March 23 / 16.15 Bangor-on-Dee

16.15

Soft

Broxton Gates Novices’ Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £4224.8
  • 2m 7f 32y
  • Class 5
  • 8 runners
SKY
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Broxton Gates Novices’ Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

12/1 (Won)

  • Win: £12.30
  • Place: £2.70

Form: -85533

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 9lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
Still unexposed after only four hurdling starts but was beaten about 32l when plugging-on third in Huntingdon handicap (3m1f, soft) three weeks ago and needs to take a step forward here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

27th Mar 2026

Good

3m 0f 26y

Class 3

16:20 Wetherby

Jalisco Star

10st 11lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Laura Horsfall

In-form staying mare whose wins in December/February flanked second-place finishes; made the frame at Newbury most recently; may no longer be a step ahead of the assessor but still holds reasonably solid claims.

6/1

4th

7

27th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 57y

Class 3

16:43 Newbury

Jalisco Star

11st 3lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Laura Horsfall

2-4 since returned to hurdling in the autumn, the latter win gained in four-runner mares' race at Chepstow (2m7f, soft) a fortnight ago; evidently in very good nick but has quite a bit more on her plate here.

7/1

1st

3

13th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 131y

Class 3

15:10 Chepstow

Jalisco Star

11st 7lb

J: Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: Laura Horsfall

Couldn't get much going over fences but form figures of 122 since returned to hurdling at Class 4 level; up a grade here off a career-high mark, but this assured stayer has plenty in her favour otherwise.

11/4

Form: 246148 D

Last run: 57 days

W: 12st 0lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
Five-time winner over fences but 0-11 over hurdles; returned from break with heavy-ground success in the autumn but was tailed off in Sedgefield marathon chase in January and has become hard to predict.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

6

27th Mar 2025

Good

3m 0f 60y

Class 4

14:35 Southwell

Rostello

11st 6lb

J: Luke Scott

T: Stella Barclay

took keen hold, prominent, lost position before 10th

33/1

9

12th Feb 2025

Soft

3m 0f 45y

Class 4

14:30 Wetherby

Rostello

10st 11lb

J: Luke Scott

T: Stella Barclay

jumped left on occasions, held up in rear but in touch with leaders, lost ground after 11th, no chance when not fluent 2 out, soon pulled up

16/1

2nd

3

22nd Jan 2025

Good To Soft

3m 1f 54y

Class 4

13:08 Catterick

Rostello

10st 10lb

J: Luke Scott

T: Stella Barclay

in touch with leaders, not fluent 1st

25/1

9/4

  • Place: £1.40

Form: 664221 D

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 4lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Came good over hurdles at 15th attempt, digging deep to prevail by a neck at Hereford (3m1f, good to soft) a fortnight ago; 6lb rise demands a bit more from him, but at least we know he's in good nick.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

9

3rd Jun 2025

Good

3m 0f 60y

Class 5

17:00 Southwell

Fantomas

10st 4lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Battled on well to score off 5lb higher at Hereford (3m1f, good) in March 2024 and is also suited by this C&D but has performed poorly on all four appearances since last June and needs to turn a corner.

12/1

7th

9

3rd Jun 2025

Good

3m 0f 60y

Class 5

17:00 Southwell

Fantomas

10st 4lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Battled on well to score off 5lb higher at Hereford (3m1f, good) in March 2024 and is also suited by this C&D but has performed poorly on all four appearances since last June and needs to turn a corner.

12/1

11

21st Apr 2025

Good

2m 7f 131y

Class 5

16:44 Chepstow

Fantomas

10st 7lb

J: James Turner

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

midfield

16/1

Form: 3P6025

Last run: 36 days

W: 10st 13lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Somewhat disappointing when upped to 2m7f at Fakenham last month but his second on handicap debut at Southwell (2m4f, good to soft) in January was a good performance, and he's probably worth persisting with over this trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

8

23rd May 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 107y

Class 5

16:30 Cartmel

Mistymal

10st 11lb

J: James Bowen

T: Tim Vaughan

Form of October 2024's Hereford chase debut win (3m1f, good) has been consolidated rather than improved upon; fair record after long absences but realistically needs the wind surgery since last seen to elicit improvement.

10/1

5

5th Jun 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 177y

Class 5

18:45 Ffos Las

Mistymal

11st 2lb

J: David Noonan

T: Tim Vaughan

Scored at Hereford (3m1f, good) in October and ended last season with a pretty good third over that C&D; not always one to rely upon heavily but enters calculations.

5/1

Form: 9645P

Last run: 52 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Three-time Irish point winner who made quite promising handicap hurdle debut when fifth at Uttoxeter (2m6f, heavy; first-time tongue-tie) in December; that form has worked out well but his chasing debut in January was very disappointing and he quickly reverts to hurdling with a point to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

4

20th Apr 2024

Soft

3m 0f 30y

Class 5

13:40 Bangor-on-Dee

Tara Cove

11st 2lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Three-time Irish point winner; promising fifth on his handicap debut over hurdles but then pulled up on chase debut (behind Nine Nine Nine) and again disappointed back hurdling here four weeks ago; now has a point to prove.

16/1

6th

4

20th Apr 2024

Soft

3m 0f 30y

Class 5

13:40 Bangor-on-Dee

Tara Cove

11st 2lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Three-time Irish point winner; promising fifth on his handicap debut over hurdles but then pulled up on chase debut (behind Nine Nine Nine) and again disappointed back hurdling here four weeks ago; now has a point to prove.

16/1

5th

5

23rd Mar 2024

Soft

2m 7f 32y

Class 5

16:15 Bangor-on-Dee

Tara Cove

11st 7lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Three-time Irish point winner who made quite promising handicap hurdle debut when fifth at Uttoxeter (2m6f, heavy; first-time tongue-tie) in December; that form has worked out well but his chasing debut in January was very disappointing and he quickly reverts to hurdling with a point to prove.

8/1

Form: 44-86P

Last run: 108 days

W: 10st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 71

Form & Verdict
Belied triple-digit odds when fourth in this race a year ago but was pulled up on latest appearance in December and has now been unplaced all 12 hurdling starts; cheekpieces given a whirl today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

17th May 2025

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 5

17:20 Uttoxeter

Tis But A Scratch

10st 2lb

J: Tabitha Worsley

T: Georgie Howell

Pulled up behind Hardy Buck at Fakenham around Christmas, but a solid recent first outing since took his C&D record to 323, including a neck second in this race last year from further out of the weights.

12/1

6

17th May 2025

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 5

17:20 Uttoxeter

Tis But A Scratch

10st 2lb

J: Tabitha Worsley

T: Georgie Howell

Pulled up behind Hardy Buck at Fakenham around Christmas, but a solid recent first outing since took his C&D record to 323, including a neck second in this race last year from further out of the weights.

12/1

3rd

8

3rd May 2025

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 5

17:20 Uttoxeter

Tis But A Scratch

10st 8lb

J: Tabitha Worsley

T: Georgie Howell

Went close off a similar mark over C&D just under a year ago but only one effort of note since then; now 0-21 under rules and not the percentage call.

20/1

OUR TIP

Form: 3-PP03

Last run: 14 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
Struggled in first three handicaps but his third of 16 behind Fantomas at Hereford (3m1f, good to soft) a fortnight ago was much better; contender if able to build on that performance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

19th Apr 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 25y

Class 5

18:30 Exeter

Sea Village

11st 7lb

J: David Bass

T: Oliver Signy

Placed three times at up to 3m1f over hurdles, all on slow ground; well treated on his form of a year ago but plenty to prove based on three starts since wind surgery.

25/1

8

19th Apr 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 25y

Class 5

18:30 Exeter

Sea Village

11st 7lb

J: David Bass

T: Oliver Signy

Placed three times at up to 3m1f over hurdles, all on slow ground; well treated on his form of a year ago but plenty to prove based on three starts since wind surgery.

25/1

7th

1

23rd Mar 2024

Soft

2m 7f 32y

Class 5

16:15 Bangor-on-Dee

Sea Village

12st 0lb

J: Nick Scholfield

T: Oliver Signy

Struggled in first three handicaps but his third of 16 behind Fantomas at Hereford (3m1f, good to soft) a fortnight ago was much better; contender if able to build on that performance.

7/2

Form: -20625

Last run: 27 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
Placed on four of his eight hurdling starts, most recently when second at Hereford (2m3f, soft) in first-time cheekpieces last month; didn't run badly when upped to 2m5f there 11 days later and has possibilities here if suited by this even longer trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

4th Nov 2025

Good

3m 1f 100y

Class 5

15:32 Warwick

Iron DEx

11st 0lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Sheila Lewis

Ended last season in poor form but made quite encouraging reappearance when fourth (about 9l behind Ballynaheer) at Hereford (3m1f, good) three weeks ago; on very good mark now and has cheekpieces refitted today; dangerous to ignore.

4/1

2nd

4

4th Nov 2025

Good

3m 1f 100y

Class 5

15:32 Warwick

Iron DEx

11st 0lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Sheila Lewis

Ended last season in poor form but made quite encouraging reappearance when fourth (about 9l behind Ballynaheer) at Hereford (3m1f, good) three weeks ago; on very good mark now and has cheekpieces refitted today; dangerous to ignore.

4/1

2nd

4

4th Nov 2025

Good

3m 1f 100y

Class 5

15:32 Warwick

Iron DEx

11st 0lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Sheila Lewis

Ended last season in poor form but made quite encouraging reappearance when fourth (about 9l behind Ballynaheer) at Hereford (3m1f, good) three weeks ago; on very good mark now and has cheekpieces refitted today; dangerous to ignore.

4/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £189.70
Straight Forecast £167.70
Tricast £836.23
Trifecta £888.80

Selections

POSTDATA:

Fantomas

SPOTLIGHT:

Mistymal

Daily Mirror:

Iron D'Ex

RP RATINGS:

Sea Village

The Star:

Rostello

The Times:

Mistymal

D Express:

Mistymal

WEST COUNTRY:

Fantomas

Telegraph:

Fantomas

The Guardian:

Fantomas

Daily Mail:

Fantomas

The Sun:

Fantomas

Daily Record:

Fantomas