February 24 / 16.00 Newcastle

16.00

Heavy

Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £5650.67
  • 2m 0f 190y
  • Class 3
  • 7 runners
SKY
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Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

7/4 (Won)

  • Win: £2.75
  • Place: £1.40

Form: 241312 CD

Last run: 29 days

W: 11st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Won twice towards the end of last year, including over C&D on heavy, and his good form continued when runner-up at Sedgefield (2m1f, soft) last month; remains on a career-high mark but he's a solid candidate.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

21st Jul 2025

Good

2m 1f 61y

Class 3

15:45 Cartmel

Horn Cape

11st 10lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Ben Haslam

Very inconsistent nowadays and needs to bounce back from tame effort in valuable handicap hurdle here three weeks ago but ran well from the front when second in C&D (good) chase in May and has claims if judged on that.

5/1

2

29th Jun 2025

Soft

2m 1f 46y

Class 2

15:50 Cartmel

Horn Cape

11st 3lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Ben Haslam

Quickly switches back to hurdling after good second over fences here (2m1f, good) last month; does not have much margin for error off current mark but will cope a lot better than some of these if the ground ends up heavy.

8/1

1

24th May 2025

Good

2m 1f 61y

Class 3

18:08 Cartmel

Horn Cape

11st 10lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Ben Haslam

Six-time hurdle winner on soft/heavy ground; reverts to fences on a tempting mark but was well beaten in his only previous chase (in October 2023) and there may not be enough rain about for him today.

3/1

4/1

  • Place: £2.70

Form: 3-2126 CD

Last run: 54 days

W: 11st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Flopped at Musselburgh (2m4f, soft) on New Year's Day when the trip and ground shouldn't have been an issue; in good form previously, however, winning at Musselburgh (1m7f, good to soft) before a short-head defeat at Doncaster (2m3f, good), and he can be in the mix if leaving last time behind.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

16th Oct 2025

Good

1m 7f 207y

Class 3

13:57 Carlisle

Matchless

11st 5lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jennie Candlish

Three consecutive wins over hurdles in May/June (2m-2m7f, good/good to soft) and he was running okay in that sphere last month; however, he has something to find in today's company and he didn't improve for the switch to fences when soundly beaten in January on his sole previous chase start.

12/1

4th

1

26th Sep 2025

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 4

15:52 Worcester

Matchless

12st 0lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jennie Candlish

Came up rather short in higher grade last time; solid record (1112) in Class 4 otherwise this term, albeit has shot up the weights as a result; may be in the assessor's grip now.

13/2

3

5th Sep 2025

Good

2m 7f 32y

Class 3

16:45 Bangor-on-Dee

Matchless

11st 6lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jennie Candlish

It took a return to selling level to regain the winning thread in May but has since gone 112 in 2m4f/2m7f handicaps; getting high in the weights (nudged up another 1lb) but he's pretty solid.

7/2

OUR TIP

Form: P-PP14 C BF

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 12lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 126

Form & Verdict
11yo who has a patchy profile nowadays and was a disappointing favourite in a claimer at Leicester last time, but he was travelling well when making a bad mistake three out and won a handicap at Market Rasen earlier last month; not discounted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

3rd May 2025

Good

2m 0f 48y

Class 4

16:28 Hexham

Baron De Midleton

11st 6lb

J: Tom Midgley

T: Brian Ellison

midfield, lost position and reminders before 5th, struggling 3 out, no chance when mistake 2 out, soon pulled up

9/4

2

3rd May 2025

Good

2m 0f 48y

Class 4

16:28 Hexham

Baron De Midleton

11st 6lb

J: Tom Midgley

T: Brian Ellison

midfield, lost position and reminders before 5th

9/4

2

5th Apr 2025

Good

2m 0f 190y

Class 3

15:25 Newcastle

Baron De Midleton

11st 9lb

J: Henry Brooke

T: Brian Ellison

set good pace, led, not fluent 4th, soon headed, lost two places before 3 out, weakened and pulled up quickly before 2 out

8/1

25/1

Form: 5261-P

Last run: 31 days

W: 10st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Back from absence when pulled up at 100-1 over hurdles at Catterick (2m3f, soft) last month; wore a tongue-tie for his two French chase wins in 2022 and it returns today (also has first-time hood), but he has plenty to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

16th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 19y

Class 5

15:20 Newcastle

Iwa

10st 8lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: D J Jeffreys

Won twice over fences in France in 2022 but he is 0-8 in Britain; modest form this season and although he's already come way down the weights, others still have more pressing claims; blinkered on last two starts.

14/1

9

16th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 19y

Class 5

15:20 Newcastle

Iwa

10st 8lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: D J Jeffreys

Won twice over fences in France in 2022 but he is 0-8 in Britain; modest form this season and although he's already come way down the weights, others still have more pressing claims; blinkered on last two starts.

14/1

4th

6

17th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

1m 7f 145y

Class 5

15:00 Catterick

Iwa

10st 8lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: D J Jeffreys

Won twice over fences in France in 2022 but is 0-7 in Britain; travelled strongly in the lead for a long way in first-time blinkers at Carlisle (2m, good to soft) last month but weakened in the home straight and was beaten about 17l in the end; others have more pressing claims.

14/1

Form: 7P-095 D

Last run: 56 days

W: 11st 13lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 127

Form & Verdict
Continues to tumble down the weights and is one to watch in the betting, but hasn't been shaping as though he's about to halt the slide.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

3

26th Apr 2024

Soft

2m 0f 47y

Class 4

13:30 Perth

Jason The Militant

11st 13lb

J: Joe Williamson

T: Philip Kirby

Was always up against it at the Cheltenham Festival last month but his good days for Henry De Bromhead are a fading memory; remains opposable.

25/1

8th

3

26th Apr 2024

Soft

2m 0f 47y

Class 4

13:30 Perth

Jason The Militant

11st 13lb

J: Joe Williamson

T: Philip Kirby

Was always up against it at the Cheltenham Festival last month but his good days for Henry De Bromhead are a fading memory; remains opposable.

25/1

22

15th Mar 2024

Soft

2m 4f 56y

Class 2

17:30 Cheltenham

Jason The Militant

10st 4lb

J: Joe Williamson

T: Philip Kirby

Capable of very useful form for Henry de Bromhead; however, record for current stable is far from convincing and latest defeat came in lower grade at Newcastle; hopes of revival are pinned on first-time blinkers (replacing cheekpieces worn the last twice).

100/1

Form: 12132- CD BF

Last run: 374 days

W: 12st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 128

Form & Verdict
Absent since last February but won over fences when fresh last season and he's well handicapped on his chase form; won four times over C&D over hurdles in 2021-22 campaign (including on soft) and he's an interesting contender now back here for his return to action.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

1

24th Feb 2024

Heavy

2m 0f 190y

Class 3

16:00 Newcastle

Since Day One

12st 0lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

Absent since last February but won over fences when fresh last season and he's well handicapped on his chase form; won four times over C&D over hurdles in 2021-22 campaign (including on soft) and he's an interesting contender now back here for his return to action.

7/2

1

12th Apr 2023

Good

1m 7f 182y

Class 3

14:30 Southwell

Since Day One

11st 10lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

Form: 3191U- D

Last run: 371 days

W: 11st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Useful on the Flat and easily made all in two juvenile hurdles last season (2m, good/soft); absent since last February but has potential off this mark and he's one to watch in the betting on his comeback.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

4

7th Mar 2025

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

15:35 Ayr

I Have A Voice

11st 12lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Adam Nicol

Fairly useful 2m hurdles winner in early 2023, but offered little for Nigel Hawke in a pair of 2m handicap hurdles at Leicester and Lingfield in December; needs this yard switch to spark a resurgence.

33/1

8th

4

9th Dec 2024

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

15:00 Lingfield

I Have A Voice

11st 9lb

J: Lorcan Murtagh

T: Nigel Hawke

Scored twice as a juvenile hurdler two seasons ago; showed poor form last term and was pulled up on heavy ground only eight days ago on first start since wind surgery.

33/1

8th

4

9th Dec 2024

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

15:00 Lingfield

I Have A Voice

11st 9lb

J: Lorcan Murtagh

T: Nigel Hawke

Scored twice as a juvenile hurdler two seasons ago; showed poor form last term and was pulled up on heavy ground only eight days ago on first start since wind surgery.

33/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £9.60
Straight Forecast £11.05
Trifecta £51.90

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Horn Cape

WEST COUNTRY:

I Have A Voice

The Times:

Since Day One

POSTDATA:

Baron De Midleton

The Guardian:

I Have A Voice

The Star:

I Have A Voice

Daily Mirror:

Since Day One

RP RATINGS:

Horn Cape

TOPSPEED:

Horn Cape

Telegraph:

Horn Cape

Daily Mail:

Horn Cape

D Express:

Horn Cape

The Sun:

Horn Cape

Daily Record:

Horn Cape