February 28 / 15.45 Catterick

15.45

Good

Download The Vickers.Bet App Maiden Hurdle (Novices’ Championship Hurdle Series Qualifier) (GBB)

  • Prize money: £4356.8
  • 1m 7f 156y
  • Class 4
  • 9 runners
RTV
View Course
Download The Vickers.Bet App Maiden Hurdle (Novices’ Championship Hurdle Series Qualifier) (GBB)

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

5/4 (Won)

  • Win: £1.62
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 5-2232 BF

Last run: 12 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Has finished placed on all three hurdle starts, the latest when runner-up at Newcastle (2m1f, good); had Split The Bill back in third and brings solid credentials to the table.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

13th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 0f 51y

Class 4

14:30 Kelso

Chase A Fortune

11st 11lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Chris Grant

Won in first-time cheekpieces (retained since) at Wetherby (2m, soft) in December and has continued in good form, finishing second on his last two starts (1m7f/2m1f, good to soft); very solid claims.

4/1

2nd

2

25th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 178y

Class 4

15:10 Sedgefield

Chase A Fortune

11st 13lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Chris Grant

Record of 212 since switched back to hurdles from chasing, the win at Wetherby (2m, soft) in first-time cheekpieces; Musselburgh effort (1m7f, good to soft) last time resulted in a career-best RPR; should go well in the retained headgear.

11/2

1

25th Oct 2025

Good

2m 1f 14y

Class 5

14:45 Kelso

Chase A Fortune

12st 0lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Chris Grant

Both his wins have been over 1m7f at Catterick, the latest off this mark in February 2024 (soft); several fair efforts since, including after a 325-day break last time; each-way chance.

11/2

50/1

  • Place: £14.40

Form: 34-7PP

Last run: 9 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Two-time French Flat winner; now 0-9 over hurdles and looking exposed after coming up short in handicaps; not progressing.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

8

27th Sep 2023

Soft

2m 4f 35y

Class 5

17:12 Perth

Ultra Violet

10st 12lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

0-18 over hurdles but has largely been consistent since the spring; made most of the running when third behind Prince Nino over C&D this month and has the same mark today; probably won't be far away.

7/1

3rd

7

11th Sep 2023

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 5

15:40 Perth

Ultra Violet

10st 9lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

Dual Flat winner over 1m in France; yet to win over hurdles although has been running well enough in handicaps over 2m4f/3m here this summer to suggest he has a chance.

8/1

6th

6

2nd Aug 2023

Good To Soft

2m 7f 207y

Class 5

14:45 Perth

Ultra Violet

10st 8lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

in touch with leaders, reminder after 6th, in rear when mistake 8th, struggling from 4 out

9/2

10/1

  • Place: £4.40

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 7lb

8 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Strong stayer on the Flat (3-35) but he's left it late to go hurdling and this year's AW form has been decidedly below par; ability is respected but something to prove at the minute.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

6

31st May 2023

Good

2m 1f 46y

Class 5

18:50 Cartmel

Bugle Major

10st 11lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Archie Watson

Fair on the Flat but yet to make an impact over hurdles; brushed aside fairly easily after leading on final circuit at Plumpton (2m, good; refitted blinkers) this month; will need to show more tenacity here.

10/1

8th

9

14th May 2023

Good

1m 7f 195y

Class 5

15:15 Plumpton

Bugle Major

10st 11lb

J: Nick Scholfield

T: Archie Watson

Three French Flat wins and he's 0-30 in Britain, though placed on many occasions; shaped quite well on hurdling debut but twice tailed off since; risky but opening mark of 83 would look lenient if showing his best.

8/1

11th

1

12th Apr 2023

Good

1m 7f 182y

Class 4

16:35 Southwell

Bugle Major

11st 6lb

J: Nick Scholfield

T: Archie Watson

led, headed but prominent before 4th, pushed along after 4 out

16/1

Form: 43-783

Last run: 12 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Appreciated the drier ground when third at Newcastle but has roughly 7l to find with Chase A Fortune.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

8th May 2024

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 4

14:10 Kelso

Split The Bill

11st 1lb

J: Aaron Anderson

T: Rebecca Menzies

took keen hold, held up in rear, no impression before 3 out, pulled up before 2 out

9/1

9

8th May 2024

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 4

14:10 Kelso

Split The Bill

11st 1lb

J: Aaron Anderson

T: Rebecca Menzies

took keen hold, held up in rear, no impression before 3 out, pulled up before 2 out

9/1

3rd

4

16th Jun 2023

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

17:15 Aintree

Split The Bill

11st 10lb

J: Aaron Anderson

T: Rebecca Menzies

Eight-race maiden for Micky Hammond, best run when fourth over this trip at Perth in April (good to soft); well beaten next time (didn't jump well) and now makes debut for Rebecca Menzies with a first-time tongue-tie.

10/1

Form: 2

Last run: 45 days

W: 10st 2lb

4 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Modest Flat winner for Andrew Balding; later bought for 14,000gns; probably achieved little on hurdling debut when a distance behind the winner in a small field at Kempton (soft); didn't jump great.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

1

(6)

16th Jan 2024

Standard

1m 5f 219y

Class 6

14:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Virtuoso

9st 9lb

J: Ben Robinson

T: Donald McCain

Turf winner over this trip when with Andrew Balding; moderate form over hurdles and last in two starts in this code since joining current trainer; drops 4lb and in grade.

33/1

11th

9

(1)

5th Jan 2024

Standard

1m 6f 21y

Class 5

15:32 Southwell (AW)

Virtuoso

9st 6lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Donald McCain

disputed lead, led after 1f, headed over 2f out, soon weakened

40/1

8th

15

19th Dec 2023

Good To Soft

2m 3f 66y

Class 5

14:30 Catterick

Virtuoso

10st 2lb

J: Peter Kavanagh

T: Donald McCain

Fair on the Flat; hasn't progressed over hurdles (well beaten on handicap debut at Sedgefield last time); needs to improve for this step up in trip.

16/1

OUR TIP

Form: 1 D

Last run: 45 days

W: 10st 9lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Bred for the Flat so did well to make a winning debut on heavy ground at Warwick; the time was understandably slow but he was well found in the market and the clear second did not go unbacked; might be the answer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

28th Mar 2025

Good

2m 5f 135y

Class 5

14:40 Fontwell

The Cox Express

11st 0lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Robert Walford

midfield, in rear when mistake 3rd, struggling 10th, detached when almost fell 11th

6/1

7

20th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 7f 110y

Class 5

14:35 Lingfield

The Cox Express

10st 11lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Robert Walford

Second of 15 on chase debut at Exeter (2m3f, good to soft) in December and ran below market expectations next time (2m7f); question marks over today's distance but that penultimate effort commands respect.

7/1

8th

9

18th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 3y

Class 5

15:50 Taunton

The Cox Express

10st 11lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Robert Walford

towards rear

4/1

Form: 0870P

Last run: 13 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
0-5 and cheekpieces did nothing for him when pulled up on his handicap debut (2m3f); up against it on these terms.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13

15th Jun 2024

Good

2m 3f 207y

Class 5

18:10 Uttoxeter

Eddie Mush

10st 11lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Sue Smith

Did not show a great deal over hurdles in 2022-23 season and, following a long absence, was tailed off at Sedgefield (2m1f, good) last month.

33/1

12th

8

10th May 2024

Good

2m 0f 178y

Class 5

20:05 Sedgefield

Eddie Mush

11st 3lb

J: Peter Kavanagh

T: Sue Smith

Pulled up when 66-1 for handicap debut in February (2m3f, good; wore cheekpieces) and didn't show much when back in novice company later that month (1m7f no headgear); still unexposed but significant improvement is needed.

25/1

12th

8

10th May 2024

Good

2m 0f 178y

Class 5

20:05 Sedgefield

Eddie Mush

11st 3lb

J: Peter Kavanagh

T: Sue Smith

Pulled up when 66-1 for handicap debut in February (2m3f, good; wore cheekpieces) and didn't show much when back in novice company later that month (1m7f no headgear); still unexposed but significant improvement is needed.

25/1

Form: 3

Last run: 15 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Bought for £80,000 after winning a small-field point in Ireland; too keen for her own good when bringing up the rear in a three-runner 3m1f novice hurdle here two weeks ago; surely capable of better and she's down in trip this time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

7th Jun 2024

Good

2m 1f 43y

Class 5

16:20 Market Rasen

Beauty To Behold

12st 0lb

J: Ben Smith

T: R Mike Smith

Irish point winner but he's 0-10 over hurdles and has finished tailed off at Perth (2m4f/2m) in last two runs; went close off this mark three runs back but he needs a major revival on this switch to chasing; all runs have been on good or slower.

8/1

9th

2

16th May 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 47y

Class 5

14:50 Perth

Beauty To Behold

11st 12lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: R Mike Smith

Perth regular (form figures 323327); narrowly beaten over 2m4f (soft) here last September but fluffed her lines next time (trainer was unable to offer an explanation); runner-up in this race last year, so no major surprise if she bounces back to form after a 232-day absence.

13/2

9th

2

16th May 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 47y

Class 5

14:50 Perth

Beauty To Behold

11st 12lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: R Mike Smith

Perth regular (form figures 323327); narrowly beaten over 2m4f (soft) here last September but fluffed her lines next time (trainer was unable to offer an explanation); runner-up in this race last year, so no major surprise if she bounces back to form after a 232-day absence.

13/2

Form: U50

Last run: 22 days

W: 10st 9lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Has finished last in his two completed starts and makes no appeal for now.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

9

23rd May 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 107y

Class 5

16:30 Cartmel

Halfway House Lad

10st 10lb

J: Charlotte Jones

T: James Moffatt

5lb out of the weights when romping home on recent stable debut at Hexham (3m, good); now 8lb higher and all wins have been gained at Newcastle or Hexham so still has some convincing to do around a sharp track.

15/8

1st

13

2nd May 2026

Good

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

19:45 Hexham

Halfway House Lad

10st 2lb

J: Charlotte Jones

T: James Moffatt

Three chase wins for Maurice Barnes including over C&D in March 2025 (good to soft); well beaten last three starts; 5lb out of the handicap for stable debut.

16/1

6th

10

14th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 91y

Class 5

16:35 Newcastle

Halfway House Lad

10st 7lb

J: Charlie Price

T: Maurice Barnes

Won this race off a 4lb lower mark last season (Hawkseye View third); mixed form this season, but the drier ground will suit and has an each-way chance.

16/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £102.50
Straight Forecast £110.97
Trifecta £1285.80

Selections

RP Ratings:

Chase A Fortune

SPOTLIGHT:

The Cox Express

THE NORTH:

Virtuoso

The Star:

Beauty To Behold

LAMBOURN:

Bugle Major

The Times:

The Cox Express

Telegraph:

The Cox Express

D Express:

The Cox Express

Daily Mirror:

The Cox Express

TOPSPEED:

Chase A Fortune

POSTDATA:

Chase A Fortune

The Guardian:

Chase A Fortune

Daily Mail:

Chase A Fortune

The Sun:

Chase A Fortune

Daily Record:

Virtuoso