February 23 / 16.30 Fontwell

16.30

Soft

John & Harold Hartwell Memorial Novices’ Handicap Chase (For The Josh Gifford Cup)

  • Prize money: £3247.81
  • 3m 1f 210y
  • Class 5
  • 4 runners
SKY
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John & Harold Hartwell Memorial Novices’ Handicap Chase (For The Josh Gifford Cup)

Runners: 4 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

OUR TIP

15/8 (Won)

  • Win: £3.25

Form: 5-8P32 C

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 9lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Mostly disappointing since winning a bumper here in early 2022 but rediscovered some form to be beaten 5l and 6l in 3m2f/3m3f slow-ground chases here the last twice; off an untouched mark he should run well.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

9th Feb 2026

Soft

3m 1f 157y

Class 5

16:15 Plumpton

Record High

12st 0lb

J: Isabelle Ryder

T: Suzy Smith

1-10 over fences, the win gained over 3m2f on heavy at Fontwell a year ago; competitive in three of his four races this season and has a solid chance; first run in a tongue-tie.

9/2

1

23rd Oct 2025

Good To Soft

3m 1f 210y

Class 5

16:15 Fontwell

Record High

12st 0lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Suzy Smith

Off the mark over fences in four-runner C&D (heavy) contest in February; signed off with poor performance in April and may not find today's ground slow enough but probably still has more to offer over staying trips this season and the booking of Sean Bowen catches the eye.

8/1

5

16th Apr 2025

Good

2m 7f 177y

Class 5

19:15 Ffos Las

Record High

11st 13lb

J: Micheal Nolan

T: Suzy Smith

Lightly raced but he's going the right way over fences and was a convincing winner of a four-runner race at Fontwell (3m2f, heavy; up 4lb) in February; has missed engagements when the ground was good, including one last month, but enters calculations if this surface is thought suitable.

11/2

Form: 994372

Last run: 12 days

W: 10st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
Longstanding maiden, on a perfectly good mark but he has to prove he can get the job done; beaten 23l two runs back and only three completed when he was second on his return to hurdles at Lingfield (2m7f, heavy); cheekpieces worn the last twice are replaced by blinkers.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

6th Apr 2026

Good

3m 1f 44y

Class 5

16:30 Hereford

Jukebox DEddy

11st 10lb

J: Rian Corcoran

T: Tom Gretton

Below best on soft two starts ago but he showed tenacity when hanging on to his lead at Huntingdon (3m, good) last month under Rian Corcoran; back up 2lb but he can find further mild improvement; respected.

6/4

1st

4

11th Mar 2026

Good

2m 7f 129y

Class 5

16:55 Huntingdon

Jukebox DEddy

11st 2lb

J: Rian Corcoran

T: Tom Gretton

Made the breakthrough in a first-time visor when scoring at Market Rasen (3m, good to soft) in December and he followed up at Taunton (about 3m2f, good) at the end of that month; last of three finishers when up in grade on soft ground at Doncaster in January but good chance he can bounce back in this company on the forecast sounder surface.

10/11

3rd

6

23rd Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 214y

Class 4

15:25 Doncaster

Jukebox DEddy

10st 7lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Tom Gretton

Has improved all of a sudden since fitted with this headgear, winning Class 5s at Market Rasen (3m, good to soft) and Taunton (3m2f, good); up another 8lb for last time but he had them well strung out and he's receiving plenty of weight from his rivals.

7/4

Form: P6-212 C

Last run: 254 days

W: 12st 0lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
First hurdle win came on soft and the second was on good ground over this sort of trip here last June, after which he went close two days later at Newton Abbot; only 2lb higher than last time but he's steered clear of fences since falling on his debut in this discipline 13 months ago.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

7

20th Jul 2025

Good

3m 2f 105y

Class 4

16:42 Newton Abbot

Dear Ralphy

11st 1lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Anthony Honeyball

Several good efforts in defeat since 3m2f win at Fontwell (good) in June 2024, although his form did dip over C&D last time out; versatile regarding the ground and can be competitive on the earlier runs.

5/1

6

24th Jun 2025

Good

3m 2f 105y

Class 4

20:27 Newton Abbot

Dear Ralphy

11st 2lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Anthony Honeyball

Generally consistent 9yo who has found one too good on his last four starts, including when turned over at short odds latest; still 7lb above last summer's win and, while he should be thereabouts again, he'll likely prove vulnerable to less-exposed rivals for the win.

5/1

2nd

3

26th May 2025

Good

3m 1f 10y

Class 4

14:01 Huntingdon

Dear Ralphy

11st 2lb

J: Chad Bament

T: Anthony Honeyball

Largely consistent 9yo who lost out only by a head in first-time visor at Fontwell (3m2f, good) 19 days ago and again ran well when second over C&D (good) on Tuesday; Chad Bament looks excellent value for his 8lb claim against other conditional riders today; major player.

2/1

Form: -P5634 D

Last run: 17 days

W: 10st 6lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Won two staying handicap hurdles last winter, on good to soft and heavy; hasn't reached the same heights this season (sent chasing for last four runs) but the upside is that he's back on a very good mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

3rd Apr 2025

Good

3m 0f 217y

Class 5

15:05 Plumpton

Abbeyhill

10st 13lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Neil Mulholland

Dual hurdle winner last season (once over C&D) but was pulled up on reappearance outing in October and has largely been disappointing over fences since (five starts); seems very versatile regarding ground but reverts to hurdling with quite a bit to prove; swaps cheekpieces for first-time blinkers.

7/2

4th

5

3rd Apr 2025

Good

3m 0f 217y

Class 5

15:05 Plumpton

Abbeyhill

10st 13lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Neil Mulholland

led, awkward jump and reminders 1st, headed 1st, bad mistake and lost ground 10th, weakened before 2 out

7/2

4th

4

23rd Feb 2025

Soft

3m 1f 210y

Class 5

16:30 Fontwell

Abbeyhill

10st 6lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Neil Mulholland

Won two staying handicap hurdles last winter, on good to soft and heavy; hasn't reached the same heights this season (sent chasing for last four runs) but the upside is that he's back on a very good mark.

9/2

Non-runners

Daring Plan

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £6.10
Straight Forecast £6.39
Trifecta £25.90

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Record High

RP RATINGS:

Jukebox d'Eddy

Daily Mirror:

Dear Ralphy

The Times:

Daring Plan

POSTDATA:

Abbeyhill

Telegraph:

Jukebox d'Eddy

The Sun:

Dear Ralphy

D Express:

Record High

The Star:

Record High

Daily Record:

Record High