February 28 / 15.40 Doncaster

15.40

Good To Soft

Virgin Bet Novices’ Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £4330.42
  • 2m 0f 128y
  • Class 5
  • 7 runners
SKY
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Virgin Bet Novices’ Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

14/1 (Won)

  • Win: £3.90
  • Place: £2.00

Form: 28-596

Last run: 37 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 98

Form & Verdict
Beaten a neck on his handicap debut last April (2m1f, good) but four lesser runs have followed, so has to turn things around.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

14th Apr 2026

Good

2m 2f 140y

Class 5

15:20 Market Rasen

Caramelo Rapido

11st 11lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Mark Walford

Opened his account at Doncaster (2m) in February but he beat only one in 2m Hexham handicap 20 days ago; needs to bounce back.

16/1

8th

10

25th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 48y

Class 4

15:11 Hexham

Caramelo Rapido

10st 11lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Mark Walford

Advanced his form when getting off the mark at the tenth attempt in 2m Doncaster handicap 25 days ago; this demands another personal best off a 5lb higher mark.

9/2

1st

5

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 128y

Class 5

15:40 Doncaster

Caramelo Rapido

11st 7lb

J: James Bowen

T: Mark Walford

Beaten a neck on his handicap debut last April (2m1f, good) but four lesser runs have followed, so has to turn things around.

14/1

Form: 3-9611 D

Last run: 43 days

W: 12st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Justified favouritism in his last two handicaps on soft and good to soft; it was harder work after a 6lb hit last time and now has to defy the same rise, but he has momentum behind him.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 128y

Class 5

15:40 Doncaster

The Resdev Tyke

12st 0lb

J: Tom Midgley

T: Michael & David Easterby

Justified favouritism in his last two handicaps on soft and good to soft; it was harder work after a 6lb hit last time and now has to defy the same rise, but he has momentum behind him.

3/1

1st

1

16th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 125y

Class 5

12:18 Market Rasen

The Resdev Tyke

12st 0lb

J: Ben Smith

T: Michael & David Easterby

Off the mark over hurdles at fifth attempt, rewarding strong market support with clearcut success at Wetherby (2m, soft) on Boxing Day; could easily have more improvement to come and goes on the shortlist.

11/4

Form: 445347

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
Had plenty of Flat racing and won five times; 0-6 as a hurdler and after his fourth to The Resdev Tyke on Boxing Day he ran no race at Sedgefield; others preferred.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

6

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 128y

Class 5

15:40 Doncaster

Animato

11st 6lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Had plenty of Flat racing and won five times; 0-6 as a hurdler and after his fourth to The Resdev Tyke on Boxing Day he ran no race at Sedgefield; others preferred.

16/1

7th

1

4th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 178y

Class 5

14:42 Sedgefield

Animato

12st 0lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Donald McCain

Five-time Flat winner who is 0-5 over hurdles but ran pretty well when fourth of 11 at Wetherby (2m, soft) on Boxing Day on his first handicap start in this code; today's extra yardage looks a plus and he's in with a chance.

11/2

Form: 6007

Last run: 43 days

W: 10st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Thoroughly tailed off so far over hurdles but handicap newcomers from this yard always need checking in the betting.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

14

27th Mar 2026

Good

3m 0f 26y

Class 5

16:50 Wetherby

Yummy

10st 9lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

First effort of note over hurdles when a keeping-on fourth (beaten 13l) on handicap debut at Doncaster (2m, soft) and this longer trip could make a difference according to her pedigree.

4/1

4th

10

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 128y

Class 5

15:40 Doncaster

Yummy

10st 5lb

J: Tristan Durrell

T: Dan Skelton

Thoroughly tailed off so far over hurdles but handicap newcomers from this yard always need checking in the betting.

6/1

7th

6

16th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 2f 140y

Class 4

12:53 Market Rasen

Yummy

11st 5lb

J: Liam Harrison

T: Dan Skelton

Displayed minor promise in Worcester bumper in October but well beaten on first two hurdling starts (both 2m); riding arrangements suggest Typhoon Warrior is the stable's main hope.

66/1

Form: 38UF66

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
A long way clear when falling at the fourth-last fence at Sedgefield (2m5f, good) in October and ran well to a point back there on his stable debut; she never got that competitive back over hurdles this month.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

6

17th Apr 2026

Good To Firm

2m 0f 161y

Class 5

19:10 Exeter

Prized Jet

11st 2lb

J: Ian Power

T: Jennie Candlish

Placed in a 3m hurdle (good) when trained in Ireland; has gone backwards in three starts for her current trainer, both in terms of performance and trip; latest 5lb drop sees her on a handy mark and no surprise if she can take advantage.

7/1

5th

7

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 128y

Class 5

15:40 Doncaster

Prized Jet

11st 2lb

J: Ian Power

T: Jennie Candlish

A long way clear when falling at the fourth-last fence at Sedgefield (2m5f, good) in October and ran well to a point back there on his stable debut; she never got that competitive back over hurdles this month.

12/1

6th

3

4th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 178y

Class 5

14:42 Sedgefield

Prized Jet

11st 10lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jennie Candlish

Lightly raced 6yo who was a long way clear when falling at the fourth-last fence here (2m5f, good) in October and ran well for a long way before weakening rapidly here (2m5f, good) in November on stable debut; the drop in trip could be just what she needs and she's one to consider back hurdling.

4/1

Form: 4-0P8P

Last run: 23 days

W: 10st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
In a respected yard but has offered little in either of his handicaps, at 2m and 3m (latterly with cheekpieces added); hard to make a case.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

7

2nd May 2026

Good

3m 0f 10y

Class 5

15:10 Uttoxeter

New Invention

10st 9lb

J: Toby Wynne

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Unplaced all six hurdle runs; might improve over fences at some stage but was well beaten when 33-1 for chasing debut at Bangor (3m, good) in March and could be considered only if much stronger in the betting here; swaps cheekpieces for first-time blinkers.

14/1

9th

9

31st Mar 2026

Good

3m 0f 30y

Class 5

16:20 Bangor-on-Dee

New Invention

10st 12lb

J: Toby Wynne

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Forgettable form over hurdles, including three handicaps from 2m to 3m; there's a chance he could turn out better over fences but a watching brief seems best on this first attempt.

12/1

6th

8

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 128y

Class 5

15:40 Doncaster

New Invention

10st 10lb

J: Toby Wynne

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

In a respected yard but has offered little in either of his handicaps, at 2m and 3m (latterly with cheekpieces added); hard to make a case.

16/1

Form: 432134 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 101

Form & Verdict
It's been a solid start in handicaps and held his own in a higher grade four weeks ago at Musselburgh (good to soft); the tongue-tie is retained and the cheekpieces tried last time are removed; that's no obvious negative and he can run well.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

2nd Jun 2026

Good

1m 7f 182y

Class 4

17:00 Southwell

Captain Cool

11st 5lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jennie Candlish

A fair and reliable winning hurdler who advanced his form when going 2-2 over fences in 2m1f Plumpton handicap a week ago; reverts to hurdles off a 5lb lower mark here so merits serious consideration.

11/8

1st

2

26th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 219y

Class 4

18:39 Plumpton

Captain Cool

11st 4lb

J: Luke Scott

T: Jennie Candlish

Irish point winner; 1-9 over hurdles but progressive overall and got off the mark over fences with a narrow success at Stratford (2m1f, good to firm) nine days ago; leading claims, although a 7lb penalty does ask a stiffer question.

15/8

1st

1

17th May 2026

Good To Firm

2m 0f 213y

Class 4

15:05 Stratford

Captain Cool

12st 0lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jennie Candlish

Just 1-9 over hurdles but ended last season with two good seconds at Sedgefield (both 2m1f, good), and last year's Irish point win also bodes well for his prospects on this chasing debut.

15/8

Non-runners

Tilehurst, Chevington, Romancier

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £12.90
Straight Forecast £10.25
Tricast £146.92
Trifecta £104.70

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Captain Cool

The Times:

The Resdev Tyke

Telegraph:

Chevington

D Express:

Tilehurst

Daily Mail:

The Resdev Tyke

Daily Record:

The Resdev Tyke

RP RATINGS:

Captain Cool

TOPSPEED:

Captain Cool

POSTDATA:

Captain Cool

Daily Mirror:

Captain Cool

The Sun:

Captain Cool

The Guardian:

Chevington

The Star:

Chevington