July 29 / 13.25 Bangor-on-Dee

13.25

Good

R W Hough & Sons Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (Div I)

  • Prize money: £3430.98
  • 2m 7f 7y
  • Class 5
  • 9 runners
SKY
View Course
R W Hough & Sons Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (Div I)

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

6/1 (Won)

  • Win: £3.75
  • Place: £1.30

Form: 30677-

Last run: 175 days

W: 10st 9lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Beaten a minimum of 30l in three novice hurdles last winter; plenty to prove on handicap debut, after a break, on that basis but was placed in two bumpers a year ago (on good ground); Finn Lambert's 8lb claim a major plus and not at all dismissed; up in trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

6

2nd Nov 2025

Good

3m 1f 10y

Class 5

16:05 Huntingdon

Fine By Me

11st 11lb

J: Jamie Brace

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

2lb lower than when runner-up on good ground at Warwick (3m2f) and Worcester (2m7f) in the summer, but not at his best since including when sixth of 11 behind The Wise Traveller at Plumpton (3m1f, good) six weeks ago; more needed.

14/1

9th

6

2nd Nov 2025

Good

3m 1f 10y

Class 5

16:05 Huntingdon

Fine By Me

11st 11lb

J: Jamie Brace

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

2lb lower than when runner-up on good ground at Warwick (3m2f) and Worcester (2m7f) in the summer, but not at his best since including when sixth of 11 behind The Wise Traveller at Plumpton (3m1f, good) six weeks ago; more needed.

14/1

9th

6

2nd Nov 2025

Good

3m 1f 10y

Class 5

16:05 Huntingdon

Fine By Me

11st 11lb

J: Jamie Brace

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

2lb lower than when runner-up on good ground at Warwick (3m2f) and Worcester (2m7f) in the summer, but not at his best since including when sixth of 11 behind The Wise Traveller at Plumpton (3m1f, good) six weeks ago; more needed.

14/1

OUR TIP

11/4

  • Place: £1.10

Form: 5-3362

Last run: 8 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 98

Form & Verdict
Doncaster winner in January and quite consistent since; good second (clear of the the rest) at Worcester eight days ago and should be firmly involved once again, with Theo Gillard's 3lb claim a plus.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

3

9th Feb 2023

Good

3m 1f 10y

Class 5

15:35 Huntingdon

Bird On The Wire

11st 8lb

J: William Maggs

T: Donald McCain

in touch with leaders, mistake 4 out, soon ridden, well held but kept on and went third run-in

4/1

10th

2

10th Jan 2023

Good

3m 0f 84y

Class 5

12:15 Doncaster

Bird On The Wire

12st 1lb

J: William Maggs

T: Donald McCain

Good third over C&D (good) under William Maggs in November latest; conditions suit and interesting with blinkers tried but record of 1-18 is offputting.

7/1

3rd

6

25th Nov 2022

Good

3m 0f 84y

Class 4

12:00 Doncaster

Bird On The Wire

10st 8lb

J: William Maggs

T: Donald McCain

Only win in 17 starts over hurdles was when scoring off a 6lb lower mark over C&D in January; some fair efforts since, though below-par last time (September).

6/1

7/2

  • Place: £1.40

Form: -41323

Last run: 25 days

W: 10st 13lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Wide-margin winner at Southwell in May (made all) and fair displays since; third (of 17) at Worcester this month and could be hard to catch if able to establish a lead.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13

11th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 194y

Class 5

12:35 Hereford

Robeam

10st 2lb

J: Lewis Stones

T: Michael Mullineaux

Dual hurdle winner in 2022; placed twice on the AW this autumn but his last two Flat runs were disappointing and this chasing debut will be his 82nd career start; 3lb out of the weights; too risky.

66/1

Form: 9P-557

Last run: 33 days

W: 10st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
Twice placed in novices in 2020 but has generally been well beaten in handicaps, the latest when tailed off at Uttoxeter last month.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13

3rd Jun 2025

Good

3m 0f 60y

Class 5

17:00 Southwell

Top Drawer

10st 2lb

J: Mr Joseph Stevenson

T: Tracey Leeson

Remote when third of four at Ludlow (3m, good) last month and now 0-22 over hurdles; 8lb out of the handicap here and can't be recommended; cheekpieces (worn twice previously) given another whirl.

100/1

13

3rd Jun 2025

Good

3m 0f 60y

Class 5

17:00 Southwell

Top Drawer

10st 2lb

J: Mr Joseph Stevenson

T: Tracey Leeson

Remote when third of four at Ludlow (3m, good) last month and now 0-22 over hurdles; 8lb out of the handicap here and can't be recommended; cheekpieces (worn twice previously) given another whirl.

100/1

3rd

5

11th May 2025

Good

2m 7f 174y

Class 5

17:00 Ludlow

Top Drawer

10st 5lb

J: James Best

T: Tracey Leeson

11yo who was tailed off in March when back from a long absence and unseated early last time; 80-1 each time; now 0-21; others preferred.

66/1

Form: 78-357

Last run: 33 days

W: 10st 2lb

5 yo Mare

OR: 68

Form & Verdict
Maiden; no real threat in three handicaps (cheekpieces on for first time in latest) and 11lb out of the weights; others more obvious.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

7

3rd Sep 2023

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 5

16:30 Worcester

Tre A Peni

10st 5lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

0-14 over hurdles but belied 28-1 odds when third to Dynamic Kate and Rubys Reward from out of the weights over C&D (good) last month; effectively 1lb lower today; obvious each-way claims if in similar form again.

13/2

3rd

11

1st Aug 2023

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 5

20:45 Worcester

Tre A Peni

10st 2lb

J: Toby Wynne

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Third off lowly marks on consecutive starts in May (2m7f/3m) but well beaten when tried in a visor six weeks ago and now 0-13 over hurdles; usual blinkers back on today; 9lb out of the weights.

14/1

7th

9

22nd Jun 2023

Soft

2m 7f 70y

Class 5

20:40 Uttoxeter

Tre A Peni

10st 2lb

J: Toby Wynne

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

prominent, jumped slightly right 5th

8/1

Form: 6P-3U

Last run: 37 days

W: 11st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 99

Form & Verdict
Third at Warwick (2m) two starts ago but has failed to finish two other hurdling attempts; major step up in trip on handicap debut but unexposed and yard in fine form so definitely needs a market check.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

31st Jul 2022

Good

2m 7f 16y

Class 4

15:20 Market Rasen

Cheating Jack

11st 4lb

J: Dylan Whelan

T: Ben Pauling

Failed to complete two of his three qualifying runs but his third at Warwick (2m, good) in between was quite promising; due to step up to today's trip for handicap debut at Bangor (1.25) on Friday.

7/1

6th

3

29th Jul 2022

Good

2m 7f 7y

Class 5

13:25 Bangor-on-Dee

Cheating Jack

11st 8lb

J: Luca Morgan

T: Ben Pauling

always towards rear, lost touch from 2 out

9/2

Form: 111-39 D

Last run: 53 days

W: 11st 12lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Landed a hat-trick last summer but yet to find that form in two starts this season; well beaten at Southwell latest and still 8lb above highest winning mark so deal to prove for now.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

3

14th Jun 2024

Good

3m 2f 105y

Class 5

19:55 Newton Abbot

Espinator

11st 9lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Adrian Wintle

Lightly raced since his C&D win in September 2021 and has looked out of sorts on both appearances this year; needs the refitted cheekpieces to give him a significant boost; seems best on good/good to soft ground.

33/1

11th

4

6th May 2024

Good

3m 1f 0y

Class 5

18:05 Warwick

Espinator

11st 11lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Adrian Wintle

towards rear

25/1

11th

4

6th May 2024

Good

3m 1f 0y

Class 5

18:05 Warwick

Espinator

11st 11lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Adrian Wintle

towards rear

25/1

Form: 9-3224

Last run: 32 days

W: 12st 1lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Seven wins on the Flat but yet to score over hurdles; better efforts in blinkers on latest three outings but more required for a win.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

18th Nov 2024

Good

2m 7f 25y

Class 4

14:00 Exeter

Ben Lilly

11st 4lb

J: Gearoid Harney

T: David Pipe

Should be well handicapped but he looks cold as ice at the minute and has the most to prove of these.

10/1

Form: /0P4-P

Last run: 90 days

W: 10st 2lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 59

Form & Verdict
Two point wins in 2017; little in four hurdle attempts this year, after another long absence, and 20lb out of the handicap; wind surgery since latest outing will need to inspire massive improvement.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

7

19th Aug 2023

Good

2m 5f 89y

Class 5

19:00 Market Rasen

Culverwell

10st 2lb

J: James Best

T: Martin Keighley

Dual point winner but he's 0-7 under rules and has been pulled up in his last three runs, including on chase debut at Southwell (3m, good) last month; long way out of the weights again and can only be watched; cheekpieces reapplied.

25/1

12

18th Jul 2023

Good

3m 0f 60y

Class 5

17:35 Southwell

Culverwell

10st 2lb

J: James Best

T: Martin Keighley

took keen hold, midfield

50/1

Non-runners

Ben Lilly, Boomtime Banker

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £7.50
Straight Forecast £7.55
Tricast £15.85
Trifecta £24.60

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Bird On The Wire

Telegraph:

Espinator

Daily Mail:

Robeam

WEST COUNTRY:

Ben Lilly

Daily Express:

Espinator

RP Ratings:

Bird On The Wire

TOPSPEED:

Bird On The Wire

POSTDATA:

Bird On The Wire

The Times:

Bird On The Wire

The Guardian:

Bird On The Wire

Daily Mirror:

Bird On The Wire

The Sun:

Bird On The Wire

Daily Record:

Bird On The Wire

The Star:

Robeam