March 03 / 15.05 Huntingdon

15.05

Soft

Richard Howard Memorial Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £5281
  • 1m 7f 171y
  • Class 4
  • 5 runners
RTV
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Richard Howard Memorial Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

5/1 (Won)

  • Win: £4.50
  • Place: £2.00

Form: 00-7F3 BF

Last run: 95 days

W: 12st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Won twice over hurdles in France last February (including Listed race) and was in good form in British handicap chases when last seen in the autumn; has a fighting chance here if fully tuned up after three-month break; hood and tongue-tie both fitted for first time in Britain.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

6

17th Apr 2026

Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 2

15:30 Ayr

Jipcot

10st 12lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Well beaten in the Plate last month but Cheltenham may not be his track; comfortably made all in small field at Leicester (2m6f, good to soft) in January and led into the straight at Ascot (3m, good to soft) in February, only to weaken; also effective on soft; could be involved.

9/1

13th

16

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 44y

Class 1

16:40 Cheltenham

Jipcot

10st 7lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Four hurdle wins; made just a so-so stab at chasing in late 2023 but he was footsure when making all at Leicester (about 2m6f, good to soft) in January and perhaps the 3m trip counted against him when trying to justify an 8lb rise at Ascot since; should have more to come over fences at some stage but this looks a tough call; yard also runs Peaky Boy.

14/1

13/2

  • Place: £1.80

Form: 220-73

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 5lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Smart on the Flat at his best; 0-6 over hurdles but bettered low-key seasonal debut when close third of six over C&D (soft) last month, and can improve again if more fluent over the flights today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

8

2nd May 2026

Good

2m 3f 207y

Class 3

15:50 Uttoxeter

Bluegrass

11st 6lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Stuart Edmunds

All five wins over hurdles have been at 2m; hasn't won since his return to action in October and ran poorly when eighth of nine finishers at Chepstow (2m3f, good to soft) last month; handicapper is at last relenting but his best chance of success in the short-term may be back at 2m.

8/1

8th

1

2nd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 100y

Class 4

16:07 Chepstow

Bluegrass

12st 0lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Stuart Edmunds

Record of 5-23 over hurdles and placed a few times as well; a bit up and down this season but ran respectably in the new blinkers at Fakenham last time and now regular cheekpieces return over a longer trip that may suit him better.

10/1

2/1

Form: 457331 D

Last run: 46 days

W: 11st 13lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Learning to settle better as he gathers experience, and came from off the pace to win readily by over 7l at Southwell (2m, good to soft) in January, his second handicap; up 9lb but could still have a lot more to offer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

9th May 2025

Good

2m 3f 147y

Class 4

19:15 Hereford

Damarta

12st 0lb

J: Ned Fox

T: Jake Thomas Coulson

Began 2024 with quite stylish win for Olly Murphy at Southwell (2m, good to soft) but became rather disappointing during light campaign last season and was sold for 3,400gns in February; needs to have been revitalised by subsequent change of scenery.

12/1

1

9th May 2025

Good

2m 3f 147y

Class 4

19:15 Hereford

Damarta

12st 0lb

J: Ned Fox

T: Jake Thomas Coulson

Began 2024 with quite stylish win for Olly Murphy at Southwell (2m, good to soft) but became rather disappointing during light campaign last season and was sold for 3,400gns in February; needs to have been revitalised by subsequent change of scenery.

12/1

5th

4

10th Feb 2025

Good

1m 7f 156y

Class 4

15:00 Catterick

Damarta

11st 7lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

towards rear throughout

8/1

OUR TIP

Form: 64-151 D

Last run: 68 days

W: 11st 11lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Ex-Irish 8yo who is 2-3 for Jonjo O'Neill this season, the latter win gained at Wetherby (2m, soft) on Boxing Day; 6lb higher here but a 3lb claimer is replaced by a 10lb claimer; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

7

6th May 2026

Good

2m 5f 164y

Class 5

17:42 Fontwell

Royal Rhythm

11st 4lb

J: Isabelle Ryder

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Winless since 2023 and he's been off the track since pulled up in 3m handicap in November; on a useful mark if resurgent after a break.

11/1

5th

2

15th Oct 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

16:58 Worcester

Royal Rhythm

11st 11lb

J: Benjamin Macey

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Lost out only by a nose to Orange Diamond over C&D (good) in August but was not quite in same form when fifth behind same rival here last month and has become far too inconsistent to rely upon.

10/1

Form: 1426-5 D

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 1lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Left Alan King after two disappointing Flat runs last summer but made quite pleasing reappearance when fifth of nine over hurdles at Taunton (2m, good) for Jimmy Frost last month; needs to build on that performance here but not ruled out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

29th Sep 2025

Good

2m 2f 110y

Class 5

14:31 Newton Abbot

Greystoke

10st 2lb

J: Cameron Iles

T: Jimmy Frost

Regressive 7yo who was a well-beaten 66-1 shot over C&D (good) last month and is effectively only 2lb lower today.

33/1

12

21st Aug 2025

Good

2m 2f 110y

Class 5

14:45 Newton Abbot

Greystoke

10st 4lb

J: Ben Godfrey

T: Jimmy Frost

Has struggled since joining this stable, including when briefly tried over fences and in cheekpieces, but offered some hope here on heavy ground in April (2m1f); has come a long way down in the weights but returns from a break with enough to prove.

33/1

5th

7

19th Apr 2025

Soft

2m 0f 167y

Class 5

15:44 Newton Abbot

Greystoke

10st 11lb

J: Ellis Collier

T: Jimmy Frost

Consistent and capable under both codes when with Alan King; has yet to reach the frame on seven starts for this stable, trying fences the last time; has a lot to prove right now.

14/1

Non-runners

Jacks A Legend

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £15.80
Straight Forecast £15.18
Trifecta £27.30

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Royal Rhythm

SPOTLIGHT:

Damarta

D Express:

Jipcot

TOPSPEED:

Bluegrass

The Times:

Greystoke

Daily Mirror:

Jack's A Legend

The Sun:

Damarta

The Star:

Jipcot

POSTDATA:

Bluegrass

WEST COUNTRY:

Royal Rhythm

Telegraph:

Royal Rhythm

Daily Record:

Royal Rhythm