August 21 / 19.00 Worcester

19.00

Good

Terry Phillips Retirement Celebration Novices’ Hurdle (ARC Summer Novices’ Brush Hurdle Qual) (GBB)

  • Prize money: £4193.42
  • 2m 4f 0y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
SKY
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Terry Phillips Retirement Celebration Novices’ Hurdle (ARC Summer Novices’ Brush Hurdle Qual) (GBB)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

OUR TIP

Form: 1221-1 D

Last run: 109 days

W: 11st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Found one just too good when warm favourite for hurdling debut in March but an easy winner at Fontwell (2m3f, heavy) and Hexham (2m, good to soft) since; has 12lb penalty and likely faster ground to contend with here but still commands respect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

1st May 2026

Yielding

2m 0f 45y

18:40 Punchestown

Wilful

11st 12lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Progressive 7yo won a competitive Ascot handicap in December (15.5f, good to soft) and was second in a valuable Windsor handicap next time (2m, soft); posted career-best effort in the County Hurdle last time, keeping on well to win by three lengths (2m1f, soft); has course form after filling the second spot in a festival handicap here last season; enters Grade 1 company now and will need a good fist of improvement again, but he's clearly thriving.

11/1

1st

6

13th Mar 2026

Good

2m 0f 179y

Class 1

14:00 Cheltenham

Wilful

11st 2lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Progressive 7yo who made it 5-11 over hurdles when making all in competitive handicap at Ascot (1m7f, good to soft) in December; backed that up when second of 14 in another valuable handicap at Windsor (2m, soft) in January; likeable but he will need more again.

14/1

2nd

1

16th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 2

15:35 Windsor

Wilful

12st 0lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Progressive 7yo who made it 5-11 over hurdles when making all in competitive handicap at Ascot (1m7f, good to soft) four weeks ago; had nearly 3l to spare over the runner-up Hot Fuss and he's respected up 7lb.

15/2

Form: 531

Last run: 43 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Delivered on promise shown in Ireland when comfortable winner of modest Uttoxeter novice (2m, soft) on stable debut six weeks ago; moves back up in trip in a much deeper race here but can make his presence felt.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

20th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 1f 87y

Class 2

15:22 Musselburgh

Light Fandango

11st 12lb

J: Bradley Harris

T: Neil Mulholland

Won at Doncaster (2m, good) in December on second start back from long absence and, after fading over 2m4f on soft next time, he won back at Doncaster (2m, good to soft) three weeks ago, when he was disputing the lead when left clear at the final flight; this unexposed 7yo is respected up 6lb.

5/1

1st

6

27th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 128y

Class 4

15:22 Doncaster

Light Fandango

11st 7lb

J: Bradley Harris

T: Neil Mulholland

Won over C&D in December on second start back from a long absence then didn't see out 2m4f on soft ground at Wincanton last month; won on soft going in 2024; this lightly raced 7yo retains potential now back down in trip and he's in with a chance.

8/1

8th

3

15th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 179y

Class 4

14:27 Wincanton

Light Fandango

11st 8lb

J: Bradley Harris

T: Neil Mulholland

Just his seventh start when showing improved form to win a 2m handicap at Doncaster (good) 17 days ago; won his novice on soft ground and a 5lb rise for last time isn't too scary; should stay this far and be involved.

6/1

Form: O602-1

Last run: 83 days

W: 11st 7lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
Took nine attempts to get off the mark over hurdles but did so with very smooth success in Warwick maiden (2m3f, good) in May and has strong claims here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

21st Aug 2024

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

19:00 Worcester

Onlyamatteroftime

11st 7lb

J: Mr P W Mullins

T: W P Mullins

Took nine attempts to get off the mark over hurdles but did so with very smooth success in Warwick maiden (2m3f, good) in May and has strong claims here.

5/4

1st

7

30th May 2024

Good

2m 3f 0y

Class 4

18:40 Warwick

Onlyamatteroftime

11st 7lb

J: Mr P W Mullins

T: W P Mullins

Punchestown bumper winner for Niall Madden in June 2023; highly tried on first three starts for Willie Mullins, running out in the Greatwood on first occasion before creditable sixth at Ascot in December (1m7f, good); bit disappointing when second in a Ballinrobe handicap last time (2m6f, soft; set plenty to do); strong contender in this maiden.

7/4

Form: 8/97-0

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Well beaten at huge odds on both hurdling starts (2m3f/2m), latterly on last month's stable debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

29th Oct 2024

Good To Soft

2m 1f 77y

Class 5

15:32 Bangor-on-Dee

Connolly

10st 2lb

J: James Best

T: Sarah-Jayne Davies

in touch with leaders

100/1

9

29th Oct 2024

Good To Soft

2m 1f 77y

Class 5

15:32 Bangor-on-Dee

Connolly

10st 2lb

J: James Best

T: Sarah-Jayne Davies

Failed to show much over hurdles and he's out of the weights for chase/handicap debut.

100/1

6th

4

9th Oct 2024

Good

2m 5f 55y

Class 4

15:05 Ludlow

Connolly

11st 0lb

J: James Best

T: Sarah-Jayne Davies

A well-beaten outsider on all three hurdling starts for new stable this summer (2m-2m4f) and can't be recommended here.

100/1

Form: 9

Last run: 43 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Only beaten about 12l when last of nine in soft-ground course bumper six weeks ago but needs to take a huge step forward on hurdling debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

7

10th May 2026

Good

2m 5f 55y

Class 5

17:10 Ludlow

Jour dOrage

10st 2lb

J: Bradley Harris

T: Neil Mulholland

His best effort in five handicaps was the 9l seventh two runs ago at Wincanton (2m4f, good); unconvincing, especially given his subsequent run at Ffos Las; 1lb out of the weights.

10/1

7th

8

21st Apr 2026

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

19:42 Ffos Las

Jour dOrage

10st 6lb

J: Bradley Harris

T: Neil Mulholland

Still to get his head in front and he came in a never-dangerous seventh in 2m4f Wincanton handicap last month; others appeal more.

8/1

7th

11

23rd Mar 2026

Good

2m 3f 179y

Class 5

17:32 Wincanton

Jour dOrage

10st 7lb

J: Bradley Harris

T: Neil Mulholland

Well beaten in all three handicaps (2m4f-3m2f, good to soft-heavy); could plausibly be seen in a better light on today's faster ground but it takes a leap of faith to support him.

16/1

Form: P-9

Last run: 71 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Did not live up to his pedigree when struggling in two maiden hurdles this spring (2m3f/2m4f); cheekpieces removed after one use; stable has much more obvious chance with Wilful.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

26th Sep 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

14:07 Worcester

Noble Cave

10st 5lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Stayed on from unpromising position for close fourth in first-time blinkers at Fontwell (2m5f, good to soft) last month but is now 0-5 over fences, and it's not easy to predict whether the first-time visor will get the best out of him here.

8/1

8

29th Aug 2025

Good

2m 5f 135y

Class 5

18:18 Fontwell

Noble Cave

10st 2lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

0-4 over hurdles and has the same record over fences (raced only on good ground) but ran well for a long way when third at Warwick (3m; wore cheekpieces) in early June and has possibilities off lowly mark here if switch to first-time blinkers has positive effect.

12/1

Form: 90

Last run: 63 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Well beaten in a bumper and a 2m novice hurdle here in June; can't be recommended.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13

2nd Jul 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

14:15 Worcester

Pennant Legacy

10st 2lb

J: Robert Dunne

T: Debra Hamer

Still unexposed after only six starts but struggled in two Ffos Las handicap chases this spring (2m5f/3m) and is a long way out of the weights again here.

33/1

7

5th Jun 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 177y

Class 5

18:45 Ffos Las

Pennant Legacy

10st 2lb

J: James Best

T: Debra Hamer

Unexposed after only five runs but showed no promise in novice/maiden hurdles last year and was pulled up here (2m5f, good) on last month's chase/handicap debut; needs recent wind op to have made a massive difference; 12lb out of the weights.

25/1

7

5th Jun 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 177y

Class 5

18:45 Ffos Las

Pennant Legacy

10st 2lb

J: James Best

T: Debra Hamer

Unexposed after only five runs but showed no promise in novice/maiden hurdles last year and was pulled up here (2m5f, good) on last month's chase/handicap debut; needs recent wind op to have made a massive difference; 12lb out of the weights.

25/1

Form: P-4

Last run: 43 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Completed hat-trick in low-level AW races last autumn/winter but has struggled on both hurdling attempts, the latter last month, and makes very limited appeal here; tongue-tie refitted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

10

(12)

14th Mar 2026

Standard

1m 4f 14y

Class 6

17:30 Southwell (AW)

Pyrrhic Dancer

10st 8lb

J: Mr Lewis Kent

T: Gary Brown

Patchy since returning from almost a year off and it's a long time since he went this far; yard been dry for a while and others hold more pressing claims.

16/1

5th

7

(2)

25th Feb 2026

Standard

1m 0f 1y

Class 6

16:12 Lingfield (AW)

Pyrrhic Dancer

9st 9lb

J: Gina Mangan

T: Gary Brown

Over two years since his last win but he has only had seven runs (three over hurdles) since his Wolverhampton success in January 2024; this winter's efforts need bettering and he ran poorly when tried in blinkers once in the past.

16/1

8

(8)

23rd Sep 2025

Standard

1m 2f 0y

Class 6

14:15 Lingfield (AW)

Pyrrhic Dancer

9st 3lb

J: George Bass

T: Gary Brown

Hat-trick and good third to Port Noir last four Flat starts; not seen for nearly a year but his ability to get the job done counts for a lot in this; market can guide.

8/1

Non-runners

Flying Fortune, Getoverthathill, Nathanael Greene, Sheer Joy

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Onlyamatteroftime

TOPSPEED:

Flying Fortune

WEST COUNTRY:

Wilful

The Guardian:

Wilful

POSTDATA:

Flying Fortune

The Times:

Flying Fortune

RP RATINGS:

Onlyamatteroftime

Telegraph:

Onlyamatteroftime

Daily Mail:

Onlyamatteroftime

D Express:

Onlyamatteroftime

Daily Mirror:

Onlyamatteroftime

The Star:

Onlyamatteroftime

Daily Record:

Onlyamatteroftime