December 12 / 11.55 Warwick

11.55

Soft

Larkshill Engineering Juvenile Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £3539.9
  • 2m 0f 0y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
RTV
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Larkshill Engineering Juvenile Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

25/1 (Won)

  • Win: £51.20
  • Place: £7.20

Form: 56

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 0lb

3 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Won on the Flat in June but off a lowly mark and he's finished down the field on both hurdle starts; needs to take sizeable step forward.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

4

(2)

29th Jun 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 7f 218y

Class 6

20:45 Kempton (AW)

Our Papa Smurf

9st 6lb

J: Paddy Bradley

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Tended to be all or nothing under both codes when last seen; entitled to need this after more than a year off (first Flat run in going on two years) and Nelson Gate looks his yard's best chance.

14/1

6th

5

14th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 3f 29y

Class 5

14:00 Fontwell

Our Papa Smurf

11st 5lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Best on the Flat at around 1m2f and his two wins over hurdles came over 2m round undemanding courses; stamina would be a concern then for a yard also responsible for Aggagio and Galactic Jack.

6/1

5th

7

9th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 4f 116y

Class 4

15:45 Plumpton

Our Papa Smurf

11st 2lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Dictated a modest pace when just holding on over 2m here (soft) a fortnight ago, for which he's gone up only 3lb; it remains to be seen whether he'll get this far as he's bred for the Flat.

7/2

OUR TIP

9/4

  • Place: £1.10

Form: 332F BF

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 0lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
Had work to do but was in with a chance when falling at the final flight at Catterick (1m7f, good) three weeks ago; beaten just a neck over this C&D (good) the run before; the first-time hood could help him settle better and he has leading claims if conditions suit (unproven on slow ground).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

15th Jul 2026

Good

1m 7f 168y

Class 5

14:48 Uttoxeter

Character Testing

11st 12lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Mark Walford

0-17 over hurdles but went close when runner-up at Market Rasen in January and again in a Cartmel seller in May; well below that level on both starts since, including when well held on the Flat 18 days ago; not ruled out if bouncing back.

7/1

9th

13

(2)

27th Jun 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 4f 98y

Class 5

16:58 Newcastle (AW)

Character Testing

9st 1lb

J: Rhys Elliott

T: Mark Walford

1m AW winner for Tom Clover who has been mostly hurdling for this yard; went close in January and again in Cartmel seller on penultimate start; didn't shape with much promise in two turf handicaps (1m/1m2f) in between but his Flat mark has come down quite sharply.

25/1

4th

5

13th Jun 2026

Good

2m 0f 48y

Class 5

13:42 Hexham

Character Testing

11st 4lb

J: Tristan Durrell

T: Mark Walford

Still a maiden after 16 starts over hurdles, though he has plenty of placed form and looked set to score before being caught close home in a Cartmel seller (2m1f, good) 17 days ago; requires more back in handicap company but has solid place claims.

6/1

40/1

  • Place: £3.20

Form: 5

Last run: 11 days

W: 11st 0lb

3 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Displayed ability on the Flat during very light career for Jessica Harrington but well-beaten fifth of six at 50-1 on recent hurdle and stable debut at Leicester (1m7f, heavy), and others are preferred.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

16th Jun 2026

Good

2m 0f 70y

Class 5

14:40 Stratford

Estate Planning

11st 7lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Bernard Llewellyn

Soundly beaten on both starts in cheekpieces (now removed) during the winter and now 0-13 over hurdles; returns from break on tempting mark and will be suited by this return to good ground but has a bit to prove.

8/1

5th

7

4th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 178y

Class 5

14:42 Sedgefield

Estate Planning

11st 2lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Bernard Llewellyn

5yo who made the frame a few times last season and his mark continues to fall, but he hasn't got competitive this term and remains a maiden.

25/1

Form: 6P

Last run: 13 days

W: 10st 7lb

3 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Flat winner who ran okay when sixth on hurdle debut at Ludlow (2m, good) in October; pulled up at Newbury since (2m, first run on slow ground) but that was a Listed race; not written off each-way now back down in grade.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

23rd Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 29y

Class 5

15:15 Fontwell

Clear Storm

11st 4lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Neil Mulholland

Placed in first four handicaps and looked booked for second when coming down late on at Market Rasen latest outing (2m4f, good; tongue-tie joined the cheekpieces); she'll have a part to play if returning in the same form.

11/4

5

6th Jul 2025

Good

2m 4f 139y

Class 5

14:00 Market Rasen

Clear Storm

11st 2lb

J: Harriet Tucker

T: Neil Mulholland

Placed in all four handicaps, the last three times for Neil Mulholland; slightly disappointing when third at Stratford (2m, good) in May and her tendency to race too freely remains a nagging concern but she's a contender here if suited by the new trip; tongue-tie added.

7/2

3

31st May 2025

Good

2m 0f 70y

Class 5

18:30 Stratford

Clear Storm

11st 8lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Neil Mulholland

Placed in all three handicaps, the last twice at Newton Abbot (2m1f, good/heavy) for new stable this spring; may yet have a bigger performance in her and features prominently in calculations.

3/1

Form: 2-49

Last run: 164 days

W: 11st 0lb

3 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Down the field in France in July on final run for the George/Zetterholm yard; however, he was a good second at Lyon Parilly (2m1f, heavy) in April and a case can be made on that form; interesting on stable debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

12th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

15:50 Ffos Las

El Gavilan

11st 5lb

J: Richard Patrick

T: Clive Boultbee-Brooks

Aided by cheekpieces this year, winning three in a row here (2m-2m4f, heavy) in January/February; also suited by faster ground but managed only fifth behind Jack's Jury off this career-high mark over C&D (soft) last month.

10/1

5th

1

16th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

16:30 Ffos Las

El Gavilan

12st 1lb

J: Richard Patrick

T: Clive Boultbee-Brooks

Thriving 5yo who has won three times on heavy ground here (2m-2m4f) this year; drew nicely clear of the others with another in-form horse when prevailing by a neck over C&D last time and remains unexposed over this trip; must be considered.

5/2

1st

3

20th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

15:22 Ffos Las

El Gavilan

11st 5lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Clive Boultbee-Brooks

Heavy-ground 2m wins here the last twice, and although the latter represented no further improvement on RPRs he was value for further than 2l having walked through the last; untried over this far and 7lb rise demands a career-best, but clearly in the heart to go close once more.

9/4

Form:

Last run:

W: 10st 7lb

3 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Achieved little during light Flat career for John Gallagher but did show ability on one occasion; her dam was a Flat/chase winner and she's joined a good yard for her hurdling campaign; not discounted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

12th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 53y

Class 4

13:43 Hereford

Urban Hydrangea

11st 0lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Fergal O’Brien

took keen hold, disputed lead, not fluent 5th, outpaced before 2 out, soon weakened quickly, pulled up before last

50/1

5th

8

29th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 128y

Class 4

11:52 Doncaster

Urban Hydrangea

11st 0lb

J: Jack Hogan

T: Fergal O’Brien

Weak form on Flat for previous yard and achieved little at Warwick on debut over hurdles; opposed.

40/1

5th

8

29th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 128y

Class 4

11:52 Doncaster

Urban Hydrangea

11st 0lb

J: Jack Hogan

T: Fergal O’Brien

Weak form on Flat for previous yard and achieved little at Warwick on debut over hurdles; opposed.

40/1

Form: 25

Last run: 15 days

W: 11st 0lb

3 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Last of two finishers in dramatic race at Wetherby (2m, good) on debut, then well beaten there (2m, good to soft) a fortnight ago; improvement is needed but he's in top hands and things may click at some stage.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

28th Mar 2026

Good

2m 0f 70y

Class 5

15:17 Stratford

Global Eclipse

11st 2lb

J: Lee Edwards

T: Charles & Adam Pogson

Went the wrong way in a trio of 2m juvenile hurdles for Dan Skelton in 2024; off 15 months before being pulled up for his new yard in 2m4f Huntingdon handicap 17 days ago; hard to warm to.

40/1

9

11th Mar 2026

Good

2m 4f 145y

Class 5

13:38 Huntingdon

Global Eclipse

11st 4lb

J: Lee Edwards

T: Charles & Adam Pogson

Shaped well when a debut second in 2m Wetherby juvenile but failed by a long way to build on it in two subsequent runs for Dan Skelton; back from 15 months off here for his new yard with lots to prove.

40/1

7th

4

12th Dec 2024

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

11:55 Warwick

Global Eclipse

11st 0lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Last of two finishers in dramatic race at Wetherby (2m, good) on debut, then well beaten there (2m, good to soft) a fortnight ago; improvement is needed but he's in top hands and things may click at some stage.

5/2

Form: 54

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 0lb

3 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Two runs in bumpers at Huntingdon (2m, good/good to soft) this autumn and he's shown ability each time; goes hurdling with trainer in excellent form and he could have a part to play.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

12th Dec 2024

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

11:55 Warwick

Lion Hill

11st 0lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Stuart Edmunds

Two runs in bumpers at Huntingdon (2m, good/good to soft) this autumn and he's shown ability each time; goes hurdling with trainer in excellent form and he could have a part to play.

3/1

5

12th Dec 2024

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

11:55 Warwick

Lion Hill

11st 0lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Stuart Edmunds

Two runs in bumpers at Huntingdon (2m, good/good to soft) this autumn and he's shown ability each time; goes hurdling with trainer in excellent form and he could have a part to play.

3/1

4th

5

23rd Nov 2024

Good To Soft

1m 7f 171y

Class 5

15:45 Huntingdon

Lion Hill

11st 2lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Stuart Edmunds

Out of unraced sister to bumper/useful jumps winner Always Lion; over 3l behind Fran The Man when keeping-on fifth over C&D (good) last month but that still goes down as a promising debut and he's open to improvement.

6/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £232.90
Straight Forecast £177.14
Trifecta £1732.50

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

El Gavilan

RP RATINGS:

Character Testing

The Sun:

Global Eclipse

The Times:

Clear Storm

The Guardian:

El Gavilan

D Express:

El Gavilan

Daily Mirror:

El Gavilan

The Star:

Global Eclipse

Daily Record:

Global Eclipse

POSTDATA:

Character Testing

Telegraph:

Character Testing

Daily Mail:

Character Testing