14:13 Uttoxeter

Wednesday 31 December 2025

All12:4313:1313:4314:1314:4315:1315:43

Malcolm Harrison Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:14 | Winning time: 4m 11.09s

In The Purple³³

Age: 4| Weight: 12-0| J: K Brogan| T: O Murphy| OR: 100

33/1

Mahler gelding who is bred to stay particularly well and only minor promise in a trio of quick-fire runs in maiden/novice hurdles last month. Switch to handicaps in his favour now but his stable may well hold stronger claims with Kenzoko.

Form: 870

Kenzoko⁴⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 100

4/1

Has been brought along steadily and he very much caught the eye when sixth of 12 in a C&D novice on qualifying run 46 days ago, not knocked about. Of definite interest on handicap debut for excellent yard, with longer trips entitled to suit also in due course.

Form: 9/0-06

Sophie Power^t⁴⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-12| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: H Dickin| OR: 98| D

25/1

Winner on Flat in France and she bettered what she had previously in this sphere under change of tactics when narrowly prevailing in 6-runner mares' novice handicap at Leicester (15.5f) 44 days ago. However, that doesn't look the strongest piece of form and more needed up 3 lb.

Form: 44P9-01

Kally Des Bruyeres¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: J J Burke| T: David Dennis| OR: 87| D

10/1

Much improved to spring a 200/1 surprise in a 2m Huntingdon maiden hurdle last November. Easily best effort since when fourth in handicap at that venue (19.6f) 2 starts back but he was a mid-race faller at Southwell (15.8f) 17 days ago. Not entirely dismissed.

Form: P7P-54F

Master Dunraven^h1²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: C O'Farrell| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 86

40/1

Fairly useful winner over 1¼m on the Flat for Johnny Murtagh. Yet to match that form over hurdles but possible his respective return from 7 months off was needed at Fontwell (17.7f) 23 days ago and connections now opt for a hood. Market confidence would look significant.

Form: 904-87

Eric Carmen^p,t¹²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: Benjamin Macey⁽⁷⁾| T: G Hanmer| OR: 85| C

11/2

9-y-o who had fallen back down to last winning mark and he was well prepared back from 9 months off when successful over 20f here 12 days ago, making all to dominate a small field. Faced with a much sounder surface on this occasion but can't be dismissed.

Form: 43165-1

Saccary²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe| OR: 79

20/1

Fairly useful on Flat in Germany/France (stays 1¾m) but well below that level over hurdles, including in handicaps. Another best guided by the market having been cut further slack from the assessor.

Form: 058-46

Postponed Legacy^p³³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-6| J: James Best| T: M Keighley| OR: 78

11/4

Steadily eased in weights following a low-key start in handicaps and, following 3 months off/in a change of headgear, he found himself well positioned when successful in 10-runner handicap hurdle at Doncaster (16.6f) 33 days ago. No sure thing to be in same form now, though.

Form: 5-34591

Churchman³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: Jack Hogan| T: A Ralph| OR: 78

13/2

Maiden has often shaped as if needing further (albeit not improving for longer trips last term) and, after 8 months off, he was noted plugging on for third in 11-runner handicap hurdle at Ludlow (15.7f) 37 days ago. Each-way possibilities.

Form: 59437-3

Catboy⁵⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: Mr J J Murphy-Knight⁽⁷⁾| T: Christian Williams| OR: 77| BF

5/1

Cashed in off basement mark in first-time cheekpieces at Fontwell (17.7f) in summer of 2024. Efforts distinctly mixed during 2025 yet, (gambled on) he was going much more sweetly prior to unseating eighth over fences at Ludlow in November. Could be worth chancing back over smaller obstacles.

Form: P0F87U

Jeepydoff Meel^p³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-3| J: Joe Williamson⁽³⁾| T: Miss L Harrison| OR: 75

25/1

Maiden hurdle winner in June 2023 but has offered little in handicaps upon joining this yard despite a sliding mark. Passed over.

Form: 0-80884

Chosen Bae^t¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-2| J: Jamie Brace⁽⁵⁾| T: R Potter| OR: 72

12/1

Scored on her handicap bow at Bangor (19.6f) back in February but well below that level in handful of starts this term. Needs to take a step forward if she's to figure dropped back to the minimum trip.

Form: 01-7986

Non-Runners

Port Or Starboard²¹

Weight: 11-2| Age: 8

T: B J Llewellyn J: Jay Tidball

Forecasts

Postponed Legacy (11/4), Kenzoko (4/1), Catboy (5/1), Eric Carmen (11/2), Churchman (13/2), Kally Des Bruyeres (10/1), Chosen Bae (12/1), Saccary (20/1), Sophie Power (25/1), Jeepydoff Meel (25/1), Port Or Starboard (25/1), In The Purple (33/1), Master Dunraven (40/1)

Christian Williams has his string in decent order and, having been gambled on, CATBOY was shaping up encouragingly prior to unseating over fences at Ludlow 55 days ago. He could be worth chancing to defy a basement mark back over hurdles before market clues, though confidence behind Olly Murphy handicap newcomer Kenzoko would put a different slant on things. Course scorer Eric Carmen is another to note.