13.30

Very useful hurdler/chaser in his prime; well below best during a fairly light campaign last season (four hurdle runs; cheekpieces added last time) but will appreciate this ease in grade and has slipped to a dangerous mark.

12/1

5th

4

23rd Mar 2026

Good

2m 3f 179y

Class 3

16:57 Wincanton

Crebilly

11st 7lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

Made a quite encouraging seasonal debut in November but well beaten twice since, albeit on heavy ground last time; drops back in trip on a dangerous mark but needs to be perked up by the first-time cheekpieces.

9/1

3rd

8

Hoe Joly Smoke

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

15/8

Place: £1.30

Form: 2 BF

Last run: 101 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: —

Form & Verdict

Beat subsequent bumper winners in 2m4f point last spring (soft) and plenty to like about hurdle debut behind a Nicholls improver on hurdle debut here in October (2m3f, good to soft); off since but can do better.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
2nd 3	13th May 2026 Good 3m 1f 170y Class 3	19:30 Newton Abbot Hoe Joly Smoke 11st 2lb J: Harry Skelton T: Dan Skelton	Ran really well in defeat in some strong Cheltenham handicaps (2m4f-3m1f) during the first half of last season and his Kempton effort in February wasn't too shoddy; what needs forgiving is his Ayr run after a wind operation as that was underwhelming; still looks dangerous.	11/8
6th 7	17th Apr 2026 Soft 2m 4f 110y Class 2	15:30 Ayr Hoe Joly Smoke 10st 10lb J: Harry Skelton T: Dan Skelton	He hasn't quite been at the top of his game on his last two starts; however, he's had wind surgery since and is certainly of interest on his two third-place finishes at Cheltenham in the autumn (3m1f/2m4f, good/soft); top trainer has won five of the last eight runnings of this race.	7/2
6th 9	21st Feb 2026 Good To Soft 3m 0f 0y Class 1	15:35 Kempton Hoe Joly Smoke 10st 8lb J: Harry Skelton T: Dan Skelton	Won twice as a novice chaser over 3m at Sandown (soft/good); has been running well in some strong Cheltenham handicaps this season without looking that well handicapped, but returning to a right-handed track might benefit him, as might the first-time cheekpieces; could also have this run to suit if he's held up as usual; effective from 2m4f to 3m1f, he's a big player.	7/1

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

2nd

3

13th May 2026

Good

3m 1f 170y

Class 3

11st 2lb

Ran really well in defeat in some strong Cheltenham handicaps (2m4f-3m1f) during the first half of last season and his Kempton effort in February wasn't too shoddy; what needs forgiving is his Ayr run after a wind operation as that was underwhelming; still looks dangerous.

11/8

6th

7

17th Apr 2026

Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 2

10st 10lb

He hasn't quite been at the top of his game on his last two starts; however, he's had wind surgery since and is certainly of interest on his two third-place finishes at Cheltenham in the autumn (3m1f/2m4f, good/soft); top trainer has won five of the last eight runnings of this race.

7/2

6th

9

21st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 0y

Class 1

10st 8lb

Won twice as a novice chaser over 3m at Sandown (soft/good); has been running well in some strong Cheltenham handicaps this season without looking that well handicapped, but returning to a right-handed track might benefit him, as might the first-time cheekpieces; could also have this run to suit if he's held up as usual; effective from 2m4f to 3m1f, he's a big player.

7/1

4th

7

Buckhorn Rocco

J: Harry Kimber

T: Joe Tizzard

7/2

Form: 5/16-2 D

Last run: 33 days

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: —

Form & Verdict

Good bumper form; made stirring comeback from absence when pressing a useful rival on hurdle debut at Exeter last month (2m, heavy); had a hard race and no guarantee he will come on for the run but good form claims.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
1st 11	16th Apr 2023 Good To Soft 2m 5f 82y Class 3	14:25 Wincanton Buckhorn Rocco 11st 4lb J: Harry Kimber T: Joe Tizzard	Began hurdling career with two very promising runs at start of this year (2m) but was turned over at very short odds on next outing (2m2f) and underperformed when upped to 2m5f three weeks ago; needs a boost from the first-time cheekpieces on today's handicap debut.	12/1
3rd 2	26th Mar 2023 Good To Soft 2m 5f 137y Class 4	13:42 Exeter Buckhorn Rocco 11st 2lb J: Brendan Powell T: Joe Tizzard	Won soft-ground Sandown bumper last season and has made the frame on all three hurdling starts this term; turned over at very short odds when second of four here (2m2f, good) last month and moves up in trip with a point to prove, but his earlier form makes him a leading contender.	13/8
2nd 1	24th Feb 2023 Good 2m 2f 111y Class 4	14:40 Exeter Buckhorn Rocco 11st 5lb J: Brendan Powell T: Joe Tizzard	raced in second, jumped right 1st, ridden just before 3 out, hit 2 out, soon no impression and held	1/4

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

1st

11

16th Apr 2023

Good To Soft

2m 5f 82y

Class 3

11st 4lb

Began hurdling career with two very promising runs at start of this year (2m) but was turned over at very short odds on next outing (2m2f) and underperformed when upped to 2m5f three weeks ago; needs a boost from the first-time cheekpieces on today's handicap debut.

12/1

3rd

2

26th Mar 2023

Good To Soft

2m 5f 137y

Class 4

11st 2lb

Won soft-ground Sandown bumper last season and has made the frame on all three hurdling starts this term; turned over at very short odds when second of four here (2m2f, good) last month and moves up in trip with a point to prove, but his earlier form makes him a leading contender.

13/8

2nd

1

24th Feb 2023

Good

2m 2f 111y

Class 4

11st 5lb

raced in second, jumped right 1st, ridden just before 3 out, hit 2 out, soon no impression and held

1/4

5th

5

J: Jamie Brace

T: Jonjo O’Neill

33/1

Form: —

Last run: —

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: —

Form & Verdict

33,000euros 3yo; 11th foal; brother to winners Beg To Differ (useful 2m-3m hurdle/chase) and Ashtown Lad (useful 2m3f-3m2f hurdle/chase); dam unraced half-sister to bumper/2m-3m hurdle/chase winner Splendour; faces a very tough introduction and yard's main hope is Crebilly.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
6th 1	6th May 2026 Good 3m 1f 210y Class 5	18:42 Fontwell Anytrixwilldo 12st 0lb J: Richie McLernon T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill	0-5 over hurdles and 1-14 as a chaser; clearly difficult to win with but arrives here in a good run of form and always a chance that new headgear might give him a lift; an assured stayer.	6/1
4th 6	9th Apr 2026 Good 3m 4f 85y Class 4	16:15 Taunton Anytrixwilldo 10st 5lb J: Benjamin Macey T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill	His sole success came when landing this race last year (good to firm) in first-time cheekpieces off 3lb lower mark; has ran with credit since when placed and his second at Ludlow (3m, good to soft) in February will have set him up nicely for a repeat bid.	4/1
2nd 2	26th Feb 2026 Good To Soft 2m 7f 171y Class 5	15:17 Ludlow Anytrixwilldo 11st 12lb J: Richie McLernon T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill	Has 1-17 strike-rate and is not one to rely upon too heavily but he ran well when clear second over C&D (good to soft) six weeks ago and gets another chance off the same mark today.	7/2

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

6th

1

6th May 2026

Good

3m 1f 210y

Class 5

18:42 Fontwell

12st 0lb

J: Richie McLernon

0-5 over hurdles and 1-14 as a chaser; clearly difficult to win with but arrives here in a good run of form and always a chance that new headgear might give him a lift; an assured stayer.

6/1

4th

6

9th Apr 2026

Good

3m 4f 85y

Class 4

16:15 Taunton

10st 5lb

J: Benjamin Macey

His sole success came when landing this race last year (good to firm) in first-time cheekpieces off 3lb lower mark; has ran with credit since when placed and his second at Ludlow (3m, good to soft) in February will have set him up nicely for a repeat bid.

4/1

2nd

2

26th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 171y

Class 5

15:17 Ludlow

11st 12lb

J: Richie McLernon

Has 1-17 strike-rate and is not one to rely upon too heavily but he ran well when clear second over C&D (good to soft) six weeks ago and gets another chance off the same mark today.

7/2

6th

2

J: Jack Tudor

13/2

Form: 2691 D

Last run: 79 days

W: 11st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: —

Form & Verdict

Found major improvement when back on a sharper track at Warwick in November (2m, soft); still a query about suitability of a testing course like this and has more to do under a penalty in competitive race like this.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
10	4th May 2026 Good 3m 5f 24y Class 3	16:38 Fakenham Always Busy 10st 7lb J: Jack Tudor T: Christian Williams	Back in good nick for his two runs last month, latterly when close third to Wicked Thoughts at Taunton (3m4f, good); still unexposed over marathon trips and still on a workable mark; could have a say.	7/1
3rd 5	9th Apr 2026 Good 3m 4f 85y Class 4	16:15 Taunton Always Busy 10st 11lb J: Jack Tudor T: Christian Williams	Dual winning chaser who confirmed his well-being when second of four finishers at Southwell (3m, good) eight days ago; steps up in trip and if that brings about any improvement then he should be in the firing line.	11/4
2nd 3	1st Apr 2026 Good 3m 0f 60y Class 4	14:30 Southwell Always Busy 11st 7lb J: Mr J J Murphy-Knight T: Christian Williams	Hasn't obviously been shaping as if likely to strike again (pulled up in Chepstow race Fern Hill was second in last time) but the fact he won over C&D on good off an identical mark last spring makes him a dangerous one to dismiss.	11/2

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

10

4th May 2026

Good

3m 5f 24y

Class 3

16:38 Fakenham

10st 7lb

J: Jack Tudor

Back in good nick for his two runs last month, latterly when close third to Wicked Thoughts at Taunton (3m4f, good); still unexposed over marathon trips and still on a workable mark; could have a say.

7/1

3rd

5

9th Apr 2026

Good

3m 4f 85y

Class 4

16:15 Taunton

10st 11lb

J: Jack Tudor

Dual winning chaser who confirmed his well-being when second of four finishers at Southwell (3m, good) eight days ago; steps up in trip and if that brings about any improvement then he should be in the firing line.

11/4

2nd

3

1st Apr 2026

Good

3m 0f 60y

Class 4

14:30 Southwell

11st 7lb

J: Mr J J Murphy-Knight