too many jumping errors when beaten favourite in a chase last month but still ran well enough to suggest he's in fairly good form; switches back to hurdling on a good mark and might be the answer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

8

4th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 54y

Class 4

15:15 Warwick

Neigh Botha

10st 13lb

J: Toby Wynne

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Won at Southwell (2m, good) in October but looked set to be second when left in the lead at Bangor; however, only 2lb higher now and he reportedly finished lame in November on his final run.

13/2

1st

3

27th Oct 2025

Good

2m 1f 77y

Class 5

13:40 Bangor-on-Dee

Neigh Botha

11st 13lb

J: Toby Wynne

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Watch the weather as all his best form is on good ground, including latest comfortable win at Southwell (2m); could deal with the 6lb rise under suitable conditions.

7/2

1st

3

27th Oct 2025

Good

2m 1f 77y

Class 5

13:40 Bangor-on-Dee

Neigh Botha

11st 13lb

J: Toby Wynne

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Watch the weather as all his best form is on good ground, including latest comfortable win at Southwell (2m); could deal with the 6lb rise under suitable conditions.

7/2

Form: 4224P- D

Last run: 244 days

W: 11st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Ran big race from the front when clear second on handicap debut at Doncaster (2m, good) in February and is only 3lb higher here; not seen since a poor performance in April but has live claims if fully tuned up.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

23rd Dec 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 190y

Class 5

12:30 Newcastle

Glory Bridge

11st 9lb

J: William Maggs

T: Donald McCain

Ran big race from the front when clear second on handicap debut at Doncaster (2m, good) in February and is only 3lb higher here; not seen since a poor performance in April but has live claims if fully tuned up.

6/1

7

23rd Apr 2023

Good

2m 2f 148y

Class 5

16:45 Stratford

Glory Bridge

11st 5lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

Bumper winner last spring; hasn't looked totally straightforward over hurdles and proved disappointing when favourite at Wetherby (2m) most recently; however, he's in good hands and not written off yet.

4/1

4th

2

6th Mar 2023

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

17:00 Wetherby

Glory Bridge

11st 12lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

Bumper winner who was a clear second on his handicap debut at Doncaster (2m, good) last month and that was the first leg of a hat-trick for the winner; strong claims off this 5lb higher mark.

4/6

Form: 181644

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Dual 2m4f hurdle winner this summer (good/soft) and a very respectable fourth when dropped back to 2m1f in first-time visor at Sedgefield (soft) last month; probably needs a career best to overcome current mark, though; cheekpieces refitted today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

10

13th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 5

16:55 Perth

Prince Nino

10st 3lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Lizzie Quinlan

Dual C&D winner in 2023 and is considerably lower in the weights now; raced lazily, tailed off, in a division of this last year (good; 5-1); missing from action since so it's tough to know how he'll fare; market check advised.

25/1

8th

9

14th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 5

20:30 Perth

Prince Nino

10st 4lb

J: Elizabeth Gale

T: Lizzie Quinlan

Went close at Newcastle in January, but hasn't performed to the same level on his four runs since and his losing sequence continues.

20/1

Form: -6U401 D

Last run: 17 days

W: 11st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 91

Form & Verdict
Off the mark over hurdles at ninth attempt, justifying good market support in Ludlow claimer (2m, soft) for Fergal O'Brien this month; subsequently changed hands for £5,000; faces a tougher task now back in a handicap but it will be interesting to see what James Owen can do with him.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

13th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

14:00 Worcester

Uncle Arthur

10st 2lb

J: James Best

T: Sarah-Jayne Davies

Struggled on all three starts for Sarah-Jayne Davies last season (chase/hurdle) and is 10lb out of the weights for first run since October.

50/1

10

13th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

14:00 Worcester

Uncle Arthur

10st 2lb

J: James Best

T: Sarah-Jayne Davies

Struggled on all three starts for Sarah-Jayne Davies last season (chase/hurdle) and is 10lb out of the weights for first run since October.

50/1

12th

11

19th Oct 2024

Soft

2m 2f 148y

Class 5

16:50 Stratford

Uncle Arthur

10st 7lb

J: James Best

T: Sarah-Jayne Davies

Became disappointing for James Owen last season and has struggled on both starts for new stable (chase/hurdle); very difficult to enthuse over at present.

50/1

Form: P49453

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Ex-Irish maiden; yet to build upon his encouraging stable debut in October but last month's defeat on heavy ground is not viewed harshly and he continues to slip down the weights; can't be ruled out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

8

1st Jul 2024

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

17:00 Worcester

Ferrybridge

11st 8lb

J: Ciaran O’Shea

T: James Owen

took keen hold, held up in rear, headway before 3 out, weakened after 2 out

13/2

6th

2

18th Jun 2024

Good

2m 0f 213y

Class 5

15:15 Stratford

Ferrybridge

11st 6lb

J: Lilly Pinchin

T: James Owen

midfield, not fluent 3rd, weakening when mistake 4 out

4/1

2nd

3

2nd Jun 2024

Good

2m 0f 59y

Class 5

15:10 Fakenham

Ferrybridge

11st 6lb

J: Lilly Pinchin

T: James Owen

Off the mark over fences in a novice handicap at Huntingdon in March (2m, good); fair efforts over fences last twice; one to consider.

9/2

Form: 89-8P6

Last run: 25 days

W: 10st 9lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
0-21 over hurdles when trained in Ireland; bettered inauspicious stable debut when sixth at Sedgefield (2m1f, soft) last month but further progress is required in refitted tongue-tie here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

9

10th May 2024

Good

2m 0f 178y

Class 5

20:05 Sedgefield

Hide Out

10st 11lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: Danny Brooke

Ran well when second off 3lb higher over C&D (soft) in January but two lesser efforts have followed (chase/hurdle) and his career strike-rate now stands at 0-30.

12/1

8th

9

10th May 2024

Good

2m 0f 178y

Class 5

20:05 Sedgefield

Hide Out

10st 11lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: Danny Brooke

Ran well when second off 3lb higher over C&D (soft) in January but two lesser efforts have followed (chase/hurdle) and his career strike-rate now stands at 0-30.

12/1

6th

6

19th Mar 2024

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

14:45 Wetherby

Hide Out

10st 10lb

J: Joe Williamson

T: Danny Brooke

0-29 under all codes but hasn't been with current stable long and posted a good effort when second at Sedgefield (2m1f, soft) in January; not in same form over fences there last month but still enters calculations.

7/1

Form: F4UPP8

Last run: 9 days

W: 10st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
Disappointing maiden who hasn't shown a great deal since joining Micky Hammond in the summer; today's less-testing ground may enable him to better his recent efforts but others appeal more all the same.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

5

9th Jan 2024

Soft

2m 1f 43y

Class 5

15:45 Market Rasen

A Cheap Thrill

10st 7lb

J: Emma Smith-Chaston

T: Micky Hammond

took keen hold, held up in rear, detached 5 out, pulled up after 4 out

20/1

8

23rd Dec 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 190y

Class 5

12:30 Newcastle

A Cheap Thrill

10st 7lb

J: Emma Smith-Chaston

T: Micky Hammond

Disappointing maiden who hasn't shown a great deal since joining Micky Hammond in the summer; today's less-testing ground may enable him to better his recent efforts but others appeal more all the same.

25/1

8th

8

14th Dec 2023

Heavy

2m 0f 190y

Class 5

14:50 Newcastle

A Cheap Thrill

11st 0lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Micky Hammond

His form has gone the wrong way and there was no upturn in fortunes when he was back over hurdles at Carlisle last month (again pulled up).

25/1

Selections

Daily Mail:

Uncle Arthur

The Times:

Prince Nino

SPOTLIGHT:

Neigh Botha

POSTDATA:

Ferrybridge

D Express:

Uncle Arthur

Daily Mirror:

Uncle Arthur

The Star:

Uncle Arthur

Daily Record:

Uncle Arthur

RP RATINGS:

Neigh Botha

Telegraph:

Prince Nino

The Guardian:

Prince Nino

The Sun:

Prince Nino