15:10 Warwick

Wednesday 19 November 2025

All12:5513:2514:0014:3515:1015:40

Denis O'Connell Memorial Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:10 | Winning time: 6m 21.03s

Sporting Ace^p²²

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: J M Quinlan| T: N B King| OR: 117| CD

22/1

Returned to form with headgear omitted when edging home in front in a Lingfield marathon (28.8f, soft) at the end of January. Race may have come too soon the following month but ran no sort of race after 8 months off at Ffos Las recently. Best watched back hurdling in reapplied headgear.

Form: 27518-9

Thankyourluckystar¹⁹⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: A Ralph| OR: 117

11/1

Relatively unexposed as a stayer and produced a career best when winning 9-runner handicap hurdle (7/2) at Worcester (23f, good to soft) when last seen 6 months ago, heavily eased having gone clear before last. 11 lb higher on return but looks one to keep onside.

Form: 66433-1

I'm A Starman¹²

Age: 12| Weight: 11-9| J: Callum Pritchard⁽⁵⁾| T: M G Rimell| OR: 112| CD

12/1

Completed a hat-trick at Worcester in June and he got back on track when third of 4 at Exeter last month. Wasn't on a going day in refitted cheekpieces last time though, and it's hard to know what mood this veteran will be in here.

Form: 157738

Kiss My Face^v²³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Joe Anderson⁽³⁾| T: A Ralph| OR: 111| D

11/1

Better than ever when snapping a 15-month losing run at Wetherby (3m, good to firm) last month and backed that up from 6 lb higher when third at Bangor (23.2f, good to soft) 12 days later, despite failing to impress with how he went about it. Back up in trip a small plus at least.

Form: P-85313

Getaway Theatre^t,p²⁸³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Charlie Hammond| T: S Edmunds| OR: 110

13/2

Point winner who disappointed over fences last season but was right back to form to make her first start in a handicap hurdle a winning one at Chepstow (23.6f, heavy) when last seen 9 months ago (tongue tied). 3 lb higher and certainly not dismissed on return.

Form: 64/5P41-

Murphy's Milan^h1⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Sean Houlihan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 108

9/4

Far from fully exposed after just 4 starts over hurdles and shaped as if in need of a step back up in trip when mid-field at Chepstow (19.4f, good to firm) on return 6 weeks ago. Hood goes on and he's high on the shortlist with that under his belt.

Form: 3/447-7

Gwennie May Star⁷⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Lewis Saunders⁽⁵⁾| T: O Murphy| OR: 107

10/3

Dual hurdles winner earlier this year but failed to convince in a couple of chase starts, latest after 4 months off (had breathing operation in interim). Returns to hurdles for a new yard (headgear discarded) and interesting to see what the market makes of him.

Form: 151P-35

Catch Catchfire^p²⁷⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: C J Todd| T: Ian Williams| OR: 106

7/1

Bagged staying handicap chases in the mud at Leicester and Sedgefield last winter. Unsuited by drop back to 2½m at Carlisle on final start last season (rallying in fifth when falling last). Remains unexposed as a stayer and has claims if fully tuned after 9 months off back hurdling.

Form: 5/8141F-

Flash In The Pan^p¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-4| J: Harry Kimber| T: Kathy Turner| OR: 95

11/1

Didn't look an easy ride when third on handicap debut in March but put a miserable reappearance firmly behind him when a shock winner (50/1) of Hereford handicap last month, proving well suited by the step up in trip. Matched that when third there since but this looks tougher again.

Form: F43-P13

Forecasts

Murphy's Milan (9/4), Gwennie May Star (10/3), Getaway Theatre (13/2), Catch Catchfire (7/1), Kiss My Face (11/1), Flash In The Pan (11/1), Thankyourluckystar (11/1), I'm A Starman (12/1), Sporting Ace (22/1)

Plenty in with chances but the vote goes to THANKYOURLUCKYSTAR, who bolted up under this rider at Worcester when last seen in May and an 11 lb rise may not prove enough to prevent him from going in again on return. Getaway Theatre relished the return to hurdles when scoring back in the spring, so Stuart Edmunds' mare heads up the opposition, with Murphy's Milan and Catch Catchfire both considered, too.