January 07 / 15.15 Wincanton

15.15

Soft

Virgin Bet Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £11090.1
  • 2m 5f 82y
  • Class 3
  • 5 runners
ITV
View Course
Virgin Bet Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Rain

1/2 (Won)

  • Win: £1.67

Form: 210-11 D

Last run: 37 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 131

Form & Verdict
Good bumper horse who has looked even better in going 2-2 over hurdles and decisively defied a penalty at Market Rasen (2m4f, good to soft; effective on soft); this mark should be manageable.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

13th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

3m 2f 0y

Class 1

13:50 Cheltenham

Chianti Classico

12st 0lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Kim Bailey

Usually races prominently and can make the running; 7yo who had form figures of 1121 in handicap chases at 3m-3m1f last season, notably with a triumph on heavy ground here at the Festival, and he resumed with clearcut win on good in valuable handicap at Ascot six weeks ago; up another 5lb but the extra distance should help and he remains a fine prospect.

6/4

3rd

1

13th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

3m 2f 0y

Class 1

13:50 Cheltenham

Chianti Classico

12st 0lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Kim Bailey

Usually races prominently and can make the running; 7yo who had form figures of 1121 in handicap chases at 3m-3m1f last season, notably with a triumph on heavy ground here at the Festival, and he resumed with clearcut win on good in valuable handicap at Ascot six weeks ago; up another 5lb but the extra distance should help and he remains a fine prospect.

6/4

OUR TIP

Form: 5-1433 D

Last run: 42 days

W: 11st 9lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 133

Form & Verdict
Made all to beat a useful rival in a match on chasing debut at Kempton (2m4f, good) in May; fared less well afterwards and he was beaten the thick end of 20l on his return to hurdling at Doncaster; soft ground might be against him.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

23rd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 35y

Class 4

14:40 Perth

Stoners Choice

12st 1lb

J: Tom Broughton

T: Fergal O’Brien

Course winner whose mark continues to fall and he's not been devoid of spark this season; however, this 11yo is without a win since April 2023 and was disappointing at Ludlow last month.

8/1

6th

4

19th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 55y

Class 4

16:20 Ludlow

Stoners Choice

11st 12lb

J: Fern O’Brien

T: Fergal O’Brien

Second of 12 over 2m5f at Kempton just over a year ago but he hasn't posed a serious threat since, including at about 2m on his last four starts; wasn't disgraced in a valuable event at Windsor (strong handicap form) last time, however, and he's undoubtedly well handicapped these days.

9/1

7th

15

16th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 2

15:35 Windsor

Stoners Choice

10st 7lb

J: Fern O’Brien

T: Fergal O’Brien

Well handicapped on form as recent as last February but this 11yo has been unable to pose a serious threat on his six starts since May.

50/1

Form: 5/59/F C

Last run: 42 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 138

Form & Verdict
Smart juvenile who was fifth in the Triumph Hurdle; finished only midfield in a couple of handicaps the following autumn and didn't have a happy experience six weeks ago on his chase debut at Bangor, where he fell early and fell again when running loose.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

9

1st Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 68y

Class 2

14:50 Musselburgh

Sir Psycho

10st 13lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

in touch with leaders

12/1

Form: 571-2 BF

Last run: 60 days

W: 10st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

20th Feb 2026

Heavy

3m 6f 153y

Class 3

15:45 Exeter

Jubilee Express

11st 10lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Sam Thomas

Below form on sole jumps start on heavy; finished strongest when second in the Welsh National at Chepstow (extended 3m6f, soft) in December 2024; won the Trial there in December this season, which is far and away the best of his last four starts but the ground was surely not soft enough for him when he flopped as favourite in the Welsh National last time; major player if this is one of his better days.

11/4

7th

10

15th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

3m 4f 97y

Class 1

15:15 Haydock

Jubilee Express

10st 2lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Sam Thomas

disputed lead early, in touch with leaders 3rd

13/2

2nd

12

27th Dec 2024

Soft

3m 6f 130y

Class 1

14:50 Chepstow

Jubilee Express

10st 4lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Sam Thomas

7yo who is narrowly the most lightly raced horse in this field; raised his game upped to 3m5f and an extended 3m4f on soft on last two starts last term, snatching a win at Haydock last time; up another 4lb but gives the very strong impression he will keep on galloping at this trip as well.

6/1

Form: 214-PU C

Last run: 12 days

W: 10st 3lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Non-runners

Jubilee Express

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £4.20
Straight Forecast £5.12
Trifecta £7.30

Selections

RP Ratings:

Chianti Classico

SPOTLIGHT:

Longshanks

TOPSPEED:

Stoner's Choice

POSTDATA:

Chianti Classico

WEST COUNTRY:

Chianti Classico

The Times:

Chianti Classico

Telegraph:

Chianti Classico

The Guardian:

Chianti Classico

Daily Mail:

Chianti Classico

D Express:

Chianti Classico

Daily Mirror:

Chianti Classico

The Sun:

Chianti Classico

The Star:

Chianti Classico

Daily Record:

Chianti Classico