October 18 / 15.55 Uttoxeter

15.55

Good To Soft

Uttoxeter Racecourse New Years Eve Raceday Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £9677.58
  • 2m 3f 207y
  • Class 2
  • 8 runners
SKY
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Uttoxeter Racecourse New Years Eve Raceday Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

5/1 (Won)

  • Win: £3.75
  • Place: £1.50

Form: 43221- D

Last run: 183 days

W: 10st 2lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Consistent mare who is versatile ground-wise and jumped slickly when winning comfortably at Cheltenham back in the spring (2m4f, good; made all); that was off a career-high mark and up another 7lb, but she's likeable.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

23rd Apr 2026

Good

2m 5f 5y

Class 2

15:30 Warwick

Pretending

11st 4lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Lucy Wadham

Third to Greyval 12 months ago off the same mark; hadn't been at her best this season but came good at Market Rasen (2m4f, soft) and clearly capable of having some say in the outcome.

6/1

1st

6

17th Feb 2026

2m 4f 139y

Class 4

15:02 Market Rasen

Pretending

11st 8lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Lucy Wadham

Exposed mare who hasn't been quite at her best this season, but is on a good mark (3lb lower than for last win); has an each-way chance.

14/1

4th

5

26th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 4f 116y

Class 3

14:50 Plumpton

Pretending

11st 3lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Lucy Wadham

Rather hit and miss since her last win (2m4f, good to soft) in October 2024 and she was pulled up at Fakenham eight days ago; back on her last winning mark but has a bit to prove at present.

12/1

16/1

  • Place: £3.20

Form: 1PP/P/ D

Last run: 698 days

W: 10st 8lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
6lb beneath his last winning mark but was pulled up on all three of his outings in 2022 and hasn't been sighted since; would need to see some confidence behind him and even then there would be some doubts.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

17th Sep 2025

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 2

16:25 Kelso

Tamar Bridge

11st 6lb

J: Charlotte Jones

T: Hannah McMahon

Signed off for Olly Murphy with victory in 2m4f Wetherby handicap hurdle in March but he beat only one on his yard debut at Perth (2m4f) last month; he has something to prove now.

50/1

10th

1

16th Aug 2025

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 4

17:05 Perth

Tamar Bridge

12st 1lb

J: Charlotte Jones

T: Hannah McMahon

Not as good as he was and attracted no bid after winning a 2m3f seller at Wetherby in March; later left Olly Murphy for £7,000 and might be up against it off top weight after a lengthy break.

25/1

1st

4

28th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 154y

Class 4

14:30 Wetherby

Tamar Bridge

11st 0lb

J: Beau Morgan

T: Olly Murphy

Very useful at best but pulled up in all three starts in 2022 then went missing for nearly two years; showed there was plenty left in him when runner-up at Uttoxeter (2m4f, good to soft) in October but he didn't convince at Lingfield in December; ought to be a huge factor here.

4/6

14/1

  • Place: £3.70

Form: 1402-0 D

Last run: 144 days

W: 10st 13lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 127

Form & Verdict
Back-to-back wins at Cheltenham (2m4f, good) and Haydock last spring (3m, good); his soft-ground second at Bangor in March reads well and Cartmel last time was too bad to be true (has form there); hard to dismiss.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

3

16th Aug 2025

Good

2m 7f 16y

Class 4

19:28 Market Rasen

Willaston

11st 12lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Mark Walford

Narrow winner at Carlisle in April (2m3.5f, good; second had won two previous races); has not fared quite as well since, including with a visor tried at Uttoxeter last time; regular cheekpieces back on here but he needs to bounce back now back up in trip (stays 3m well).

10/1

5th

5

8th Jul 2025

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 3

19:30 Uttoxeter

Willaston

11st 4lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Mark Walford

2m3f success at Carlisle in April (good), his fifth career win; not at his best the last twice and a visor replaces cheekpieces.

14/1

6

14th Jun 2025

Good

2m 4f 28y

Class 3

18:28 Hexham

Willaston

11st 4lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Mark Walford

Five-time winner, the latest over 2m3f at Carlisle in April (good); below par when last seen out a month ago and needs to bounce back.

11/1

OUR TIP

Form: 150-17 D

Last run: 133 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 132

Form & Verdict
Shock 66-1 winner at Aintree (2m4f, good) in May on the first of two runs for Harriet Dickin; second start wasn't so clever; now with another trainer but this multiple winner will need his best form yet; goes on all ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

21st Feb 2026

Soft

2m 3f 98y

Class 4

14:17 Chepstow

Pyramid Place

11st 13lb

J: James Best

T: Harriet Dickin

Nine-time hurdle winner who was useful in his prime and is versatile regarding ground; out of form since rejoining Harriet Dickin this season, though, and has left it late in the day to launch his chasing career; hood/cheekpieces removed; first-time blinkers tried.

33/1

8th

2

27th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 3f 100y

Class 3

14:02 Chepstow

Pyramid Place

11st 12lb

J: Miss Megan Bevan

T: Harriet Dickin

Nine hurdle wins (various ground), including valuable C&D race in 2023; safely held on both starts since rejoining Harriet Dicken, though, and has much more to prove than some of these; cheekpieces added to usual hood.

33/1

1

26th Oct 2025

Good

3m 0f 149y

Class 3

12:40 Aintree

Pyramid Place

12st 0lb

J: Bradley Harris

T: Harriet Dickin

Nine-time hurdle winner (including here for Harriet Dickin) who is below his last winning mark but struggled in the first half of this year for Olly Murphy; went through the sales ring for £13,500 in May and has plenty to prove, including stamina, on his first start since rejoining this trainer.

25/1

Form: 10/01- CD

Last run: 340 days

W: 12st 0lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 142

Form & Verdict
Ex-Paul Nicholls gelding who has won half of his six runs for Harry Derham and was returning from 184 days off when an 11l winner at Kempton last November (2m5f, good); a 6lb rise could have been worse and he clearly goes well fresh; has won on soft but good seems ideal.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

2

25th Apr 2026

Good

2m 3f 178y

Class 2

17:15 Sandown

Dargiannini

11st 9lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

Returned from a break with narrow win at Uttoxter (2m4f, good) in October but pulled up on both starts since, latterly at last month's Cheltenham Festival; younger rivals have much more persuasive profiles.

50/1

18

11th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 0y

Class 1

14:40 Cheltenham

Dargiannini

10st 13lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

A 9yo won it in 2019 but it's stretching the imagination to see this 11yo prevail, even though he did so at Uttoxeter (2m4f, good) in October and soft ground was a valid excuse at Newbury (2m4f) in November; off since.

50/1

Form: 01/P0- D

Last run: 237 days

W: 10st 8lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Signs of post-race heat stress at Chepstow (back from layoff) in February; his previous season was a good one, winning twice and beaten 8l in the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham; revival is not out of the question but usual cheekpieces are left off and may need further these days.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13th

9

29th Apr 2026

Yielding

2m 3f 58y

14:30 Punchestown

Thanksforthehelp

11st 11lb

J: Rian Corcoran

T: David Pipe

Out of luck since winning this race last year; only 3lb higher now, and has to be taken seriously; Rian Corcoran has enjoyed a successful breakthrough season in Britain and claims a useful 4lb.

8/1

9th

11

14th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 207y

Class 3

13:50 Uttoxeter

Thanksforthehelp

11st 4lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

Has three wins over hurdles but hasn't been at his best in four runs since returning in November; is slipping down the weights and takes a drop in class so cannot be discounted; returning cheekpieces replace blinkers.

16/1

5th

14

14th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 58y

Class 2

15:50 Haydock

Thanksforthehelp

10st 10lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: David Pipe

Blew apart a 15-runner Pertemps qualifier at Chepstow (2m7f) in February 2023 and underlined how effective he can be in big-field races when seeing off 24 rivals in a handicap at the Punchestown festival (2m3f, yielding) last spring; hasn't come close to reproducing that form in three outings this winter but his mark has eased a little as a result; worth a second look in the betting.

25/1

Form: 0414-4 CD

Last run: 167 days

W: 10st 9lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
Goes well here and he was a winner over fences last season at Ludlow; well-held fourth back here returned to hurdling in May but it wasn't a bad run and he has been dropped 5lb; recent rain will probably help him.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

25th Jul 2025

Good

2m 3f 207y

Class 4

16:23 Uttoxeter

Ballybegg

11st 11lb

J: Richard Patrick

T: Kerry Lee

Dual C&D winner; went close off today's mark at Ludlow (2m5f, good) in March but this regressive 10yo was soundly beaten over fences when last in action and would appeal much more on slower ground.

25/1

3

1st Jul 2025

Good To Firm

2m 3f 98y

Class 4

20:18 Stratford

Ballybegg

12st 1lb

J: Richard Patrick

T: Kerry Lee

Inconsistent 10yo who was well beaten when back over fences in May (2m6f), then unsuited by the drop back to 2m on his most recent start at Newton Abbot last month when a well-held third of six; on a good mark if the mood takes him now back up to a more suitable test.

10/1

3rd

3

13th Jun 2025

Good

2m 0f 75y

Class 4

19:55 Newton Abbot

Ballybegg

11st 6lb

J: Richard Patrick

T: Kerry Lee

Went close over hurdles at Ludlow (2m5f, good) in March but this inconsistent and steadily regressive 10yo was well beaten when back over fences last month (2m6f); drops back to about 2m for first time since hurdle debut in 2020; has done all his winning on ground slower than good.

10/1

Form: 46/53-

Last run: 328 days

W: 11st 5lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 133

Form & Verdict
Went the wrong way over fences but had wind surgery before returning to hurdling and he stuck on for third in a Class 2 at Haydock the final time (2m3f, good to soft); down 3lb and needs considering.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

20th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 6f 151y

Class 3

14:02 Leicester

Lac De Constance

12st 0lb

J: Tristan Durrell

T: Dan Skelton

Fell on only appearance last season and didn't fire on either hurdling start this autumn (albeit not beaten that far on latter occasion); very well handicapped on old form but has quite a bit to prove on first chasing start since spring 2023.

9/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £36.20
Straight Forecast £38.81
Tricast £584.13
Trifecta £392.10

Selections

The Times:

Pretending

RP RATINGS:

Dargiannini

SPOTLIGHT:

Ballybegg

TOPSPEED:

Willaston

WEST COUNTRY:

Thanksforthehelp

The Guardian:

Pretending

Daily Mail:

Pretending

D Express:

Pretending

The Sun:

Pretending

Daily Record:

Pretending

POSTDATA:

Dargiannini

LAMBOURN:

Dargiannini

Daily Mirror:

Dargiannini

The Star:

Dargiannini

Telegraph:

Ballybegg