December 26 / 15.20 Wetherby

15.20

Good To Soft

William Hill Betting Done Properly Handicap Hurdle (Go North Sea Pigeon Series Qualifier)

  • Prize money: £4488.85
  • 2m 0f 0y
  • Class 5
  • 10 runners
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William Hill Betting Done Properly Handicap Hurdle (Go North Sea Pigeon Series Qualifier)

Runners: 10 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

OUR TIP

Form: 376377 D

Last run: 63 days

W: 12st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Drops back in class off a handy mark but isn't exactly screaming to be backed; on a long losing sequence and ran poorly the last twice.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

7

23rd Aug 2025

Good

2m 1f 46y

Class 5

14:10 Cartmel

Vocal Duke

10st 11lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: James Moffatt

Regressive 9yo but ran okay in this new headgear combination last time when rallying into fifth, finishing behind Mojo Ego and Heart Above; that's something to build on; Alan Doyle claimed 5lb that day but can't now.

8/1

9

21st Jul 2025

Good

2m 1f 46y

Class 5

13:42 Cartmel

Vocal Duke

10st 11lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: James Moffatt

Regressive 9yo who is yet to add to his C&D win in June 2022; ran well for a long way when placed at Hexham (2m, good to soft) last month but was soundly beaten here a fortnight later; cheekpieces refitted today.

16/1

Form: 431 D

Last run: 170 days

W: 11st 13lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 99

Form & Verdict
Has form figures of 431 since switched to hurdles, most recently winning a handicap at Uttoxeter (2m, soft) in July; remains well treated judged on Flat form; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

14th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 47y

Class 3

16:18 Perth

Double Oban

12st 0lb

J: Tom Hutsby

T: Olly Murphy

5-11 over hurdles but the bulk of those wins have come on soft or heavy ground; sits 4lb higher than when winning at Leicester (2m, soft; 9-4, four runners) over Christmas; one of three declared runners for Olly Murphy.

10/1

5th

3

21st Feb 2026

Soft

2m 0f 16y

Class 3

16:13 Chepstow

Double Oban

11st 6lb

J: Lewis Stones

T: Olly Murphy

Progressive 6yo who kept on stoutly to beat three rivals at Leicester (1m7f, soft) in December and is now 5-10 over hurdles; contests this much deeper race from a 6lb higher mark but still considered.

4/1

Form: 54-59

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 98

Form & Verdict
Point winner who has shown some promise over hurdles; latest effort (2m4f) suggests this drop back in trip is suitable; possibilities if taking well to first-time headgear.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

10

17th Sep 2025

Good

2m 5f 133y

Class 4

17:00 Kelso

Lets Sail Away

11st 0lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Tom Lacey

Signed off over hurdles with victory at Market Rasen (2m2f) and he has shaped well switched to chasing when runner-up in 2m4f handicaps at Uttoxeter and Worcester (winner has gone in again since) this summer; tongue tied now and visor replaces cheekpieces; weighted to go close.

5/2

10

31st Aug 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

14:10 Worcester

Lets Sail Away

11st 5lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Tom Lacey

Lightly raced point winner (2m4f, good to soft) who won easily over hurdles at Market Rasen (2m2f, good) in March and was a promising second on last month's chase debut at Uttoxeter (2m4f, good), where he was clear with the 10-11 favourite; open to further improvement; firmly in calculations.

11/2

Form: 7-3257

Last run: 44 days

W: 11st 11lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
4yo maiden who ran well at Market Rasen (2m2f) on handicap debut; has regressed in two starts (3m/2m5f) since but this drop back in distance may have positive effect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

6

(6)

7th Mar 2025

Standard

2m 0f 56y

Class 6

17:15 Newcastle (AW)

Opera King

9st 7lb

J: Harrison Shaw

T: Scott Dixon

in touch with leaders, midfield after 6f

20/1

5th

3

(4)

21st Feb 2025

Standard

1m 4f 14y

Class 5

17:15 Southwell (AW)

Opera King

9st 7lb

J: Joey Haynes

T: Scott Dixon

Modest ability in bumpers and over hurdles; tailed off in two AW Flat starts over shorter than this since joining current stable; the longer trip may help but he probably isn't good enough.

100/1

12th

8

(1)

11th Feb 2025

Standard

1m 0f 142y

Class 4

16:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Opera King

9st 4lb

J: Kieran O’Neill

T: Scott Dixon

Maiden in bumpers and over hurdles for previous yard; completely tailed off at Southwell (1m) on the switch to this sphere; opposed.

100/1

Form: 65-64F D BF

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 7lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
0-5 since handicapping but he was rallying and had every chance when final-flight faller at Sedgefield (2m1f, good) most recently; now has Charlie Maggs taking off a handy 7lb; major player granted a clear round.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

5

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 178y

Class 5

13:38 Sedgefield

Lahire

10st 13lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Donald McCain

Won C&D juvenile hurdle in 2023 and is well handicapped on some of last season's placed efforts but his Flat form in second half of last year was mixed and he fell when back over hurdles in January; others have less to prove.

8/1

2

(5)

16th Oct 2025

Standard

1m 6f 21y

Class 6

20:00 Southwell (AW)

Lahire

9st 12lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Donald McCain

Won over hurdles in October 2023; modest third on first two Flat starts at the end of the summer; faded to finish seventh switched to AW here on his qualifying run but low-grade handicaps provide him with a much more realistic chance.

10/1

7th

3

(3)

27th Sep 2025

Standard

1m 4f 14y

Class 5

17:25 Southwell (AW)

Lahire

10st 0lb

J: Barry McHugh

T: Donald McCain

Won over hurdles in October 2023; switched to the Flat in his last two starts and was a respectable third at Carlisle (1m3f, soft) last time but was beaten 5l in that race and this is much tougher on his AW debut.

14/1

Form: 587-

Last run: 273 days

W: 11st 0lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
0-13 overall; holds very weak claims on her form (hurdles/Flat) for current yard; best watched unless the betting speaks positively.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

6

(2)

30th May 2026

Good

1m 7f 189y

Class 6

15:35 Catterick

Lillistar

8st 11lb

J: Aiden Brookes

T: Micky Hammond

Over 6l behind Zephlyn over C&D last May; some fair form since (won over 2m at Wolverhampton in October) but not quite at her best back on turf last twice (over 2m5f and 1m4f); place chance.

8/1

5th

5

(5)

22nd May 2026

Good To Soft

1m 4f 5y

Class 6

20:22 Pontefract

Lillistar

8st 13lb

J: Aiden Brookes

T: Micky Hammond

Not at her best over hurdles or here (extended 2m5f) last month; drop in trip can help but others appeal more for win purposes.

10/1

6th

9

(10)

21st Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 139y

Class 6

16:32 Pontefract

Lillistar

8st 13lb

J: Aiden Brookes

T: Micky Hammond

Below her best over hurdles 16 days ago but runner-up on the Flat at Newcastle (2m, AW) last month; consistent in this code last August-October and she's shaped as though this test of stamina could suit; on the shortlist.

11/2

Form: 6094-1 D

Last run: 12 days

W: 10st 11lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Posted an emphatic win at Newcastle (2m1f, good to soft) this month on seasonal debut, opening his account at the eighth attempt; big player provided that form is backed up.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

5

18th Mar 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

14:00 Wetherby

Mister Smarty

11st 7lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Tina Jackson

held up in rear, headway after 4 out, outpaced after 3 out, kept on

11/4

2nd

8

22nd Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 190y

Class 5

17:05 Newcastle

Mister Smarty

11st 2lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Tina Jackson

His defeat of Double Oban at Wetherby on Boxing Day now reads really well and he's since finished right on the scene in two visits here; remains on a good mark and has a lot less to prove than many of these; trip/ground ideal.

11/4

3rd

10

13th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 0f 190y

Class 5

14:15 Newcastle

Mister Smarty

10st 10lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Tina Jackson

held up in rear

6/1

Form: 940815 D BF

Last run: 86 days

W: 10st 11lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Best recent form when scoring comfortably at Cartmel (2m1f, soft; ended long losing spell) on penultimate start; still well treated on historical data; not dismissed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

18th Mar 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

14:00 Wetherby

Treasured Company

10st 12lb

J: Jack Power

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

midfield, outpaced after 4 out, no impression when fell heavily last

5/1

6th

11

22nd Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 190y

Class 5

17:05 Newcastle

Treasured Company

10st 11lb

J: Jack Power

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

Returning from three months off when a close third at Wetherby (2m, good to soft) but offered a lot less at Market Rasen; hard to win with at the best of times.

6/1

6th

9

4th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 125y

Class 5

14:40 Market Rasen

Treasured Company

10st 12lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

took keen hold, midfield

5/1

Form: 7P-57

Last run: 26 days

W: 10st 11lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Has a poor chance on novice hurdle form; may do better now handicapping but needs a big step forward to get competitive.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

5

30th Nov 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 128y

Class 4

11:42 Doncaster

Nut Wood

11st 0lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Michael Mullineaux

Struggled to get competitive on first two hurdling starts, latterly when dropped back to 2m for this month's stable debut; hood added today.

100/1

Form: 7-9274

Last run: 51 days

W: 10st 8lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Modest maiden who has each-way possibilities on bits of form but isn't certain to reproduce it, being an inconsistent sort.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

17th Sep 2025

Good

2m 2f 25y

Class 5

18:00 Kelso

Milajess

11st 4lb

J: Joshua Thompson

T: Micky Hammond

Gained a breakthrough success at Sedgefield (2m1f) in April and has continued in very good form, third of 12 in 2m Uttoxeter handicap in July; cheekpieces replace blinkers and she's a likely player after a break.

4/1

3rd

6

27th Jul 2025

Good

1m 7f 168y

Class 5

14:07 Uttoxeter

Milajess

11st 2lb

J: Joshua Thompson

T: Micky Hammond

Eventually opened account at Sedgefield (2m1f, good) in April, her 24th hurdling start, and has made the frame on all three subsequent appearances; may find others better handicapped here, though.

12/1

2

5th Jun 2025

Good

1m 7f 168y

Class 5

16:33 Uttoxeter

Milajess

12st 0lb

J: Joshua Thompson

T: Micky Hammond

Beat last weekend's winner Tara Iti at Sedgefield in April (2m1f, good); similar form in finishing second the last twice and although some 13l behind Auntie Maggie in her penultimate race, she has a hefty swing in the weights with that rival; regularly partnered by Joshua Thompson.

4/1

Betting Forcast

16/1 Vocal Duke, 2/1 Double Oban, 8/1 Lets Sail Away, 14/1 Opera King, 4/1 Lahire, 33/1 Lillistar, 4/1 Mister Smarty, 13/2 Treasured Company, 33/1 Nut Wood, 16/1 Milajess

Non-runners

Kellies Dream

Selections

The Times:

Double Oban

POSTDATA:

Mister Smarty

SPOTLIGHT:

Lahire

D Express:

Treasured Company

RP RATINGS:

Lahire

The Guardian:

Double Oban

Daily Mail:

Double Oban

The Sun:

Double Oban

Daily Record:

Double Oban

Telegraph:

Mister Smarty

Daily Mirror:

Mister Smarty

The Star:

Mister Smarty