March 02 / 14.05 Doncaster

14.05

Soft

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  • Prize money: £13007.5
  • 3m 0f 84y
  • Class 2
  • 8 runners
SKY
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Download The Raceday Ready App Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

7/2 (Won)

  • Win: £3.00
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 34P911 D

Last run: 27 days

W: 10st 5lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Front-runner; shot back to form with a Newcastle win in January and followed up at Musselburgh four weeks later, both at about 3m on soft (unraced on heavy); another 4lb higher today but respected in hat-trick bid.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

29th Jun 2025

Soft

2m 6f 31y

Class 4

14:40 Cartmel

Curley Finger

11st 11lb

J: Nathan Moscrop

T: Rebecca Menzies

Failed to win during light campaign last season and dropped out very quickly after running well for a long way over C&D (good to soft; first-time visor) last month; positives can still be drawn from that recent effort but others in this field look much less risky; cheekpieces back on today.

12/1

2

28th May 2025

Good To Soft

2m 6f 31y

Class 4

18:40 Cartmel

Curley Finger

12st 0lb

J: Nathan Moscrop

T: Rebecca Menzies

Failed to win during light campaign last season; didn't run badly when fifth of six at Doncaster (3m, good) in March and will be suited by the forecast rain here but still needs a boost from today's change of headgear.

10/1

2

28th May 2025

Good To Soft

2m 6f 31y

Class 4

18:40 Cartmel

Curley Finger

12st 0lb

J: Nathan Moscrop

T: Rebecca Menzies

Failed to win during light campaign last season; didn't run badly when fifth of six at Doncaster (3m, good) in March and will be suited by the forecast rain here but still needs a boost from today's change of headgear.

10/1

20/1

  • Place: £9.90

Form: 88P-5P D

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 1lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
Latest win came at Clonmel (3m, soft/heavy) in first-time blinkers for Gordon Elliott in December 2022; mainly disappointing since, so he's passed over despite a career-low mark and return from chasing.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

25th Apr 2024

Soft

3m 2f 127y

Class 3

16:45 Perth

Floueur

12st 1lb

J: Nathan Moscrop

T: Rebecca Menzies

raced in second

16/1

1

25th Apr 2024

Soft

3m 2f 127y

Class 3

16:45 Perth

Floueur

12st 1lb

J: Nathan Moscrop

T: Rebecca Menzies

raced in second

16/1

10

13th Apr 2024

Soft

3m 0f 149y

Class 1

13:20 Aintree

Floueur

11st 1lb

J: Tabitha Worsley

T: Rebecca Menzies

Unpredictable over the years for several different stables; easily best effort this season when going down narrowly at Doncaster (3m, soft) in March but was beaten 41l at Uttoxeter on Midlands National day; unconvincing.

66/1

10/1

  • Place: £1.90

Form: 62-524 D

Last run: 77 days

W: 10st 13lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 128

Form & Verdict
Over two years since he last ran on soft; last won in 2021; second in three of last six races and shaped satisfactorily over an inadequate trip on latest; an 11yo but he has good each-way claims if he goes on the ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

9

18th May 2024

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 2

19:03 Uttoxeter

Copper Coin

11st 5lb

J: Beau Morgan

T: Michael Scudamore

Good third on ground too soft for him at Doncaster last month but dropped out at Cheltenham a month ago; hasn't taken a lot of racing in recent seasons.

14/1

2nd

9

18th May 2024

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 2

19:03 Uttoxeter

Copper Coin

11st 5lb

J: Beau Morgan

T: Michael Scudamore

Good third on ground too soft for him at Doncaster last month but dropped out at Cheltenham a month ago; hasn't taken a lot of racing in recent seasons.

14/1

9th

9

17th Apr 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 213y

Class 2

15:50 Cheltenham

Copper Coin

10st 11lb

J: Beau Morgan

T: Michael Scudamore

took keen hold, prominent, mistake and nearly lost jockey 2 out

16/1

Form: -11752 C

Last run: 12 days

W: 10st 10lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
2m3f win here last March was the first leg of a four-timer, which he completed by getting up close home over 2m4f at Carlisle (soft) in November; returned to form in a small field on latest start (2m3f, heavy) but needs to improve on this first attempt beyond 2m5f; not dismissed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

3

15th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 3

18:20 Aintree

Fingals Hill

11st 5lb

J: Callum Bewley

T: Peter Atkinson

5lb higher than when a 6l winner of this last year, beating Ike Sport; returns on the back of two solid efforts at Newcastle; chance.

6/1

2nd

1

31st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 62y

Class 3

16:00 Newcastle

Fingals Hill

12st 0lb

J: Callum Bewley

T: Peter Atkinson

This race was one of the three he won last season, all of them on good or good to soft at this trip; on his last winning mark and, after his running-on second over 2m1f here last time, should go well again.

2/1

2nd

1

14th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 190y

Class 3

16:00 Newcastle

Fingals Hill

12st 0lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Peter Atkinson

Won back to back at Aintree & Hexham (both 2m4f) last summer, rising to a career-high mark of 134; kicked off 2026 with a solid effort at Doncaster (2m4f, soft; runner-up) and he's capable of bouncing back from a lesser effort at Kelso since.

5/1

Form: -31533

Last run: 14 days

W: 10st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Still pretty useful at 1m/1m2f on Flat last summer and his Sandown hurdle win in November was over 2m (soft); however, he was upped to an extended 2m3f for quite a valuable handicap at Ascot (good to soft) two weeks ago and, having understandably switched to much more waiting tactics, came from a poor position to be third of 16; needs improvement but that latest run offers some hope for this new trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

(8)

15th May 2026

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 3

14:32 Newmarket

Arqoob

9st 8lb

J: Harry Davies

T: Lucy Wadham

Exposed 8yo but he's still capable of useful form and scored at Kempton (1m4f, AW) last March; also won over 1m6f on the July course (good to firm; first-time blinkers) in August; returns on a stiff-enough mark with no headgear but they might go a solid gallop which can help.

14/1

4

1st Oct 2025

Good

2m 5f 5y

Class 3

16:28 Warwick

Arqoob

11st 6lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Lucy Wadham

Recently won on the Flat in first-time blinkers and then ran respectably in a valuable handicap at Doncaster; returns to hurdling in fair form and he's on a handy mark.

7/2

6th

9

(1)

12th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

1m 6f 115y

Class 2

13:15 Doncaster

Arqoob

8st 13lb

J: Tom Marquand

T: Lucy Wadham

53 races already (17 over hurdles) and six wins before he made his first appearance over 1m6f three weeks ago, winning it in good style in first-time blinkers at Newmarket (good to firm; acts on soft); only five ran in that race and he's gone back up 5lb but it could be argued that he's not fully exposed either in blinkers or at this sort of trip.

16/1

Form: 0-18PP

Last run: 35 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 129

Form & Verdict
Won 16-runner handicap at Ballinrobe (2m6f, good) last May on penultimate start for Noel Meade but soundly beaten on debut for current stable and pulled up both starts since; this is only his second run over this sort of trip, but wind surgery in January would probably be key if he does revive.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

1

(10)

18th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 68y

Class 6

14:50 Lingfield

Lunar Power

9st 9lb

J: William Carson

T: Laura Mongan

Won his share in Ireland but has been on the downgrade for a while and has had three different trainers in the past nine months; however, he showed enough on the AW here last time to suggest he has each-way claims back up in trip and down another 2lb.

12/1

6th

2

(4)

30th Apr 2026

Standard

1m 4f 0y

Class 6

18:10 Lingfield (AW)

Lunar Power

9st 8lb

J: Rhys Clutterbuck

T: Laura Mongan

Losing run stretches back to May 2023 (hurdles); ended 2025 with some modest efforts for James Owen and fared little better when fifth of seven on his stable debut 11 weeks ago (2m, Polytrack); enough to prove.

16/1

5th

2

(2)

11th Feb 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 7f 218y

Class 6

16:28 Kempton (AW)

Lunar Power

10st 2lb

J: Tyrese Cameron

T: Laura Mongan

Five wins (Flat and hurdles) when trained in Ireland; mixed bag for James Owen when last seen; not on a bad mark if a change of scenery piques his interest.

8/1

OUR TIP

Form: 31/P-1 D

Last run: 67 days

W: 12st 0lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 143

Form & Verdict
Twice a winner over the big fences at Aintree and looked pretty much in top form when taking a four-runner race over the conventional fences there on Boxing Day, despite a 430-day absence; those career highlights were over 2m5f/2m4f, including on soft, and his record over this sort of trip suggests he may need the ground less testing today; none of his hurdles form approaches this mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

23

13th Apr 2024

Heavy

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Mac Tottie

10st 9lb

J: James Bowen

T: Peter Bowen

Probably acts on heavy; won twice at 2m5f over these fences in the 2021-2022 season but fell at the Chair when he tried 3m2f that December; also pulled up in that season's Welsh National and his successful return this winter from a long layoff was at 2m4f (not so good since); that leaves a big question mark over his stamina, to set against his trainer's good record at this meeting.

50/1

23

13th Apr 2024

Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

15:00 Aintree

Mac Tottie

10st 9lb

J: James Bowen

T: Peter Bowen

Probably acts on heavy; won twice at 2m5f over these fences in the 2021-2022 season but fell at the Chair when he tried 3m2f that December; also pulled up in that season's Welsh National and his successful return this winter from a long layoff was at 2m4f (not so good since); that leaves a big question mark over his stamina, to set against his trainer's good record at this meeting.

50/1

3

24th Mar 2024

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 2

16:30 Ascot

Mac Tottie

11st 12lb

J: James Bowen

T: Peter Bowen

Tailed off over hurdles at Doncaster three weeks ago but chasing is his game nowadays and he won at Aintree (2m4f, soft) on Boxing Day when back from a long absence; stayed this far earlier in his career and has won on good/good to soft; not discounted now back over fences.

10/1

Form: 2-1149 D

Last run: 119 days

W: 11st 9lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 138

Form & Verdict
Acts on heavy; last March-July saw his most fruitful period for a long time, including two wins, but tailed-off last in November when last seen.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

3

12th Oct 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 63y

Class 3

16:20 Hexham

Aramax

11st 9lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Ben Haslam

in touch with leaders

20/1

7th

1

18th Sep 2024

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 2

17:05 Kelso

Aramax

12st 0lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Ben Haslam

Formerly a very useful hurdler/chaser; not quite so good these days but won two 3m handicap hurdles on good ground last summer; bit below par since; on a good mark and today's going will suit but better over further these days.

12/1

5th

3

24th Aug 2024

Soft

3m 1f 83y

Class 2

15:25 Cartmel

Aramax

11st 9lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Ben Haslam

prominent, went second after 8th, prominent 3 out, weakened approaching last

10/1

Non-runners

Equinus

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £91.00
Straight Forecast £88.66
Tricast £554.61
Trifecta £554.60

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Equinus

SPOTLIGHT:

Curley Finger

Telegraph:

Fingal's Hill

The Guardian:

Arqoob

TOPSPEED:

Equinus

WEST COUNTRY:

Equinus

The Times:

Equinus

Daily Mail:

Equinus

D Express:

Equinus

Daily Record:

Equinus

POSTDATA:

Curley Finger

The Sun:

Curley Finger

The Star:

Curley Finger

Daily Mirror:

Fingal's Hill