March 20 / 16.40 Chepstow

16.40

Good

Don & Low Champions Cup’ Novices’ Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £3247.81
  • 2m 3f 100y
  • Class 5
  • 9 runners
SKY
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Don & Low Champions Cup’ Novices’ Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

10/1 (Won)

  • Win: £4.00
  • Place: £1.40

Form: 7455

Last run: 49 days

W: 11st 11lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Won a 3m point on heavy; yet to be that competitive under rules but has been running behind some useful horses and this is his handicap debut; had wind surgery and now tries a tongue-tie; possible improver.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

5

6th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

16:40 Ffos Las

Copper Jack

11st 5lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Anthony Charlton

Point winner; made his handicap debut at Chepstow (extended 2m3f, good) 17 days ago, following wind surgery and with tongue tied, and he raised his game dramatically to justify favouritism in nine-runner race by 8l under Callum Pritchard; up 9lb but good chance to score again.

3/1

3rd

5

6th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

16:40 Ffos Las

Copper Jack

11st 5lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Anthony Charlton

Point winner; made his handicap debut at Chepstow (extended 2m3f, good) 17 days ago, following wind surgery and with tongue tied, and he raised his game dramatically to justify favouritism in nine-runner race by 8l under Callum Pritchard; up 9lb but good chance to score again.

3/1

1st

3

20th Mar 2025

Good

2m 3f 100y

Class 5

16:40 Chepstow

Copper Jack

11st 11lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Anthony Charlton

Won a 3m point on heavy; yet to be that competitive under rules but has been running behind some useful horses and this is his handicap debut; had wind surgery and now tries a tongue-tie; possible improver.

10/1

16/1

  • Place: £1.80

Form: 84-P77

Last run: 44 days

W: 10st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Maiden who is 0-6 in handicaps and hasn't progressed from running okay in two of his first three; showed no benefit for wind surgery last time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

16th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 5

18:20 Uttoxeter

Getuptheyard

10st 12lb

J: David Noonan

T: Nigel Hawke

Maiden who fell in consecutive chases last autumn and was tailed off in 3m handicap hurdle on latest outing in November; has something to prove after a layoff; had wind surgery in March.

9/1

2

7th Oct 2025

Good

2m 7f 129y

Class 5

16:07 Huntingdon

Getuptheyard

11st 6lb

J: Lorcan Murtagh

T: Nigel Hawke

0-13 over hurdles but was runner-up three consecutive times in the spring (2m3f-2m7f, good); in contention for a place behind a handicap blot before penultimate-fence fall on last month's chasing debut at Uttoxeter (2m4f, good); good chance here if his confidence has not been dented.

4/1

OUR TIP

6/1

  • Place: £2.20

Form: 2-2P54

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 12lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Unwise to blame soft ground when well held in the new cheekpieces at Warwick last time (3m2f); a repeat of his second at Ludlow in November would give him a shout, though that was at 3m.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

9th Apr 2025

Good To Firm

2m 7f 198y

Class 5

14:25 Taunton

Myfanwys Magic

11st 11lb

J: Freddie Keighley

T: Martin Keighley

prominent, briefly led after 2nd, lost position after 3 out, weakened 2 out

4/1

6th

2

9th Apr 2025

Good To Firm

2m 7f 198y

Class 5

14:25 Taunton

Myfanwys Magic

11st 11lb

J: Freddie Keighley

T: Martin Keighley

prominent, briefly led after 2nd

4/1

3rd

2

20th Mar 2025

Good

2m 3f 100y

Class 5

16:40 Chepstow

Myfanwys Magic

11st 12lb

J: Freddie Keighley

T: Martin Keighley

Unwise to blame soft ground when well held in the new cheekpieces at Warwick last time (3m2f); a repeat of his second at Ludlow in November would give him a shout, though that was at 3m.

6/1

Form: -56099

Last run: 17 days

W: 10st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
2m4f point winner; beaten about a distance in his two handicap hurdles, over 3m and latterly 2m (both on good to soft); wasn't friendless in the betting on either occasion and may yet do better.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

24

2nd Feb 2026

Heavy

3m 0f 19y

14:25 Leopardstown

Small Town Hero

10st 0lb

J: Conor Stone-Walsh

T: Ian Patrick Donoghue

Won first four races for this stable at around this trip and ran well again here at Christmas when third to Duke Silver, having made most; blinkers now replace cheekpieces but has it to do from 5lb out of handicap, and ideally may want better ground.

20/1

Form: 5-54P4

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 1lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
Has been out of form over fences this season (2-14 in that discipline) and he's 0-8 as a hurdler; hard to be at all confident with blinkers replacing cheekpieces.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

13th Jul 2025

Good To Firm

2m 3f 98y

Class 5

14:07 Stratford

Greenrock Abbey

11st 8lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: James Owen

Generally in good form for this yard over fences and was in the process of leaving behind a pull-up over hurdles when falling in a handicap chase at Cartmel two weeks ago (2m1f); it was four out so still some way from home, but he's firmly in the reckoning.

5/2

6

29th Jun 2025

Soft

2m 1f 61y

Class 5

17:40 Cartmel

Greenrock Abbey

11st 2lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: James Owen

Ended a 17-race losing run on his third start for this yard when scoring by 12l in a first-time visor at Market Rasen (2m3f, good) nine days ago; still well treated on older form despite an 11lb rise, but needs to bounce back after pulling up over hurdles here on Friday.

11/4

13

27th Jun 2025

Good

2m 1f 46y

Class 4

17:30 Cartmel

Greenrock Abbey

10st 4lb

J: Miss Heidi Palin

T: James Owen

Came good for new stable at third attempt, with 12l success over fences at Market Rasen (2m3f, good; first-time visor) a week ago; only 1lb higher for this return to hurdling and won't mind if there's rain about; major player.

2/1

Form: 3554F5

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 3lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Her first encounter with heavy ground when tailed off on handicap debut (3m; 17-2); may fare better under drier conditions and her qualifying runs weren't devoid of promise.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

5th Apr 2025

Good

2m 3f 100y

Class 5

16:38 Chepstow

Tillaway

11st 8lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Tom George

Still unexposed after only five hurdling starts but was well beaten in her first two handicaps, the latter over C&D (good) 16 days ago.

8/1

5th

6

5th Apr 2025

Good

2m 3f 100y

Class 5

16:38 Chepstow

Tillaway

11st 8lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Tom George

Still unexposed after only five hurdling starts but was well beaten in her first two handicaps, the latter over C&D (good) 16 days ago.

8/1

6th

5

20th Mar 2025

Good

2m 3f 100y

Class 5

16:40 Chepstow

Tillaway

11st 3lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Tom George

Her first encounter with heavy ground when tailed off on handicap debut (3m; 17-2); may fare better under drier conditions and her qualifying runs weren't devoid of promise.

10/1

Form: 338U3

Last run: 18 days

W: 12st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Winning pointer who started out under rules with positive runs and got back on track when a 6l third on his recent handicap debut at Doncaster (2m5f, good); raced freely that day so dropping back in trip might be a good thing.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

8th Oct 2025

Good To Firm

1m 7f 169y

Class 4

14:35 Ludlow

Sergeant Fury

11st 12lb

J: Jack Hogan

T: Harry Derham

5yo who won twice in novice company this spring before making all in a match at Newton Abbot (2m1f, good) in July; held in second of five there last time but that was another creditable effort and he still has potential in this sphere; key player.

6/4

2

21st Aug 2025

Good

2m 0f 167y

Class 4

15:55 Newton Abbot

Sergeant Fury

11st 8lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

Improving 5yo who won twice in novice company this spring and made all in C&D match (also on good ground) when back in a handicap last month; contests a much deeper race today but still commands respect.

5/2

1st

1

20th Jul 2025

Good

2m 0f 167y

Class 4

14:25 Newton Abbot

Sergeant Fury

11st 13lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

Well beaten in latest handicap (March) and now 5lb higher but was a dual winner back in novice company this spring (2m/2m2f, good); evidently in good nick and has obvious claims in this small field.

Evs

Form: 5-155P

Last run: 41 days

W: 11st 11lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Made successful return in a winnable 2m novice at Plumpton (good to soft; first-time hood) and essentially disappointing since, including on his handicap debut last time at Kempton (2m5f, good to soft); this should be easier and he remains lightly raced.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

2nd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 16y

Class 4

15:00 Chepstow

Touquet

11st 6lb

J: James Davies

T: Nick Gifford

Seemingly aided by new tongue-tie when winning twice at Huntingdon (2m, good to soft/soft) during the winter, and was not discredited when second to revitalised subsequent winner at Wincanton (1m7f, good to soft) last month; sometimes races a bit too freely but should be fine on this left-handed track; respected.

5/2

2nd

1

5th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 149y

Class 4

14:37 Wincanton

Touquet

11st 8lb

J: James Davies

T: Nick Gifford

Always the risk his reluctance to settle will temper his late effort, as it did when over 1l behind A Great Excuse at Lingfield in December; 2-2 at Huntingdon since, however, deriving the benefit of the tongue tie once again when making most there latest (soft); 5lb rise appears pretty fair.

11/8

1st

4

22nd Jan 2026

Soft

2m 0f 104y

Class 4

12:28 Huntingdon

Touquet

11st 7lb

J: James Davies

T: Nick Gifford

Last year wasn't all plain sailing but he delivered on previous chasing promise when scoring over C&D (good to soft; first-time tongue-tie) just before Christmas and should be fine on the slower ground today; respected.

5/2

Form: 5-700F

Last run: 8 days

W: 10st 3lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Modest form and was 25-1 when departing early on last week's handicap debut; now hooded.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

6th Jun 2025

Good

2m 7f 32y

Class 5

16:40 Bangor-on-Dee

Lakes Aventurine

10st 9lb

J: James Best

T: Harriet Dickin

Kept on well to beat Clover Pass and open account at Ludlow (2m5f, good) last month, her eighth start over hurdles; that form isn't anything to get too excited about but further progress is possible over the longer trip here.

7/1

1st

5

11th May 2025

Good

2m 5f 55y

Class 5

16:25 Ludlow

Lakes Aventurine

10st 2lb

J: James Best

T: Harriet Dickin

Encouraging run when 5l fifth of 13 over C&D (good to soft) last month; however, she needs to build on that performance if she's to get off the mark today and her profile isn't overly convincing.

8/1

1st

5

11th May 2025

Good

2m 5f 55y

Class 5

16:25 Ludlow

Lakes Aventurine

10st 2lb

J: James Best

T: Harriet Dickin

Encouraging run when 5l fifth of 13 over C&D (good to soft) last month; however, she needs to build on that performance if she's to get off the mark today and her profile isn't overly convincing.

8/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £18.60
Straight Forecast £17.70
Tricast £82.17
Trifecta £88.80

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Sergeant Fury

RP RATINGS:

Getuptheyard

POSTDATA:

Copper Jack

The Star:

Greenrock Abbey

The Times:

Sergeant Fury

Telegraph:

Sergeant Fury

The Guardian:

Sergeant Fury

Daily Mail:

Sergeant Fury

Daily Mirror:

Sergeant Fury

The Sun:

Sergeant Fury

Daily Record:

Sergeant Fury

D Express:

Getuptheyard