November 04 / 15.30 Wetherby

15.30

Soft

Never Ordinary At bet365 Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £5281
  • 2m 3f 154y
  • Class 3
  • 9 runners
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Never Ordinary At bet365 Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

Form: 31113- D

Last run: 198 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
3-5 during first season over hurdles and signed off with very creditable third of 17 in competitive series final at Cheltenham (2m4f, good) in April; untested on ground slower than good to soft but still respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

9

11th May 2024

Good

3m 0f 58y

Class 2

13:35 Haydock

Windtothelightning

11st 1lb

J: Henry Brooke

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Mare who was progressive last year and returned to form when seventh of 15 at Cheltenham (2m4f, good) last month, beaten just under 3l; she went very close in a 3m point and this first attempt at a staying trip under rules is worth a go; not discounted.

11/1

4th

9

11th May 2024

Good

3m 0f 58y

Class 2

13:35 Haydock

Windtothelightning

11st 1lb

J: Henry Brooke

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Mare who was progressive last year and returned to form when seventh of 15 at Cheltenham (2m4f, good) last month, beaten just under 3l; she went very close in a 3m point and this first attempt at a staying trip under rules is worth a go; not discounted.

11/1

7th

4

17th Apr 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 56y

Class 2

14:05 Cheltenham

Windtothelightning

11st 5lb

J: Henry Brooke

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

midfield, lost position 5th

12/1

Form: 87243- CD

Last run: 232 days

W: 11st 5lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
Dual C&D winner (including this race) in 2021-22 campaign; drew a blank last season and is evidently not the force of old but has slipped to a good mark and can't be ruled out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

3

9th Jan 2024

Soft

2m 4f 139y

Class 4

15:10 Market Rasen

Haafapiece

12st 0lb

J: Alice Stevens

T: Pam Sly

Hasn't won for nearly two years but creditable second at Wetherby on reappearance (2m3f, soft); pulled up on heavy latest but he is on a good mark and no surprise if he were to run well.

11/2

0

6

18th Nov 2023

Soft

2m 3f 154y

Class 3

13:19 Wetherby

Haafapiece

11st 5lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Pam Sly

prominent on outer

13/2

Form: 25416- C

Last run: 204 days

W: 12st 1lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 131

Form & Verdict
Gained four of his five hurdling wins here and is very well suited by slow ground; not disgraced at Aintree festival in April on latest outing but probably doesn't have much margin for error off current mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

16th Mar 2024

Heavy

2m 0f 190y

Class 3

14:37 Newcastle

Alberts Back

11st 3lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Michael & David Easterby

held up in last, lost touch from 3 out, never on terms

9/1

2

3rd Feb 2024

Soft

2m 3f 85y

Class 3

13:32 Wetherby

Alberts Back

12st 0lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Michael & David Easterby

Mudlark who has won five times over hurdles, four of them here; 0-5 over fences and was under pressure some way out when only fourth of five finishers at Haydock in December; dropped 4lb as a result but needs to raise his game.

14/1

4th

1

30th Dec 2023

Heavy

2m 3f 203y

Class 3

15:10 Haydock

Alberts Back

11st 13lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Michael & David Easterby

Mudlark who has won five times over hurdles, including over 2m3f on heavy ground here; has shown some fair form in four runs over fences, but hasn't run in a chase since February 2020; others stronger.

12/1

Form: 5PP32/ D

Last run: 616 days

W: 11st 8lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
Useful chaser who returned to form with good second at Newcastle (2m4f, good to soft) in February 2022; not seen since, though, and probably best watched on first hurdling start since 2020.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

6

26th Dec 2023

Good To Soft

2m 5f 56y

Class 3

14:10 Wetherby

Informateur

11st 2lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Sue Smith

10yo who is well handicapped on his old hurdle/chase form and wasn't disgraced over hurdles here last month when back from a long absence; struggled with his jumping over fences 11 days ago and reverts to hurdling this afternoon for his in-form stable, but others arrive with less to prove.

20/1

0

2

15th Dec 2023

Good To Soft

2m 7f 214y

Class 4

15:22 Doncaster

Informateur

12st 1lb

J: Tom Midgley

T: Sue Smith

Went close over fences at Newcastle (2m4f, good to soft) in February 2022 then absent until Wetherby (2m3f, soft) six weeks ago, when not running badly over hurdles; he's well handicapped on his old form and it will be no surprise to see a big run for his in-form yard.

7/2

Form: 12454- CD

Last run: 191 days

W: 11st 10lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 126

Form & Verdict
Dual course winner, more recently when rallying gamely to pip Foster'sisland over 2m5f on Boxing Day (good to soft); only 1lb above that mark now but wasn't firing on all cylinders in the spring and needs to have been refreshed by 191-day break.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

9

22nd Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 61y

Class 4

14:15 Carlisle

Raffertys Return

11st 4lb

J: Ross Chapman

T: Rebecca Menzies

Defied much higher marks twice, including over C&D, a couple of years ago; has failed to repeat the form since and ran particularly poorly last time.

16/1

10th

4

27th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 88y

Class 5

13:50 Doncaster

Raffertys Return

11st 13lb

J: Ellis Collier

T: Rebecca Menzies

Five-time hurdle winner who continues to drop down the weights; however, it's a long time since this 11yo has been competitive.

33/1

7th

8

3rd Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 1f 0y

Class 4

15:35 Carlisle

Raffertys Return

11st 2lb

J: Ross Chapman

T: Rebecca Menzies

Five-time winner, including over 2m3f here; hasn't been at his best in two runs this season and probably best watched in what looks a competitive event.

50/1

Form: 32-514 BF

Last run: 43 days

W: 11st 10lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 126

Form & Verdict
Not a fluent jumper and has a point to prove after short-odds defeat in run-of-the-mill Newton Abbot novice in September but he won a 15-runner Galway maiden (2m, soft) two starts ago and remains unexposed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

12th Jul 2024

Good

2m 3f 60y

17:35 Kilbeggan

Alvaniy

11st 2lb

J: Brian Hayes

T: W P Mullins

Low-mileage 6yo; won Galway maiden last September (soft) but disappointing in four runs in Britain since, early faller in Scottish Champion (Handicap) Hurdle latest; questions to answer.

10/1

15

20th Apr 2024

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 1

14:25 Ayr

Alvaniy

10st 6lb

J: Brian Hayes

T: W P Mullins

Low-mileage 6yo; off the mark at Galway (2m, soft) last September but disappointing in three British races, pulled up in the Betfair Hurdle on latest; hard to recommend from 8lb out of the handicap.

16/1

Form: U/951- D

Last run: 209 days

W: 10st 9lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
Ex-French mare who opened account in Britain at third attempt, coming from off the pace for clearcut success at Market Rasen (2m4f, good to soft) in April; moves up from Class 5 for today's seasonal debut but could still have a bigger run in her.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

8th Apr 2024

Heavy

2m 4f 35y

Class 5

15:08 Wincanton

Grasse DOliverie

12st 0lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Alex Hales

Defied 5lb higher mark over hurdles last April (2m4f, good to soft) but has been lacklustre this season, including in three chase runs; did at least shape a bit better last time (beaten 15l) and this is weak.

12/1

4th

1

8th Apr 2024

Heavy

2m 4f 35y

Class 5

15:08 Wincanton

Grasse DOliverie

12st 0lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Alex Hales

Defied 5lb higher mark over hurdles last April (2m4f, good to soft) but has been lacklustre this season, including in three chase runs; did at least shape a bit better last time (beaten 15l) and this is weak.

12/1

7th

1

13th Mar 2024

Soft

2m 3f 189y

Class 5

16:30 Huntingdon

Grasse DOliverie

12st 0lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Alex Hales

Won in fairly good style off today's mark over hurdles at Market Rasen (2m4f, good to soft) last April but struggled on seasonal debut in November and pulled up in two subsequent chases; big leap of faith required to support her after those lacklustre efforts.

33/1

Form: 25211- D

Last run: 219 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Doubled his hurdling tally with front-running success on handicap debut at Taunton (2m3f, heavy; first-time tongue-tie) in March; returns from seven-month absence in a deeper race but has plenty of scope for further improvement; had wind op in August; high on the list.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

3

15th May 2025

Good

2m 5f 164y

Class 4

19:10 Fontwell

Decorated

11st 7lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Oliver Signy

Has appreciated the return to hurdles and made pretty much all over 2m3f (good) here three weeks ago; up 7lb but rated higher in the past.

13/8

3rd

3

15th May 2025

Good

2m 5f 164y

Class 4

19:10 Fontwell

Decorated

11st 7lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Oliver Signy

Has appreciated the return to hurdles and made pretty much all over 2m3f (good) here three weeks ago; up 7lb but rated higher in the past.

13/8

1st

2

25th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 29y

Class 5

19:47 Fontwell

Decorated

12st 0lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Oliver Signy

Chasing did not go to plan but he's returned to hurdles on last two starts, runner-up over C&D (good to soft) on latest despite not always jumping fluently; off the same mark, he should make his presence felt.

11/4

Form: 761-68

Last run: 159 days

W: 11st 1lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Posted career-best performance when coming from off the pace to win a series final at Haydock (3m, good to soft) in April but two lesser efforts followed in May and he remains on a fairly tough mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

14th Apr 2025

Good

3m 1f 0y

Class 4

18:40 Warwick

Tiger Jet

12st 0lb

J: Mr Jamie Neild

T: Jennie Candlish

took keen hold, led, not fluent 3rd, hit 4 out, headed before 2 out, mistake 2 out, soon weakened

6/4

3rd

1

14th Apr 2025

Good

3m 1f 0y

Class 4

18:40 Warwick

Tiger Jet

12st 0lb

J: Mr Jamie Neild

T: Jennie Candlish

took keen hold, led, not fluent 3rd, hit 4 out, headed before 2 out, mistake 2 out, soon weakened

6/4

2nd

3

19th Mar 2025

Good

3m 0f 58y

Class 4

17:35 Haydock

Tiger Jet

11st 9lb

J: Mr Jamie Neild

T: Jennie Candlish

Won over C&D (good to soft) in April 2023 and returned to form to win on stable debut at Cartmel (2m6f, heavy) last August; however, two lesser runs have followed and he needs to get back on track after a break.

6/1

Non-runners

Diger Daudaie, Foster'sisland

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Straight Forecast £49.43
Tricast £285.59

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Decorated

Telegraph:

Alvaniy

THE NORTH:

Albert's Back

The Times:

Windtothelightning

D Express:

Grasse D'Oliverie

RP RATINGS:

Rafferty's Return

POSTDATA:

Foster'sisland

Daily Mail:

Alvaniy

Daily Record:

Alvaniy

TOPSPEED:

Decorated

LAMBOURN:

Decorated

The Guardian:

Decorated

The Star:

Decorated

Daily Mirror:

Albert's Back

The Sun:

Albert's Back