Secret Squirrel Seeks Another Big Prize Pot In The William Hill Hurdle

Hughie Morrison’s striking flaxen chestnut, Secret Squirrel, is one of eighteen declared in Britain’s richest handicap hurdle on Saturday, The William Hill Hurdle. The 2m½f contest, worth a total prize fund of £155,000, is the feature race of William Hill Super Saturday. The card also includes two Grade 2 races including the William Hill Denman Chase and the William Hill Game Spirit Chase, both worth £85,000.

Last seen when winning the £110,000 Fitzdares Sovereign Handicap Hurdle at Windsor during the Berkshire Winter Million weekend, Secret Squirrel is aiming to claim another big prize pot on Saturday at Newbury. Currently 4/1 favourite with sponsors William Hill, trainer Hughie Morrison is pleased with how preparations have gone: “He seems to have taken the race very well. We gave him a quiet week and then he got very fresh, very quickly. He is fit and well and we have just given him a few swinging canters and here we are.

“Initially I wasn’t going to run him at Windsor, and then I wasn’t convinced he was going to get in at Newbury. So, as he was in such good form, and we thought there aren’t many races worth £110,000, we thought we better go to Windsor and hopefully that has put us straight for Newbury.”

It would be a real family affair if Secret Squirrel were to win at Newbury with Mary Morrison, wife of trainer Hughie, having bred and owns the striking six year old from a family they know very well: “Mary originally had the great great-grandmother, Mayfair Minx, which she bought as a result of her being a half-brother to Vulgan Warrior who won the Reynoldstown back in 1989 and she has bred from the family ever since.

“Secret Squirrel’s dam won for us but we actually gave her away but after three years the owners said she had terrible navicular and were going to have her put down. Mary being Mary decided this wasn’t good enough, she went and picked her up and within a month she was in foal to Stimulation who we trained here and Secret Squirrel is the result.

“The big pots are very welcome; you don’t do it for the financial gain breeding National Hunt horses. You have to do it for the love of it. When one of them goes and wins, even if it’s a novice selling handicap hurdle, it keeps the enthusiasm going.”

The Nicky Henderson-trained Joyeuse, who finished second in a 2m 4f mares handicap hurdle at Cheltenham in December, is also well fancied.

Spokesperson for William Hill, Lee Phelps, said: “It’s great to see a competitive field declared for Saturday’s William Hill Hurdle, with Secret Squirrel edging into favouritism at 4/1. Nicky Henderson has won this race six times, so you can understand why punters are fancying the next-in-the-market Joyeuse at 5/1. She represents last year’s winning team and we’ll be keeping her onside at this stage.”

Eight have been declared for the William Hill Bet10 Get10 On Racing Denman Chase (Grade 2), to be run over 2m 7 ½f with Bravemansgame, who finished 8th in the 2024 King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day, the 2/1 favourite. The Venetia Williams-trained Grade 2 winning, Djelo, who finished second in the Fleur De Lys Chase over 2m 6f last month has also been declared alongside the Mason, Hogarth, Ferguson & Done-owned Hitman who finished second to Shishkin in last year’s renewal for trainer Paul Nicholls.

The Nicky Henderson-trained Sir Gino, owned by Mrs J Donnelly, is favourite for the William Hill Best Odds Guaranteed Game Spirit Chase (Grade 2), which looks set to be a thrilling renewal with six declared to go to post. The unbeaten 5-year-old was last seen winning a Grade 2 Novices’ Chase at Kempton in December over 2 miles and takes on 7-year-old Matata, a decisive winner of the Great Park Handicap Chase at Windsor last month for trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies and owners Simon Munir & Isaac Souede. Last year’s winner, Edwardstone, who beat Funambule Sivola by an impressive 40-lengths has also been declared and bids to defend his title. The Alan King-trained gelding finished third in the Grade 1 Clarence House Chase behind Jonbon last time out.

Spokesperson for William Hill, Lee Phelps, said: “While the William Hill Hurdle is the feature on William Hill Super Saturday, we’re very excited to be sponsoring the whole card. Sir Gino is undoubtedly a huge draw and is currently a 1/2 chance in the William Hill Best Odds Guaranteed Game Spirit Chase. Nicky Henderson has used this race as a springboard to the Arkle for his top novices, so all eyes will be on his Cheltenham price should he follow in Sprinter Sacre and Altior’s footsteps.

“It’s been over two years since Bravemansgame’s last victory, but he could be about to make a long-awaited return to the winner’s enclosure. We make him a 2/1 favourite for the Grade Two William Hill Bet10 Get10 On Racing Denman Chase, but keep an eye on his stablemate Hitman, who could be a lurker in the market at 6/1.”