March 24 / 15.55 Ascot

15.55

Good

Ascot Shop Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £7393.4
  • 2m 7f 118y
  • Class 4
  • 13 runners
SKY
View Course
Ascot Shop Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 13 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

7/1 (Won)

  • Win: £8.50
  • Place: £3.00

Form: 662002

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Ended last year with two down-the-field runs (2m/1m7f) but appreciated drop to this grade when close/clear second at Sedgefield (2m4f, soft) last month; has to take a 3lb rise on the chin but is worth another crack at this sort of trip and today's faster ground is probably in his favour.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

9th May 2026

Good

3m 0f 0y

Class 5

17:35 Warwick

Redbridge Rambler

12st 0lb

J: Freddie Keighley

T: Martin Keighley

Two good runs behind subsequent winners at Hereford and Catterick (both 3m1f, good) in late 2025; always struggling over an inadequate 1m7f at Wincanton (no headgear; cheekpieces return) in April and perhaps fortunate to get dropped 2lb; fair chance of another win.

7/2

5th

2

12th Apr 2026

Good

1m 7f 149y

Class 5

15:27 Wincanton

Redbridge Rambler

11st 13lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Martin Keighley

Suited by good or quicker ground; similar sort of form in his last four races in handicaps from 2m4f to 3m1f; this trip is on the tight side but he's in a weak race and might be ridden forcefully.

15/8

7/1

  • Place: £2.10

Form: 36-2B4

Last run: 132 days

W: 11st 11lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
0-6 over hurdles but was second in Kempton maiden (2m5f, good) last spring and also ran well when fourth in novice race over that C&D in November; upped in trip for today's handicap debut; a possible.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

7

24th Apr 2024

Good

2m 7f 174y

Class 4

14:35 Ludlow

Much Too Dear

11st 7lb

J: Charlie Price

T: Laura Horsfall

Ten-race maiden who was an unlucky second, having been badly hampered early on, at Ascot (2m7f; belated handicap debut) most recently; raised 6lb but has clear possibilities granted better fortune.

6/1

8th

7

24th Apr 2024

Good

2m 7f 174y

Class 4

14:35 Ludlow

Much Too Dear

11st 7lb

J: Charlie Price

T: Laura Horsfall

Ten-race maiden who was an unlucky second, having been badly hampered early on, at Ascot (2m7f; belated handicap debut) most recently; raised 6lb but has clear possibilities granted better fortune.

6/1

2nd

3

24th Mar 2024

Good

2m 7f 118y

Class 4

15:55 Ascot

Much Too Dear

11st 11lb

J: Charlie Price

T: Laura Horsfall

0-6 over hurdles but was second in Kempton maiden (2m5f, good) last spring and also ran well when fourth in novice race over that C&D in November; upped in trip for today's handicap debut; a possible.

7/1

4/1

  • Place: £2.10

Form: 5-4241

Last run: 62 days

W: 11st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 101

Form & Verdict
Made the frame in three consecutive handicaps in the autumn (2m4f-2m5f) and returned from break with clearcut win at Plumpton (2m4f, soft) in January; moves up from Class 5 today but might have untapped potential over this longer trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

31st May 2026

Good

2m 5f 44y

Class 3

16:37 Fakenham

Nickelforce

11st 5lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Ben Case

3-14 over fences, the latest win gained at Wincanton (2m4f, good) in November; just a respectable third at Uttoxeter (2m5f, good) this month, his second start after a layoff, and remains on fairly tough mark but still enters calculations.

7/2

3rd

4

2nd May 2026

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 4

16:50 Uttoxeter

Nickelforce

11st 9lb

J: Mr Charlie Case

T: Ben Case

Has three wins over fences but was beaten 28l when fourth of five finishers at Newton Abbot (2m5f, good) four weeks ago on his return from a winter break; still 6lb higher than for his last success and others look better handicapped.

10/1

4th

8

4th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 216y

Class 3

15:49 Newton Abbot

Nickelforce

10st 13lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: Ben Case

Had form figures of 23243221 last year and he was as good as ever when scoring at Wincanton (2m4f, good) in November; has won when fresh in the past but he's 7lb higher than last time and this is highly competitive on his return.

15/2

Form: P659

Last run: 13 days

W: 11st 1lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
Shaped with significant promise before fading into fifth in Taunton novice (2m3f, good to soft) in December but was safely held when upped to 3m for recent handicap debut there; needs to step up.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

10

7th May 2025

Good

2m 5f 122y

Class 5

16:20 Newton Abbot

Outside Adesa

10st 8lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Kayley Woollacott

prominent, bad mistake and lost ground quickly 3 out

10/1

8th

10

7th May 2025

Good

2m 5f 122y

Class 5

16:20 Newton Abbot

Outside Adesa

10st 8lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Kayley Woollacott

prominent, bad mistake and lost ground quickly 3 out, weakened 2 out

10/1

5

19th Apr 2025

Soft

2m 5f 122y

Class 5

14:34 Newton Abbot

Outside Adesa

11st 6lb

J: Ben Godfrey

T: Kayley Woollacott

in touch with leaders, lost ground after 5th

10/1

Form: 12136P C

Last run: 59 days

W: 11st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Doubled hurdling tally with 2m3f course win in November (soft ground) and bettered that performance when close third over an extended 3m here (good) later that month; good claims if judged on that evidence but his next two runs were lacklustre (hurdle/chase) and he now has a point to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

11

27th Mar 2026

Good

3m 0f 26y

Class 5

16:50 Wetherby

Rebel Intentions

10st 12lb

J: Nathan Moscrop

T: Annabelle Sowray

Two good runs over 3m1f at Catterick earlier in the season but form has gone cold; others preferred.

20/1

6th

4

24th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 71y

Class 5

16:30 Catterick

Rebel Intentions

11st 3lb

J: Nathan Moscrop

T: Annabelle Sowray

Two good C&D placed efforts on good/good to soft in December/January; pulled up on testing ground here last time; better ground should suit.

9/1

Form: 2305-0

Last run: 58 days

W: 11st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 99

Form & Verdict
Nine-race maiden who finished well down the field after making the running in 2m4f Sandown handicap hurdle on stable debut in January; moves up in trip with a lot to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

3rd Jun 2026

Good

2m 4f 216y

Class 4

15:00 Newton Abbot

Vengeance

10st 2lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Jimmy Frost

0-12 over hurdles and, while there have been hints of encouragement off a sliding mark, he hasn't looked like capitalising and now faces a stiff task from out of the weights on chase debut.

16/1

4th

3

17th Apr 2026

Good To Firm

2m 7f 25y

Class 5

18:10 Exeter

Vengeance

11st 1lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Jimmy Frost

0-14 under rules; sliding in the weights in four starts for this trainer and those efforts suggest he'll need a further favour or two from the handicapper to break his duck.

7/1

5th

7

7th Apr 2026

Good

2m 5f 137y

Class 5

14:10 Exeter

Vengeance

11st 3lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Jimmy Frost

No wins in 13 but ran okay two weeks ago at Wincanton (2m4f, good), finishing under 8l behind the winner who comfortably followed up last week at Ludlow; each-way claims.

9/1

OUR TIP

20/1

Form: 3P-1PP

Last run: 36 days

W: 11st 10lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Caused 50-1 shock at Wincanton (3m, heavy; also suited by good ground) in December, after a long layoff, but pulled up twice since (chase/hurdle); not an easy one to predict.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

5

6th Nov 2024

Good

2m 7f 131y

Class 4

12:20 Chepstow

Johnny B

11st 7lb

J: Ben Ffrench Davis

T: Chris Down

Veteran who was out of sorts when last seen in the summer but he went close over 3m2f here (good) in the spring and that was off 1lb higher; hard to rule out in suitable conditions after a break and his last win was after an absence.

10/1

Form: 568

Last run: 42 days

W: 11st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 96

Form & Verdict
Won soft-ground Irish point in early 2023 and made reasonably encouraging rules debut in December (2m) but it's hard to take any positives from his two runs this year (2m3f/2m2f); upped in trip and fitted with a tongue-tie for this handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

20th Mar 2025

Good

2m 7f 131y

Class 5

14:55 Chepstow

Totowolfe

10st 2lb

J: James Davies

T: Nigel Hawke

towards rear

33/1

9

12th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

3m 1f 44y

Class 5

14:18 Hereford

Totowolfe

10st 4lb

J: Lorcan Murtagh

T: Nigel Hawke

in rear, headway into midfield 8th, not fluent 11th, weakened before 2 out (usual 3 out), pulled up last (usual 2 out)

20/1

7th

11

18th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 3y

Class 5

15:50 Taunton

Totowolfe

10st 7lb

J: Lorcan Murtagh

T: Nigel Hawke

towards rear, midfield when mistake 3rd

25/1

20/1

Form: 4-43P

Last run: 89 days

W: 11st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 101

Form & Verdict
Soundly beaten when making the frame on first two hurdle starts (2m3f/2m4f, heavy/soft) and was struggling from fairly early stage on handicap debut at Wetherby (2m3f, soft) in December; needs this different trip-and-ground combination to show him in a much better light.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13

15th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 70y

Class 2

14:25 Uttoxeter

Strackan

10st 8lb

J: David Bass

T: Henry Daly

prominent, pecked on landing 1st

16/1

5th

10

9th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 25y

Class 2

15:33 Exeter

Strackan

11st 2lb

J: David Bass

T: Henry Daly

Has come to himself in a major way this autumn/winter, winning from the front at Uttoxeter (2m4f, soft), Bangor (2m7f, soft) and Cheltenham (3m, soft); they were dominant displays on first two occasions and he kept finding more on latest; up another 6lb but remains of major interest.

11/2

5th

10

9th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 25y

Class 2

15:33 Exeter

Strackan

11st 2lb

J: David Bass

T: Henry Daly

Has come to himself in a major way this autumn/winter, winning from the front at Uttoxeter (2m4f, soft), Bangor (2m7f, soft) and Cheltenham (3m, soft); they were dominant displays on first two occasions and he kept finding more on latest; up another 6lb but remains of major interest.

11/2

Form: 22

Last run: 116 days

W: 11st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Placed on Irish point debut last spring and on both hurdling starts at Hereford (2m3f, good) in November; makes handicap debut after 116-day break but is open to improvement if fully tuned up; tongue-tie added.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

9

16th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 7f 177y

Class 3

16:00 Ffos Las

Face DMusic

10st 7lb

J: Shane Quinlan

T: Katy Price

In good form over hurdles since swapping cheekpieces for blinkers this year and, following a win at Chepstow (2m7f, soft), reverted to chasing with clear/close second to unexposed rival here (2m3f, heavy) a fortnight ago; this race is stronger but the move back up in trip will suit; shortlisted.

4/1

2nd

1

1st Mar 2026

Heavy

2m 3f 83y

Class 5

15:30 Ffos Las

Face DMusic

12st 0lb

J: Shane Quinlan

T: Katy Price

In good form over hurdles since swapping cheekpieces for blinkers this year, most recently when winning at Chepstow (2m7f, soft); reverts to chasing on a workable mark and will be fine over today's shorter trip; respected.

7/2

1st

2

13th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 131y

Class 5

16:55 Chepstow

Face DMusic

12st 0lb

J: Shane Quinlan

T: Katy Price

Very inconsistent over last year or so and tends to hit a flat spot in his races now but kept on to make the frame on both outings in blinkers last month (2m7f/2m) and seems versatile ground-wise; each-way claims.

14/1

Form: -57665

Last run: 56 days

W: 11st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Not disgraced in any of his three qualifying races (all 2m4f) but was beaten about 33l when fifth on handicap debut at Fontwell (2m5f, soft) in January and is difficult to enthuse over after that.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

24th Mar 2024

Good

2m 7f 118y

Class 4

15:55 Ascot

Touch Of Thunder

11st 6lb

J: James Best

T: Camilla Poulton

Not disgraced in any of his three qualifying races (all 2m4f) but was beaten about 33l when fifth on handicap debut at Fontwell (2m5f, soft) in January and is difficult to enthuse over after that.

25/1

5th

1

28th Jan 2024

Soft

2m 5f 164y

Class 5

13:45 Fontwell

Touch Of Thunder

12st 0lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Camilla Poulton

Not disgraced in any of his three qualifying races, the last two in good-quality 2m4f Newbury novices; in much calmer waters for today's handicap debut and ought to get much more competitive this time.

9/2

6th

13

20th Dec 2023

Soft

2m 4f 118y

Class 3

14:35 Newbury

Touch Of Thunder

11st 0lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Camilla Poulton

22l sixth of 12 when 150-1 over C&D (good to soft) last time was improvement but he's surely best watched until going handicapping.

50/1

Form: 64-614 D BF

Last run: 34 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Drew nicely clear of the others with progressive rival when opening account at Wetherby (3m, soft; first-time cheekpieces) in January and didn't run badly on heavy ground at Carlisle last month (albeit she was very tired in the closing stages); a possible if suited by this quicker ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

15th Apr 2025

Good

3m 0f 60y

Class 5

15:50 Southwell

Perculator

11st 7lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Mark Walford

in touch with leaders, lost ground after 2nd

16/1

6

15th Apr 2025

Good

3m 0f 60y

Class 5

15:50 Southwell

Perculator

11st 7lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Mark Walford

Placed on consecutive outings after her narrow win at Wetherby (2m5f, good) in November but looked out of sorts on her last two outings and needs to have been refreshed by a 12-week break.

16/1

2

21st Jan 2025

Heavy

2m 4f 110y

Class 5

13:20 Leicester

Perculator

11st 13lb

J: James Robottom

T: Mark Walford

Disappointing at Wetherby last month but in good form previously, winning there in November (2m5f, good) before two good thirds at Carlisle (good to soft/soft); could bounce back with a big performance.

9/1

Form: 243-23

Last run: 36 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Remote when third at Wincanton (3m, heavy) last month and now 0-12 over hurdles but that run came after a break and today's quicker ground ought to suit him much better; more exposed than some but current mark is workable; not ruled out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

20th Aug 2025

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 4

17:25 Worcester

The Bold Thady

11st 3lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Neil Mulholland

Has been running well for a while over hurdles at up to 3m and made a respectable chase debut when fourth over C&D in June; possible.

10/1

10

12th Jun 2025

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 3

18:10 Worcester

The Bold Thady

10st 8lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Neil Mulholland

Newcomer to fences and there are chasers in the family; has been running well for a while over hurdles at up to 3m and bumped into an in-form rival last time; could feature if finding some fluency over his fences.

10/1

2

25th May 2025

Good

2m 5f 164y

Class 4

14:58 Fontwell

The Bold Thady

12st 0lb

J: Harriet Tucker

T: Neil Mulholland

Good-ground winner for claiming riders over 3m2f here last May and 2m7f last September; competitive on last three outings (good to soft latest) and needs respect despite this being his shortest trip for over two years.

4/1

Non-runners

A Definite Getaway, Macs Legacy

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £58.00
Straight Forecast £40.76
Tricast £158.70
Trifecta £261.40

Selections

Telegraph:

Nickelforce

RP RATINGS:

Rebel Intentions

Daily Record:

Face D'Music

SPOTLIGHT:

Mac's Legacy

WEST COUNTRY:

Redbridge Rambler

The Times:

Much Too Dear

POSTDATA:

Perculator

D Express:

Vengeance

Daily Mirror:

Nickelforce

The Sun:

Nickelforce

The Star:

Nickelforce

TOPSPEED:

Rebel Intentions