THE THURLOW HUNT – HORSEHEATH
December 31st 2025
11.30 Conditions (Level 3) – 14 entries
Entries for these races can usual be listed into three categories:
1) Career Pointers who are shy of Open Class.
2) Young Horses who are progressing up the Point-to-Point ladder.
3) ex N/H performers and some who are returning to Pointing having hit barren times. However, in some cases they have been useful handicappers. Of course there is always an exception to the rule, and on this occasion that exception is Fumet d’Oudairies. An eight-time winning Pointer (4 opens) and a Triple Hunter Chase winner, he has just run the once since winning on this card in 2022 (fifth win here), that was when runner up in a Bangor Novice Hurdle (2 1/2 miles) in September 2024. That lack of racing in the last 3 years means he gets in here unpenalized. Champagne and Imperial Esprit fulfil category one; they have won eight points between them. Imperial Esprit is the pick of the pair and has won at this meeting in 2023. He ran well at Stratford at the end of last season, but a 10lb penalty here makes his task very tough. Diplomat Sivola is a multiple winner, including five Point to Points, however he has changed hands since his last run, and is also coming off a lengthy absence. Commander of Ten will come on for his seasonal debut at Charing earlier this month, but last season’s hat-trick of victories means he is lumbered with a 10lb penalty. Glancing Hill, Premier Fantasy, and Soldier Unknown are the pick of the second category. Premier Fantasy has won four Point to Points and was unfortunate not to add to that tally at Garthorpe last season, but his overall form, and a 5lb penalty make his task look tough. Soldier Unknown won two Point to Points last year and is a resolute battler. He is also lumbered with a 5lb penalty making his task here that much tougher. Glancing Hill won his last two starts in Point to Points last season, and this strong galloper found Stratford too sharp when pulling up in a Hunter Chase on his final run last season. He kicked off this season with a comfortable win under a penalty in a restricted at Larkhill last month. Now for the third category. Skandiburg last entered the winner’s enclosure on New Years Day 2020 at Cheltenham in a hurdle. Rated as high as the low 140’s over hurdles, very lightly raced over fences, he returned from an absence to run a good 2nd in a 2 1/2 mile contest at Chaddesley Corbett, behind a useful ex handicapper earlier this month (No More Trumps and Chinx of Light both behind). He stays the full trip, so no worries on that count. Black Jerry won five Chases under Rules for Gary and Josh Moore. The last of those was at Plumpton in April 2023 off a mark of 139. He has never won over 3 miles and was tailed off over an extended 3 miles off a mark of 117 when last seen under Rules in May. Spirit of Legend won a Novice Hurdle at Navan (2 1/2 miles) in November 2022, disappointing since, although was placed in a Novice Chase at Down Royal in March. He was pulled up on his Pointing debut on this side of the Irish Sea at Lower Machen and has yet to convince he stays 3 miles. Another Mystery won his Maiden for Tom Ellis at Kimble in 2021. He has been successful in a couple of Hurdle races under Rules, but he has not built on those two victories and sported blinkers when runner up at Fakenham in June in his most recent start.
Selection: Fumet d’Oudairies Alternative: Skandiburg
12.05 Maiden – 24 entries
This looks a very competitive contest with several runners holding realistic chances and little to separate the principals on paper. Another Notion must be strongly respected, with no fitness concerns after already posting a solid effort this season when finishing second, and that experience could prove valuable in a race of this nature. Corra Bheinn likely disappointed connections on his seasonal return despite being well supported in the market, but improvement is expected here as he should be sharper for that outing and he previously showed decent form under rules in bumpers, suggesting he is capable of better. Diamon des Flos has fitness firmly on his side after finishing third on his reappearance and should come on for that run, while there should not be much between him and No Case To Answer, who finished second in the same race for the Bradley Gibbs yard and remains open to further progress. Docket Man shaped with plenty of promise on debut, running green but staying on strongly over 2m4f to finish second, and the step up to three miles on this galloping track looks sure to suit; with normal improvement he rates a major contender. Le Questionnaire also appeals as one likely to improve for the move up to three miles after a sound debut third, with fitness assured and scope for further progress that would see him firmly in the shake-up, while Leopard d’Irlande adds a note of intrigue having had two bumper runs in Ireland and now making his debut for the Gina Andrews yard, and coming from a top stable he could be anything and must be respected.

Selection: Docket Man Alternative: Le Questionnaire
12.40 Conditions (Novice Riders) – 16 entries
This contest for Novice Riders has garnered a decent entry of 16. One new important addition this season is that a novice rider can now ride 10 winners under any rules of racing before they are no longer classed as a novice rider. A very few of these have had an outing this season. Hubrisko won at Chaddesley Corbett three weeks ago when beating Dragon Rock by 12L to give Cerys Sheehy her first winner. Spirit Of Legend from Tim Vaughan’s stable pulled up on his first start in a men’s open at Lower Machen in early November. No rider is booked to ride so it’s hard to make a decision on this one. Commander Of Ten was 3rd at Charing two weeks ago when beaten 37L behind Lavorante. Back Bar ran at Charing as well but unseated late on in the men’s open and is now into the veteran stage. Another in the veteran stage is Monkey Puzzle who has run well here previously but usually needs a run to reach peak fitness. Coeur Serein was a two-time winner last season with wins at Garthorpe and Tranwell under Louis Hadfield. Largy Mountain won at Revesby last season when beating Westhill by 4L. Young Rich won twice last season in small fields and hailing from the Gina Ellis yard will be fit. Molly Legg who won on him last season retains the ride. Master Malcolm was placed on his final two starts last season, his final run saw him finish 2nd at Edgcote, beaten 3L behind Mumbo Jumbo and could run into a place today. In Our Dreams was a two-time winner in 2024 but hasn’t run since April of that year and may need the run. Full Back trained by Jamie Moore was a four-time winner under rules but that last win came in January 2022 at Cheltenham when he beat The Wolf in a 3m 2f chase. Another Choice was a 3-time rules winner in Ireland, his last win coming at Downpatrick in April 2024 in a 3m chase when beating Duffle Coat by a neck. We side with Hubrisko to follow up his recent win at Chaddesley Corbett and go with Coeur Serein as our alternative ahead of Full Back.
Selection: Hubrisko Alternative : Coeur Serein
1.15 Ladies Open – 8 entries
What a wonderful servant Tullys Touch continues to be for owner Christina Blockley having won 4 points last season and 16 in total. His trainer John Ibbott must be comfortable with fitness levels for this early season entry. Fairly Famous won this race last season, his second success at the course and is the likely representative for the Signy and Marriage Families as their other entry, I’m Spellbound has alternative opportunities both here and at Chaddesley Corbett, three days earlier. Lucky Zebo won at Charing recently on pointing debut for trainer Alan Hill whilst Allmankind, unbeaten in two points including a Horseheath victory, will run for new owners, the very successful The Whiskey and Water Partnership. An intriguing contest in prospect with a prediction of Tullys Touch (Ellie Holder), Fairly Famous (Gina Andrews) and Allmankind (Heidi Palin) being involved in a blanket finish.
Selection: Fairly Famous Alternative: Allmankind
1.50 Mens Open – 10 entries
Ten entries have been made for the Men’s Open Race, nine of them holding a rating over 100. Top of the list is Givega, who only ran twice last season, winning on both occasions, a 16 runner conditions race at Larkhill and then a Hunter Chase at Leicester in February. His reappearance at Hexham in November was a non-event as he pulled up very early in the race. At that same meeting at Hexham, Rewritetherules was made a warm favourite for the 2 ½ mile conditions race but was well beaten in fourth. Last season he had won this Hexham race as well as a conditions race at Knightwick but then found I’m Spellbound too good at Chaddesley Corbett. I’m Spellbound won another three races last season, including the defeat of I K Brunel at Kingston Blount. A winning return was made this season in the first 0-110 Rated race, which was held at Garthorpe. Aramax was prolific during his first season pointing, winning six races and finishing 2nd in another two. His first three wins were in Novice Riders races around this course, whilst his last two were at Dingley and on both occasions they over Larry. The Tim Vaughan trained Dalamoi won all four of his starts in points, on the second of which he beat I K Brunel at Didmarton, whilst his one defeat was by Pink Eyed Pedro in a hunter chase at Chepstow. I K Brunel has started his season once again at Larkhill, repeating the same result behind Myth Buster. He did secure three victories last season but they were all later in the season. Whats The Solution progressed gradually through the grades last season, finishing amongst the places on his first three starts before winning four races on the bounce, two of them restricteds, and then two conditions races. His season culminated with a third place in the “Restricted Final” at Stratford behind Barton Snow.
Selection: Aramax Alternative: I’m Spellbound
2.25 Restricted – 16 entries
An excellent 16 entries but with only 2 rated over 100 and this early in the season it is a difficult race to call. 5yr. mare Ask Elli from the Gibbs yard will have the benefit of a 14lb allowance and took the 11 runner Kingston Blount Maiden in Feb and could run into a place. Creapapy from the Hickman yard ran 6 times last season and won the rather weak 4 runner Penshurst Maiden in March but he will have come on from his 17l 7th run earlier this month at Charing. Entity of Substanz from the Ellis yard made all to win the 14 runner Chaddesley Maiden earlier in Dec and will probably be favourite to score again here. 4yr. Envoievalserenki from Luca Morgan’s yard with 2 runs already this season, a Maiden win at Badbury Rings and a 3rd in the Charing Restricted but both over the shorter distance – promising but the longer distance on a stiff track might find him out. 6yr. Kneel Diamond from the Poste yard weakened to an 18l 3rd at Garthorpe in Nov but will have come on for the run and he stayed on well to take the 8 runner Edgcote Maiden in May. 6yr. Nice To See You from the Hill yard dead heated to win the Nov. Garthorpe Maiden by 25l so potential for a place here. Horseheath winning experience will possibly tell for 6yr. Trojan Du Berlais from the Pennock yard but he will be carrying a 7lb penalty, the benefit of 2 wins at this track, a Maiden in ’23 and a Restricted in ’24 beating the higher rated All The Ammunition and Coolagh Park on his first run of that season, a half-length 2nd to Designed To Win in the Feb Garthorpe Intermediate on his first run last season.
Selection: Trojan Du Berlais Alternative: Entity of Substanz
OVERVIEW
Race 1: Fumet d’Oudairies / Skandiburg
Race 2: Docket Man / Le Questionnaire
Race 3: Hubrisko / Coeur Serein
Race 4: Fairly Famous /Allmankind
Race 5: Aramax / I’m Spellbound
Race 6: Trojan Du Berlais / Entity of Substanz