December 31 / 15.30 Warwick

15.30

Heavy

Happy New Year From Poundland Open National Hunt Flat Race (Category 1 Elimination) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £2178.4
  • 2m 0f 0y
  • Class 5
  • 5 runners
RTV
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Happy New Year From Poundland Open National Hunt Flat Race (Category 1 Elimination) (GBB Race)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: NH Flat

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Kept on well to make winning Irish point debut in February (yielding ground) and was bought for £225,000 the following month; some of the horses he beat have held their own under rules in the meantime; new stable has good bumper strike-rate (17%); looks a very interesting prospect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

8th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 2f 0y

Class 3

16:13 Warwick

Bill Joyce

12st 1lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Bled from the nose when pulled up on chase debut in December; smart novice hurdler around 2m4f last season and no doubting his ability to be very competitive off this mark if he's back on song.

5/1

14th

9

1st May 2025

Yielding

2m 7f 110y

16:15 Punchestown

Bill Joyce

11st 4lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Won well at Carlisle and Sandown (Grade 2 on soft) in first two starts over hurdles and then third in the Grade 1 Challow at Newbury and a Grade 2 at Cheltenham (both extended 2m4f); only 6-1 for his handicap debut over 3m at Aintree and departed too early to tell what might have happened; the first-time tongue-tie fitted there is retained; of interest.

10/1

14th

9

1st May 2025

Yielding

2m 7f 110y

16:15 Punchestown

Bill Joyce

11st 4lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Won well at Carlisle and Sandown (Grade 2 on soft) in first two starts over hurdles and then third in the Grade 1 Challow at Newbury and a Grade 2 at Cheltenham (both extended 2m4f); only 6-1 for his handicap debut over 3m at Aintree and departed too early to tell what might have happened; the first-time tongue-tie fitted there is retained; of interest.

10/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
First foal; dam runner-up in a bumper, sister to a fair 2m5f hurdle winner; stable's good bumper strike-rate (18% in last five seasons) brings him into the equation.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

9th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 200y

Class 1

14:20 Aintree

Jax Junior

11st 7lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Lucy Wadham

Finished 18l behind Lulamba in the Arkle but may fare better in this rematch, with the return to further a likely plus; readily bagged Grade 2 honours at Kempton (2m4f, good to soft) the time before, enhancing his good strike-rate when racing beyond 2m.

9/1

4th

2

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 199y

Class 1

14:00 Cheltenham

Jax Junior

11st 7lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Lucy Wadham

Bled from nose when well held behind Steel Ally at Ascot just before Christmas but otherwise he's made a fine start to his chasing career, winning a handicap at Sandown (1m7f, soft) and Grade 2 novice at Kempton (2m4f, good to soft) on last two starts; needs a chunk of improvement to trouble the principals but he's straightforward, tactically versatile and a sound jumper.

20/1

1st

2

21st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 1

14:25 Kempton

Jax Junior

11st 2lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Lucy Wadham

Bled from the nose at Ascot just before Christmas but otherwise he's made a fine start to his chasing career, winning handicap at Sandown (1m7f, soft) three weeks ago in clearcut style; just as effective at 2m4f and sets the standard for the others to aim at.

4/6

OUR TIP

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
150,000euros 3yo; first foal; dam point winner, half-sister to useful bumper/jumps winner American Mike; stable has respectable bumper strike-rate (13%); no surprise if he features on debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

5th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 191y

Class 5

15:48 Ffos Las

Less Destiny Star

11st 4lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

Good-ground bumper scorer; had wind surgery prior to a resurgent effort, finishing 5l third and one place behind Star Turn, over C&D (good to soft) last month in only his second handicap attempt; warrants respect off same mark, with a step forward possible.

5/1

3rd

2

12th Apr 2026

Good

2m 7f 191y

Class 5

17:20 Ffos Las

Less Destiny Star

11st 9lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

Bumper winner; remote when fourth on handicap debut at Doncaster (3m, good to soft) in February but was given a wind op last month and remains open to improvement over hurdles for his respected stable.

14/1

4th

4

27th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 84y

Class 5

15:57 Doncaster

Less Destiny Star

11st 9lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Ben Pauling

Course bumper winner (good) who ran okay when fourth of six on hurdle debut at Lingfield (2m3f, good to soft) in November; well beaten on both starts since (2m5f/2m3f, soft) but there's stamina in his family and he could be a different proposition now up in trip and back on better ground in a first-time tongue-tie on his handicap debut; monitor the betting.

8/1

Form: 2 BF

Last run: 37 days

W: 11st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Irish point winner who was second on rules debut at Chepstow (soft) last month and scored by 14l at Haydock (heavy) yesterday; will have 7lb penalty to shoulder if he makes a quick reappearance here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

2

3rd Feb 2024

Soft

1m 7f 216y

Class 2

16:20 Sandown

San Frandisco

11st 8lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

led, cajoled along before halfway, ridden and headed over 2f out, soon weakened

100/30

1st

4

30th Dec 2023

Heavy

1m 7f 144y

Class 4

15:45 Haydock

San Frandisco

11st 2lb

J: Daryl Jacob

T: Jamie Snowden

made all, set steady pace, pushed along over 2f out, went clear over 1f out, kept on well and went further clear inside final furlong, eased towards finish, unchallenged

10/11

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
4,500gns yearling; fourth foal; half-brother to fairly useful 6f-1m6f Flat winner Billy No Mates and a German middle-distance Flat winner; dam fair Flat stayer, half-sister to Listed Flat winners over 2m and 1m4f; stable 9-43 (21%) with bumper runners during last five seasons; appeals on paper.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

3

6th Apr 2024

Heavy

2m 7f 70y

Class 4

14:15 Uttoxeter

Valfortore

11st 5lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

didn't always jump with fluency, led, joined 5th, headed before 4 out, soon dropped to last, lost ground before 3 out, soon tailed off

50/1

3rd

3

6th Apr 2024

Heavy

2m 7f 70y

Class 4

14:15 Uttoxeter

Valfortore

11st 5lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

didn't always jump with fluency, led, joined 5th, headed before 4 out, soon dropped to last, lost ground before 3 out, soon tailed off

50/1

8

19th Mar 2024

Soft

2m 5f 137y

Class 4

14:30 Exeter

Valfortore

11st 7lb

J: Ned Fox

T: Venetia Williams

prominent, weakened from 4 out

100/1

Verdict

With yesterday’s Haydock winner San Frandisco unlikely to turn up here, the most obvious answer is BILL JOYCE, who changed hands for big money after his Irish point win in February. That said, the three newcomers all have pretty good credentials on paper, with Valfortore arguably the most interesting in that group.[Chris Wilson]

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Bill Joyce

RP RATINGS:

San Frandisco

The Times:

Valfortore

D Express:

Valfortore

WEST COUNTRY:

Bill Joyce

Daily Mirror:

Bill Joyce

The Sun:

Bill Joyce

The Star:

Bill Joyce

Daily Record:

Bill Joyce

POSTDATA:

San Frandisco

LAMBOURN:

San Frandisco

Telegraph:

San Frandisco