May 28 / 17.50 Bangor-on-Dee

17.50

Good To Soft

Minimum £50,000 tote Placepot Everyday Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4224.8
  • 2m 3f 123y
  • Class 4
  • 7 runners
SKY
View Course
Minimum £50,000 tote Placepot Everyday Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

OUR TIP

2/5 (Won)

  • Win: £1.25
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 24-1

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 10lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Very creditable fourth in Grade 2 bumper at last month's Aintree festival and justified odds-on favouritism with fairly comfortable success on recent hurdling debut at Uttoxeter (2m, soft); ought to be suited by today's step up in trip and is very much the one to beat.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

12th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 1

14:15 Ayr

Valgrand

11st 0lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Easily made all in Grade 2 novice hurdle at Cheltenham (2m, good) last October and he's on a handy mark on that form; it's possible he'll get back on track at some stage but he's finished down the field in all three handicaps, most recently the County Hurdle at Cheltenham, and has something to prove.

7/1

11

12th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 1

14:15 Ayr

Valgrand

11st 0lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Easily made all in Grade 2 novice hurdle at Cheltenham (2m, good) last October and he's on a handy mark on that form; it's possible he'll get back on track at some stage but he's finished down the field in all three handicaps, most recently the County Hurdle at Cheltenham, and has something to prove.

7/1

15th

12

14th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 179y

Class 1

14:00 Cheltenham

Valgrand

10st 10lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Easily made all in Grade 2 novice here in October (2m, good; has also won on soft); weakened when 11l second in 2m5f Grade 2 here next time; down the field since in his first two handicaps (2m1f/2m, good to soft) but a break may have helped this lightly raced 6yo and he's the sole representative of Dan Skelton, who has won four of the last nine runnings; not discounted.

8/1

11/4

  • Place: £1.40

Form: /121-4 BF

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Point/bumper winner who came good over hurdles at second attempt, with emphatic success in Musselburgh maiden (2m1f, good to soft) last month; disappointing favourite when weakening fourth at Hexham (2m, good to soft) on latest outing but still looks the main danger to Valgrand here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

6

18th Apr 2026

Good

2m 7f 32y

Class 4

16:42 Bangor-on-Dee

Speed Davis

11st 7lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Has a patchy record but he made it 2-10 over hurdles when justifying support at Musselburgh (2m4f, good to soft) in November; 6lb higher on his return but that was a comfortable success and he looks worth a try at this new trip; not ruled out.

100/30

Form: 36/0-6

Last run: 10 days

W: 11st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Beaten about 15l when sixth in weak maiden here (2m, good) on recent hurdling debut; has huge amount to find with the principals today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

3rd May 2025

Good

3m 0f 10y

Class 5

19:00 Uttoxeter

Brockarno

11st 11lb

J: Lee Edwards

T: Belinda Clarke

Hard to predict over hurdles and has twice run flat since winning at 40-1 in January (2m3f, good to soft); difficult to trust on this switch to fences.

20/1

3rd

4

3rd May 2025

Good

3m 0f 10y

Class 5

19:00 Uttoxeter

Brockarno

11st 11lb

J: Lee Edwards

T: Belinda Clarke

Hard to predict over hurdles and has twice run flat since winning at 40-1 in January (2m3f, good to soft); difficult to trust on this switch to fences.

20/1

7th

5

22nd Mar 2025

Good

2m 3f 123y

Class 5

14:15 Bangor-on-Dee

Brockarno

11st 6lb

J: Lee Edwards

T: Belinda Clarke

Popped up at 40-1 in a 2m3f handicap at Doncaster in January (good to soft) and his overall profile suggests soft ground might not be ideal, which would excuse him last time (after a 6lb rise); could have a role to play.

12/1

Form: 36-

Last run: 97 days

W: 11st 3lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Won a maiden point just over a year ago and was placed in modest Worcester bumper (good ground) on rules debut in September; tailed off when upped to 3m for hurdling debut at Ludlow (soft) in February but the reduced emphasis on stamina may show him in a better light here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

5

3rd Jun 2026

Good To Firm

3m 2f 0y

Class 5

18:55 Warwick

Touchwoodexpress

11st 3lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Absent since two below-par runs in November but returned from a break to win five-runner contest at Newton Abbot (3m2f, good) in September, and is now back on the same mark; seems best on good ground but once won a point on soft; can't be ruled out.

11/1

4

23rd Oct 2025

Good To Firm

2m 7f 174y

Class 5

15:37 Ludlow

Touchwoodexpress

11st 10lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Achieved more on RPRs for his Newton Abbot 3m2f class 5 win last time (good) than Arctic Angel did for hers, despite bleeding from the nose; up just 2lb and he's hugely unexposed as a handicap hurdler.

2/1

4

29th Sep 2025

Good

3m 2f 105y

Class 5

15:41 Newton Abbot

Touchwoodexpress

11st 4lb

J: Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Returned from break to make winning chase/handicap debut at Huntingdon (2m7f, good; first-time cheekpieces) last autumn; absent since falling on consecutive outings during the winter but still enters calculations on this handicap hurdle debut.

7/2

Form: 0U-

Last run: 33 days

W: 10st 2lb

4 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Well beaten on bumper debut in March and unseated rider at second flight when 150-1 for last month's hurdling debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

28th Jun 2024

Good

2m 3f 123y

Class 4

19:58 Bangor-on-Dee

Fennella

10st 10lb

J: Toby Wynne

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Jumping has been an issue over hurdles so far and she's been well held here (2m3f/2m, good) in last two runs; still early days for this well-bred 4yo but she needs a lot of improvement.

20/1

8th

14

8th Jun 2024

Good

2m 0f 145y

Class 4

13:40 Bangor-on-Dee

Fennella

10st 4lb

J: Toby Wynne

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Jumping has been an issue on both her hurdling starts but she displayed clear promise before weakening into fifth here (2m3f, good) 11 days ago and has obvious scope for improvement if more fluent today; hood added.

33/1

5th

7

28th May 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 123y

Class 4

17:50 Bangor-on-Dee

Fennella

10st 2lb

J: Toby Wynne

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Well beaten on bumper debut in March and unseated rider at second flight when 150-1 for last month's hurdling debut.

100/1

Form: 7-5

Last run: 16 days

W: 11st 3lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Not beaten far when fifth of six at Ludlow (2m, good) this month, his second hurdling start, but the form looks modest and he needs significant improvement over today's longer trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

7th Oct 2024

Soft

2m 2f 148y

Class 4

16:27 Stratford

We Aint Walking

10st 7lb

J: Ben Poste

T: Ryan Potter

Showed only minor promise when an outsider for three maiden/novice hurdles in the spring (2m-2m3f) but is well worth keeping an eye on in the betting before this handicap debut.

14/1

Form: 79/UP-

Last run: 44 days

W: 10st 10lb

7 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Failed to complete when a big-priced outsider for first two hurdling attempts; can't be recommended here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

6

14th Mar 2026

Soft

3m 1f 166y

Class 5

15:45 Fontwell

After Midnight

10st 2lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Julian Smith

Has no obvious form claims, including in three handicaps; first-time cheekpieces; 2lb out of the weights.

33/1

7th

8

17th May 2025

Good

2m 3f 123y

Class 5

14:20 Bangor-on-Dee

After Midnight

10st 8lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Julian Smith

Showed no significant promise when a big-priced outsider in four maiden/novice hurdles (2m3f-2m5f); makes handicap debut from a lowly mark but still needs significant improvement.

20/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £1.50
Straight Forecast £1.64
Trifecta £11.50

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Valgrand

WEST COUNTRY:

Touchwoodexpress

TOPSPEED:

Speed Davis

The Star:

Touchwoodexpress

RP RATINGS:

Valgrand

POSTDATA:

Valgrand

The Times:

Valgrand

Telegraph:

Valgrand

The Guardian:

Valgrand

Daily Mail:

Valgrand

D Express:

Valgrand

Daily Mirror:

Valgrand

The Sun:

Valgrand

Daily Record:

Valgrand