May 12 / 15.25 Market Rasen

15.25

Good

Victor Lucas Memorial Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £10562
  • 2m 7f 16y
  • Class 3
  • 9 runners
RTV
View Course
Victor Lucas Memorial Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

15/2 (Won)

  • Win: £6.00
  • Place: £2.00

Form: 317P2- CD

Last run: 154 days

W: 11st 13lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
C&D winner off 2lb lower in August and proved his wellbeing by returning from a break to win a 2m5f handicap at Pontefract last month; interesting.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

6

8th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 191y

Class 3

15:50 Market Rasen

Giovanni Change

10st 7lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Mark Walford

Six-time course winner; not the force of old and has become inconsistent but looked in good nick when scoring at Wetherby (3m, good) in March, and last month's C&D third was perfectly respectable.

5/1

3rd

6

14th Apr 2026

Good

2m 7f 191y

Class 4

13:35 Market Rasen

Giovanni Change

11st 4lb

J: Mr Paddy Barlow

T: Mark Walford

Inconsistent in recent years and no longer the force of old but kept on well to score at Wetherby (3m, good) last month, and this six-time course winner is sure to be suited by the return to this track.

2/1

1st

2

27th Mar 2026

Good

3m 0f 45y

Class 4

14:50 Wetherby

Giovanni Change

11st 11lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Mark Walford

Veteran who was a close second in this contest last year but is by no means certain to go one better, having gained all six jumps wins at Market Rasen; inconsistent results since last success.

10/1

OUR TIP

4/1

  • Place: £1.50

Form: 112-

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 5lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 127

Form & Verdict
Progressive since hood went on; won two mares' novices at around 2m in February/March and close second in 2m4f mares' Listed novice at Cheltenham last time; first run at 3m.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

3

(10)

10th Oct 2024

Soft

2m 1f 24y

Class 6

13:25 Bath

Zestful

10st 0lb

J: Jack Doughty

T: Martin Keighley

Dual hurdle winner; only 6l away last time at Pontefract (2m1f, good to firm) on ground that would have been on the lively side for her; can see her going well.

15/2

5th

6

(2)

19th Sep 2024

Good

2m 1f 27y

Class 5

16:05 Pontefract

Zestful

9st 11lb

J: Dougie Costello

T: Martin Keighley

took keen hold, midfield, headway after 8f, outpaced over 2f out, kept on

10/1

11th

8

(9)

19th Aug 2024

Good

1m 4f 13y

Class 5

14:15 Catterick

Zestful

10st 13lb

J: Mr Freddie Keighley

T: Martin Keighley

midfield, outpaced then weakened over 3f out

12/1

9/1

  • Place: £2.10

Form: /1343-

Last run: 29 days

W: 12st 1lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 126

Form & Verdict
Yet to finish out of the frame; creditable third to one completing a hat-trick on first run over 3m at Taunton last time; has won on good/soft; a possible.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

9

1st Feb 2025

Soft

2m 3f 154y

Class 3

14:43 Wetherby

Sayadam

11st 5lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Mel Rowley

in touch with leaders

14/1

11th

9

1st Feb 2025

Soft

2m 3f 154y

Class 3

14:43 Wetherby

Sayadam

11st 5lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Mel Rowley

in touch with leaders

14/1

3rd

1

12th May 2023

Good

2m 7f 16y

Class 3

15:25 Market Rasen

Sayadam

12st 1lb

J: David Bass

T: Kim Bailey

Yet to finish out of the frame; creditable third to one completing a hat-trick on first run over 3m at Taunton last time; has won on good/soft; a possible.

9/1

Form: 8F416- BF

Last run: 48 days

W: 11st 6lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Ex-French; won handicap off 6lb lower at Carlisle in February (2m3f, good to soft) but well beaten last time; may improve now tried over 3m.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

6

15th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

4m 2f 8y

Class 1

15:00 Uttoxeter

Tanganyika

11st 5lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Up in class and up in trip (by some way) having never gone beyond an extended 3m; however, he's got low mileage as a chaser and won eased down last time at Carlisle (good to soft); handicapper saw fit to raise him 9lb for that but if his stamina reserves can stretch this far then he might not be far away.

8/1

1st

4

17th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 110y

Class 3

14:50 Carlisle

Tanganyika

11st 9lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Four-time hurdle winner (heavy/good to soft; including here) who scored at Market Rasen (3m, good to soft) a fortnight ago on his third chase start; led close home having been outpaced and today's stiffer test should be right up his street; firmly in calculations up 4lb.

3/1

1st

1

4th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 191y

Class 4

15:45 Market Rasen

Tanganyika

12st 1lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

prominent, outpaced before 3 out, ridden and rallied after 2 out, good jump last, led final 110yds, kept on well

7/2

Form: 15P33-

Last run: 33 days

W: 10st 9lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Only win was off 1lb lower at Plumpton in September (2m4f, good to soft); some fair efforts since then, including when a close third in a 3m novice handicap chase (good) at Kempton; cheekpieces back on (tried visored last time).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13th

14

16th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 179y

Class 4

14:35 Wincanton

Baddesley

10st 11lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Chris Gordon

towards rear

20/1

13th

14

16th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 179y

Class 4

14:35 Wincanton

Baddesley

10st 11lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Chris Gordon

towards rear

20/1

Form: 02321- D

Last run: 25 days

W: 10st 13lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Off the mark when stepped up to 2m6f at Kelso last time; could progress again on first run at 3m despite 6lb higher mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

1st Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 133y

Class 3

16:39 Kelso

Hashtag Boum

11st 3lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Ruth Jefferson

Her first three chase starts yielded wins at Sedgefield (2m5f, good to soft) and Ayr (2m4f, soft); only third of four at Ayr (2m4f, soft) since but that may not be the limit of her ability; won here over hurdles and she's not ruled out.

6/1

3rd

3

21st Jan 2025

Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 3

15:05 Ayr

Hashtag Boum

10st 5lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Ruth Jefferson

Progressive over fences; won on Sedgefield debut (2m5f, good to soft) before career-best when scoring over C&D earlier this month (soft); runs off 7lb higher today; contender.

11/8

3rd

3

21st Jan 2025

Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 3

15:05 Ayr

Hashtag Boum

10st 5lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Ruth Jefferson

Progressive over fences; won on Sedgefield debut (2m5f, good to soft) before career-best when scoring over C&D earlier this month (soft); runs off 7lb higher today; contender.

11/8

Form: 8934-1

Last run: 11 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
Won a Warwick maiden hurdle last week on first try at 3m; has a stiffer task with a penalty in a stronger race.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

7

25th Jul 2025

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 4

15:47 Uttoxeter

Exmoor Forest

11st 9lb

J: James Davies

T: Nigel Hawke

Placed in three consecutive chases during the winter (2m7f-3m, good to soft) but this first hurdling start since March 2024 comes after a five-month break, so his fitness must be taken on trust.

12/1

2

18th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 7f 3y

Class 4

15:35 Taunton

Exmoor Forest

11st 10lb

J: James Davies

T: Nigel Hawke

Creditable third over C&D (good to soft) in December, after a wind op, and probably bettered that performance when filling same position at Doncaster (3m, good to soft) last month; remains on a workable mark and seems likely to be right in the thick of things again.

9/2

Form: /1641- CD

Last run: 80 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Two wins last season, the second when beating subsequent winner over C&D in February (good, visor on for second time); headgear retained and a chance despite 5lb rise.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

3

19th May 2026

Good To Firm

3m 1f 10y

Class 3

19:30 Huntingdon

Ballintubber Boy

11st 11lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Gained the last three of his seven hurdle wins over C&D (including 2024 edition of this race); absent since two small-field seconds in October (2m5f/2m7f) but there's a good chance he'll be primed for a big run on this return to Huntingdon.

9/2

1

21st Oct 2025

Good To Firm

2m 7f 25y

Class 3

14:50 Exeter

Ballintubber Boy

12st 0lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Record of 7-17 over hurdles and just missed out on return to this discipline last week at Hereford (2m5f, good; stays this far); only three completed that day but this 8yo should again be seriously involved.

4/5

1

13th Oct 2025

Good

2m 5f 163y

Class 4

16:15 Hereford

Ballintubber Boy

12st 2lb

J: Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Record of 7-16 over hurdles; started off promisingly over fences with two seconds in small fields but disappointing the last twice; on a competitive mark back over hurdles.

6/4

Form: 5441-

Last run: 34 days

W: 11st 1lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Off the mark on first run at around 3m on handicap debut at Haydock last time (good to soft); stiffer task off this 8lb higher mark but is unexposed; chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

15th Apr 2026

Good

3m 4f 97y

Class 3

15:50 Haydock

Some Scope

11st 10lb

J: Rian Corcoran

T: Richard Hobson

Won from the front in first-time visor (kept since) at Doncaster in December; back to form when second at Newbury on latest start, his second run after his second wind operation; has a competitive mark but his inconsistency and going beyond 3m2f both introduce doubts.

5/1

2nd

7

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 91y

Class 3

16:45 Newbury

Some Scope

11st 2lb

J: James Bowen

T: Richard Hobson

Not easy to predict but he's only 2lb higher than when making all at Doncaster (3m, good) just after Christmas, and he probably went off too fast when beaten 33l there (3m2f, soft) three weeks ago; not discounted.

11/2

2nd

10

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 2f 1y

Class 2

14:30 Doncaster

Some Scope

10st 13lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Richard Hobson

Physical issues came to light after disappointing in a cross-country race last time; wore just a tongue-tie then but the visor that worked so well when a 3l winner here the time before now returns, as does Charlie Maggs with his claim; however, he has become hard to predict and underwent further wind surgery only recently.

15/2

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £44.40
Straight Forecast £40.24
Tricast £169.65
Trifecta £269.20

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Some Scope

WEST COUNTRY:

Zestful

Daily Mail:

Giovanni Change

POSTDATA:

Exmoor Forest

RP RATINGS:

Ballintubber Boy

The Sun:

Sayadam

TOPSPEED:

Some Scope

The Times:

Some Scope

Telegraph:

Some Scope

The Guardian:

Some Scope

D Express:

Some Scope

Daily Mirror:

Some Scope

Daily Record:

Zestful

The Star:

Giovanni Change