September 02 / 16.17 Newton Abbot

16.17

Good

Neil Evans Memorial Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £10619.7
  • 2m 5f 122y
  • Class 2
  • 8 runners
SKY
View Course
Neil Evans Memorial Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly sunny

OUR TIP

5/1 (Won)

  • Win: £8.00
  • Place: £2.30

Form: 12P1F-

Last run: 182 days

W: 12st 0lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 138

Form & Verdict
Smart chaser who bagged a Grade 2 novice at Newbury (2m4f, good) in the autumn; not quite as effective over hurdles and has fitness to prove after six-month absence but will be dangerous in this company if fully tuned up.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

1

2nd Dec 2023

Good To Soft

2m 4f 118y

Class 2

13:40 Newbury

Sebastopol

12st 0lb

J: Cameron Iles

T: Tom Lacey

raced wide, in touch with leaders, not fluent 5 out, weakened then not fluent 3 out, tailed off

16/1

3rd

1

20th Sep 2023

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 2

17:50 Kelso

Sebastopol

12st 0lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Tom Lacey

in touch with leaders on inner

11/8

1st

1

2nd Sep 2023

Good

2m 5f 122y

Class 2

16:17 Newton Abbot

Sebastopol

12st 0lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Tom Lacey

prominent, went second after 7th, led before 2 out, drifted left after 2 out, clear when not fluent last, comfortably

5/1

8/1

  • Place: £2.00

Form: R0-305 CD

Last run: 7 days

W: 11st 5lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 129

Form & Verdict
Didn't fire when bidding for third consecutive win in Summer Plate at Market Rasen in July and finished tired when fifth over hurdles at Cartmel (3m1f, soft) a week ago, where he ought to have been suited by the test of stamina; current mark is workable but others appeal more.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

11th Oct 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 131y

Class 2

15:50 Chepstow

Francky Du Berlais

11st 9lb

J: James Bowen

T: Peter & Michael Bowen

Seemingly on the downgrade now but enjoyed the chance to dominate small field from the front at Market Rasen (2m5f, good) a fortnight ago; contests a much deeper race here but recent 4lb rise ought to be manageable and he's evidently in good heart.

11/2

1st

2

28th Sep 2024

Good

2m 5f 89y

Class 3

17:10 Market Rasen

Francky Du Berlais

11st 7lb

J: James Bowen

T: Peter & Michael Bowen

made all, went clear from 1st, reduced lead 3 out, kept on well, unchallenged

4/1

13th

9

24th Aug 2024

Good

2m 4f 180y

17:25 Killarney

Francky Du Berlais

10st 12lb

J: Mr J L Gleeson

T: Peter & Michael Bowen

midfield

11/2

4/1

  • Place: £1.70

Form: 4-5131 D

Last run: 42 days

W: 10st 11lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
Ran poorly on the Flat last month and needs to put that behind him but battled win to land good prize over hurdles at Cartmel (2m6f, heavy; front pair clear) in July; also suited by good ground and current mark is not beyond him; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

21st Feb 2026

Soft

2m 3f 98y

Class 4

14:17 Chepstow

Pyramid Place

11st 13lb

J: James Best

T: Harriet Dickin

Nine-time hurdle winner who was useful in his prime and is versatile regarding ground; out of form since rejoining Harriet Dickin this season, though, and has left it late in the day to launch his chasing career; hood/cheekpieces removed; first-time blinkers tried.

33/1

8th

2

27th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 3f 100y

Class 3

14:02 Chepstow

Pyramid Place

11st 12lb

J: Miss Megan Bevan

T: Harriet Dickin

Nine hurdle wins (various ground), including valuable C&D race in 2023; safely held on both starts since rejoining Harriet Dicken, though, and has much more to prove than some of these; cheekpieces added to usual hood.

33/1

1

26th Oct 2025

Good

3m 0f 149y

Class 3

12:40 Aintree

Pyramid Place

12st 0lb

J: Bradley Harris

T: Harriet Dickin

Nine-time hurdle winner (including here for Harriet Dickin) who is below his last winning mark but struggled in the first half of this year for Olly Murphy; went through the sales ring for £13,500 in May and has plenty to prove, including stamina, on his first start since rejoining this trainer.

25/1

Form: P95-9P

Last run: 44 days

W: 10st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Ex-Irish 7yo; well-beaten outsider in two handicap hurdles (2m/2m4f) for Paul Webber this summer and 4lb out of the weights for today's stable debut but new trainer has very quickly made a name for himself this season.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

1st Nov 2024

Good

3m 0f 45y

Class 3

13:15 Wetherby

Edison Kent

11st 2lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: James Owen

didn't always jump with fluency, held up in last, outpaced before 4 out, rallied 2 out, weakened run-in

50/1

3rd

2

1st Nov 2024

Good

3m 0f 45y

Class 3

13:15 Wetherby

Edison Kent

11st 2lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: James Owen

didn't always jump with fluency, held up in last, outpaced before 4 out, rallied 2 out, weakened run-in

50/1

6th

1

8th Oct 2024

Good

3m 1f 10y

Class 4

16:00 Huntingdon

Edison Kent

12st 0lb

J: Mr Alex Chadwick

T: James Owen

always behind, awkward jump 7th, weakened after 9th, tailed off

25/1

Form: 111-31 CD

Last run: 33 days

W: 11st 6lb

12 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
Sprightly 12yo who won four times last season and added to his tally in similar race to this over C&D (good) at end of July; may not find it easy to swallow latest 6lb rise but ought to give another good account.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

26th Sep 2024

Good

2m 7f 207y

Class 3

15:02 Perth

Caius Marcius

11st 7lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Nicky Richards

led narrowly, not fluent 5th, headed 3 out, weakened before 2 out

8/1

6th

7

28th Jul 2024

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 2

15:25 Uttoxeter

Caius Marcius

11st 4lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Nicky Richards

Admirable veteran with 17 wins to his name, the latest off today's mark at Newton Abbot (2m5f, good) only last summer; may have needed his comeback run and wouldn't put it past him running well.

12/1

Form: 4142-8

Last run: 112 days

W: 10st 13lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
Clearcut winner at Kempton (2m, good to soft) in the autumn and bettered that performance when very close second in Sussex Champion Hurdle at Plumpton (2m, good) in April; only 1lb above that mark here but was below form on the Flat last time and has stamina to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

9

13th Oct 2023

Good

2m 0f 11y

Class 3

16:33 Chepstow

Get Back Get Back

11st 4lb

J: Ben Bromley

T: Harry Fry

Nearly won the Sussex Champion Hurdle earlier this year and another good run at Plumpton 19 days ago (2m, good); does seem to like tight tracks and dry ground, so this might not play to his strengths.

10/1

3rd

1

24th Sep 2023

Good To Soft

1m 7f 195y

Class 3

15:45 Plumpton

Get Back Get Back

12st 0lb

J: Ben Bromley

T: Harry Fry

Won this three years ago; two standout efforts last season were his Kempton success and a near-miss in the Sussex Champion Hurdle back here (same mark); 2m5f was too far when disappointing at Newton Abbot 22 days ago; chance.

7/1

6th

5

2nd Sep 2023

Good

2m 5f 122y

Class 2

16:17 Newton Abbot

Get Back Get Back

10st 13lb

J: Ben Bromley

T: Harry Fry

Clearcut winner at Kempton (2m, good to soft) in the autumn and bettered that performance when very close second in Sussex Champion Hurdle at Plumpton (2m, good) in April; only 1lb above that mark here but was below form on the Flat last time and has stamina to prove.

8/1

Form: 9U4/11 CD

Last run: 33 days

W: 10st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Fair Flat racer; unplaced all four hurdling starts in 2020-21 season but returned to this code with two 11l novice wins over C&D (good) this summer; has a lot more on his plate in this good-quality handicap but still needs to be taken very seriously.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

6th Sep 2025

Good To Firm

2m 6f 125y

Class 5

17:55 Stratford

Songo

12st 0lb

J: Robert Dunne

T: Richard Hawker

Ran fairly well when fourth on last two hurdling starts at Newton Abbot (2m2f, good) but it's over two years since his last win in that sphere and this Flat-bred 9yo has left it late in the day to begin his chasing career.

16/1

1

21st Aug 2025

Good

2m 2f 110y

Class 5

14:45 Newton Abbot

Songo

12st 0lb

J: Robert Dunne

T: Richard Hawker

Dual 2m5f hurdle winner here in summer 2023 but has largely struggled since; however, he took a good step forward with a tongue-tie added when fourth over C&D last month dropped to this level; well treated on best form and has possibilities, especially if recent wind surgery has a positive effect.

11/1

1

14th Jul 2025

Good

2m 2f 110y

Class 5

15:50 Newton Abbot

Songo

12st 0lb

J: Robert Dunne

T: Richard Hawker

Yet to add to his two 2m5f novice hurdle wins here in summer 2023 and returned from a break with two very disappointing runs last month; needs first-time tongue-tie to make a big difference.

40/1

Form: 11-228

Last run: 42 days

W: 11st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
Dual hunter chase winner in the spring and a good second in Market Rasen handicap chase (2m5f, good) on stable debut in June; safely held in Summer Plate in July and not seen over hurdles since 2021 (when trained in France) but not ruled out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

5

22nd Apr 2026

Good

2m 7f 171y

Class 4

17:05 Ludlow

Fix At All

11st 12lb

J: Mr T Walsh

T: Callum Bickers-Price

Back to form with some respectable efforts this spring but his second at Kempton (2m4f, good) was in a match and he was well held when third here last time; record for current yard is now 0-7 and he looks vulnerable again back up in trip.

13/2

3rd

3

30th Mar 2026

Good

2m 4f 11y

Class 4

16:57 Ludlow

Fix At All

11st 12lb

J: Mr T Walsh

T: Callum Bickers-Price

Won this in 2023; somewhat resurgent at Catterick this month but in a weaker race than this and he was beaten fair and square in a match at Kempton last week.

7/1

2nd

2

23rd Mar 2026

Good

2m 4f 110y

Class 5

17:15 Kempton

Fix At All

12st 2lb

J: Mr B T Stone

T: Callum Bickers-Price

Unconvincing record for current yard; somewhat resurgent at Catterick last time but that effort is well short of his fairly useful best form.

13/2

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £44.00
Straight Forecast £51.30
Tricast £227.48
Trifecta £287.10

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Songo

RP RATINGS:

Pyramid Place

TOPSPEED:

Caius Marcius

The Times:

Sebastopol

WEST COUNTRY:

Get Back Get Back

Daily Mail:

Songo

D Express:

Songo

The Star:

Songo

POSTDATA:

Pyramid Place

Daily Mirror:

Pyramid Place

Daily Record:

Pyramid Place

Telegraph:

Sebastopol

The Guardian:

Caius Marcius

The Sun:

Caius Marcius