October 27 / 16.55 Newbury

16.55

Heavy

Bet In Running At BetVictor “Hands And Heels” Apprentice Handicap (Final) (Excellence Initiative)

  • Prize money: £4527.4
  • 2m 0f 0y
  • Class 5
  • 8 runners
RTV
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Bet In Running At BetVictor “Hands And Heels” Apprentice Handicap (Final) (Excellence Initiative)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

Form: 3456-1 D

Last run: 12 days

W: 10st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 71

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

8

(5)

15th Oct 2023

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

13:50 Goodwood

Baileys Derbyday

11st 6lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: Amy Murphy

prominent, led narrowly 2f out, soon ridden and faced challenge, kept on well inside final furlong

10/1

5th

2

3rd Oct 2023

Good

2m 4f 88y

Class 4

16:40 Southwell

Baileys Derbyday

11st 10lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: Amy Murphy

Fairly useful Flat stayer who opened hurdling account in Worcester maiden (2m, good; first-time hood) in June; safely held when upped to 2m4f for handicap debut there in August, though, and needs subsequent wind op to have made a difference.

20/1

OUR TIP

Abandoned

Form: 198975 D

Last run: 13 days

W: 10st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

4th Jun 2026

Good

1m 7f 168y

Class 5

17:03 Uttoxeter

Justus

11st 2lb

J: Joshua Thompson

T: Micky Hammond

Out of form last season but seemed to have turned a corner when second off much-reduced mark at Hexham (2m, good) 16 days ago; player if in similar mood again here.

9/2

2nd

3

19th May 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 48y

Class 5

20:50 Hexham

Justus

11st 12lb

J: Joshua Thompson

T: Micky Hammond

Took big step back in right direction and arguably ran better than bare form suggests when fifth at Wetherby (2m, good to soft) in March, but was generally very disappointing last season; others have more appealing profiles.

16/1

Form: 6341-8

Last run: 168 days

W: 10st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

7

(6)

22nd May 2026

Good To Soft

2m 1f 27y

Class 4

19:52 Pontefract

Diamand De Vindecy

8st 7lb

J: Ethan Tindall

T: Robert Bevis

Ran away with a 2m2f handicap here last April; not quite so good since, including when well held back on the Flat at Ripon last month.

14/1

5th

3

(1)

25th Apr 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

15:00 Ripon

Diamand De Vindecy

9st 11lb

J: Luke Morris

T: Robert Bevis

Arrives fit from hurdling and some of his best Flat form last year came in April, winning at Pontefract before second over C&D (both good).

7/1

5th

4

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 32y

Class 5

14:45 Bangor-on-Dee

Diamand De Vindecy

11st 5lb

J: Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: Robert Bevis

Nine-race maiden over hurdles but has placed form and he won six on the Flat; made a bright start over fences in January but didn't fancy it at Huntingdon and refused early; the cheekpieces are off but wouldn't be a surprise to see him run well.

8/1

Abandoned

Form: 15572/ D

Last run: 1567 days

W: 9st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 68

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

29th Oct 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 32y

Class 4

12:50 Bangor-on-Dee

Paricolor

11st 11lb

J: Gearoid Harney

T: David Pipe

Without a win since late 2021 and was struggling for form when last seen; needs a major turnaround in another change of headgear.

14/1

5

29th Oct 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 32y

Class 4

12:50 Bangor-on-Dee

Paricolor

11st 11lb

J: Gearoid Harney

T: David Pipe

Without a win since late 2021 and was struggling for form when last seen; needs a major turnaround in another change of headgear.

14/1

5th

2

15th May 2024

Good

2m 7f 191y

Class 4

15:30 Ffos Las

Paricolor

12st 0lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: David Pipe

Has nine hurdle wins on his CV but last success was in December 2021 and he's been pulled up in both runs this spring; mark continues to fall and conditions are no problem but he needs a major turnaround; equipment removed.

10/1

Form: 352984 D

Last run: 23 days

W: 9st 8lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 66

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

(1)

23rd Jun 2026

Good To Firm

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

20:05 Newbury

Russian Rumour

9st 11lb

J: Olivia Tubb

T: Jonathan Portman

Usually consistent, but her modest effort at Goodwood (2m, soft) last time was disappointing given she does handle any ground; needs to bounce back from that.

5/1

4th

6

(1)

7th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

16:10 Goodwood

Russian Rumour

9st 1lb

J: Olivia Tubb

T: Jonathan Portman

10-58 overall for this 9yo, with none of those races at this track; can make the running; won at Ffos Las (2m, heavy) last September (by 12l) and Nottingham (1m6f, good) this May; not far away when third of four at Lingfield 12 days ago in hat-trick bid and has an each-way chance.

9/1

3rd

4

(1)

26th May 2026

Good

1m 6f 0y

Class 4

17:54 Lingfield

Russian Rumour

9st 4lb

J: Donagh Murphy

T: Jonathan Portman

Course winner (2m) who bids a for hat-trick after wins at Ffos Las (2m, heavy) last September (by 12l) and on her Nottingham return under Donagh Murphy (1m6f, good) 17 days ago; only 2lb higher and much respected.

11/8

Abandoned

Form: 432295 CD

Last run: 9 days

W: 9st 3lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 61

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

1

(2)

18th Nov 2023

Standard

1m 7f 169y

Class 6

12:16 Lingfield (AW)

Tin Fandango

10st 0lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Mark Usher

towards rear

7/1

5th

4

(12)

18th Oct 2023

Soft

2m 1f 24y

Class 6

17:45 Bath

Tin Fandango

9st 12lb

J: Oliver Searle

T: Mark Usher

Suited by slow ground and was runner-up over 2m at Chepstow and Newbury in the summer but his form nosedived at Ffos Las last month; has something to prove again after that and he's an infrequent winner.

10/1

Form: 533266 BF

Last run: 11 days

W: 9st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 58

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

(2)

1st Jul 2026

Good

1m 2f 17y

Class 5

17:20 Epsom

Imperial Cult

9st 9lb

J: Jack Callan

T: George Baker

Strong in the market when he made a winning stable debut at Lingfield (1m4f) and he followed up off 3lb higher at Kempton (1m3f, also AW) three weeks ago; handicapper reacted by dishing out a career-high mark but this locally trained gelding is a C&D winner who needs considering in current mood.

9/4

1st

10

(13)

10th Jun 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 2f 219y

Class 6

20:40 Kempton (AW)

Imperial Cult

9st 5lb

J: Neil Callan

T: George Baker

Gained a first win since 2024 when landing gamble for his new yard in 1m4f handicap at Lingfield in April; back up 3lb but remains handily weighted on past form so merits serious consideration.

7/2

Abandoned

Form: 486064 D

Last run: 9 days

W: 8st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 56

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

9

(6)

6th Nov 2024

Soft

1m 6f 0y

Class 6

15:50 Nottingham

Tigerten

9st 4lb

J: Ben Robinson

T: Michael Blake

midfield, outpaced up the centre 4f out, weakened and eased over 1f out

16/1

8th

9

(6)

6th Nov 2024

Soft

1m 6f 0y

Class 6

15:50 Nottingham

Tigerten

9st 4lb

J: Ben Robinson

T: Michael Blake

midfield, outpaced up the centre 4f out, weakened and eased over 1f out

16/1

5th

4

(5)

21st Oct 2024

Heavy

2m 1f 24y

Class 6

14:07 Bath

Tigerten

11st 1lb

J: Mr Fletcher Yarham

T: Michael Blake

in touch with leaders

6/1

Verdict

The Goodwood win registered by BAILEYS DERBYDAY over 2m on soft ground 12 days ago is easily the most persuasive piece of recent evidence. Justus (a soft-ground winner in April) is not ruled out just yet but Imperial Cult may provide the most resistance on his return to 2m. Tin Fandango looked in similarly modest form in the run-up to winning this race last year.[Richard Austen]