May 09 / 17.03 Huntingdon

17.03

Good

Virgin Bet Fives Open Maiden National Hunt Flat Race (Category 3 Elimination) (GBB Race) (Div II)

  • Prize money: £2178.4
  • 1m 7f 171y
  • Class 5
  • 9 runners
RTV
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Virgin Bet Fives Open Maiden National Hunt Flat Race (Category 3 Elimination) (GBB Race) (Div II)

Runners: 9 runners

Type: NH Flat

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

OUR TIP

20/1 (Won)

  • Win: £5.10
  • Place: £1.80

Form:

Last run:

W: 10st 12lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Dam is a half-sister to a number of more gifted dual-purpose performers than herself, notably Listed Italian Flat 2yo turned smart hurdler/chaser Desert Cry; runners from yards more prolific in bumpers oppose.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

15th Jul 2026

Good

1m 7f 168y

Class 4

15:48 Uttoxeter

King Ulanda

11st 8lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Dual hurdle winner who landed a 2m1f chase in May; failed to repeat that form when well held the following month but back over hurdles off a 6lb lower mark and can play a part if back on song.

10/1

4th

3

13th Jun 2026

Good

1m 7f 214y

Class 3

17:42 Uttoxeter

King Ulanda

10st 10lb

J: Toby Wynne

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Dual winner over hurdles and made a winning chase debut at Bangor (2m1f, good) four weeks ago; that race did fall apart with none of his rivals running their races and he has been whacked up 10lb as a result; that should still have given his confidence a boost.

5/2

1st

7

16th May 2026

Good

2m 1f 77y

Class 4

17:05 Bangor-on-Dee

King Ulanda

11st 2lb

J: Toby Wynne

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Productive autumn included a Carlisle hurdles win (2m1f, good) off 4lb lower; two flops either side of a late fall since March, however, and doesn't enter this chasing debut in the same good heart as some.

12/1

2/1

  • Place: £1.30

Form:

Last run:

W: 10st 11lb

5 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Only finally held off up the run-in when 2l second on February's Irish point start (3m, yielding; winner has joined Henry De Bromhead); pedigree speaks more to points or 2m2f-3m hurdles than bumpers, but it's still easier to make a case for him than many.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

8

9th May 2024

Good

1m 7f 171y

Class 5

17:03 Huntingdon

Handfulofpromises

10st 11lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

midfield, headway back straight, soon went second, briefly led over 2f out, weakened gradually inside final furlong

2/1

2nd

8

9th May 2024

Good

1m 7f 171y

Class 5

17:03 Huntingdon

Handfulofpromises

10st 11lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Only finally held off up the run-in when 2l second on February's Irish point start (3m, yielding; winner has joined Henry De Bromhead); pedigree speaks more to points or 2m2f-3m hurdles than bumpers, but it's still easier to make a case for him than many.

2/1

20/1

  • Place: £1.70

Form: 55-

Last run: 19 days

W: 10st 12lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Fifth on both outings this spring, albeit last time's effort in a Bangor junior contest rates the somewhat weaker form; could be that hopes rest on this first attempt on ground quicker than soft.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

5

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 58y

Class 2

14:46 Haydock

Walden

10st 11lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Tom Lacey

Won a good-ground maiden last April and two of his three handicaps this winter; latest was in 18-runner race at Ascot (2m7f, good to soft) seven weeks ago in which he travelled well and asserted on the run-in to score by just over 6l; 8lb higher today but more in the tank; major player.

6/1

1st

13

14th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 123y

Class 3

16:10 Ascot

Walden

11st 4lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Tom Lacey

Two hurdle wins last year, the latter from the front in Huntingdon handicap (2m4f, soft) in December; not in same form when well-held third off same mark at Ludlow (2m5f, good to soft) ten days later, though, and now 5lb higher; upped in trip again.

12/1

1st

8

20th Apr 2025

Good

2m 4f 139y

Class 4

15:45 Market Rasen

Walden

11st 6lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Tom Lacey

travelled strongly, in touch with leaders

10/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 10st 5lb

4 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Homebred first foal of Jester Jet, a Grade 3/Listed 2m3f-2m4f scorer for the same connections; starts at a realistic level, and yard has made a positive start to the brand new campaign; among likeliest.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

4

15th Jul 2026

Good

2m 3f 207y

Class 4

14:18 Uttoxeter

Jessie Jump Jet

11st 4lb

J: Ben Poste

T: Samuel Drinkwater

0-12 but she's finished runner-up in her last three hurdle runs including in a Market Rasen handicap (2m7f, good) last month; this drop back in trip is no problem and she has each-way claims back in a maiden.

5/1

2nd

3

12th Jun 2026

Good

2m 7f 16y

Class 5

18:16 Market Rasen

Jessie Jump Jet

11st 6lb

J: Robert Dunne

T: Samuel Drinkwater

Yet to win (0-11) but she couldn't have gone much closer at Warwick (2m5f, good; 16-1) on penultimate start, and backed that up with another solid effort here (2m3f) a fortnight ago; stamina is the question mark over this trip.

9/2

2nd

7

28th May 2026

Good

2m 2f 140y

Class 4

18:00 Market Rasen

Jessie Jump Jet

10st 11lb

J: Robert Dunne

T: Samuel Drinkwater

0-9 over hurdles but went close in Class 5 handicap at Warwick (2m5f, good) this month and should be fine over today's shorter trip; might have been found a good opportunity.

5/2

Form: 6/4-

Last run: 168 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Belied massive odds when fourth at Market Rasen in November (2m1f, good to soft), if still beaten over 14l having become outpaced; bit more to work with after that, but another significant step forward required.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

9th May 2026

Good

3m 0f 0y

Class 5

17:35 Warwick

Stonegate

10st 2lb

J: Cameron Iles

T: Brian Rothwell

Modest form over jumps so far and has been pulled up on last three chase starts; can only watch from 9lb out of the weights.

100/1

11

2nd May 2026

Good

3m 0f 10y

Class 5

15:10 Uttoxeter

Stonegate

10st 2lb

J: Cameron Iles

T: Brian Rothwell

14-race maiden who has no worthwhile form over jumps and was pulled up on his last two appearances; can't be recommended from out of the weights.

50/1

14

21st Jan 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 54y

Class 5

14:50 Catterick

Stonegate

10st 2lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Brian Rothwell

Pulled up/tailed off on all six chase starts and he would be a shock winner from 10lb out of the handicap.

100/1

Form: 7-

Last run: 29 days

W: 10st 12lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
16-1, outpaced and eventually weakened when 26l seventh on last month's Market Rasen bumper debut (2m1f, good to soft); can do better, but may equally need a little more time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

19th Apr 2025

Good

2m 4f 145y

Class 5

13:54 Huntingdon

Barleythorpe

11st 4lb

J: James Davies

T: Michael Appleby

Managed only sixth of seven (albeit not beaten that far) when upped to 2m4f for last month's handicap debut at Southwell (good; first-time hood); needs to learn to settle better.

33/1

8

19th Apr 2025

Good

2m 4f 145y

Class 5

13:54 Huntingdon

Barleythorpe

11st 4lb

J: James Davies

T: Michael Appleby

Managed only sixth of seven (albeit not beaten that far) when upped to 2m4f for last month's handicap debut at Southwell (good; first-time hood); needs to learn to settle better.

33/1

6th

4

27th Mar 2025

Good

2m 4f 88y

Class 5

17:40 Southwell

Barleythorpe

11st 6lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Michael Appleby

Hasn't achieved much in bumpers and novice/maiden hurdles (2m), and improvement is needed off his opening mark; however, his dam won at up to 2m4f and the first-time hood could help him settle now up in trip; not ruled out, and the betting may be informative.

12/1

Form: 9-

Last run: 29 days

W: 10st 12lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Beaten further (39l) in his division of a Market Rasen bumper last month than Barleythorpe was his, not necessarily working it all out; in good hands and can fare better, but plenty to find as it stands.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

1st Jun 2025

Good

2m 4f 1y

Class 5

17:05 Fakenham

Runaway Train

11st 12lb

J: Lilly Pinchin

T: James Owen

Ten-race maiden whose best form has been at 2m and he was tailed off when raised to 2m4f at Southwell (good) only recently; now goes in cheekpieces.

2/1

3

1st Jun 2025

Good

2m 4f 1y

Class 5

17:05 Fakenham

Runaway Train

11st 12lb

J: Lilly Pinchin

T: James Owen

Ten-race maiden whose best form has been at 2m and he was tailed off when raised to 2m4f at Southwell (good) only recently; now goes in cheekpieces.

2/1

1

20th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 88y

Class 5

16:50 Southwell

Runaway Train

11st 12lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: James Owen

0-7 over hurdles and absent since a poor performance in January but his second of 13 here (2m, good) in November was a good effort and he could plausibly have untapped potential over this longer trip.

11/2

Form: 0-

Last run: 54 days

W: 10st 12lb

4 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
18-1, beaten 38l on March's Kempton debut (good to soft), not settling in the now discarded hood; present attainment level hard to gauge on just that, and may find out more if he proves amenable to the tongue-tie.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

21st May 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

15:10 Warwick

Now I Know

11st 1lb

J: Freddie Gordon

T: Chris Gordon

Beaten at least 34l when consenting to jump off over hurdles, often refusing to settle; couldn't put maximum faith in him, even before factoring in a mark which looks stiff even judged on his peak bumper efforts.

14/1

6

21st May 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

15:10 Warwick

Now I Know

11st 1lb

J: Freddie Gordon

T: Chris Gordon

Beaten at least 34l when consenting to jump off over hurdles, often refusing to settle; couldn't put maximum faith in him, even before factoring in a mark which looks stiff even judged on his peak bumper efforts.

14/1

4th

2

21st Apr 2025

Good

1m 7f 195y

Class 3

15:10 Plumpton

Now I Know

11st 6lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Chris Gordon

Hasn't shown much at all and he refused to race at Wincanton four weeks ago when 80-1.

66/1

Form: 9-

Last run: 15 days

W: 10st 11lb

5 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
100-1, didn't work out the required when 69l ninth of nine on last month's Uttoxeter debut (soft).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

20th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 6f 45y

Class 4

12:20 Uttoxeter

Lucille Diamond

11st 0lb

J: Tom Buckley

T: Tracey Leeson

200-1 when pulled up at Huntingdon in a maiden won by Ebselysees; very opposable.

100/1

7

20th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 6f 45y

Class 4

12:20 Uttoxeter

Lucille Diamond

11st 0lb

J: Tom Buckley

T: Tracey Leeson

200-1 when pulled up at Huntingdon in a maiden won by Ebselysees; very opposable.

100/1

5

3rd Nov 2024

Good

2m 3f 137y

Class 4

14:33 Huntingdon

Lucille Diamond

11st 0lb

J: Harriet Tucker

T: Tracey Leeson

Triple-figure prices and modest form in two bumpers and a novice hurdle before unseating early in July; cheekpieces fitted; best watched.

200/1

Non-runners

Patch Man

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Payout
Exacta £19.80
Straight Forecast £14.40
Trifecta £68.00

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Patch Man

POSTDATA:

Handfulofpromises

Telegraph:

King Ulanda

NEWMARKET:

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The Times:

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D Express:

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Daily Mirror:

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The Sun:

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The Star:

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Daily Record:

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The Guardian:

Handfulofpromises

Daily Mail:

Handfulofpromises