March 09 / 14.40 Wincanton

14.40

Good

Wiltshire Bobby Van Trust Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £5281
  • 3m 0f 150y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
RTV
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Wiltshire Bobby Van Trust Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

4/1 (Won)

  • Win: £4.50
  • Place: £2.20

Form: 13-426 C BF

Last run: 78 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Won 1m7f maiden here (soft) last season and looked suited by step up to 3m when close second at Kempton (soft) in November; slightly disappointing after racing a bit too freely at Taunton in December but is a contender here if back on song after 11-week break.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

8

2nd Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 0y

Class 4

15:42 Kempton

Island Run

11st 8lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Both wins at Wincanton, the latest in a 3m handicap in 2023, but he's dropped to a handy mark and the latest run at Newbury (3m, good to soft), his third since returning from an absence, suggested he could be interesting with this lesser stamina test; can figure.

8/1

6th

14

14th Jan 2026

Good

3m 0f 57y

Class 4

14:40 Newbury

Island Run

10st 12lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Gained his only wins at Wincanton in 2022 and 2023; not disgraced when runner-up in Class 5 at Lingfield (2m7f) most recently but looks unlikely to go one better in this stronger contest.

16/1

5/1

  • Place: £2.30

Form: 6623U3

Last run: 13 days

W: 12st 0lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Yet to add to his win in 2018 but was placed on consecutive appearances in December (2m7f/3m) and also ran well when third of seven at Exeter (2m7f, good) a fortnight ago; likely to be on the premises again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

13

22nd Feb 2025

Soft

2m 7f 131y

Class 2

14:32 Chepstow

Ballymagroarty Boy

10st 2lb

J: Lorcan Murtagh

T: Nigel Hawke

Now 3lb lower than for Ffos Las win (3m, heavy) in December 2023 but this season was a major struggle even before he clipped heels and fell early on latest outing; overall score is 2-40, with 32 of those races over hurdles.

33/1

Form: 1-0P02

Last run: 11 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Well beaten in first three handicaps but bounced back to form with clear second at Fontwell (2m5f, good) 11 days ago; 2lb ahead of the handicapper and could have untapped potential over 3m; a player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

31st May 2023

Good

2m 5f 122y

Class 4

16:00 Newton Abbot

Bluffmeifyoucan

11st 11lb

J: Lucy Gardner

T: Sue Gardner

Has a patchy record and he didn't fire at Wincanton (100-30 favourite) in March but that was after a good second at Fontwell (2m5f, good) and he was successful in a novice event last spring; has claims if he can get back near best after a break and he's in the mix.

13/2

3rd

7

9th Mar 2023

Good

3m 0f 150y

Class 4

14:40 Wincanton

Bluffmeifyoucan

11st 2lb

J: Lucy Gardner

T: Sue Gardner

took keen hold, midfield, headway after 3rd

11/4

2nd

8

26th Feb 2023

Good

2m 5f 164y

Class 4

15:00 Fontwell

Bluffmeifyoucan

11st 2lb

J: Lucy Gardner

T: Sue Gardner

Big improvement to win Exeter novice (2m2f, soft) in February on final start last term by 18l; has done little in handicaps this winter, reportedly making a respiratory noise on second occasion; best watched.

50/1

Form: 14-53F

Last run: 37 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Switched to fences for first three handicaps (2m-2m5f) and failed to justify his prominence in the betting in any of them; now switches back to hurdling over a new trip and with first-time blinkers fitted; not written off just yet but needs to get career back on track.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

24th May 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 210y

Class 5

15:10 Fontwell

Hatos

11st 3lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Joe Tizzard

Made the frame on final four starts last season, most recently when third of 12 here (2m3f, good) one month ago; remains on a workable mark but has stamina to prove over this much longer trip.

5/1

3rd

8

24th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 104y

Class 5

19:20 Fontwell

Hatos

11st 3lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Joe Tizzard

All three wins have been on heavy ground; C&D second in January was also on soft but his two placed efforts over 2m4f at Wincanton since came on good to soft and good; ought to be thereabouts again but it is now over two years since his last win.

6/1

3rd

5

1st Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 5

16:20 Wincanton

Hatos

10st 8lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

All three wins have been on heavy ground but he ran well on good to soft over C&D last month when runner-up behind Universal Secret; nudged up 2lb but he usually races prominently and should go well again.

5/1

Form: /2-566 C

Last run: 36 days

W: 11st 12lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced since quick hat-trick on good/good to firm ground in October 2020 and was below form at Exeter last month but is on a good mark now and might be dangerous if the rain stays away.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

23rd Oct 2024

Soft

2m 3f 29y

Class 3

15:40 Fontwell

Oscars Moonshine

12st 1lb

J: Miss Olive Nicholls

T: Georgina Nicholls

raced in second, weakened quickly before 2 out, tailed off

5/2

1st

1

29th Oct 2023

Good To Soft

2m 5f 82y

Class 4

16:04 Wincanton

Oscars Moonshine

12st 9lb

J: Miss Olive Nicholls

T: Paul Nicholls

Completed a 12-day hat-trick in October 2020, culminating in this race; two long layoffs since but he was back to form when scoring under Olive Nicholls over C&D in April and Kempton last Sunday, seemingly helped no end by the introduction of cheekpieces; all five wins on good or good to firm but he also has a good piece of heavy-ground form (2021); did it easily last week, so should go well under his penalty in hat-trick bid.

2/1

1st

4

22nd Oct 2023

Good

2m 5f 0y

Class 4

17:15 Kempton

Oscars Moonshine

11st 11lb

J: Miss Olive Nicholls

T: Paul Nicholls

prominent

9/2

Form: 5447

Last run: 37 days

W: 11st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Travelled well to a point but was ultimately well beaten when upped to 2m7f and fitted with cheekpieces for handicap debut at Lingfield (good to soft) in January; tried in a visor here; improvement required.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

5

22nd May 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

17:32 Worcester

Jet Smart

11st 6lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: D Summersby

C&D winner (good) last summer when 11lb lower and successfully followed up at Uttoxeter (2m4f, good), when 5lb lower; after a successful stint in points, he returned to rules last month equalling his career best when second at Uttoxeter (2m5f, good); up 3lb but likely to remain competitive.

11/2

2nd

9

2nd May 2026

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 4

16:50 Uttoxeter

Jet Smart

11st 2lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: D Summersby

Won twice over fences last summer, including over C&D; won a couple of points last month and looks reasonably treated on this return to fences; not out of this.

7/1

4th

3

17th Oct 2025

Good

3m 0f 10y

Class 4

14:57 Uttoxeter

Jet Smart

11st 8lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: D Summersby

Won two points in May and returned to racing under rules with two 2m4f handicap wins (both on good, one here) in June; not in same form on either outing last month (2m7f/3m) but still considered.

6/1

Form: P33204

Last run: 35 days

W: 11st 2lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Placed in four of five starts since returning from a break in October, most recently when fourth of 17 here (2m4f, good to soft) last month, but is not as good as he was and is yet to convince over 3m; others appeal more.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

26th May 2024

Good

2m 5f 164y

Class 4

15:50 Fontwell

Sermando

11st 6lb

J: Nick Scholfield

T: Alexandra Dunn

Has mainly run well off higher marks since winning at Fakenham (2m4f, good) last summer and his record suggested he would have needed last month's run after 224 days off, but it would still have been preferable had he shown more.

12/1

5

26th May 2024

Good

2m 5f 164y

Class 4

15:50 Fontwell

Sermando

11st 6lb

J: Nick Scholfield

T: Alexandra Dunn

always behind, tailed off when pulled up after 3 out

12/1

5

21st Apr 2024

Good

2m 3f 179y

Class 5

13:22 Wincanton

Sermando

11st 12lb

J: Sgt Nick Oliver

T: Alexandra Dunn

Has mostly run well since joining this yard, with his only blip two runs ago over fences; wasn't far away off this mark at Fontwell (2m3f, good) when last seen in September and hard to rule out.

13/2

OUR TIP

Form: /2U3-P D

Last run: 12 days

W: 11st 11lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Ran big race over fences at Cheltenham (3m1f, good) in November 2011 but seen only twice again since, more recently when pulled up over hurdles on recent seasonal debut; entitled to have benefited from that outing and drops in grade but others have less to prove; sports first-time cheekpieces.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

18th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 198y

Class 5

14:05 Taunton

Pontresina

11st 1lb

J: Nick Scholfield

T: Ben Lund

411 days off before pulled up at 125-1 over fences four weeks ago; also hard to support on 2023 evidence (including twice in cheekpieces) but he was pretty useful before that.

50/1

7

18th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 198y

Class 5

14:05 Taunton

Pontresina

11st 1lb

J: Nick Scholfield

T: Ben Lund

411 days off before pulled up at 125-1 over fences four weeks ago; also hard to support on 2023 evidence (including twice in cheekpieces) but he was pretty useful before that.

50/1

7

21st Dec 2024

Good To Soft

3m 1f 44y

Class 4

13:03 Hereford

Pontresina

11st 2lb

J: Ben Poste

T: Ben Lund

An 11yo returning from 411 days away and wasn't looking the force of old when last seen; too much to prove.

33/1

Non-runners

Pontresina

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £17.80
Straight Forecast £17.86
Tricast £49.28
Trifecta £59.30

Selections

RP Ratings:

Bluffmeifyoucan

TOPSPEED:

Ballymagroarty Boy

SPOTLIGHT:

Island Run

D Express:

Hatos

The Star:

Oscars Moonshine

Daily Mail:

Sermando

WEST COUNTRY:

Island Run

The Times:

Island Run

Telegraph:

Bluffmeifyoucan

The Guardian:

Bluffmeifyoucan

Daily Record:

Bluffmeifyoucan

POSTDATA:

Ballymagroarty Boy

Daily Mirror:

Ballymagroarty Boy