March 04 / 14.05 Doncaster

14.05

Good

Virgin Bet Fives Handicap Hurdle (Go North Sea Pigeon Series Qualifier)

  • Prize money: £5386.62
  • 2m 0f 128y
  • Class 4
  • 7 runners
SKY
View Course
Virgin Bet Fives Handicap Hurdle (Go North Sea Pigeon Series Qualifier)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

Form: -U3201 D

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Spoiled chance by racing far too freely on handicap debut in December but, with a hood fitted, delivered on earlier promise when making all in Fakenham maiden (2m, good) last month; could still have a lot more to offer; likely contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

14th Jul 2024

Good

2m 0f 47y

Class 5

16:45 Perth

Sergeant Wilson

11st 9lb

J: Emma Smith-Chaston

T: R Mike Smith

Left Nigel Twiston-Davies for £3,000 in May; easy to back, he was well beaten when sixth of eight on his stable debut over C&D ten days ago.

10/1

6th

4

4th Jul 2024

Good

2m 0f 47y

Class 4

14:48 Perth

Sergeant Wilson

11st 1lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: R Mike Smith

prominent, raced in second after 2nd

10/1

5th

5

12th May 2024

Good

1m 7f 169y

Class 4

15:28 Ludlow

Sergeant Wilson

11st 9lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

Temptingly treated on the pick of his handicap form at about 2m on ground not too slow; Taunton last time was disappointing (2m3f, good) but coming back to a sharp 2m will help and could run well if his jumping holds up (can make mistakes).

7/1

OUR TIP

Form: 11O521 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Won on the Flat in January and followed up when back over hurdles at Warwick (2m, good) last month; subsequent 3lb rise does not look excessive and he's now 4-8 in this sphere; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

14th May 2026

Good

1m 6f 44y

Class 3

14:40 Salisbury

Mr Freedom

9st 3lb

J: Kieran O’Neill

T: Sheena West

Six-time Flat winner who scored a fifth win on turf when taking Sandown handicap (1m6f, good) off 2lb lower in July 2024; also a multiple winner over hurdles who was on the premises when taking heavy last-flight fall at Plumpton just over one year ago; interesting to see how he goes in the market ahead of this comeback.

13/2

5

20th Apr 2025

Good

2m 4f 114y

Class 3

17:15 Plumpton

Mr Freedom

11st 3lb

J: Marc Goldstein

T: Sheena West

Gained two of his five hurdle wins at this track and was second in Sussex Champion Hurdle here (2m, good) just over a year ago; returned from seven-month break with encouraging third at Bangor (2m3f, good; form working out well) in March and has slipped to a workable mark; can make presence felt.

7/1

5

20th Apr 2025

Good

2m 4f 114y

Class 3

17:15 Plumpton

Mr Freedom

11st 3lb

J: Marc Goldstein

T: Sheena West

Gained two of his five hurdle wins at this track and was second in Sussex Champion Hurdle here (2m, good) just over a year ago; returned from seven-month break with encouraging third at Bangor (2m3f, good; form working out well) in March and has slipped to a workable mark; can make presence felt.

7/1

Form: 4173 D

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Joined Rebecca Menzies after winning 17-runner Cork maiden (2m1f, good) last summer and bettered low-key stable debut when respectable third of four in Musselburgh novice last month (1m7f, good); needs to take another step forward on today's handicap debut but that's possible.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

16th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 2

18:50 Uttoxeter

Lihyan

11st 4lb

J: William Maggs

T: Rebecca Menzies

Two wins last season, the first a four-runner Huntingdon handicap in May (3m1f, good), the second a six-runner handicap at Newbury (3m, good to soft) in March; far from disgraced in a competitive race at Aintree last time and not without a chance despite career-high mark.

13/2

7th

22

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 149y

Class 1

13:20 Aintree

Lihyan

10st 9lb

J: William Maggs

T: Rebecca Menzies

Ridden last ten starts by William Maggs; seventh hurdle win when seeing off five rivals at Newbury (3m, good to soft) three weeks ago but even a 2lb nudge seems likely to stop him in this much more competitive scenario.

25/1

1st

5

20th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 57y

Class 3

15:32 Newbury

Lihyan

11st 2lb

J: William Maggs

T: Rebecca Menzies

Ridden last nine starts by William Maggs; rarely seen on soft ground; six-time winner, most recently last May; good placed efforts at about 3m four times in a row in October-December, before he failed to show in a Pertemps qualifier at Musselburgh (10-1) nearly seven weeks ago; best form this term was over C&D, so he's not entirely ruled out.

11/2

Form: F64-39 D

Last run: 65 days

W: 11st 8lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Placed off 2lb higher over C&D (good) in December, after a break, and has pretty obvious claims if judged on that performance but was well beaten here later in December and didn't really fire on the Flat when last in action; others have more persuasive profiles.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

1

6th May 2026

Good

2m 1f 14y

Class 4

16:32 Kelso

Glory And Honour

12st 0lb

J: Jonathan England

T: Sam England

Has won four chases, the latest off 1lb lower at Hexham last June (1m7f, good); good second following a break at Newcastle last time (2m4f, good); should go well again.

5/1

2nd

6

11th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 19y

Class 3

14:42 Newcastle

Glory And Honour

11st 2lb

J: Jonathan England

T: Sam England

Won off this mark at Hexham (2m, good; in added blinkers) last June; that was in a lower-grade contest (Class 4) and his productivity ebbed away thereafter (0-5; hurdles and fences); bit to prove off a 190-day absence; likely to draw benefit from this comeback run.

5/1

Form: 5/586P D

Last run: 66 days

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Ex-Irish 7yo who struggled to get competitive when a big-priced outsider for stable debut in December; has too much to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

7th Jul 2024

Good

2m 0f 125y

Class 4

15:25 Market Rasen

Very Excellent

11st 8lb

J: Aaron Anderson

T: Mike Sowersby

Only 1-17 over hurdles but on a competitive mark and his recent Flat effort when close up at Ripon (1m2f) bodes well.

33/1

4th

5

(6)

20th Jun 2024

Soft

1m 1f 170y

Class 5

15:20 Ripon

Very Excellent

9st 10lb

J: James Sullivan

T: Mike Sowersby

Won over this trip at Beverley last July (heavy); now 2lb lower; quite interesting particularly if there is some give in the ground (below-par reappearance run on faster ground).

20/1

13th

13

(16)

3rd Jun 2024

Good To Soft

1m 2f 0y

Class 4

20:30 Wetherby

Very Excellent

8st 12lb

J: Cam Hardie

T: Mike Sowersby

steadied start, held up in rear

20/1

Form: 115348 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Won two three-runner chases in the autumn but ended 2022 with two disappointing runs over fences and has been safely held in two hurdles since the turn of the year; on a good mark now but needs to get back on track.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

23rd Nov 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 125y

Class 5

12:30 Market Rasen

Minella Plus

12st 0lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Donald McCain

disputed lead, led after 1st

8/1

5th

6

11th Oct 2023

Good

1m 7f 169y

Class 4

14:10 Ludlow

Minella Plus

11st 2lb

J: Peter Kavanagh

T: Donald McCain

in touch with leaders

10/1

6th

2

6th Sep 2023

Good

2m 0f 48y

Class 4

18:18 Hexham

Minella Plus

11st 12lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

Best effort for some time when third at Bangor last month and may be able to build on that; five career wins have come in fields of six or fewer but too well handicapped now to be dismissed.

5/2

Form: 236P28 D

Last run: 14 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Colt

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Ran well in defeat at Huntingdon (2m, good) in late January and wasn't disgraced when eighth in competitive race at Ascot (2m3f, good to soft) a fortnight ago; in calmer waters today and probably won't be far away.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £10.10
Straight Forecast £10.24
Trifecta £24.60

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Sergeant Wilson

RP Ratings:

Whizz Kid

The Sun:

Mr Freedom

POSTDATA:

Glory And Honour

TOPSPEED:

Sergeant Wilson

WEST COUNTRY:

Sergeant Wilson

Telegraph:

Sergeant Wilson

Daily Mirror:

Sergeant Wilson

Daily Record:

Sergeant Wilson

The Star:

Mr Freedom

D Express:

Glory And Honour

The Times:

Whizz Kid

The Guardian:

Whizz Kid

Daily Mail:

Whizz Kid