October 19 / 14.17 Fontwell

14.17

Good

Findon Valley Homeguard Old Comrades Club Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £9188.94
  • 2m 3f 49y
  • Class 3
  • 8 runners
SKY
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Findon Valley Homeguard Old Comrades Club Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

7/1 (Won)

  • Win: £7.20
  • Place: £2.30

Form: /PPP-6 D

Last run: 159 days

W: 12st 0lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
Returned from long absence with three poor runs towards end of last season; his sixth at Aintree (2m4f, good; first-time blinkers) was a big step back in the right direction but we haven't seen him again since and the blinkers are left off here; not an easy horse to weigh up at present.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

9th Nov 2022

Soft

2m 3f 123y

Class 2

16:05 Bangor-on-Dee

Flash The Steel

11st 3lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Returned from a long absence earlier this year and struggled initially, but he capitalised on a reduced mark at Fontwell (2m3f, good) last month when back from a break and on his old form he remains well treated back up 6lb; has won on soft and he's respected.

13/2

1st

1

19th Oct 2022

Good

2m 3f 49y

Class 3

14:17 Fontwell

Flash The Steel

12st 0lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

midfield, in touch with leaders with one circuit to go, headway and prominent after 3 out, disputed lead before 2 out, shaken up and led narrowly when not fluent last, headed run-in, soon ridden and rallied, kept on and led again final 110yds

7/1

OUR TIP

11/4

  • Place: £1.10

Form: U42-2 BF

Last run: 37 days

W: 10st 10lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Won on the Flat this summer (2m) and went close in Worcester maiden (2m, good to soft) when back over hurdles last month; if his Flat form is a guide, there could be some mileage in his opening handicap hurdle mark and today's step up in trip ought to suit.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

6

20th Jul 2024

Good

2m 1f 46y

Class 3

16:00 Cartmel

Winterwatch

11st 4lb

J: Miss Megan Bevan

T: Harry Fry

Triple Flat winner who is 1-13 over hurdles; that jumps win was by 11l in a Newton Abbot handicap (2m2f, good) in May but he's 9lb higher here and was held back in a novice at Stratford (2-1) last month; others are more persuasive.

12/1

3rd

1

1st Jun 2024

Good To Soft

2m 2f 148y

Class 4

17:23 Stratford

Winterwatch

11st 8lb

J: Miss Megan Bevan

T: Harry Fry

Took 12 goes to get off the mark over hurdles but it was very easy under Megan Bevan in a 2m2f handicap at Newton Abbot 12 days ago when in first-time cheekpieces; that was on good ground but he can deal with it softer; strong form claims even with the penalty.

7/4

6/1

  • Place: £3.70

Form: 3110- D

Last run: 245 days

W: 11st 13lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
Ended 2021 with a bumper win and followed up on hurdling debut at Wincanton (2m4f, good to soft) a few weeks later; not seen since a disappointing run on soft ground in February but remains one to be interested in.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

9

17th Nov 2024

Good

3m 3f 71y

Class 1

14:55 Cheltenham

Abuffalosoldier

10st 3lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Warren Greatrex

Front-runner who reappeared with a rallying second at Exeter (3m, good to soft) last month and he's back in cheekpieces today, in which he showed improved form earlier this year (including 10l win at Newbury); only seven and there's every chance this trip will be within range; one to consider.

11/2

1st

9

17th Nov 2024

Good

3m 3f 71y

Class 1

14:55 Cheltenham

Abuffalosoldier

10st 3lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Warren Greatrex

jumped well, made all, kept on well, ridden out, collapsed after finish, heart attack

11/2

4

22nd Oct 2024

Good To Soft

3m 0f 54y

Class 3

16:28 Exeter

Abuffalosoldier

11st 12lb

J: James Bowen

T: Warren Greatrex

Not an instant success over fences last season but won by 10l in first-time cheekpieces at Newbury (2m6f, good to soft) in January and signed off with creditable fourth in valuable novices' handicap at Ayr (3m, soft) in April; respected.

3/1

Form: 21493- CD

Last run: 185 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Dual course winner last season, latterly off today's mark over today's trip in March; not seen since April but has gone well when fresh before and enters calculations.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

28th Sep 2024

Good

2m 5f 89y

Class 3

17:10 Market Rasen

Small Bad Bob

10st 2lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Chris Gordon

raced in third, went fourth 3 out, weakening when mistake 2 out

11/2

1st

1

27th May 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 145y

Class 5

15:50 Huntingdon

Small Bad Bob

12st 0lb

J: Freddie Gordon

T: Chris Gordon

prominent

5/1

1st

1

27th May 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 145y

Class 5

15:50 Huntingdon

Small Bad Bob

12st 0lb

J: Freddie Gordon

T: Chris Gordon

prominent

5/1

14/1

Form: 333163 D

Last run: 13 days

W: 10st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
Scored at Uttoxeter last month and his recent Worcester third (also 2m4f, good) was another good effort but his hurdling strike-rate is modest (2-36) and he usually contests easier races than this; 5lb out of the weights; others appeal more.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

9

28th Sep 2024

Good

2m 2f 140y

Class 5

17:45 Market Rasen

Seaborough

10st 2lb

J: Aaron Anderson

T: Derek Shaw

took keen hold, held up in rear, weakened 2 out

33/1

6th

8

(2)

1st Aug 2024

Good To Firm

2m 0f 0y

Class 6

16:55 Nottingham

Seaborough

9st 2lb

J: Rowan Scott

T: Derek Shaw

in touch with leaders

66/1

Form: P2-2P8 D

Last run: 95 days

W: 11st 8lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Had wind surgery at start of this year and rediscovered some form when second twice at Kempton (2m5f, good) in the spring but was back in the doldrums on his last two outings (cheekpieces added last time); had another wind op during subsequent three-month break; others are less risky.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

4

17th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

3m 1f 71y

Class 5

12:30 Catterick

Fugitives Drift

11st 8lb

J: Miss Lucy Brown

T: Gary Rutherford

prominent

50/1

9th

4

17th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

3m 1f 71y

Class 5

12:30 Catterick

Fugitives Drift

11st 8lb

J: Miss Lucy Brown

T: Gary Rutherford

prominent

50/1

9th

8

26th Nov 2024

Good

2m 3f 188y

Class 4

14:30 Sedgefield

Fugitives Drift

10st 10lb

J: Miss Lucy Brown

T: Gary Rutherford

Managed to win a point in March but this regressive 9yo achieved nothing when 80-1 for this month's rules return at Ayr (2m4f, good) and remains difficult to enthuse over.

100/1

Form: 3116-

Last run: 195 days

W: 11st 11lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
Won over hurdles in France last autumn and justified odds-on favouritism on British debut at Newbury (2m, soft) in March; found Aintree festival Grade 1 too hot in April but has sights lowered on today's handicap debut and retains significant potential.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

30th May 2026

Good To Firm

2m 2f 148y

Class 3

18:50 Stratford

In The Air

11st 13lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Alastair Ralph

Won five over hurdles for previous yards and three over fences last term for current trainer; may have needed the run when seventh of eight finishers at Chepstow (2m, good to soft) last month after six-month layoff but probably needs to come down the weights.

6/1

7th

5

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 16y

Class 3

14:15 Chepstow

In The Air

11st 10lb

J: Tom Broughton

T: Alastair Ralph

Five-time hurdle winner who did well over fences in the second half of last year, with three wins and two seconds; returns after six months off but he's only 2lb higher than for his last success and he has won when fresh in the past; needs close look back over hurdles.

8/1

6

11th Oct 2025

Good

2m 0f 11y

Class 3

14:10 Chepstow

In The Air

10st 11lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Alastair Ralph

Record of 2-8 over fences, with both wins gained this summer in small-field handicaps on good ground; put in his place by an improver in a novice last time; dangerous if allowed to dominate (front runs).

7/4

Form: 5243-1 C

Last run: 160 days

W: 11st 10lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Four-time chase winner who opened hurdling account in three-runner handicap here (2m5f, good) in May; that race was slowly run but he did it quite stylishly and remains well handicapped on his form over fences.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

5th Nov 2022

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 3

16:35 Wincanton

Carolines Charm

12st 0lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Neil Mulholland

prominent early, in touch with leaders from 4th, ridden after 13th, weakened after 4 out, pulled up after 2 out

12/1

4

19th Oct 2022

Good

2m 3f 49y

Class 3

14:17 Fontwell

Carolines Charm

11st 10lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: Neil Mulholland

midfield, awkward jump 4th, towards rear before 5th, mistake when in touch with leaders 7th, shaken up and lost ground quickly after 3 out, soon got behind and pulled up

9/2

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £22.10
Straight Forecast £18.18
Tricast £145.26
Trifecta £203.50

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Winterwatch

Telegraph:

Fugitives Drift

RP Ratings:

Carolines Charm

LAMBOURN:

Abuffalosoldier

TOPSPEED:

Small Bad Bob

POSTDATA:

Winterwatch

WEST COUNTRY:

Winterwatch

The Times:

Winterwatch

The Guardian:

Winterwatch

Daily Mirror:

Winterwatch

The Sun:

Winterwatch

The Star:

Winterwatch

Daily Record:

Winterwatch

Daily Express:

Fugitives Drift

Daily Mail:

Carolines Charm