March 26 / 15.10 Carlisle

15.10

Heavy

Bells Fishmongers Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £4752.9
  • 3m 1f 0y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
RTV
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Bells Fishmongers Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

10/1 (Won)

  • Win: £10.20
  • Place: £2.30

Form: 5F1796

Last run: 16 days

W: 10st 3lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Down the field the last twice (2m4f, good to soft/good) but she's now 3lb lower than when winning a four-runner mares' handicap at Perth (3m, soft) last September and the return to testing ground may suit; not ruled out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

6

4th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 3f 9y

Class 5

15:52 Sedgefield

Topkapi Star

11st 2lb

J: Peter Kavanagh

T: Ewan Whillans

Course winner who scored easily at Ayr (2m5f, soft) last January and is now 1lb lower; however, she's been unable to match that level of form in the meantime and needs to raise her game this afternoon.

16/1

4th

7

18th Nov 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 100y

Class 5

12:55 Kelso

Topkapi Star

11st 1lb

J: Peter Kavanagh

T: Ewan Whillans

5-45; wide-margin winner at Ayr (2m5f, soft; first-time cheekpieces) in January; moderate since, pulling up at Perth (2m4f, soft) on recent return from four-month break; easing mark but with clear risks attached.

10/1

8

21st Oct 2025

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 4

16:40 Perth

Topkapi Star

10st 6lb

J: Peter Kavanagh

T: Ewan Whillans

Wide-margin winner in first-time cheekpieces at Ayr (2m5f, soft) in January but yet to build on that success; just a respectable third of five on latest outing at Hexham (2m7f, good to soft) in June; others preferred.

16/1

9/2

  • Place: £1.70

Form: 5-7463

Last run: 40 days

W: 11st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Ran his best race of the season when third at Ayr (3m, good to soft) last month and that race has worked out really well; has shown promise on soft/heavy ground and he's a contender if repeating that latest form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

8

2nd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 133y

Class 5

15:40 Kelso

Nights In Venice

11st 1lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Donald Whillans

Capitalised on a career-low mark to win at Ayr (3m, soft) four weeks ago; he's also effective on good to soft ground and a 4lb rise won't necessarily beat him, but he's inconsistent and has a good record at Ayr, so it's questionable whether he'll produce another good performance today.

9/2

1st

4

6th Mar 2026

Soft

3m 0f 20y

Class 5

16:53 Ayr

Nights In Venice

11st 4lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Donald Whillans

Course winner who comes here in decent nick, though he finished tired when second of seven in 3m2f Kelso handicap chase three weeks ago; he can race off a 2lb lower mark here so must still enter calculations.

3/1

OUR TIP

6/4

  • Place: £1.20

Form: 562512 D BF

Last run: 10 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Off the mark at Wetherby (3m, soft) in January and neck second of 15 at Hexham (2m7f, heavy) ten days ago, when appearing to idle after hitting the front; has a progressive profile and holds strong claims once more.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

30th Jan 2026

Soft

3m 1f 71y

Class 4

15:48 Catterick

Piaff Bubbles

11st 8lb

J: Nathan Moscrop

T: Rebecca Menzies

Well treated on last season's best efforts but this 10yo hasn't been at the top of his game on his last two starts and hopes are pinned on the change of headgear giving him a boost.

12/1

4th

3

11th Feb 2025

Soft

3m 0f 70y

Class 4

15:45 Ayr

Piaff Bubbles

11st 11lb

J: Nathan Moscrop

T: Rebecca Menzies

Won a Wetherby novice handicap in January 2023 (3m, soft); some fair runs since, including when fourth at Catterick last time (3m1f, soft; cheekpieces tried); tongue-tie now, as well as a hood and cheekpieces; a possible.

13/2

4th

3

11th Feb 2025

Soft

3m 0f 70y

Class 4

15:45 Ayr

Piaff Bubbles

11st 11lb

J: Nathan Moscrop

T: Rebecca Menzies

Won a Wetherby novice handicap in January 2023 (3m, soft); some fair runs since, including when fourth at Catterick last time (3m1f, soft; cheekpieces tried); tongue-tie now, as well as a hood and cheekpieces; a possible.

13/2

Form: 896014 BF

Last run: 16 days

W: 10st 11lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 91

Form & Verdict
Improved to win in first-time cheekpieces (retained since) at Kelso (2m6f, good) last month and fair fourth at Ayr (3m, good) since off this 6lb higher mark; has shown some promise on testing ground; may not be far away.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

16th Aug 2025

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 5

18:38 Perth

Shantou Moon

11st 0lb

J: Peter Kavanagh

T: William Young Jnr

0-14 in points and 2-29 under rules, with chase record 0-6; very opposable on what he's been showing of late in handicap chases.

33/1

2

25th Jul 2025

Good

3m 2f 13y

Class 5

14:37 Uttoxeter

Shantou Moon

11st 4lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: William Young Jnr

Career record reads 2-42 including 14 starts in points; finished a very long way behind Wheresmemoneygone at Perth (3m, good) last month, but even a huge weights swing makes him hard to fancy; tongue-tie returns.

40/1

3

3rd Jul 2025

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 5

16:20 Perth

Shantou Moon

11st 7lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: William Young Jnr

Second of four in C&D (good) hunter chase in May, but the form isn't anything to go wild about and he was pulled up when back in a handicap at Hexham last month; others look much stronger.

33/1

Form: 33-604

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
Has shown glimpses of ability in light career and he stayed on well for fourth behind an easy winner in a first-time hood (retained) at Market Rasen (2m4f, soft) a fortnight ago; today's test of stamina could be ideal for this brother to 2m7f chase winner Faustinovick and Brian Hughes is booked.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

16th Apr 2025

Good

2m 7f 177y

Class 5

19:15 Ffos Las

Sadlers Bay

12st 0lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Richard J Bandey

0-7 over hurdles and the same over fences but he's been a consistent sort for Tom Gretton, including a big run from out of the handicap in the Sussex National at Plumpton (3m4f, soft) last time; tongue tied on last two outings; needs each-way respect on this debut for new yard.

13/2

5th

2

16th Apr 2025

Good

2m 7f 177y

Class 5

19:15 Ffos Las

Sadlers Bay

12st 0lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Richard J Bandey

0-7 over hurdles and the same over fences but he's been a consistent sort for Tom Gretton, including a big run from out of the handicap in the Sussex National at Plumpton (3m4f, soft) last time; tongue tied on last two outings; needs each-way respect on this debut for new yard.

13/2

3rd

11

10th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

3m 4f 102y

Class 3

15:45 Plumpton

Sadlers Bay

10st 2lb

J: Freddie Mitchell

T: Tom Gretton

midfield, in touch with leaders when not fluent 12th

20/1

Form: P0-3P7

Last run: 27 days

W: 10st 2lb

8 yo Mare

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced 8yo who has displayed some ability and didn't run badly in mid-division at Ayr last month on her second handicap start, but others have more compelling claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

12

29th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 6f 151y

Class 3

12:53 Kelso

Gypseys Secret

10st 2lb

J: Emma Smith-Chaston

T: Sandy Forster

towards rear

33/1

11th

12

29th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 6f 151y

Class 3

12:53 Kelso

Gypseys Secret

10st 2lb

J: Emma Smith-Chaston

T: Sandy Forster

towards rear

33/1

6th

12

8th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 6f 151y

Class 4

13:30 Kelso

Gypseys Secret

10st 5lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Sandy Forster

in rear, not fluent 4th

14/1

Form: 011-7P CD

Last run: 10 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 98

Form & Verdict
Well beaten at Perth last May then absent until pulled up at Hexham recently; a dramatic turnaround is needed just ten days on but he may have needed the run and he was progressive when winning two in a row early last year (including C&D on soft); a tongue-tie goes on and he's not written off.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

19th May 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

19:20 Hexham

Don Brocco

10st 8lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: Gary Rutherford

1-20 over fences and although he finished second here (4m) in March, he has run below that since at Carlisle and back over hurdles at Perth; requires an extreme test to be seen at his best.

33/1

8th

9

22nd Apr 2026

Soft

2m 7f 207y

Class 5

16:40 Perth

Don Brocco

10st 5lb

J: Miss Lucy Brown

T: Gary Rutherford

Both hurdle wins came over 3m/3m1f on soft back in 2022; fair second in a 4m h'cap chase at Hexham last month (soft), but not so good last time.

16/1

5th

5

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 110y

Class 5

15:27 Carlisle

Don Brocco

11st 0lb

J: Edward Austin

T: Gary Rutherford

Belied 40-1 odds when keeping-on second (no threat to winner) at Hexham (4m, soft) last month and is also well suited by this track but is far too inconsistent to rely upon and would appeal more on soft/heavy ground.

9/1

33/1

Form: 3390-8 C

Last run: 7 days

W: 10st 2lb

14 yo Gelding

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
Three-time heavy-ground course winner who showed some spark here as recently as last February, but this 14yo has struggled on his last three starts and is without a win since 2018; hard to fancy from 9lb out of the handicap.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

8

26th Mar 2023

Heavy

3m 1f 0y

Class 4

15:10 Carlisle

Pistol

10st 2lb

J: Mr John Dixon

T: John Dixon

Three-time heavy-ground course winner who showed some spark here as recently as last February, but this 14yo has struggled on his last three starts and is without a win since 2018; hard to fancy from 9lb out of the handicap.

33/1

8th

12

19th Mar 2023

Soft

2m 1f 0y

Class 5

16:45 Carlisle

Pistol

10st 2lb

J: Mr John Dixon

T: John Dixon

pushed along soon after start, prominent on outer, nudged along 3rd

40/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £51.20
Straight Forecast £45.89
Tricast £101.40
Trifecta £173.70

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Piaff Bubbles

RP Ratings:

Don Brocco

Telegraph:

Don Brocco

POSTDATA:

Piaff Bubbles

The Times:

Piaff Bubbles

D Express:

Piaff Bubbles

Daily Mirror:

Piaff Bubbles

The Sun:

Piaff Bubbles

The Star:

Piaff Bubbles

Daily Record:

Piaff Bubbles