December 30 / 12.15 Haydock

12.15

Heavy

Betfred Nifty 50 Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (Go North Brindisi Breeze Series Qualifier)

  • Prize money: £5809.1
  • 3m 0f 58y
  • Class 4
  • 6 runners
RTV
View Course
Betfred Nifty 50 Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (Go North Brindisi Breeze Series Qualifier)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Rain

7/4 (Won)

  • Win: £2.00
  • Place: £1.20

Form: 45-112 BF

Last run: 32 days

W: 10st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
In good form this season, winning at Ffos Las (2m4f, heavy) and Leicester (2m4f, heavy; 1-9 shot, only three ran) before finishing runner-up off 4lb lower at 2-7 at Southwell last time (2m4f, heavy); this longer trip should suit; up in grade but not out of it.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

9th Feb 2026

Soft

3m 1f 157y

Class 5

16:15 Plumpton

Hill Of Tara

11st 7lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Four-time hurdle winner who made it 0-5 over fences when running no race at Uttoxeter in December; that was on heavy ground but he went well in the mud in 2023 and 2024, and is well handicapped if he can get his act together over fences.

8/1

6th

5

25th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 1f 210y

Class 4

17:47 Fontwell

Hill Of Tara

11st 6lb

J: Ned Fox

T: Venetia Williams

In great form over hurdles last winter with four wins at up to 3m2f; has been generally disappointing since last success though, and was pulled up over fences at Leicester (2m6f, soft) in February; still unexposed in this sphere but he needs to bounce back after another break.

7/1

6th

5

25th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 1f 210y

Class 4

17:47 Fontwell

Hill Of Tara

11st 6lb

J: Ned Fox

T: Venetia Williams

In great form over hurdles last winter with four wins at up to 3m2f; has been generally disappointing since last success though, and was pulled up over fences at Leicester (2m6f, soft) in February; still unexposed in this sphere but he needs to bounce back after another break.

7/1

7/1

  • Place: £2.60

Form: U-8763

Last run: 18 days

W: 12st 1lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Ex-Joseph O'Brien; bumper, maiden hurdle and beginners' chase winner, all at around 2m with give in the ground (last win December 2020); yet to win for this yard but on a good mark now and fair third for today's rider in similar event at Ffos Las latest; place chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

8

6th Jun 2024

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 4

16:18 Uttoxeter

Front View

11st 6lb

J: Benjamin Macey

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Formerly a very useful 2m chaser/hurdler for Joseph O'Brien; not as good these days although fair hurdle runs when second at Haydock in December (3m1f, heavy) and at Exeter in March (2m5f, soft); cheekpieces tried; each-way chance.

10/1

5th

4

19th Apr 2024

Soft

2m 4f 100y

Class 4

16:30 Ayr

Front View

11st 8lb

J: Benjamin Macey

T: Jonjo O’Neill

Runner-up on two of his last three starts but was no match for the winner when occupying that position at Exeter (2m5f, soft) last month, and he's just 1-15 over hurdles; others are more compelling.

9/1

5th

4

19th Apr 2024

Soft

2m 4f 100y

Class 4

16:30 Ayr

Front View

11st 8lb

J: Benjamin Macey

T: Jonjo O’Neill

Runner-up on two of his last three starts but was no match for the winner when occupying that position at Exeter (2m5f, soft) last month, and he's just 1-15 over hurdles; others are more compelling.

9/1

Form: 6U6-12 D

Last run: 15 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Two good runs over hurdles this term, winning at Huntingdon in November (3m1f, good to soft) before good second off 2lb lower at Bangor last time (2m7f, heavy); chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

4

31st Dec 2024

Soft

3m 2f 0y

Class 4

14:20 Warwick

Chris Cool

11st 5lb

J: Ben Smith

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Both handicap wins have come over 3m1f at Huntingdon; no closer than fifth this season but has been getting nearer, last time beaten 11l at Uttoxeter.

14/1

8th

4

31st Dec 2024

Soft

3m 2f 0y

Class 4

14:20 Warwick

Chris Cool

11st 5lb

J: Ben Smith

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Both handicap wins have come over 3m1f at Huntingdon; no closer than fifth this season but has been getting nearer, last time beaten 11l at Uttoxeter.

14/1

6

10th Dec 2024

Soft

2m 7f 70y

Class 4

12:12 Uttoxeter

Chris Cool

11st 4lb

J: Ben Smith

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Both handicap wins have come over 3m1f at Huntingdon; hard to be confident on this season's two showings but not badly handicapped if staging a revival.

10/1

Form: 012-22 D BF

Last run: 49 days

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Not that easy to win with (strike rate of 2-18) but usually runs his race; trip and ground suit and in decent form; worth considering.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

13th May 2026

Good

3m 2f 127y

Class 4

15:08 Perth

Shoeshine Boy

11st 10lb

J: Murray Dodd

T: Donald Whillans

Two wins on soft/heavy over 3m at Ayr last January; some fair efforts since; return to this trip should suit but best form on softer ground.

9/1

5th

17

17th Apr 2026

Soft

3m 0f 70y

Class 3

16:43 Ayr

Shoeshine Boy

10st 7lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Donald Whillans

Course specialist who won two in a row over C&D (heavy/soft) in January; he's better than he showed when 15l third over C&D (soft) in February and the subsequent break may have helped, but this 10yo may still be vulnerable back up in grade.

20/1

OUR TIP

Form: 3731/5

Last run: 42 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Won a Perth maiden hurdle in April 2022 (2m4f, good to soft); then off for 577 days and fair fifth at Wetherby on first run back (2m3f, heavy); unexposed; should fare better this time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

7th Jul 2025

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 5

16:20 Worcester

Sporty Jim

11st 0lb

J: Robert Dunne

T: Rob Summers

Maiden hurdle winner in 2022 for Olly Murphy; recently beaten in staying handicaps won by I'm A Starman (runs earlier) at Warwick and Worcester and ran respectably in the latter when ahead of Faded Fantasy; every chance.

4/1

3rd

11

7th Jun 2025

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 4

17:25 Worcester

Sporty Jim

10st 5lb

J: Robert Dunne

T: Rob Summers

Still to add to April 2022's Perth maiden success for Olly Murphy (2m4f, good to soft), and this would be a bit better race than the Warwick 0-100 in which I'm A Starman beat him 31l last time.

20/1

4th

5

5th May 2025

Good

3m 1f 0y

Class 5

15:50 Warwick

Sporty Jim

11st 4lb

J: Beau Morgan

T: Rob Summers

Rediscovered some form and made the frame on consecutive appearances in the autumn (once over C&D) but began this year with two disappointing runs and has it all to prove again now.

16/1

Form: 7PP-2P D

Last run: 16 days

W: 11st 13lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Close second in a handicap chase at Wetherby in November (3m, heavy); pulled up since and now reverts to hurdles for first time since March 2022; hard to predict.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

3

30th Dec 2023

Heavy

3m 0f 58y

Class 4

12:15 Haydock

Best Trition

11st 13lb

J: Lewis Stones

T: Olly Murphy

raced lazily, pushed along soon after start, disputed lead, lost position after 1st, dropped to last after 3rd, lost touch from 4th, tailed off when pulled up after 6th

8/1

0

3

14th Dec 2023

Heavy

2m 7f 91y

Class 4

12:30 Newcastle

Best Trition

11st 11lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Olly Murphy

More miss than hit over the last 12 months or so but he won at Ffos Las (3m, heavy) in January and returned to form to go very close behind East Street at Wetherby (3m, heavy) last month; key player if again on song.

7/2

2nd

5

18th Nov 2023

Soft

3m 0f 45y

Class 4

15:39 Wetherby

Best Trition

11st 11lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Olly Murphy

didn't always jump with fluency, in touch with leaders on outer, pushed along briefly 3rd, slow jump 4th

8/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £6.90
Straight Forecast £9.03
Trifecta £29.40

Selections

TOPSPEED:

Hill Of Tara

SPOTLIGHT:

Chris Cool

Telegraph:

Shoeshine Boy

RP RATINGS:

Front View

POSTDATA:

Hill Of Tara

The Times:

Hill Of Tara

The Guardian:

Hill Of Tara

D Express:

Hill Of Tara

The Sun:

Hill Of Tara

Daily Record:

Hill Of Tara

Daily Mirror:

Shoeshine Boy

Daily Mail:

Chris Cool

The Star:

Chris Cool