April 19 / 15.44 Newton Abbot

15.44

Soft

Thatchers Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £4752.9
  • 2m 0f 167y
  • Class 5
  • 8 runners
SKY
View Course
Thatchers Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

7/1 (Won)

  • Win: £2.75
  • Place: £1.20

Form: 350264 D

Last run: 13 days

W: 11st 10lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 91

Form & Verdict
Behind Opticality on his penultimate start (blinkered) and then ran just okay at Plumpton (no headgear); tries a visor but his overall strike-rate of 3-74 is forever offputting.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

3

4th Jun 2025

Good

2m 0f 167y

Class 5

16:35 Newton Abbot

John Betjeman

11st 13lb

J: Joe Anderson

T: Mark Gillard

Four-time hurdle winner on slow ground, including over C&D (raced prominently in first-time visor) in April; below par at Ffos Las (2m, good) latest, after a 5lb rise; each-way claims if he can bounce back.

11/2

9th

3

4th Jun 2025

Good

2m 0f 167y

Class 5

16:35 Newton Abbot

John Betjeman

11st 13lb

J: Joe Anderson

T: Mark Gillard

Four-time hurdle winner on slow ground, including over C&D (raced prominently in first-time visor) in April; below par at Ffos Las (2m, good) latest, after a 5lb rise; each-way claims if he can bounce back.

11/2

8th

2

6th May 2025

Good

1m 7f 182y

Class 5

17:00 Ffos Las

John Betjeman

11st 10lb

J: Lorcan Williams

T: Mark Gillard

pressed leader, chased clear leader after 2nd

7/1

9/4

  • Place: £1.40

Form: 6P43

Last run: 101 days

W: 10st 13lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
1m2f winner for William Haggas; only had four races over hurdles and was a rallying third on handicap debut at Taunton (2m, soft; first-time cheekpieces over hurdles); looks capable of winning races for new trainer Neil Mulholland.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

23rd Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 29y

Class 5

15:15 Fontwell

Clear Storm

11st 4lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Neil Mulholland

Placed in first four handicaps and looked booked for second when coming down late on at Market Rasen latest outing (2m4f, good; tongue-tie joined the cheekpieces); she'll have a part to play if returning in the same form.

11/4

5

6th Jul 2025

Good

2m 4f 139y

Class 5

14:00 Market Rasen

Clear Storm

11st 2lb

J: Harriet Tucker

T: Neil Mulholland

Placed in all four handicaps, the last three times for Neil Mulholland; slightly disappointing when third at Stratford (2m, good) in May and her tendency to race too freely remains a nagging concern but she's a contender here if suited by the new trip; tongue-tie added.

7/2

3

31st May 2025

Good

2m 0f 70y

Class 5

18:30 Stratford

Clear Storm

11st 8lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Neil Mulholland

Placed in all three handicaps, the last twice at Newton Abbot (2m1f, good/heavy) for new stable this spring; may yet have a bigger performance in her and features prominently in calculations.

3/1

9/2

  • Place: £2.80

Form: 424

Last run: 13 days

W: 12st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Modest point form and a similar tale so far over hurdles, though has shown just enough to believe he could pay his way in low-grade handicaps.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

7

17th Apr 2026

Soft

2m 4f 100y

Class 4

17:15 Ayr

Thankyouandplease

11st 2lb

J: Oscar Palmer

T: Syd Hosie

Goes on all ground; unseated four out when favourite at Wincanton last time; had been in career-best form with a win at Wincanton (1m7f) and a second at Taunton (2m3f); even more needed here, however.

12/1

3

23rd Mar 2026

Good

1m 7f 50y

Class 4

14:15 Wincanton

Thankyouandplease

11st 12lb

J: O/Cdt Daisy White

T: Syd Hosie

In career-best form this month, winning from off the pace over C&D (good to soft) before running a big race in defeat at Taunton (2m3f, good); likely to give Daisy White a good spin on her first ride under rules.

5/4

Form: U638P

Last run: 21 days

W: 10st 9lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Tailed off and pulled up in his two handicaps; unexposed on soft ground and could yet raise his game.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

12

29th Aug 2025

Good

2m 3f 29y

Class 5

17:48 Fontwell

For You Buzz

10st 6lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: Evan Williams

0-8 over hurdles but recent handicap form (2m1f-2m4f) has been very respectable and he seems versatile ground-wise; considered each-way.

10/1

5th

6

17th Jul 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

20:55 Worcester

For You Buzz

10st 5lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: Evan Williams

Moderate form so far but should be suited by trying this trip for the first time; does need improvement but it would be no surprise if he finds some.

11/2

5th

9

4th Jun 2025

Good

2m 0f 167y

Class 5

16:35 Newton Abbot

For You Buzz

10st 8lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: Evan Williams

Finished 11l behind the reopposing John Betjeman when fourth here latest and needs to improve on what we have seen so far to take a hand.

12/1

Form: -598P0 CD

Last run: 179 days

W: 10st 11lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Consistent and capable under both codes when with Alan King; has yet to reach the frame on seven starts for this stable, trying fences the last time; has a lot to prove right now.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

29th Sep 2025

Good

2m 2f 110y

Class 5

14:31 Newton Abbot

Greystoke

10st 2lb

J: Cameron Iles

T: Jimmy Frost

Regressive 7yo who was a well-beaten 66-1 shot over C&D (good) last month and is effectively only 2lb lower today.

33/1

12

21st Aug 2025

Good

2m 2f 110y

Class 5

14:45 Newton Abbot

Greystoke

10st 4lb

J: Ben Godfrey

T: Jimmy Frost

Has struggled since joining this stable, including when briefly tried over fences and in cheekpieces, but offered some hope here on heavy ground in April (2m1f); has come a long way down in the weights but returns from a break with enough to prove.

33/1

5th

7

19th Apr 2025

Soft

2m 0f 167y

Class 5

15:44 Newton Abbot

Greystoke

10st 11lb

J: Ellis Collier

T: Jimmy Frost

Consistent and capable under both codes when with Alan King; has yet to reach the frame on seven starts for this stable, trying fences the last time; has a lot to prove right now.

14/1

Form: /457-4

Last run: 25 days

W: 10st 10lb

7 yo Filly

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Running well on the Flat before her 4l fourth in a Taunton handicap last month (good); handles softer ground; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

10

18th Jun 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

17:40 Worcester

Opticality

10st 2lb

J: David Noonan

T: Tim Vaughan

Competitive on the Flat and over hurdles for Tim Vaughan since the autumn but was not at her best on latest appearance 18 days ago and others in this line-up have much stronger claims.

20/1

8

31st May 2025

Good

2m 0f 70y

Class 5

19:00 Stratford

Opticality

10st 13lb

J: David Noonan

T: Tim Vaughan

Fairly consistent (albeit without winning) on the Flat and over hurdles for Tim Vaughan since the autumn; dropped another 1lb since this month's Ffos Las fourth (2m, good); could have a say in this.

7/1

8

31st May 2025

Good

2m 0f 70y

Class 5

19:00 Stratford

Opticality

10st 13lb

J: David Noonan

T: Tim Vaughan

Fairly consistent (albeit without winning) on the Flat and over hurdles for Tim Vaughan since the autumn; dropped another 1lb since this month's Ffos Las fourth (2m, good); could have a say in this.

7/1

Form: 7565

Last run: 17 days

W: 10st 12lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Won three on the Flat for George Boughey from 7f to 1m2f; essentially disappointing over hurdles, including handicap debut latest when 33-1; now goes in cheekpieces.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

1

(3)

10th Jun 2025

Good To Firm

1m 1f 201y

Class 4

16:30 Salisbury

Organic

10st 2lb

J: David Probert

T: Neil Mulholland

Three-time winner for George Boughey last year, latterly in a seller; has struggled over hurdles for this yard (past twice in cheekpieces) and returns to the Flat weighted to her best; needs a major revival.

33/1

7

31st May 2025

Good

2m 0f 70y

Class 5

19:00 Stratford

Organic

11st 1lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Neil Mulholland

Developed into fairly useful Flat racer for George Boughey in 2024 (three wins); soundly beaten in all five hurdle races for new stable this year, the last twice in handicaps, but heavy ground would not have suited on her latest outing (first-time cheekpieces) and there is still hope she can transfer some of that Flat ability to this code; watch the betting.

9/1

OUR TIP

Form: 066-43 D

Last run: 9 days

W: 11st 13lb

8 yo Horse

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Won all sorts in France but without a win of any type since 2021; questionable what he's achieved in two small-field chases following a long absence but he didn't run too badly.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

7

23rd May 2026

Good

2m 1f 77y

Class 4

15:32 Bangor-on-Dee

Dexter

10st 3lb

J: Toby Wynne

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Won five times when trained in France; first win in Britain came at Cartmel (2m1f, good) last August; has run well when in the frame since but was beaten 30l back over hurdles when last seen in November; may be better for the run.

12/1

5

27th Oct 2025

Good

2m 1f 77y

Class 5

13:40 Bangor-on-Dee

Dexter

11st 9lb

J: Ben Smith

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Multiple wins in France and won at Cartmel (2m1f, good) with cheekpieces back on (retained since) in August; well held last time when second but continues to give his running; should be thereabouts.

7/1

5

27th Oct 2025

Good

2m 1f 77y

Class 5

13:40 Bangor-on-Dee

Dexter

11st 9lb

J: Ben Smith

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Multiple wins in France and won at Cartmel (2m1f, good) with cheekpieces back on (retained since) in August; well held last time when second but continues to give his running; should be thereabouts.

7/1

Non-runners

Holy Legend, Mind Hunter

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £7.40
Straight Forecast £8.19
Tricast £56.62
Trifecta £54.90

Selections

The Times:

Clear Storm

SPOTLIGHT:

Opticality

WEST COUNTRY:

Holy Legend

RP RATINGS:

John Betjeman

Daily Mail:

Organic

Daily Mirror:

Dexter

The Sun:

Clear Storm

The Star:

Clear Storm

Daily Record:

Clear Storm

D Express:

Holy Legend

POSTDATA:

Opticality

The Guardian:

Opticality

Telegraph:

John Betjeman