February 13 / 16.55 Chepstow

16.55

Soft

Join Fitzdares At www.fitzdares.com Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £3247.81
  • 2m 7f 131y
  • Class 5
  • 10 runners
SKY
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Join Fitzdares At www.fitzdares.com Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 10 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

OUR TIP

14/1 (Won)

  • Win: £12.60
  • Place: £2.70

Form: PP4P43

Last run: 14 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Very inconsistent over last year or so and tends to hit a flat spot in his races now but kept on to make the frame on both outings in blinkers last month (2m7f/2m) and seems versatile ground-wise; each-way claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

9

16th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 7f 177y

Class 3

16:00 Ffos Las

Face DMusic

10st 7lb

J: Shane Quinlan

T: Katy Price

In good form over hurdles since swapping cheekpieces for blinkers this year and, following a win at Chepstow (2m7f, soft), reverted to chasing with clear/close second to unexposed rival here (2m3f, heavy) a fortnight ago; this race is stronger but the move back up in trip will suit; shortlisted.

4/1

2nd

1

1st Mar 2026

Heavy

2m 3f 83y

Class 5

15:30 Ffos Las

Face DMusic

12st 0lb

J: Shane Quinlan

T: Katy Price

In good form over hurdles since swapping cheekpieces for blinkers this year, most recently when winning at Chepstow (2m7f, soft); reverts to chasing on a workable mark and will be fine over today's shorter trip; respected.

7/2

1st

2

13th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 131y

Class 5

16:55 Chepstow

Face DMusic

12st 0lb

J: Shane Quinlan

T: Katy Price

Very inconsistent over last year or so and tends to hit a flat spot in his races now but kept on to make the frame on both outings in blinkers last month (2m7f/2m) and seems versatile ground-wise; each-way claims.

14/1

16/1

  • Place: £2.50

Form: 44-P1U CD

Last run: 32 days

W: 11st 3lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
Made all to cause 33-1 surprise in this race a year ago (soft ground) and bounced back to form again to win Wincanton chase (3m1f, soft) in December; current mark is workable but it's hard to predict whether he'll be in the right mood today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

14th Apr 2026

Good

3m 2f 105y

Class 5

16:17 Newton Abbot

Lightonthewing

11st 2lb

J: Ciaran O’Shea

T: Sue Gardner

Has more wins over fences, most recently at Exeter (3m, good to soft) last month under Ciaran O'Shea; failed to fire 20 days later but he's effective in this sphere as shown when a close second at Chepstow in February; yet to win from a mark this high but should be firmly in the mix.

9/2

5th

6

26th Mar 2026

Good

3m 6f 136y

Class 4

15:50 Chepstow

Lightonthewing

10st 10lb

J: Ciaran O’Shea

T: Sue Gardner

Often front-runner; ridden by Ciaran O'Shea on last four starts; 7-22 in chases (one of his hurdles wins was this track) and those wins include his last two completed starts in this sphere, the latest at Exeter (3m, good to soft) three weeks ago; this trip is unknown territory but he ran well over an extended 3m4f at Stratford in 2024; has to be in serious calculations.

9/2

1st

3

6th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 54y

Class 5

16:43 Exeter

Lightonthewing

11st 1lb

J: Ciaran O’Shea

T: Sue Gardner

Back to form to win a Wincanton chase (3m1f, soft) in December and nearly went in again back over hurdles at Chepstow in a race he won the previous year; nothing wrong with this mark and stable goes well.

3/1

4/1

  • Place: £1.80

Form: 0683 BF

Last run: 20 days

W: 10st 11lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Unexposed 6yo who made pretty good start to handicap career when clear third at Uttoxeter (2m4f, soft) last month; moves up in trip again and sports first-time cheekpieces here; could easily have more to offer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

1st Apr 2026

Good

3m 0f 150y

Class 5

15:50 Wincanton

Walkinthepresent

11st 9lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Neil Mulholland

Off the mark at the sixth attempt over hurdles when when justifying favouritism at Taunton (3m, good) last month; up 7lb but he hit a clear personal best with that comfortable success and he's a major player again.

13/8

1st

8

9th Mar 2026

Good

2m 7f 198y

Class 5

16:10 Taunton

Walkinthepresent

10st 13lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Neil Mulholland

Lightly raced son of Walk In The Park who has taken a big step forward since sent handicapping, cheekpieces on when a clear third of ten at Chepstow (3m) 24 days ago; up 2lb but he can do better still with the headgear retained and merits serious consideration.

3/1

Form: 03-2P8 C

Last run: 204 days

W: 11st 3lb

12 yo Gelding

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
Absent since struggling twice on good ground last summer; might be seen to better effect on the slower surface here but it's hard to gauge how much ability he retains as a 12yo; usual tongue-tie/cheekpieces removed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

7

25th May 2026

Good

2m 6f 31y

Class 5

14:48 Cartmel

No Rematch

10st 12lb

J: Miss Imogen Mathias

T: Samuel Drinkwater

Arrested decline when third in first-time blinkers at Perth (3m, good) last month but this 12yo remains without a win since 2023 and it's hard to tell whether the new headgear will continue to have a positive effect.

11/1

3rd

8

22nd Apr 2026

Soft

2m 7f 207y

Class 5

16:40 Perth

No Rematch

10st 10lb

J: Miss Imogen Mathias

T: Samuel Drinkwater

Second of four on stable debut here last May (3m2f, good); hasn't run quite as well since but is now on a career-low mark; blinkers replace cheekpieces.

25/1

7th

11

26th Mar 2026

Good

2m 7f 131y

Class 5

16:50 Chepstow

No Rematch

10st 11lb

J: Miss Imogen Mathias

T: Samuel Drinkwater

Returned from layoff with quite encouraging C&D fourth (albeit well held in the end) on soft ground last month but is getting long in the tooth and today's faster ground is probably not in his favour; headgear refitted.

33/1

Form: 3-0532

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
0-13 over hurdles but was very respectable second when upped to 3m at Ffos Las (heavy) a fortnight ago and might still have a bigger run in him over this sort of trip if the ground is slightly better.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

13th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 131y

Class 5

16:55 Chepstow

Klic Boum

11st 9lb

J: Miss Eleanor Williams

T: Evan Williams

0-13 over hurdles but was very respectable second when upped to 3m at Ffos Las (heavy) a fortnight ago and might still have a bigger run in him over this sort of trip if the ground is slightly better.

10/1

2nd

4

30th Jan 2026

Heavy

2m 7f 191y

Class 5

14:50 Ffos Las

Klic Boum

11st 12lb

J: Miss Eleanor Williams

T: Evan Williams

Four thirds are the best he's managed from a bumper and 12 hurdle races, including off this mark when five ran over an extended 2m4f at Leicester (heavy) last time; that's the furthest he's been and he may well need a career best to win this; ridden this season by Eleanor Williams.

7/1

3rd

7

17th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

1m 7f 182y

Class 4

18:45 Ffos Las

Klic Boum

10st 8lb

J: Isabel Williams

T: Evan Williams

raced in fourth, outpaced 2 out, rallied and went third run-in, kept on final 110yds, no match for first two

8/1

Form: 505971

Last run: 8 days

W: 11st 13lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
Very well suited by the hike up in trip at Huntingdon (3m1f, soft) last week, where she won without coming off the bridle; remains lightly raced after only five hurdle runs and is 3lb ahead of the handicapper under her 7lb penalty here; could be very hard to beat.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

4

13th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 131y

Class 5

16:55 Chepstow

Delta Blues Belle

11st 13lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Very well suited by the hike up in trip at Huntingdon (3m1f, soft) last week, where she won without coming off the bridle; remains lightly raced after only five hurdle runs and is 3lb ahead of the handicapper under her 7lb penalty here; could be very hard to beat.

4/5

1st

4

5th Feb 2026

Soft

3m 1f 10y

Class 5

15:43 Huntingdon

Delta Blues Belle

11st 8lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Irish point winner; has weak claims on her form at about 2m under rules but this much longer distance is a possible source of improvement in second handicap attempt.

15/8

5th

2

10th May 2025

Good

2m 0f 48y

Class 4

18:50 Hexham

Delta Blues Belle

11st 2lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Dan Skelton

Half-sister to high-class bumper/jumps winner Ballycasey; changed hands for £70,000 after winning slow-ground Irish point in November and has joined a top stable for her rules career.

6/4

Form: 57-865

Last run: 29 days

W: 11st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
Well beaten on first two hurdling starts but his keeping-on fifth in first-time cheekpieces at Ludlow (2m5f, good to soft) last month was more encouraging and further progress is possible in handicaps.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

2

11th Mar 2026

Good

2m 4f 145y

Class 5

13:38 Huntingdon

Hairy Potter

11st 9lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Ben Case

Failed to build on earlier promise when only seventh at Chepstow (3m) on his first go in handicaps last month; he may still do better though with very few miles on the clock.

33/1

7th

7

13th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 131y

Class 5

16:55 Chepstow

Hairy Potter

11st 6lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Ben Case

Well beaten on first two hurdling starts but his keeping-on fifth in first-time cheekpieces at Ludlow (2m5f, good to soft) last month was more encouraging and further progress is possible in handicaps.

16/1

5th

5

15th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 55y

Class 4

13:07 Ludlow

Hairy Potter

11st 10lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Ben Case

Pick of his two bumper runs clearly a 14l fifth of 12 behind No Drama This End on debut, but he's failed to progress since and has been well beaten on both runs over hurdles (2m4f/2m5f) this season; cheekpieces need to bring a major step forward.

100/1

Form: 304P6/

Last run: 670 days

W: 12st 0lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Four-time hurdle winner (2m-3m2f, good/good to soft) but not since 2023; absent since well-held sixth at Plumpton (3m1f, good) for Syd Hosie in April 2024 and can only be watched on this stable debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

9th Mar 2026

Good

2m 7f 198y

Class 5

16:10 Taunton

Hunting Percival

11st 9lb

J: Mr Harvey Barfoot-Saunt

T: Tracey Barfoot-Saunt

A fair 2m6f/3m2f hurdles scorer for Syd Hosie in 2023; off 22 months and offered little for his new yard when beating only one in 3m Chepstow handicap 24 days ago; others are much preferred.

100/1

9th

3

13th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 131y

Class 5

16:55 Chepstow

Hunting Percival

12st 0lb

J: Mr Harvey Barfoot-Saunt

T: Tracey Barfoot-Saunt

Four-time hurdle winner (2m-3m2f, good/good to soft) but not since 2023; absent since well-held sixth at Plumpton (3m1f, good) for Syd Hosie in April 2024 and can only be watched on this stable debut.

50/1

6th

10

14th Apr 2024

Good

3m 0f 217y

Class 3

15:15 Plumpton

Hunting Percival

10st 12lb

J: Micheal Nolan

T: Syd Hosie

prominent

33/1

Form: 66-47U

Last run: 17 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Ran fairly well before coming to grief at penultimate fence here (2m7f, soft) last month; remains very unexposed over this sort of trip and reverts to hurdling on a workable mark and with Sean Bowen booked.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

15th Apr 2026

Good

3m 4f 97y

Class 3

15:50 Haydock

The Grey Man

10st 8lb

J: James Best

T: Harriet Dickin

None too consistent this season but he did win in small fields at Ffos Las (3m, heavy; made all) and Wetherby (3m, good to soft) last month; this field is much more demanding company on his first venture beyond 3m.

8/1

1st

4

17th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 45y

Class 4

15:47 Wetherby

The Grey Man

11st 2lb

J: James Best

T: Harriet Dickin

Inconsistent but easily got off the mark over fences at the third attempt in three-runner handicap at Ffos Las (3m, heavy) recently; this is a stronger race but he could have more to offer in this sphere; not ruled out.

7/2

Form: 27-P68

Last run: 45 days

W: 11st 9lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

23rd Feb 2024

Soft

2m 5f 137y

Class 4

14:03 Exeter

Milan Ac

11st 4lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Rebecca Curtis

Runner-up in Irish maiden point (3m, soft to heavy) last January and changed hands for £60,000 later that month; absent since but brings potential to this rules debut and he's one to be interested in.

4/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £135.30
Straight Forecast £113.18
Tricast £458.01
Trifecta £527.80

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Delta Blues Belle

TOPSPEED:

Face d'Music

RP RATINGS:

Delta Blues Belle

Telegraph:

Delta Blues Belle

The Guardian:

Delta Blues Belle

Daily Mail:

Delta Blues Belle

D Express:

Delta Blues Belle

Daily Mirror:

Delta Blues Belle

The Star:

Delta Blues Belle

Daily Record:

Delta Blues Belle

POSTDATA:

Face d'Music

The Times:

Face d'Music