December 26 / 13.00 Wetherby

13.00

Good To Soft

William Hill Proper Prices Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4488.85
  • 2m 3f 154y
  • Class 4
  • 10 runners
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William Hill Proper Prices Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 10 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

Form: PP-521 D

Last run: 44 days

W: 12st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Winning chaser who got off the mark over hurdles in a 2m handicap at Hereford (good) where he edged out a subsequent winner, under Murray Dodd; should be on the scene off 6lb higher.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

13th Jun 2025

Good

2m 4f 139y

Class 4

17:50 Market Rasen

Jazz King

12st 0lb

J: Joe Anderson

T: Alastair Ralph

Arguably unlucky to have just two wins to his name rather than four; cheekpieces of his below-par efforts the last thrice are off, and back down to his highest winning mark (lowered in a 2m4f chase); not ruled out.

11/1

13th

8

6th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

19:18 Worcester

Jazz King

11st 7lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Alastair Ralph

Only seen sporadically down the years and his best efforts have all come without headgear (cheekpieces retained after two poor runs in them this year); has it to prove currently.

25/1

13th

8

6th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

19:18 Worcester

Jazz King

11st 7lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Alastair Ralph

Only seen sporadically down the years and his best efforts have all come without headgear (cheekpieces retained after two poor runs in them this year); has it to prove currently.

25/1

OUR TIP

Form: 517 D

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 13lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Placed in points; stayed on best to win a Hexham maiden (2m4f, good) but Carlisle was disappointing, even when taking into account the slower ground; doesn't look obviously well treated for handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

20

18th Apr 2026

Soft

3m 7f 176y

Class 1

15:35 Ayr

Chasingouttheblues

10st 9lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Mark Walford

Three wins (wore cheekpieces for last two) and a second from his last four starts, all over about 3m/3m1f; unraced beyond that but there's a great deal about him which suggests that he won't really come into his own until handed a major test of stamina; he receives one today and, despite the step up in class, consequently makes serious appeal.

6/1

1st

3

22nd Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 110y

Class 2

15:52 Carlisle

Chasingouttheblues

11st 9lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Mark Walford

Took well to first-time cheekpieces at Catterick, beating Paddy O'Mahler and making it two wins (3m/3m1f) from his last three starts; may improve further in the retained headgear; enters calculations.

4/1

1st

1

24th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 54y

Class 4

16:00 Catterick

Chasingouttheblues

12st 0lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Mark Walford

Won at Wetherby (3m, soft) in December on fourth chase start and bumped into useful prospect when second at Doncaster (3m, soft) last month; won on good/good to soft over hurdles; cheekpieces go on; solid claims.

3/1

Form: 132

Last run: 54 days

W: 11st 12lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Irish bumper winner; placed in two novice hurdles for current yard, last time here (in new hood, now discarded) finishing best of the rest behind one whose form now looks really good; of strong interest on this switch to handicaps over a longer trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

9

2nd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 100y

Class 4

16:07 Chepstow

Marlacoo

11st 6lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Tom Lacey

Won an Irish bumper and added an Ayr maiden hurdle last season; beaten seven times since that last win despite heading the market but did run well with the visor back on at Haydock (2m3f, good to soft) four weeks ago; should be involved once more.

100/30

3rd

9

5th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 2f 191y

Class 4

15:15 Haydock

Marlacoo

11st 5lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Tom Lacey

Irish bumper winner who got off the mark over hurdles in Ayr maiden (about 2m3f, heavy) just over a year ago; expensive to follow subsequently and it was a moderate effort when sixth of eight over this sort of trip at Catterick (soft) last time; doesn't look the percentage call.

10/1

6th

5

9th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 3f 66y

Class 4

15:00 Catterick

Marlacoo

11st 9lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Tom Lacey

Irish bumper winner who got off the mark over hurdles in an Ayr maiden (2m3f, heavy) last February; two decent placed efforts this term, following wind surgery, in first-time visor latest (left off here); a possible.

11/4

Form: 445-15 D BF

Last run: 55 days

W: 11st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Left clear for wide-margin maiden win at Uttoxeter (2m4f, good) in October; very disappointing favourite back there next time and it's hard to know what to expect from him on this handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 133y

Class 2

14:40 Kelso

Diamond Dealer

12st 0lb

J: Tristan Durrell

T: Dan Skelton

Won in the autumn on first two chase starts (2m7f, good/good to soft; including here) then failed to stay 4m here in the Borders National; bounced back with short-head defeat at Wetherby (3m, soft) last month and there can be optimism he'll be fine at this shorter distance; major player.

3/1

2nd

4

26th Feb 2026

Soft

3m 0f 45y

Class 4

14:25 Wetherby

Diamond Dealer

11st 11lb

J: Tristan Durrell

T: Dan Skelton

Failed to settle and reportedly made a respiratory noise at Kelso (4m, soft) in December, when he ran well for a very long way before weakening (pulled up); 2-2 over fences previously (2m7f, good/good to soft) and there could still be mileage in his mark now back down in trip.

5/2

Form: P66-17 D BF

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Improved form to make successful handicap debut at Carlisle (2m4f, good to soft; first-time cheekpieces) and reportedly resented the softer ground when well beaten at evens next time; can be given another chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

22nd Mar 2025

Good

2m 7f 32y

Class 3

16:02 Bangor-on-Dee

Horsesomeharry

11st 4lb

J: Henry Brooke

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

raced in second, not fluent 1st, chased clear leader when pulled up quickly after 3 out

13/2

1st

4

2nd Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 181y

Class 5

15:07 Doncaster

Horsesomeharry

11st 12lb

J: Henry Brooke

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Mixed form since he won on handicap/seasonal debut at Carlisle (2m4f, good to soft) in November but he ran well here last time (3m, good to soft) only to fade late on and he could be in the mix now back down in trip.

8/1

8th

12

24th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 84y

Class 4

14:38 Doncaster

Horsesomeharry

11st 5lb

J: Henry Brooke

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

midfield

12/1

Form: 0-43

Last run: 37 days

W: 11st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced and his best run yet was when a one-paced third over 2m1f at Carlisle last month; finished second in an Irish point so today's step up in trip heightens interest on handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

7

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 133y

Class 2

14:40 Kelso

Bridge Court

11st 1lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Sandy Thomson

Runner-up at Catterick in December on first two chase starts (2m3f, good to soft/good) and bounced back from lesser show at Haydock to win at Musselburgh (2m7f, soft) last month; hit with 8lb rise for last time but he had plenty in hand and could still be well treated.

13/2

1st

7

15th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 138y

Class 4

16:20 Musselburgh

Bridge Court

10st 7lb

J: Callum Bewley

T: Sandy Thomson

Still not fully exposed over fences but his second-place finishes in December were achieved over 2m3f in Class 5 at Catterick; bit to prove in this scenario/grade.

4/1

5th

7

17th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 203y

Class 4

12:15 Haydock

Bridge Court

10st 8lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Sandy Thomson

Point runner-up who improved for the switch to fences when second at Catterick (2m3f, good to soft) last month and got even closer to a first win when beaten a nose there (2m3f, good) 12 days later; could be bang there.

11/2

Form: 8-P603

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Goes handicapping on the back of an improved third in a 2m soft-ground novice here; there's stamina in his pedigree and stable is going well.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 133y

Class 2

14:40 Kelso

Glen Road

11st 10lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

Completed hurdle double when winning here (2m6f, soft) in December and tapped back into that promise when runner-up at Sandown (2m4f, soft) a fortnight ago on his third run over fences; won on good to soft going over hurdles; that latest form reads well and he's high on the list this afternoon.

11/2

2nd

7

7th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 15y

Class 3

16:10 Sandown

Glen Road

10st 9lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

Highly progressive over hurdles in 2025, winning four times (2m4f-2m7f, good to soft/soft), but he's performed below that level switched to fences in recent months; still early days in this sphere but difficult to make a case for him here.

25/1

4th

1

19th Feb 2026

2m 0f 77y

Class 4

13:58 Sedgefield

Glen Road

11st 8lb

J: Callum Bewley

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

Highly progressive over hurdles last year, winning four times (2m4f-2m7f, good to soft/soft); weakened quickly when soundly beaten sixth on last month's chase debut at Newcastle (2m4f, good to soft) but that's unlikely to be the limit of his ability over fences; no surprise to see a bold show.

4/1

Form: 62-585

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 1lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
Second in a maiden but hasn't been that threatening in any of his handicaps, at 2m4f and 2m6f.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

13th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

15:30 Hexham

Joie More

10st 6lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jackie Stephen

Respectable fifth of 14 at Carlisle (3m, good to soft) in February but well beaten at Newcastle (2m7f, good to soft) last month; has had a second wind op since, which needs to make a difference if he's to break his duck.

16/1

6th

8

3rd Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 91y

Class 4

16:05 Newcastle

Joie More

10st 2lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jackie Stephen

13-race maiden; pulled up behind Cowboy Cooper at Ayr in January and was behind Uptown Harry at Carlisle last time; has a bit to prove here.

33/1

5th

12

3rd Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 110y

Class 5

16:04 Carlisle

Joie More

10st 4lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jackie Stephen

Didn't run badly on final two starts in 2025 and continues to drop down the weights; however, pulled up at Ayr last month and now 0-12 under rules; needs to bounce back in a big way in a first-time tongue-tie.

20/1

Form: 8-5P42

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 96

Form & Verdict
No wins in nine starts but looks mildly progressive after pushing the winner close at Musselburgh (2m4f, good to soft); this looks a better race, though.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

24th May 2026

Good

2m 5f 133y

Class 4

16:12 Kelso

Looking Splendid

11st 6lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Gary Rutherford

Has taken well to fences, winning by 11l here on his chase debut (good) before finishing a clear second (again over C&D) last time; went up 9lb for his win and another 4lb for latest run but is one with a chance.

11/4

2nd

7

20th Apr 2026

Good

2m 5f 133y

Class 4

15:00 Kelso

Looking Splendid

11st 0lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Gary Rutherford

Returned from break with career-best performance this month, drawing clear to win by 11l over C&D (good) on chasing debut; 9lb higher in a higher-grade race today but could easily have more to offer over fences.

7/2

1st

5

2nd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 133y

Class 5

15:40 Kelso

Looking Splendid

11st 8lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Gary Rutherford

Won two in a row over hurdles in October (2m5f/2m4f, good; including here) and ran pretty well when third at Newcastle (2m4f, good to soft) in November; unsuited by soft ground when below par at Musselburgh in December; could have a part to play if taking to fences at the first attempt.

13/2

Form: -F1223 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 10st 13lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
His Uttoxeter win in June (2m4f, good) was off 17lb lower but he's held his form well since and was third at Lingfield despite the soft ground not being ideal; enters the reckoning.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

5th Sep 2025

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 5

19:00 Worcester

Just Chasing May

11st 10lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

6yo who made it 2-12 over hurdles when winning in good style here in June; up 9lb but it was even more emphatic when disposing of 11 rivals on his chase debut back here (also 2m4f, good) on Sunday; same mark today and he stays this trip; the one to beat.

11/10

7

31st Aug 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

14:10 Worcester

Just Chasing May

11st 7lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

6yo who made it 2-12 over hurdles when winning in good style here (2m4f, good) in June; also effective on soft/good to soft; not bred for fences but he's in good hands and is respected on his debut in this sphere.

5/1

1st

10

25th Jun 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

17:05 Worcester

Just Chasing May

11st 3lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

Mark over a stone in excess of that for last June's Uttoxeter win (2m4f, good) is owed to some good runs in defeat since; 142-day absence won't be an issue judged on last October's effort after similar.

12/1

Betting Forcast

5/1 Jazz King, 14/1 Chasingouttheblues, 2/1 Marlacoo, 7/1 Diamond Dealer, 8/1 Horsesomeharry, 12/1 Bridge Court, 8/1 Glen Road, 25/1 Joie More, 10/1 Looking Splendid, 8/1 Just Chasing May

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Marlacoo

RP RATINGS:

Jazz King

POSTDATA:

Just Chasing May

The Star:

Glen Road

The Times:

Diamond Dealer

D Express:

Joie More

Daily Mail:

Marlacoo

The Sun:

Marlacoo

Daily Record:

Marlacoo

Telegraph:

Just Chasing May

TOPSPEED:

Jazz King

The Guardian:

Jazz King

Daily Mirror:

Jazz King