December 31 / 14.40 Uttoxeter

14.40

Heavy

Chasetown Civil Engineering Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £3406.24
  • 2m 7f 70y
  • Class 5
  • 8 runners
SKY
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Chasetown Civil Engineering Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

Form: P/0-02

Last run: 35 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 99

Form & Verdict
Ex-Irish maiden who ran encouragingly at this course (2m4f, soft; runner-up) last month on second start for new stable; bred to be suited by this new trip and looks one for the shortlist.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

28th Mar 2024

Soft

2m 3f 154y

Class 4

14:45 Wetherby

Barncroft

11st 0lb

J: Daire Davis

T: Fergal O’Brien

11-race maiden; fair second in a novice handicap at Uttoxeter in November (2m4f, soft), but pulled up at Lingfield when last out (2m7f, soft); tongue-tie now tried; down in grade.

16/1

1

13th Feb 2024

Soft

2m 7f 0y

Class 5

15:35 Lingfield

Barncroft

12st 0lb

J: James Best

T: Fergal O’Brien

Lightly raced now but he finally recaptured some form when runner-up at Uttoxeter in November (2m4f, soft; refitted cheekpieces, as today); may be on the way back and pedigree suggests he has a good chance of staying 2m7f.

9/2

Abandoned

Form: 44-54P D

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 11lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 96

Form & Verdict
Didn't really take to chasing the last twice and should benefit from this return to hurdles; far from progressive but he's attractively treated, having gained sole win off 7lb higher.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

5

2nd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 131y

Class 5

16:39 Chepstow

Bobalot

11st 7lb

J: Isabelle Ryder

T: Laura Horsfall

Well beaten before last-fence refusal on latest outing in February but has a largely consistent record over hurdles; will be suited by the trip/ground and has slipped to a good mark; each-way claims at least.

8/1

1

17th Feb 2026

2m 7f 191y

Class 5

14:30 Market Rasen

Bobalot

12st 0lb

J: Robert Dunne

T: Laura Horsfall

Has won three times over hurdles and finished third for the fourth successive time in that sphere at Southwell (3m, good to soft) 15 days ago; back over fences after a couple of failed attempts in November 2023 but tends to find at least one too good.

9/1

3rd

2

2nd Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 60y

Class 5

16:27 Southwell

Bobalot

11st 11lb

J: Mr Sean O’Connor

T: Laura Horsfall

Huntingdon winner in April (3m1f, good); fair runs over this trip on good to soft/soft/heavy on last three starts; each-way chance

9/1

OUR TIP

Form: P5-882

Last run: 35 days

W: 11st 5lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 91

Form & Verdict
Six-race maiden; showed major improvement in Exeter handicap (2m5f, good to soft; close second) most recently; possibilities upped further in distance; also declared 1:00 Warwick.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

15th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 7f 136y

Class 4

15:20 Chepstow

Call Me Arthur

11st 9lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Tom Lacey

Only his third run over fences when forging clear at Huntingdon (2m7f, soft) in January; that resulted in a 10lb rise but he was only 9-2 when departing early at Taunton; seemingly on the upgrade.

7/2

4

12th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 7f 3y

Class 5

14:50 Taunton

Call Me Arthur

11st 12lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Tom Lacey

All the sharper for his Hereford reappearance when making it third time lucky over fences in 2m7f Huntingdon handicap (soft) three weeks ago, forging 15l clear; that resulted in a 10lb rise but he should remain competitive if in the same form.

9/2

1st

5

22nd Jan 2026

Soft

2m 7f 129y

Class 5

13:30 Huntingdon

Call Me Arthur

11st 7lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Tom Lacey

Temporary switch to front-running over a sharp 3m netted him a Southwell hurdle off this mark in May 2024 (soft), but rather lost in the crowd in big-field chases on only two starts since; tongue tie off.

12/1

Form: 48/4-5 BF

Last run: 239 days

W: 11st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
0-8 for Tony Carroll and beaten twice for Fergal O'Brien; absent since C&D defeat in May; however, first-time headgear is a possible source of improvement and market support should be noted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

7

4th Jan 2024

Good To Soft

3m 1f 119y

Class 5

15:28 Hereford

Dragoon Springs

10st 13lb

J: Nick Slatter

T: David Killahena & Graeme McPherson

in touch with leaders

16/1

5th

8

6th May 2023

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 5

15:50 Uttoxeter

Dragoon Springs

11st 3lb

J: Nick Slatter

T: Fergal O’Brien

Just a respectable fourth when favourite for recent stable debut at Chepstow (2m3f, good to soft) and now 0-7 over hurdles but that was his first run since January 2022 and today's longer trip will suit; could be dangerous if that recent outing has brought him on.

6/1

Form: 4-4012 BF

Last run: 31 days

W: 10st 11lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Showed plenty of improvement last month, winning at Plumpton (3m1f, good to soft) then clear second at Taunton (3m, good); form has substance and he remains unexposed at this sort of trip; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

3rd Apr 2025

Good

3m 0f 217y

Class 5

15:05 Plumpton

Abbeyhill

10st 13lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Neil Mulholland

Dual hurdle winner last season (once over C&D) but was pulled up on reappearance outing in October and has largely been disappointing over fences since (five starts); seems very versatile regarding ground but reverts to hurdling with quite a bit to prove; swaps cheekpieces for first-time blinkers.

7/2

4th

5

3rd Apr 2025

Good

3m 0f 217y

Class 5

15:05 Plumpton

Abbeyhill

10st 13lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Neil Mulholland

led, awkward jump and reminders 1st, headed 1st, bad mistake and lost ground 10th, weakened before 2 out

7/2

4th

4

23rd Feb 2025

Soft

3m 1f 210y

Class 5

16:30 Fontwell

Abbeyhill

10st 6lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Neil Mulholland

Won two staying handicap hurdles last winter, on good to soft and heavy; hasn't reached the same heights this season (sent chasing for last four runs) but the upside is that he's back on a very good mark.

9/2

Form: 6665P2

Last run: 34 days

W: 10st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Inconsistent maiden but ran well at Ludlow (3m, good to soft; 33-1 second) most recently and has place possibilities if the form is repeated; runs off same mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

8

27th Mar 2025

Good

3m 2f 0y

Class 5

14:57 Warwick

Newtonian

10st 9lb

J: Cameron Iles

T: Matt Sheppard

Only win came on good ground off 2lb higher here last May (3m1f); has run well since then but form has taken a turn for the worse this year and should have run better only 19 days ago at Hereford when back on good ground.

10/1

4th

9

8th Mar 2025

Good

3m 1f 119y

Class 5

13:30 Hereford

Newtonian

10st 11lb

J: Cameron Iles

T: Matt Sheppard

Only win came on good ground off this mark at Warwick last May (3m1f); was knocking on the door in the autumn (on good and good to soft) and a softer surface has perhaps found him out the last twice; better expected.

7/1

10th

10

21st Feb 2025

Soft

3m 2f 0y

Class 5

13:40 Warwick

Newtonian

10st 4lb

J: Mrs Izzie Hill

T: Matt Sheppard

in touch with leaders, towards rear with one circuit to go, not fluent 3 out, soon struggling

10/1

Form: 65-1U4 CD

Last run: 41 days

W: 10st 5lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
Poor effort at Exeter (back from layoff) six weeks ago; however, scored in competitive field over C&D (good to soft; off 4lb lower) in May and looks interesting returned to this venue.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

8

17th Apr 2026

Good To Firm

2m 7f 25y

Class 5

18:10 Exeter

Elfride

10st 2lb

J: Harry Atkins

T: Richard Phillips

2m7f hurdle winner (good to soft); on a lengthy losing run and arrives with plenty to prove from 4lb wrong.

33/1

18

17th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 25y

Class 5

14:20 Exeter

Elfride

10st 2lb

J: Harry Atkins

T: Richard Phillips

Struggled last year and competes from 6lb out of the handicap today; needs January's wind op to have made a big difference.

66/1

8

4th Jun 2025

Good

3m 2f 105y

Class 5

15:35 Newton Abbot

Elfride

10st 3lb

J: Harry Atkins

T: Richard Phillips

2m7f hurdle winner (good to soft) in May 2023; well below par on her last five starts; blinkers now accompany tongue-tie; back on her winning mark but plenty to prove.

16/1

Form: 56-P0P

Last run: 35 days

W: 10st 5lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Achieved nothing at this track (2m4f) five weeks ago, taking record to 0-7; holds weak claims on overall form; first-time headgear needs to make a difference.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

6

1st Jan 2024

Soft

3m 1f 71y

Class 5

15:39 Catterick

Brasingaman Bella

11st 6lb

J: Stephen Mulqueen

T: Jedd O’Keeffe

raced in second, bumped and lost position 8th, weakened quickly after 4 out, tailed off when pulled up before 2 out

20/1

0

7

26th Nov 2023

Heavy

2m 3f 207y

Class 5

15:20 Uttoxeter

Brasingaman Bella

10st 10lb

J: Henry Brooke

T: Jedd O’Keeffe

in touch with leaders, dropped to last 4th, detached after 5th, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out

10/1

Verdict

Being unexposed as a stayer and a particularly strong contender on recent form, ABBEYHILL (nap) gets the vote. Barncroft, who ran well here five weeks ago, is second choice. Market confidence behind Dragoon Springs should be heeded.[Steve Boow]

Selections

POSTDATA:

Barncroft

SPOTLIGHT:

Abbeyhill

RP RATINGS:

Bobalot

The Sun:

Call Me Arthur

The Times:

Abbeyhill

Daily Mirror:

Abbeyhill

D Express:

Bobalot

WEST COUNTRY:

Barncroft

Telegraph:

Barncroft

The Star:

Barncroft

Daily Record:

Barncroft