March 04 / 16.00 Newbury

16.00

Good

Download The BetVictor App Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £5624.26
  • 2m 0f 69y
  • Class 4
  • 7 runners
RTV
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Download The BetVictor App Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

OUR TIP

3/1 (Won)

  • Win: £3.75
  • Place: £2.10

Form: 122O D BF

Last run: 30 days

W: 12st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Warm favourite all starts; won an Irish point last February and novice hurdle at Fakenham (2m, good) in October; runner-up on next two starts and the switch to a right-handed track seems to explain him running out early on latest, but he's a bit too headstrong for comfort on this handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

18th Apr 2026

Soft

2m 0f 110y

Class 1

13:10 Ayr

Matata

12st 0lb

J: J J Slevin

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Something to prove regarding current form although he didn't take to the National fences when pulled up mid-race in the Topham at Aintree last week; this is a lower grade than he's used to contesting and he's capable of playing a big role if back on song now returned to conventional fences.

14/1

2

10th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 19y

Class 1

16:05 Aintree

Matata

11st 13lb

J: J J Slevin

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Better than ever when easily winning at Cheltenham (2m4f, good) on New Year's Day and on that evidence this 5lb higher mark isn't necessarily beyond him; however, two lesser runs have followed; has to get back on track.

25/1

5th

9

12th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 127y

Class 1

16:00 Cheltenham

Matata

11st 10lb

J: J J Slevin

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Nearly all races at around 2m1f and the step up to 2m4f was clearly a stretch behind Jonbon in an Aintree Grade 1 last April; coped better with the trip when a convincing winner of a C&D handicap (good; has won on soft) in January but a lesser effort followed at Windsor and he aims a lot higher here.

33/1

9/2

  • Place: £2.30

Form: 031U32

Last run: 11 days

W: 10st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Narrow winner of handicap at Taunton (2m3f, good to soft) in December and creditable places on good ground over that same C&D on last two outings; back down in trip today but looks vulnerable to some less exposed rivals.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

19th Jul 2025

Good

2m 7f 191y

Class 4

17:00 Market Rasen

Fame And Fun

11st 7lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Mickey Bowen

Has returned from a break in good order and gave an in-form rival a right fright at Worcester (2m7f, good); won't mind rain.

11/2

8

2nd Jul 2025

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 4

14:45 Worcester

Fame And Fun

10st 9lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Mickey Bowen

Encouraging third after a three-month break at Stratford (2m7f, good) last month; looks the type to be at his best in the summer and holds sound claims.

5/1

6

17th Jun 2025

Good

2m 6f 125y

Class 4

16:30 Stratford

Fame And Fun

11st 2lb

J: James Bowen

T: Mickey Bowen

Won modest chase at Fontwell (2m5f, heavy) in January and is also suited by much faster ground but has become very inconsistent in recent years; others in this line-up have much more appealing profiles.

12/1

Form: 2/65-1 D

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 3lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Bumper winner for Laura Morgan; well backed for ten-runner maiden at Southwell (2m, good; Forget The Way in third) last month on first run for new yard, after 327 days off, and he was back on song to win it from off the pace; shaped a bit better than the bare result suggests, so he may be able to find the improvement that's required on this handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

17th Oct 2025

Good

1m 7f 168y

Class 5

16:40 Uttoxeter

Dom Perry

11st 3lb

J: Ben Poste

T: Steph Cameron

Won maiden hurdle for Hughie Morrison in early 2023 but seen only twice since the spring of that year, more recently when pulled up over 2m4f here on last month's stable debut; others have considerably less to prove.

33/1

Form: 00-353

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 1lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Well backed and closed late on when third of ten to Dom Perry in maiden at Southwell (2m, good) on latest start; that was easily his most competitive show and showed promise for this handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

30th May 2026

Good To Firm

2m 2f 148y

Class 3

18:50 Stratford

Forget The Way

11st 10lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: James Owen

Has three wins in this sphere and made a solid return when runner-up at Warwick (2m, good) ten days ago following a six-month break; should be thereabouts.

5/2

2nd

3

20th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

17:00 Warwick

Forget The Way

11st 10lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: James Owen

In decent form when last seen in November, winning a seller at Huntingdon and not beaten far in a better race there subsequently; this looks a competitive race for his return to action but he is not discounted.

6/1

2nd

5

2nd Nov 2025

Good

1m 7f 171y

Class 4

12:48 Huntingdon

Forget The Way

10st 10lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: James Owen

Won this race in 2024 and has posted a couple of good efforts since returning from a layoff in the summer; major player if on song today but didn't really fire at Market Rasen last month and regular rider Alex Chadwick is on stablemate Mermaids Cave here.

7/4

Form: 61-P84

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 3lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Dual chase winner in France; three handicap hurdles in Britain, offering more again when fourth of eight at Bangor (2m, good to soft) latest; that was something to build on.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

16th Jul 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

15:38 Uttoxeter

Imac Wood

11st 4lb

J: Lewis Stones

T: Deborah Cole

6-16 over fences, the latest win gained in this race a year ago (soft ground; also suited by good); returned from seven-month with encouraging run a fortnight ago and should now be teed up to defend his crown.

16/1

4

1st Jul 2025

Good To Firm

2m 3f 98y

Class 4

20:18 Stratford

Imac Wood

12st 1lb

J: Finn Lambert

T: Deborah Cole

Has a good strike-rate over fences (6-15), latest win at Uttoxeter (2m4f, soft) nearly a year ago; not at his best late last year on last two starts; now only 1lb above that win and Finn Lambert's claim will help, but needs to bounce back after his break.

16/1

9

3rd Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 88y

Class 4

12:15 Southwell

Imac Wood

11st 7lb

J: Chris Ward

T: Deborah Cole

Already has six chase wins under his belt but he hasn't been quite on song since the latest of them, at Uttoxeter (2m4f, soft) in July; will do well to add to his haul in this race.

14/1

5/2

Form: 2321 D

Last run: 33 days

W: 11st 9lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Travelled well for a long way when second of 18 on hurdling debut at Wincanton (1m7f, good to soft) where a penultimate-flight jumping error may have cost him the win; narrowly went one better when 5-6 at Plumpton (2m, good to soft) later in January, having to battle, and brings potential to this handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

(1)

12th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

13:52 Goodwood

Poncho

11st 3lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Minor honours in his last four AW races (1m5f/2m) but well beaten in his only two turf starts this term and absent since June; he has won twice but is not straightforward and does not look the percentage call; yard runs four.

12/1

10

(7)

13th Jun 2025

Good

1m 6f 0y

Class 4

18:40 Goodwood

Poncho

9st 1lb

J: Darragh Keenan

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Strong traveller who's far from easy and has hung both ways (normally to the left); arrives in good form for a yard among the winners, though, and is on a mark off which he can win when things fall right.

7/1

2

(2)

5th Jun 2025

Standard

1m 7f 169y

Class 5

14:20 Lingfield (AW)

Poncho

9st 9lb

J: Rhys Clutterbuck

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Hurdle winner who got off the mark on the Flat over C&D in December; couple of creditable thirds here since then but he flopped at Ascot (last of eight) last month and needs to bounce back after that 13l defeat; stablemate of Donald Llewellyn.

5/1

Form: P-8B32

Last run: 25 days

W: 10st 2lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
18-race maiden; tongue tied on last three starts, plus cheekpieces latest; second of eight off this reduced mark at Market Rasen last time and had better form last season, but this 10yo is not the percentage call.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

7

6th Feb 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 139y

Class 5

13:35 Market Rasen

Captain Jack

11st 9lb

J: Toby Wynne

T: James Evans

held up in rear

4/1

2nd

6

26th Dec 2023

Good To Soft

2m 4f 139y

Class 5

14:22 Market Rasen

Captain Jack

11st 3lb

J: Toby Wynne

T: James Evans

18-race maiden; some fair form, including last time when third over 2m2f here (good); back after a break on this stable debut with no headgear (has been tried in cheekpieces and a tongue-tie); probably best watched.

8/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £14.10
Straight Forecast £13.08
Trifecta £55.80

Selections

POSTDATA:

Poncho

TOPSPEED:

Fame And Fun

SPOTLIGHT:

Forget The Way

RP Ratings:

Captain Jack

Telegraph:

Poncho

Daily Mail:

Poncho

Daily Mirror:

Poncho

The Sun:

Poncho

Daily Record:

Poncho

The Star:

Forget The Way

WEST COUNTRY:

Fame And Fun

The Times:

Fame And Fun

The Guardian:

Fame And Fun

D Express:

Fame And Fun