February 13 / 15.15 Catterick

15.15

Good

Download The Vickers.Bet App Handicap Hurdle (Challenger Two Mile Hurdle Series Qualifier)

  • Prize money: £6680.46
  • 1m 7f 156y
  • Class 3
  • 8 runners
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Download The Vickers.Bet App Handicap Hurdle (Challenger Two Mile Hurdle Series Qualifier)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

5/1 (Won)

  • Win: £5.00
  • Place: £1.80

Form: 23-429 D

Last run: 43 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Form dipped the last twice (hurdles/Flat) but he's consistent in the main and may well bounce back; finished second off 3lb higher in this race 12 months ago and looks a likely player on that basis.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13th

2

3rd Feb 2024

Good To Soft

1m 7f 124y

Class 2

14:50 Musselburgh

First Impression

11st 5lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: John & Sean Quinn

Useful dual-purpose performer but he's on a tough mark over hurdles, now 8lb higher than for his last win (last February) after going up 3lb for a narrow defeat at Doncaster; should give his running but others are preferred for win purposes.

8/1

2nd

9

16th Dec 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 128y

Class 2

14:40 Doncaster

First Impression

10st 3lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: John Quinn

raced in second

16/1

0

2

(5)

28th Sep 2023

Good To Soft

1m 2f 5y

Class 3

15:55 Pontefract

First Impression

9st 7lb

J: Jason Hart

T: John Quinn

In top form at Chester since returning from a three-month break, posting a win (1m2f, soft) then a good second (1m2f, good to soft); also effective elsewhere and he can give another good account.

11/2

15/8

  • Place: £1.30

Form: 243211 CD

Last run: 32 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Two from two since handicapping and beat subsequent scorers (Flat/hurdles) both times, latest over C&D (heavy) when seeming to have more in hand than the narrow margin suggests; point winner on good ground; could well improve further and complete the hat-trick.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

28th May 2026

Good

2m 5f 89y

Class 5

18:30 Market Rasen

El Muchacho

12st 0lb

J: William Maggs

T: Mike Sowersby

Won twice on good ground (2m5f/2m3f) for this new stable last season and has been placed on last three appearances, most recently when second over C&D (good) three weeks ago; 1lb lower today and seems very likely to be in the thick of things again.

7/4

2nd

3

8th May 2026

Good

2m 5f 89y

Class 5

15:15 Market Rasen

El Muchacho

11st 7lb

J: William Maggs

T: Mike Sowersby

Holding form well since January's Catterick success (2m3f, good), actually achieving more on RPRs when a close third at Newcastle latest; still well treated on his 2023-24 peak form, and no ground concerns.

9/2

3rd

1

31st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 19y

Class 5

16:30 Newcastle

El Muchacho

12st 0lb

J: William Maggs

T: Mike Sowersby

Won at Catterick in January (2m3f, good) and best form since when 0.5l second at Sedgefield last time (2m5f, good); conditions suit; chance.

11/2

100/30

  • Place: £1.50

Form: /1-301 C

Last run: 15 days

W: 11st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
Justified favouritism in similar event at Sedgefield (2m1f, good to soft) two weeks ago, taking rules record to 4-7; has won on good ground; open to further progress and warrants respect up 4lb.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

7

13th May 2023

Good To Soft

1m 7f 144y

Class 1

15:15 Haydock

Fruit N Nut

10st 7lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

Enjoyed a fruitful period in Class 3 handicaps last season before finishing tailed off in a higher grade at Aintree (soft no real excuse); this is another rung up the ladder and he looks up against it.

33/1

10th

17

14th Apr 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 103y

Class 2

17:15 Aintree

Fruit N Nut

11st 3lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Sound record in Class 3 handicaps this year, including wins at Sedgefield (2m1f, good to soft) and Newbury (2m, good); however, has more on his plate off new mark in this higher grade.

25/1

1st

4

4th Mar 2023

Good

2m 0f 69y

Class 3

15:25 Newbury

Fruit N Nut

11st 8lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

4-8 under rules and 2-5 over hurdles, latest win in handicap at Sedgefield (2m1f, good to soft; acts on good) in January; creditable third off this 4lb higher mark at Catterick latest and he's in each-way calculations.

5/1

Form: 2124-0 D

Last run: 16 days

W: 11st 13lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 128

Form & Verdict
Seemingly beaten by a combination of soft ground and needing the run at Cheltenham on reappearance; suited by a sound surface and looks favourably treated off 4lb below last winning mark; not dismissed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

6

23rd Mar 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

16:40 Kempton

Takeit Easy

11st 1lb

J: Alice Stevens

T: Pam Sly

Veteran who may still be up to winning races, having found only one rival too good at Fakenham (2m) last time; fighting chance off same mark.

5/1

2nd

6

13th Mar 2026

Good

2m 0f 3y

Class 3

16:15 Fakenham

Takeit Easy

11st 0lb

J: Jack Andrews

T: Pam Sly

Losing streak nearing three years, and he folded pretty quickly after a mistake at Doncaster latest; 19lb lower than when well held in this race in 2023, but wouldn't be certain he could capitalise.

14/1

7

1st Nov 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

15:30 Wetherby

Takeit Easy

10st 10lb

J: Jack Andrews

T: Pam Sly

Half-brother to stablemate Fransham who won this race in 2019 and 2020; his own five hurdle wins include one over C&D in October 2021 and he's now 20lb lower, but it's been a downward spiral since and he was tailed off on reappearance at Market Rasen (9-1) 18 days ago.

9/1

Form: 51P-06 CD

Last run: 9 days

W: 11st 6lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
Has often proved headstrong but settled better last time and took a slight step back in the right direction; has won over C&D and returns here off a workable mark, so looks hard to rule out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

15th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 124y

Class 5

14:50 Musselburgh

Inca Prince

12st 0lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Ruth Jefferson

Has failed to show peak form since returning from long layoff but has done enough to suggest he's interesting off current mark dropped in grade and belatedly returned to Musselburgh; dual course winner as a youngster.

7/2

3rd

7

25th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 178y

Class 4

15:10 Sedgefield

Inca Prince

10st 13lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Ruth Jefferson

No win since his juvenile campaign; long absence prior to two efforts this term, seeming to need July run then faring better in October; still needs to prove he retains peak ability but market support should be noted.

9/2

4th

4

25th Oct 2025

Good

2m 0f 51y

Class 4

15:20 Kelso

Inca Prince

11st 9lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Ruth Jefferson

Won three races in his first season over hurdles; not scored since, although fair second in a Perth handicap in September 2023 (2m, soft); had a long break after that and was well beaten on his return; should fare better this time.

10/1

Form: 531-30 D

Last run: 49 days

W: 10st 9lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Successful twice as a juvenile hurdler last term; not disgraced in small field at Hexham in November but never figured in deeper race at Wetherby on Boxing Day; needs improvement upped in class.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

10

11th Dec 2024

Soft

2m 4f 28y

Class 4

12:20 Hexham

Bonne Vitesse

11st 5lb

J: Emma Smith-Chaston

T: Micky Hammond

took keen hold, prominent, led before 4th, faced challenge and ridden last, headed and no extra inside final 110yds

14/1

2nd

10

11th Dec 2024

Soft

2m 4f 28y

Class 4

12:20 Hexham

Bonne Vitesse

11st 5lb

J: Emma Smith-Chaston

T: Micky Hammond

took keen hold, prominent, led before 4th, faced challenge and ridden last, headed and no extra inside final 110yds

14/1

7th

1

(5)

29th Oct 2024

Soft

1m 7f 189y

Class 6

14:47 Catterick

Bonne Vitesse

10st 0lb

J: Aiden Brookes

T: Micky Hammond

midfield, outpaced and lost ground quickly 4f out, soon no impression

7/2

Form: 06P-55 D

Last run: 107 days

W: 10st 10lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
Completed a hat-trick on Flat last summer; not in the same form back over hurdles in September/October and needs to raise his game on return from layoff; hasn't scored in this sphere since 2020.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

15th Oct 2025

Good

3m 0f 26y

Class 5

16:20 Wetherby

Red Force One

11st 11lb

J: Miss Natasha Cookson

T: Philip Kirby

Well-beaten when back over hurdles last month but stayed on well from poor position to go close under Natasha Cookson at Kelso (2m5f, good) ten days ago and looks well worth a crack at 3m.

7/2

10

16th Sep 2025

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 4

14:10 Uttoxeter

Red Force One

11st 1lb

J: Joe Williamson

T: Philip Kirby

Won small-field Flat marathon off much reduced mark last month but has not run over hurdles since summer 2023 and his current ability in this sphere is hard to gauge; best suited by good or faster ground.

25/1

OUR TIP

Form: 20-439 D

Last run: 80 days

W: 12st 0lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 129

Form & Verdict
Never figured in Flat contest last month on debut for new yard; fairly useful hurdler for Nick Gifford but his form in the last two seasons has been at 2m3f-3m; this may prove too sharp for him.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

20th Mar 2024

Soft

3m 0f 58y

Class 4

17:00 Haydock

Didtheyleaveuoutto

11st 11lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Ben Haslam

Continues to drop down the weights and he didn't run badly when fifth of eight at Kelso (2m6f, soft) last month; one to watch in the betting but this 11yo needs to raise his game to return to winning ways.

16/1

5th

2

16th Feb 2024

Soft

2m 6f 151y

Class 4

13:55 Kelso

Didtheyleaveuoutto

12st 0lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Ben Haslam

Won a Cartmel handicap (2m6f, good; wore cheekpieces) off this mark last July; in with a chance when taking a heavy fall two out here (3m2f, good) in September but he's not fired in his last two runs; has something to prove again and he's ideally suited by quicker ground.

20/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £17.60
Straight Forecast £14.84
Tricast £35.62
Trifecta £55.80

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

El Muchacho

POSTDATA:

Fruit N Nut

Daily Mail:

First Impression

TOPSPEED:

Didtheyleaveuoutto

RP Ratings:

El Muchacho

The Times:

El Muchacho

Telegraph:

El Muchacho

The Star:

El Muchacho

The Guardian:

Fruit N Nut

D Express:

Fruit N Nut

Daily Mirror:

Fruit N Nut

The Sun:

Fruit N Nut

Daily Record:

First Impression