April 09 / 15.00 Hereford

15.00

Soft

Hereford Countryside Raceday This Sunday Novices’ Limited Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £3247.81
  • 2m 3f 147y
  • Class 5
  • 10 runners
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Hereford Countryside Raceday This Sunday Novices’ Limited Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 10 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

8/1 (Won)

  • Win: £5.00
  • Place: £1.70

Form: 6-5068

Last run: 75 days

W: 11st 1lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Well beaten in his novices and dropped out tamely on his handicap debut at Wetherby (2m3f, soft); at 7-2 it would appear that better was expected of him, and he's since had wind surgery.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

4th Jul 2025

Good

2m 0f 75y

Class 4

15:43 Newton Abbot

Shillanavogy

11st 6lb

J: James Bowen

T: Warren Greatrex

Runner-up at Wincanton (2m4f, good) in March and comfortably went one better when dropped back to 2m1f at Cartmel (2m1f, good to soft) in May; a 6lb rise isn't harsh and he's unexposed at this sort of distance; player.

8/11

3

28th May 2025

Good To Soft

2m 1f 61y

Class 5

20:10 Cartmel

Shillanavogy

12st 0lb

J: James Bowen

T: Warren Greatrex

Opened chasing account at Fontwell (2m5f, soft) in December and bumped into a rejuvenated subsequent winner when second at Wincanton (2m4f, good) on latest outing in March; contender if this drop back in trip suits.

7/2

3

28th May 2025

Good To Soft

2m 1f 61y

Class 5

20:10 Cartmel

Shillanavogy

12st 0lb

J: James Bowen

T: Warren Greatrex

Opened chasing account at Fontwell (2m5f, soft) in December and bumped into a rejuvenated subsequent winner when second at Wincanton (2m4f, good) on latest outing in March; contender if this drop back in trip suits.

7/2

25/1

  • Place: £4.10

Form: 757

Last run: 68 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Between between 32l and 57l in his qualifying races; handicapped accordingly but lots of guesswork involved to make a case.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

1st Mar 2026

Heavy

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

16:00 Ffos Las

Ionity

11st 8lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Evan Williams

Placed all three starts since winning over C&D (good to soft) in May 2024, most recently when creditable third of 13 at Wetherby (2m3f, soft; hampered on run-in) in January, after a long absence; not yet proven on heavy ground but still features prominently in calculations.

5/2

3rd

6

22nd Jan 2026

Soft

2m 3f 154y

Class 5

13:55 Wetherby

Ionity

11st 3lb

J: Isabel Williams

T: Evan Williams

Ran some solid races when switched to handicaps in 2024; missed all of 2025 but is on a competitive mark if retaining his ability; watch the market.

11/1

3rd

8

10th Nov 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

15:35 Ffos Las

Ionity

11st 4lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: Evan Williams

Won over C&D (good to soft; acts on soft) in May in his second handicap and placed in the other two; that amounts to the most solid claims in this field, far more solid than those of the vast majority.

3/1

7/1

  • Place: £2.00

Form: -78624 BF

Last run: 29 days

W: 10st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Between between 5l and 13l in a trio of 2m3f handicaps at Taunton since the hood went on, latterly joined by a tongue-tie; an each-way possible.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

26th Sep 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

14:07 Worcester

Whynotnowroy

10st 7lb

J: James Best

T: Neil Mulholland

0-5 over fences but looked suited by the drop back in trip and gave very good account when second of ten over C&D (good) in June; player off same mark if still in same form after 111-day break.

7/1

2nd

8

7th Jun 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

13:50 Worcester

Whynotnowroy

10st 7lb

J: James Best

T: Neil Mulholland

Won a 2m5f hurdle for former yard; good runs for this one in both disciplines but tailed off in his last three races, all handicap chases at about 3m.

8/1

2nd

6

12th May 2025

Good

3m 0f 60y

Class 5

14:30 Southwell

Whynotnowroy

10st 5lb

J: James Best

T: Neil Mulholland

in touch with leaders, smooth headway 14th, lost ground quickly before 3 out, weakened 2 out

12/1

Form: -83454

Last run: 31 days

W: 10st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
Came from further back than principals Another Lord and Rocky Hill when fourth here a month ago and there's probably a race in him off this mark; this softer ground might not be ideal.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

8

30th Aug 2024

Good

2m 5f 164y

Class 5

18:45 Fontwell

Silver Atom

10st 9lb

J: Miss Brodie Hampson

T: Archie Watson

1-26 under all codes, the win gained off a basement Flat mark just under a year ago; well beaten over hurdles, fences and on the Flat in recent months, and difficult to enthuse over at present.

20/1

6th

6

(9)

8th Aug 2024

Good To Firm

1m 3f 198y

Class 6

16:30 Brighton

Silver Atom

9st 9lb

J: Hollie Doyle

T: Archie Watson

Comfortably held over fences the last twice; sole win came under this code but he achieved little in sole Flat run this year.

10/1

12

1st Jul 2024

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

14:25 Worcester

Silver Atom

10st 2lb

J: Ben Poste

T: Archie Watson

Won on the Flat at Bath last September; in the frame in four of his handicaps over hurdles in November-April last term but less encouraging recently and always behind on chasing debut at Market Rasen (2m3f, good; 28-1) ten days ago; best watched.

20/1

Form: 4247

Last run: 48 days

W: 11st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Well-held second behind a useful Flat recruit at Bangor (2m, soft) in October; finished tailed off on his handicap debut at Ludlow but that was a stronger handicap than this; remains of some interest.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

3rd Jun 2026

Good

3m 1f 170y

Class 5

15:30 Newton Abbot

Black Occ

11st 1lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Sheila Lewis

Maiden who has inconsistent chase form (P2P3) but looks one of the likelier players provided he backs up latest effort, namely creditable third at Warwick (3m); runs off the same mark.

11/4

3rd

4

9th May 2026

Good

3m 0f 0y

Class 5

17:35 Warwick

Black Occ

11st 4lb

J: Harry Atkins

T: Sheila Lewis

Pulled up in two of three chase starts, the latest at Bangor after some guessy jumps; had run well when runner-up at Hereford (2m5f, good) in March, however, and should do better at some stage; tongue tied this time.

10/1

8

18th Apr 2026

Good

3m 0f 30y

Class 5

13:52 Bangor-on-Dee

Black Occ

11st 4lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Sheila Lewis

Placed effort over hurdles (3m1f) divides his two chase runs and was a 3l runner-up at Hereford last time (2m5f, good); more appealing than a good many.

7/1

Form: 6-0674

Last run: 61 days

W: 11st 9lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
Placed in a bumper on good; ran well for a long way before weakening on handicap debut at Huntingdon (2m3f, soft); remains to be seen whether he wants the ground this slow but Cobden is booked and a tongue-tie is added.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

27th Jul 2025

Good

2m 3f 207y

Class 5

17:07 Uttoxeter

Crystal Mer

11st 10lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Hughie Morrison

Landed a gamble on stable debut over 2m here and might well have defied the 10lb rise on his return visit had he kept himself closer to the winner; up another 4lb but this longer trip promises to help him.

4/1

3

8th Jul 2025

Good

1m 7f 168y

Class 5

20:30 Uttoxeter

Crystal Mer

11st 10lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Hughie Morrison

Still only a 6yo and, on stable debut, it was quite a gamble he landed when sent off odds-on for a C&D handicap (good to soft) a month ago, winning readily under a confident Sean Bowen; could still be well treated despite the 10lb hike.

9/4

10

5th Jun 2025

Good

1m 7f 168y

Class 5

17:05 Uttoxeter

Crystal Mer

10st 8lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Hughie Morrison

Ex-Paul Webber; 0-6 over hurdles but creditable third in a Plumpton handicap (2m, good) in May last year when last seen out; chance off 4lb lower on stable debut.

6/1

Form: 306P

Last run: 33 days

W: 11st 5lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
No more than minor promise in four runs for Lucinda Russell and took a backward step on her handicap debut a month ago at Carlisle (2m1f, soft; 28-1); wouldn't be the obvious answer to this.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

4

9th Apr 2024

Soft

2m 3f 147y

Class 5

15:00 Hereford

Princess Of Mercia

11st 5lb

J: Ben Poste

T: Michael Scudamore

No more than minor promise in four runs for Lucinda Russell and took a backward step on her handicap debut a month ago at Carlisle (2m1f, soft; 28-1); wouldn't be the obvious answer to this.

25/1

7th

4

9th Apr 2024

Soft

2m 3f 147y

Class 5

15:00 Hereford

Princess Of Mercia

11st 5lb

J: Ben Poste

T: Michael Scudamore

No more than minor promise in four runs for Lucinda Russell and took a backward step on her handicap debut a month ago at Carlisle (2m1f, soft; 28-1); wouldn't be the obvious answer to this.

25/1

2

7th Mar 2024

Soft

2m 1f 0y

Class 5

15:45 Carlisle

Princess Of Mercia

11st 13lb

J: Stephen Mulqueen

T: Lucinda Russell

Blue Bresil mare who has hinted at promise in her three runs thus far, patiently ridden sixth in 2m Newcastle novice hurdle three weeks ago; she's in good hands and no surprise to see her take a big step forward now going handicapping.

9/2

Form: 5P9-P5

Last run: 83 days

W: 10st 5lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 59

Form & Verdict
Limited maiden and hard to take seriously from more than a stone out of the weights.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

22nd Apr 2024

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

14:12 Ffos Las

Sallys Girl

10st 2lb

J: James Turner

T: Julian Smith

Has not finished closer than 22l to a winner in her nine starts including three handicaps; long way out of the weights again and can only be watched.

100/1

10

22nd Apr 2024

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

14:12 Ffos Las

Sallys Girl

10st 2lb

J: James Turner

T: Julian Smith

jumped badly left throughout, prominent when, badly hampered rival 1st, detached when hit 5th, weakened after 7th, pulled up 3 out

100/1

8th

13

9th Apr 2024

Soft

2m 3f 147y

Class 5

15:00 Hereford

Sallys Girl

10st 5lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Julian Smith

Limited maiden and hard to take seriously from more than a stone out of the weights.

100/1

Form: /600-2

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced and returning from more than a year out when pushing Another Lord to a length on his handicap debut over C&D (good to soft); was well found in the market then (3-1) but he's still entitled to come on for that.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

4th Jun 2024

Good

3m 0f 60y

Class 5

17:50 Southwell

Rocky Hill

11st 3lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Tom Lacey

in touch with leaders

5/1

3rd

5

7th May 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

15:25 Ffos Las

Rocky Hill

11st 1lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Tom Lacey

Lightly raced 7yo who returned from long absence with good second on handicap debut at Hereford (2m3f, good to soft; first-time cheekpieces) in March; fell mid-race there last month but still has potential and remains very much of interest.

15/8

3rd

5

7th May 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

15:25 Ffos Las

Rocky Hill

11st 1lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Tom Lacey

prominent, edged left from 2 out, kept on but not pace to challenge

15/8

Form: 7FF6-

Last run: 393 days

W: 10st 10lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
Beat none other than Grand National hero Noble Yeats in an Irish point back in 2019; it's been downhill ever since - admittedly from a limited number of starts - and he's now back from another absence; has a lot to prove on stable/handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

9th Apr 2024

Soft

2m 3f 147y

Class 5

15:00 Hereford

Minella Majestic

10st 10lb

J: Philip Armson

T: Andy Irvine

Beat none other than Grand National hero Noble Yeats in an Irish point back in 2019; it's been downhill ever since - admittedly from a limited number of starts - and he's now back from another absence; has a lot to prove on stable/handicap debut.

20/1

Non-runners

Another Lord, Buck Of Maine, Ceejaybe

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £89.30
Straight Forecast £87.08
Tricast £555.09
Trifecta £669.40

Selections

POSTDATA:

Rocky Hill

The Guardian:

Silver Atom

WEST COUNTRY:

Whynotnowroy

SPOTLIGHT:

Shillanavogy

D Express:

Another Lord

The Times:

Whynotnowroy

Telegraph:

Rocky Hill

Daily Mail:

Rocky Hill

The Sun:

Rocky Hill

Daily Record:

Rocky Hill

Daily Mirror:

Silver Atom

The Star:

Silver Atom

RP RATINGS:

Shillanavogy