February 12 / 16.03 Hereford

16.03

Good To Soft

starsportsbet.co.uk Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £4066.37
  • 2m 3f 147y
  • Class 4
  • 10 runners
SKY
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starsportsbet.co.uk Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 10 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

OUR TIP

Form: /5-110 C

Last run: 207 days

W: 12st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Won two in a row last June (2m) and he's much better than he showed in the Summer Hurdle at Market Rasen (2m) in July last time; unraced on worse than good to soft and unproven beyond 2m1f, having pulled hard when tailed off in 2022 on one attempt at an extended 2m2f.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

12th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 147y

Class 4

16:03 Hereford

Maxcel

12st 0lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Mel Rowley

Won two in a row last June (2m) and he's much better than he showed in the Summer Hurdle at Market Rasen (2m) in July last time; unraced on worse than good to soft and unproven beyond 2m1f, having pulled hard when tailed off in 2022 on one attempt at an extended 2m2f.

10/1

Form: 06PP4- D

Last run: 357 days

W: 12st 0lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Four-time hurdle winner who was second in 3m handicap at the big Aintree meeting in April 2023, but he's 13lb lower today given that all starts the following season were such a struggle; off 357 days and it's ages since he ran over a trip this short.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

8

18th Apr 2026

Soft

3m 0f 20y

Class 2

13:45 Ayr

Pounding Poet

10st 12lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Tom Lacey

Close third over hurdles at this meeting 12 months ago (3m, good to soft) and won in that sphere at Uttoxeter (2m7f, good) last July; ran pretty well in 5l third at Newbury (2m6f, good) in December when back chasing for the first time since 2023, but this 10yo needs a bigger performance today.

25/1

3

26th Oct 2025

Good

3m 0f 149y

Class 3

12:40 Aintree

Pounding Poet

11st 12lb

J: Cameron Iles

T: Tom Lacey

Won with this visor back on at Uttoxeter (2m7f, good) in July and went close at Cartmel (3m1f, good) the following month; versatile ground-wise and can be in the mix if continuing the good work after a two-month break.

6/1

Form: 4-315

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 13lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Delivered on promise shown last spring when clearcut winner of a Warwick maiden hurdle (2m5f, good to soft) in December; creditable fifth of ten on handicap debut at Windsor (2m4f, soft) might suggest he's not on a great mark, but he makes some appeal judged on that performance (bold show from the front) and is down in class for this second handicap.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

12th Apr 2026

Good

2m 5f 82y

Class 3

16:00 Wincanton

Reallyntruthfully

11st 9lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls

Chase campaign aborted after two forgettable efforts since a winning start in October (2m3f); on a fair mark for this return to hurdles and has a strike-rate of 2-6 in this discipline.

9/1

3

1st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 189y

Class 3

14:45 Huntingdon

Reallyntruthfully

11st 9lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls

Absent since a November effort that failed to back up the form of his reappearance success (chase debut); however, may still have more to offer over fences and he certainly seems to benefit from a good rest, having gained two of his three wins when fresh.

9/2

Form: 212R-3

Last run: 53 days

W: 11st 11lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Fairly useful on Flat and won a Catterick maiden hurdle (2m, soft) last February; refused to race on handicap hurdle debut last April and put firmly in his place by a class act when back to hurdling over C&D in December; work to do but this is a drop in class.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

(5)

29th May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 198y

Class 5

15:20 Brighton

Maasai Mara

9st 8lb

J: William Carson

T: John O’Shea

Regressed over hurdles last year but there was some encouragement with a hood deployed when fourth of seven at Wolverhampton (1m4f, AW) on his Flat return last month; blinkers (retained) were back on when a pace bias and wide draw did for him at Chester three weeks ago; not entirely ruled out.

14/1

12th

7

(12)

8th May 2026

Good

1m 4f 63y

Class 4

17:20 Chester

Maasai Mara

9st 10lb

J: Alec Voikhansky

T: John O’Shea

Lost his way over hurdles last year and made only a mildly encouraging return to the Flat when keeping-on fourth of seven at Wolverhampton (1m4f, AW; first-time hood) last month; not the most obvious answer.

40/1

4th

4

(5)

4th Apr 2026

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 4

19:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Maasai Mara

9st 2lb

J: William Carson

T: John O’Shea

Lost his way over hurdles, running poorly in two runs back from a break last November; the usual cheekpieces are replaced by a first-time hood and it's hard to believe he's still up to this sort of mark on the Flat.

33/1

Form: 0-1465 C

Last run: 75 days

W: 11st 11lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Won here (2m) last January and at Kelso (2m1f) last May but he returned from a break with three backward steps in the autumn; all those were over fences and he now has his first hurdle race since a novice win in May 2023; even his current, reduced chase mark is 8lb higher than this one over hurdles.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

3

19th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 11y

Class 4

16:50 Ludlow

Guy

12st 6lb

J: Mr Samuel Scott

T: Mrs Mary Cookson

Used to like it here, not out of the first three in five starts including over fences and when winning a novice hurdle in 2023; first start for this yard when far from disgraced in Taunton hunter chase (about 2m5f, good) in January but his 20l defeat at Cocklebarrow (3m) later that month was disappointing; still not ruled out.

8/1

1

10th Apr 2025

Good

3m 2f 105y

Class 4

15:55 Newton Abbot

Guy

12st 1lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

Better known as a chaser and he hasn't been able to exploit his lower hurdle mark in two starts this year, tailed off last time at Doncaster (2m5f, good); has never run over this far either so has plenty to prove.

20/1

5th

1

10th Apr 2025

Good

3m 2f 105y

Class 4

15:55 Newton Abbot

Guy

12st 1lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

always behind

20/1

Form: 4F17 BF

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 10lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Fell at the last in his point-to-point and did so again at Bangor (2m, good to soft; form boosted) in November when he would probably otherwise have made all; made amends in some style when 8-11 in maiden at Uttoxeter (2m, soft) in December but flopped when hot favourite for handicap debut at Haydock (2m, soft) last month; looked promising before that.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

28th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 70y

Class 4

16:20 Uttoxeter

Oh My Johnny

11st 10lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Dual hurdle winner who was placed in a big field at Ascot on his penultimate run and he backed that up with a front-running at Warwick (3m2f, good to soft) three weeks ago; remains on last winning mark and he should go well again back in trip.

6/1

3rd

7

8th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 2f 0y

Class 3

16:13 Warwick

Oh My Johnny

10st 9lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Last win was off this mark; no closer than about 9l this season but was third of 18 tried in cheekpieces at Ascot three weeks ago (extended 2m7f, good to soft) and he should give his running.

4/1

3rd

10

14th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 123y

Class 3

16:10 Ascot

Oh My Johnny

11st 5lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Scored off today's mark at Hereford (2m3f, good to soft) a year ago, his second handicap, but made his jockey work very hard before eventually plugging on for modest second at Uttoxeter (2m7f, soft) in December and was pulled up on latest outing; needs first-time cheekpieces to perk him up.

20/1

Form: 5/47-P D

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 2lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Well beaten in two chases in his only races last season and no show when he reverted to hurdling last month after a 406-day absence; hard to latch on to unless he's been strong in the market.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

2nd Mar 2025

Good

2m 3f 31y

Class 5

16:15 Doncaster

Gentle Frank

11st 13lb

J: Lee Edwards

T: Henry Oliver

Point runner-up who won a novice hurdle here (2m3f, good) in March 2023; however, he struggled on his two chase starts in late 2023 and it's been the same story over hurdles this winter, following an absence.

14/1

7

12th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 147y

Class 4

16:03 Hereford

Gentle Frank

11st 2lb

J: Lee Edwards

T: Henry Oliver

Well beaten in two chases in his only races last season and no show when he reverted to hurdling last month after a 406-day absence; hard to latch on to unless he's been strong in the market.

25/1

5

25th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 207y

Class 4

14:32 Uttoxeter

Gentle Frank

11st 7lb

J: Lee Edwards

T: Henry Oliver

always behind

20/1

Form: 161327

Last run: 47 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Ridden by Eleanor Williams on last four starts; won four handicap hurdles last May-November and pushed a notably progressive rival hard at Ludlow (2m5f, good to soft) in December; weak 16-1 at Chepstow over Christmas when taking his first backward step for a while, perhaps hindered by soft ground; up another 3lb but drying ground could bring him back into the equation.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

22nd May 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

17:32 Worcester

Melton Mossy

11st 4lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Mrs C Williams

Multiple hurdle winner at up to 2m5f on a sound surface; 1-2 over fences; won a three-runner chase at Wincanton (1m7f, good) when last seen in March; encouraging record after a break; up 3lb and is unexposed as a chaser over this trip; player.

6/1

1st

2

23rd Mar 2026

Good

1m 7f 149y

Class 4

15:47 Wincanton

Melton Mossy

11st 5lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Mrs C Williams

5-19 over hurdles, with all wins gained on good/good to firm; well beaten on last month's chasing debut at Chepstow (2m3f, soft) but will be much better suited by today's quicker conditions and may yet have a future over fences.

6/1

6th

9

21st Feb 2026

Soft

2m 3f 98y

Class 4

14:17 Chepstow

Melton Mossy

11st 8lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Evan Williams

5-19 over hurdles, the latest win gained at Taunton (2m3f, good to firm) in November; makes chasing debut from fairly tough mark, though, and does not have a good record on soft ground.

16/1

Form: 255/3-

Last run: 630 days

W: 10st 11lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Runner-up in a bumper and two of his three maiden hurdles also showed plenty of ability, enough to make this opening handicap mark look interesting; those were up to May 2023 for Oliver Sherwood and the absence gives him a major question to answer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

8

4th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

16:25 Warwick

Dj Pete

11st 5lb

J: James Best

T: Sarah-Jayne Davies

Has won twice since February but he's very hit and miss, and might be better over shorter.

8/1

6

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 16y

Class 4

13:40 Chepstow

Dj Pete

11st 0lb

J: James Best

T: Sarah-Jayne Davies

Close second in this race last year; prevailed at Bangor (2m1f, good to soft) most recently, bouncing back from a poor effort and taking record since wearing cheekpieces to 2-4; likely player in the retained headgear.

7/2

1st

5

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 1f 77y

Class 4

15:55 Bangor-on-Dee

Dj Pete

11st 2lb

J: James Best

T: Sarah-Jayne Davies

Won narrowly at Ffos Las last month (2m, heavy) but his tailed-off run back there 20 days ago was a reminder of his inconsistency; he's capable, and on this ground, but comes with risks.

7/2

Form: 870775

Last run: 15 days

W: 10st 10lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Best form on last two starts, albeit still beaten 13l when 40-1 fifth of 11 on handicap debut at Chepstow (extended 2m3f, heavy) on latest; dropped 3lb and may be capable of better.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

13th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 131y

Class 5

16:55 Chepstow

Klic Boum

11st 9lb

J: Miss Eleanor Williams

T: Evan Williams

0-13 over hurdles but was very respectable second when upped to 3m at Ffos Las (heavy) a fortnight ago and might still have a bigger run in him over this sort of trip if the ground is slightly better.

10/1

2nd

4

30th Jan 2026

Heavy

2m 7f 191y

Class 5

14:50 Ffos Las

Klic Boum

11st 12lb

J: Miss Eleanor Williams

T: Evan Williams

Four thirds are the best he's managed from a bumper and 12 hurdle races, including off this mark when five ran over an extended 2m4f at Leicester (heavy) last time; that's the furthest he's been and he may well need a career best to win this; ridden this season by Eleanor Williams.

7/1

3rd

7

17th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

1m 7f 182y

Class 4

18:45 Ffos Las

Klic Boum

10st 8lb

J: Isabel Williams

T: Evan Williams

raced in fourth, outpaced 2 out, rallied and went third run-in, kept on final 110yds, no match for first two

8/1

Non-runners

Barnaviddaun

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Reallyntruthfully

WEST COUNTRY:

Oh My Johnny

TOPSPEED:

Klic Boum

Daily Record:

Maasai Mara

Daily Mail:

Guy

The Star:

Oh My Johnny

D Express:

Klic Boum

RP RATINGS:

Reallyntruthfully

POSTDATA:

Reallyntruthfully

The Times:

Reallyntruthfully

Telegraph:

Reallyntruthfully

The Guardian:

Reallyntruthfully

Daily Mirror:

Reallyntruthfully