March 04 / 16.25 Doncaster

16.25

Good

Virgin Bet Daily Extra Places Handicap Hurdle (Go North Cab On Target Series Qualifier)

  • Prize money: £4330.42
  • 2m 3f 88y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
SKY
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Virgin Bet Daily Extra Places Handicap Hurdle (Go North Cab On Target Series Qualifier)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

Form: -12619 CD

Last run: 25 days

W: 12st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
2-5 over hurdles, the latter win gained off 5lb lower over C&D (good) in January; needs to bounce back from a lesser effort at Taunton last month but still features prominently in calculations.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

1

11th May 2023

Good

2m 3f 137y

Class 4

16:00 Huntingdon

Give Me A Cuddle

12st 0lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: Neil King

Yet to make any further progress since winning at Doncaster (2m3f, good) in January but gave very good account before fading into fifth at Kempton (2m5f, good; first-time tongue-tie) ten days ago and has each-way claims at least if in similar form here.

10/1

5th

9

1st May 2023

Good

2m 5f 0y

Class 4

16:15 Kempton

Give Me A Cuddle

11st 6lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: Neil King

disputed lead, prominent after 2nd

33/1

12th

3

25th Mar 2023

Good To Soft

2m 4f 189y

Class 2

13:50 Kelso

Give Me A Cuddle

11st 9lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: Neil King

took keen hold, prominent

16/1

Form: 1-6235

Last run: 26 days

W: 12st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Not quite at best when fifth at regular haunt Carlisle last month but was placed on consecutive appearances at end of last year (2m1f/2m2f) and is very versatile regarding ground; each-way claims at least.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

6th Sep 2024

Good

2m 1f 77y

Class 4

15:55 Bangor-on-Dee

Malpas

11st 7lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Three-time hurdle winner; came good over fences with C&D (good to soft) success in May (three runs ago) and remains on a workable mark but has become too inconsistent to rely upon.

14/1

4th

2

14th Jul 2024

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

14:45 Perth

Malpas

11st 9lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

held up in rear, headway 3 out, went second 2 out, mistake last, hung left and weakened run-in

6/1

4th

1

15th Jun 2024

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

19:45 Uttoxeter

Malpas

12st 0lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

prominent, pressed winner 5th, lost position but in touch with leaders 10th, weakened gradually after 4 out

5/1

Form: -11753

Last run: 35 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Triple 2m hurdle winner last year; failed fully to convince stamina-wise when third over C&D (good) in January but that was still a pretty good effort and a subsequent 2lb drop helps.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

8

15th May 2026

Good

2m 3f 200y

Class 3

17:45 Aintree

Fringill Dike

11st 4lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jedd O’Keeffe

Continues to hurtle down the weights but latest 13l defeat at Perth was another unconvincing run.

14/1

4th

5

22nd Apr 2026

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

15:40 Perth

Fringill Dike

11st 0lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jedd O’Keeffe

Won four of his first five completed starts over fences (2023/24) but just one success since, a Newton Abbot handicap, and he wasn't finishing his races off last year; 185-day break may have helped but this forecast soft ground raises further doubts.

16/1

4

19th Oct 2025

Good

2m 2f 0y

Class 3

15:16 Kempton

Fringill Dike

11st 3lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Jedd O’Keeffe

Defied higher marks twice last term and commenced current campaign with a creditable effort; not in the same form since, hence dropping in weights; needs a revival.

10/1

OUR TIP

Form: P5524U BF

Last run: 35 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
0-8 over hurdles but ended 2022 with two good efforts (both over 2m) and looked poised to make his challenge before unseating rider at third-last flight over C&D (good; race in which Fringill Dike was third) in January; no surprise if he makes his presence felt.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

7th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 5

15:25 Kelso

Galahad Threepwood

12st 0lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Ewan Whillans

Dual AW Flat winner (1m4f); only hurdle win was for Ben Pauling off 11lb higher at Doncaster in March 2023 (2m3f, good); some fair form last term, stable in good form and he's a possible.

7/1

3rd

1

7th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 5

15:25 Kelso

Galahad Threepwood

12st 0lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Ewan Whillans

Dual AW Flat winner (1m4f); only hurdle win was for Ben Pauling off 11lb higher at Doncaster in March 2023 (2m3f, good); some fair form last term, stable in good form and he's a possible.

7/1

6th

9

11th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 100y

Class 4

16:58 Ayr

Galahad Threepwood

10st 9lb

J: Murray Dodd

T: Ewan Whillans

Kept on for fair third at Newcastle (2m1f, good to soft) in January and is now 4lb lower; however, his subsequent form hasn't come up to scratch and he's won just one of his 18 hurdle starts; needs something extra.

20/1

Form: 383921 C

Last run: 29 days

W: 11st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Seemingly aided by cheekpieces this year and drew clear pretty comfortably to open hurdling account at Catterick (2m3f, good) last month; 9lb higher here but has plenty of scope for further progress; major player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

5

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 187y

Class 2

14:25 Newbury

Prairie Wolf

11st 6lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

Northern runner who has looked as good as ever in winning two of his last three races, taking chase record to 6-18; did it quite readily at Newcastle (2m4f, good to soft) latest; ran respectably at Newbury in November; likely player in current form.

5/1

1st

3

21st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 19y

Class 3

15:58 Newcastle

Prairie Wolf

11st 8lb

J: Callum Bewley

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

5-17 over fences and his win at Aintree (2m4f, good to soft) on Boxing Day was up there with his best efforts; ran poorly at Cheltenham four weeks later but in the mix if bouncing back.

5/1

Form: 3-3186 CD

Last run: 5 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Came good over hurdles at fifth attempt, in first-time cheekpieces over C&D (good) in November, but well below that form on both starts this year (headgear left off last time, as today) and now has questions to answer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

17th May 2026

Good To Firm

2m 6f 125y

Class 4

17:05 Stratford

Okavango Delta

11st 3lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Paul Robson

Absent since below-par run in December but returned from break with creditable second at Musselburgh (2m, good to soft; stays much further) in November and won when fresh last spring; has travelled from Northumberland for this race and Sean Bowen is booked; interesting.

3/1

5th

4

3rd Jul 2025

Good

2m 4f 20y

Class 4

15:20 Perth

Okavango Delta

12st 0lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: Paul Robson

Did well for new yard last season with two wins at Musselburgh (good to soft/soft) and was back on the scoresheet at Worcester in May; absolute shocker at Warwick (also 2m4f, good) 29 days again, though, beaten 62l with no obvious excuses.

5/1

1

4th Jun 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

20:40 Warwick

Okavango Delta

12st 0lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: Paul Robson

Did well for new yard last season with two wins at Musselburgh (2m4f, good to soft/soft) and was back on the scoresheet at Worcester (2m4f, good) three weeks ago; did it well last time and a 4lb rise may not stop him.

10/11

Form: 5317-9 C

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Fair Flat-racer at up to 1m6f; won maiden hurdle here (2m, good) just over a year ago but soundly beaten in both handicap hurdles; tries a new trip and sports refitted cheekpieces here; others have much less to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

5

(3)

17th Jun 2023

Good

1m 4f 63y

Class 5

17:00 Chester

Thunder Ahead

9st 6lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: Alan King

in touch with leaders

14/1

7th

4

(3)

27th May 2023

Good To Firm

1m 3f 175y

Class 5

13:15 Haydock

Thunder Ahead

9st 8lb

J: Hollie Doyle

T: Alan King

Not at his best on the Flat and over hurdles this year but didn't run badly when fourth of eight at Chelmsford (1m6f, AW) last month and, having raced freely, he could benefit from this drop back in distance; on a competitive mark and not ruled out.

10/1

4th

1

(7)

27th Apr 2023

Standard

1m 6f 0y

Class 5

22:00 Chelmsford (AW)

Thunder Ahead

9st 9lb

J: Callum Hutchinson

T: Alan King

led

25/1

Form: 33P078

Last run: 36 days

W: 11st 2lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Irish-raider; from a much respected stable but has modest 1-20 strike-rate over hurdles and was unable to land a telling blow when midfield at Huntingdon (2m4f, good to soft) in January; needs to up his game.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13th

10

3rd Oct 2023

Good

2m 0f 178y

Class 5

16:20 Sedgefield

Bentham

10st 12lb

J: Tabitha Worsley

T: Sara Ender

took keen hold, led narrowly

16/1

5th

5

26th Aug 2023

Soft

2m 1f 46y

Class 5

17:06 Cartmel

Bentham

11st 7lb

J: Joe Williamson

T: Sara Ender

Ex-Gavin Cromwell; fair efforts in cheekpieces behind Ambassador at Uttoxeter on last two starts; more needed.

12/1

4th

4

28th Jul 2023

Good

1m 7f 168y

Class 5

14:45 Uttoxeter

Bentham

11st 8lb

J: Joe Williamson

T: Sara Ender

led early, headed and prominent 2nd

14/1

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Prairie Wolf

The Guardian:

Fringill Dike

WEST COUNTRY:

Galahad Threepwood

TOPSPEED:

Malpas

The Times:

Okavango Delta

RP Ratings:

Prairie Wolf

Telegraph:

Prairie Wolf

Daily Mail:

Prairie Wolf

D Express:

Prairie Wolf

The Star:

Prairie Wolf

Daily Record:

Prairie Wolf

Daily Mirror:

Fringill Dike

POSTDATA:

Malpas