August 18 / 13.00 Stratford

13.00

Good To Firm

Wildix Way Novices’ Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £3485.44
  • 2m 2f 148y
  • Class 5
  • 7 runners
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Wildix Way Novices’ Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Scattered showers

15/8 (Won)

  • Win: £2.10
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 358-1 CD

Last run: 39 days

W: 11st 6lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 96

Form & Verdict
Pretty consistent on AW during the winter and displayed improvement over hurdles to make winning handicap debut over C&D (good) last month, keeping on well to fend off a very progressive rival; 5lb higher now but still an obvious one to consider.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

(7)

14th Dec 2024

Standard

2m 0f 120y

Class 5

19:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Eagles Realm

10st 1lb

J: Jack Doughty

T: David Killahena & Graeme McPherson

Four wins (Class 6) on AW last autumn/winter; respectable third at this course most recently; place possibilities off unchanged mark.

8/1

4th

2

(7)

14th Dec 2024

Standard

2m 0f 120y

Class 5

19:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Eagles Realm

10st 1lb

J: Jack Doughty

T: David Killahena & Graeme McPherson

Four wins (Class 6) on AW last autumn/winter; respectable third at this course most recently; place possibilities off unchanged mark.

8/1

3rd

11

(2)

23rd Nov 2024

Standard

1m 5f 219y

Class 5

19:55 Wolverhampton (AW)

Eagles Realm

9st 4lb

J: Mason Paetel

T: David Killahena & Graeme McPherson

Four wins on Tapeta at up to 2m last autumn/winter; ran okay over 1m4f here last week given he wants further.

12/1

7/1

  • Place: £1.80

Form: 329

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 8lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 98

Form & Verdict
Fairly useful Flat-racer who was placed on first two hurdling starts (2m1f/2m); behind Copper Fox and soundly beaten on last month's handicap hurdle debut but could still have significant untapped potential in this sphere.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14th

2

(1)

3rd Mar 2023

Standard

1m 4f 0y

18:30 Dundalk (AW)

Balearic

10st 1lb

J: Jack Kearney

T: Richard John O’Brien

Two Flat wins in Britain and second three times over hurdles for Jonjo O'Neill; struggled over 1m on his only Flat start last season; probably best watched now.

16/1

2nd

5

13th Sep 2022

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 5

13:50 Uttoxeter

Balearic

11st 6lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Jonjo O’Neill

towards rear of midfield, going okay but in rear and still plenty to do home turn, headway 2 out, soon pushed along, ridden and chased leader approaching last, kept on but no impression run-in

12/1

6

7th Sep 2022

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 5

15:45 Uttoxeter

Balearic

11st 2lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo O’Neill

Two Flat wins (both in blinkers) but yet to score over hurdles; easily beaten when second at Stratford last month and now takes a serious step up in trip; more to prove than a few.

13/2

Form: 5/6-45

Last run: 62 days

W: 10st 7lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
Safely held after racing prominently in two handicap hurdles for new stable this spring (both 2m, good) and now 0-10 overall; combination of subsequent wind op and first-time tongue-tie is a possible source of improvement today, though.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

7

19th Oct 2022

Good

2m 3f 49y

Class 5

17:10 Fontwell

Brooklyn Belle

10st 2lb

J: Harriet Tucker

T: Alex Hales

prominent, mistake 2 out (usual 3 out), pushed along and dropped to rear home turn, got behind before last, soon beaten

10/1

3rd

8

18th Aug 2022

Good To Firm

2m 2f 148y

Class 5

13:00 Stratford

Brooklyn Belle

10st 7lb

J: Harriet Tucker

T: Alex Hales

held up in rear, pushed along 3 out, ridden and outpaced after 2 out, kept on

10/1

Form: -35366

Last run: 18 days

W: 10st 8lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Kept on well for third at Southwell (2m, good) in June and is now 5lb below that mark but wasn't in same form on either subsequent appearance; now 0-7 over hurdles and others here have more persuasive profiles.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

7

3rd Sep 2022

Good

2m 2f 148y

Class 5

14:24 Stratford

Stigwood

10st 2lb

J: Tom Buckley

T: Alex Hales

prominent, went second 2nd, lost second and prominent after 3rd, mistake 2 out, outpaced and dropped to last when switched right approaching last, rallied run-in, went third post, rider dropped reins and horse jumped the hurdle after the winning post

11/2

4th

7

18th Aug 2022

Good To Firm

2m 2f 148y

Class 5

13:00 Stratford

Stigwood

10st 8lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Alex Hales

disputed lead, niggled along after 3 out, ridden and lost position after 2 out, weakened approaching last

10/1

6th

7

31st Jul 2022

Good

2m 2f 140y

Class 5

15:50 Market Rasen

Stigwood

10st 10lb

J: Harriet Tucker

T: Alex Hales

held up in rear on inner, not fluent 1st, pushed along and outpaced after 3 out, some headway after last, never on terms

10/1

Form: 33-340 D

Last run: 48 days

W: 11st 10lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 96

Form & Verdict
Well beaten when upped to 2m5f last month but made the frame in his first two handicaps (2m1f/2m) and is now 4lb lower; player if back on song.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

2nd Jun 2026

Good

2m 4f 88y

Class 5

15:00 Southwell

Henry Box Brown

10st 9lb

J: Ellis Collier

T: Mrs C Williams

Last win came in December 2024 off 6lb higher; hasn't been firing on all cylinders recently but is down to a career-low mark and cannot dismiss.

7/1

6th

11

21st Apr 2026

Soft

2m 7f 177y

Class 5

18:42 Ffos Las

Henry Box Brown

10st 5lb

J: Ellis Collier

T: Mrs C Williams

Returned from three-month break with respectable fourth here (2m3f, soft) in March last time and will be fine over this longer trip, but he's not really been firing on all cylinders since last summer; others appeal more.

14/1

4th

5

16th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 3f 83y

Class 5

15:00 Ffos Las

Henry Box Brown

11st 2lb

J: Ellis Collier

T: Mrs C Williams

Seemingly aided by addition of cheekpieces when making the frame three consecutive times (2m7f-3m) towards end of last year but still wasn't really firing on all cylinders; should be fine over this shorter trip but the headgear is missing today and he needs to have been refreshed by his three-month break.

8/1

Form: 23133

Last run: 20 days

W: 12st 1lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 101

Form & Verdict
Safely held in third in both handicaps since winning Uttoxeter maiden (2m, good) in June, more recently when fitted with cheekpieces (retained) three weeks ago, but ought to be suited by today's step up in trip and may yet have a bigger run in him.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

5

7th Jun 2024

Good

2m 4f 139y

Class 5

15:18 Market Rasen

Copper Fox

11st 0lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

Won a maiden hurdle at Uttoxeter in June 2022 (2m, good); some fair efforts over fences and hurdles without winning since, last time finishing creditable fifth in handicap hurdle at Sedgefield (2m1f, good; cheekpieces tried); headgear retained; worth considering.

13/2

5th

4

10th May 2024

Good

2m 0f 178y

Class 5

20:05 Sedgefield

Copper Fox

11st 7lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Did not progress after winning maiden hurdle in June 2022 but gave pretty good account when close fourth of 11 at Huntingdon (2m3f, good) a fortnight ago; drops back in trip with tongue-tie and cheekpieces both refitted; one to consider.

4/1

5th

4

10th May 2024

Good

2m 0f 178y

Class 5

20:05 Sedgefield

Copper Fox

11st 7lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Did not progress after winning maiden hurdle in June 2022 but gave pretty good account when close fourth of 11 at Huntingdon (2m3f, good) a fortnight ago; drops back in trip with tongue-tie and cheekpieces both refitted; one to consider.

4/1

OUR TIP

Form: 33

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 7lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
Fair on the Flat (albeit a maiden), and placed in two run-of-the-mill maiden hurdles this summer (2m2f/2m); not obviously well treated for today's handicap hurdle debut but has scope for improvement; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

3

12th Sep 2022

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

16:10 Worcester

Gold Wing

11st 10lb

J: Mitchell Bastyan

T: Milton Harris

took keen hold, held up in rear, headway home turn, ridden before 3 out, weakened after 2 out

4/1

4

23rd Aug 2022

Good

2m 0f 145y

Class 4

14:15 Bangor-on-Dee

Gold Wing

10st 13lb

J: Mitchell Bastyan

T: Milton Harris

Placed in eight of her 17 career starts but still awaiting a win; fair third in two maiden races last month and should be on the premises again.

9/2

4

18th Aug 2022

Good To Firm

2m 2f 148y

Class 5

13:00 Stratford

Gold Wing

11st 7lb

J: Mitchell Bastyan

T: Milton Harris

Fair on the Flat (albeit a maiden), and placed in two run-of-the-mill maiden hurdles this summer (2m2f/2m); not obviously well treated for today's handicap hurdle debut but has scope for improvement; respected.

4/1

Non-runners

Copper Fox, Gold Wing, Lady Samson

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £4.60
Straight Forecast £5.28
Trifecta £25.70

Selections

POSTDATA:

Eagle's Realm

RP Ratings:

Gold Wing

SPOTLIGHT:

Balearic

Daily Express:

Copper Fox

WEST COUNTRY:

Balearic

Telegraph:

Eagle's Realm

The Guardian:

Eagle's Realm

Daily Mail:

Eagle's Realm

Daily Mirror:

Eagle's Realm

The Sun:

Eagle's Realm

The Star:

Eagle's Realm

The Times:

Gold Wing

Daily Record:

Gold Wing