May 09 / 18.20 Stratford

18.20

Good To Soft

interbet.com Novices’ Limited Handicap Hurdle (Div II)

  • Prize money: £3511.86
  • 2m 6f 7y
  • Class 5
  • 8 runners
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interbet.com Novices’ Limited Handicap Hurdle (Div II)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

7/4 (Won)

  • Win: £2.38
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 36P31- C

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Came good over hurdles on second start for current stable, making all to win fairly easily here (3m2f, good to soft) last month; went up 10lb for that but could quite plausibly make further progress for Mel Rowley.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

10

25th May 2026

Good

2m 6f 31y

Class 5

14:13 Cartmel

R Bernard

10st 6lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Mel Rowley

Won twice at Stratford (3m2f/2m6f) in spring 2024 and well handicapped on those efforts but lost his way afterwards and has been absent since well-held fourth at Stratford 13 months ago; had wind op last month.

10/1

4th

5

13th Apr 2025

Good

3m 2f 83y

Class 5

14:50 Stratford

R Bernard

11st 9lb

J: Tabitha Worsley

T: Mel Rowley

Won this race a year ago (good to soft), his second start for Mel Rowley, and followed up off today's mark here (2m6f, good) in May; looked out of sorts in the winter when last seen but is still of some interest on return to this track.

3/1

5

13th Apr 2025

Good

3m 2f 83y

Class 5

14:50 Stratford

R Bernard

11st 9lb

J: Tabitha Worsley

T: Mel Rowley

Won this race a year ago (good to soft), his second start for Mel Rowley, and followed up off today's mark here (2m6f, good) in May; looked out of sorts in the winter when last seen but is still of some interest on return to this track.

3/1

8/1

  • Place: £1.90

Form: 4345P-

Last run: 149 days

W: 10st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
0-9 over hurdles and not seen since struggling on heavy ground in December (first-time cheekpieces; retained) but the form he was showing on goodish ground last summer/autumn brings him into the equation.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

7

18th Oct 2025

Good

2m 6f 7y

Class 5

17:05 Stratford

Inspector Lynley

10st 3lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Neil Mulholland

Beaten 20l by a handicap blot when second at Fontwell (2m5f, good) and was then a disappointing favourite at Southwell; however, he is on his last winning mark and Sean Bowen takes over.

7/2

7

2nd Oct 2025

Good

3m 0f 60y

Class 5

17:15 Southwell

Inspector Lynley

10st 11lb

J: Benjamin Macey

T: Neil Mulholland

Just 1-17 over hurdles but returned from break with fairly good second at Fontwell (2m5f, good) last month, albeit no threat to a handicap blot; will be fine over today's longer trip; high on the list.

3/1

5

7th Sep 2025

Good

2m 5f 164y

Class 5

14:12 Fontwell

Inspector Lynley

10st 9lb

J: Harriet Tucker

T: Neil Mulholland

Now back on same mark as for hard-fought success at Stratford (2m6f, good) last summer but returned from break with low-key C&D run in May and has been absent for another four months since.

10/1

OUR TIP

12/1

  • Place: £2.30

Form: /79F5-

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 12lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
0-11 over hurdles but has become well handicapped on some of his 2022-23 season form and returned from break with fairly encouraging run last month (first start after wind op); dangerous to ignore.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

3rd Jun 2026

Good To Firm

3m 2f 0y

Class 5

18:55 Warwick

Groom De Cotte

11st 5lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Gary Brown

Won over fences 13 months ago but returned from layoff with lacklustre hurdle run in April and is difficult to enthuse over after that performance; has usual tongue-tie refitted; seems versatile ground-wise.

14/1

8th

2

2nd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 131y

Class 5

16:39 Chepstow

Groom De Cotte

11st 12lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Gary Brown

Won over fences at Huntingdon (2m7f, good to soft) last March and returned from break with pleasing fourth over hurdles there (3m1f, good to soft) in November; absent for another 131 days since but won't be far away if in similar form again.

5/1

Form: U9/9P-

Last run: 61 days

W: 10st 5lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 71

Form & Verdict
Well beaten on both outings last season and now 0-13 over hurdles; 2lb out of the weights here; can't be recommended.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

9

9th May 2024

Good To Soft

2m 6f 7y

Class 5

18:20 Stratford

Spiritus Mundi

10st 5lb

J: Charlie Price

T: Nikki Evans

Well beaten on both outings last season and now 0-13 over hurdles; 2lb out of the weights here; can't be recommended.

50/1

4th

9

9th May 2024

Good To Soft

2m 6f 7y

Class 5

18:20 Stratford

Spiritus Mundi

10st 5lb

J: Charlie Price

T: Nikki Evans

Well beaten on both outings last season and now 0-13 over hurdles; 2lb out of the weights here; can't be recommended.

50/1

11

9th Mar 2024

Soft

2m 3f 147y

Class 5

16:02 Hereford

Spiritus Mundi

10st 6lb

J: Shane Quinlan

T: Nikki Evans

18-race maiden; tailed off here (2m5f, good) on seasonal debut in November and not seen again since; not the obvious answer.

66/1

Form: P/586-

Last run: 93 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
Represents a top stable but has been safely held in all five handicap hurdles (2m3f-3m; cheekpieces added last time); continues to slide down the weights but is difficult to enthuse over.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

24th Oct 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 174y

Class 5

15:55 Ludlow

Propelled

11st 0lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

Runner-up at Stratford in July (3m2f, good) but remains a maiden and he soon capitulated after a mistake three out at Fontwell a month ago; blinkers go on for cheekpieces.

5/1

5

24th Sep 2024

Good

3m 1f 166y

Class 5

15:05 Fontwell

Propelled

11st 1lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

led at steady pace

3/1

2nd

4

21st Jul 2024

Good

3m 2f 83y

Class 5

14:25 Stratford

Propelled

11st 0lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

Beaten in six handicaps from 2m3f to 3m and latest 10l defeat here is the closest he's been; not without hope if he can find something on that off an ever-reducing mark.

4/1

Form: 4/0P6-

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 5lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Won a point in 2022 but yet to be placed after six starts under rules; not disgraced when sixth of eight here (2m2f, good to soft) last month, after a break, but needs to have taken significant benefit from that outing.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

3rd Jun 2026

Good To Firm

3m 2f 0y

Class 5

18:55 Warwick

Hitthekettle

10st 2lb

J: Benjamin Macey

T: Michael Gates

Unplaced all nine hurdling starts; gave fairly good account before weakening into fourth of seven over C&D (good) in March but is effectively 9lb higher from out of the weights today; gained his point win on soft to heavy ground.

40/1

4th

8

26th Mar 2026

Good

3m 2f 0y

Class 5

14:58 Warwick

Hitthekettle

10st 10lb

J: James Turner

T: Michael Gates

Didn't run badly when fourth over hurdles at Stratford last July and he's now 9lb lower; this 10yo is now 0-12 under rules having struggled on his three starts since but those were over fences; not ruled out.

9/1

6

12th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 4f 25y

Class 5

13:30 Leicester

Hitthekettle

10st 2lb

J: James Turner

T: Michael Gates

Record of 1-7 in points and he's 0-11 under rules; still unexposed over regulations fences but he struggled back in this sphere in two runs at Worcester (2m7f, good) in the autumn; has lots to prove after four months off and he's well into the veteran stage.

50/1

Form: 38008-

Last run: 106 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Cut little ice in three slow-ground maiden/novice hurdles during the winter (1m7f-2m) but was placed in a good-ground bumper in September and is back on a quicker surface for today's handicap hurdle debut; moves up in trip; no surprise if he displays significant improvement.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

13

1st Jun 2024

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

12:40 Worcester

Bahio Boum

10st 10lb

J: Tristan Durrell

T: Dan Skelton

With a top stable and remains unexposed but made very underwhelming handicap hurdle debut when seventh of eight at Stratford (2m6f, good) last month and needs to take a big step forward on this chasing debut.

12/1

7th

6

9th May 2024

Good To Soft

2m 6f 7y

Class 5

18:20 Stratford

Bahio Boum

11st 0lb

J: Fergus Gillard

T: Dan Skelton

Cut little ice in three slow-ground maiden/novice hurdles during the winter (1m7f-2m) but was placed in a good-ground bumper in September and is back on a quicker surface for today's handicap hurdle debut; moves up in trip; no surprise if he displays significant improvement.

7/2

7th

6

9th May 2024

Good To Soft

2m 6f 7y

Class 5

18:20 Stratford

Bahio Boum

11st 0lb

J: Fergus Gillard

T: Dan Skelton

Cut little ice in three slow-ground maiden/novice hurdles during the winter (1m7f-2m) but was placed in a good-ground bumper in September and is back on a quicker surface for today's handicap hurdle debut; moves up in trip; no surprise if he displays significant improvement.

7/2

Form: 50F43-

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Made the frame in first two handicaps, more recently when third at Exeter (2m2f, good) three weeks ago; needs to find something extra here but has been shaping as though the longer trip might suit.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

9th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 6f 125y

Class 4

16:20 Stratford

Star Of Affinity

12st 0lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Won three times over hurdles and got off the mark in this sphere in a match at Plumpton (2m4f, soft) four weeks ago; up 4lb and difficult to evaluate but on an upward curve and one to be interested in.

11/4

1st

1

9th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 3f 166y

Class 4

13:45 Plumpton

Star Of Affinity

11st 10lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Three-time hurdle winner (2m-2m5f; all on right-handed tracks); respectable efforts in both runs over fences, last time runner-up at Wincanton; won't mind returning to further or getting back on softer ground.

11/4

Non-runners

Eric Carmen, Invincible De Mee

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £8.90
Straight Forecast £9.20
Tricast £37.57
Trifecta £48.30

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

R Bernard

WEST COUNTRY:

Star Of Affinity

Telegraph:

Propelled

The Times:

Bahio Boum

Daily Mail:

Star Of Affinity

The Sun:

Propelled

RP RATINGS:

R Bernard

POSTDATA:

R Bernard

The Guardian:

R Bernard

D Express:

R Bernard

Daily Mirror:

R Bernard

The Star:

R Bernard

Daily Record:

R Bernard