September 20 / 16.55 Newton Abbot

16.55

Good

Colin Willcocks Memorial Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £9849.06
  • 2m 5f 122y
  • Class 3
  • 8 runners
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Colin Willcocks Memorial Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

5/2 (Won)

  • Win: £2.10
  • Place: £1.20

Form: 11348- CD

Last run: 280 days

W: 10st 11lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Dual novice winner here (2m2f/2m5f) at around this time last year and ended 2023 with two very respectable runs in 2m5f Cheltenham handicaps; seems very versatile regarding ground and reverts to hurdling after winning good-quality Flat handicap last month; must be considered.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

7

28th Feb 2025

Soft

3m 0f 52y

Class 3

17:05 Newbury

Wonderful Eagle

11st 4lb

J: Micheal Nolan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

took keen hold, towards rear

5/1

3rd

10

13th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 213y

Class 2

15:35 Cheltenham

Wonderful Eagle

10st 2lb

J: Micheal Nolan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

held up in midfield, headway and disputing second when mistake and lost ground last, rallied run-in, went fourth towards finish

12/1

3rd

10

13th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 213y

Class 2

15:35 Cheltenham

Wonderful Eagle

10st 2lb

J: Micheal Nolan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

held up in midfield, headway and disputing second when mistake and lost ground last, rallied run-in, went fourth towards finish

12/1

OUR TIP

6/1

  • Place: £3.30

Form: 1-2693 C

Last run: 24 days

W: 12st 0lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 127

Form & Verdict
Front-runner who is better known as a chaser now; scored at Kempton (2m2f, good) in the spring and gave fairly good account when third of five at Stratford (2m3f, good to firm) last month; back hurdling on a workable mark and enters calculations.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

19th Sep 2025

Soft

2m 5f 122y

Class 3

16:20 Newton Abbot

Onemorefortheroad

12st 0lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

Front-runner who posted some good efforts over hurdles and fences for Neil King in second half of last year, including a second in this race; makes debut for Ben Pauling after eight-month break but will be a danger to all off current mark if fully tuned up.

4/1

9

17th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 89y

Class 2

13:25 Market Rasen

Onemorefortheroad

11st 0lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: Neil King

Front-runner; looked a non-stayer over 3m at Doncaster last month but his close second there (2m3f, good) two starts ago was a good effort and he'll be fine on this right-handed track; no surprise if he give this a good shot.

8/1

9

17th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 89y

Class 2

13:25 Market Rasen

Onemorefortheroad

11st 0lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: Neil King

pressed leader, struggling when lost position after 7th, dropped to last 9th, soon pulled up

8/1

12/1

  • Place: £4.60

Form: /16-77

Last run: 94 days

W: 11st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
Dual hurdle winner for Alan King last year (2m3f/2m4f); left that stable after a poor run in May and was also well beaten when dropped back to 2m for new yard the following month but it won't be a surprise if Dan Skelton gets him back in the groove soon.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

18th Nov 2024

Good

2m 3f 48y

Class 3

13:00 Exeter

Forever William

11st 4lb

J: Fergus Gillard

T: Dan Skelton

didn't always jump with fluency, led, headed when not fluent 2nd, reminders when lost second after 7th, struggling from 9th, weakened before 4 out

11/8

3rd

1

18th Nov 2024

Good

2m 3f 48y

Class 3

13:00 Exeter

Forever William

11st 4lb

J: Fergus Gillard

T: Dan Skelton

didn't always jump with fluency, led, headed when not fluent 2nd, reminders when lost second after 7th, struggling from 9th, weakened before 4 out

11/8

Form: 7F-83U C BF

Last run: 98 days

W: 11st 10lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
Out of form over fences since last November's commendable Haldon Gold Cup third but arrested his decline when third behind Clearance over hurdles here (2m1f, good) in June and will probably be okay over today's longer trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

20th Oct 2025

Good

2m 3f 166y

Class 3

15:40 Plumpton

War Lord

11st 11lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Very useful chaser in his prime but last month's hurdling win at Fontwell (2m5f, good) came off a hugely reduced handicap mark and it's not easy to predict whether his revival will gather momentum.

4/1

1st

2

22nd Sep 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 164y

Class 4

17:20 Fontwell

War Lord

12st 0lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Has been through a quiet spell but he ran respectably when fourth at Worcester (2m4f, good; tongue-tie refitted) last time; likely to need more.

13/2

6

5th Sep 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

18:30 Worcester

War Lord

11st 6lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Very useful chaser in his prime but this year's efforts, in three hurdles and a chase, make him tough to recommend.

14/1

Form: P-4321 D

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 1lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
No longer the force of old but just held on to capitalise upon much reduced mark at Bangor (2m7f, good) a fortnight ago and ought to be very competitive again off 3lb higher here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

25th Jul 2025

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 4

15:47 Uttoxeter

Finisk River

11st 13lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

Veteran with seven hurdling wins on his CV; returned from layoff with fairly encouraging 2m3f run three weeks ago and may be better suited by this sort of trip nowadays but younger rivals appeal more.

20/1

4th

4

4th Jul 2025

Good

2m 3f 123y

Class 3

19:40 Bangor-on-Dee

Finisk River

11st 5lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Veteran who held on narrowly to capitalise upon some help from the handicapper here (2m7f, good) last summer, his seventh hurdling success; back down to the same mark now but had gone off the boil again when last seen in the autumn.

14/1

6th

5

26th Nov 2024

Good

2m 3f 188y

Class 4

14:30 Sedgefield

Finisk River

11st 6lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Donald McCain

Just held on to win off a reduced mark at Bangor (2m7f, good) in September and is only 1lb higher here but he's getting long in the tooth now and wasn't quite in the same form on his last two appearances.

10/1

Form: -11541 C

Last run: 29 days

W: 10st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
3-5 since switched to handicaps this spring, the latest win gained in 15-runner Class 5 race here (2m2f, good) last month; effectively 9lb higher from out of the weights in this higher grade but could have untapped potential over the longer trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

22nd May 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

17:32 Worcester

Melton Mossy

11st 4lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Mrs C Williams

Multiple hurdle winner at up to 2m5f on a sound surface; 1-2 over fences; won a three-runner chase at Wincanton (1m7f, good) when last seen in March; encouraging record after a break; up 3lb and is unexposed as a chaser over this trip; player.

6/1

1st

2

23rd Mar 2026

Good

1m 7f 149y

Class 4

15:47 Wincanton

Melton Mossy

11st 5lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Mrs C Williams

5-19 over hurdles, with all wins gained on good/good to firm; well beaten on last month's chasing debut at Chepstow (2m3f, soft) but will be much better suited by today's quicker conditions and may yet have a future over fences.

6/1

6th

9

21st Feb 2026

Soft

2m 3f 98y

Class 4

14:17 Chepstow

Melton Mossy

11st 8lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Evan Williams

5-19 over hurdles, the latest win gained at Taunton (2m3f, good to firm) in November; makes chasing debut from fairly tough mark, though, and does not have a good record on soft ground.

16/1

Form: 4-1133 C

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 0lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Six-time course winner on good ground (2m1f-2m2f); looked as good as ever in the spring but was not able to land a telling blow when third from off the pace here on last two outings (2m1f/2m5f).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

24th Jun 2025

Good

2m 0f 167y

Class 5

17:57 Newton Abbot

Clearance

12st 0lb

J: Mr Zac Baker

T: Michael Blake

Six-time course winner, all on good ground (2m1f-2m2f); left behind a couple of poor efforts earlier in the year when a respectable fourth over 2m5f here in May but refused to line up when withdrawn here three weeks ago; well handicapped on old form and hard to dismiss if in the mood.

6/1

7

4th Jun 2025

Good

2m 0f 167y

Class 3

16:05 Newton Abbot

Clearance

10st 5lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Michael Blake

Six-time course winner on good ground (2m1f-2m2f); woeful in two starts away from this track in the spring but he'd dropped to a dangerous mark when a respectable fourth here (about 2m5f, good; winner's won since) last month; will appreciate a strong gallop on this drop back in trip and can rarely be ruled out here.

10/1

7

4th Jun 2025

Good

2m 0f 167y

Class 3

16:05 Newton Abbot

Clearance

10st 5lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Michael Blake

Six-time course winner on good ground (2m1f-2m2f); woeful in two starts away from this track in the spring but he'd dropped to a dangerous mark when a respectable fourth here (about 2m5f, good; winner's won since) last month; will appreciate a strong gallop on this drop back in trip and can rarely be ruled out here.

10/1

Form: -21095

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 9lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Seemed to take form to whole new level when winning easily by 11l at Uttoxeter (2m7f, good) in June but has quickly lost his way since, and it takes a leap of faith to support him here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

1st Nov 2024

Good

3m 0f 45y

Class 3

13:15 Wetherby

Edison Kent

11st 2lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: James Owen

didn't always jump with fluency, held up in last, outpaced before 4 out, rallied 2 out, weakened run-in

50/1

3rd

2

1st Nov 2024

Good

3m 0f 45y

Class 3

13:15 Wetherby

Edison Kent

11st 2lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: James Owen

didn't always jump with fluency, held up in last, outpaced before 4 out, rallied 2 out, weakened run-in

50/1

6th

1

8th Oct 2024

Good

3m 1f 10y

Class 4

16:00 Huntingdon

Edison Kent

12st 0lb

J: Mr Alex Chadwick

T: James Owen

always behind, awkward jump 7th, weakened after 9th, tailed off

25/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £19.10
Straight Forecast £21.12
Tricast £328.99
Trifecta £209.30

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Wonderful Eagle

POSTDATA:

Finisk River

The Sun:

Melton Mossy

TOPSPEED:

Edison Kent

Daily Mail:

Clearance

The Star:

Melton Mossy

RP RATINGS:

Wonderful Eagle

WEST COUNTRY:

Wonderful Eagle

The Times:

Wonderful Eagle

The Guardian:

Wonderful Eagle

D Express:

Wonderful Eagle

Daily Record:

Wonderful Eagle

Telegraph:

Finisk River

Daily Mirror:

Finisk River