12:30 Leicester

Thursday 4 December 2025

All12:3013:0013:3014:0014:3015:0015:30

Annual Badge At leicesterraces Ideal Christmas Present 'National Hunt' Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 12:30 | Winning time: 5m 34.14s

Choice Runner¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Tristan Durrell⁽³⁾| T: D Skelton

7/2

Wasn't done with when falling 3 out on hurdles debut at Uttoxeter in March and again shaped well with a creditable second to the odds-on Jasmine d'Airy in 2m novice at the same course last month (first run following a wind op). This step back up in trip looks a good move and he's a big player.

Form: 55F-2

Midsummer Dream³⁶²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Kielan Woods| T: T Bulgin

33/1

No real impact in a couple of bumpers and improvement needed now switched to hurdles following a year off.

Form: 67-

My Own Lovely Lee²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: James Best| T: P Hobbs & J White

9/1

Third sole start in Irish points in February and there was promise in his Rules debut fourth in a 10-runner Chepstow novice hurdle (19.4f, soft) last month. Entitled to come on for that run, but it's likely that he'll come into his own when faced with an even stiffer test.

Form: 3-4

Neptune House²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: R P McLernon| T: L Horsfall

150/1

Down the field in a pair of bumpers 9 months apart and it's been a case of much of the same in a couple of runs over hurdles.

Form: 884-P

Pop's Folly²⁸⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Finn Lambert⁽³⁾| T: G Nicholls

18/1

Bettered debut effort when fifth in an 11-runner Exeter bumper in February, but will need to take another sizeable step foward if he's to get competitive now hurdling.

Form: 85-

Shotgun Rider²⁰⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-DaviesWS

3/1

Picked up for £155,000 after winning his only start in Irish points during the spring. In good hands as he embarks on a career under Rules and it will be interesting to see what the market has to say.

Form: 1

Tao Enki³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Jack Hogan| T: A Ralph

9/1

Glimmers of ability in bumpers last season and made an encouraging start over hurdles when fifth of 14 in a Stratford novice (16.3f, good to soft) at the end of October. Promises to be suited by this step up in trip and he's not discounted.

Form: 57-5

Ubatuba²⁶³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr Ben Sutton⁽⁵⁾| T: O Murphy

6/5

Bang there when unseating 3 out on debut between the flags last December and accounted for 10 rivals on latest start in that sphere in March. Changed hands for £85,000 and, having joined a prolific, up-and-coming yard, he is of strong interest now switched to hurdles.

Form: U1-

Forecasts

Ubatuba (6/5), Shotgun Rider (3/1), Choice Runner (7/2), Tao Enki (9/1), My Own Lovely Lee (9/1), Pop's Folly (18/1), Midsummer Dream (33/1), Neptune House (150/1)

With this step back up in trip likely to spark improvement, CHOICE RUNNER is taken to build on his recent Uttoxeter second by going one better here. Point winners Shotgun Rider and Ubatuba are appealing and confidence behind either in the betting would look significant, while My Own Lovely Lee and Tao Enki both showed promise on their debuts in this sphere and should do better in time.