March 07 / 16.05 Wincanton

16.05

Heavy

Wiltshire Bobby Van Trust Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £4092.77
  • 1m 7f 50y
  • Class 5
  • 11 runners
RTV
View Course
Wiltshire Bobby Van Trust Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 11 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

9/4 (Won)

  • Win: £2.38
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 233632

Last run: 57 days

W: 10st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
Placed in 6-16 hurdles starts from 2m-2m5f and on a variety of ground; posted a career-best effort (RPR 82) when collared close home at Leicester (1m7f, heavy) in January; up 2lb; has form here; player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

8

22nd Mar 2026

Good

2m 7f 25y

Class 4

16:47 Exeter

Robbers Bridge

11st 2lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Dan Horsford

Career best when winning by 11l over 2m5f here in January (good to soft) and for whatever reason he didn't turn up at Newbury (2m4f; handles soft); has to bounce back from that but wouldn't put it past him; there are niggling stamina doubts at this trip, however.

7/1

7

17th Feb 2026

2m 4f 118y

Class 4

16:30 Newbury

Robbers Bridge

11st 10lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Dan Horsford

His 24th race over hurdles at Exeter last month (2m5f, good to soft) but produced career-best form in winning that handicap by some 11l; respected off 7lb higher with heavy ground no issue for him.

4/1

3rd

7

29th Aug 2025

Good

2m 5f 164y

Class 4

16:13 Fontwell

Robbers Bridge

11st 2lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Dan Horsford

Placed on both outings since winning in pretty good style at Market Rasen (2m2f, good) on stable debut in April; will be fine over today's trip and won't mind what the weather does; likely contender.

5/1

OUR TIP

16/1

  • Place: £6.30

Form: 06679

Last run: 35 days

W: 12st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
Not devoid of ability based on one of his bumper runs and a couple of his efforts over hurdles; was never in it after an early mistake over C&D last month; missed a race last week after he scoped wrong; initial mark looks stiff based on his form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

5

1st Mar 2026

Heavy

2m 3f 83y

Class 5

15:30 Ffos Las

Hawk Stone

11st 0lb

J: Miss Megan Bevan

T: Harriet Dickin

Rebounded from poor chasing debut when second to progressive rival here (2m, heavy; first-time visor) in January; could plausibly have untapped potential over this longer trip but was back in the doldrums on his latest outing and has become very hard to predict.

7/1

7th

3

12th Feb 2026

Heavy

1m 7f 201y

Class 5

15:15 Leicester

Hawk Stone

11st 8lb

J: Beau Morgan

T: Harriet Dickin

Record of 1-11 over hurdles and his win was in April 2024; pulled up on chase debut at Market Rasen last month but he bounced back with a good second at Ffos Las (2m, heavy; first-time visor) 13 days ago; on same mark here and has claims if he can build on that.

4/1

2nd

5

30th Jan 2026

Heavy

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

16:35 Ffos Las

Hawk Stone

11st 6lb

J: Beau Morgan

T: Harriet Dickin

Blinkered this season, running respectably in hurdles event then poorly on chase debut; bit to prove but is on a workable mark provided the switch to a visor has positive effect.

14/1

10/1

  • Place: £5.50

Form: 000

Last run: 59 days

W: 11st 1lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Multiple turf winner at up to 1m4f on the Flat (RPR 83), where he is not ground dependent; has failed to transfer that ability to this code in three maiden hurdles; may be able to show more now entering handicaps from a workable mark; market check suggested.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

(8)

10th Feb 2025

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 6

19:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Dundory

9st 9lb

J: Aiden Brookes

T: Micky Hammond

in rear, broke down and fell after 2f, race voided

33/1

4

(8)

10th Feb 2025

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 6

19:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Dundory

9st 9lb

J: Aiden Brookes

T: Micky Hammond

in rear, broke down and fell after 2f, race voided

33/1

8th

9

(9)

8th Jan 2025

Standard To Slow

1m 2f 42y

Class 6

15:03 Newcastle (AW)

Dundory

8st 13lb

J: Aiden Brookes

T: Micky Hammond

held up in rear, outpaced 3f out

50/1

Form: 06P5

Last run: 59 days

W: 10st 10lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
2m4f maiden point winner; well beaten or has failed to complete at increasing odds in three novice hurdles; initial mark very workable and any market confidence would pique interest.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

8th Sep 2024

Good To Soft

3m 1f 210y

Class 5

15:05 Fontwell

Guivinec

11st 0lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Anthony Honeyball

never going well, towards rear, mistake and reminders 5th, dropped to last 10th, ridden with one circuit to go, lost touch 14th, pulled up before 3 out

9/2

4th

7

25th Jun 2024

Good

3m 1f 170y

Class 5

17:00 Newton Abbot

Guivinec

10st 13lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Anthony Honeyball

2m4f point winner; moderate form under rules but took a step in the right direction when a staying-on third at Fontwell (2m3f) on April's chase debut; failed to improve on that when third again back there in May but has since been given wind surgery; likely to be suited by this longer trip and he remains capable of better.

100/30

3rd

5

16th May 2024

Good

2m 3f 104y

Class 5

18:10 Fontwell

Guivinec

10st 9lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Anthony Honeyball

prominent, outpaced before 3 out, kept on run-in

11/4

Form: 8PP/07

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Unplaced from eight starts across both codes; we need to see more before recommending him.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

9

30th Aug 2024

Good

2m 5f 164y

Class 5

19:20 Fontwell

Royal Regard

10st 8lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Neil Mulholland

prominent, weakened 3 out

10/1

5th

15

17th Jul 2024

Good

2m 3f 207y

Class 5

17:45 Uttoxeter

Royal Regard

10st 2lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Neil Mulholland

Unimproved for the switch to handicaps this year, already backpedalling when the mistakes started to creep in late at Fontwell latest (2m6f, good); insufficiently appealing from 2lb out of the handicap.

25/1

5th

7

8th May 2024

Good

2m 5f 164y

Class 5

17:10 Fontwell

Royal Regard

10st 12lb

J: Lilly Pinchin

T: Neil Mulholland

prominent, not fluent 5th

20/1

Form: 1350-5 D

Last run: 20 days

W: 10st 6lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
2m hurdle winner (good to soft) when on this mark in 2022; inconsistent since and hasn't shown much in one start in either code since returning from a lengthy absence.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

8

6th Apr 2024

Heavy

1m 7f 168y

Class 5

13:40 Uttoxeter

Canal Rocks

10st 2lb

J: Charlie Price

T: Bernard Llewellyn

Flat winner on fast ground and sole hurdle success came on good to soft; exposed 8yo who looks opposable under these conditions; 4lb out of the weights.

40/1

5th

8

6th Apr 2024

Heavy

1m 7f 168y

Class 5

13:40 Uttoxeter

Canal Rocks

10st 2lb

J: Charlie Price

T: Bernard Llewellyn

Flat winner on fast ground and sole hurdle success came on good to soft; exposed 8yo who looks opposable under these conditions; 4lb out of the weights.

40/1

6th

13

7th Mar 2024

Heavy

1m 7f 50y

Class 5

16:05 Wincanton

Canal Rocks

10st 6lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Bernard Llewellyn

2m hurdle winner (good to soft) when on this mark in 2022; inconsistent since and hasn't shown much in one start in either code since returning from a lengthy absence.

25/1

Form: 5PPPPF

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 11lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Won two hurdles in France in 2022; pulled up on his first four starts for this trainer (all chases); was in the process of running a better race when falling two out in a Hereford handicap chase (2m5f, soft; first-time cheekpieces) latest; up 5lb for this return to hurdles; more needed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

6

23rd May 2026

Good

2m 3f 123y

Class 4

15:00 Bangor-on-Dee

Orange Diamond

11st 7lb

J: Jack Andrews

T: T Ellis

Has record of 11142132 for his current yard, with those first three wins over hurdles at Worcester (2m4f) and his last success over fences at Market Rasen (2m7f); up another 3lb after his second over hurdles at Warwick (2m3f, good) last month, but he went down fighting after making a mistake at the last; could still have more to offer and he's a big player.

100/30

2nd

8

23rd Apr 2026

Good

2m 3f 0y

Class 5

16:30 Warwick

Orange Diamond

11st 9lb

J: Miss Gina Andrews

T: T Ellis

Three hurdle wins (2m4f; good and good to soft) in the middle of 2025, then made a winning return to fences at Market Rasen (3m) in December; not so effective on soft next time but has a weights chance back hurdling.

9/1

3rd

2

22nd Jan 2026

Soft

2m 7f 129y

Class 5

13:30 Huntingdon

Orange Diamond

12st 0lb

J: Jack Andrews

T: T Ellis

Record of PPPPF over fences in 2023-24 but travelled strongly and mostly jumped fine returned to them at Market Rasen on Boxing Day (3m, good to soft), he and the runner-up pulling 17l and more clear; this is a warmer 0-100, but a 5lb rise isn't prohibitive next to his recent RPRs.

100/30

Form: 7-P56P CD

Last run: 35 days

W: 11st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
Won back-to-back C&D hurdles this time last year (good/good to soft), the latter when 7lb higher; had wind surgery after his next start but has been nowhere near best since; well treated if he revives.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

7

16th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 5

17:20 Uttoxeter

Universal Secret

11st 4lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Helen Nelmes

In excellent form over fences since undergoing a second breathing operation, scoring at Wincanton (2m4f) in February before a clear second of seven over that C&D last month; up 2lb but that form is working out well so he's a big player.

5/2

2nd

6

1st Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 5

16:20 Wincanton

Universal Secret

10st 6lb

J: Robert Dunne

T: Helen Nelmes

Pulled up in his first two starts this season but he returned after another wind operation with a win over C&D (good to soft; tongue-tie added; Hatos second) in February; up 6lb but he remains feasibly treated and has claims if he can back up that last run.

100/30

1st

6

25th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 4f 35y

Class 5

15:50 Wincanton

Universal Secret

10st 6lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Helen Nelmes

Went close here (about 2m, good to soft) in December 2024 but he's 0-9 over fences and his two runs this term have been troubling; has his first start following wind surgery, with a tongue-tie joining the cheekpieces of latest start; needs a revival.

25/1

Form: 3271P4

Last run: 39 days

W: 11st 8lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 91

Form & Verdict
Returned from a break to score in a mares' hurdle at Fontwell in November (2m3f, heavy; raced prominently), when 5lb lower; unable to back that up here (2m4f, soft) next time; travelled strongly before weakening into fourth at Fontwell (2m5f, soft) latest, a career best; each-way player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

7

22nd Apr 2026

Good

2m 0f 104y

Class 5

18:30 Taunton

Miss Fedora

10st 9lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Nick Scholfield

Signs of a revival when fourth over fences at Fakenham (2m5f) in January, before 3m5f stretched her (refused at the final fence) on final start for Seamus Mullins; offered little when sent off joint-favourite on stable debut last month; tongue-tie wore then quickly dispensed with and she reverts to hurdles on a workable mark, but with plenty to prove.

13/2

Form: 624127 CD

Last run: 35 days

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Got off the mark over hurdles at the 11th attempt, racing prominently to score over C&D (heavy) in January; bettered that despite being beaten 6l after a 7lb rise back here next time; below par both in this code and on AW in two further starts; player if bouncing back.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

14th May 2026

Good

2m 1f 165y

Class 5

19:40 Fontwell

Daany

10st 9lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Joe Tickle

Turned his attention to chasing fairly late in life but made a solid start when second of six at Wincanton in April; didn't back that up when never travelling at Hereford (also 2m, good) nine days ago and has a question to answer after that.

16/1

4

5th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 8y

Class 5

20:17 Hereford

Daany

10st 13lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Joe Tickle

Four-time hurdle winner, all at around 2m; made a belated switch to fences last month and shaped with plenty of encouragement when runner-up at Wincanton (2m, good), which also represented a return to some form; needs to back that up but he remains well treated and is one to consider.

6/1

2nd

4

12th Apr 2026

Good

1m 7f 149y

Class 5

15:27 Wincanton

Daany

10st 8lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Joe Tickle

Three-time Flat winner and successful four times over hurdles; however, hasn't been running all that well under either code following a year on the sidelines and this is a belated first attempt at chasing.

16/1

Form: 806

Last run: 55 days

W: 11st 1lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Multiple turf Flat and AW winner at up to 1m4f (RPR 67); 0-3 over hurdles, his best effort coming over C&D (good to soft) when last seen (beaten 27l); needs significant improvement on that to defy this initial mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

7

1st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 125y

Class 5

15:30 Market Rasen

Mr Zee

10st 7lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Michael Blake

Just 2-18 over hurdles but looked back in prime form at Wincanton (1m7f, soft) last month, winning 13-runner handicap by 3l, and a subsequent 5lb rise is not excessive.

9/4

1st

11

15th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 50y

Class 5

13:52 Wincanton

Mr Zee

10st 2lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Michael Blake

Not at his best on his two hurdling starts towards end of last year but now 1lb lower than when winning at Ludlow (2m, good) last spring and won't mind what the weather does.

16/1

Non-runners

River Robe, Flamenco De Kerser

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £40.10
Straight Forecast £52.90
Tricast £732.03
Trifecta £510.80

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Robber's Bridge

WEST COUNTRY:

Daany

POSTDATA:

Orange Diamond

D Express:

Mr Zee

RP RATINGS:

Robber's Bridge

The Times:

Robber's Bridge

The Guardian:

Robber's Bridge

Daily Mail:

Robber's Bridge

Daily Mirror:

Robber's Bridge

The Sun:

Robber's Bridge

The Star:

Robber's Bridge

Daily Record:

Robber's Bridge

Telegraph:

Daany