March 03 / 13.40 Newbury

13.40

Good

A-Plan Insurance Supporting West Berkshire Mencap Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £5624.26
  • 2m 4f 118y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
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A-Plan Insurance Supporting West Berkshire Mencap Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

100/30 (Won)

  • Win: £5.00
  • Place: £2.10

Form: 041-22

Last run: 21 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Record of 1-10 over hurdles and has only won a maiden; still enters the equation after running a solid enough race behind an in-form winner at Kempton (2m, good to soft) and drying conditions are in her favour; strong Flat stayer so the trip should be within range.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

25th Nov 2023

Good

2m 3f 189y

Class 3

13:03 Huntingdon

Sashenka

11st 2lb

J: Ben Ffrench Davis

T: Dominic Ffrench Davis

held up in rear, headway 5th, clear with one other from 3 out, challenging when pecked on landing 2 out, soon pushed along, ridden and led run-in, kept on well

11/10

7th

4

(4)

26th May 2023

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

17:20 Goodwood

Sashenka

9st 5lb

J: Liam Keniry

T: Dominic Ffrench Davis

dwelt start, towards rear, short of room over 4f out, ridden over 3f out

5/1

4th

3

20th Apr 2023

Good

2m 4f 56y

Class 2

13:30 Cheltenham

Sashenka

11st 7lb

J: Ben Ffrench Davis

T: Dominic Ffrench Davis

No match for Progressive when second at Kempton (2m, good to soft) in February but drew nicely clear of the others with a next-time-out winner when scoring at Newbury (2m4f, good) last month and a recent 4lb rise does not look excessive; might be the answer.

7/1

9/1

  • Place: £2.20

Form: 41-35P

Last run: 46 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Has form on good ground but his win came on soft (2m5f; 2lb lower) and he needs to shrug aside two below-par efforts since returning from a lengthy break; others appeal more.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 91y

Class 3

16:45 Newbury

Ballycamus

11st 7lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Rather in and out, and followed a Ludlow win (3m, good to soft) in December with a listless fourth over the same C&D three weeks ago; needs first-time headgear to inject some sparkle.

6/1

4th

2

26th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 171y

Class 3

14:07 Ludlow

Ballycamus

11st 10lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Returned to form with hard-fought C&D (good to soft) win in December, his second C&D success, and was nudged up only 1lb for that; obvious contender if in similar mood again.

3/1

16

25th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

3m 1f 0y

Class 2

14:20 Cheltenham

Ballycamus

10st 5lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Went up 5lb for winning a 3m handicap that fell apart at Ludlow (good to soft) in February and that was under a 3lb claimer; probably has no margin for error off this mark and that spells danger in this warm a race; that said, his Chepstow run after a break was encouraging.

12/1

Form: 3213-5 C

Last run: 64 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Raced freely off steady fractions when below his best on handicap debut two months ago (2m, good; 4-1); twice ran well in novice hurdles here last season (also competitive in a bumper here) and this sort of mark should be manageable; now has tongue tied.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

2

16th Nov 2023

Good

2m 2f 40y

Class 4

14:25 Taunton

Surtitle

11st 9lb

J: Paddy Brennan

T: Fergal O’Brien

Dual hurdles winner at up to 2m3f; got tired on his return from a 138-day break when third on his chasing debut at Exeter (2m3f, good to soft) last month; open to improvement in this sphere.

4/1

3rd

3

24th Oct 2023

Good

2m 3f 48y

Class 4

16:30 Exeter

Surtitle

11st 7lb

J: Paddy Brennan

T: Fergal O’Brien

prominent, disputing second 3 out, weakened last

6/1

Form: 4-PBP4 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 3lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Maiden winner in Ireland and landed a handicap chase for this yard off 8lb higher in late 2021; however, he lost his form in that discipline and he was 17l behind Hardy Boy on his return to hurdling at Kempton.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

6th Sep 2023

Good

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

19:18 Hexham

Ahead Of The Field

11st 12lb

J: Ben Harvey

T: John C McConnell

Runner-up at Worcester in June, on penultimate start for Emma Lavelle; disgraced himself on stable debut at Cartmel 11 days ago and aids worn there quickly left off; have to be doubts for now.

15/2

0

5

26th Aug 2023

Soft

3m 1f 107y

Class 4

15:25 Cartmel

Ahead Of The Field

11st 3lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: John C McConnell

walked to post, in rear, bucked repeatedly and unrideable soon after start, pulled up before 1st

11/2

4th

3

5th Jul 2023

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 5

14:53 Worcester

Ahead Of The Field

11st 8lb

J: Joe Anderson

T: Emma Lavelle

Had failed to finish his previous three chasing attempts so last month's C&D second was a welcome return to some form; not sure that was the strongest of races but the effort puts him firmly in the picture here.

9/2

Form: 131-1P D

Last run: 120 days

W: 11st 13lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Had won four handicaps in five starts before failing to give his running at Ludlow in November; still looks on a competitive mark despite all that and Sean O'Briain takes off a healthy 10lb; goes well fresh.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

3

25th Sep 2023

Good

3m 1f 0y

Class 4

16:50 Warwick

Chives

11st 13lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

took keen hold, prominent, outpaced 4 out, soon weakened

7/1

5th

2

3rd Mar 2023

Good

2m 4f 118y

Class 4

13:40 Newbury

Chives

11st 13lb

J: Sean O’Briain

T: Nicky Henderson

Had won four handicaps in five starts before failing to give his running at Ludlow in November; still looks on a competitive mark despite all that and Sean O'Briain takes off a healthy 10lb; goes well fresh.

4/1

OUR TIP

Form: /2P-45

Last run: 103 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Best form for Nicky Henderson came in winning a juvenile hurdle (soft) and he departed that yard for £11,000; ran well for a long way last time at Uttoxeter (2m4f, soft) on only his second run for Billy Aprahamian and could have races in him for another new stable.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

10th Mar 2024

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

13:50 Warwick

Heross Du Seuil

11st 8lb

J: Finn Lambert

T: Ryan Potter

in touch with leaders

12/1

Form: 112-

Last run: 356 days

W: 11st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Dual juvenile winner during summer 2021 (2m1f/2m, good to soft/good) and fair second of four in Sandown handicap (2m, soft) last March when last seen; lightly raced 5yo who retains potential and the betting may be informative.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

3rd Mar 2023

Good

2m 4f 118y

Class 4

13:40 Newbury

Langafel

11st 8lb

J: Niall Houlihan

T: Gary Moore

Dual juvenile winner during summer 2021 (2m1f/2m, good to soft/good) and fair second of four in Sandown handicap (2m, soft) last March when last seen; lightly raced 5yo who retains potential and the betting may be informative.

4/1

7

11th Feb 2023

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

15:48 Warwick

Langafel

11st 5lb

J: James Davies

T: Gary Moore

Won juvenile events in summer 2021 on first two hurdle starts (2m1f/2m, good to soft/good) and fair second of four in Sandown handicap (2m, soft) last March when next seen; absent since but this lightly raced 5yo retains potential and the betting may be informative.

9/1

Form: 1-7082 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 107

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

4

9th May 2025

Good

2m 7f 16y

Class 3

16:23 Market Rasen

Hardy Boy

11st 10lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

C&D winner last August and his close fourth at Cheltenham three runs back was his best form yet; soft ground was no good to him on final appearance; nothing wrong with his mark.

12/1

4th

4

9th May 2025

Good

2m 7f 16y

Class 3

16:23 Market Rasen

Hardy Boy

11st 10lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

C&D winner last August and his close fourth at Cheltenham three runs back was his best form yet; soft ground was no good to him on final appearance; nothing wrong with his mark.

12/1

9th

9

29th Nov 2024

Soft

3m 0f 52y

Class 3

15:40 Newbury

Hardy Boy

10st 12lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

Ready winner over 2m7f at Market Rasen in August and he ran at least as well in defeat at Cheltenham in October but he has his share of weight now and soft ground has not been helpful so far.

14/1

Non-runners

Hardy Boy

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £20.00
Straight Forecast £20.16
Tricast £57.72
Trifecta £71.90

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Sashenka

Daily Mail:

Hardy Boy

TOPSPEED:

Ballycamus

Telegraph:

Langafel

RP Ratings:

Chives

WEST COUNTRY:

Surtitle

The Guardian:

Ahead Of The Field

Daily Record:

Hardy Boy

The Star:

Ballycamus

D Express:

Langafel

LAMBOURN:

Sashenka

The Times:

Sashenka

Daily Mirror:

Sashenka

The Sun:

Sashenka

POSTDATA:

Chives