March 20 / 15.00 Newbury

15.00

Good To Soft

BetVictor Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £8449.6
  • 2m 0f 69y
  • Class 3
  • 7 runners
SKY
View Course
BetVictor Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

13/8

  • Place: £1.20

Form: 72-225 D

Last run: 90 days

W: 12st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 132

Form & Verdict
Had some very strong handicap form even before his last two runs when second to Alexei in the Greatwood and fifth in an Ascot handicap that could barely have worked out any better, with the four ahead of him all delivering high-profile efforts in the meantime; must have every chance in this lower grade; drying ground won't bother him.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

7

9th May 2026

Good

1m 7f 144y

Class 1

13:15 Haydock

Helnwein

11st 5lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Alan King

Often gives his running in strong handicaps (second in this event 12 months ago) but losing sequence is up to 11 and he looked held when falling two out in the Plumpton race won by Indemnity last time; cheekpieces left off today; opposable off unchanged mark.

10/1

3

5th Apr 2026

Good

1m 7f 195y

Class 2

16:05 Plumpton

Helnwein

11st 11lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Alan King

Had strong handicap form even before finishing second to Alexei in the Greatwood and fifth in an Ascot handicap that could barely have worked out any better, with the four ahead of him all delivering high-profile efforts in the meantime (well in with fourth-placed Mondo Man); failed favourite backers in a lower grade at Newbury but this strong traveller might have won had he not been left in front two out (then idled); every chance should this pan out more favourably; all ground seems fine.

13/2

2nd

1

20th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 69y

Class 3

15:00 Newbury

Helnwein

12st 2lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Alan King

Had some very strong handicap form even before his last two runs when second to Alexei in the Greatwood and fifth in an Ascot handicap that could barely have worked out any better, with the four ahead of him all delivering high-profile efforts in the meantime; must have every chance in this lower grade; drying ground won't bother him.

13/8

Form: 4-1312 D BF

Last run: 88 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
This 5yo is having a fruitful season but he was beaten off this mark at Huntingdon last time (just before Christmas) and this is probably his stiffest test yet; respected but others are preferred for win purposes.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

12

25th Apr 2026

Good

2m 3f 178y

Class 2

17:15 Sandown

Across Earth

10st 3lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Won against his own age-group here (2m, soft; also suited by good) in December and has finished close up on all three outings since (1m7f-2m); must be considered on this first attempt at 2m4f.

5/1

2nd

3

15th Apr 2026

Good

1m 7f 144y

Class 3

17:35 Haydock

Across Earth

11st 12lb

J: Jude Fernandes

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Consistent for a while now and, although beaten off this mark on his last two starts, it was a pretty good handicap in which he went down narrowly at Newbury the last time (2m, good to soft); thereabouts if gelling with Jude Fernandes.

3/1

Form: 602911 D

Last run: 41 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
2-2 since the cheekpieces went on, winning narrowly at Taunton (2m3f, good) but easier when making all at Warwick (2m, heavy); a collective 9lb rise demands more but should give himself every chance under a positive ride.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 16y

Class 3

14:15 Chepstow

Cornish Storm

11st 7lb

J: Jay Tidball

T: Zoe Hawkins

Won back-to-back handicaps at Taunton (2m3f, good) and Warwick (2m, heavy) during the winter but he flopped at Newbury in final run for Stuart Kittow; new headgear is now tried and he has a bit to prove on first run for new trainer.

16/1

5th

4

20th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 69y

Class 3

15:00 Newbury

Cornish Storm

11st 4lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Stuart Kittow

2-2 since the cheekpieces went on, winning narrowly at Taunton (2m3f, good) but easier when making all at Warwick (2m, heavy); a collective 9lb rise demands more but should give himself every chance under a positive ride.

11/2

1st

3

7th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

15:35 Warwick

Cornish Storm

11st 9lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Stuart Kittow

Just held on to score in first-time cheekpieces at Taunton (2m3f, good) in December and now 2-11 over hurdles; only 3lb higher here but the slower ground is probably not in his favour.

5/1

Form: -U4P75 D

Last run: 19 days

W: 10st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Last successful 14 months ago over 2m on soft off this very mark; although that form has worked out well, he tried chasing earlier this season and hasn't offered enough back hurdling the last twice; tongue-tie applied.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

9

20th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

17:00 Warwick

Chief Sunday

10st 5lb

J: James Turner

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Dual winner in this sphere but has been operating below his best for a while and is best left alone at present.

40/1

9th

8

19th Apr 2026

Good

2m 2f 148y

Class 5

16:18 Stratford

Chief Sunday

11st 10lb

J: James Turner

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Chasing didn't go to plan in the autumn (three attempts) and he's looked out of sorts over hurdles lately; will appreciate this ease in grade but still needs huge boost from the first-time cheekpieces.

25/1

13

2nd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 100y

Class 4

16:07 Chepstow

Chief Sunday

10st 13lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Potentially well handicapped but he tried chasing earlier this season and hasn't offered a lot back over hurdles; it looks significant that regular rider Sam Twiston-Davies has turned elsewhere.

14/1

OUR TIP

Form: U/128/ D

Last run: 935 days

W: 11st 6lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 122

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

Form: -46222 D BF

Last run: 53 days

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Just the one blip in five runs since joining Henry Oliver and ran his usual honest race when going down narrowly at Hereford in January (2m, soft; effective on drier); the winner of that race has failed to frank the form but this 7yo could still be in the thick of it here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

20th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 69y

Class 3

15:00 Newbury

Nowmelad

11st 2lb

J: Lee Edwards

T: Henry Oliver

Just the one blip in five runs since joining Henry Oliver and ran his usual honest race when going down narrowly at Hereford in January (2m, soft; effective on drier); the winner of that race has failed to frank the form but this 7yo could still be in the thick of it here.

6/1

2nd

4

26th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 0f 53y

Class 3

15:30 Hereford

Nowmelad

11st 2lb

J: Lee Edwards

T: Henry Oliver

Won twice for the Newland/Insole stable in the autumn of 2024; creditable efforts in three of his four runs for current yard including when a close second in Market Rasen handicap (2m2f, good to soft) on Boxing Day; up 3lb but he went down fighting last time and that was behind a major improver; respected.

9/4

Form: 21/

Last run: 852 days

W: 11st 1lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 117

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

Non-runners

Faivoir

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £53.40
Straight Forecast £39.65
Tricast £81.87
Trifecta £194.50

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Helnwein

The Times:

Across Earth

Daily Mirror:

Cornish Storm

POSTDATA:

Chief Sunday

LAMBOURN:

Spirou

Telegraph:

Across Earth

D Express:

Across Earth

RP RATINGS:

Helnwein

TOPSPEED:

Helnwein

The Guardian:

Helnwein

Daily Mail:

Helnwein

The Sun:

Helnwein

The Star:

Helnwein

Daily Record:

Cornish Storm