October 30 / 15.00 Newton Abbot

15.00

Heavy

attheraces.com Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £5799.98
  • 2m 0f 167y
  • Class 4
  • 6 runners
SKY
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attheraces.com Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

11/4 (Won)

  • Win: £5.00
  • Place: £1.80

Form: 11112-

Last run: 193 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Came a long way last season, winning five successive handicaps from 2m4f to 3m1f on dry and heavy ground; today's sharp drop in trip would be a greater worry than the 6lb rise since his narrow defeat at Ayr; commands respect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 125y

Class 3

17:05 Haydock

Major Fortune

11st 11lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Prolific winner over hurdles; just as good over fences and holding his form well, beaten off only on run-in when second at Leicester (2m6f; stays 3m1f well) four weeks ago; handles any ground; leading contender.

9/2

2nd

2

6th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 6f 151y

Class 3

14:30 Leicester

Major Fortune

11st 5lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Prolific winner over hurdles; off the mark over fences at the seventh attempt at Wincanton (3m1f, soft) when fitted with first-time cheekpieces in January, and matched that level when runner-up at Newbury the following month; can make his presence felt again but he's never won off a mark this high.

2/1

2nd

5

17th Feb 2026

2m 7f 91y

Class 3

15:55 Newbury

Major Fortune

11st 6lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Prolific winner over hurdles; it was in a lower grade when getting off the mark over fences at Wincanton (3m1f, soft) but that was fairly comfortable and it was his first time in cheekpieces; off 5lb higher he can make his presence felt.

3/1

16/1

  • Place: £4.90

Form: /531-0 D

Last run: 17 days

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Beat only two rivals to win a handicap chase for Richard Bandey at Leicester (2m, heavy) in February; tailed off on recent stable debut but that was a Class 2 handicap hurdle on good to soft; better can be expected this time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

22nd Feb 2026

Soft

2m 2f 208y

Class 4

16:40 Hereford

Wewillgowithplanb

11st 9lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Evan Williams

Not firing on all cylinders this season but significant positives can be drawn from his recent third at Wincanton (1m7f, heavy), where he made good headway to challenge in the home straight; remains on a good mark; interesting.

11/2

3rd

5

14th Feb 2026

Heavy

1m 7f 149y

Class 4

14:50 Wincanton

Wewillgowithplanb

11st 9lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Evan Williams

Effective at 2m on heavy ground but his last win was two years ago; well handicapped on old form but he's been well held in his last three runs and needs to get back on track.

16/1

5th

3

26th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 0f 8y

Class 4

15:00 Hereford

Wewillgowithplanb

11st 8lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Evan Williams

Both chase wins came when trained by Richard Bandey; tailed off over hurdles here (2m3f, soft) last month and back over fences at Exeter (2m1f, good to soft) 17 days ago; down to a career-low mark but has it all to prove.

25/1

5/2

Form: -21151 D

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Held up when below par in a handicap two runs back but has won three novices from the front, the latest on soft ground at Stratford when carrying a double penalty; may have more on his plate off this career-high mark but he's in the zone.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

2nd Jun 2026

Good

1m 7f 182y

Class 4

14:30 Southwell

Vocito

11st 7lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Returns to fences following a convincing win over hurdles at Uttoxeter (2m, good) nine days ago; only 2lb higher than when landing his sole success in this sphere (in November 2024) and must be considered while in winning mode.

5/6

1st

1

24th May 2026

Good

1m 7f 168y

Class 4

16:37 Uttoxeter

Vocito

11st 13lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Exposed four-time winner over hurdles but now 2lb below the mark he defied here last summer; could be sharper for his recent run after a break and Sean Bowen replaces a 10lb claimer.

100/30

4th

2

15th Apr 2026

Good

1m 7f 144y

Class 3

17:35 Haydock

Vocito

11st 13lb

J: Tom Hutsby

T: Olly Murphy

Four-time winner over hurdles but exposed and was performing no more than okay when last seen in November; however, he could be all the better for a break and he's on his last winning mark.

10/1

OUR TIP

Form: 2111P- D

Last run: 194 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Maiden over hurdles (0-9) but has a 7lb higher mark over fences after winning five times from last November to April (1m7f-2m4f); loves the mud and it's easy to see him running well on his reappearance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

5th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 35y

Class 4

16:15 Wincanton

Royal Mer

12st 0lb

J: Rian Corcoran

T: David Pipe

Six chase wins, the latest here (1m7f, heavy) under Rian Corcoran 19 days ago; still on workable mark after recent 5lb rise and will be fine over today's longer trip but the faster ground is probably not in his favour.

9/2

1st

1

14th Feb 2026

Heavy

1m 7f 149y

Class 4

14:50 Wincanton

Royal Mer

12st 2lb

J: Rian Corcoran

T: David Pipe

Five-time chase winner who relishes testing ground; runner-up in his first two starts this season including a close call at Exeter (2m1f, good to soft), but his form cooled at Hereford last time; needs to step up again after that but he remains well treated on his old form.

7/2

3rd

1

26th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 0f 8y

Class 4

15:00 Hereford

Royal Mer

11st 13lb

J: Rian Corcoran

T: David Pipe

Five-time chase winner who relishes testing ground; runner-up on both starts this term and looks sure to go close.

13/8

Form: 6433-8 D

Last run: 179 days

W: 11st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Not badly handicapped at all and this trip is a better fit than the 2m4f he ran over last time; however, he just about gets away with soft ground and heavy could be challenging.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 16y

Class 3

14:15 Chepstow

Celtic Art

11st 11lb

J: Chad Bament

T: Jeremy Scott

Six-time hurdle winner who hit a personal best when scoring at Taunton (2m3f, good to soft) in January but his form has slumped in two subsequent runs; has bit to prove again and this is competitive on this drop back in trip.

14/1

8th

2

23rd Mar 2026

Good

2m 3f 179y

Class 3

16:57 Wincanton

Celtic Art

11st 8lb

J: Lorcan Williams

T: Jeremy Scott

Showed career-best form when comfortably winning from Bourbali at Taunton (2m3f, good to soft) in January and a subsequent lesser effort on heavy ground there is not viewed harshly; has been ridden by a good 7lb claimer lately, though, and might find others better handicapped.

9/2

5th

5

12th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 0f 104y

Class 3

15:25 Taunton

Celtic Art

11st 1lb

J: Chad Bament

T: Jeremy Scott

Has done very well over 2m3f here in recent months, winning twice and second in between; those results were achieved on good/good to soft and today's much deeper ground is a slight concern given he's been below par on both hurdle outings on heavy.

3/1

Form: U1P4-6 D

Last run: 36 days

W: 11st 8lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Won twice over fences last season before jumping became an issue; tailed off on last month's return to hurdles and Sean Bowen gets off to partner stablemate Vocito.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

11

9th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 28y

Class 3

17:42 Hexham

Gardener

10st 6lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Mike Sowersby

Bidding for a C&D hat-trick having won here on last two starts (soft/good); has gone up 9lb but has run well off much higher marks in the past; could go well.

6/1

1st

3

13th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 28y

Class 5

16:30 Hexham

Gardener

11st 12lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Mike Sowersby

Five races for his new trainer and back on track, following three third places with a tenacious C&D win (soft) under Charlie Maggs in 14-runner race 19 days ago; back up 4lb but one to consider seriously.

100/30

1st

4

25th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 28y

Class 5

16:11 Hexham

Gardener

11st 10lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Mike Sowersby

Ended his time with Olly Murphy under a cloud but back on track for his new handler and he posted a solid third of eight in 2m3f handicap at Catterick last month; considered from an easing mark.

9/1

Non-runners

Pirates Tale

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £32.60
Straight Forecast £42.12
Trifecta £100.60

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Vocito

SPOTLIGHT:

Major Fortune

WEST COUNTRY:

Pirates' Tale

The Times:

Pirates' Tale

Daily Record:

Pirates' Tale

Telegraph:

Major Fortune

D Express:

Major Fortune

The Sun:

Major Fortune

The Star:

Major Fortune

TOPSPEED:

Vocito

POSTDATA:

Vocito

The Guardian:

Vocito

Daily Mail:

Vocito

Daily Mirror:

Vocito