March 27 / 17.05 Wincanton

17.05

Soft

Chard Novices’ Limited Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £4224.8
  • 2m 3f 179y
  • Class 5
  • 11 runners
RTV
View Course
Chard Novices’ Limited Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 11 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

OUR TIP

15/8 (Won)

  • Win: £3.50
  • Place: £1.20

Form: 465801 D

Last run: 15 days

W: 11st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 91

Form & Verdict
Tapped back into his bumper promise when a well-backed winner on handicap debut at Sedgefield (2m4f, soft), where he came clear in the closing stages; handicapper took aim with a 9lb rise but he's far from exposed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

7th Mar 2025

Soft

2m 6f 151y

Class 3

15:20 Leicester

Plaisir Des Flos

11st 4lb

J: Jack Hogan

T: Fergal O’Brien

Won five handicap hurdles on the bounce from last March onwards and has continued to hold his own, latterly behind a progressive winner at Bangor (2m7f, soft); had three months off prior to this chase debut but has to be of interest.

5/2

15/2

  • Place: £1.60

Form: 890

Last run: 75 days

W: 10st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
A well-held fourth in his only completed point; beaten 48l+ in three hurdles at about 2m but he now goes handicapping off a basement mark for respected connections and a tongue-tie is turned to; market can guide.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

2nd May 2026

Yielding

3m 7f 68y

15:05 Punchestown

Jasmin De Grugy

11st 0lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Anthony Honeyball

Runner-up in 3m1f handicap on this card last season and progressing well this season, recording third handicap win when scoring over 3m2f at Doncaster with runaway success in valuable 3-finisher contest in late February in first-time cheekpieces; plausible he could be open to more improvement at this extreme trip.

7/1

1st

6

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 2f 1y

Class 2

14:30 Doncaster

Jasmin De Grugy

11st 3lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Anthony Honeyball

2-6 over fences; a beaten favourite in his last two races but perhaps needed the first of those and departed too far out at Cheltenham to know how he'd have fared; potentially on a good mark should the new cheekpieces receive a positive response.

13/2

2nd

15

3rd May 2025

Yielding

3m 0f 104y

16:15 Punchestown

Jasmin De Grugy

10st 0lb

J: Simon Torrens

T: Anthony Honeyball

held up in rear, raced wide when headway 13th

10/1

12/1

  • Place: £2.20

Form: 9665

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 6lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Soft-ground point winner; latest 21l defeat in a 2m maiden at Plumpton (soft) is the closest he's come over hurdles and that run offers some hope now handicapping off this low a mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

5

12th Apr 2026

Good

2m 3f 83y

Class 5

16:20 Ffos Las

Just Aidan

11st 3lb

J: James Best

T: Harriet Dickin

Mixed results (U15) since wearing cheekpieces and switched to chasing; disappointing favourite on good ground last time; rebound needed in the retained headgear.

13/2

5th

3

18th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 8y

Class 5

16:00 Hereford

Just Aidan

11st 6lb

J: James Best

T: Harriet Dickin

Dual hurdle winner who made it second time lucky over fences when beating seven rivals in a Bangor handicap (2m2f, soft) last month; up 5lb but he turned things around with that comfortable success and should have more to offer in this sphere; key player.

7/4

1st

5

25th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 1f 77y

Class 5

16:30 Bangor-on-Dee

Just Aidan

10st 12lb

J: James Best

T: Harriet Dickin

Two wins over hurdles; showed nothing in that discipline on his return from a break and unseated mid-race on chase debut three weeks ago; too risky.

14/1

Form: PP/075

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 1lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
0-3 on the AW and 0-6 over hurdles, yet to place; the ground has been heavy for his two handicaps (beaten 56l and 35l) but has too much to prove.
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: 8P0-68

Last run: 77 days

W: 10st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 68

Form & Verdict
Hard to get remotely excited about his first five runs (at about 2m) and goes handicapping with it all to prove; had wind surgery; wore cheekpieces last time; 2lb out of the weights.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

12

30th Aug 2024

Good

2m 5f 164y

Class 5

19:20 Fontwell

Milton Boy

10st 5lb

J: David Noonan

T: Nigel Hawke

held up in rear, some headway from 2 out, never dangerous

25/1

16

17th Jul 2024

Good

3m 2f 13y

Class 5

15:40 Uttoxeter

Milton Boy

10st 2lb

J: James Davies

T: Nigel Hawke

Seven-race maiden; fifth of seven on chasing debut at Fontwell (2m3f, good; beaten 27l) five weeks ago; far easier to look elsewhere for the solution.

50/1

5th

10

12th Jun 2024

Good

2m 3f 104y

Class 5

15:13 Fontwell

Milton Boy

10st 2lb

J: David Noonan

T: Nigel Hawke

took keen hold, held up in rear, outpaced 7th

33/1

Form: 2P54P3

Last run: 14 days

W: 10st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 71

Form & Verdict
Not living up to his name as a 14-race maiden and, although placed a couple of times, he can be keen and inconsistent; tongue-tie joins regular hood.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

11th Apr 2025

Good

2m 1f 162y

Class 5

14:50 Fontwell

Onnaroll

10st 2lb

J: Lorcan Murtagh

T: Cynthia Woods

led

66/1

9

11th Apr 2025

Good

2m 1f 162y

Class 5

14:50 Fontwell

Onnaroll

10st 2lb

J: Lorcan Murtagh

T: Cynthia Woods

led

66/1

13

2nd Mar 2025

Good To Soft

1m 7f 171y

Class 5

16:27 Huntingdon

Onnaroll

10st 2lb

J: Lorcan Murtagh

T: Cynthia Woods

taken down early

66/1

Form: -98P53

Last run: 42 days

W: 11st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Has been disappointing since a successful bumper debut but there's some light at the end of the tunnel after running third over this trip at Fontwell (heavy; 5-1); now goes in cheekpieces and he has each-way claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

28th Mar 2025

Good

2m 5f 135y

Class 5

14:40 Fontwell

The Cox Express

11st 0lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Robert Walford

midfield, in rear when mistake 3rd, struggling 10th, detached when almost fell 11th

6/1

7

20th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 7f 110y

Class 5

14:35 Lingfield

The Cox Express

10st 11lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Robert Walford

Second of 15 on chase debut at Exeter (2m3f, good to soft) in December and ran below market expectations next time (2m7f); question marks over today's distance but that penultimate effort commands respect.

7/1

8th

9

18th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 3y

Class 5

15:50 Taunton

The Cox Express

10st 11lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Robert Walford

towards rear

4/1

Form: 53/4-

Last run: 690 days

W: 11st 10lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
Just minor efforts in three runs during the opening half of 2022 but handicapped accordingly and needs checking in the betting on this belated return; steps up from 2m.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

27th Mar 2024

Soft

2m 3f 179y

Class 5

17:05 Wincanton

Dances On The Sand

11st 10lb

J: Gearoid Harney

T: David Pipe

Just minor efforts in three runs during the opening half of 2022 but handicapped accordingly and needs checking in the betting on this belated return; steps up from 2m.

14/1

Form: -227P9

Last run: 55 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Out of a sister to the stable's superstar Cue Card but this 6yo has stopped quickly in all three handicaps; however, there was promise in his qualifying runs and perhaps the wind op/tongue-tie factors can help him turn things around.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

25th Jun 2024

Good

2m 2f 110y

Class 5

16:00 Newton Abbot

Bala Brook

11st 1lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Joe Tizzard

Out of a sister to the stable's top-class chaser Cue Card but hasn't progressed since twice finishing runner-up in 2m5f non-handicaps here last summer; underwent wind surgery before falling at Wincanton when outpaced at the time, though that was on soft ground; tongue-tie tried last time is retained and he might yet turn a corner.

12/1

Form: 6061 D

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 4lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Flat winner in France last April over 2m; therefore, it was hardly a bolt from the blue that this 4yo improved for the step up to 2m3f when making all for a successful handicap debut at Taunton (soft); won that with a bit up his sleeve so strongly considered here up 6lb with Cobden booked.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

10th Apr 2025

Good

2m 5f 122y

Class 5

14:45 Newton Abbot

Johannes

10st 10lb

J: Ben Bromley

T: David Pipe

Made a winning handicap debut at Taunton (about 2m3f, soft) 13 months ago but the wheels have come off on a variety of ground since, pulled up in four of those five starts and tailed off in the other; blinkers (one sibling wore them for her two wins) are now given a go, replacing recent cheekpieces.

14/1

4

10th Apr 2025

Good

2m 5f 122y

Class 5

14:45 Newton Abbot

Johannes

10st 10lb

J: Ben Bromley

T: David Pipe

led, clear after 2nd, reduced lead when slow jump and headed 3rd

14/1

15

21st Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 137y

Class 5

16:30 Exeter

Johannes

10st 9lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

towards rear, not fluent 4th

33/1

Form: 443355

Last run: 55 days

W: 11st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
1-7 in points and 0-12 under rules; failed to build on a third over fences earlier this season but the ability is there to run well off this low a mark and he's not had much racing over hurdles.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

24th May 2024

Good

2m 0f 8y

Class 5

18:30 Hereford

Ballymagee

10st 4lb

J: Liam Harrison

T: Robbie Llewellyn

Kept on for respectable third at Ffos Las (2m, good to soft) in October, his second start for Robbie Llewellyn, but has gone the wrong way since; pulled up over hurdles on latest outing in March; needs to turn a corner.

10/1

9

24th May 2024

Good

2m 0f 8y

Class 5

18:30 Hereford

Ballymagee

10st 4lb

J: Liam Harrison

T: Robbie Llewellyn

Kept on for respectable third at Ffos Las (2m, good to soft) in October, his second start for Robbie Llewellyn, but has gone the wrong way since; pulled up over hurdles on latest outing in March; needs to turn a corner.

10/1

9

27th Mar 2024

Soft

2m 3f 179y

Class 5

17:05 Wincanton

Ballymagee

11st 0lb

J: Charlie Price

T: Robbie Llewellyn

1-7 in points and 0-12 under rules; failed to build on a third over fences earlier this season but the ability is there to run well off this low a mark and he's not had much racing over hurdles.

20/1

Non-runners

Clinton Lane

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £10.90
Straight Forecast £9.28
Tricast £110.64
Trifecta £106.00

Selections

Daily Mail:

Johannes

WEST COUNTRY:

Plaisir Des Flos

RP RATINGS:

Clinton Lane

D Express:

Just Aidan

SPOTLIGHT:

Jasmin De Grugy

Daily Mirror:

Johannes

The Star:

Johannes

Daily Record:

Johannes

POSTDATA:

Clinton Lane

Telegraph:

Clinton Lane

The Times:

Plaisir Des Flos

The Guardian:

Plaisir Des Flos

The Sun:

Plaisir Des Flos