February 26 / 14.30 Fontwell

14.30

Good

Betgoodwin National Spirit Hurdle (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £45560
  • 2m 3f 49y
  • Class 1
  • 5 runners
SKY
View Course
Betgoodwin National Spirit Hurdle (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

7/2 (Won)

  • Win: £4.50
  • Place: £2.00

Form: 2P-U25 CD

Last run: 56 days

W: 11st 4lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 148

Form & Verdict
Unlucky not to be on a hat-trick in this race having gone down by only a head 12 months ago; yet to hit the same heights this season and was no match for Goshen on the same terms at Ascot in November; what might help is further wind surgery, having won both completed starts following his previous procedures.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

15th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 3

18:20 Aintree

Brewinupastorm

12st 0lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Veteran who finds winning hard these days but on last two starts he held his own in Grade 2s at Fontwell and Fairyhouse, races he had won previously; retains plenty of enthusiasm and can go well back in a handicap.

11/2

4th

6

6th Apr 2026

Yielding To Soft

2m 3f 180y

15:50 Fairyhouse

Brewinupastorm

11st 3lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Won this race two years ago and returns on the back of finishing second in the Grade 2 National Spirit at Fontwell, a race he'd won twice before; however, he's well into the veteran stage and looks vulnerable.

25/1

2nd

3

22nd Feb 2026

Soft

2m 3f 29y

Class 1

14:50 Fontwell

Brewinupastorm

11st 4lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

13yo who has a fine record in this race, his three appearances yielding two wins (2021 and 2023) and a head second to Botox Has in 2022; also bagged a Fairyhouse Grade 2 (2m4f, soft to heavy) in the spring of 2024; not so good these days, however, and he was beaten 13l in a Taunton handicap (2m3f, good to soft) last month.

16/1

4/1

  • Place: £1.90

Form: 2-1243

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 10lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 156

Form & Verdict
Admirable servant to his connections in both disciplines and paid for his trip to Ireland three weeks ago by finishing third in the Grade 1 chase at Leopardstown; not the only one blown away by Constitution Hill at Kempton over Christmas and best judged on his previous second to Knappers Hill (won by 2.5l) at Wincanton when conceding 6lb to the winner; solid claims with a repeat of that form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

26th Dec 2023

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 1

13:55 Kempton

Sceau Royal

11st 10lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Alan King

Multiple winner down the years; turns 12 imminently and his two results this season, including behind Rubaud when bidding for a third success in Kempton Listed event in October, suggest he's perhaps finally on the wane; well held in this contest in 2022.

100/1

5th

2

25th Nov 2023

Good To Soft

2m 3f 58y

Class 1

14:05 Ascot

Sceau Royal

11st 4lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Alan King

prominent, disputing third before 2 out, weakened approaching last

11/2

4th

3

22nd Oct 2023

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 1

16:05 Kempton

Sceau Royal

11st 6lb

J: Daryl Jacob

T: Alan King

High-class hurdler/chaser who has been an excellent servant to connections over the years and is bidding to win this race for the third season running; seemed to race too freely in first-time cheekpieces (now removed) in Aintree Hurdle in April but faced a tough assignment there anyway and ought to be very hard to beat here.

10/11

Form: 1-1142 D

Last run: 8 days

W: 11st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 153

Form & Verdict
His rise up the ranks continued when never headed in Wincanton's Grade 2 Elite Hurdle in November (1m7f, good to firm), keeping at bay Sceau Royal (giving 6lb); well held since, though soft ground perhaps not ideal at Cheltenham and he bumped into a live Champion Hurdle outsider back at Wincanton last week; this longer trip on goodish ground is probably what he needs.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 187y

Class 2

14:25 Newbury

Knappers Hill

11st 11lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Heavy ground provides an excuse for latest effort; has hinted at retaining ability otherwise since returning from lengthy layoff; very attractively treated on historical data, which includes four Grade 2 wins (bumper/hurdles/fences); one to consider.

9/2

1

7th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 2

14:25 Warwick

Knappers Hill

12st 0lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Paul Nicholls

Smart hurder/chaser in his prime; absent more than two years after Grade 2 novice chase win in autumn 2023 but returned with two pretty good efforts this season (2m5f/3m) and has possibiites in his first veterans' chase; copes well with soft ground; unraced on heavy.

3/1

Form: F-371P D

Last run: 93 days

W: 11st 10lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 152

Form & Verdict
Had plenty of racing but it was just about a career-best when winning a Grade 2 at Wetherby (3m, good to soft) in October with a nice bit in hand; well beneath that level on either side of it, behind Knappers Hill beforehand and pulling up in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury three months ago; effective over this trip on good ground but it doesn't see him in the best light.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

1

17th Apr 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 213y

Class 2

15:50 Cheltenham

Proschema

12st 0lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

held up in rear, headway on outer after 2 out, outpaced approaching last, weakened run-in

8/1

8th

1

17th Apr 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 213y

Class 2

15:50 Cheltenham

Proschema

12st 0lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

held up in rear, headway on outer after 2 out, outpaced approaching last, weakened run-in

8/1

OUR TIP

11/4

Form: 1-3123 C BF

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 156

Form & Verdict
Trainer soon called time on any future chasing aspirations following his odds-on failure at Lingfield (in first-time cheekpieces) but he was close to his best in winning over hurdles at Ascot in November (beating Brewin'upastorm on these terms; 2m3f, good) and then chasing home Paisley Park at Kempton (3m Grade 1); clearly a strong form contender and he won here as a juvenile.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13th

12

26th Apr 2025

Good

3m 4f 146y

Class 1

16:10 Sandown

Goshen

10st 2lb

J: Niall Houlihan

T: Gary & Josh Moore

5lb out of the handicap; 9yo whose career has contained plenty of surprises and performing so manfully in 3m handicap chases on good ground at Ascot and this track on his last two starts is arguably one of them; that's nowhere near his old hurdles form but he's been sticking on as if his next reinvention could be as a stayer.

40/1

13th

12

26th Apr 2025

Good

3m 4f 146y

Class 1

16:10 Sandown

Goshen

10st 2lb

J: Niall Houlihan

T: Gary & Josh Moore

5lb out of the handicap; 9yo whose career has contained plenty of surprises and performing so manfully in 3m handicap chases on good ground at Ascot and this track on his last two starts is arguably one of them; that's nowhere near his old hurdles form but he's been sticking on as if his next reinvention could be as a stayer.

40/1

3rd

1

8th Mar 2025

Good

3m 0f 37y

Class 3

15:35 Sandown

Goshen

11st 12lb

J: Niall Houlihan

T: Gary & Josh Moore

9yo who is somewhat mercurial but he's run pretty well in defeat the last twice here (2m7f, heavy; hurdles) and Ascot (3m, good; fences); goes well at Sandown and drops back down in grade today; could be involved.

5/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £17.80
Straight Forecast £19.13
Trifecta £40.00

Selections

RP Ratings:

Brewin'upastorm

TOPSPEED:

Knappers Hill

SPOTLIGHT:

Sceau Royal

The Sun:

Goshen

WEST COUNTRY:

Knappers Hill

D Express:

Knappers Hill

Daily Record:

Knappers Hill

The Times:

Brewin'upastorm

Telegraph:

Brewin'upastorm

Daily Mail:

Brewin'upastorm

Daily Mirror:

Brewin'upastorm

POSTDATA:

Sceau Royal

The Star:

Sceau Royal