March 02 / 16.45 Southwell

16.45

Heavy

Sky Sports Racing Virgin 512 Novices’ Limited Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £3247.81
  • 1m 7f 182y
  • Class 5
  • 7 runners
SKY
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Sky Sports Racing Virgin 512 Novices’ Limited Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

OUR TIP

8/1 (Won)

  • Win: £2.50
  • Place: £1.40

Form: 8PP469

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Seven-race maiden who has shown bits of promise at 2m; looked a non-stayer over 2m5f most recently (second handicap attempt); may be capable of progress back down in distance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

2nd Jun 2026

Good

2m 4f 88y

Class 5

17:30 Southwell

This Sway

11st 12lb

J: David Bass

T: Max Comley

Gained a first win over 2m here in March and has continued in good form, runner-up in 2m4f Ffos Las handicap four weeks ago; that form has been well advertised since so he must enter calculations despite 2lb rise.

7/2

2nd

5

5th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

16:48 Ffos Las

This Sway

11st 5lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Max Comley

Rain welcomed as the ground was soft when making all at Southwell in March (2m) but beaten 11l and 23l in his subsequent races in new cheekpieces; dropped 3lb for those, so only 4lb above his win; wouldn't be a certain stayer over this far.

7/1

3rd

8

17th Apr 2026

Good To Firm

2m 2f 111y

Class 5

17:40 Exeter

This Sway

11st 7lb

J: Tom Broughton

T: Max Comley

Made all for a 2m hurdle win (soft) under Tom Broughton at Southwell on his penultimate start; up 7lb when weakening out of it at Chepstow (2m, good to soft; first-time cheekpieces); drops 1lb; goes back up in trip with more needed.

5/1

5/2

  • Place: £3.30

Form: 88-12P BF

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Low-mileage 6yo who has raced over fences since switched to handicap level, winning the first attempt but let down by his jumping latest; possibilities back over hurdles, provided he takes well to new headgear.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

24th Mar 2026

Good

1m 7f 182y

Class 5

14:30 Southwell

Classical Sting

12st 0lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: L J Morgan

Made a winning handicap/chasing debut at Kelso in November (2m1f, soft) and was then second of four on good ground; it was heavy when he pulled up and then, with a hood replaced by cheekpieces, he got back on track with another second over hurdles at this track; should be involved.

100/30

2nd

1

2nd Mar 2026

Heavy

1m 7f 182y

Class 5

16:45 Southwell

Classical Sting

11st 12lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: L J Morgan

Low-mileage 6yo who has raced over fences since switched to handicap level, winning the first attempt but let down by his jumping latest; possibilities back over hurdles, provided he takes well to new headgear.

5/2

1

12th Feb 2026

Heavy

1m 7f 201y

Class 5

15:15 Leicester

Classical Sting

12st 0lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: L J Morgan

Unexposed 6yo who won on his chase debut at Kelso (2m1f, soft) in November and he ran into a major improver when runner-up at Catterick (1m7f, good) the following month; should have more to offer in this sphere and he's respected back on testing ground.

2/1

Form: 543P25 BF

Last run: 29 days

W: 10st 9lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Maiden who has been placed several times over hurdles and fences, good second at Market Rasen (2m1f chase) on penultimate start; quite exposed but looks capable of being involved back in this sphere.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

7

8th May 2026

Good

2m 5f 89y

Class 5

15:15 Market Rasen

Lone Soldier

10st 2lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Charles & Adam Pogson

0-20 and mixed signals all season over what his present optimum trip might be; staying on but no chance with winner when second at Warwick latest (2m, good), and this contest looks a shade stronger.

6/1

2nd

9

23rd Apr 2026

Good

2m 0f 54y

Class 5

16:00 Warwick

Lone Soldier

10st 2lb

J: Lee Edwards

T: Charles & Adam Pogson

A stumble after four out was no help at Market Rasen but did finish well held and he's now 0-9 over fences and 0-19 overall.

16/1

4th

7

5th Apr 2026

Good

2m 1f 43y

Class 5

15:58 Market Rasen

Lone Soldier

10st 4lb

J: Lee Edwards

T: Charles & Adam Pogson

0-8 over fences and 0-18 overall; clear second to an improver over C&D (soft) in January and now only 1lb above that mark but hasn't quite been in the same form since; cheekpieces removed after one use.

11/2

Form: -99073

Last run: 11 days

W: 10st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
Belied his big odds in similar event at Huntingdon (2m, heavy) last time, achieving his first piece of placed form; the quandary is whether he can be trusted to back up that effort (no guarantees).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

2nd Mar 2026

Heavy

1m 7f 182y

Class 5

16:45 Southwell

Steel Soldier

10st 8lb

J: Conor Rabbitt

T: John Norton

Belied his big odds in similar event at Huntingdon (2m, heavy) last time, achieving his first piece of placed form; the quandary is whether he can be trusted to back up that effort (no guarantees).

5/1

3rd

8

19th Feb 2026

1m 7f 171y

Class 5

14:51 Huntingdon

Steel Soldier

10st 11lb

J: William Maggs

T: John Norton

Hasn't raised his modest profile in two handicaps, over 2m4f on slow ground; hard to make a case.

50/1

7th

10

27th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 62y

Class 5

16:10 Newcastle

Steel Soldier

10st 9lb

J: Jack Power

T: John Norton

Ex-pointer; only modest form under rules and others have stronger claims.

66/1

Form: 30589-

Last run: 445 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Skelton runner who isn't particularly solid on the bumper/hurdles form she showed in 2024; however, looks the type to improve now handicapping on belated reappearance; market support would heighten interest.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

19th Jun 2026

Good

2m 0f 125y

Class 5

15:15 Market Rasen

Beorma

11st 12lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Effectively runs off 3lb lower here than when last week's chase success in a Newton Abbot match (2m, good) completed her six-timer inside 15 days; unraced right-handed so far during her winning streak, but no real reason why that or the return to hurdling should present a problem; 10lb well in.

1/3

1st

4

12th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 75y

Class 4

20:10 Newton Abbot

Beorma

11st 2lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Rapidly improving mare, having won three chases and two hurdles (2m4f/2m) on good ground in the space of a fortnight, latest at Worcester yesterday on the bridle and value for markedly more than the winning margin; respected assuming she again turns out quickly, although any significant easing of the ground would be a concern.

4/9

1st

4

11th Jun 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

17:08 Worcester

Beorma

12st 4lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Fast-improving mare who has been on the rampage over the last fortnight, winning two 2m chases and two hurdles (2m4f/2m) on good ground; carries 7lb penalty for Tuesday's success over fences at Southwell but did that pretty easily; obvious contender, providing she's not derailed by significant rain.

4/6

Form: P06

Last run: 23 days

W: 10st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 71

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

Form: 6708

Last run: 28 days

W: 10st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 70

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

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £9.80
Straight Forecast £9.34
Trifecta £28.40

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Classical Sting

D Express:

Steel Soldier

POSTDATA:

Lone Soldier

SPOTLIGHT:

Beorma

Telegraph:

Classical Sting

Daily Mail:

Classical Sting

Daily Mirror:

Classical Sting

The Sun:

Steel Soldier

The Star:

Steel Soldier

Daily Record:

Steel Soldier

The Times:

Lone Soldier

The Guardian:

Lone Soldier