November 12 / 13.25 Huntingdon

13.25

Good

Lord Sparky Veterans’ Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £5413.02
  • 2m 7f 129y
  • Class 4
  • 6 runners
RTV
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Lord Sparky Veterans’ Handicap Chase

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

5/2 (Won)

  • Win: £4.50
  • Place: £1.80

Form: 53P5-2 D

Last run: 161 days

W: 12st 0lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Very useful in his prime but his tendency to make jumping errors is always a concern and he has become very inconsistent; that said, he kept on well for second off today's mark at Southwell (3m, good to soft) in June and will be a danger to all here if in the right mood after his break.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

16th May 2025

Good

3m 0f 210y

Class 2

18:55 Aintree

The Wolf

11st 2lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

No longer the force of old and not always a fluent jumper but won two chases in November (2m7f/2m6f) and was runner-up in three small-field races towards end of last season; suited by good ground and will probably give another good account.

11/4

4th

3

16th May 2025

Good

3m 0f 210y

Class 2

18:55 Aintree

The Wolf

11st 2lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

No longer the force of old and not always a fluent jumper but won two chases in November (2m7f/2m6f) and was runner-up in three small-field races towards end of last season; suited by good ground and will probably give another good account.

11/4

2nd

2

11th Apr 2025

Good

2m 7f 129y

Class 3

18:08 Huntingdon

The Wolf

12st 0lb

J: Robert Dunne

T: Olly Murphy

Veteran who has been running well, finishing second to an improver at Kempton (3m, good) before another sound effort at Stratford; solid claims.

7/4

6/4

  • Place: £1.30

Form: 4325-2

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 2lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Has very modest 1-31 career strike-rate but was clear second to a big improver on last month's seasonal/stable at Uttoxeter (3m, good to soft) and is also suited by this C&D; leading contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

31st Dec 2024

Soft

3m 0f 0y

Class 4

13:20 Warwick

Special Acceptance

11st 7lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Billy Aprahamian

pressed leader, led before 2 out, ridden after 2 out, stayed on

5/4

1st

4

31st Dec 2024

Soft

3m 0f 0y

Class 4

13:20 Warwick

Special Acceptance

11st 7lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Billy Aprahamian

pressed leader, led before 2 out, ridden after 2 out, stayed on

5/4

2nd

4

12th Nov 2024

Good

2m 7f 129y

Class 4

13:25 Huntingdon

Special Acceptance

11st 2lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Billy Aprahamian

Has very modest 1-31 career strike-rate but was clear second to a big improver on last month's seasonal/stable at Uttoxeter (3m, good to soft) and is also suited by this C&D; leading contender.

6/4

Form: /1P-32 D

Last run: 170 days

W: 11st 3lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Ex-Irish 10yo who won a Kelso hunter chase (2m7f, soft) and a point for this stable in the early part of this year; kept on from poor position for second in another Kelso hunter chase (3m2f, good to soft) on latest outing in May but needs to prove he's worth his current handicap mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 110y

Class 5

15:27 Carlisle

Super Citizen

12st 0lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Lucinda Hughes

Long in the tooth now but won here (3m2f, soft; refitted cheekpieces) in the autumn and was placed over C&D (good to soft) on last two appearances, more recently when keeping on to snatch modest second in higher-grade company; ought to make his presence felt again.

7/1

2nd

7

8th Mar 2026

Soft

3m 0f 110y

Class 4

16:25 Carlisle

Super Citizen

10st 9lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Lucinda Hughes

Veteran C&D winner who arrives in good nick, third of 14 over C&D last month; he can go well again off an unchanged mark.

4/1

3rd

3

3rd Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 110y

Class 5

16:04 Carlisle

Super Citizen

11st 10lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Lucinda Hughes

Inconsistent 12yo who was well beaten at Kelso last time; however, two visits to Carlisle have yielded two wins (3m/3m2f, good/soft), the latest in November; firmly in calculations now back here.

8/1

Form: 3/0056

Last run: 32 days

W: 10st 8lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Formerly a useful chaser for Alan King but returned from mammoth absence with four heavy defeats at big odds for new stable this year (2m-2m7f); this is easier than his latest assignment but he still needs help from the first-time cheekpieces.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

14th May 2026

Good

2m 1f 165y

Class 5

19:40 Fontwell

Ballywood

10st 9lb

J: Tabitha Worsley

T: Georgie Howell

Down to this mark when nearly winning for the first time in seven years at Huntingdon in March and a slightly lesser effort when third at Hereford (also 2m, good) came just one week later; not ruled out.

10/1

3rd

3

25th Mar 2026

Good

2m 0f 8y

Class 5

15:00 Hereford

Ballywood

10st 12lb

J: Tabitha Worsley

T: Georgie Howell

Came very close to a first win in seven years when narrowly denied at Huntingdon (2m, good) seven days ago; can race keenly and unlikely to get an easy lead here, but worth considering if reproducing that effort off the same mark.

4/1

Form: P4P-47 C

Last run: 32 days

W: 11st 2lb

12 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Thorough stayer with nine wins on his CV; not an easy one to predict nowadays and failed to build upon his encouraging seasonal debut when never dangerous at Chepstow last month but has his headgear switched today and is too well handicapped to rule out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

12th Nov 2024

Good

2m 7f 129y

Class 4

13:25 Huntingdon

Innisfree Lad

11st 2lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: David Dennis

Thorough stayer with nine wins on his CV; not an easy one to predict nowadays and failed to build upon his encouraging seasonal debut when never dangerous at Chepstow last month but has his headgear switched today and is too well handicapped to rule out.

11/2

5th

5

12th Nov 2024

Good

2m 7f 129y

Class 4

13:25 Huntingdon

Innisfree Lad

11st 2lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: David Dennis

Thorough stayer with nine wins on his CV; not an easy one to predict nowadays and failed to build upon his encouraging seasonal debut when never dangerous at Chepstow last month but has his headgear switched today and is too well handicapped to rule out.

11/2

7

11th Oct 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 131y

Class 4

17:30 Chepstow

Innisfree Lad

11st 10lb

J: Finn Lambert

T: David Dennis

Veteran with nine wins to his name and, with cheekpieces back on, he ran well for a long way at Warwick 17 days ago (good to soft); that was encouraging after a lengthy break but he's no certainty to be as good again.

10/1

OUR TIP

Form: -6176P C

Last run: 57 days

W: 11st 6lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Bounced back to form with emphatic hurdle win in refitted blinkers at Uttoxeter (2m4f, good to soft; stays further) in June but three lesser efforts have followed and it's hard to know what to expect from him on this first chasing start since 2021.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

9

12th Dec 2024

Soft

2m 5f 0y

Class 4

14:25 Warwick

Breaking Waves

11st 6lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Alex Hales

Won by 8l at Uttoxeter (2m4f, good to soft) in June but has struggled to get competitive since, and he's been pulled up the last twice.

40/1

10th

9

12th Dec 2024

Soft

2m 5f 0y

Class 4

14:25 Warwick

Breaking Waves

11st 6lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Alex Hales

Won by 8l at Uttoxeter (2m4f, good to soft) in June but has struggled to get competitive since, and he's been pulled up the last twice.

40/1

2

12th Nov 2024

Good

2m 7f 129y

Class 4

13:25 Huntingdon

Breaking Waves

11st 6lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Alex Hales

Bounced back to form with emphatic hurdle win in refitted blinkers at Uttoxeter (2m4f, good to soft; stays further) in June but three lesser efforts have followed and it's hard to know what to expect from him on this first chasing start since 2021.

9/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £8.60
Straight Forecast £8.12
Trifecta £43.80

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Special Acceptance

The Times:

Super Citizen

RP RATINGS:

The Wolf

D Express:

Breaking Waves

The Guardian:

Super Citizen

The Star:

Super Citizen

TOPSPEED:

The Wolf

Daily Mail:

The Wolf

POSTDATA:

Special Acceptance

Telegraph:

Special Acceptance

Daily Mirror:

Special Acceptance

Daily Record:

Special Acceptance