January 30 / 16.30 Chepstow

16.30

Heavy

Its Not Unusual Open National Hunt Flat Race (Category 1 Elimination) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £3802.32
  • 2m 0f 11y
  • Class 4
  • 10 runners
SKY
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Its Not Unusual Open National Hunt Flat Race (Category 1 Elimination) (GBB Race)

Runners: 10 runners

Type: NH Flat

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

15/8 (Won)

  • Win: £5.50
  • Place: £1.70

Form: 2

Last run: 52 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
First foal from sister to smart hurdler Call The Cops; joined Alan King after promising Irish point debut last April and made good start to rules career when second over C&D (heavy) last month; likely contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

7

2nd May 2026

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 4

16:50 Uttoxeter

Ski Lodge

11st 7lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Alan King

Yet to get off the mark over fences in five starts; cheekpieces worn last time are retained; steps back in trip but is getting expensive to follow.

7/1

4th

9

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 125y

Class 3

17:05 Haydock

Ski Lodge

11st 4lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Alan King

Has a win and a second (over C&D) from two runs here; bit disappointing at Wetherby five weeks ago after looking dangerous early in the straight, but cheekpieces and a return to Haydock could see a revival.

15/2

4th

3

26th Feb 2026

Soft

3m 0f 45y

Class 4

14:25 Wetherby

Ski Lodge

11st 11lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Alan King

Runner-up behind progressive winners in December on his first two chase starts (3m/3m1f, heavy/good to soft); can make mistakes and he fell at Hereford last time, but could have a big part to play granted a clear round.

11/4

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Kept on well for second in heavy-ground Irish point in October, form that has been pretty well advertised by the first and third under rules since; changed hands for £60,000 in November; interesting recruit.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

17th Feb 2026

2m 4f 118y

Class 3

15:20 Newbury

Bobbys Nelson

11st 8lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Beaten by good horses in his first two runs over hurdles before getting off the mark at Ffos Las (2m4f, soft), the form of which was franked by third winning easily last week; smacks of a strong stayer and he's still entered in the Turners at Cheltenham.

11/10

OUR TIP

11/2

  • Place: £1.70

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
72,000euros 3yo; second foal; dam fair 2m-2m4f hurdle winner, half-sister to useful hurdler Martha Brae and another bumper/hurdle winner; stable has very good bumper strike-rate (22%); no surprise if he features on debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

22nd Apr 2026

Soft

2m 4f 20y

Class 3

14:10 Perth

Barlovento

11st 10lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Soundly beaten on last two starts but those were Class 2 contests at Cheltenham and Kempton and this is a drop back in grade; this lightly raced 7yo had previously made a promising start to his chasing career, including a 2m4f win at Kempton, and he remains one to be interested in.

3/1

3rd

7

14th Mar 2026

Good

2m 4f 110y

Class 2

15:18 Kempton

Barlovento

10st 9lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Encouraging chase debut at Exeter then a convincing if narrow C&D win (good; has won on soft) in November, sealing the race between the last two; much lesser run at Cheltenham since (well behind Califet En Vol); may do much better back here.

8/1

8th

6

24th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 4f 127y

Class 2

12:05 Cheltenham

Barlovento

11st 2lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Ridden out to win the novice handicap chase at Kempton (2m4f, good) on Boxing Day, building on his promising reappearance effort; appears to handle soft ground; this low-mileage 7yo looks likely to improve further over fences; enters calculations.

11/4

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Third foal; dam unraced sister to bumper/useful jumps winner Parsnip Pete, half-sister to useful chaser Arthur's Pass; stable 0-6 in bumpers during last five seasons (all unplaced); other newcomers appeal more on paper.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

1

19th Apr 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 161y

Class 4

16:25 Exeter

Brave Ruler

11st 4lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Polly Gundry

took keen hold, prominent, not fluent 1st

33/1

9th

1

19th Apr 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 161y

Class 4

16:25 Exeter

Brave Ruler

11st 4lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Polly Gundry

took keen hold, prominent, not fluent 1st

33/1

6th

2

18th Mar 2024

Soft

2m 1f 162y

Class 4

14:13 Fontwell

Brave Ruler

11st 5lb

J: Nick Scholfield

T: Polly Gundry

Out of an unraced sister to useful jumper Parsnip Pete; shaped quite well when fourth in heavy-ground Chepstow bumper in January but his run in a similar race there last month was disappointing; makes hurdling debut here.

16/1

Form: 3

Last run: 83 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Out of unraced half-sister to Stayers' Hurdle winner More Of That and two other very good jumpers; just a respectable third of six over C&D (heavy) on debut in November and almost certainly needs to take a step forward.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

26th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 0f 178y

Class 5

13:40 Sedgefield

The Cypriot

11st 9lb

J: Osian Radford

T: Evan Williams

Nine-race maiden but he returned to form when third in a first-time tongue-tie (retained) under Osian Radford at Uttoxeter (2m, good to soft) on New Year's Eve; also effective on soft ground; has the same mark as last time and he's a leading player if backing up that latest run.

11/8

3rd

4

26th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 0f 178y

Class 5

13:40 Sedgefield

The Cypriot

11st 9lb

J: Osian Radford

T: Evan Williams

Nine-race maiden but he returned to form when third in a first-time tongue-tie (retained) under Osian Radford at Uttoxeter (2m, good to soft) on New Year's Eve; also effective on soft ground; has the same mark as last time and he's a leading player if backing up that latest run.

11/8

3rd

6

31st Dec 2024

Good To Soft

1m 7f 168y

Class 5

14:00 Uttoxeter

The Cypriot

11st 3lb

J: Osian Radford

T: Evan Williams

Unplaced all six hurdling starts but shaped quite well before fading at Ffos Las (2m4f, soft; first run after wind op) last month, and may benefit from combination of drop back in trip and first-time tongue-tie here.

14/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Third foal; half-brother to 3m1f chase winner Kayf Thou; dam smart jumper; stable has modest bumper strike-rate; considered only if lively in the betting.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

22nd Feb 2026

Soft

2m 5f 164y

Class 4

15:20 Fontwell

Bollin Thou

11st 2lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Nick Scholfield

Rampant 8yo who has won his last four starts (2m3f to 3m2f), most recently when staying on well to defy a hike up the weights at Sandown (2m4f, heavy) three weeks ago; up a further 6lb but the five-timer looks a distinct possibility.

4/7

1st

6

31st Jan 2026

Heavy

2m 3f 178y

Class 3

12:55 Sandown

Bollin Thou

10st 13lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Nick Scholfield

Record of P4111, all in Class 5, since joining current yard and switched to handicaps; gained the wins by an aggregate of about 39l and gives the impression he'll cope with this rise in grade, off new mark; progressive and commands respect.

5/4

Form: 4-

Last run: 313 days

W: 10st 9lb

5 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Prominent for a long way before fading into fourth in C&D mares' race last March (soft ground); evidently has some ability, but we haven't seen her again since and improvement is required today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

12

25th May 2026

Good

2m 6f 31y

Class 5

14:13 Cartmel

Lady Harriett

10st 2lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Mickey Bowen

Suited by this track and has the assistance of Sean Bowen but has not been at her best since returning from a break in the autumn and would appeal more on good to soft or slower ground; 2lb out of the weights.

7/1

5th

7

4th May 2026

Good

3m 1f 5y

Class 5

15:50 Warwick

Lady Harriett

10st 2lb

J: Shane Fenelon

T: Mickey Bowen

Won over 2m4f in late 2024; a couple of thirds in the meantime but pulled up the last twice when slow ground was no excuse.

11/2

7

18th Feb 2026

3m 0f 60y

Class 5

16:55 Southwell

Lady Harriett

10st 2lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Mickey Bowen

First-time cheekpieces did the trick when she won at Ffos Las in November 2024 and she matched that form when third of 14 here (also about 2m4f, good to soft) last February; inconsistent and generally struggling since and pulled up after a bad mistake when blinkered for chase debut last time; handy mark, however, and the return to hurdles and cheekpieces might help.

8/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
First foal; dam unplaced over hurdles, sister to useful useful chaser Mr Medic; stable 1-22 in bumpers during last five seasons; probably best watched on debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

19th Nov 2025

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

14:45 Ffos Las

El Bandido Pancho

11st 6lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Ben Clarke

Held on gamely to make all at Newton Abbot (2m5f, heavy) in April and returned from break in even better form ten days ago, drawing clear to score by 7l over C&D (soft); commands respect under 7lb penalty.

11/8

1st

12

19th Apr 2025

Soft

2m 5f 122y

Class 5

14:34 Newton Abbot

El Bandido Pancho

10st 10lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Ben Clarke

made all, not fluent 5th, not fluent 6th, ridden after 2 out, kept on run-in, all out

5/1

1st

12

19th Apr 2025

Soft

2m 5f 122y

Class 5

14:34 Newton Abbot

El Bandido Pancho

10st 10lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Ben Clarke

made all, not fluent 5th, not fluent 6th, ridden after 2 out, kept on run-in, all out

5/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Fifth foal; half-brother to same connections' fairly useful hurdler Bonza Girl; dam dual 2m hurdle winner; stable has healthy bumper strike-rate (11% last five seasons); could have a say.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 100y

Class 5

16:40 Chepstow

DGesteevo

10st 2lb

J: Chad Bament

T: Jeremy Scott

No form claims after eight hurdle races, five in handicaps; tongue tied on latest and tried cheekpieces before that; 1lb out of the weights

25/1

9th

13

23rd Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 0y

Class 5

15:12 Warwick

DGesteevo

10st 8lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Jeremy Scott

0-7 over hurdles, having been pulled up on last three appearances, and needs first time tongue-tie to make a big difference; cheekpieces (worn for last two races); removed.

25/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
First foal; dam runner-up in AW bumper, half-sister to a low-grade chase winner; pedigree doesn't leap off the page but stable has done very well in bumpers in recent seasons (with Milton Harris holding the licence for most of that time).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

21st Sep 2025

Good To Firm

2m 4f 116y

Class 4

15:20 Plumpton

Oi Oi Oi

11st 4lb

J: Bradley Harris

T: Harriet Dickin

Impossible to drum up any enthusiasm for what he's shown so far, in a bumper and three hurdle starts; has a basement handicap mark; now blinkered.

50/1

8th

2

24th Jul 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

16:05 Worcester

Oi Oi Oi

11st 4lb

J: Bradley Harris

T: Harriet Dickin

Well beaten in two C&D maidens this spring; needs first-time cheekpieces to prompt huge improvement today.

200/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £15.70
Straight Forecast £11.67
Trifecta £49.00

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Ski Lodge

WEST COUNTRY:

Bobby's Nelson

Telegraph:

Barlovento

RP RATINGS:

The Cypriot

The Guardian:

Lady Harriett

POSTDATA:

Ski Lodge

Daily Mail:

Ski Lodge

Daily Mirror:

Ski Lodge

The Sun:

Ski Lodge

The Star:

Ski Lodge

Daily Record:

Ski Lodge

The Times:

Bobby's Nelson

D Express:

Bobby's Nelson