May 28 / 16.18 Newton Abbot

16.18

Good

Chris Wills Memorial Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £5281
  • 2m 5f 122y
  • Class 4
  • 7 runners
SKY
View Course
Chris Wills Memorial Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

OUR TIP

Form: 13332-

Last run: 261 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
In this month last year he completed a good-ground hat-trick in winning at Hereford (2m3f) when 6lb lower; coped okay with the soft when second to course specialist Investment Manager here in September; chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

14th Sep 2026

Good

3m 3f 9y

Class 4

14:00 Sedgefield

Paddy De Pole

12st 0lb

J: Freddie Keighley

T: Paul Nicholls

Shade disappointing when well-held fourth at Uttoxeter (2m7f, good) in July but returned from layoff with pretty good second of four at Worcester (2m4f, good) in June and is now only 2lb higher than when winning this race a year ago (good ground).

11/4

4th

5

26th Jul 2026

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 2

16:12 Uttoxeter

Paddy De Pole

11st 1lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Paul Nicholls

Hasn't had all that much racing for an 8yo and he's a four-time winner over hurdles; not far off his best when runner-up in a small field over 2m4f at Worcester and he needs further than that ideally; player.

7/1

2nd

4

17th Jun 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 3

15:50 Worcester

Paddy De Pole

11st 1lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Paul Nicholls

4-14 over hurdles, the latest win gained at Sedgefield (3m2f, good) in September; absent since a lesser effort over 2m7f in October, though, and might not be ideally suited by this drop back in trip.

6/1

Form: PP257- CD

Last run: 204 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Chasing when last seen, going close here before two lesser runs; potentially well handicapped on this return to hurdling; peak form is on good ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

15th Sep 2026

Good

3m 0f 10y

Class 3

16:00 Uttoxeter

Bagheera Ginge

11st 11lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Two wins over 2m6f on good to firm at Stratford in the summer (both with a visor); beaten when coming down three out on same track last time (2m3f); return to this longer trip should suit.

11/2

3

20th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

2m 3f 98y

Class 2

18:36 Stratford

Bagheera Ginge

11st 5lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Front-runner who is 2-3 since fitted with a visor this season, with both wins gained over 2m6f here (good to firm); may not have things all his own way today and this drop back in trip is probably not ideal but further progress is not out of the question.

5/1

Form: 1224-9

Last run: 18 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Maiden winner who has been beaten about 18l (2m4f) and 11l (3m) in his two handicaps but both were competitive Class 2 races; respected at this easier level with cheekpieces now turned to; has form on good and soft.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

28th Jun 2026

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 2

16:03 Uttoxeter

Escapologist

10st 10lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: Nick Scholfield

2m7f winner at Market Rasen in March for previous yard and not disgraced at Plumpton on stable debut last time; had wind surgery since and now goes in tongue-tie, with cheekpieces reapplied; interesting, with a bigger effort plausible.

8/1

3rd

2

26th May 2026

Good

3m 0f 217y

Class 4

19:39 Plumpton

Escapologist

11st 10lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Nick Scholfield

Dual hurdle winner for James Owen, most recently at Market Rasen (2m7f, good to soft) in March; backed that up with a solid effort next time but was beaten 22l when favourite back there 18 days ago, which leaves him with a bit to prove; makes stable debut with the booking of Sean Bowen catching the eye.

9/2

6th

7

8th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 16y

Class 3

16:20 Market Rasen

Escapologist

11st 9lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: James Owen

C&D scorer in March (good to soft) on his first realistic staying assignment, and 3lb badly in when not quite up to defying a penalty next time; of renewed interest after a break, and a winner on good also.

6/1

Form: 5634-1 D

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 13lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Only two finished when edging home at Warwick (3m1f, good) but he's well handicapped on old form and the forecast rain will if anything aid his prospects.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

23rd Jun 2026

Good

3m 2f 105y

Class 4

20:20 Newton Abbot

Striking A Pose

12st 0lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Made all to exploit much-reduced mark over C&D in April and is only 3lb higher today but he's unreliable nowadays and was last of five at Plumpton (3m1f, good) on latest outing four weeks ago.

8/1

5th

5

26th May 2026

Good

3m 0f 217y

Class 4

19:39 Plumpton

Striking A Pose

11st 1lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Joe Tizzard

Recorded his sixth hurdle win when making all off a reduced mark at Newton Abbot (3m2f, good) in April, and his follow-up bid off this mark was respectable back there 20 days ago; capable off this mark but not without risk.

9/2

4th

1

6th May 2026

Good To Soft

3m 2f 105y

Class 4

16:20 Newton Abbot

Striking A Pose

11st 12lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Joe Tizzard

Recorded his sixth hurdle win when making all off a reduced mark over C&D (good; 4-1) three weeks ago; back up 4lb but remains well treated on old form and is versatile ground-wise; key player.

5/2

Form: /P52-6

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 12lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
His third run after wind surgery and second for this yard when beaten a head at Exeter (2m5f); stayed on well for an 8l sixth at Worcester (2m4f; again on good; handles softer) last time; considered on this return to further.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

17th Oct 2026

Good

2m 2f 148y

Class 5

16:18 Stratford

Teorie

11st 13lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: James Owen

Dual hurdle winner but his last success was in a Southwell novice (2m, good to soft) in February 2024; generally struggled last season and now returns after six months off but he's on a reduced mark and needs checking in market on his first run for James Owen; tongue-tie removed.

5/2

7th

1

17th Apr 2026

Good To Firm

2m 7f 25y

Class 5

18:10 Exeter

Teorie

12st 0lb

J: Robbie David

T: Daisy Hitchins

Two-time winner over hurdles on good to soft, at around 2m (acts on a sound surface); stays 2m5f; some way below his best since last spring; well treated on form of almost a year ago if bouncing back but has that to prove.

10/1

6th

7

26th Mar 2026

Good

2m 7f 131y

Class 5

16:50 Chepstow

Teorie

11st 9lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Daisy Hitchins

Out of form on slow ground during the winter but his recent fifth at Wincanton (3m, good to soft) was a step back in the right direction, and he might be seen to better effect if the ground is genuinely good here.

20/1

Form: /112-1 CD

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 6lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
One Flat win and three hurdle victories, doing it comfortably in the end over C&D three weeks ago (good); might well cope with the 6lb rise and any rain shouldn't hurt her chances.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

4

24th Sep 2026

Good

2m 7f 207y

Class 2

15:59 Perth

Al Sayah

11st 10lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Neil Mulholland

Five-time hurdle winner; scored on the Flat in July and returned to this discipline with pretty good third behind Divilabother at Cartmel (3m1f, good to soft) last month; each-way claims at least.

8/1

3rd

1

31st Aug 2026

Good

3m 1f 83y

Class 2

15:45 Cartmel

Al Sayah

12st 0lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Neil Mulholland

Well held when fourth over C&D on latest hurdling start but previously caught the eye when finishing strongly for close third in competitive race at Haydock (3m, good; first-time visor) and has since won on the Flat; raced mainly on good ground but was once placed on heavy on the Flat; shortlisted.

4/1

1st

1

(5)

17th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

2m 1f 208y

Class 5

15:27 Nottingham

Al Sayah

9st 9lb

J: Ashley Lewis

T: Neil Mulholland

Three wins over hurdles since last seen on the Flat, going almost two stone up the weights; withdrawn on account of unsuitable (good to firm) ground last summer, which would be a concern, but she's much better treated on the Flat now.

2/1

Form: 6U36F-

Last run: 259 days

W: 10st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
No wins in 13; has each-way claims on his best form and has undergone wind surgery since last seen; could have a part to play if resuming in good order; 1lb out of the weights.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

24th Jun 2025

Good

3m 2f 105y

Class 4

20:27 Newton Abbot

Borderline

10st 6lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Jeremy Scott

0-11 over hurdles but returned from layoff/wind surgery with promising third of seven here (2m5f, good) last month and could have untapped potential over this longer trip; one to consider.

10/1

7

28th May 2025

Good

2m 5f 122y

Class 4

16:18 Newton Abbot

Borderline

10st 2lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Jeremy Scott

No wins in 13; has each-way claims on his best form and has undergone wind surgery since last seen; could have a part to play if resuming in good order; 1lb out of the weights.

20/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £16.10
Straight Forecast £14.86
Trifecta £83.70

Selections

Telegraph:

Al Sayah

SPOTLIGHT:

Striking A Pose

RP RATINGS:

Paddy De Pole

The Times:

Teorie

TOPSPEED:

Borderline

The Guardian:

Teorie

The Sun:

Al Sayah

The Star:

Al Sayah

Daily Record:

Al Sayah

WEST COUNTRY:

Paddy De Pole

D Express:

Paddy De Pole

POSTDATA:

Striking A Pose

Daily Mail:

Striking A Pose

Daily Mirror:

Striking A Pose