13.35
HeavyHappy 80th Birthday Sheila James Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)
- Prize money: £3812.2
- 1m 7f 50y
- Class 4
- 8 runners
Runners: 8 runners
Type: Hurdle Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Light rain
Abandoned
Form: 593
Last run: 15 days
W: 11st 7lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
7 |
28th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 3m 0f 10y Class 4 |
11st 10lb |
0-6 over hurdles but he made it second time lucky over fences when justifying favouritism after a break at Southwell (3m, soft) last month; up 10lb but that was a dominant display and he could have a lot to more to offer as a stayer in this sphere. |
2/1 |
|
1st 1 |
18th Feb 2026 3m 0f 60y Class 5 |
12st 0lb |
Point runner-up for Tom Ellis; stepped up on his hurdles form when a rallying second at Fontwell (about 2m5f, good to soft) on his chase debut in November; subsequent absence is a small concern but there's likely more to come from him, with this extra distance a positive. |
7/4 |
Abandoned
Form: 2- BF
Last run: 393 days
W: 11st 7lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 1 |
17th Feb 2026 2m 4f 118y Class 3 |
11st 8lb |
Beaten by good horses in his first two runs over hurdles before getting off the mark at Ffos Las (2m4f, soft), the form of which was franked by third winning easily last week; smacks of a strong stayer and he's still entered in the Turners at Cheltenham. |
11/10 |
Abandoned
Form: F
Last run: 17 days
W: 11st 7lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3 |
3rd Mar 2025 Good To Soft 1m 7f 182y Class 4 |
11st 5lb |
held up in rear |
50/1 |
|
6 |
9th Feb 2025 Soft 2m 0f 11y Class 4 |
11st 2lb |
Half-brother to connections' low-grade C&D winner Flight To Nowhere; dam a dual point winner; seems very unlikely to meet the standard required on debut. |
66/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 08
Last run: 15 days
W: 11st 7lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 8 |
26th Feb 2026 Soft 2m 3f 1y Class 5 |
10st 6lb |
Tailed off at massive prices in his first three hurdles races (2m-2m3f); contrastingly 6-1 for handicap debut at Wincanton (2m4f, heavy) four weeks ago, after nine months off, and he did finish closer, albeit beaten 28l; dropped 1lb; work to do. |
7/1 |
|
7th 13 |
29th Jan 2026 Heavy 2m 3f 179y Class 5 |
10st 4lb |
Half-brother to two jumps winners but tailed off at massive prices in three hurdles runs (2m-2m3f) last season; now switches to a handicap but he needs plenty of improvement after 285 days off. |
16/1 |
|
8th 2 |
19th Apr 2025 Soft 2m 2f 110y Class 4 |
11st 6lb |
in rear |
100/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 05
Last run: 32 days
W: 11st 7lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 7 |
22nd May 2026 Good 2m 0f 0y Class 5 |
11st 3lb |
Yet to win over hurdles but has filled the runner-up berth on his last three starts, latest when beaten a neck at Uttoxeter (2m, good) 20 days ago; looks sure to be thereabouts. |
11/4 |
|
2nd 14 |
2nd May 2026 Good 1m 7f 168y Class 5 |
10st 8lb |
Yet to score over hurdles but has finished runner-up on his last two starts, the latest over C&D (good to soft) in March; needs to brush up his jumping but should run well. |
5/1 |
|
2nd 6 |
28th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 1m 7f 168y Class 5 |
10st 8lb |
Won on the Flat in Germany and France in his youth; 0-7 over hurdles but he was a creditable second off a reduced mark at Huntingdon (2m5f, good) 17 days ago; would have finished closer if he didn't make mistakes at the last two hurdles and he's a player if he can repeat that form back in trip. |
7/2 |
Abandoned
Form: 87
Last run: 11 days
W: 11st 0lb
7 yo Mare
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 1 |
11th Apr 2025 Good 2m 1f 162y Class 5 |
11st 12lb |
disputed lead, good jump and led clearly 6th, headed after 3 out, soon weakened |
7/1 |
|
4th 1 |
11th Apr 2025 Good 2m 1f 162y Class 5 |
11st 12lb |
disputed lead, good jump and led clearly 6th, headed after 3 out, soon weakened |
7/1 |
|
5th 3 |
6th Apr 2025 Good 2m 4f 114y Class 5 |
11st 10lb |
prominent, lost ground after 6th, outpaced and struggling after 4 out, soon weakened, tailed off |
3/1 |
Abandoned
Form: —
Last run: —
W: 10st 9lb
4 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
7 |
28th Feb 2025 Soft 2m 0f 69y Class 3 |
11st 0lb |
pulled hard, towards rear, some headway on outer 5 out, weakened quickly after 4 out, pulled up home turn |
50/1 |
Abandoned
Form: P7
Last run: 14 days
W: 10st 2lb
4 yo Filly
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
9th 12 |
6th Mar 2025 Good To Soft 1m 7f 50y Class 4 |
10st 4lb |
Triple-figure odds on both starts, when pulled up at Taunton (2m, soft) then well beaten at Hereford (2m, good to soft); others preferred. |
100/1 |
|
7th 5 |
12th Feb 2025 Good To Soft 2m 0f 53y Class 4 |
11st 0lb |
took keen hold, midfield, no impression from 3 out |
100/1 |
Verdict
Melleray Hill and Saccary can leave their first two hurdle starts behind at some point and this is an uncompetitive event. The two with most to recommend them are Bank On Frank and BOBBY’S NELSON, however, and the latter is preferred despite a 13-month absence. The form of both his point and bumper runs has been advertised and he is proven on heavy ground. [Paul Smith]
Selections
SPOTLIGHT:
Bobby's NelsonPOSTDATA:
Bank On FrankRP RATINGS:
Bobby's NelsonWEST COUNTRY:
Bobby's NelsonThe Times:
Bobby's NelsonThe Guardian:
Bobby's NelsonD Express:
Bobby's NelsonDaily Mirror:
Bobby's NelsonThe Star:
Bobby's NelsonDaily Record:
Bobby's NelsonTelegraph:
Bank On FrankDaily Mail:
Bank On FrankThe Sun:
Bank On Frank