March 02 / 14.25 Newbury

14.25

Soft

Download The BetVictor App Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £8264.76
  • 2m 0f 69y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
SKY
View Course
Download The BetVictor App Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

16/1 (Won)

  • Win: £7.50
  • Place: £1.90

Form: 24/338

Last run: 17 days

W: 11st 3lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Seen mostly on Flat; 0-6 over hurdles, with a solid record (five minor honours, three in handicaps) until he seemingly went to nothing from entering the final straight on heavy going at Fontwell 17 days ago; connections respond by having his tongue tied today and 7lb claimer is also enlisted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14th

3

9th May 2026

Good

1m 7f 144y

Class 1

13:15 Haydock

Bucephalus

11st 8lb

J: Harriet Tucker

T: Neil Mulholland

Front-runner who regularly gives his all and was beaten off only on the run-in when third to Dance And Glance over C&D (good) five weeks ago; should make another bold bid but several of these look less exposed.

20/1

3rd

2

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 144y

Class 2

14:12 Haydock

Bucephalus

11st 13lb

J: Harriet Tucker

T: Neil Mulholland

Front-runner who was second over C&D (good) in December and bounced back from being pulled up in the William Hill Hurdle at Newbury (heavy) to make all in four-runner handicap at Newcastle (2m1f, good to soft); has a career-high mark in this hotter race but he did it comfortably last time; could make a bold bid.

8/1

1st

2

14th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 190y

Class 3

16:00 Newcastle

Bucephalus

11st 13lb

J: Harriet Tucker

T: Neil Mulholland

Poached a nice advantage but unable to hold off a progressive rival at Haydock (2m, good; in added cheekpieces) on penultimate start; pulled up in deep in a Premier Handicap at Newbury (50-1) latest; chance back in calmer waters.

4/1

4/1

  • Place: £2.00

Form: 1-64P4

Last run: 16 days

W: 11st 9lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Brother to high-class I Am Maximus; won a bumper on debut but has not gone on significantly from that; pulled up at Sandown on second hurdle start but his close fourth of five there 16 days ago (both 2m on soft) was encouraging; jumping mistakes have featured; handicap debut and he may well have more to offer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

14th May 2026

Good

2m 3f 104y

Class 5

18:40 Fontwell

All Authorized

11st 3lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Course bumper and hurdle winner who won Plumpton handicap hurdle off 18lb higher last April; subsequent starts over fences didn't go well and he resumes chase career having been well held over hurdles on last three starts.

8/1

4th

3

6th Apr 2026

Good

3m 0f 217y

Class 5

14:00 Plumpton

All Authorized

11st 9lb

J: Freddie Mitchell

T: Gary & Josh Moore

He's had a disappointing season, initially over fences and more recently over hurdles, and has something to prove; however, he's now 10lb lower than when winning over C&D (good) last April and can't be written off; monitor the betting.

7/1

4th

6

9th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 217y

Class 4

15:30 Plumpton

All Authorized

11st 0lb

J: Freddie Mitchell

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Chasing did not go well this season (three runs) but he ran well until tiring on heavy ground over hurdles at Fontwell (2m5f, heavy) recently and is now 6lb lower than for an emphatic C&D win on good ground last April.

11/2

6/1

  • Place: £4.20

Form: 0-2146 D

Last run: 29 days

W: 11st 13lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Second in bumper here in November; won hurdling debut at Southwell (2m, again good to soft) but downhill on both outings since; needs to resume improvement, in a major way.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

13th Jul 2025

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 4

15:08 Perth

Tommie Gun

10st 10lb

J: Charlie Price

T: Maurice Barnes

Ended last season in very poor form for Nigel Twiston-Davies but seemed to have turned a corner when close third of four (just behind Jakana) at Hexham (2m4f, good) for new stable three weeks ago, where a last-flight error might have cost him the race; has a fighting chance here; tongue-tie added.

7/2

5

22nd Jun 2025

Good

2m 4f 28y

Class 4

17:00 Hexham

Tommie Gun

11st 3lb

J: Charlie Price

T: Maurice Barnes

Winless since 2023 and he signed off for Nigel Twiston-Davies when pulled up in 2m3f handicap at Bangor in April; changed hands for £2,000 subsequently and he needs a resurgence.

8/1

6

12th Apr 2025

Good

2m 3f 123y

Class 4

14:45 Bangor-on-Dee

Tommie Gun

11st 7lb

J: James Turner

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

Ended 2024 with two good efforts on slow ground (2m4f/2m) but looked out of sorts when pulled up on both outings this year; may not be ideally suited by the much quicker ground here, and others have much less to prove.

10/1

Form: 032126 D

Last run: 36 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Maiden in Ireland who made a cracking start for his new connections, following his novice win at Wetherby (2m, soft) with a narrow loss in handicap at Ascot (1m7f, good to soft); 2m4f seems to explain a lesser show on latest start and, although he needs to resume improvement, his stable has been in red-hot form; one to note.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

1st Apr 2025

Good

2m 7f 95y

Class 4

15:45 Fakenham

Toonagh Warrior

12st 2lb

J: Lee Edwards

T: Stuart Edmunds

Twice a runner-up late last year and came back to some form after some lesser efforts when just over a 3l second to Jongleur d'Etoiles at Wincanton (3m, good to soft) last month; remains competitively treated if backing that up.

7/2

1st

1

1st Apr 2025

Good

2m 7f 95y

Class 4

15:45 Fakenham

Toonagh Warrior

12st 2lb

J: Lee Edwards

T: Stuart Edmunds

raced in fourth, headway before 2 out, ridden and pressed leader approaching last, led towards finish, just did enough

7/2

2nd

3

6th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 150y

Class 4

16:50 Wincanton

Toonagh Warrior

12st 1lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Stuart Edmunds

Runner-up twice in a row at Southwell (2m4f/3m, good/good to soft) towards the end of last year and he's on a handy mark on that form; however, he's gone off the boil on his last three runs and has to raise his game.

14/1

Form: 7/6P-1 D

Last run: 95 days

W: 11st 3lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Minor honours at best in his first 12 starts (one of the best was at this track in 2021) but he then returned from a layoff to win by a street at Southwell (2m, heavy; made most) in November; only four ran in that race but his subsequent 7lb rise also doesn't look too harsh on previous best form; this race should be a lot more competitive but he's on the shortlist.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

3

23rd May 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 34y

Class 5

17:05 Cartmel

Jacks A Legend

11st 9lb

J: Miss Imogen Mathias

T: Tim Vaughan

Only seen twice since making all in a 2m4f open point under Imogen Mathias one year ago, and would have run the winner closer than around 3l at Newton Abbot latest (2m5f, good to soft) but for whacking two out; 1lb rise is very fair.

4/1

3rd

2

4th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 216y

Class 5

14:35 Newton Abbot

Jacks A Legend

11st 9lb

J: Miss Imogen Mathias

T: Tim Vaughan

2m4f point winner who's done most racing under rules over shorter; tough task in a C&D hunter chase when last seen ten months ago and, while better off into ordinary handicap company for his new yard, it's possible he'll need this at his age.

12/1

Form: 5555

Last run: 81 days

W: 10st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 99

Form & Verdict
Well beaten on heavy in December when last seen, having begun hurdling career with two promising 2m runs on good/good to soft; due to make his handicap debut over 2m5f early last month but withdrawn when the ground was soft; that's a concern but market may guide for this handicap newcomer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

23rd Apr 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 88y

Class 5

15:30 Southwell

Mountain Pass

11st 7lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

May not have been suited by the heavy ground when well beaten on last month's handicap debut but he dropped out very tamely on good ground at Huntingdon three weeks ago and comes here with a lot to prove; sports first-time cheekpieces.

16/1

3

23rd Apr 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 88y

Class 5

15:30 Southwell

Mountain Pass

11st 7lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

May not have been suited by the heavy ground when well beaten on last month's handicap debut but he dropped out very tamely on good ground at Huntingdon three weeks ago and comes here with a lot to prove; sports first-time cheekpieces.

16/1

2

1st Apr 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 145y

Class 5

14:10 Huntingdon

Mountain Pass

11st 13lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Harry Derham

in touch with leaders

9/2

Form: 231 D

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
Won her sole Irish point; jumping cost her on second start over hurdles and still had room for improvement when she justified 8-11 favouritism in maiden at Exeter (2m, good to soft) one month ago; early days, so she could be capable of the progress which is needed on this handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

9th Apr 2025

Good To Firm

2m 7f 198y

Class 3

16:25 Taunton

Florencethemachine

11st 2lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Back from a break and her yard has won two of the last four renewals; has been chasing this season, making all to beat two rivals off 1lb lower at Exeter in November (3m, good); has won twice as a hurdler and should hold every chance.

6/4

OUR TIP

Form: -402P3

Last run: 30 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Filly

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Easily best effort when beaten a head in mares' Listed race over C&D (good to soft) in December; she was tilting at windmills in a Grade 1 here next time but her 19l defeat when the form choice at Wincanton (2m5f) one month ago was disconcerting; needs overall improvement on handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

7th Sep 2025

Good

2m 3f 29y

Class 4

15:42 Fontwell

Brave Jen

11st 5lb

J: Jack Andrews

T: Cynthia Woods

Won twice for Tom Ellis (2m1f/2m) towards end of last year but suffered 28l defeats on both starts for new stable in February/March (2m/2m4f) and returns from six-month break with quite a bit to prove.

25/1

5th

4

10th Mar 2025

Good

2m 4f 114y

Class 4

17:00 Plumpton

Brave Jen

11st 9lb

J: Mr Jack Andrews

T: Cynthia Woods

Won maiden hurdle at Sedgefield (2m1f, good) and a handicap at Market Rasen (2m, soft) when with Tom Ellis; subsequently changed hands for £5,000; well below that form when last of eight at Huntingdon last month on stable debut (2m, good to soft); more needed.

25/1

8th

5

6th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

1m 7f 171y

Class 4

14:55 Huntingdon

Brave Jen

11st 9lb

J: Mr Jack Andrews

T: Cynthia Woods

raced in third

7/1

Non-runners

Highway One O Five

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £52.40
Straight Forecast £49.19
Tricast £1056.29
Trifecta £569.20

Selections

WEST COUNTRY:

Florencethemachine

SPOTLIGHT:

All Authorized

TOPSPEED:

Bucephalus

RP RATINGS:

Jack's A Legend

LAMBOURN:

Brave Jen

The Times:

All Authorized

Daily Mail:

All Authorized

Telegraph:

Florencethemachine

The Guardian:

Florencethemachine

D Express:

Florencethemachine

The Star:

Florencethemachine

Daily Record:

Florencethemachine

POSTDATA:

Bucephalus

Daily Mirror:

Jack's A Legend