February 07 / 14.45 Market Rasen

14.45

Good To Soft

Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £5281
  • 2m 7f 16y
  • Class 4
  • 7 runners
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Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

2/1 (Won)

  • Win: £3.00
  • Place: £1.40

Form: 614-14 CD

Last run: 39 days

W: 11st 3lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Has won a mares' bumper and also two hurdles against her own sex, the more recent coming in a C&D handicap (soft) last November; backed that up with another good effort from this 6lb higher mark at Haydock (3m, soft) latest; player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

19th May 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 63y

Class 5

17:50 Hexham

Shighness

12st 0lb

J: Joshua Thompson

T: Micky Hammond

Hasn't won for a couple of years and that was over fences, but she shaped encouragingly reverting to hurdles when third at Sedgefield (3m3f, soft) in February, albeit beaten nearly 19l, and has fallen back over fences since; however, she's on a handy mark and is hard to dismiss.

15/2

7

25th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 7f 199y

Class 4

15:41 Hexham

Shighness

11st 3lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Micky Hammond

She's struggled to get competitive since finishing a close second in this last year (good to soft) but is 7lb lower this time around and didn't run badly over hurdles at Sedgefield (3m3f, soft) last month; not written off.

10/1

11/2

  • Place: £2.10

Form: 355234

Last run: 81 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
0-11 over hurdles but was competitive on several occasions when with Jonjo O'Neill; drops 2lb; bit to prove over this far but is a potential each-way player on debut for this trainer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

6

26th Sep 2025

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 4

15:52 Worcester

Halifax

11st 2lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Grace Harris

Best effort this term when second in this grade at Market Rasen (2m7f, good) on penultimate start; on last winning mark so holds a fighting chance from a handicapping perspective.

8/1

7

5th Sep 2025

Good

2m 7f 32y

Class 3

16:45 Bangor-on-Dee

Halifax

10st 9lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Grace Harris

Well handicapped and looked booked for a return to winning ways at Market Rasen (2m7f, good) until reeled in late on; strongly considered on the back of that effort.

3/1

2nd

7

16th Aug 2025

Good

2m 7f 16y

Class 4

19:28 Market Rasen

Halifax

11st 2lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Grace Harris

Back on same mark as Kempton win in May 2024 (3m, good); likely to be all the better for his latest run (first for 290 days); interesting.

8/1

Form: 7216/U C

Last run: 38 days

W: 11st 13lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Bumper and dual hurdle winner at up to 2m4f (on soft/good to soft ground); returned from a lengthy absence for his chase debut at Warwick last December but ducked out at the first fence; has to prove he retains his former ability but if so, he'd be a contender from this mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

2nd May 2025

Good

4m 0f 97y

Class 4

19:30 Cheltenham

Here Comes McCoy

12st 4lb

J: Mr Robbie David

T: Miss Liberty Stone

Dual handicap chase winner (3m2f/3m) on slow ground for Olly Murphy in the early part of 2024 but left that yard after disappointing in January and may find conditions too lively on stable/hunter chase debut.

8/1

1

2nd May 2025

Good

4m 0f 97y

Class 4

19:30 Cheltenham

Here Comes McCoy

12st 4lb

J: Mr Robbie David

T: Miss Liberty Stone

Dual handicap chase winner (3m2f/3m) on slow ground for Olly Murphy in the early part of 2024 but left that yard after disappointing in January and may find conditions too lively on stable/hunter chase debut.

8/1

3

31st Jan 2025

Soft

3m 4f 178y

Class 3

14:45 Lingfield

Here Comes McCoy

11st 9lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

The furthest he's been was 3m2f on heavy at Uttoxeter last January and he won that by 11l; would probably have scored there again on reappearance (3m, soft; cheekpieces second time) last month but for a shocking error at the final fence; that's not the only late blunder from him and he's been raised another 5lb, but he could easily have more to give.

4/1

Form: /54-74

Last run: 39 days

W: 11st 8lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Sole win came in a Taunton novice hurdle (2m3f, soft) in December 2019; well treated on that season's form but both starts this season have been well below that level, albeit his latest effort back at Taunton (first-time cheekpieces) was a step back in the right direction; drops another 2lb.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

22nd Mar 2024

Good To Soft

3m 0f 52y

Class 4

17:20 Newbury

Republican

11st 12lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

Followed his former trainer Oliver Sherwood to Harry Derham's yard for which he made a winning start over 3m at Musselburgh (soft); didn't win with much in hand but that was his first run for 251 days and a 5lb rise is fair enough.

11/4

1st

2

1st Jan 2024

Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 4

15:30 Musselburgh

Republican

11st 13lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

prominent, in touch with leaders after 8th

3/1

4th

8

25th Apr 2023

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

16:00 Ffos Las

Republican

11st 3lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Oliver Sherwood

Won at Hereford (2m3f, good) in February but that was a weak four-runner race and he's since been a soundly beaten fourth at Southwell (2m4f, good to soft); others have more pressing claims.

10/1

Form: 31653P

Last run: 43 days

W: 11st 11lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Dual hurdle winner at up to 2m4f (both on testing ground) when trained by Joseph O'Brien; won a Fontwell chase (2m5f, good) on debut for this trainer last September, when 8lb higher; unable to recapture that level of form in four runs since; pulled up here latest; bit to prove back over hurdles.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

10th Oct 2024

Good

2m 3f 48y

Class 5

16:43 Exeter

Fakir

11st 4lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Tom Lacey

towards rear, reminders after 1st, not fluent and cajoled along 2nd, outpaced 9th

5/1

4th

5

8th Sep 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 104y

Class 4

16:15 Fontwell

Fakir

10st 13lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Tom Lacey

prominent, awkward jump 2nd, not fluent 11th, bad mistake and 2nd, lost ground 3 out, not fluent 2 out, weakened approaching last

7/2

Form: 235-P8

Last run: 66 days

W: 11st 13lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Won a Clonmel maiden hurdle (2m, soft) when trained by Willie Mullins, for whom he showed ability over fences without winning; easy to back on his first start for this trainer (and following wind surgery) at Chepstow last December, when tailed off; bit to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

7th Feb 2023

Good To Soft

2m 7f 16y

Class 4

14:45 Market Rasen

Cavallino

11st 13lb

J: Jack Hogan

T: Fergal O’Brien

raced in second, ridden after 3 out, weakened before 2 out, soon pulled up

16/1

8th

5

3rd Dec 2022

Good To Soft

2m 7f 131y

Class 3

11:53 Chepstow

Cavallino

11st 5lb

J: Liam Harrison

T: Fergal O’Brien

Pulled up when making chase/handicap debut at Punchestown festival for Willie Mullins in April and not seen again since but switches back to hurdling on workable mark for new stable (same owner); had wind op in October and now has tongue-tie fitted; blinkers (worn for last two races) removed; no surprise if he features.

10/1

OUR TIP

Form: 7-12P

Last run: 95 days

W: 11st 8lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Irish point winner; ran away with a mares' novice contest at Uttoxeter (2m4f, good) last May on her second start over hurdles; runner-up under a penalty back there (2m, good) next time; well beaten on her handicap debut at Exeter (2m5f, good) when last seen; drops 2lb; not written off.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

7th Feb 2023

Good To Soft

2m 7f 16y

Class 4

14:45 Market Rasen

Bettys Banjo

11st 8lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo O’Neill

prominent, pushed along from 8th, ridden after 3 out, weakened before 2 out, pulled up before last

10/1

8

10th Jan 2023

Good

2m 3f 88y

Class 4

15:00 Doncaster

Bettys Banjo

11st 6lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo O’Neill

Irish point winner; improved mightily on her hurdle debut when winning at Uttoxeter last May (2m4f, good); fair 2m run subsequently but way off her game when pulled up in an Exeter handicap in November.

25/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £8.70
Straight Forecast £9.80
Trifecta £40.30

Selections

RP Ratings:

Shighness

WEST COUNTRY:

Betty's Banjo

TOPSPEED:

Halifax

SPOTLIGHT:

Here Comes McCoy

The Times:

Republican

The Star:

Betty's Banjo

D Express:

Halifax

POSTDATA:

Shighness

Telegraph:

Shighness

Daily Mail:

Shighness

Daily Mirror:

Shighness

Daily Record:

Shighness

The Guardian:

Here Comes McCoy

The Sun:

Republican