March 08 / 15.10 Fontwell

15.10

Good

Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £8660.84
  • 2m 3f 49y
  • Class 3
  • 9 runners
SKY
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Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

15/2 (Won)

  • Win: £5.50
  • Place: £2.80

Form: 8P7413 D

Last run: 29 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Took advantage of a reduced mark when winning at Huntingdon (2m3f, good to soft) in January and he ran respectably back in a novice at Market Rasen last month; still looks feasibly treated and he has possibilities back in a handicap for in-form yard.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

19th Apr 2025

Good

2m 7f 129y

Class 4

16:14 Huntingdon

Pearly Island

11st 5lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Lucy Wadham

held up in last

9/2

1st

3

19th Apr 2025

Good

2m 7f 129y

Class 4

16:14 Huntingdon

Pearly Island

11st 5lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Lucy Wadham

held up in last

9/2

4th

3

1st Apr 2025

Good

2m 4f 1y

Class 3

16:20 Fakenham

Pearly Island

11st 6lb

J: Joshua Parker

T: Lucy Wadham

in touch with leaders, lost ground and detached before 4 out, weakening when mistake 2 out

12/1

OUR TIP

5/1

  • Place: £1.40

Form: 57-432 C BF

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Won two juvenile hurdles last winter and he's made the frame in three handicaps this season, most recently a clear second of six at Plumpton (2m4f, good) last month; still unexposed at this trip and he's open to more progress.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

6th Apr 2026

Good

2m 0f 219y

Class 2

14:35 Plumpton

Kotmask

10st 7lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

His jumping has been an issue this season and he was soundly beaten at Newbury last time; however, two starts ago he was a close second of four there (2m, good to soft) and he has a good record at this track; might not be far away if finding some fluency.

4/1

3rd

2

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 92y

Class 3

16:10 Newbury

Kotmask

11st 12lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Almost as good as ever this season and he kept on well when 1l second of four over C&D (good to soft) three weeks ago; a repeat of that form would see him go close, with a tongue-strap added for the first time in Britain, but a losing sequence is developing and he tends to make mistakes.

7/4

2nd

1

27th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 92y

Class 3

16:08 Newbury

Kotmask

12st 0lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Resurgent in first-time blinkers when second to an improver at Sandown in January (good; fine on soft) and fell midrace back there last time; it's surprising to see cheekpieces back on (beaten 10l in December when tried in them once before) but he has a big effort in him off this mark.

8/1

Form: 322235

Last run: 66 days

W: 11st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Came good with a 28-1 win in an Ascot handicap (1m7f, good; off 11lb lower) last March; several creditable efforts at up to 2m4f since but he looks weighted near his best and he flopped when back on the Flat at Kempton (5-2 favourite) last month; others are more persuasive.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

30th Mar 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

16:10 Warwick

Krypton Gold

11st 8lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Stuart Edmunds

Just a respectable third in tactical race at Fontwell (2m3f, soft) this month but today's forecast better ground ought to be in his favour and he's now back on the same mark as when second in good-quality 4yo handicap at Chepstow (2m, good) in the autumn; might be the answer.

9/4

3rd

4

8th Mar 2023

Good

2m 3f 49y

Class 3

15:10 Fontwell

Krypton Gold

11st 8lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Stuart Edmunds

towards rear

10/1

11th

7

(12)

1st Feb 2023

Standard To Slow

1m 3f 219y

Class 6

20:30 Kempton (AW)

Krypton Gold

9st 7lb

J: Mollie Phillips

T: Stuart Edmunds

Modest maiden on the Flat when trained in Ireland but he has since developed into a fair hurdler and returns to this discipline at a realistic level; one to take seriously.

5/2

Form: 5-3213 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Recorded his fourth hurdle win when scoring at Wetherby (2m3f, good to soft) last month and he was a good staying-on third in a Class 2 event over same C&D (good) three weeks ago; looks a key player on this drop back in grade and he won't mind what the weather does.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

28th Jun 2026

Good

2m 6f 31y

Class 4

15:02 Cartmel

Pyramid Place

11st 4lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Tristan Davidson

Useful hurdler in his prime but out of form for a good while now, including on this month's two runs (latest a rare Flat run) for new stable; it's therefore hard to see him adding to the trainer's recent winners; Divilabother looks a much better chance for the yard but Harry Reed (who rides most of their British runners) is on this one.

12/1

10th

12

(10)

15th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

1m 6f 32y

Class 5

15:20 Carlisle

Pyramid Place

8st 10lb

J: Rowan Scott

T: Tristan Davidson

Useful hurdler in his prime but has been out of form over jumps for a good while now, including when last of six on recent stable debut; this will be his first Flat run since a heavy defeat in summer 2023.

14/1

6th

3

6th Jun 2026

Good

2m 0f 48y

Class 4

18:43 Hexham

Pyramid Place

11st 12lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Tristan Davidson

9-39 hurdles, but no win since quickening clear in a four-runner Class 2 at Kempton (2m5f, good; from 19lb higher) in November 2024; pulled up over fences (bled from nose) on final start for Harriet Dickin nearly four months ago; best watched on stable debut (£6,000 purchase).

20/1

Form: 76P341 D

Last run: 8 days

W: 10st 13lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
No win in his first 21 starts under both codes but he got off the mark with an stylish success in a Catterick handicap (2m3f, good; third-time hood) last Wednesday; has a penalty but he forged clear to justify favouritism last time and is a big player again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13

9th May 2024

Good

2m 3f 137y

Class 4

13:50 Huntingdon

Lifetime Legend

10st 6lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: Neil King

in touch with leaders

20/1

13

9th May 2024

Good

2m 3f 137y

Class 4

13:50 Huntingdon

Lifetime Legend

10st 6lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: Neil King

in touch with leaders

20/1

Form: 31U403 D

Last run: 54 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Narrow winner off 1lb lower at Warwick (2m3f, good) on his return in October but he's been generally disappointing since and was a remote third of five on his chase debut at Huntingdon in January; left Philip Hobbs since and he needs a major revival back over hurdles for new yard.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

7

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 0y

Class 4

13:48 Carlisle

Guernesey

10st 4lb

J: Joshua Thompson

T: Jackie Stephen

Has won just two of his 41 races over hurdles but nearly made it three when beaten a neck by Adveram (2lb worse off) at Hexham in December (2m7f, heavy); hasn't done as well since and was a long way behind Ballin Bay last time.

20/1

5th

6

19th Feb 2026

3m 3f 9y

Class 4

14:33 Sedgefield

Guernesey

10st 11lb

J: Joshua Thompson

T: Jackie Stephen

Consistent sort; hasn't won since October 2022, but has run creditably on last three starts and has an each-way chance.

9/1

Form: 11P-9 BF

Last run: 108 days

W: 12st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Impressive in winning his first two hurdles (2m on soft and good to soft) towards the end of 2021 but he's struggled as favourite in both subsequent runs; the first was in a Chepstow Grade 1 but he finished ninth of 11 when switched to a handicap at Exeter on his comeback in November; retains significant potential but he has questions to answer after another break.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

1

8th Mar 2023

Good

2m 3f 49y

Class 3

15:10 Fontwell

Forever Blessed

12st 0lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Harry Fry

disputed lead, good jump and led clearly 4th

11/2

9th

3

20th Nov 2022

Soft

2m 2f 111y

Class 3

15:35 Exeter

Forever Blessed

11st 11lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Harry Fry

Unchallenged in winning his first two hurdles (2m on soft and good to soft) and something went amiss when a beaten favourite in a Chepstow Grade 1 when last seen in December; retains significant potential and could easily be well handicapped.

3/1

Form: 3/1-4P D

Last run: 72 days

W: 11st 5lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Bumper/hurdle winner who scored on his chase debut at Ludlow (2m4f, good) in October 2021 but he's had only two runs since and was pulled up at Wincanton when last seen in December; bit to prove but he's now 5lb lower than for last win and needs checking in the market back over hurdles.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

7th Jul 2023

Good

2m 5f 122y

Class 4

16:25 Newton Abbot

Runswick Bay

11st 9lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Emma Lavelle

Runner-up at Fontwell in April but not so good since, especially when beaten 40l at Market Rasen last month, after wind surgery; needs better.

12/1

6th

11

9th Jun 2023

Good

2m 4f 139y

Class 2

14:50 Market Rasen

Runswick Bay

10st 2lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Emma Lavelle

Second to Mullinaree at Fontwell in April (closely matched on these terms), on his return to hurdling, but well held next time; wind surgery since; others appear to have more compelling claims.

16/1

9th

7

1st May 2023

Good

2m 5f 0y

Class 4

16:15 Kempton

Runswick Bay

11st 8lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Emma Lavelle

disputed lead, not fluent 1st, prominent after 2nd

16/1

Form: 453-15 C

Last run: 57 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Had to work to justify favouritism in a novice here (2m1f, good) in November but he couldn't make an impact when fifth of 13 at Doncaster (2m3f, good to soft) in January; that was only his first handicap and has had wind surgery since but he needs to kick on again after another break.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

8th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 135y

Class 4

15:40 Fontwell

Maclaine

12st 2lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Richard J Bandey

Now only 1lb higher than for emphatic win at Newbury (2m6f, good to soft) in March 2024 but absent since a lesser effort the following October and entitled to benefit from this outing.

6/1

8

22nd Oct 2024

Good To Soft

3m 0f 54y

Class 3

16:28 Exeter

Maclaine

11st 6lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Richard J Bandey

Did not jump well enough when disappointing favourite at Ayr on final start last season but came good over fences with ready win at Newbury (2m6f, good to soft) in March and still has plenty of scope to progress from that performance.

4/1

7th

12

20th Apr 2024

Soft

3m 0f 20y

Class 2

13:50 Ayr

Maclaine

10st 5lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Richard J Bandey

On a career-high mark after going up 8lb for winning at Newbury (2m6f, good to soft) but impressed with how he jumped and travelled that day (won easily); that was also a new trip for him, offering plenty of encouragement for this far.

8/1

Non-runners

Runswick Bay, Maclaine

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £17.90
Straight Forecast £16.18
Tricast £179.78
Trifecta £200.60

Selections

RP Ratings:

Kotmask

SPOTLIGHT:

Lifetime Legend

TOPSPEED:

Pearly Island

LAMBOURN:

Maclaine

WEST COUNTRY:

Forever Blessed

Daily Mirror:

Pyramid Place

The Times:

Kotmask

Daily Mail:

Kotmask

The Sun:

Kotmask

Daily Record:

Kotmask

POSTDATA:

Pearly Island

Telegraph:

Lifetime Legend

The Guardian:

Lifetime Legend

D Express:

Lifetime Legend

The Star:

Lifetime Legend