December 12 / 14.40 Taunton

14.40

Good To Soft

Classic Collection Holidays Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £8343.98
  • 2m 3f 1y
  • Class 3
  • 9 runners
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Classic Collection Holidays Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

14/1 (Won)

  • Win: £11.00
  • Place: £2.70

Form: P3-3P6

Last run: 46 days

W: 10st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Raced mainly at about 2m, winning once; failed to show his form the last twice, including in 2m5f chase; looks nicely weighted but has something to prove back up in trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

19th Oct 2025

Good

2m 5f 0y

Class 4

17:00 Kempton

Him Malaya

11st 13lb

J: Miss Olive Nicholls

T: Paul Nicholls

Ran respectably at Taunton (2m3f) in April when last seen, taking record under Olive Nicholls to 13134; shapes as if this step back up in trip is worth exploring; solid claims.

7/2

4th

1

23rd Apr 2025

Good To Firm

2m 3f 1y

Class 4

19:30 Taunton

Him Malaya

12st 1lb

J: Miss Olive Nicholls

T: Paul Nicholls

Recorded his second hurdle win when scoring over C&D (good) in December; had a break after that but he returned to action with a 2l third back over C&D last month; should be sharper this time and he's still unexposed at this trip; respected.

9/4

3/1

  • Place: £1.70

Form: 12152-

Last run: 236 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 128

Form & Verdict
Steadily progressive bumper/hurdle winner who ran well behind a promising Willie Mullins-trained rival at Ayr (2m4f) on Scottish National day when last seen; open to further improvement this season; commands respect on handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

10th Apr 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 3f 100y

18:03 Wexford

Choccabloc

10st 13lb

J: Josh Williamson

T: Andrew McNamara

128-rated hurdler for Nicky Henderson; remote second in 2m6f Fairyhouse novice his best run over fences for current yard, most recently pulled up after never travelling in 2m5f Fairyhouse handicap on Saturday; hard to fancy unless quicker ground brings serious improvement.

20/1

8

4th Apr 2026

Yielding To Soft

2m 5f 45y

15:15 Fairyhouse

Choccabloc

10st 13lb

J: Anna McGuinness

T: Andrew McNamara

Bumper winner and fair 128-rated hurdler for Nicky Henderson, stayed 2m5f; beaten 14l in second over C&D in January before being pulled up in a 3m event at Navan; suffered the same fate in a Limerick race won by Kings Hill; questions to answer.

16/1

3

12th Mar 2026

Soft To Heavy

2m 1f 185y

14:54 Limerick

Choccabloc

11st 11lb

J: Brian Hayes

T: Andrew McNamara

Bumper winner and fair 128-rated hurdler for Nicky Henderson, stayed 2m5f; ran well up to the point of his fall two out over C&D on his second Irish start; fair second at Fairyhouse before being pulled up in a 3m handicap at Navan; out of his depth in a 2m Grade event on latest.

10/1

12/1

  • Place: £2.90

Form: 644382

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
3-14 over hurdles; ran creditably behind a well-treated opponent at Wetherby (2m3f; second outing for new stable) most recently; largely consistent and has place possibilities.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

10

24th May 2026

Good

2m 3f 207y

Class 2

15:28 Uttoxeter

Liverpool Knight

10st 13lb

J: Liam Harrison

T: Fergal O’Brien

Plenty of good runs to his name since his last win in September 2023 and he raced freely after a break when behind Miss Maverick and Sir Galahad here 22 days ago; better can be expected this time.

20/1

6th

7

2nd May 2026

Good

2m 3f 207y

Class 3

15:50 Uttoxeter

Liverpool Knight

11st 6lb

J: Liam Harrison

T: Fergal O’Brien

Has made the frame several times since his last win in September 2023; returns from a winter break on a career-low mark and not out of this if he is ready to roll.

4/1

6

24th Oct 2025

Good

2m 0f 87y

Class 3

14:25 Cheltenham

Liverpool Knight

10st 12lb

J: Fern O’Brien

T: Fergal O’Brien

Scores good marks for his consistency for Fergal O'Brien since last autumn but is yet to win for this stable and appears to have very little margin for error off current mark.

12/1

8/1

Form: 16-283 CD

Last run: 145 days

W: 11st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
Placed in two of his three starts for new stable; remains on career-high mark but Lewis Stones takes off a useful 3lb and record of 1-1 at Taunton bodes well; in the mix.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

12th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 1y

Class 3

14:40 Taunton

Ilanz

11st 9lb

J: Lewis Stones

T: Olly Murphy

Placed in two of his three starts for new stable; remains on career-high mark but Lewis Stones takes off a useful 3lb and record of 1-1 at Taunton bodes well; in the mix.

8/1

4th

3

12th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 1y

Class 3

14:40 Taunton

Ilanz

11st 9lb

J: Lewis Stones

T: Olly Murphy

held up in rear, raced wide home turn, good headway before 2 out, soon pressed leaders, kept on run-in

8/1

3rd

2

20th Jul 2024

Good

2m 4f 139y

Class 3

14:05 Market Rasen

Ilanz

11st 11lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

3-10 over hurdles; arguably posted career-best form when second on stable debut at Plumpton (2m4f, good) in May but ran no race when dropped back to 2m at Stratford last month; needs to put that performance behind him.

14/1

Form: -P1181 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 4lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
3-3 under Gearoid Harney, recording all those wins this autumn, latest at Wincanton (2m4f) in first-time cheekpieces; still well handicapped on historical data; not ruled out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

4th Nov 2025

Good

2m 5f 5y

Class 4

16:02 Warwick

Getalead

11st 13lb

J: Lewis Saunders

T: Kevin Pickard

Has very good 8-32 hurdling strike-rate that includes win in 2024 edition of this race (good ground); not seen since July but has won when fresh before and returns on a workable mark; had another wind op last month (his fourth); shortlisted.

8/1

1

4th Nov 2025

Good

2m 5f 5y

Class 4

16:02 Warwick

Getalead

11st 13lb

J: Lewis Saunders

T: Kevin Pickard

Has very good 8-32 hurdling strike-rate that includes win in 2024 edition of this race (good ground); not seen since July but has won when fresh before and returns on a workable mark; had another wind op last month (his fourth); shortlisted.

8/1

1

4th Nov 2025

Good

2m 5f 5y

Class 4

16:02 Warwick

Getalead

11st 13lb

J: Lewis Saunders

T: Kevin Pickard

Has very good 8-32 hurdling strike-rate that includes win in 2024 edition of this race (good ground); not seen since July but has won when fresh before and returns on a workable mark; had another wind op last month (his fourth); shortlisted.

8/1

Form: P2-672

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 6lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Campaigned only at about 2m over hurdles, good second behind an unexposed type in Huntingdon contest most recently; this longer distance presents a question mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

26th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 0f 53y

Class 3

15:30 Hereford

Latin Verse

11st 0lb

J: Joshua Bryan

T: Olly Murphy

Has patchy profile but he's feasibly treated on best form and was disputing second when he fell at the last at Taunton (2m, soft) in final run last season; returns after almost a year off but conditions are no problem and he needs a close look on first run for Olly Murphy.

7/2

5

4th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 0f 104y

Class 4

13:55 Taunton

Latin Verse

11st 12lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Anthony Charlton

prominent, pressed leader 3 out

16/1

5

4th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 0f 104y

Class 4

13:55 Taunton

Latin Verse

11st 12lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Anthony Charlton

prominent, pressed leader 3 out

16/1

Form: /1621/ C

Last run: 1099 days

W: 11st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Hurdles record is 2-5; absent since winning the novice event on this card three years ago; well treated provided he returns in similar form; check the betting for further guidance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

17th Apr 2026

Soft

2m 4f 100y

Class 4

17:15 Ayr

Paso Doble

11st 12lb

J: Mr Lucas Murphy

T: Paul Nicholls

His early-season form (2m3f-2m7f) offers encouragement off this mark; last two runs well below his best, though heavy ground was a feasible excuse the last time when a tongue-tie joined his regular cheekpieces; hard to rule out.

14/1

3rd

1

22nd Feb 2026

Soft

2m 5f 164y

Class 4

15:20 Fontwell

Paso Doble

11st 13lb

J: Jay Tidball

T: Paul Nicholls

Won here (extended 2m3f, good to soft) off just 2lb lower on his October reappearance; creditable placings when claimer ridden in six-runner races on his next two starts but was tailed off in a better race than this at Kempton last time; drops back down in grade with a tongue-tie joining his usual cheekpieces and he can't be ruled out.

5/1

4

23rd Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 29y

Class 3

15:45 Fontwell

Paso Doble

11st 4lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Paul Nicholls

Good second off today's mark on latest hurdling start at Taunton (2m3f, good to soft) in January and is a contender if judged on that evidence but his chasing debut in April was disappointing and Harry Cobden has taken an outside ride in this race.

6/1

OUR TIP

Form: 221-11 D

Last run: 113 days

W: 11st 11lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
Record of 2111 over hurdles and gained the wins by an aggregate of 47l; scored at Worcester (2m4f) in August most recently; improving 5yo who is interesting on handicap debut, notwithstanding a 9lb rise for the latest success.
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: /143-P

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
Failed to show his form over fences on seasonal debut (bled from nose); consistent over hurdles and was placed in competitive event at Sandown (2m4f) in April; could go well.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

14

14th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 3f 63y

Class 2

14:25 Ascot

Kamaxos

10st 2lb

J: Lilly Pinchin

T: Charlie Longsdon

Form for new yard features a win over hurdles in November and good second over fences last time, both in Class 4; this is a harder task.

20/1

2nd

2

24th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

14:32 Uttoxeter

Kamaxos

12st 0lb

J: Lilly Pinchin

T: Charlie Longsdon

Bled from the nose when pulled up in his only previous attempt at chasing in November 2024; inconsistent profile over hurdles but did win his penultimate race off just 3lb lower.

9/2

5

23rd Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 29y

Class 3

15:45 Fontwell

Kamaxos

11st 1lb

J: David Bass

T: Charlie Longsdon

Not at best for Roger Teal last season and signed off for him with heavy defeat in March but was given a wind up during the summer and makes stable debut from a tempting mark; tongue-tie fitted; dangerous if revitalised by new regime.

6/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £48.10
Straight Forecast £40.58
Tricast £425.24
Trifecta £552.50

Selections

WEST COUNTRY:

Wilful

SPOTLIGHT:

Choccabloc

RP RATINGS:

Getalead

TOPSPEED:

Ilanz

POSTDATA:

Latin Verse

Daily Mail:

Wilful

Daily Mirror:

Wilful

The Star:

Wilful

Daily Record:

Wilful

LAMBOURN:

Choccabloc

D Express:

Choccabloc

The Sun:

Choccabloc

The Guardian:

Ilanz

The Times:

Getalead

Telegraph:

Getalead