February 09 / 15.43 Ffos Las

15.43

Good To Soft

Vickers.Bet Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £6337.2
  • 2m 4f 0y
  • Class 4
  • 11 runners
SKY
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Vickers.Bet Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 11 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

8/1 (Won)

  • Win: £8.00
  • Place: £2.40

Form: /24-44

Last run: 77 days

W: 11st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Didn't have race run to suit when respectable fourth over C&D (good to soft) on seasonal debut in October but was struggling to keep up before stamina might have been an issue over 3m at Taunton the following month and is now 0-7 over hurdles; given another wind op (his second) since latest run.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

22nd Mar 2024

Good To Soft

3m 0f 52y

Class 4

17:20 Newbury

Bumpy Johnson

12st 2lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

Didn't really take to chasing and when back over hurdles at Wincanton (2m5f) he perhaps found the heavy ground against him; won on good and good to soft over 2m4f last season and he probably stays 3m; nothing wrong with his mark.

12/1

5th

1

6th Jan 2024

Heavy

2m 5f 82y

Class 3

15:15 Wincanton

Bumpy Johnson

12st 0lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: David Pipe

Dual hurdle winner at Ffos Las (2m4f, good to soft/good) towards end of last season, latterly off today's mark; lacked fluency and was safely held in two chases in the autumn but ought to be seen to better effect now back over hurdles; unraced on heavy ground but handles soft well.

14/1

16/1

  • Place: £9.50

Form: 1P-17P

Last run: 43 days

W: 11st 11lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Bumper and dual hurdle winner when trained in France; made fairly encouraging British/handicap debut at Wetherby (2m, good) in November but ought to have coped better with the heavy ground when pulled up at Leicester (1m7f) in December; tries a new trip today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

3

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 187y

Class 1

15:45 Newbury

Issam

11st 9lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Tom Symonds

Seemed a non-stayer over 3m on penultimate start; readily justified favouritism at Kempton (2m4f, good to soft) latest, taking chase record to 3-6 and overall strike-rate to 9-25; largely progressive and a useful 3lb is claimed with Callum Pritchard back on board; one to consider.

8/1

1st

3

2nd Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 3

15:07 Kempton

Issam

11st 10lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Tom Symonds

Out of the money over 3m at Ascot last time, seeming a non-stayer; solid record otherwise since switched to fences, winning twice and posting two sound efforts; may have more to offer back down in trip; not ruled out.

9/2

6th

2

17th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 185y

Class 3

13:00 Ascot

Issam

12st 0lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Tom Symonds

Overall strike-rate is 8-23; solid set of form figures (1213) since switch to fences, keeping on for creditable effort at Ascot (2m3f, good to soft) most recently; should be thereabouts provided he stays this new trip.

9/1

4/1

  • Place: £2.20

Form: 626

Last run: 44 days

W: 11st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Unexposed 6yo who kept on for second in Uttoxeter maiden (2m, good to soft) in December; below that level on next outing but both his pedigree and his Irish point form strongly suggest today's step up in trip will suit.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

8

24th May 2026

Good

3m 0f 10y

Class 4

17:12 Uttoxeter

Ballydisco

11st 2lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Tom Lacey

Dual hurdle winner who is 0-11 over fences but he has the form to feature off this mark if ready to rock on his stable debut after a long absence; the market should be informative.

8/1

3

20th Mar 2025

Good

3m 2f 59y

Class 4

15:10 Sedgefield

Ballydisco

11st 7lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell

prominent

100/30

3rd

4

24th Feb 2025

Soft

3m 0f 20y

Class 4

14:25 Ayr

Ballydisco

11st 12lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell

Ex-Philip Hobbs/Johnson White; dual hurdle winner (including on testing ground) but yet to win over fences, although came close when head second at Wetherby in November (3m, good); fair efforts since; one to consider.

12/1

Form: 4-4233

Last run: 17 days

W: 11st 11lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Slightly disappointing when well-held third over C&D (soft) last month but shaped with significant promise when placed on first two hurdling starts (both 2m4f, good to soft) and should have improvement to come in handicaps.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

5

28th May 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 34y

Class 3

19:40 Cartmel

Militaire

10st 5lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Warren Greatrex

Left behind by clear winner when second at Uttoxeter (3m, good) two months ago but has now made the frame in all four chases; 5lb out of the weights here but ought to cope if the ground softens and can play a part if the first-time cheekpieces have a positive effect.

9/2

2nd

5

28th May 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 34y

Class 3

19:40 Cartmel

Militaire

10st 5lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Warren Greatrex

Left behind by clear winner when second at Uttoxeter (3m, good) two months ago but has now made the frame in all four chases; 5lb out of the weights here but ought to cope if the ground softens and can play a part if the first-time cheekpieces have a positive effect.

9/2

Form: -21403 CD

Last run: 45 days

W: 11st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Still 10lb higher than when cruising clear to win easily over C&D (good) last June but looked back in good form when placed at Wetherby (2m4f, good to soft) on Boxing Day and enters calculations.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

1st Apr 2025

Good

2m 4f 1y

Class 3

16:20 Fakenham

Watergrange Jack

11st 11lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Neil Mulholland

prominent, lost ground after 2nd, dropped to last after 4th, detached before 4 out, weakened before 2 out

9/2

5th

2

1st Apr 2025

Good

2m 4f 1y

Class 3

16:20 Fakenham

Watergrange Jack

11st 11lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Neil Mulholland

prominent, lost ground after 2nd, dropped to last after 4th, detached before 4 out, weakened before 2 out

9/2

7

26th Oct 2024

Good

3m 2f 39y

Class 2

15:55 Kelso

Watergrange Jack

10st 7lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Neil Mulholland

Unseated early last time at Perth; it was an ordinary handicap by Class 2 standards that he won at Worcester (2m4f, good) the time before but that was all very straightforward as he jumped well out in front; could catch some of these cold from a fitness perspective.

12/1

Form: 142-56

Last run: 64 days

W: 11st 9lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Hurdle winner in France in October 2021; safely held on first two British starts (2m/2m4f, soft) but remains lightly raced and it won't be a surprise if Venetia Williams finds the key to him in the near future.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

6

31st Jan 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 25y

Class 3

15:55 Leicester

Oxygen

11st 2lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Looked an exciting prospect (on the back of a wind op) when landing 2m4f handicap chases at Lingfield and Plumpton this winter but he beat only one at Plumpton last time; he remains with potential though and shouldn't be written off by any means.

3/1

4th

5

7th Jan 2024

Soft

2m 3f 164y

Class 3

13:15 Plumpton

Oxygen

10st 6lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Ex-French 6yo; unplaced all four hurdling starts for Venetia Williams last season but, following a wind op, is 2-2 since switched back to chasing this term, the latter win over C&D (good to soft) three weeks ago; should be fine on today's slower ground and has plenty of scope for further progress.

9/4

Form: 3325P- C

Last run: 297 days

W: 11st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Won here (2m6f, good) in June 2021 and was placed three consecutive times last winter (2m-2m5f) but disappointing on last couple of outings and has fitness to prove after 297-day absence.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

20th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 177y

Class 5

13:52 Ffos Las

Jaunty Viking

10st 10lb

J: James Best

T: Brian Eckley

Very well handicapped on old hurdling form but, following a long absence, his belated switch to fences has not gone well with form figures of P55 (from 2m3f to 3m).

25/1

7

19th Nov 2025

Soft

2m 3f 83y

Class 5

15:18 Ffos Las

Jaunty Viking

10st 12lb

J: Miss Thomasina Eyston

T: Brian Eckley

Very well handicapped on old hurdling form; ultimately well beaten in both chases since returning from mammoth absence in September but travelled well for a long way here (3m, good) on latter occasion and today's trip-and-ground combination may suit him better; worth a second look.

14/1

2

16th Oct 2025

Good

2m 7f 177y

Class 5

14:05 Ffos Las

Jaunty Viking

11st 4lb

J: James Best

T: Brian Eckley

Course winner over hurdles in 2021; pulled up when 40-1 for last month's chasing debut at Stratford (race won by Radharc Na Slaine) but that was his first outing for 900 days and he might come on for the run.

16/1

Form: 137-81 D

Last run: 43 days

W: 11st 2lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Easily won two-finisher Leicester seller (2m4f, heavy) six weeks ago, after a layoff, but the value of that form is open to question and he's been very inconsistent in recent years; not an easy one to predict.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

1

15th Apr 2023

Soft

2m 4f 62y

Class 5

16:40 Newcastle

Turning Gold

12st 2lb

J: Toby Wynne

T: Robert Bevis

prominent

13/2

4th

6

1st Apr 2023

Soft

2m 7f 70y

Class 4

17:05 Uttoxeter

Turning Gold

11st 3lb

J: Jordan Nailor

T: Robert Bevis

Goes well from the front and won a Leicester seller (2m4f, heavy) in December, but he's far from consistent these days and ran poorly at Ffos Las six weeks later; chance may depend on getting an uncontested lead.

12/1

8th

11

9th Feb 2023

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

15:43 Ffos Las

Turning Gold

11st 2lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Robert Bevis

Easily won two-finisher Leicester seller (2m4f, heavy) six weeks ago, after a layoff, but the value of that form is open to question and he's been very inconsistent in recent years; not an easy one to predict.

8/1

OUR TIP

Form: 28/384

Last run: 32 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Tailed off at Ludlow in December but shaped with significant promise on his runs either side of that, latterly when putting in good front-running shift in Chepstow maiden (2m3f, soft) last month; can go well again on today's handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

22nd May 2026

Good

2m 0f 110y

Class 5

16:57 Worcester

Zero Tolerance

11st 10lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Mrs C Williams

17-race maiden under rules; reached the frame on numerous occasions over fences but he was beaten 21l when third at Hexham (1m7f, good to soft) two weeks ago; should be fine back on the forecast quicker ground but he needs to get back near his best.

4/1

3rd

1

9th May 2026

Good

1m 7f 133y

Class 5

15:55 Hexham

Zero Tolerance

12st 0lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Mrs C Williams

16-race maiden under rules; placed in six of his nine races over fences; fair fourth of five to a subsequent dual winner at Wetherby last time (1m7f, good); each-way chance.

5/1

4th

4

27th Mar 2026

Good

1m 7f 36y

Class 4

15:50 Wetherby

Zero Tolerance

10st 12lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Mrs C Williams

Well capable of being involved, as his close third at Catterick on most recent attempt over 1m7f attests; the negative is that he's a fairly exposed maiden whose latest defeat took chase record to 0-8.

5/1

Form: 20/6-P

Last run: 70 days

W: 11st 6lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Made low-key return from mammoth absence a year ago (chase debut) and was pulled up when reverting to hurdling after another layoff in December (bled from the nose); connections are persisting but he urgently needs to prove some ability remains, and Charlie Deutsch evidently prefers Oxygen today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

18th Mar 2023

Soft

2m 3f 49y

Class 4

13:25 Fontwell

Shalakar

10st 12lb

J: Shane Quinlan

T: Venetia Williams

Dual winner on the Flat in France whose sole success for this yard came over hurdles at Ludlow (2m5f, soft) in April 2018; has only made the track four times since the beginning of 2019 and has shown nothing (bled on one occasion); lots to prove.

16/1

10th

8

9th Feb 2023

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

15:43 Ffos Las

Shalakar

11st 6lb

J: Shane Quinlan

T: Venetia Williams

Made low-key return from mammoth absence a year ago (chase debut) and was pulled up when reverting to hurdling after another layoff in December (bled from the nose); connections are persisting but he urgently needs to prove some ability remains, and Charlie Deutsch evidently prefers Oxygen today.

16/1

3

1st Dec 2022

Good To Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 4

12:47 Leicester

Shalakar

11st 10lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Dual hurdle winner, once for this yard (2m5f, soft); was returning from 1136 days off when tailed off on his chase debut in February and now returns from another absence; stable form bodes well and he's nicely handicapped if as good as he was.

5/1

Form: 13-115 D

Last run: 45 days

W: 11st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Made excellent progress last year, winning five times along the way (2m-2m4f); could quite plausibly have more improvement still to come but didn't fire at regular haunt Huntingdon in December and may not be ideally suited by the switch to a left-handed track.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

12th Nov 2024

Good

2m 4f 145y

Class 5

12:20 Huntingdon

Poker Master

12st 0lb

J: Tom Buckley

T: Philip McBride

led narrowly, not fluent 7th, hit 3 out, headed and lost position home turn, weakened quickly before 2 out, tailed off

5/1

5th

1

12th Nov 2024

Good

2m 4f 145y

Class 5

12:20 Huntingdon

Poker Master

12st 0lb

J: Tom Buckley

T: Philip McBride

led narrowly, not fluent 7th, hit 3 out, headed and lost position home turn, weakened quickly before 2 out, tailed off

5/1

8th

4

27th Oct 2024

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 5

15:52 Wincanton

Poker Master

11st 10lb

J: Tom Buckley

T: Philip McBride

didn't jump with fluency, midfield, dropped to rear 1st

14/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £192.50
Straight Forecast £193.74
Tricast £1577.58
Trifecta £3436.80

Selections

TOPSPEED:

Watergrange Jack

LAMBOURN:

Militaire

SPOTLIGHT:

Ballydisco

RP Ratings:

Turning Gold

The Sun:

Zero Tolerance

D Express:

Bumpy Johnson

The Times:

Militaire

The Guardian:

Militaire

WEST COUNTRY:

Ballydisco

Telegraph:

Ballydisco

POSTDATA:

Watergrange Jack

Daily Mail:

Watergrange Jack

Daily Mirror:

Watergrange Jack

Daily Record:

Watergrange Jack

The Star:

Turning Gold