February 06 / 16.15 Ffos Las

16.15

Heavy

Celtic Subaru Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £4066.37
  • 2m 4f 0y
  • Class 4
  • 7 runners
SKY
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Celtic Subaru Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Sunny

3/1 (Won)

  • Win: £2.50
  • Place: £1.30

Form: 4255-5

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Second in an Irish point and in a Wincanton novice hurdle (extended 2m5f, heavy); should stay further than this in time but not disgraced on handicap/seasonal debut (weak in the betting) and might have come on markedly since that run; one to consider.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

23rd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 4

17:15 Perth

Casual Observer

12st 0lb

J: Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: Harry Derham

Winning hurdler (2m4f, heavy) who has shown promise in defeat over 2m4f on his two chase starts (soft); now steps up to 3m for first time under rules (was second in a 3m point).

11/4

3rd

5

25th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 15y

Class 4

16:41 Hexham

Casual Observer

11st 9lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

Won at Ffos Las (2m4f, heavy) last February on second handicap hurdle start and it was his first run since when an encouraging second of four on chase debut at Bangor last month (2m4f, soft; albeit no match for the winner); open to improvement over fences and could play a leading role.

13/8

2nd

5

25th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 4f 72y

Class 4

17:00 Bangor-on-Dee

Casual Observer

11st 2lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

Lightly raced and career-best form in winning a 2m4f handicap hurdle at Ffos Las (heavy) when last seen 12 months ago; looks on a realistic mark for chase debut and he was second in an Irish point; fitness might not be an issue given the yard he represents.

5/2

5/2

  • Place: £1.80

Form: 2-6351 CD

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Two of his three handicap wins have been at this track, making his first appearance over 2m4f when he justified favouritism by 10l on latest outing (soft); needed plenty of riding that day from his usual rider Will Featherstone but in charge when left clear at the final flight; 8lb higher today but acts on heavy and could have more to give at this trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

5

5th May 2026

Good

3m 1f 119y

Class 4

18:47 Hereford

Double Click

11st 6lb

J: Isabelle Ryder

T: Jamie Snowden

Proved well suited by the step back up to 3m1f and good ground when keeping on well to score at Ffos Las last month; faces a different question here off 5lb higher but likely to be thereabouts if reproducing the effort.

5/4

1st

2

6th Apr 2026

Good

3m 1f 119y

Class 4

15:20 Hereford

Double Click

12st 0lb

J: Isabelle Ryder

T: Jamie Snowden

Inconsistent over the last 12 months or so, but second at Exeter in November showed that he stays 2m7f and his best effort since was on latest outing (a rallying third over 2m4f three weeks ago); much more to prove if the ground is not softer than good, but he has to be considered.

9/2

3rd

2

16th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

16:30 Ffos Las

Double Click

12st 0lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

Pulled up on chasing debut in January (wore cheekpieces) and did not see out 3m on heavy ground when back over hurdles here (first-time blinkers) last month; current mark is workable and this drop back in trip looks the right move but others in the field have much less to prove.

10/1

Form: 8-0957 CD

Last run: 26 days

W: 10st 5lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 91

Form & Verdict
2-29, with the latter win over C&D in May 2023; second three times in a row on heavy ground at Chepstow last January-March; no sign of that form since but he gave slightly more encouraging signals when never dangerous on last two outings; down the weights and a case can be made for him in first-time headgear.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

6th Apr 2026

Good

3m 1f 44y

Class 5

16:30 Hereford

Walkinthewoods

12st 0lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Mrs C Williams

Best at about 2m4f and he's looked to have stamina limitations in the majority of his runs beyond that trip; below his latest winning mark, last May, but he's failed to complete in two of his last three runs since back chasing and some reservations remain.

6/1

1

16th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 3f 83y

Class 5

15:00 Ffos Las

Walkinthewoods

12st 0lb

J: Osian Radford

T: Mrs C Williams

Unseated rider when returned to chasing in January and has suffered a heavy defeat since; on a workable mark and suited by this C&D/slow ground but has some questions to answer.

8/1

6th

1

25th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 4f 35y

Class 5

15:50 Wincanton

Walkinthewoods

12st 0lb

J: Osian Radford

T: Evan Williams

Landed the odds in three-runner chase at Plumpton (about 2m3f, good; acts on soft/heavy) in May; solid hurdles second under Osian Radford in December and still on the premises when blundering that rider away over fences (also Ludlow, 3m, good to soft) last month; drops back down in trip; respected.

4/1

Form: 4-6U83

Last run: 58 days

W: 12st 0lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Hurdling this term and third at Uttoxeter (2m, soft) on latest start was far and away the best of those runs, albeit nothing like as good as he was initially last season over fences; not proven beyond 2m, having tried 2m4f once last April, but some hope is renewed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

11

9th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 28y

Class 3

17:42 Hexham

Gardener

10st 6lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Mike Sowersby

Bidding for a C&D hat-trick having won here on last two starts (soft/good); has gone up 9lb but has run well off much higher marks in the past; could go well.

6/1

1st

3

13th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 28y

Class 5

16:30 Hexham

Gardener

11st 12lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Mike Sowersby

Five races for his new trainer and back on track, following three third places with a tenacious C&D win (soft) under Charlie Maggs in 14-runner race 19 days ago; back up 4lb but one to consider seriously.

100/30

1st

4

25th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 28y

Class 5

16:11 Hexham

Gardener

11st 10lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Mike Sowersby

Ended his time with Olly Murphy under a cloud but back on track for his new handler and he posted a solid third of eight in 2m3f handicap at Catterick last month; considered from an easing mark.

9/1

Form: 7-60P0 D

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 0lb

8 yo Mare

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
In poor form for Dan Skelton in the autumn; sold for £2,000 in October and tailed off over C&D last month when next seen.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

6th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

16:00 Ffos Las

Presenting Nelly

11st 2lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: Alison Thorpe

Triple hurdle winner on ground slower than good for Dan Skelton in 2023-24 season but badly out of form for new stable this year, most recently when pulled up over C&D (good) in March.

33/1

6

6th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

16:00 Ffos Las

Presenting Nelly

11st 2lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: Alison Thorpe

held up in rear, slow jump 5th

33/1

3

21st Mar 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

14:08 Ffos Las

Presenting Nelly

11st 12lb

J: Shane Fenelon

T: Alison Thorpe

Bumper and three-time hurdle winner when trained by Dan Skelton but has not shown much for new stable this year (three runs), and can't really blame the slow ground; sports refitted cheekpieces today; needs to turn a corner.

20/1

Form: 2-P8P1

Last run: 144 days

W: 11st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Out of sorts on the Flat this autumn and his hurdle win in September (latest run in this sphere) came in a three-runner race in Sweden; well down the weights but seemingly not the percentage call.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

(2)

20th Oct 2025

Good

2m 1f 24y

Class 6

13:55 Bath

Throne Hall

11st 1lb

J: Miss Brodie Hampson

T: Archie Watson

Won back-to-back races at Musselburgh (2m) and Les Landes (1m5f) in April but he's been generally disappointing since; on dangerous mark on this step back up in trip but needs to turn things around; tongue-tie added.

9/2

6th

4

(6)

9th Sep 2025

Good

1m 5f 192y

Class 6

14:10 Catterick

Throne Hall

10st 7lb

J: Miss Brodie Hampson

T: Archie Watson

Won back-to-back at Musselburgh (2m) and Les Landes (1m5f) in April but has been below par of late; paid the price for doing too much too soon when a weakening fifth to Stellarmasterpiece (1m4f, here; beaten 2l) on penultimate start; easing mark helpful.

11/2

6

(6)

26th Aug 2025

Standard

1m 7f 169y

Class 5

16:10 Lingfield (AW)

Throne Hall

10st 4lb

J: Miss Brodie Hampson

T: Archie Watson

Made all when winning in a small field at Musselburgh in April (2m, good) and he followed up in Jersey 19 days later; poor run at Doncaster last month but he bounced back with a solid effort at Catterick last week (1m4f, good to firm); shouldn't be far away.

7/1

Form: -1P812 C

Last run: 92 days

W: 11st 6lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Acts on soft, well beaten on heavy; took chase record to 5-14 when scoring by 20l here (2m, good to soft) in October on reappearance; just five races over hurdles, placed for first time when second of 18 at Chepstow (2m4f) latest; 5lb higher today and off three months but he's in the mix.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

5th May 2026

Good

2m 5f 110y

Class 5

17:22 Ffos Las

Boston Joe

11st 13lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Rebecca Curtis

Goes well here, gaining fourth course success with a narrow verdict in March (2m3f, soft); beaten 8l behind L'Empire Vert off this 4lb higher mark on his return visit but he was held up in a race that favoured those ridden handier; good chance.

13/2

5th

1

12th Apr 2026

Good

2m 3f 83y

Class 5

16:20 Ffos Las

Boston Joe

12st 0lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Rebecca Curtis

Prevailed from a solid rival in similar event over C&D (soft) last time, taking Ffos Las record to 4-15; should remain competitive despite going back up 4lb.

3/1

1st

2

16th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 3f 83y

Class 5

15:00 Ffos Las

Boston Joe

11st 13lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Rebecca Curtis

Gained three of his five chase wins here; must bounce back from a poor performance (over hurdles) in January but was placed here on first two starts this season (2m4f hurdle/2m chase) and has been given a chance by the handicapper.

9/2

Non-runners

Knead A Win

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £7.00
Straight Forecast £6.23
Tricast £12.54
Trifecta £14.70

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Knead A Win

POSTDATA:

Double Click

TOPSPEED:

Casual Observer

RP RATINGS:

Walkinthewoods

The Star:

Boston Joe

The Times:

Knead A Win

Telegraph:

Knead A Win

The Guardian:

Knead A Win

The Sun:

Knead A Win

Daily Mail:

Double Click

D Express:

Double Click

Daily Mirror:

Double Click

Daily Record:

Double Click