April 04 / 15.30 Fontwell

15.30

Soft

Sky Sports Racing HD Virgin 535 Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £4330.42
  • 2m 1f 162y
  • Class 4
  • 7 runners
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Sky Sports Racing HD Virgin 535 Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Sunny

5/1 (Won)

  • Win: £4.34
  • Place: £2.00

Form: 522144

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 9lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Delivered on earlier promise when winning Uttoxeter maiden (2m, good to soft) in January but has been held in both subsequent handicaps (2m3f/2m); arguably ran better than finishing position suggests when fourth in military riders' race at Sandown (2m, soft) last month but had pretty hard race there and others appeal more here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

1st Aug 2023

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

19:05 Worcester

Astromachia

12st 0lb

J: Luke Scott

T: Dr Richard Newland

Consistent since switched to hurdles late last year, including wins in a 2m maiden and 2m2f Fontwell handicap; latest third at Uttoxeter (2m4f, good) was encouraging; chance.

11/4

3rd

3

2nd Jul 2023

Good

2m 3f 207y

Class 4

16:25 Uttoxeter

Astromachia

11st 11lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Dr Richard Newland

Reliable sort since switched to hurdles late last year, including wins in a 2m maiden and 2m2f Fontwell handicap; close third there (2m3f, good) on latest start and should be seriously involved again.

3/1

4

17th Jun 2023

Good

2m 4f 28y

Class 3

15:10 Hexham

Astromachia

11st 5lb

J: Luke Scott

T: Dr Richard Newland

OUR TIP

15/8

  • Place: £1.10

Form: P-1911 CD

Last run: 17 days

W: 11st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
3-4 since joining Harry Fry, with the last two wins gained over C&D (good/heavy); moves up in grade today but might still be improving and must be considered.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

23rd Feb 2025

Soft

2m 5f 164y

Class 4

15:30 Fontwell

Monjules

11st 5lb

J: Ciaran O’Shea

T: Harry Fry

His form has deteriorated and he was only eighth at Wincanton last month; however, he had shown spark when third at Taunton in November following a break, and he's not ruled out now back at the scene of his last two wins.

12/1

8th

9

16th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 179y

Class 4

14:35 Wincanton

Monjules

11st 5lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Harry Fry

midfield, headway before 3rd

20/1

8th

9

16th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 179y

Class 4

14:35 Wincanton

Monjules

11st 5lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Harry Fry

midfield, headway before 3rd

20/1

Form: 3-3152 C

Last run: 37 days

W: 12st 1lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
Won here (2m3f, good) on hurdling debut in the autumn and bettered that performance when second to progressive stablemate over C&D (good; again jumped right) in February; could easily have more to offer in handicaps.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

3

17th May 2025

Good

2m 3f 207y

Class 5

20:31 Uttoxeter

Red Windsor

11st 7lb

J: Freddie Gordon

T: Chris Gordon

Big chance on his peak 2022-23 efforts win or lose, and laid down a fair marker on return last month (2m3f, good) despite a wide route; no certainty to back that up, but remains on a career-low mark.

4/1

8th

3

17th May 2025

Good

2m 3f 207y

Class 5

20:31 Uttoxeter

Red Windsor

11st 7lb

J: Freddie Gordon

T: Chris Gordon

Big chance on his peak 2022-23 efforts win or lose, and laid down a fair marker on return last month (2m3f, good) despite a wide route; no certainty to back that up, but remains on a career-low mark.

4/1

4th

6

25th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 29y

Class 5

19:47 Fontwell

Red Windsor

11st 8lb

J: Freddie Gordon

T: Chris Gordon

Won a C&D novice (good) in October 2022 but he struggled in a chase and seven hurdle races last year, trying headgear on last three starts; very well handicapped now and if the 130-day break has perked him up he'd be a huge danger; watch the market.

14/1

Form: -22146

Last run: 56 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Awarded Lingfield race (2m, soft) after finishing very close second past the post in November and is now only 1lb above that mark; both runs this year have been perfectly respectable; probably won't be far away.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

31st Jan 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 124y

Class 2

13:43 Musselburgh

Saligo Bay

10st 7lb

J: Jonathan England

T: Sam England

Won three in a row (1m7f/2m, good-soft) prior to heavy defeat at Windsor a fortnight ago; however, the ground was soft, heavy in places last time which may have been too demanding, and he's not written off today.

16/1

11th

12

16th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 2

15:35 Windsor

Saligo Bay

10st 11lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Sam England

Won on the Flat in September and also successful on four of his five hurdle starts since, including on soft ground and in good style at Haydock (1m7f, good to soft) last time; he's 7lb higher than last time and in a hotter race today, but he's clearly thriving and could go well once more.

11/1

10

1st Nov 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

15:30 Wetherby

Saligo Bay

10st 6lb

J: Jonathan England

T: Sam England

Beaten favourite when third to Max Of Stars over C&D 17 days ago but still ran creditably and that followed Flat and hurdles wins in September; tough, reliable and unlikely to be far away.

11/4

Form: -7418P

Last run: 11 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Finished with strong late burst to snatch Lingfield maiden (2m3f, heavy) in December but has struggled in both subsequent handicaps (2m4f/3m) and it takes a leap of faith to support him on this drop back in trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 30y

Class 3

14:15 Bangor-on-Dee

No Tackle

10st 11lb

J: Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: Robbie Llewellyn

Won in a refitted visor at Lingfield (2m6f) in November and runner-up on next three outings, which represents career-best form; still on a fair mark and drying ground won't bother him at all.

9/2

2nd

3

12th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 4f 25y

Class 4

15:50 Leicester

No Tackle

11st 8lb

J: Liam Harrison

T: Robbie Llewellyn

Two-time course winner, the latest here (2m6f, soft) last February, and got back on the scoresheet at Lingfield (2m6f, good) in November; runner-up on both starts since (2m6f, good to soft; here last time); solid candidate.

7/4

Form: 36-214 BF

Last run: 64 days

W: 11st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Built upon promising hurdle debut when digging deep to prevail by a neck at Leicester (1m7f, heavy) in December but was just a respectable fourth when favourite for handicap debut at Hereford (2m, soft) in January and will need to find something extra here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

11

9th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 28y

Class 3

17:42 Hexham

Gardener

10st 6lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Mike Sowersby

Bidding for a C&D hat-trick having won here on last two starts (soft/good); has gone up 9lb but has run well off much higher marks in the past; could go well.

6/1

1st

3

13th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 28y

Class 5

16:30 Hexham

Gardener

11st 12lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Mike Sowersby

Five races for his new trainer and back on track, following three third places with a tenacious C&D win (soft) under Charlie Maggs in 14-runner race 19 days ago; back up 4lb but one to consider seriously.

100/30

1st

4

25th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 28y

Class 5

16:11 Hexham

Gardener

11st 10lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Mike Sowersby

Ended his time with Olly Murphy under a cloud but back on track for his new handler and he posted a solid third of eight in 2m3f handicap at Catterick last month; considered from an easing mark.

9/1

Form: 4-53F4

Last run: 26 days

W: 10st 11lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Unable to make an impact over fences this season (three attempts) but ran well for a long way under positive ride when upped to 3m, fitted with blinkers (retained) and switched back to hurdling at Wincanton (good to soft) last month; got tired and was ultimately well beaten there but today's drop back in trip looks the right move; no surprise if he makes a bold bid.
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

Non-runners

Gardener, Hatos

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £8.20
Straight Forecast £8.35
Trifecta £21.30

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Monjules

POSTDATA:

Red Windsor

RP Ratings:

Gardener

TOPSPEED:

Monjules

WEST COUNTRY:

Monjules

The Times:

Monjules

Telegraph:

Monjules

The Guardian:

Monjules

Daily Mail:

Monjules

D Express:

Monjules

Daily Mirror:

Monjules

The Sun:

Monjules

The Star:

Monjules

Daily Record:

Monjules