Coverage: Navan (IRE), Carlisle (UK), Southwell (UK)
Document Scope: Post-Race Analysis & Results Debrief
1. Executive Intelligence & Environmental Mechanics
1.1 The Operational Landscape: Post-Race Review
The narrative of Sunday, December 14, 2025, was dictated by extreme ground variance. As predicted, the “Soft to Heavy” conditions at Navan turned the meeting into a grueling war of attrition, best exemplified by the Martin Hassett yard landing a remarkable 160/1 double with horses relishing the testing surface. Conversely, Southwell’s “Good to Soft” surface facilitated a fairytale return for Irandando Has, who defied a 1,188-day layoff to score.
1.2 Meteorological & Agrological Impact
Navan (Soft/Heavy): The ground was the primary filter. Horses unable to handle the “holding” nature of the turf were pulled up in numbers. The stamina demands were significantly higher than standard par times suggested.
Carlisle (Soft): The uphill finish played its usual decisive role, with Nab Wood demonstrating superior stamina in the final furlong of the 13:40.
Southwell (Good to Soft): Speed held up well, favoring those with a high cruising gear like One Big Bang in the 12:00.
2. Navan: The Premier Irish Feature Analysis
Profile: Grade 1 Quality Track | Market Strength: High Liquidity
2.1 The 13:20 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Handicap Hurdle (3m 1f)
Winner: Found A Diamond (11/2) | 2nd: The Miracle Man (15/2) | 3rd: Gather Yourself (8/1)
The stamina test claimed several victims in this contest.
The Winner: Found A Diamond proved the most resilient, staying on strongly to lead before the last and holding off The Miracle Man.
Key Failures: The pre-race “risk/reward” selection, Clodders Dream, failed to complete, being pulled up along with Camino Rock. The heavy ground likely exposed their fragilities.
Value Play: Toor Khov, selected for his course form, finished a respectable 5th but lacked the change of gear required in the final stages to trouble the leaders.
2.2 The 15:35 Future Champions Flat Race (Listed)
Winner: Oh My Word (11/4) | 2nd: Panjandrum (6/4f) | 3rd: Passenger (4/1)
Tactical Shock: The race was blown wide open by the late non-runner declaration of the “Nap of the Day,” Keep Him Company (Allergy).
Performance: In his absence, the Tom Cleary-trained Oh My Word produced a “quality performance,” traveling smoothly to head the Gordon Elliott-trained favorite Panjandrum two furlongs out and quickening clear to win by 11 lengths.
Implication: This was a significant upset to the Elliott dominance narrative in this specific race. Panjandrum had no answer to the winner’s turn of foot on the heavy ground.
2.3 The Hassett Double (13:50 & 14:25)
The training performance of the day belongs to Martin Hassett and jockey Liam McKenna, who combined for a 160/1 double.
13:50 Winner: Battle Of Ridgeway (6/1) confirmed the promise of his recent Cheltenham third, traveling well and winning in fine style.
14:25 Winner: Soloman Lane (22/1) survived a bad mistake at the second fence to grind out a victory, proving his affinity for deep ground.
2.4 Other Key Results
15:00: Gavin Cromwell secured a 1-2 finish with The Lovely Man (5/1) beating stablemate Evies Vladimir.
3. Carlisle: The Northern Powerhouse Analysis
Profile: Stiff, Galloping Track | Key Characteristic: Uphill Finish
3.1 The 12:10 PricedUp.Bet Novices’ Hurdle
Winner: Cristal D’Estruval (1/14f)
Analysis: A predictable procession. Cristal D’Estruval justified his prohibitive odds and £400k price tag, winning easily as the “Next Best” selection. The race was effectively a paid schooling session, confirming his status as a high-class prospect.
3.2 The 13:40 Handicap Hurdle
Winner: Nab Wood (2/1f) | 2nd: Letos (11/4)
Market Intelligence Validated: The strong market support for Nab Wood (backed into 2/1 fav) was vindicated. He made smooth headway to lead approaching the final 110 yards, winning “going away”. The pre-race analysis of the betting move was precise. Letos, the Irish raider, ran creditably in second but found the winner too strong up the hill.
3.3 The 12:40 Handicap Hurdle
Winner: Pitwood Road (10/3) | 3rd: Shadow Chaser (11/4)
System Bet Review: The “System” selection, Shadow Chaser, finished 3rd. While he ran with credit, he was unable to match the finishing kick of Pitwood Road and Always A Reason. The statistical angle on Sandy Thomson’s recruits remains valid long-term, but today it yielded only a place.
3.4 The 14:13 Handicap Hurdle
Winner: Fostered Phil (7/2)
Veteran Success: The 11-year-old Fostered Phil defied his age to win convincingly. The analysis noted his “in-form” status, but the concern over his age proved unfounded against this level of opposition.
4. Southwell: The Speed Test Analysis
Profile: Flat, Sharp Track | Key Characteristic: Speed & Jumping Fluency
4.1 The 12:00 Beginners’ Chase (Match Race)
Winner: One Big Bang (8/11f) | 2nd: Kamsinas (11/10)
Tactical Deconstruction: In a two-horse affair, One Big Bang proved superior, beating Kamsinas by 5 lengths. The analysis that Kamsinas’ speed would prevail on the flat track was incorrect; One Big Bang’s jumping and stamina were the deciding factors. Kamsinas was “outpaced” from 3 out, unable to live with the winner’s rhythm.
4.2 The 13:30 Maiden Hurdle
Winner: Irandando Has (25/1)
The Story of the Day: Irandando Has defied a massive 1,188-day absence to win on his British debut for Sam Allwood. This result defies standard form logic and highlights the exceptional training feat involved. The market winner Liam Mera Kai (11/10f) had to settle for second.
4.3 The 12:30 Handicap Chase
Winner: Ali Star Bert (3/1)
Expert Selection Landed: As tipped by Betfair’s Sam Turner, Ali Star Bert delivered a “knockout blow,” recording his fifth course win. This reinforced the “Course Specialist” angle at Southwell.
5. Strategic Portfolio Review
The daily portfolio produced mixed results, heavily impacted by the late withdrawal of the Nap and the upset in the match race.

Summary
A day defined by heavy ground specialists at Navan and market accuracy at Carlisle. The withdrawal of Keep Him Company saved stakes on the Nap, while Oh My Word proved a worthy deputy in the bumper. The highlight for form students was the predictability of Nab Wood and Ali Star Bert, balancing out the high-variance shocks from the Hassett yard at Navan.