March 08 / 16.40 Fontwell

16.40

Good

Cazoo Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £4330.42
  • 2m 3f 49y
  • Class 5
  • 7 runners
SKY
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Cazoo Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

6/1 (Won)

  • Win: £7.00
  • Place: £2.30

Form: 285232 C BF

Last run: 30 days

W: 12st 1lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Maiden win in March 2021 came at this track and he made his first visit since when good second on latest outing, both 2m2f; he's not proven beyond that (has tried 2m3f-2m4f), now 0-12 in handicaps and hung right in front late on last time, but has to be considered each-way.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

5

19th May 2026

Good To Firm

2m 7f 129y

Class 5

20:30 Huntingdon

Sambezi

11st 12lb

J: Mr Charlie Case

T: Mrs L Pomfret

Fair hurdler in his prime; returned to form when dead-heating with good hunter chaser in two-runner point in March and backed up that performance with very respectable third in Garthorpe open (3m, good; tongue-tie/cheekpieces refitted) last month; one to consider.

14/1

3

15th May 2025

Good

2m 1f 162y

Class 5

18:10 Fontwell

Sambezi

11st 8lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Oliver Signy

Dual course winner, including at this trip (good to soft), but without a win since May 2023; inconsistent this year, a respectable run over C&D (good) in March coming in between two lesser efforts, including when favourite last time; tends to go well here but probably not the percentage call.

6/1

3

15th May 2025

Good

2m 1f 162y

Class 5

18:10 Fontwell

Sambezi

11st 8lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Oliver Signy

Dual course winner, including at this trip (good to soft), but without a win since May 2023; inconsistent this year, a respectable run over C&D (good) in March coming in between two lesser efforts, including when favourite last time; tends to go well here but probably not the percentage call.

6/1

8/1

  • Place: £7.50

Form: 6-793

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 99

Form & Verdict
Left well adrift by an impressive winner in maiden here (2m1f, good) one month ago but that third of eight at 125-1 nevertheless represented huge improvement; two others in the race, but not the winner, have seemingly boosted the form; likely to stay and needs a check on handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

27th May 2026

Good

3m 2f 105y

Class 4

17:30 Newton Abbot

Belgarum

11st 3lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Joe Tizzard

Pulled up in his final two runs last year but he returned after wind surgery with a front-running win at Fontwell (2m3f, good; 22-1) this month; this is a different test but he won over fences here (3m2f) last spring and 3lb rise for that last success looks fair; respected.

4/1

1st

6

14th May 2026

Good

2m 3f 29y

Class 4

18:10 Fontwell

Belgarum

11st 7lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Joe Tizzard

Four-time chase winner who was out of sorts when last seen in the autumn, most recently when pulled up on return to hurdling; had another wind op (his fourth) during 168-day break; needs to get career back on track.

16/1

Form: -P3724 BF

Last run: 29 days

W: 11st 3lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Twice runner-up (once here and also over 2m3f at Hereford on penultimate start) but still no win and he's now 0-12; 10lb claimer is recruited today but other runners in this interesting field have more pressing claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

6th Mar 2026

Soft

1m 7f 201y

Class 5

17:03 Leicester

Calidad

11st 12lb

J: Miss Megan Bevan

T: Christopher Mark Clarke

2023 maiden point winner who has yet to add to that success, though has shown ability over hurdles and fences; pulled up on last month's return from a long absence and although entitled to have come on for the outing, a career best will be needed to figure here.

50/1

8th

4

31st May 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 213y

Class 5

20:40 Stratford

Calidad

11st 12lb

J: Mr Peter Mason

T: Christopher Mark Clarke

Not seen under rules since well beaten in low-grade Lingfield handicap in November and was pulled up in a restricted point last month.

100/1

10th

8

30th Nov 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

15:30 Lingfield

Calidad

10st 9lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Lawney Hill

Made it 0-14 under rules when an early faller at Fakenham last Tuesday; however, he's operating off a much-reduced mark and showed spark when winning a point in April; possible contender.

11/2

Form: /7-051

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 98

Form & Verdict
Beaten at least 38l in all three qualifying runs; left that form well behind him when second favourite for handicap debut in six-runner race at Ffos Las (2m, good to soft) next time, coming from the rear to score by 9l under claimer Joe Anderson; raised 10lb but bred to stay at least this far and could easily have more to offer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

17th Jun 2025

Good

2m 2f 148y

Class 5

14:05 Stratford

Auba Me Yang

11st 1lb

J: Lewis Stones

T: D J Jeffreys

Outran 40-1 odds when second at Uttoxeter (2m4f soft) in December but was generally very disappointing for Emma Lavelle last season; well beaten when 66-1 for stable debut six weeks ago and could be considered only if much stronger in the betting here; tongue-tie added.

25/1

10th

5

6th May 2025

Good

1m 7f 182y

Class 5

17:00 Ffos Las

Auba Me Yang

11st 5lb

J: Jack Hogan

T: D J Jeffreys

towards rear

16/1

10th

5

6th May 2025

Good

1m 7f 182y

Class 5

17:00 Ffos Las

Auba Me Yang

11st 5lb

J: Jack Hogan

T: D J Jeffreys

towards rear

16/1

Form: P33-66

Last run: 16 days

W: 10st 12lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
Dual Flat winner in Ireland in 2017 but 0-12 over hurdles; this season's form isn't good enough but that came after 396 days off (including wind surgery) and he is down the weights.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

7

(1)

4th May 2024

Heavy

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

14:45 Goodwood

Clongowes

8st 7lb

J: Connor Planas

T: Daniel Steele

always behind

66/1

6th

7

(1)

4th May 2024

Heavy

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

14:45 Goodwood

Clongowes

8st 7lb

J: Connor Planas

T: Daniel Steele

Back with his former trainer for this first start on the Flat since October 2021; no win since the summer of 2017 so not hard to oppose.

66/1

OUR TIP

Form: -332U1

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 103

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

6

21st Oct 2024

Good

1m 7f 195y

Class 5

15:25 Plumpton

Sami Bear

11st 9lb

J: Freddie Gordon

T: Chris Gordon

held up in rear, fell 4 out

15/2

3rd

4

22nd Sep 2024

Good

2m 4f 114y

Class 5

16:50 Plumpton

Sami Bear

11st 6lb

J: Freddie Gordon

T: Chris Gordon

Dual hurdle winner (once here); seemingly back in good nick when runner-up at Fontwell (2m3f, good) in June, his second run after a break, but disappointed there last month and needs a boost from the first-time cheekpieces today; probably best suited by good/good to soft ground.

13/2

6th

1

30th Aug 2024

Good

2m 1f 162y

Class 5

15:50 Fontwell

Sami Bear

12st 0lb

J: Freddie Gordon

T: Chris Gordon

Dual hurdle winner who locked back in good nick when runner-up here (2m3f, good) in June, his second run after a break; still on a workable mark after a 2lb nudge; shortlisted.

9/2

Form: 3-7P12 D BF

Last run: 29 days

W: 11st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Pulled up at 20-1 on handicap debut (soft) but he was a well-backed favourite and a different horse when impressive back at Lingfield (2m3f, good to soft) over two months later; close second at Taunton (2m3f, good) one week later; serious contender on those displays and could have more to give.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

12

1st Nov 2025

Good

2m 0f 172y

Class 1

14:05 Ascot

Issar dAiry

10st 2lb

J: Freddie Mitchell

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Favourably treated with Martator on his beating of that rival in late 2023 and, when second to the Williams horse in this last year, he committed a good way from home; didn't really fire back in the spring but he's very able when fresh and worth a second look despite being 2lb wrong; Freddie Mitchell aboard for five of his last six races.

9/1

8th

12

1st Nov 2025

Good

2m 0f 172y

Class 1

14:05 Ascot

Issar dAiry

10st 2lb

J: Freddie Mitchell

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Favourably treated with Martator on his beating of that rival in late 2023 and, when second to the Williams horse in this last year, he committed a good way from home; didn't really fire back in the spring but he's very able when fresh and worth a second look despite being 2lb wrong; Freddie Mitchell aboard for five of his last six races.

9/1

7

26th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 104y

Class 2

14:05 Fontwell

Issar dAiry

11st 3lb

J: Freddie Mitchell

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Non-runners

Sami Bear

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £63.00
Straight Forecast £80.01
Trifecta £195.70

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Sami Bear

Daily Mail:

Issar d'Airy

Telegraph:

Auba Me Yang

WEST COUNTRY:

Belgarum

LAMBOURN:

Sambezi

The Times:

Belgarum

D Express:

Issar d'Airy

The Sun:

Issar d'Airy

Daily Record:

Issar d'Airy

RP Ratings:

Sami Bear

TOPSPEED:

Sami Bear

POSTDATA:

Sami Bear

The Guardian:

Sami Bear

Daily Mirror:

Auba Me Yang

The Star:

Auba Me Yang