December 07 / 14.25 Sandown

14.25

Soft

Betfair Plays Different Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £26015
  • 1m 7f 216y
  • Class 2
  • 6 runners
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Betfair Plays Different Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

7/2 (Won)

  • Win: £2.63
  • Place: £1.50

Form: 1765P- D

Last run: 251 days

W: 10st 10lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 132

Form & Verdict
Failed to kick on after winning on his reappearance at Ascot (1m7f, soft) last November but a break may have helped and he's edged back down to an attractive mark; effective over C&D and could be a contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 123y

Class 2

15:20 Bangor-on-Dee

Knickerbockerglory

12st 0lb

J: Harry Atkins

T: Dan Skelton

Ran no race at Windsor in January; however, prior to that he went close in a Class 2 handicap at Sandown (2m, soft; effective on good to soft); on a handy mark if factoring in Harry Atkins' claim; front runner, and not the only one.

7/1

13th

3

16th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 2

15:35 Windsor

Knickerbockerglory

11st 12lb

J: Harry Atkins

T: Dan Skelton

Consistent 10yo who was third in this last year (soft) and reappeared with close second to Go Dante at Sandown (2m, soft) last month; up 2lb to a career-high mark but can give another good account and 7lb claimer Harry Atkins, who is enjoying a fine winter, rides him for the first time.

9/1

11/2

  • Place: £2.30

Form: 52167- D

Last run: 240 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 150

Form & Verdict
Concedes plenty of weight all round and he finished down the field in Grade 1s on his final two runs last term; however, before those he won the Grade 2 Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton (1m7f, heavy), and he made a winning reappearance last season; capable of a bold show if at the top of his game.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

24th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 0f 179y

Class 1

15:00 Cheltenham

Nemean Lion

11st 10lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Kerry Lee

Seemed to run well in a dramatic Fighting Fifth but was only fourth of five, admittedly not entirely disgraced, last week when favourite for a Windsor contest he'd won 12 months earlier; triple Grade 2 scorer but faces a difficult task against two exciting types in this field.

33/1

4th

1

16th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 2

15:00 Windsor

Nemean Lion

11st 8lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Kerry Lee

Middle leg of a hat-trick when winning this last year (soft); finished close-up when last of the three finishers on reappearance in Grade 1 Fighting Fifth at Newcastle (2m1f, good to soft) in November, which was a positive performance; leading claims despite a 8lb penalty.

7/4

12

13th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 213y

Class 1

16:00 Cheltenham

Nemean Lion

11st 10lb

J: Richard Patrick

T: Kerry Lee

Completed a hat-trick (2m3f/2m4f, good to soft/soft) when getting up close home in Grade 2 National Spirit at Fontwell last month; goes up in trip and back up in grade today, with something to find, but he stayed well on the Flat early in his career and has shaped this season as though today's extra distance could prompt further improvement; clearly thriving; interesting.

25/1

Form: 2F1-64 D

Last run: 12 days

W: 10st 2lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
Won twice at Chepstow (2m, heavy/good to soft) last season, including on his final outing of the campaign; however, Chepstow brings out the best in him and he's been unable to threaten this term here and at Kempton.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

3rd Jun 2026

Good

2m 0f 167y

Class 5

17:00 Newton Abbot

Zambezi Fix

12st 0lb

J: Ellis Collier

T: Bernard Llewellyn

Has been struggling for form since reappearing in October and offered little encouragement on April's return from just over two months off; has come a long way down in the weights and drops into a Class 5, but that's for good reason and he needs to turn things around.

12/1

6th

9

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 16y

Class 3

14:15 Chepstow

Zambezi Fix

10st 7lb

J: Harry Atkins

T: Bernard Llewellyn

All three hurdle wins have come over C&D but he failed to beat a rival here in December and was tailed off again at Ffos Las in January; overall record is now 4-48 and others are preferred.

16/1

6th

4

30th Jan 2026

Heavy

1m 7f 182y

Class 4

16:00 Ffos Las

Zambezi Fix

11st 11lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Bernard Llewellyn

Veteran who is normally suited by Chepstow but failed to beat a rival back there last time; not particularly solid on his form this season.

20/1

Form: 111-40 D

Last run: 20 days

W: 10st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
Completed hat-trick when winning 4yo handicap at Ascot in March (1m7f, good; the other wins came on soft); fair run on reappearance at Cheltenham (2m, good) in October but well beaten in the Greatwood there (2m, good) since and he needs to bounce back.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

4th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 1y

Class 2

17:13 Fakenham

Royal Way

11st 6lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Won comfortably off reduced mark at Ludlow (2m5f, good) in March and has also performed well on both outings since, more recently when fourth at Sandown (2m4f, good) nine days ago; ran poorly on only previous visit to Fakenham but still enters calculations.

12/1

4th

15

25th Apr 2026

Good

2m 3f 178y

Class 2

17:15 Sandown

Royal Way

10st 2lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Exploited reduced mark when winning quite comfortably at Ludlow last month and was one of two to pull clear of the others when second at Ascot (also 2m5f, good) ten days later; no surprise if he features.

10/1

2nd

7

29th Mar 2026

Good

2m 5f 146y

Class 3

17:25 Ascot

Royal Way

10st 13lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Won sole start here; two years without a win after that but, with tongue-tie removed and second-time cheekpieces, he then obliged comfortably at Ludlow (2m5f, good) ten days ago; back up 6lb but has returned to serious calculations.

4/1

Form: 14/116 D

Last run: 35 days

W: 10st 6lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 128

Form & Verdict
9yo who returned from long absence to win two in a row at Fontwell this autumn (2m3f/2m1f, good to soft); however, he was soundly beaten at Ascot (1m7f, good) last time and needs to prove he can cut it in this grade.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

4th Jun 2025

Good

2m 0f 167y

Class 3

16:05 Newton Abbot

Stream Of Stars

12st 0lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Returned from long absence with two Fontwell wins (2m3f/2m1f) last autumn and started this season in good style when making all at Bangor (2m, good) in May, providing Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies with their first winner together; bound to give it another good go.

5/2

3rd

1

4th Jun 2025

Good

2m 0f 167y

Class 3

16:05 Newton Abbot

Stream Of Stars

12st 0lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Returned from long absence with two Fontwell wins (2m3f/2m1f) last autumn and started this season in good style when making all at Bangor (2m, good) in May, providing Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies with their first winner together; bound to give it another good go.

5/2

1

17th May 2025

Good

2m 0f 145y

Class 4

13:45 Bangor-on-Dee

Stream Of Stars

12st 2lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Returned from long absence with two Fontwell wins (2m3f/2m1f) last autumn and ended last season with very respectable second at Ffos Las (2m, good to soft) last month; still on a good mark and will be suited by the quicker ground here; likely contender.

11/4

OUR TIP

Form: 1005-F CD

Last run: 15 days

W: 10st 11lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 133

Form & Verdict
Made it five wins from seven starts when landing this race 12 months ago; failed to threaten in hot handicaps on his next three starts but the last of them was a respectable effort at Aintree in April; early faller on reappearance at Ascot a fortnight ago; not discounted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

20th Apr 2025

Good

1m 7f 195y

Class 2

16:05 Plumpton

Spirit DAunou

10st 5lb

J: Freddie Mitchell

T: Gary & Josh Moore

took keen hold, disputed lead at fast pace, chased clear leader before 6th

10/1

10

20th Apr 2025

Good

1m 7f 195y

Class 2

16:05 Plumpton

Spirit DAunou

10st 5lb

J: Freddie Mitchell

T: Gary & Josh Moore

took keen hold, disputed lead at fast pace, chased clear leader before 6th

10/1

5th

15

14th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 179y

Class 1

14:00 Cheltenham

Spirit DAunou

10st 3lb

J: Freddie Mitchell

T: Gary & Josh Moore

6yo who is well treated on last season's best form; he showed some spark at Newbury in December but hasn't been at the top of his game this term and was soundly beaten last time; others make greater appeal.

66/1

Non-runners

Altobelli, Kabral Du Mathan, Willmount

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £10.00
Straight Forecast £10.30
Tricast £78.47
Trifecta £52.70

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Willmount

TOPSPEED:

Knickerbockerglory

The Times:

Kabral Du Mathan

RP RATINGS:

Altobelli

POSTDATA:

Royal Way

Daily Record:

Nemean Lion

Telegraph:

Kabral Du Mathan

Daily Mirror:

Altobelli

LAMBOURN:

Willmount

D Express:

Willmount

The Sun:

Willmount

The Star:

Willmount

The Guardian:

Knickerbockerglory

Daily Mail:

Knickerbockerglory