March 15 / 16.35 Ffos Las

16.35

Heavy

Dragonbet The Independent Bookmaker Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4066.37
  • 2m 7f 191y
  • Class 4
  • 4 runners
SKY
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Dragonbet The Independent Bookmaker Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 4 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Rain

Form: 511111 D

Last run: 10 days

W: 11st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 101

Form & Verdict
Progressive hurdler who completed a five-timer when winning without being asked any sort of question at Lingfield last week (2m4f, heavy); has a 7lb penalty, but looked to have lots in hand there; should prove hard to beat.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 125y

Class 3

17:05 Haydock

Major Fortune

11st 11lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Prolific winner over hurdles; just as good over fences and holding his form well, beaten off only on run-in when second at Leicester (2m6f; stays 3m1f well) four weeks ago; handles any ground; leading contender.

9/2

2nd

2

6th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 6f 151y

Class 3

14:30 Leicester

Major Fortune

11st 5lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Prolific winner over hurdles; off the mark over fences at the seventh attempt at Wincanton (3m1f, soft) when fitted with first-time cheekpieces in January, and matched that level when runner-up at Newbury the following month; can make his presence felt again but he's never won off a mark this high.

2/1

2nd

5

17th Feb 2026

2m 7f 91y

Class 3

15:55 Newbury

Major Fortune

11st 6lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Prolific winner over hurdles; it was in a lower grade when getting off the mark over fences at Wincanton (3m1f, soft) but that was fairly comfortable and it was his first time in cheekpieces; off 5lb higher he can make his presence felt.

3/1

OUR TIP

Form: 9-0453

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Best of his three runs over hurdles when third in Chepstow maiden last time (2m3f, heavy); interesting up in trip on handicap debut but no easy task against a progressive sort.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

1

26th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 5f 164y

Class 5

14:20 Fontwell

Maximum Effort

12st 0lb

J: James Davies

T: Noel Williams

Three runs at Chepstow look easily the best of his seven appearances over hurdles, the most recent when fifth of 17 in handicap (2m3f, good to soft; acts on heavy) in November; his dam had stamina but this 6yo was pulled up on both his attempts at this sort of trip, including latest outing.

7/1

7th

1

26th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 5f 164y

Class 5

14:20 Fontwell

Maximum Effort

12st 0lb

J: James Davies

T: Noel Williams

Three runs at Chepstow look easily the best of his seven appearances over hurdles, the most recent when fifth of 17 in handicap (2m3f, good to soft; acts on heavy) in November; his dam had stamina but this 6yo was pulled up on both his attempts at this sort of trip, including latest outing.

7/1

6

20th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 6f 45y

Class 5

14:40 Uttoxeter

Maximum Effort

11st 13lb

J: James Davies

T: Noel Williams

in touch with leaders

8/1

Form: -U6254

Last run: 38 days

W: 11st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Creditable runs on last three starts, all at around 2m3f on good/good to soft; bit to prove up in trip on this more testing ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

5th May 2026

Good

2m 5f 110y

Class 5

17:22 Ffos Las

Lelant

11st 6lb

J: Osian Radford

T: Mrs C Williams

Two good-ground wins during the winter but nothing positive to take from his last two races and the weather forecast doesn't bode well.

10/1

8th

4

25th Mar 2026

Good

2m 4f 194y

Class 5

14:30 Hereford

Lelant

11st 7lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Mrs C Williams

Returned from break with good-ground C&D win in October and followed up at Market Rasen (2m5f, good to soft) a few weeks later; struggled on heavy ground at Fontwell in December but has been freshened up again since and Sean Bowen keeps the ride; must be considered.

11/4

1st

6

13th Oct 2025

Good

2m 4f 194y

Class 5

15:12 Hereford

Lelant

10st 13lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: Evan Williams

Well treated on some of his form but it's been a while since he offered an effort of real note; best watched.

7/1

Abandoned

Form: 2-498P

Last run: 43 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 101

Form & Verdict
Second in a Warwick bumper last March (2m, soft); only fair form over hurdles; a bit to prove having been pulled up over C&D last time (heavy); cheekpieces now tried.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

4

6th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 177y

Class 5

15:30 Ffos Las

Monbari

11st 11lb

J: Jamie Brace

T: Rebecca Curtis

11-race maiden; emerged from spell in the doldrums with respectable fourth here (2m3f, heavy) in February, but was safely held over that trip on good ground at Chepstow last month; back up to 3m today; others look safer.

10/1

8th

4

6th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 177y

Class 5

15:30 Ffos Las

Monbari

11st 11lb

J: Jamie Brace

T: Rebecca Curtis

11-race maiden; emerged from spell in the doldrums with respectable fourth here (2m3f, heavy) in February, but was safely held over that trip on good ground at Chepstow last month; back up to 3m today; others look safer.

10/1

7th

1

16th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 98y

Class 5

16:47 Chepstow

Monbari

12st 0lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Rebecca Curtis

Good to see him complete last time and was only about 6l off the winner at Ffos Las (2m3f, heavy), where dropping back in trip helped; now 2lb lower than when a close second over hurdles here last April; may prefer softer ground but interesting otherwise.

8/1

Verdict

As MAJOR FORTUNE didn’t have a hard race when winning at Lingfield last week he will be hard to beat against some modest rivals with his penalty. Handicap debutant Maximum Effort is the one for the forecast.[Colin Russell]

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Major Fortune

The Times:

Maximum Effort

TOPSPEED:

Lelant

RP RATINGS:

Major Fortune

POSTDATA:

Major Fortune

Telegraph:

Major Fortune

The Guardian:

Major Fortune

Daily Mail:

Major Fortune

D Express:

Major Fortune

Daily Mirror:

Major Fortune

The Sun:

Major Fortune

The Star:

Major Fortune

Daily Record:

Major Fortune