October 07 / 16.35 Fontwell

16.35

Good

Vickers.Bet Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £9822.66
  • 2m 3f 49y
  • Class 2
  • 6 runners
SKY
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Vickers.Bet Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly sunny

8/1 (Won)

  • Win: £5.50
  • Place: £2.00

Form: 111P7- C

Last run: 162 days

W: 10st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
Often makes the running; much prefers a sound surface and has won when fresh; won seven of eight races between October 2021-October 2022, including two wins here; best excused final two runs last season and could return to form but he's still 8lb above highest winning mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12

10th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 19y

Class 1

16:05 Aintree

Soul Icon

10st 10lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Keiran Burke

He's run pretty well in defeat at Kempton on his two starts this year (3m, good/good to soft); also ran okay when ninth in this last year (good to soft) but beaten nearly 20l and he's just 3lb lower this time around.

33/1

5th

3

21st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Kempton

Soul Icon

11st 6lb

J: Rian Corcoran

T: Keiran Burke

His best form is over shorter, including last season's 2m Grade 2 victory here off the same mark as today; whether he wants 3m is questionable, for all that he was only 2l off The Doyen Chief here last month.

12/1

9th

9

4th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 19y

Class 1

16:05 Aintree

Soul Icon

11st 1lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Keiran Burke

Won a good-quality, seven-runner handicap at Kempton (2m, good to soft) in December and is just 2lb higher here; ran well when second of three at Exeter (2m1f, good) last time and he stays this far; each-way possible.

25/1

3/1

  • Place: £1.50

Form: 21354- C

Last run: 188 days

W: 10st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
Ran well in two competitive handicaps in the spring and landed a hat-trick on the Flat this summer; tackles some serious rivals on his first attempt at this trip but good ground is ideal and he may yet have more to offer.
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: 2103-0

Last run: 147 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 145

Form & Verdict
Landed major Newbury prize in February but handicap mark suffered as a result; fair Plumpton effort sandwiched between heavy defeats in competitive contests when last seen in the spring; might have opposition up front on his first attempt at this trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

21st Sep 2025

Good To Firm

1m 7f 195y

Class 3

15:50 Plumpton

Aucunrisque

11st 12lb

J: Freddie Gordon

T: Chris Gordon

Not as good as he was but that's reflected in his mark and he knows his way around this place; returning from a break when third in this 12 months ago off a 4lb higher mark; could easily have a role to play.

7/2

3

29th Jun 2025

Soft

2m 1f 46y

Class 2

15:50 Cartmel

Aucunrisque

11st 2lb

J: Freddie Gordon

T: Chris Gordon

Not quite as good as he was but still a useful performer; placed on final two starts last season (2m hurdle/2m1f chase) and drops back in trip after looking stretched by 2m4f last month; probably best on good/good to soft but has won on soft; enters calculations.

13/2

2

16th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 2

18:20 Aintree

Aucunrisque

11st 7lb

J: Freddie Gordon

T: Chris Gordon

Not quite as good as he was but still a useful performer; second off today's mark on latest hurdling start at Newbury (2m, good to soft) in March and also ran well when third in Sussex Champion Chase at Plumpton (2m1f, good) last month; well worth another crack at 2m4f; probably won't be far away.

4/1

Form: 05P-52 D

Last run: 142 days

W: 10st 5lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Out of sorts last season but at least perked up when close second over 3m2f here in May on latest start; this trip looks short of his best (most recent win was over a stiff 2m5f+) but he should have a strong pace to aim at.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

22nd Dec 2023

Good To Soft

2m 5f 141y

Class 3

12:45 Ascot

Fifty Ball

11st 6lb

J: Niall Houlihan

T: Gary Moore

2-5 at Ascot; mostly disappointing in his nine runs this year, including twice at this track, and his best run in that period came when runner-up over 3m2f in May; wore cheekpieces on last four starts; 12lb higher this time last year but a revival is needed.

8/1

Form: 23-122 C

Last run: 37 days

W: 11st 1lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 132

Form & Verdict
Fine record over hurdles and in good form this summer; continues to creep up the weights and now 11lb above his highest winning mark; often makes the running but unlikely to be able to in this company.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

9

(9)

24th Jan 2024

Standard To Slow

1m 7f 218y

Class 5

20:30 Kempton (AW)

Thirtyfourstitches

9st 6lb

J: Gina Mangan

T: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole

A fairly useful 2m4f hurdles winner but he has yet to match that form in four runs on the Flat, coming in a never-dangerous fifth on his handicap debut at Wolverhampton (2m) 17 days ago; he may still do better.

9/2

0

7

(12)

7th Jan 2024

Standard

2m 0f 120y

Class 5

18:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Thirtyfourstitches

9st 7lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole

dwelt start, towards rear, took keen hold after 4f

7/1

2

(12)

18th Dec 2023

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 5

18:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Thirtyfourstitches

9st 11lb

J: Gina Mangan

T: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole

Experienced 8yo who is a ten-time hurdles winner; has raced in two C&D events since switched to Flat, finishing third then sixth; the balance of that form gives him something to find.

16/1

OUR TIP

Form: 662-0P D

Last run: 49 days

W: 10st 10lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 127

Form & Verdict
Hurdles record is 2-27, both wins gained for Gavin Cromwell in July 2020; fine second at Punchestown in April on debut for Olly Murphy but twice disappointing since, in a chase last time; risky.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

9

6th May 2026

Good

2m 5f 164y

Class 5

17:42 Fontwell

Bread And Butter

10st 11lb

J: Freddie Mitchell

T: Cynthia Woods

Veteran who has been out of sorts for a while now and he's looking sharply regressive.

14/1

5th

8

24th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 29y

Class 5

19:50 Fontwell

Bread And Butter

11st 3lb

J: Freddie Mitchell

T: Cynthia Woods

Five-time hurdle winner (2m3f-2m5f) but his last success was 16 months ago and this veteran has been out of sorts in his last four runs; opposable.

40/1

8th

5

1st Apr 2026

Good

2m 3f 179y

Class 5

16:50 Wincanton

Bread And Butter

11st 6lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Cynthia Woods

Five-time hurdle winner (2m3f-2m5f) but his last success was 16 months ago and this veteran has been out of sorts in his last three runs; opposable.

25/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £10.80
Straight Forecast £11.91
Trifecta £43.60

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Mr Freedom

TOPSPEED:

Thirtyfourstitches

RP RATINGS:

Aucunrisque

WEST COUNTRY:

Soul Icon

Daily Mirror:

Fifty Ball

POSTDATA:

Bread And Butter

The Times:

Mr Freedom

D Express:

Mr Freedom

The Star:

Mr Freedom

Telegraph:

Aucunrisque

Daily Mail:

Aucunrisque

The Guardian:

Thirtyfourstitches

Daily Record:

Thirtyfourstitches