February 03 / 16.20 Sandown

16.20

Soft

Virgin Bet Best Odds Daily Open National Hunt Flat Race (Category 1 Elimination) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £7804.5
  • 1m 7f 216y
  • Class 2
  • 8 runners
RTV
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Virgin Bet Best Odds Daily Open National Hunt Flat Race (Category 1 Elimination) (GBB Race)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: NH Flat

Surface: Turf

Weather: Windy

11/2 (Won)

  • Win: £2.63
  • Place: £1.20

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
His second in an Irish point (soft) has worked out quite well (third has won two bumpers since, fourth has won a 2m handicap hurdle); subsequently changed hands for £100,000; new yard is having a good season and gets its share of bumper winners; has to be respected on rules debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

7

5th Apr 2026

Yielding To Soft

2m 4f 0y

17:00 Fairyhouse

Sixmilebridge

11st 10lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Fergal O’Brien

Front-runner who has finished first past the post in all six attempts over 2m4f (disqualified on one occasion due to a banned substance); beat Kala Conto with plenty to spare in the Grade 1 Scilly Isles at Sandown (soft), task simplified by the exit of the Mullins-trained Kitzbuhel.

5/2

1st

3

31st Jan 2026

Soft

2m 4f 15y

Class 1

14:40 Sandown

Sixmilebridge

11st 7lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Fergal O’Brien

Acts on heavy ground; well beaten at the Cheltenham Festival in both Grade 1 attempts (bumper/hurdle) but faces a more realistic task in this field and remains unexposed over fences; easily beat two rivals at Cheltenham (2m4f, good to soft) last time, taking chase record to 2-2 and looking better than ever; possibilities.

9/2

5/1

  • Place: £2.80

Form: 1 D

Last run: 73 days

W: 11st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Nibbled at in the betting and made the perfect start in six-runner race at Ffos Las (soft; 10-1) in November, coming from the rear to win going away; could be a useful prospect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

13th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 3f 98y

Class 3

14:40 Chepstow

Juby Ball

10st 9lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Evan Williams

2-2 over hurdles last season and has made a promising start to his chasing career this term; had to concede weight to higher-rated rival when runner-up in novice chase here (2m, soft) last month and remains on a good mark for this handicap return; good chance.

5/6

2nd

1

27th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 0f 16y

Class 3

14:37 Chepstow

Juby Ball

11st 10lb

J: James Bowen

T: Evan Williams

2-2 over hurdles last season; had to battle hard to justify skinny odds on seasonal/chase debut at Carlisle (2m, soft; four fences omitted) in November and fell at third-last fence when travelling well at Ffos Las (2m3f, soft) this month but remains a very interesting chasing prospect.

13/8

1st

2

9th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 0f 11y

Class 4

13:20 Chepstow

Juby Ball

11st 9lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: Evan Williams

Looked very promising in his two bumpers last season and beat a next-time-out winner fairly comfortably on last month's hurdling debut at Ffos Las (2m, soft); makes very obvious appeal here.

4/9

12/1

  • Place: £3.40

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
135,000euros 3yo; by Blue Bresil; dam well beaten in bumpers, closely related to useful 2m5f-3m hurdle/chase winner Royal Player; powerful stable is operating at 15% in bumpers this season; worth a market check.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

25th May 2026

Good

2m 5f 34y

Class 3

17:11 Cartmel

Pony Soprano

11st 8lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Off the mark over fences at fifth attempt, with fairly comfortable success in first-time tongue-tie/cheekpieces at Uttoxeter (2m5f, good) this month; back up 7lb for that but probably still has more to offer; makes obvious appeal.

8/13

1st

1

2nd May 2026

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 4

16:50 Uttoxeter

Pony Soprano

11st 10lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Has shown solid form in at least three of his four races over fences without winning; the handicapper has given him a chance on this return from a three-month break; both first-time tongue-tie and cheekpieces go on and any improvement should see him go close.

6/1

3rd

1

27th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 75y

Class 4

13:50 Newcastle

Pony Soprano

12st 0lb

J: Tristan Durrell

T: Dan Skelton

Won an Exeter maiden hurdle in October 2024 (2m2f, good to soft); best of three runs over fences when 10.5l third at Haydock last time (2m, soft; second and fourth have won since); down in grade; the one to beat.

7/2

Form: 13 D

Last run: 70 days

W: 11st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Brother to the useful jumper Pembroke; has made a solid start to his career, winning at Worcester (good to soft) in October and running at least as well when third at Ascot (good; conceded weight to promising pair that beat him) the following month; likely to take another step forward.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

7

10th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 1

13:45 Aintree

Wellington Arch

11st 11lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Justified favouritism in 2m4f event at Uttoxeter (soft) on Midlands National day, going one better than 12 months earlier and setting himself up perfectly for an attempt to win this prize for the second year running; current mark reflects his advancement; again a big player.

9/1

1st

1

14th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 207y

Class 3

13:50 Uttoxeter

Wellington Arch

12st 2lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Second in this race last year off 12lb lower, he went on to win at the Aintree Festival last April; confirmed his wellbeing when second in the William Hill Hurdle at Newbury five weeks ago and should run well.

4/1

26

13th Mar 2026

Good

2m 0f 179y

Class 1

14:00 Cheltenham

Wellington Arch

10st 4lb

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Reserve; won 2m4f handicap at last season's Aintree Grand National meeting (good to soft) before third at Punchestown; disappointing when favourite on Windsor reappearance but back on his game when best of the rest behind Tutti Quanti in valuable 2m Newbury handicap (heavy) last month.

28/1

OUR TIP

Form: 1 CD

Last run: 83 days

W: 11st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Bought for 185,000euros as a 3yo and showed a good attitude to make a winning debut over C&D (soft; 5-6) in November, digging deep to assert inside the final furlong; top yard won this race 12 months ago; leading contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

2nd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 16y

Class 4

15:00 Chepstow

Touquet

11st 6lb

J: James Davies

T: Nick Gifford

Seemingly aided by new tongue-tie when winning twice at Huntingdon (2m, good to soft/soft) during the winter, and was not discredited when second to revitalised subsequent winner at Wincanton (1m7f, good to soft) last month; sometimes races a bit too freely but should be fine on this left-handed track; respected.

5/2

2nd

1

5th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 149y

Class 4

14:37 Wincanton

Touquet

11st 8lb

J: James Davies

T: Nick Gifford

Always the risk his reluctance to settle will temper his late effort, as it did when over 1l behind A Great Excuse at Lingfield in December; 2-2 at Huntingdon since, however, deriving the benefit of the tongue tie once again when making most there latest (soft); 5lb rise appears pretty fair.

11/8

1st

4

22nd Jan 2026

Soft

2m 0f 104y

Class 4

12:28 Huntingdon

Touquet

11st 7lb

J: James Davies

T: Nick Gifford

Last year wasn't all plain sailing but he delivered on previous chasing promise when scoring over C&D (good to soft; first-time tongue-tie) just before Christmas and should be fine on the slower ground today; respected.

5/2

Form: 2

Last run: 72 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Looked poised to win at odds of 22-1 when skipping clear at Market Rasen (good to soft) in November, only to be run down by one who had the benefit of experience; more needed here but that was a promising start.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

19th Apr 2025

Good

3m 1f 10y

Class 5

16:49 Huntingdon

Seek Him There

11st 12lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: Ben Case

prominent, lost position 3 out, weakened 2 out, pulled up approaching last

5/1

3

19th Apr 2025

Good

3m 1f 10y

Class 5

16:49 Huntingdon

Seek Him There

11st 12lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: Ben Case

prominent

5/1

3rd

1

16th Mar 2025

Good

2m 2f 140y

Class 5

15:22 Market Rasen

Seek Him There

12st 0lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: Ben Case

raced in second, not fluent and lost position 6th, weakened after 3 out

3/1

Form: 21 D

Last run: 35 days

W: 11st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Changed hands for a six-figure sum after a soft-ground Irish point win last spring, and then built on the form of his rules debut when running away with a four-runner bumper at Haydock (heavy) in December; open to further improvement and high on the list.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

2

3rd Feb 2024

Soft

1m 7f 216y

Class 2

16:20 Sandown

San Frandisco

11st 8lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

led, cajoled along before halfway, ridden and headed over 2f out, soon weakened

100/30

1st

4

30th Dec 2023

Heavy

1m 7f 144y

Class 4

15:45 Haydock

San Frandisco

11st 2lb

J: Daryl Jacob

T: Jamie Snowden

made all, set steady pace, pushed along over 2f out, went clear over 1f out, kept on well and went further clear inside final furlong, eased towards finish, unchallenged

10/11

Form:

Last run:

W: 10st 6lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
By Policy Maker; dam twice-raced half-sister to winners Grand Vision (useful 2m4f-3m hurdle/chase), Victoria Rose (2m6f chase), Copper's Gold (3m chase) and Rose Above It (bumper); the only 4yo in the line-up and receives 12lb weight-for-age, but stable has a modest strike-rate in bumpers.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

29th Feb 2024

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

15:25 Wetherby

Noir Du Tay

11st 0lb

J: Fergus Gillard

T: Stuart Edmunds

His trainer is in phenomenal form and it was a warm bumper in which he made his debut at Sandown (2m, good to soft) four weeks ago; however, he was tailed off at 25-1 and lots of improvement is needed on hurdle debut.

14/1

8th

8

3rd Feb 2024

Soft

1m 7f 216y

Class 2

16:20 Sandown

Noir Du Tay

10st 6lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Stuart Edmunds

towards rear but in touch with leaders, weakened over 2f out

14/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £16.90
Straight Forecast £20.08
Trifecta £145.60

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Touquet

The Times:

Juby Ball

D Express:

Sixmilebridge

LAMBOURN:

San Frandisco

SPOTLIGHT:

Wellington Arch

POSTDATA:

Touquet

WEST COUNTRY:

Touquet

Telegraph:

Touquet

Daily Mail:

Touquet

The Sun:

Touquet

Daily Record:

Touquet

Daily Mirror:

Juby Ball

The Star:

Sixmilebridge

The Guardian:

San Frandisco