Today / 16.30 Newton Abbot

16.30

Good

Gordon Rowe Memorial Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £7921.5
  • 2m 0f 167y
  • Class 3
  • 5 runners
SKY
View Course
Gordon Rowe Memorial Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

OUR TIP

Form: 2FP0P- D

Last run: 84 days

W: 12st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
Useful Flat form in France; after winning a maiden hurdle for Willie Mullins he was essentially underwhelming under both codes and has got nothing going in three runs for Dan Skelton, including handicaps at the Cheltenham and Aintree festivals; in calmer waters here after a wind operation and disappointing should he not show a lot more.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

3rd Jul 2026

Good

2m 0f 167y

Class 3

16:30 Newton Abbot

Charlus

12st 0lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Useful Flat form in France; after winning a maiden hurdle for Willie Mullins he was essentially underwhelming under both codes and has got nothing going in three runs for Dan Skelton, including handicaps at the Cheltenham and Aintree festivals; in calmer waters here after a wind operation and disappointing should he not show a lot more.

9/4

6

10th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 103y

Class 2

17:15 Aintree

Charlus

11st 7lb

J: Harry Atkins

T: Dan Skelton

No promise in handicaps around 2m5f (Martin Pipe at Cheltenham latterly) since joining Dan Skelton; his hurdle form for Willie Mullins came at around 2m, so it's possible the drop back in trip will help, but the yard's other runners hold more obvious claims.

12/1

22th

22

13th Mar 2026

Good

2m 4f 56y

Class 2

17:20 Cheltenham

Charlus

11st 1lb

J: Harry Atkins

T: Dan Skelton

Failed to complete on his last two runs, falling on final start for Willie Mullins then pulled up in 2m5f handicap when 66-1 for new yard; with those letters next to his name, he cannot be supported confidently in a race of this depth.

50/1

Form: 223-42 D

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 12lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Three hurdle wins at around 2m; seemed to need his run in May and then rallied to threaten an unexposed winner at Worcester (2m4f, good); that was a solid effort and he's only 1lb higher.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

3rd Jul 2026

Good

2m 0f 167y

Class 3

16:30 Newton Abbot

Continuance

11st 12lb

J: Freddie Keighley

T: Martin Keighley

Three hurdle wins at around 2m; seemed to need his run in May and then rallied to threaten an unexposed winner at Worcester (2m4f, good); that was a solid effort and he's only 1lb higher.

9/2

2nd

2

6th Jun 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 3

16:50 Worcester

Continuance

11st 11lb

J: Freddie Keighley

T: Martin Keighley

Has three wins over hurdles at around 2m; may have needed the run on his first start since January when fourth of eight at Warwick (2m, good) last month and this step up in trip should suit.

6/1

4th

2

4th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

17:00 Warwick

Continuance

12st 2lb

J: James Best

T: Martin Keighley

Three-time winner over hurdles and nothing wrong with his most recent efforts in handicaps at top tracks; every chance provided he's straight enough after a lengthy break.

5/1

Form: 2413U- CD

Last run: 75 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Filly

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Beat three rivals in this 12 months ago and has added further wins since then, on the Flat and over hurdles; only beaten a length in 1m4f handicap last time after a wind operation; not handicapped out of it by any means.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

3rd Jul 2026

Good

2m 0f 167y

Class 3

16:30 Newton Abbot

Max Of Stars

11st 7lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Ollie Pears

Beat three rivals in this 12 months ago and has added further wins since then, on the Flat and over hurdles; only beaten a length in 1m4f handicap last time after a wind operation; not handicapped out of it by any means.

3/1

2nd

5

(2)

18th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

1m 4f 10y

Class 6

13:40 Ripon

Max Of Stars

10st 7lb

J: Miss Chelsea Brooks

T: Ollie Pears

117-rated hurdler, who regularly took travelling in her stride (three wins down at Newton Abbot); won well, making all, on the Flat at Thirsk (1m4f, soft; from 7lb lower) last September; notable candidate back to this discipline following more wind surgery.

13/2

2

19th Apr 2026

Good

2m 0f 70y

Class 4

15:08 Stratford

Max Of Stars

11st 13lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Ollie Pears

Front-runner who enjoyed a resurgence last year, winning three times over hurdles and once on the Flat; absent since November, though, and will need to resume in peak form to have any chance off current mark.

7/1

Form: 3P1-12 CD

Last run: 30 days

W: 10st 12lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Once a sprinter on the Flat but has won twice over hurdles since joining current yard, a Hereford maiden and a C&D novice (both on good); hard to know what to make of his remote second in a handicap back here a month ago when the winner strolled home by some 26l.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

3rd Jul 2026

Good

2m 0f 167y

Class 3

16:30 Newton Abbot

Arctic Voyage

10st 12lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Michael Blake

Once a sprinter on the Flat but has won twice over hurdles since joining current yard, a Hereford maiden and a C&D novice (both on good); hard to know what to make of his remote second in a handicap back here a month ago when the winner strolled home by some 26l.

9/2

2nd

5

3rd Jun 2026

Good

2m 0f 167y

Class 3

16:30 Newton Abbot

Arctic Voyage

10st 9lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Michael Blake

Useful on testing ground on the Flat early in career and this 4yo has tapped back into that promise over hurdles this spring, winning a maiden at Hereford (2m, good) in April on his second stable start and following up in a C&D novice (good); trainer won this with Clearance, after whom this race is named, in 2022 and 2024; intriguing candidate back in a handicap.

5/2

1st

1

13th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 167y

Class 4

17:30 Newton Abbot

Arctic Voyage

11st 3lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Michael Blake

6f winner for Ralph Beckett and came good at the sixth attempt over hurdles with a clearcut win at Hereford (2m, good; hood removed); this 4yo now carries a penalty but has less to prove than most of these.

4/6

Form: F76-51 D

Last run: 22 days

W: 10st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced; it was only a Class 5 he won at Worcester (2m, good) but that was quite straightforward in the new tongue-tie and he's open to considerable improvement; raised a fair 6lb.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

3rd Jul 2026

Good

2m 0f 167y

Class 3

16:30 Newton Abbot

Emerald Time

10st 8lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Dom Elsworth & Ryan Hatch

Lightly raced; it was only a Class 5 he won at Worcester (2m, good) but that was quite straightforward in the new tongue-tie and he's open to considerable improvement; raised a fair 6lb.

4/1

1st

5

11th Jun 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

20:17 Worcester

Emerald Time

11st 12lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Dom Elsworth & Ryan Hatch

Runner-up in a Warwick bumper and glimpses of ability over hurdles, none more so than when falling two out at Ludlow (2m, soft) in February; lacked the pace to challenge on handicap debut at Aintree (2m1f, good) but still unexposed; tongue-tie added.

4/1

5th

8

15th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 209y

Class 4

20:05 Aintree

Emerald Time

11st 4lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Dominic Elsworth

Unexposed 5yo who made the frame in both bumpers and showed hurdling ability in his three qualifying runs in February/March; open to improvement on this handicap debut; market may guide.

12/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Straight Forecast £21.70

Selections

TOPSPEED:

Emerald Time

Daily Mail:

Arctic Voyage

SPOTLIGHT:

Charlus

Daily Mirror:

Continuance

POSTDATA:

Emerald Time

WEST COUNTRY:

Emerald Time

The Times:

Emerald Time

Telegraph:

Emerald Time

The Guardian:

Emerald Time

D Express:

Emerald Time

The Sun:

Emerald Time

The Star:

Emerald Time

Daily Record:

Arctic Voyage

RP RATINGS:

Charlus