December 13 / 12.25 Bangor-on-Dee

12.25

Soft

Livescore Bet “Hands And Heels” Handicap Hurdle (Conditional/Amateurs’) (Racing Excellence Series)

  • Prize money: £6337.2
  • 2m 0f 145y
  • Class 4
  • 5 runners
SKY
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Livescore Bet “Hands And Heels” Handicap Hurdle (Conditional/Amateurs’) (Racing Excellence Series)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

11/10 (Won)

  • Win: £1.37
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 121-51 D

Last run: 6 days

W: 12st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Front-runner who made the most of a soft lead when a clearcut winner last week at Wetherby (2m, soft) for which he carries a penalty; he's been running well for a long time now and another bold show is on the cards.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

23rd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 20y

Class 2

15:10 Perth

Classic Maestro

10st 13lb

J: Luke Scott

T: Jennie Candlish

Good second at Sandown (1m7f, soft) in January and ran well before fading into 14 third at Ayr (2m4f, soft) last month; however, his best form has come on soft/heavy ground and such conditions seem unlikely today.

15/2

3rd

2

7th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 3

15:55 Ayr

Classic Maestro

11st 11lb

J: Luke Scott

T: Jennie Candlish

Predictably struggled in Grade 1 Ascot Chase three weeks ago but looked as good as ever when second in good Sandown handicap (1m7f, soft) two starts ago and will be fine over today's trip; good chance.

9/4

20/1

  • Place: £3.80

Form: 5786F4 D

Last run: 15 days

W: 10st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 101

Form & Verdict
Doesn't arrive here in bad form by any means but he's an infrequent winner and is stuck on a losing run under both codes; tries a visor and others appeal more.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

5

23rd Mar 2026

Good

1m 7f 50y

Class 4

14:15 Wincanton

Bigz Belief

10st 4lb

J: Tpr Elizabeth Feakes

T: Fergal O’Brien

Best of three hurdle runs for new stable this season when second of five in soft-ground Leicester seller (2m4f) in December; reverts to this code after going close off his basement Flat mark three weeks ago but others have more compelling claims; first ride under rules for Elizabeth Feakes.

6/1

2nd

8

(2)

2nd Mar 2026

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 6

20:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Bigz Belief

8st 10lb

J: Gina Mangan

T: Fergal O’Brien

This season's hurdling form for Fergal O'Brien was uninspiring and he was safely held when fourth in C&D classified race on Flat return in January; difficult to enthuse over.

14/1

4th

1

(6)

26th Jan 2026

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 6

20:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Bigz Belief

9st 9lb

J: Gina Mangan

T: Fergal O’Brien

Triple hurdle winner but his last success was in 2023 and he was well held at Taunton last Saturday; now returns to the Flat for the first time in 16 months and he's 1-24 in this sphere; opposable.

12/1

Form: /245P- D

Last run: 278 days

W: 10st 13lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Has only won once but he's 3lb lower than when a clear second at Warwick (2m, soft) last November and that was after a lengthy break; could go well.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

24th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 123y

Class 5

19:40 Bangor-on-Dee

Risk DArgent

12st 0lb

J: Mr Frederick Philipson-Stow

T: Alastair Ralph

prominent, lost ground after 2nd, towards rear when fell 7th

25/1

1

24th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 123y

Class 5

19:40 Bangor-on-Dee

Risk DArgent

12st 0lb

J: Mr Frederick Philipson-Stow

T: Alastair Ralph

prominent, lost ground after 2nd, towards rear when fell 7th

25/1

11

29th Mar 2025

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 4

17:05 Uttoxeter

Risk DArgent

10st 11lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Alastair Ralph

mistake 8th

16/1

Form: 25304

Last run: 17 days

W: 10st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Maiden efforts contained plenty of promise but he's offered nothing in two handicaps at about 2m4f; opposable, despite this drop back in distance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

13th May 2026

Good

3m 2f 127y

Class 4

15:08 Perth

Manowest

11st 13lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Won a Worcester maiden hurdle last May (2m7f, good); creditable runs handicapping since; conditions suit; chance.

9/2

3rd

3

25th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 32y

Class 4

15:00 Bangor-on-Dee

Manowest

11st 4lb

J: Lewis Stones

T: Olly Murphy

Won his maiden over this trip at Worcester last May and has since shown he can cope with this sort of mark; whether he'll cope with today's ground is another matter as his best form has been on good.

7/1

6th

5

25th Jul 2025

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 4

15:47 Uttoxeter

Manowest

11st 11lb

J: Lewis Saunders

T: Olly Murphy

Returned from break with hard-fought maiden win at Worcester (2m7f, good) in May and probably bettered that performance when clear second in C&D (good) handicap last month; likely contender again.

9/2

Form: 502538 D

Last run: 34 days

W: 11st 9lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Better known for his chasing exploits these days and yet has been unable to exploit a sharp drop in the weights; he's not had the best of years and others are safer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

6

9th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 0f 213y

Class 4

14:50 Stratford

Grey Diamond

11st 1lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Dual winner over fences but last success was three years ago; his mark continues to fall but he doesn't look ready to take advantage.

12/1

8th

9

17th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 67y

Class 3

15:45 Haydock

Grey Diamond

10st 9lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

C&D winner whose mark continues to fall and he was an encouraging third at Bangor in November following a break; however, this inconsistent 12yo is winless since March 2023 and others arrive with more pressing claims.

25/1

Non-runners

Gentleman Bill

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £5.30
Straight Forecast £6.63
Trifecta £12.10

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Classic Maestro

RP RATINGS:

Gentleman Bill

TOPSPEED:

Risk d'Argent

Daily Mail:

Gentleman Bill

Daily Record:

Gentleman Bill

POSTDATA:

Classic Maestro

The Times:

Classic Maestro

Telegraph:

Classic Maestro

D Express:

Classic Maestro

The Star:

Classic Maestro

Daily Mirror:

Risk d'Argent

The Sun:

Risk d'Argent