February 04 / 13.10 Sandown

13.10

Good To Soft

Virgin Bet Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £5809.1
  • 2m 3f 173y
  • Class 3
  • 6 runners
ITV
View Course
Virgin Bet Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

OUR TIP

9/2 (Won)

  • Win: £5.50
  • Place: £2.00

Form: 23-22

Last run: 33 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Has twice had wind surgery; very mixed in his two bumpers and two novice hurdles; tongue-tie added when he put up a much better performance at Plumpton (2m4f, soft) at the turn of the year; carried head to one side and had no answer to Twinjets on the run-in that day but now has an 8lb pull.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

6

21st Apr 2023

Good To Soft

3m 0f 70y

Class 3

13:50 Ayr

Twin Power

11st 8lb

J: A P Heskin

T: Paul Nicholls

Goes up in trip and could do with settling better than when soundly beaten at Sandown (2m4f) last month; however, the heavy ground may have been too much and he was progressive there previously, with a win and a near-miss (both 2m4f on good to soft); his dam won at up to 3m and he could get back on track with a big performance for his top trainer.

7/2

7th

12

11th Mar 2023

Soft

2m 3f 173y

Class 1

13:50 Sandown

Twin Power

11st 0lb

J: A P Heskin

T: Paul Nicholls

Improved form in novice handicaps over C&D (good to soft) last month, beating Twinjets then head second to Inneston; evidently well suited by this track and trip; one of three solid-looking contenders for Paul Nicholls and should go well again.

14/1

2nd

8

16th Feb 2023

Good To Soft

2m 3f 173y

Class 4

16:45 Sandown

Twin Power

11st 6lb

J: A P Heskin

T: Paul Nicholls

Opened his account in similar event over C&D (good to soft; handicap debut) 12 days ago, reversing placings with a rival who had beaten him the time before; should improve further; solid claims.

5/1

11/8

  • Place: £1.10

Form: 1-1611 D

Last run: 33 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
Irish point winner who was 2-2 in bumpers; odds-on for all three starts over hurdles, progressing to win at Leicester (1m7f, soft) and Plumpton (2m4f, soft); moved 9l clear from Twin Power on the run-in last time; has two Grade 1 novice entries at Cheltenham; has jumped to his left but he's promising and may well be entering handicaps on a good mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

17th Apr 2026

Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 2

15:30 Ayr

Twinjets

12st 0lb

J: Jay Tidball

T: Paul Nicholls

Front-runner; won two in a row last autumn (2m3f/2m4f, good to soft) and back to form when second under Jay Tidball at Newbury (2m4f, good to soft) last month; effective on soft earlier in career; can make another bold bid.

15/2

2nd

1

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 187y

Class 2

14:25 Newbury

Twinjets

12st 2lb

J: Jay Tidball

T: Paul Nicholls

Two wins from the front, including a defeat of Heltenham over C&D, and two non-completions comprise a mixed current campaign; hindered by being unable to dominate in the Greatwood Gold Cup last time; chance may depend on whether he gets an easy lead.

13/2

1

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 187y

Class 1

15:45 Newbury

Twinjets

12st 0lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Front-running chaser who made a bad mistake and unseated rider mid-race when favourite for similar event at Cheltenham last time; successful in both completed starts this term, looking better than ever, including a C&D performance (good to soft; beat Heltenham by 10l) that suggests he's an ideal candidate for this prize; respected.

4/1

Form: 45P

Last run: 45 days

W: 11st 3lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Irish maiden point winner before £78,000 sale; fourth of 14 at Chepstow (2m3f; good to soft) on hurdling debut but there have been two major backward steps on soft ground since; back on forecast better ground but much may also depend on the addition of a tongue-tie.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

18th Feb 2026

3m 0f 60y

Class 5

14:20 Southwell

Hot Rod Lincoln

11st 6lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Nick Scholfield

Beaten a whopping 127l when just 7-2 for Lingfield handicap hurdle (2m7f, heavy; first-time tongue-tie) 13 days ago; that's an obvious concern but maybe the added headgear backfired and he won off just 1lb lower at Uttoxeter (3m, soft) on his last chase start for Simon Hodgson about a year ago; Sean Bowen (4-5 for this yard) is an interesting jockey booking.

5/1

4th

2

5th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 0y

Class 5

15:55 Lingfield

Hot Rod Lincoln

11st 11lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Nick Scholfield

No trip or ground issues but consistency has been an issue over several years' fitful campaigning, and while this is easier than the C&D 0-120 of December's return from another eight months off, it's no certainty he'll step up sufficiently on that 35l last of six; regains headgear.

5/1

Form: 24-751

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 13lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Hooded on last two starts; 50-1, transformed when winning 11-runner novice at Wincanton (upped to 2m5f, good to soft) on latest, going clear before two out and making a mistake at the last; improvement is needed off this opening mark but he was well on top for that win.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

26th May 2026

Good

2m 3f 166y

Class 4

19:09 Plumpton

I Shut That DOr

11st 13lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Posted three wins over fences in the winter of 2024-25, all at around this trip, and staged a revival when third at Fontwell (2m4f, good; Begin The Luck second) three weeks ago; back up in class but on a winnable mark and he's one to consider with the stable among the winners.

100/30

3rd

1

6th May 2026

Good

2m 3f 104y

Class 5

19:42 Fontwell

I Shut That DOr

12st 0lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Joe Tizzard

His form took off with three wins over fences last winter; however, his good run came to a halt at Stratford last March and he was tailed off again on his comeback at Haydock (2m45f, good) last month; has some questions to answer and he needs to get back on track.

10/1

5th

3

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 203y

Class 4

15:55 Haydock

I Shut That DOr

11st 13lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

His form took off with three wins over fences last winter; however, his good run came to an abrupt halt at Stratford last March and he hasn't been seen since; no great record fresh to date but the betting is perhaps the best guide to his chance.

9/1

Form: /272-P

Last run: 72 days

W: 10st 6lb

8 yo Mare

OR: 99

Form & Verdict
Beaten a neck in Wetherby maiden (2m5f, heavy) last March, clearly her best form; needs better, whereas she was pulled up on seasonal/handicap debut at Kelso (2m6f, soft) in November; now has tongue tied first time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

6

10th Mar 2023

Good

2m 7f 25y

Class 4

16:10 Exeter

Jens Georgie

11st 1lb

J: Danny Burton

T: Samuel Drinkwater

held up in rear, not fluent 1st, not fluent 6th, headway before 8th, pushed along and got behind after 9th

20/1

5th

6

4th Feb 2023

Good To Soft

2m 3f 173y

Class 3

13:10 Sandown

Jens Georgie

10st 6lb

J: Robert Dunne

T: Samuel Drinkwater

raced in last, not fluent 4th, ridden before 2 out, soon weakened

25/1

2

24th Nov 2022

Soft

2m 6f 151y

Class 4

14:28 Kelso

Jens Georgie

11st 10lb

J: Robert Dunne

T: Samuel Drinkwater

Unexposed sort whose best effort came over 2m5f on heavy at Wetherby when last seen in early March; raised 6lb but may be capable of better this season.

3/1

Form: 292

Last run: 45 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Placed in two of seven Irish points and bought for £38,000; mistakes did not help when he flopped on his second go over hurdles but he was much better on starts either side, pipped in a maiden at Lingfield (2m3f, heavy) on latest; should still be open to improvement, which is needed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

18th Feb 2026

2m 4f 88y

Class 5

16:25 Southwell

Heaven Smart

11st 13lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: L J Morgan

In good form over fences in the autumn, bar a blip at Perth in October; 0-11 over hurdles but twice finished second in this sphere and often runs well after a break; entitled to respect.

9/2

1

21st Oct 2025

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 5

15:35 Perth

Heaven Smart

12st 0lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: L J Morgan

Showed the benefit of a wind op when dominating from the front here (2m4f, good) last month, his second start for Laura Morgan, and ran big race in defeat under penalty at Southwell (2m4f, good) a few days later; effectively another 5lb higher today but sure to be suited by the move back up in trip; good chance.

7/4

1

2nd Oct 2025

Good

2m 4f 88y

Class 5

15:05 Southwell

Heaven Smart

12st 2lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: L J Morgan

All-the-way Kempton 3m winner in early 2024 and, with stamina to spare at intermediate trips and the benefit of wind surgery, was played equally aggressively in victory at Perth last week (good); 2lb badly in under the penalty but still superbly handicapped on that previous winning form.

9/4

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £8.00
Straight Forecast £7.76
Trifecta £24.80

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Twinjets

WEST COUNTRY:

Twin Power

TOPSPEED:

Hot Rod Lincoln

Daily Record:

I Shut That D'Or

Daily Mirror:

Twin Power

RP Ratings:

Twinjets

POSTDATA:

Twinjets

The Times:

Twinjets

Telegraph:

Twinjets

The Guardian:

Twinjets

Daily Mail:

Twinjets

D Express:

Twinjets

The Sun:

Twinjets

The Star:

Twinjets