April 05 / 14.50 Wetherby

14.50

Heavy

Join Racing TV Now Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £7921.5
  • 2m 0f 0y
  • Class 3
  • 5 runners
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Join Racing TV Now Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Scattered showers

OUR TIP

Form: 272101 C

Last run: 20 days

W: 12st 1lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 136

Form & Verdict
Dual course winner who got back on the up with a game success in 2m4f Uttoxeter handicap 20 days ago; up another 4lb and drops in trip but he goes very well in the mud so remains very much one to consider.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

3

14th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 70y

Class 2

14:25 Uttoxeter

Santos Blue

11st 8lb

J: Ben Sutton

T: Olly Murphy

Did well for Dan Skelton and posted best effort for new stable when second behind easy winner at Sandown (2m7f, heavy) last time; however, likely needs a new level of form to go one better.

14/1

2nd

1

31st Jan 2026

Heavy

2m 7f 103y

Class 1

15:10 Sandown

Santos Blue

12st 0lb

J: Ben Sutton

T: Olly Murphy

Successful six times under regular rider Ben Sutton, including on heavy going at Uttoxeter in 2024 and over 3m at Newbury last February; the latter was his final start for Dan Skelton and he's been well beaten this term on both runs for new yard; needs a career best to win this.

11/1

1st

2

8th Feb 2025

Soft

3m 0f 52y

Class 3

13:50 Newbury

Santos Blue

12st 0lb

J: Mr Ben Sutton

T: Dan Skelton

towards rear

11/1

Form: 516-46 D

Last run: 90 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 131

Form & Verdict
A fairly useful ex-Irish 2m hurdles winner but he came in only sixth of eight at Cork (2m4f) in January on his final run for Gordon Elliott; since changed hands for 45,000euros and not discounted after a break for his new yard.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

24th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

14:32 Uttoxeter

Abbeydale

12st 0lb

J: Jack Hogan

T: Fergal O’Brien

Won a maiden hurdle in Ireland back in March 2023; hasn't seen much action in the meantime and latest fourth at Wetherby (2m3f, soft) in this new headgear combination was a step back in the right direction; possible.

11/2

6th

4

7th Mar 2025

Soft

2m 6f 151y

Class 3

15:20 Leicester

Abbeydale

11st 2lb

J: Liam Harrison

T: Fergal O’Brien

Won over hurdles in Ireland; has been keeping fair company in his four runs for current yard but hasn't got going; could still come good again.

14/1

5th

3

20th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 3

13:35 Warwick

Abbeydale

11st 9lb

J: Jack Hogan

T: Fergal O’Brien

Hurdle winner in Ireland; yet to show progress for new yard, latterly switched to fences (fell then well-held second); doesn't look obviously well treated back at handicap level.

12/1

Form: 103/9F D

Last run: 133 days

W: 11st 4lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
A two-time 2m/2m3f Catterick hurdles scorer in early 2022 who reverts to this sphere after taking an early fall in 2m3f handicap chase there in November; no forlorn hope.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

5

17th Oct 2024

Good To Soft

2m 1f 33y

Class 4

13:22 Carlisle

Mick Maestro

11st 10lb

J: Tom Broughton

T: Nick Kent

Won two Catterick handicap hurdles on first two starts in 2022 (1m7f/2m3f), the second off a 16lb higher mark; has run only six times since and has been below par since returning from long layoff last autumn.

16/1

7th

2

26th Jun 2024

Good

2m 0f 110y

Class 4

14:23 Worcester

Mick Maestro

11st 6lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Nick Kent

Five-time hurdle winner but he was tailed off in that sphere at Bangor (2m, good) last time and he fell in his last outing over fences; still unexposed as a chaser but he's well into the veteran stage and others are preferred.

14/1

6th

1

28th May 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 145y

Class 4

19:55 Bangor-on-Dee

Mick Maestro

12st 0lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Nick Kent

Beaten long way at Chepstow in October before falling over fences in November; again suffered a heavy defeat in a good-ground handicap at Cheltenham (2m1f) last month but stopped the rot when third at Southwell (2m, good) this month; on a good mark and respected.

8/1

Abandoned

Form: 39-72F CD

Last run: 21 days

W: 10st 11lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
It's now 13 outings since his last victory and he fell heavily at the fifth in 2m Fakenham handicap hurdle three weeks ago; he needs to bounce back.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

23rd Nov 2024

Good To Soft

1m 7f 171y

Class 4

14:38 Huntingdon

Fransham

11st 6lb

J: Connor Brace

T: Pam Sly

towards rear

33/1

6

23rd Nov 2024

Good To Soft

1m 7f 171y

Class 4

14:38 Huntingdon

Fransham

11st 6lb

J: Connor Brace

T: Pam Sly

towards rear

33/1

7th

2

15th Oct 2024

Good

2m 0f 125y

Class 4

15:05 Market Rasen

Fransham

11st 12lb

J: Alice Stevens

T: Pam Sly

didn't always jump with fluency, midfield, dropped to rear after 4th, no impression after 3 out

16/1

Form: 13P-33

Last run: 16 days

W: 10st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
A two-time 2m4f hurdles winner last season who arrives on the back of a good third in 2m3f Haydock handicap 16 days ago; one for the shortlist off an easing mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

1st Nov 2025

Good

2m 3f 85y

Class 3

13:15 Wetherby

Glen Cannel

11st 3lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: L J Morgan

Made it 2-4 over fences when making all at Perth (2m4f, good) in July when last seen; won on testing ground over hurdles early in career; open to further improvement in this sphere and he's respected up 6lb.

6/1

5

1st Nov 2025

Good

2m 3f 85y

Class 3

13:15 Wetherby

Glen Cannel

11st 3lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: L J Morgan

Made it 2-4 over fences when making all at Perth (2m4f, good) in July when last seen; won on testing ground over hurdles early in career; open to further improvement in this sphere and he's respected up 6lb.

6/1

1st

6

3rd Jul 2025

Good

2m 4f 20y

Class 4

15:20 Perth

Glen Cannel

11st 12lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: L J Morgan

Hasn't had much racing and he came back from a spell pointing to win a four-runner hunter chase at this track in May; found life tougher back in handicap company when fourth of nine here (also 3m, good) the following month; this drop back in trip isn't an obvious plus.

8/1

Verdict

Not the easiest race to assess despite the small field but Dan Skelton’s SANTOS BLUE is a dual course winner and handles these conditions really well so is taken to follow up his recent Uttoxeter success. Glen Cannel is weighted to have a say and next on the list ahead of Fergal O’Brien’s new recruit Abbeydale.[Peter Entwistle]