February 20 / 15.40 Taunton

15.40

Heavy

Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £7366.99
  • 2m 0f 104y
  • Class 3
  • 9 runners
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Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

15/8 (Won)

  • Win: £2.20
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 7U31 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced 5yo who showed signs of coming to the boil when third here (soft) before winning pretty much as he liked at Newbury (good to soft); that wasn't a strong maiden by their standards but it represented a sharp improvement on RPRs and he was in the Supreme until the recent forfeit stage; interesting.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

8th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 16y

Class 3

16:20 Market Rasen

Into The Park

11st 10lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Billy Aprahamian

Ran below his mark even when placing over the winter, and none the wiser as to his staying credentials after a subdued effort behind Tiger Orchid at Wetherby latest (3m); tongue-tie added on this stable debut.

16/1

7th

3

17th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 26y

Class 4

16:22 Wetherby

Into The Park

12st 0lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Didn't threaten on his two runs last month (2m/2m3f, heavy/good to soft) but those weren't bad performances and it's possible this half-brother to a 3m-3m2f winner will be suited by the step up in trip; on a reduced mark and he's not discounted in first-time blinkers (replacing cheekpieces).

8/1

4th

2

24th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 66y

Class 3

15:30 Catterick

Into The Park

11st 13lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

He hasn't kicked on since going close off 2lb higher on his reappearance at Uttoxeter (2m4f, good) in October; also effective on soft/good to soft; however, he didn't run badly at Taunton recently and is not ruled out.

9/2

11/4

  • Place: £1.10

Form: P4-1P1 CD

Last run: 43 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Not sure what happened two runs back but he's won his other two races this season and it was fairly straightforward over 2m3f here last time (soft); only 4lb higher, won't mind dropping back in trip and he won his French bumper on heavy.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

13th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 216y

Class 4

18:30 Newton Abbot

Inca De Lafayette

11st 8lb

J: Freddie Keighley

T: Paul Nicholls

Only his third run over fences when strolling home in a small field at Plumpton (2m4f, good); hit with a 7lb rise but his last win over hurdles was off only 3lb lower; good chance.

11/8

1st

1

5th Apr 2026

Good

2m 3f 166y

Class 4

16:40 Plumpton

Inca De Lafayette

11st 10lb

J: Jay Tidball

T: Paul Nicholls

Fine on all ground; well handicapped on his peak form over hurdles and has only raced twice as a chaser; no match for the winner at Exeter last time (2m1f) but that horse was favourite and unexposed; respected.

9/4

2nd

5

6th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 1f 109y

Class 3

14:40 Exeter

Inca De Lafayette

10st 11lb

J: Jay Tidball

T: Paul Nicholls

Latest effort (chase debut) was better than his reappearance; may be about to reach boiling point and looks interesting in receipt of weight all round; gained last hurdles win off 3lb higher.

13/2

14/1

  • Place: £4.00

Form: P-P164 D

Last run: 70 days

W: 11st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Only 1lb higher than for his Lingfield win in November (2m, soft; first-time cheekpieces); below par since then and didn't look at home on the heavy ground at Wincanton last time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 16y

Class 3

14:15 Chepstow

Celtic Art

11st 11lb

J: Chad Bament

T: Jeremy Scott

Six-time hurdle winner who hit a personal best when scoring at Taunton (2m3f, good to soft) in January but his form has slumped in two subsequent runs; has bit to prove again and this is competitive on this drop back in trip.

14/1

8th

2

23rd Mar 2026

Good

2m 3f 179y

Class 3

16:57 Wincanton

Celtic Art

11st 8lb

J: Lorcan Williams

T: Jeremy Scott

Showed career-best form when comfortably winning from Bourbali at Taunton (2m3f, good to soft) in January and a subsequent lesser effort on heavy ground there is not viewed harshly; has been ridden by a good 7lb claimer lately, though, and might find others better handicapped.

9/2

5th

5

12th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 0f 104y

Class 3

15:25 Taunton

Celtic Art

11st 1lb

J: Chad Bament

T: Jeremy Scott

Has done very well over 2m3f here in recent months, winning twice and second in between; those results were achieved on good/good to soft and today's much deeper ground is a slight concern given he's been below par on both hurdle outings on heavy.

3/1

Form: 21-233 CD

Last run: 43 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Dual winner who has made the frame in all her handicaps and she travelled strongly only to find no extra when 2l behind Inca De Lafayette over 2m3f here (soft) last month; fighting chance of reversing those placings back at 2m.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

6th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 1y

Class 4

14:15 Fakenham

Vicki Vale

12st 0lb

J: Lewis Stones

T: Deborah Cole

Dual hurdle winner when trained by Dan Sketon, but absent since her fourth at Ludlow (2m5f, good) for this stable in October 2024 and entitled to benefit from this outing.

20/1

2

29th Oct 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 123y

Class 4

13:50 Bangor-on-Dee

Vicki Vale

11st 8lb

J: Chris Ward

T: Deborah Cole

Dual hurdle winner for Dan Skelton, a yard she left after two quiet runs over fences; pulled up in that discipline on stable debut but showed a bit more spark back over hurdles at Ludlow; nothing wrong with her mark.

16/1

2

29th Oct 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 123y

Class 4

13:50 Bangor-on-Dee

Vicki Vale

11st 8lb

J: Chris Ward

T: Deborah Cole

Dual hurdle winner for Dan Skelton, a yard she left after two quiet runs over fences; pulled up in that discipline on stable debut but showed a bit more spark back over hurdles at Ludlow; nothing wrong with her mark.

16/1

Form: 33-86P C

Last run: 60 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 132

Form & Verdict
Bumper and three-time novice hurdle winner who is on a competitive mark on last season's hurdle form; not at his best this campaign but has been chasing the last twice and he never looked happy; could revive and get involved.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

20th Sep 2024

Good

2m 4f 216y

Class 3

15:15 Newton Abbot

Lallygag

11st 2lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Paul Nicholls

raced in second, bad mistake and lost position briefly 6th, pressed leader going best home turn, sustained duel with winner from 2 out, kept on run-in, no extra towards finish

5/2

1st

4

31st Aug 2024

Good

2m 5f 122y

Class 2

15:55 Newton Abbot

Lallygag

11st 1lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Paul Nicholls

prominent

7/4

1st

7

8th Jul 2024

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 2

15:45 Worcester

Lallygag

11st 1lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

led, headed but prominent 3rd, led again 3 out, ridden before 2 out

4/1

Form: /354-P D

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 0lb

9 yo Mare

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Three-time winner over hurdles who should be well handicapped but she needed to shape better on her return to be strongly considered for this.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

8

16th Apr 2025

Good

2m 7f 191y

Class 4

17:45 Ffos Las

Current Mood

10st 10lb

J: Isabel Williams

T: Evan Williams

Scored off this mark over fences at Ludlow (3m, good) in October and ran quite well when fourth in 2m5f hurdle there (good to soft) in February, but the addition of cheekpieces did not appear to help much two starts ago and she was again below par (without headgear) last month.

14/1

4th

8

16th Apr 2025

Good

2m 7f 191y

Class 4

17:45 Ffos Las

Current Mood

10st 10lb

J: Isabel Williams

T: Evan Williams

prominent, briefly went second before 2 out, stayed on final 110yds

14/1

7th

8

16th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 100y

Class 3

15:37 Chepstow

Current Mood

10st 7lb

J: Isabel Williams

T: Evan Williams

Has only won over fences in the past year but she's a three-time hurdle winner who didn't run too badly at Ludlow two runs back on her latest run in this discipline.

8/1

OUR TIP

Form: /1211- CD

Last run: 599 days

W: 12st 0lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 132

Form & Verdict
Record of 4-12 over hurdles and was in good form chasing when last seen, winning three small-field races during the summer of 2022; strong form claims off this mark if as good as he was after a long absence; makes sense to heed market signals.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

12th May 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 114y

Class 3

16:25 Plumpton

Wild Max

11st 12lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Paul Nicholls

raced in second

7/1

5th

2

12th May 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 114y

Class 3

16:25 Plumpton

Wild Max

11st 12lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Paul Nicholls

raced in second

7/1

11th

4

17th Apr 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 179y

Class 3

17:00 Cheltenham

Wild Max

11st 8lb

J: Miss Olive Nicholls

T: Paul Nicholls

midfield

25/1

Form: 0232-0 D

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 11lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 129

Form & Verdict
Acted on heavy ground in Ireland where he was quite smart; placed in his first two runs for Fergal O'Brien (2m, good) and his heavy defeat 24 days ago (good) was after a long absence; however, this a tough race in which to turn things around.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

13

(4)

25th Apr 2026

Yielding

1m 2f 40y

16:50 Navan

Wolf Prince

9st 10lb

J: Gavin Ryan

T: Aidan Melia

Smart hurdler has run well on the Flat in defeat but is returning off a long absence and can only be watched.

50/1

1st

4

26th Apr 2024

Good

2m 0f 11y

Class 3

17:40 Chepstow

Wolf Prince

11st 11lb

J: Connor Brace

T: Fergal O’Brien

Returned from long absence with two disappointing runs at start of this year but bounced back to form with front-running success at Taunton (2m, soft) last month; still very well handicapped on older form and will be fine on today's faster ground; must be considered.

7/2

1st

4

26th Apr 2024

Good

2m 0f 11y

Class 3

17:40 Chepstow

Wolf Prince

11st 11lb

J: Connor Brace

T: Fergal O’Brien

Returned from long absence with two disappointing runs at start of this year but bounced back to form with front-running success at Taunton (2m, soft) last month; still very well handicapped on older form and will be fine on today's faster ground; must be considered.

7/2

Form: 1234-P D

Last run: 52 days

W: 11st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
Won on good and heavy over hurdles in France; market drifter (20-1) and was pulled up on British debut at Newbury following a 14-month absence; hard to back with any confidence after that.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

6th Nov 2024

Good

2m 0f 11y

Class 4

14:20 Chepstow

Now Or Never

11st 11lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Dual hurdle winner in France in 2022; very disappointing over hurdles in Britain (four starts) but had wind surgery during six-month break and may yet come good for Venetia Williams; hooded for British chase debut.

9/1

5th

2

6th Nov 2024

Good

2m 0f 11y

Class 4

14:20 Chepstow

Now Or Never

11st 11lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Dual hurdle winner in France in 2022; very disappointing over hurdles in Britain (four starts) but had wind surgery during six-month break and may yet come good for Venetia Williams; hooded for British chase debut.

9/1

10th

4

15th May 2024

Good

1m 7f 182y

Class 4

14:30 Ffos Las

Now Or Never

11st 11lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Two hurdle wins (2m1f, heavy/good) in France in 2022 but, after a long absence, he's struggled in three runs for new yard since December; dropped another 5lb but he has plenty to prove.

20/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £4.90
Straight Forecast £4.90
Tricast £43.87
Trifecta £38.60

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Inca De Lafayette

SPOTLIGHT:

Into The Park

The Sun:

Vicki Vale

TOPSPEED:

Celtic Art

D Express:

Current Mood

WEST COUNTRY:

Into The Park

The Times:

Into The Park

The Star:

Into The Park

POSTDATA:

Inca De Lafayette

Telegraph:

Inca De Lafayette

The Guardian:

Inca De Lafayette

Daily Mail:

Inca De Lafayette

Daily Mirror:

Inca De Lafayette

Daily Record:

Inca De Lafayette