December 30 / 13.00 Taunton

13.00

Good To Soft

Luke Sergeant Christmas 2023 Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4955.32
  • 2m 3f 1y
  • Class 4
  • 14 runners
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Luke Sergeant Christmas 2023 Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 14 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Rain

10/11 (Won)

  • Win: £1.91
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 1P-4 C

Last run: 29 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Impressed on his bumper debut here but then pulled hard in the Grade 2 at Aintree and again he lacked concentration when fourth at Newbury (hurdling debut); some quirks need ironing out but he has ability.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

19th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

2m 0f 213y

Class 2

15:58 Stratford

Centara

11st 12lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Paul Nicholls

Free-going front-runner who won five 2m chases in early part of last season; comfortably reeled in on both outings since returning from a break this spring, though, and comes here with a point to prove.

5/1

4th

2

3rd Jun 2026

Good

2m 0f 167y

Class 3

16:30 Newton Abbot

Centara

11st 10lb

J: Freddie Keighley

T: Paul Nicholls

Highly progressive over fences in the first half of last season, winning here four times (2m, good to soft/good); 2m5f here appeared to stretch him last month following some time off; has a lower mark to work with back over hurdles and he could play a leading role back down in trip.

7/2

6th

4

6th May 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 216y

Class 2

13:45 Newton Abbot

Centara

11st 5lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Paul Nicholls

Highly progressive over fences last summer, winning five handicaps (four here) at around 2m on ground no worse than good to soft, though he ended the campaign pulled up at Cheltenham; has since had a second wind op and could find more at this longer trip (2m3f hurdle winner), which will be needed off this mark following a break.

11/2

8/1

  • Place: £1.60

Form: 6

Last run: 47 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Placed in two maiden points before £28,000 sale; 80-1 with tongue tied when sixth of 13 in novice at Kempton (2m5f, good) last month; should improve.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

15th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 35y

Class 4

14:15 Wincanton

Thunder N Lightnin

11st 11lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

led, raced in second when headed 3rd, no chance with winner from 2 out

7/4

5/2

  • Place: £1.90

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Bought for £60,000 after finishing second in a decent-looking Irish point in March; makes rules debut with his yard going well.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

25th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 208y

Class 2

14:55 Cheltenham

Long Draw

11st 4lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Made very good progress last season, winning twice over 3m on New course here (good to soft/good); ended up with too much to do when finishing well for close third at Haydock (3m, good) in May and probably still has more improvement to come.

6/1

3rd

3

10th May 2025

Good

3m 0f 58y

Class 2

13:00 Haydock

Long Draw

11st 8lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Made very good progress last season and had three of today's rivals behind when coming from off the pace for driven-out success at Cheltenham (3m, good) last month; 6lb higher today but could still have more to offer.

4/1

Form: 67

Last run: 36 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Beat one home in a Ffos Las bumper and the same again in a Chepstow maiden; related to winners but looks to need more time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

8th Jul 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

18:30 Uttoxeter

Native Moon

11st 3lb

J: Lorcan Williams

T: Jeremy Scott

Improved for staying trips on good ground as a hurdler, finishing a good second at Exeter and going one better at Ascot (both about 2m7f) in March; had more on his plate behind a progressive one at Worcester in May but even so he wasn't quite at his best; should have potential now chasing.

7/1

1

23rd May 2025

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 4

17:57 Worcester

Native Moon

11st 11lb

J: Lorcan Williams

T: Jeremy Scott

Has form figures of 23421 since joining Jeremy Scott and he justified favouritism with a comfortable success at Ascot (2m7f, good) in March; up 5lb but his confidence should be boosted after that breakthrough win and he's open to more progress; respected.

15/8

1

23rd May 2025

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 4

17:57 Worcester

Native Moon

11st 11lb

J: Lorcan Williams

T: Jeremy Scott

Has form figures of 23421 since joining Jeremy Scott and he justified favouritism with a comfortable success at Ascot (2m7f, good) in March; up 5lb but his confidence should be boosted after that breakthrough win and he's open to more progress; respected.

15/8

Form: P6

Last run: 44 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Ran okay from the front here last month until weakening after a late mistake (not his first); perhaps one for handicaps.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

10

7th May 2025

Good

2m 5f 122y

Class 5

16:20 Newton Abbot

Outside Adesa

10st 8lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Kayley Woollacott

prominent, bad mistake and lost ground quickly 3 out

10/1

8th

10

7th May 2025

Good

2m 5f 122y

Class 5

16:20 Newton Abbot

Outside Adesa

10st 8lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Kayley Woollacott

prominent, bad mistake and lost ground quickly 3 out, weakened 2 out

10/1

5

19th Apr 2025

Soft

2m 5f 122y

Class 5

14:34 Newton Abbot

Outside Adesa

11st 6lb

J: Ben Godfrey

T: Kayley Woollacott

in touch with leaders, lost ground after 5th

10/1

Form: 34-5U

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Made the frame in two Huntingdon bumpers towards end of last season; shaped with promise despite a heavy defeat at Ludlow and then departed midrace at Hereford; just a suspicion that handicaps will see him in the best light.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

7

6th May 2026

Good

2m 3f 104y

Class 5

19:42 Fontwell

Mersey Street

10st 13lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Won at Sedgefield (2m3f, good to soft) in February and was runner-up on his return visit over 2m5f two weeks later; looks interesting on that form but he needs to bounce back from a heavy defeat at Carlisle in March.

12/1

7th

13

22nd Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 210y

Class 2

16:27 Carlisle

Mersey Street

10st 2lb

J: Benjamin Macey

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Sound performances (won then good second) at Sedgefield last month, while leaving the impression this return to a right-handed track will prove ideal; may still have more to offer over fences; in the mix.

10/1

2nd

3

19th Feb 2026

2m 5f 28y

Class 5

16:17 Sedgefield

Mersey Street

11st 4lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Decisive winner over 2m3f here last time (good to soft); this longer trip will suit (has won over 3m1f) and should go well despite 6lb rise.

13/8

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
27,000euros 3yo; fourth foal; half-brother to 2m6f hurdle winner Townhill Penny; dam unraced half-sister to bumper/high-class 3m1f chase winner/Grand National second Pleasant Company; more than likely best watched on debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

19th Feb 2026

2m 3f 189y

Class 5

13:41 Huntingdon

Owl Of Athens

11st 2lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Evan Williams

Won by 8l over hurdles at Uttoxeter (2m4f, good to soft) last January and on that evidence this 4lb higher mark shouldn't be beyond him; however, he's been well beaten this season on his first three chase starts.

7/1

Form:

Last run: 33 days

W: 10st 7lb

4 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
80-1 when completely tailed off in a Ludlow bumper a month ago.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

5

4th Jul 2025

Good

2m 5f 122y

Class 5

15:08 Newton Abbot

Miss Popalong

10st 10lb

J: Micheal Nolan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Low-mileage mare who advanced her form when second of seven in 3m Ffos Las handicap 43 days ago; she can make her presence felt despite taking a 3lb weights rise.

4/1

4

22nd May 2025

Good

2m 7f 191y

Class 5

16:40 Ffos Las

Miss Popalong

10st 9lb

J: Micheal Nolan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Back from a break of 151 days to finish an 11l third over Exeter's 2m7f (good to firm), where she looked threatening before flattening out late on; had another 60 days away since then but looks capable of winning something like this.

11/4

Form: 7

Last run: 227 days

W: 10st 7lb

5 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
£1,400 3yo; finished tailed off in a good-ground bumper at Newton Abbot when trained by Brian Barr.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form: 5-226F

Last run: 33 days

W: 11st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Placed in an Irish bumper for Peter Fahey; well-held sixth on stable/hurdles debut at Wincanton and was on the retreat when falling at Kempton; others have achieved more.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

5

5th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 50y

Class 5

15:07 Wincanton

Perfect Nelson

11st 12lb

J: Lorcan Williams

T: Jeremy Scott

Unplaced all five hurdling starts but last month's 36l defeat at Taunton (2m3f) came on heavy ground and after a 659-day absence; no surprise if he gets closer to the target here.

16/1

8th

3

12th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 3f 1y

Class 5

14:15 Taunton

Perfect Nelson

11st 11lb

J: Lorcan Williams

T: Jeremy Scott

Runner-up in Irish bumpers (good/yielding) but failed to make an impact in four hurdle starts for this yard in the 2023-24 season, including when 28-1 for soft-ground C&D handicap debut; still has time on his side but would need to see market support to consider after 659 days off.

16/1

6th

8

24th Apr 2024

Good

2m 3f 1y

Class 4

18:25 Taunton

Perfect Nelson

11st 6lb

J: Lorcan Williams

T: Jeremy Scott

Placed in an Irish bumper; has little to boast about in Britain and trailed Centara by some 20l over C&D when last seen in December; doesn't look on a good mark for handicap debut.

20/1

Form: 6-0P

Last run: 33 days

W: 11st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Only sixth in his bumper and has shown no benefit for wind surgery with his struggles continuing over hurdles; well bred and still early days, but now has a lot to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

26th Sep 2024

Good

2m 0f 47y

Class 5

15:37 Perth

Bingo Little

11st 6lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Ryan Potter

Didn't show much for Ben Pauling last season and no better in handicaps for current yard; cheekpieces now added.

20/1

13th

14

18th Jul 2024

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 5

20:55 Worcester

Bingo Little

11st 1lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Ryan Potter

Modest form in four novice/maiden hurdles for Ben Pauling last season; beaten near 17l on handicap/stable debut (2m, soft) on this month's reappearance; needs to step up considerably for this much longer trip.

20/1

6th

5

9th Jul 2024

Good

1m 7f 168y

Class 5

19:05 Uttoxeter

Bingo Little

11st 2lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Ryan Potter

Did not show a great deal in four novice/maiden hurdles for Ben Pauling last season and was sold for £3,000 in May; could be considered only if lively in the betting before this stable/handicap debut.

7/1

OUR TIP

Form: 06

Last run: 36 days

W: 11st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Easy winner of a maiden point (2m4f, good to soft) in April but it's been a very underwhelming start under rules (bumper/novice); reservations for now.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

8th Sep 2024

Good To Soft

3m 1f 210y

Class 5

15:05 Fontwell

Guivinec

11st 0lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Anthony Honeyball

never going well, towards rear, mistake and reminders 5th, dropped to last 10th, ridden with one circuit to go, lost touch 14th, pulled up before 3 out

9/2

4th

7

25th Jun 2024

Good

3m 1f 170y

Class 5

17:00 Newton Abbot

Guivinec

10st 13lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Anthony Honeyball

2m4f point winner; moderate form under rules but took a step in the right direction when a staying-on third at Fontwell (2m3f) on April's chase debut; failed to improve on that when third again back there in May but has since been given wind surgery; likely to be suited by this longer trip and he remains capable of better.

100/30

3rd

5

16th May 2024

Good

2m 3f 104y

Class 5

18:10 Fontwell

Guivinec

10st 9lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Anthony Honeyball

prominent, outpaced before 3 out, kept on run-in

11/4

Form: 6

Last run: 48 days

W: 11st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
25-1 when sixth of seven runners in a soft-ground bumper at Sandown; hard to draw too many conclusions from that but best watched for now.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

29th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 216y

Class 4

15:23 Newton Abbot

Super Sabre Sam

11st 10lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Neil Mulholland

Dual hurdle winner who hit a personal best with his last success at Fontwell (2m5f, good) in May; 6lb higher on his return but he's a brother to a useful chaser and needs a close look on this switch to fences.

7/2

5

29th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 216y

Class 4

15:23 Newton Abbot

Super Sabre Sam

11st 10lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Neil Mulholland

Dual hurdle winner who hit a personal best with his last success at Fontwell (2m5f, good) in May; 6lb higher on his return but he's a brother to a useful chaser and needs a close look on this switch to fences.

7/2

1st

1

15th May 2025

Good

2m 5f 164y

Class 4

19:10 Fontwell

Super Sabre Sam

11st 12lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Neil Mulholland

Won his maiden here over 2m3f on soft; hasn't look on that good a mark in handicaps but was beaten under 5l over C&D last time in first-time cheekpieces; each-way claims.

4/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 10st 7lb

4 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Won her fourth race on the Flat, coming well clear in a 1m6f Saint-Cloud claimer in June 2022; not seen since and would need to see market confidence ahead of his belated return and hurdling debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

10

16th Sep 2024

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

15:30 Worcester

Nila

10st 11lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

Absent for 577 days after winning 1m6f claimer on the Flat in France in June 2022 then fell at first flight on stable/hurdle debut in December; back from another layoff with tongue-tie fitted; may yet have a future over hurdles but there's a lot to take on trust.

20/1

0

14

30th Dec 2023

Good To Soft

2m 3f 1y

Class 4

13:00 Taunton

Nila

10st 7lb

J: Gearoid Harney

T: David Pipe

towards rear, fell 1st

25/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £7.10
Straight Forecast £5.99
Trifecta £27.80

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Centara

POSTDATA:

Nila

D Express:

Long Draw

RP RATINGS:

Thunder N Lightnin

WEST COUNTRY:

Centara

The Times:

Centara

Telegraph:

Centara

The Guardian:

Centara

Daily Mirror:

Centara

The Sun:

Centara

The Star:

Centara

Daily Record:

Centara

Daily Mail:

Nila