October 27 / 12.40 Aintree

12.40

Good

Barrie Wells Trust Box4Kids Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (Challenger Stayers’ Hurdle Qual’)

  • Prize money: £9505.8
  • 3m 0f 149y
  • Class 3
  • 7 runners
RTV
View Course
Barrie Wells Trust Box4Kids Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (Challenger Stayers’ Hurdle Qual’)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Scattered showers

3/1 (Won)

  • Win: £2.50
  • Place: £1.30

Form: -23211 D

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Form figures of 211 since switched to handicaps, making all at Cartmel (extended 3m1f, heavy) and Perth (3m, good); had a lot more in hand for his 12l win last time and has been raised 10lb, but that probably underestimates him and he's very much on the upgrade; the one to beat.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

16th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 2

18:50 Uttoxeter

Skyjack Hijack

11st 6lb

J: William Shanahan

T: Jennie Candlish

Went up 41lb for his six wins in staying hurdles in 2024; was subsequently absent for 441 days and hasn't run anything like as well since.

16/1

6th

1

24th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 3

15:47 Perth

Skyjack Hijack

12st 2lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jennie Candlish

On a roll in the second half of 2024, rattling off six straight wins (2m5f-3m1f), but pulled up on belated return at Kelso at the end of February; entitled to strip fitter but can still only watch.

20/1

2

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 189y

Class 2

15:30 Kelso

Skyjack Hijack

12st 0lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jennie Candlish

On a roll in the second half of 2024, rattling off six straight wins (2m5f-3m1f) before coming unstuck when favourite for Grade 2 novice at Cheltenham; it's possible he's still to reach his ceiling but he'll need to be firing on all cylinders after 441 days off.

14/1

7/1

  • Place: £3.60

Form: 211113 D

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 4lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Better than ever for a four-timer at Cartmel this summer, staying on well over an extended 3m1f on last two occasions; the first two finished well clear for the last of those wins but, judged on his creditable third of six at Perth on latest outing, this 8lb higher mark might be a bit harsh.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

25th Aug 2025

Good

2m 6f 31y

Class 4

14:55 Cartmel

City Derby

11st 5lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Lizzie Quinlan

Won four on the bounce here last summer (2m6f-3m1f; soft/good) but has looked a little out of sorts this season, for all that he shaped a bit better last time after further wind surgery.

14/1

5th

11

19th Jul 2025

Good To Soft

2m 6f 31y

Class 3

15:22 Cartmel

City Derby

10st 7lb

J: Joshua Thompson

T: Lizzie Quinlan

Four-time course winner (2m6f-3m1f, good-soft); lurks on a good mark but looked out of sorts here on both appearances this season and needs recent wind op to have made a difference; tongue-tie refitted.

16/1

9

29th Jun 2025

Soft

2m 6f 31y

Class 4

14:40 Cartmel

City Derby

11st 3lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Lizzie Quinlan

Four-time course winner (2m6f-3m1f, good-soft), including this race a year ago; needs to rebound from a disappointing run here (3m1f) last month but is back on a workable mark and can't be ruled out.

12/1

Form: 186511

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
Usually claimer ridden; came from last for a clearcut win at Market Rasen (2m7f, good) in May and did the same for more hard-fought successes at Worcester (2m7f, good) and Uttoxeter (near 3m, good) on both his starts this autumn; up another 3lb but he's on a roll.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

16th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 2

18:50 Uttoxeter

Lihyan

11st 4lb

J: William Maggs

T: Rebecca Menzies

Two wins last season, the first a four-runner Huntingdon handicap in May (3m1f, good), the second a six-runner handicap at Newbury (3m, good to soft) in March; far from disgraced in a competitive race at Aintree last time and not without a chance despite career-high mark.

13/2

7th

22

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 149y

Class 1

13:20 Aintree

Lihyan

10st 9lb

J: William Maggs

T: Rebecca Menzies

Ridden last ten starts by William Maggs; seventh hurdle win when seeing off five rivals at Newbury (3m, good to soft) three weeks ago but even a 2lb nudge seems likely to stop him in this much more competitive scenario.

25/1

1st

5

20th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 57y

Class 3

15:32 Newbury

Lihyan

11st 2lb

J: William Maggs

T: Rebecca Menzies

Ridden last nine starts by William Maggs; rarely seen on soft ground; six-time winner, most recently last May; good placed efforts at about 3m four times in a row in October-December, before he failed to show in a Pertemps qualifier at Musselburgh (10-1) nearly seven weeks ago; best form this term was over C&D, so he's not entirely ruled out.

11/2

OUR TIP

Form: 4PF3U-

Last run: 185 days

W: 11st 11lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
Disappointing over fences last season and fell/unseated in two of three starts back over hurdles (visored); needs to turn over a new leaf again starting off this term.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

1st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 16y

Class 4

14:20 Market Rasen

Bridge North

11st 7lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: James Owen

Bounced back from disappointing stable debut when second in first-time cheekpieces at Southwell (3m, good to soft) in December but was quickly back in the doldrums on next outing and has become hard to predict.

8/1

1

4th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 16y

Class 4

15:10 Market Rasen

Bridge North

12st 0lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Henry Daly

Completing the course has not come easily since he won a handicap chase at Newbury in March 2023 and has been very flat over hurdles this season; has a good bit to prove.

14/1

6th

1

4th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 16y

Class 4

15:10 Market Rasen

Bridge North

12st 0lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Henry Daly

Completing the course has not come easily since he won a handicap chase at Newbury in March 2023 and has been very flat over hurdles this season; has a good bit to prove.

14/1

Form: 23313- D

Last run: 186 days

W: 11st 1lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Started and ended last season well in staying handicaps, finishing in career-best form; up another 3lb but likely to be seriously involved.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

4

31st Dec 2024

Soft

3m 2f 0y

Class 4

14:20 Warwick

Chris Cool

11st 5lb

J: Ben Smith

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Both handicap wins have come over 3m1f at Huntingdon; no closer than fifth this season but has been getting nearer, last time beaten 11l at Uttoxeter.

14/1

8th

4

31st Dec 2024

Soft

3m 2f 0y

Class 4

14:20 Warwick

Chris Cool

11st 5lb

J: Ben Smith

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Both handicap wins have come over 3m1f at Huntingdon; no closer than fifth this season but has been getting nearer, last time beaten 11l at Uttoxeter.

14/1

6

10th Dec 2024

Soft

2m 7f 70y

Class 4

12:12 Uttoxeter

Chris Cool

11st 4lb

J: Ben Smith

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Both handicap wins have come over 3m1f at Huntingdon; hard to be confident on this season's two showings but not badly handicapped if staging a revival.

10/1

20/1

Form: 3P2-FP D

Last run: 62 days

W: 11st 1lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Second over hurdles/fences on all five starts last June-September but below form since, his second in March coming in a hunter chase; sold out of Fergal O'Brien's for £7,000 before pulled up in a chase at Cartmel two months ago; well treated on last summer's form but highly questionable whether he can capitalise, including as there's been no win since 2021.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

6

11th Feb 2025

Soft

3m 0f 70y

Class 4

15:45 Ayr

Polish

11st 8lb

J: Leah Noreci

T: James Moffatt

Exposed 10yo who doesn't find it easy to win (last success over hurdles was in February 2021); has run creditably on last two starts (3m, soft); each-way chance.

16/1

10th

6

11th Feb 2025

Soft

3m 0f 70y

Class 4

15:45 Ayr

Polish

11st 8lb

J: Leah Noreci

T: James Moffatt

Exposed 10yo who doesn't find it easy to win (last success over hurdles was in February 2021); has run creditably on last two starts (3m, soft); each-way chance.

16/1

4th

8

30th Dec 2024

Heavy

3m 0f 58y

Class 4

12:30 Haydock

Polish

11st 2lb

J: Leah Noreci

T: James Moffatt

in touch with leaders

16/1

Form: 14F-3F

Last run: 71 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
2m6f maiden winner from the front at Downpatrick in August in first-time tongue-tie (kept since); fell in two of his four starts since, with creditable minor honours in the others (all were handicaps; did not make the running); needs a bit extra but the first crack at 3m makes some appeal.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

25th Aug 2025

Good

2m 3f 100y

16:18 Downpatrick

Invictus World

11st 12lb

J: James Smith

T: Gerald Stephen Quinn

Bumper winner was a course winner over hurdles in 2023; won a handicap at Perth last month but was below form there since; needs to find more on handicap debut.

6/1

8th

2

16th Aug 2025

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 4

17:05 Perth

Invictus World

11st 12lb

J: Eoin Staples

T: Gerald Stephen Quinn

Headed here last month with much to prove but bounced back for a first handicap success by just under 3l (2m4f, good; raced prominently); 5lb higher with a different 7lb claimer enlisted and has to be considered.

13/2

Non-runners

Idem

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £12.50
Straight Forecast £14.03
Tricast £32.39
Trifecta £30.90

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Skyjack Hijack

Daily Mirror:

Lihyan

D Express:

Invictus World

TOPSPEED:

Chris Cool

RP RATINGS:

Skyjack Hijack

POSTDATA:

Skyjack Hijack

The Times:

Skyjack Hijack

Telegraph:

Skyjack Hijack

The Sun:

Skyjack Hijack

The Star:

Skyjack Hijack

Daily Record:

Lihyan