October 25 / 15.45 Fontwell

15.45

Good To Soft

Boost Your Acca At BetMGM Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £5809.1
  • 2m 3f 49y
  • Class 3
  • 8 runners
SKY
View Course
Boost Your Acca At BetMGM Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Rain

OUR TIP

Form: 1354-2 C BF

Last run: 18 days

W: 12st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
Useful juvenile hurdler last season and won three in a row when returned to the Flat in June/July; clear second to very progressive rival over C&D (good) when back over hurdles this month and will be fine on today's slower ground; major player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

14th May 2026

Good

1m 6f 44y

Class 3

14:40 Salisbury

Mr Freedom

9st 3lb

J: Kieran O’Neill

T: Sheena West

Six-time Flat winner who scored a fifth win on turf when taking Sandown handicap (1m6f, good) off 2lb lower in July 2024; also a multiple winner over hurdles who was on the premises when taking heavy last-flight fall at Plumpton just over one year ago; interesting to see how he goes in the market ahead of this comeback.

13/2

5

20th Apr 2025

Good

2m 4f 114y

Class 3

17:15 Plumpton

Mr Freedom

11st 3lb

J: Marc Goldstein

T: Sheena West

Gained two of his five hurdle wins at this track and was second in Sussex Champion Hurdle here (2m, good) just over a year ago; returned from seven-month break with encouraging third at Bangor (2m3f, good; form working out well) in March and has slipped to a workable mark; can make presence felt.

7/1

5

20th Apr 2025

Good

2m 4f 114y

Class 3

17:15 Plumpton

Mr Freedom

11st 3lb

J: Marc Goldstein

T: Sheena West

Gained two of his five hurdle wins at this track and was second in Sussex Champion Hurdle here (2m, good) just over a year ago; returned from seven-month break with encouraging third at Bangor (2m3f, good; form working out well) in March and has slipped to a workable mark; can make presence felt.

7/1

Abandoned

Form: 7P221- D

Last run: 213 days

W: 11st 13lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Made quiet start to British hurdling career last season but struck form towards end of that campaign, most notably when winning at Exeter (2m2f, good to soft) in March; has fitness to prove after seven-month absence but is open to further progress this term.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

3

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 187y

Class 1

15:45 Newbury

Issam

11st 9lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Tom Symonds

Seemed a non-stayer over 3m on penultimate start; readily justified favouritism at Kempton (2m4f, good to soft) latest, taking chase record to 3-6 and overall strike-rate to 9-25; largely progressive and a useful 3lb is claimed with Callum Pritchard back on board; one to consider.

8/1

1st

3

2nd Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 3

15:07 Kempton

Issam

11st 10lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Tom Symonds

Out of the money over 3m at Ascot last time, seeming a non-stayer; solid record otherwise since switched to fences, winning twice and posting two sound efforts; may have more to offer back down in trip; not ruled out.

9/2

6th

2

17th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 185y

Class 3

13:00 Ascot

Issam

12st 0lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Tom Symonds

Overall strike-rate is 8-23; solid set of form figures (1213) since switch to fences, keeping on for creditable effort at Ascot (2m3f, good to soft) most recently; should be thereabouts provided he stays this new trip.

9/1

Form: 111P

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Had long career on the Flat before starting off over hurdles with three consecutive wins this summer (2m-2m1f); had excuse when pulled up in competitive series final this month (never travelling after mid-race jumping error) and remains one to be interested in.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

8

1st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 171y

Class 4

14:30 Musselburgh

Young Merlin

11st 9lb

J: Benjamin Macey

T: Rebecca Menzies

Has several pieces of placed form (Flat/hurdles) for current yard but his losing sequence is mounting up; not the percentage call in this competitive affair.

16/1

2nd

9

(5)

23rd Oct 2025

Soft

2m 1f 208y

Class 5

15:00 Nottingham

Young Merlin

8st 11lb

J: David Allan

T: Rebecca Menzies

Runner-up on stable debut at Musselburgh (2m, good) in July and he's fine on testing ground; however, this 9yo has failed to threaten on his last two outings and needs something extra today.

12/1

5th

6

(5)

30th Sep 2025

Soft

1m 7f 0y

Class 6

17:05 Ayr

Young Merlin

9st 10lb

J: Kaiya Fraser

T: Rebecca Menzies

Won three Flat races at up to 1m7f when trained in France (including on heavy) and has since won three times over hurdles for Amy Murphy; good second on stable debut at Musselburgh in July (2m, good) but lesser run last time (2m1f, good to soft); each-way chance.

11/2

Form: 41315- CD

Last run: 214 days

W: 11st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Not very consistent last season but won twice after the turn of the year, latterly over C&D on soft ground; not yet fully exposed and has possibilities if fully revved up after seven-month break.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

19th Apr 2025

Good

2m 7f 129y

Class 4

16:14 Huntingdon

Pearly Island

11st 5lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Lucy Wadham

held up in last

9/2

1st

3

19th Apr 2025

Good

2m 7f 129y

Class 4

16:14 Huntingdon

Pearly Island

11st 5lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Lucy Wadham

held up in last

9/2

4th

3

1st Apr 2025

Good

2m 4f 1y

Class 3

16:20 Fakenham

Pearly Island

11st 6lb

J: Joshua Parker

T: Lucy Wadham

in touch with leaders, lost ground and detached before 4 out, weakening when mistake 2 out

12/1

Abandoned

Form: 9112-3 C

Last run: 161 days

W: 11st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Revitalised by switch to current stable last season, winning three times (twice here); not seen since slightly disappointing run in May and current mark probably demands a career best, but he's versatile regarding ground.
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: 24117- CD BF

Last run: 179 days

W: 11st 7lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Dual course winner in novice company in the spring (2m1f/2m3f); safely held in valuable novices' handicap at Sandown on final day of last season but in calmer waters today and probably still has potential.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

19th Apr 2026

Good

2m 6f 125y

Class 5

17:25 Stratford

Kansas Du Berlais

11st 10lb

J: Miss Megan Bevan

T: Christopher Mark Clarke

Made the frame (albeit safely held) in two good-quality hunter chases (2m/2m1f) last May and dug deep to beat useful rival in small-field open point at Charing (3m, good to soft; subsequently disqualified) in January; turned over at short odds in latest point but still enters calculations.

11/1

3rd

4

30th May 2025

Good

2m 0f 213y

Class 5

20:45 Stratford

Kansas Du Berlais

11st 12lb

J: Mr Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: Christopher Mark Clarke

Should have stamina to spare as a dual Fontwell winner at up to 2m3f; fared okay deep into this month's Cheltenham stable debut (2m) but still beaten over 15l, and have to hope that run was simply needed.

12/1

3rd

4

30th May 2025

Good

2m 0f 213y

Class 5

20:45 Stratford

Kansas Du Berlais

11st 12lb

J: Mr Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: Christopher Mark Clarke

Should have stamina to spare as a dual Fontwell winner at up to 2m3f; fared okay deep into this month's Cheltenham stable debut (2m) but still beaten over 15l, and have to hope that run was simply needed.

12/1

Form: 2P4P3- C

Last run: 185 days

W: 11st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
0-5 during disappointing campaign over fences last season; switches back to hurdling on a dangerous mark and has a course win on his CV but others in this field have much less to prove; blinkers removed after one use.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

6th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 150y

Class 4

16:50 Wincanton

Whydah Gally

12st 1lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Joe Tizzard

Something to prove regarding current form as he's failed to shine over fences this winter, but he's 1-14 in chases as opposed to 3-10 over hurdles, and perhaps the return to this discipline will trigger a revival.

12/1

6

27th Jan 2025

Soft

3m 1f 152y

Class 4

15:50 Plumpton

Whydah Gally

11st 1lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Joe Tizzard

Capable stayer but has struggled with consistency; finished a 10l fourth at Wincanton (3m1f, good to soft) on Boxing Day, a race in which Vision De Maine was pulled up, but that was a laboured effort; handles most ground and has the ability to get involved but comes with risk.

8/1

6

27th Jan 2025

Soft

3m 1f 152y

Class 4

15:50 Plumpton

Whydah Gally

11st 1lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Joe Tizzard

Capable stayer but has struggled with consistency; finished a 10l fourth at Wincanton (3m1f, good to soft) on Boxing Day, a race in which Vision De Maine was pulled up, but that was a laboured effort; handles most ground and has the ability to get involved but comes with risk.

8/1

Form: 6823-7 D

Last run: 166 days

W: 10st 9lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
1-23 under all codes when trained in France, the win gained in a heavy-ground chase last December; signed off there with a disappointing run in May and not an easy horse to weigh up on today's British debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

14th Apr 2026

Good

3m 2f 105y

Class 5

16:17 Newton Abbot

I Love You Sivola

10st 2lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Helen Nelmes

Has had just the one win, gained in a French chase back in 2022, and there's little in recent hurdle form to suggest he's about to add to that; 6lb out of the handicap.

20/1

9th

17

17th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 25y

Class 5

14:20 Exeter

I Love You Sivola

10st 2lb

J: Charlie Price

T: Helen Nelmes

Gained only win (from 43 starts) in a French chase in 2022 and recent hurdling form does not suggest he's poised to add to his tally.

50/1

5th

11

24th Jun 2025

Good

3m 2f 105y

Class 4

20:27 Newton Abbot

I Love You Sivola

10st 2lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Helen Nelmes

Ended a run of non-completions when finishing fifth of seven over C&D last time (Presenting Yeats behind); although that was an improved effort, it did appear to stretch his stamina; much more required again from out of the weights.

50/1

Verdict

There could still be a lot more to come from dual course winner Kansas Du Berlais, who will find this race much easier than his handicap debut in April, but MR FREEDOM ran well in defeat over C&D this month and might have a fitness edge today. Issam is next on the list.[Chris Wilson]

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Mr Freedom

TOPSPEED:

Monjules

Daily Mail:

Kansas Du Berlais

RP RATINGS:

Issam

POSTDATA:

Young Merlin

D Express:

Kansas Du Berlais

The Times:

Mr Freedom

Telegraph:

Mr Freedom

The Guardian:

Mr Freedom

The Sun:

Mr Freedom

The Star:

Mr Freedom

Daily Record:

Mr Freedom

WEST COUNTRY:

Monjules

Daily Mirror:

Monjules