April 01 / 16.55 Chepstow

16.55

Soft

Visit Irish P2P Sales With ITM Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £4330.42
  • 2m 3f 100y
  • Class 4
  • 12 runners
SKY
View Course
Visit Irish P2P Sales With ITM Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 12 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

7/2 (Won)

  • Win: £2.10
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 4-4472

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Unexposd 6yo who left a disappointing handicap debut a long way behind when clear second in first-time cheekpieces at Newbury (2m4f, heavy) last month; major player if the headgear continues to aid.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

6

20th May 2026

Good

2m 5f 5y

Class 4

16:00 Warwick

Il Va De Soi

11st 2lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

Put a disappointing run of form behind him when returning to winning ways over C&D (good) 11 days ago, making all; whether he can reproduce that effort is another matter but he is still well handicapped on his old form.

11/4

1st

7

9th May 2026

Good

2m 5f 5y

Class 4

19:07 Warwick

Il Va De Soi

11st 7lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

His two wins came on soft in April 2024; out of sorts over fences and hurdles this term; cheekpieces return and has dropped to a career-low mark but doesn't look ready to take advantage.

14/1

8th

3

4th Apr 2026

Good

1m 7f 171y

Class 4

18:00 Huntingdon

Il Va De Soi

11st 8lb

J: Megan Fox

T: Harry Derham

His two wins came on soft in April 2024; out of sorts over fences and hurdles this term; drops back in trip but his best form has been over further.

16/1

25/1

  • Place: £2.60

Form: 2-498P

Last run: 60 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 101

Form & Verdict
Made quite promising hurdle debut in November (2m3f, soft), but is yet to build on it and was pulled up on handicap debut two months ago (3m, heavy); drops back in trip with cheekpieces tried.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

4

6th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 177y

Class 5

15:30 Ffos Las

Monbari

11st 11lb

J: Jamie Brace

T: Rebecca Curtis

11-race maiden; emerged from spell in the doldrums with respectable fourth here (2m3f, heavy) in February, but was safely held over that trip on good ground at Chepstow last month; back up to 3m today; others look safer.

10/1

8th

4

6th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 177y

Class 5

15:30 Ffos Las

Monbari

11st 11lb

J: Jamie Brace

T: Rebecca Curtis

11-race maiden; emerged from spell in the doldrums with respectable fourth here (2m3f, heavy) in February, but was safely held over that trip on good ground at Chepstow last month; back up to 3m today; others look safer.

10/1

7th

1

16th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 98y

Class 5

16:47 Chepstow

Monbari

12st 0lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Rebecca Curtis

Good to see him complete last time and was only about 6l off the winner at Ffos Las (2m3f, heavy), where dropping back in trip helped; now 2lb lower than when a close second over hurdles here last April; may prefer softer ground but interesting otherwise.

8/1

5/1

  • Place: £1.40

Form: 2317 BF

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
Irish point winner who came good under rules with front-running success in Exeter maiden (2m, good to soft) in January; flopped badly when favourite for last month's handicap debut but remains open to significant further progress if all is well.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

9th Apr 2025

Good To Firm

2m 7f 198y

Class 3

16:25 Taunton

Florencethemachine

11st 2lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Back from a break and her yard has won two of the last four renewals; has been chasing this season, making all to beat two rivals off 1lb lower at Exeter in November (3m, good); has won twice as a hurdler and should hold every chance.

6/4

Form: -71114 D BF

Last run: 40 days

W: 11st 13lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
3-5 since switched to handicaps this season, the latest win gained at Catterick (2m3f, soft) in January; below form when warm favourite at Ludlow in February but further progress remains possible.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

18th Apr 2026

Soft

3m 7f 176y

Class 1

15:35 Ayr

Herakles Westwood

11st 5lb

J: James Bowen

T: Warren Greatrex

Second-season chaser who took his form to new levels over about 3m1f-3m2f at Cheltenham initially this season but, after wind surgery, faded badly from three out when 10-1 for the Kim Muir there last month; needs to bounce back with another career best and he has more to prove on this third attempt at a marathon trip.

20/1

13th

8

12th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 2f 70y

Class 2

17:20 Cheltenham

Herakles Westwood

11st 6lb

J: Mr Finian Maguire

T: Warren Greatrex

Second-season chaser who has run well here on his last three starts, finishing second of 16 under Finian Maguire (3m1f, heavy) then fourth over this C&D (good to soft; lost a shoe) before winning here (3m1f, good) on New Year's Day; has had wind surgery since and he's a solid contender.

9/1

5th

13

3rd May 2025

Yielding

3m 7f 68y

15:05 Punchestown

Herakles Westwood

10st 8lb

J: James Bowen

T: Warren Greatrex

in touch with leaders, dropped to midfield 9th

16/1

Form: 3328-P D

Last run: 144 days

W: 12st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Useful hurdler/chaser for Fergal O'Brien, but was pulled up when 66-1 for seasonal/stable debut in November and has not raced again since.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

13

16th Sep 2024

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 4

17:00 Worcester

Art Approval

11st 4lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Joe Tickle

Placed twice (once over C&D) for Ralph Smith when cheekpieces were refitted this summer and has claims if judged on those efforts, but needs to rebound from last month's underwhelming stable debut.

20/1

8th

1

28th Aug 2024

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 4

18:40 Worcester

Art Approval

12st 1lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Joe Tickle

Hasn't won for ages but twice placed this summer (2m7f/2m6f) for Ralph Smith and can go well again off this mark provided another change of stable doesn't rock the boat.

7/1

2nd

7

2nd Jul 2024

Good To Firm

2m 6f 7y

Class 4

19:40 Stratford

Art Approval

11st 8lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Ralph J Smith

Returned from break with two fairly respectable runs towards the end of last season (2m3f/2m4f) and another when third over 2m7f in the refitted cheekpieces at Worcester one month ago; not the force of old and has not won since 2021 but has place claims.

7/1

Form: 4-P643 C

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 7lb

9 yo Mare

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Did quite well to finish third in a novice chase last month having made a bad jumping error, but has been well below her best over hurdles this season and others have more persuasive profiles.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

8

16th Apr 2025

Good

2m 7f 191y

Class 4

17:45 Ffos Las

Current Mood

10st 10lb

J: Isabel Williams

T: Evan Williams

Scored off this mark over fences at Ludlow (3m, good) in October and ran quite well when fourth in 2m5f hurdle there (good to soft) in February, but the addition of cheekpieces did not appear to help much two starts ago and she was again below par (without headgear) last month.

14/1

4th

8

16th Apr 2025

Good

2m 7f 191y

Class 4

17:45 Ffos Las

Current Mood

10st 10lb

J: Isabel Williams

T: Evan Williams

prominent, briefly went second before 2 out, stayed on final 110yds

14/1

7th

8

16th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 100y

Class 3

15:37 Chepstow

Current Mood

10st 7lb

J: Isabel Williams

T: Evan Williams

Has only won over fences in the past year but she's a three-time hurdle winner who didn't run too badly at Ludlow two runs back on her latest run in this discipline.

8/1

Form: 641735

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 5lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Made all against her own sex at Ffos Las (2m, heavy) in early February, but hasn't been in the same form since (three runs) and it's hard to foretell whether she'll be in the right mood.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

5th Jun 2024

Good

3m 2f 105y

Class 5

15:10 Newton Abbot

Heure De Gloire

11st 9lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

Has done her winning at about 2m, latest at Ffos Las in February; soundly beaten on last four starts, with moves back up to about 2m4f/3m for last three; her one piece of 3m form was back in January 2022 but she is back 4lb lower than her last winning mark.

14/1

6th

6

15th May 2024

Good

2m 7f 191y

Class 4

16:00 Ffos Las

Heure De Gloire

11st 8lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

Placed over 3m early in career but has done her winning at about 2m, including twice at Ffos Las; modest fourth over 2m4f here most recently; bit to prove back up further in trip.

14/1

6th

6

15th May 2024

Good

2m 7f 191y

Class 4

16:00 Ffos Las

Heure De Gloire

11st 8lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

Placed over 3m early in career but has done her winning at about 2m, including twice at Ffos Las; modest fourth over 2m4f here most recently; bit to prove back up further in trip.

14/1

OUR TIP

Form: 1835-P

Last run: 83 days

W: 12st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Ex-French 5yo who was pulled up when 33-1 for British debut at Market Rasen (2m4f, good to soft) in January; needs subsequent wind op to have made a big difference.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

2nd Jul 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

14:15 Worcester

Jac Jumper

12st 0lb

J: Lewis Stones

T: Deborah Cole

0-9 over fences but he seemed to respond well to cheekpieces when runner-up on final two starts last season (2m5f/2m4f) and may not have been suited by the drop back to 2m when below form here in May; a possible.

5/1

1

23rd May 2025

Good

2m 0f 110y

Class 5

16:48 Worcester

Jac Jumper

12st 0lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Deborah Cole

Sole win in 15 starts came over hurdles in France as a 3yo, but he has finished runner-up in four of his six outings since returning to fences last summer; all of those were over further, but he hasn't quite been getting home so the drop in trip looks an interesting move.

5/2

1

23rd May 2025

Good

2m 0f 110y

Class 5

16:48 Worcester

Jac Jumper

12st 0lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Deborah Cole

Sole win in 15 starts came over hurdles in France as a 3yo, but he has finished runner-up in four of his six outings since returning to fences last summer; all of those were over further, but he hasn't quite been getting home so the drop in trip looks an interesting move.

5/2

Form: 5-38P4 CD

Last run: 93 days

W: 11st 12lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Won over C&D last season and was placed off 5lb higher at Newton Abbot (2m5f, soft) in October after an absence, but his form nosedived towards the end of last year and he needs to have been refreshed by another break.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

11

9th Jul 2024

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 3

18:05 Uttoxeter

Mr Muldoon

10st 9lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole

Placed off 8lb higher at Newton Abbot (2m5f, soft) in October and will also be suited by today's faster ground but has looked badly out of sorts since and needs to turn things around.

20/1

6

1st Apr 2024

Soft

2m 3f 100y

Class 4

16:55 Chepstow

Mr Muldoon

11st 12lb

J: Cillin Leonard

T: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole

Won over C&D last season and was placed off 5lb higher at Newton Abbot (2m5f, soft) in October after an absence, but his form nosedived towards the end of last year and he needs to have been refreshed by another break.

20/1

Form: 775113 D BF

Last run: 16 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
A big improver since cheekpieces were fitted in January, winning at Leicester (2m4f, soft) and Hereford (2m3f, soft) before creditable third in competitive 0-130 contest at Uttoxeter (2m4f heavy); dips back into a Class 4 race and ought to make his presence felt again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

17th Feb 2026

2m 4f 118y

Class 4

16:30 Newbury

One Eye On Vegas

12st 1lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Stuart Edmunds

Won a Leicester handicap (2m4f, soft) for the second season running in early December, edging out Cast's Tasha; Wincanton was disappointing but remains on a fair mark if he can shrug aside that run.

8/1

6th

5

15th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 179y

Class 4

14:27 Wincanton

One Eye On Vegas

11st 7lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Stuart Edmunds

Won a Leicester handicap (2m4f, soft) for the second season running in early December; the front two were clear but the second has disappointed since; this is likely to take more winning and he's 4lb higher.

7/1

9th

1

24th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 84y

Class 4

14:38 Doncaster

One Eye On Vegas

11st 13lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Stuart Edmunds

midfield

7/1

Form: 531P3

Last run: 207 days

W: 11st 6lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Came from the rear to win Stratford maiden (2m, good) for Olly Murphy last summer, but next two runs were very disappointing and he was sold for £20,000 in the autumn; not sure to be suited by today's ground and probably best watched on stable/handicap debut; cheekpieces (worn twice on the Flat) refitted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

(2)

9th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 1f 24y

Class 6

13:23 Bath

Sobegrand

9st 2lb

J: William Cox

T: John & Rhys Flint

Won over hurdles for Olly Murphy in 2023 but has lost his way and was tailed off over C&D (soft a possible excuse) last month after a long absence.

50/1

1

(11)

13th Sep 2025

Soft

2m 1f 24y

Class 6

15:28 Bath

Sobegrand

9st 12lb

J: Taylor Fisher

T: John & Rhys Flint

Won over hurdles for a different stable in summer 2023 but was badly out of form on the Flat for this yard last year and returns from 446-day absence with a lot to prove.

33/1

Form: 08-570

Last run: 77 days

W: 10st 2lb

8 yo Mare

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
0-12 over hurdles in Ireland, signing off with down-the-field run at Punchestown in January; makes stable debut from a workable mark but is not the most obvious answer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

7

24th Apr 2024

Good

2m 7f 198y

Class 5

17:15 Taunton

Lyla Garrity

11st 0lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Henrietta C Knight

Maiden in Ireland; 50-1 when pulled up in a Chepstow handicap on stable debut; headgear is soon turned to.

14/1

7th

7

24th Apr 2024

Good

2m 7f 198y

Class 5

17:15 Taunton

Lyla Garrity

11st 0lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Henrietta C Knight

Maiden in Ireland; 50-1 when pulled up in a Chepstow handicap on stable debut; headgear is soon turned to.

14/1

14

1st Apr 2024

Soft

2m 3f 100y

Class 4

16:55 Chepstow

Lyla Garrity

10st 2lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Henrietta C Knight

0-12 over hurdles in Ireland, signing off with down-the-field run at Punchestown in January; makes stable debut from a workable mark but is not the most obvious answer.

20/1

Non-runners

Inoui Machin, In From The Cold

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £11.80
Straight Forecast £11.59
Tricast £32.07
Trifecta £44.90

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Il Va De Soi

Telegraph:

Inoui Machin

WEST COUNTRY:

Florencethemachine

TOPSPEED:

Heure De Gloire

D Express:

Sobegrand

Daily Mail:

Inoui Machin

Daily Record:

Inoui Machin

RP RATINGS:

Il Va De Soi

LAMBOURN:

Il Va De Soi

The Times:

Il Va De Soi

The Guardian:

Il Va De Soi

Daily Mirror:

Il Va De Soi

The Star:

Il Va De Soi

POSTDATA:

Heure De Gloire