September 30 / 15.10 Newton Abbot

15.10

Heavy

Visit attheraces.com Novices’ Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £5309.31
  • 3m 2f 105y
  • Class 5
  • 7 runners
SKY
View Course
Visit attheraces.com Novices’ Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

Form: -23211

Last run: 4 days

W: 12st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Improving 6yo; winner of his two most recent starts in handicaps since upped to 3m-3m1f, latest when making all at Perth (good; has won on heavy); obvious claims in his hat-trick bid with a capable claimer now taking over and helping offset some of his penalty; the one to beat.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

16th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 2

18:50 Uttoxeter

Skyjack Hijack

11st 6lb

J: William Shanahan

T: Jennie Candlish

Went up 41lb for his six wins in staying hurdles in 2024; was subsequently absent for 441 days and hasn't run anything like as well since.

16/1

6th

1

24th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 3

15:47 Perth

Skyjack Hijack

12st 2lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jennie Candlish

On a roll in the second half of 2024, rattling off six straight wins (2m5f-3m1f), but pulled up on belated return at Kelso at the end of February; entitled to strip fitter but can still only watch.

20/1

2

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 189y

Class 2

15:30 Kelso

Skyjack Hijack

12st 0lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jennie Candlish

On a roll in the second half of 2024, rattling off six straight wins (2m5f-3m1f) before coming unstuck when favourite for Grade 2 novice at Cheltenham; it's possible he's still to reach his ceiling but he'll need to be firing on all cylinders after 441 days off.

14/1

OUR TIP

Form: 4F232-

Last run: 159 days

W: 11st 13lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Sole success came over fences at Taunton in December 2022; posted a couple of solid efforts after wind surgery either side of a well-beaten third when encountering testing ground at Chepstow in March; heavy ground is a worry now reverting to hurdles.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

16th Apr 2025

Good

2m 7f 177y

Class 5

19:15 Ffos Las

Airtothethrone

12st 7lb

J: Lewis Saunders

T: Billy Aprahamian

With new yard for last two outings and contributed to their recent good form with a C&D win (good to soft) from Another Lord ten days ago, with his usual tongue-tie removed; has 7lb penalty and a 7lb claimer is recruited; probably as good as ever but a bit more may be needed from him.

9/2

3rd

1

16th Apr 2025

Good

2m 7f 177y

Class 5

19:15 Ffos Las

Airtothethrone

12st 7lb

J: Lewis Saunders

T: Billy Aprahamian

With new yard for last two outings and contributed to their recent good form with a C&D win (good to soft) from Another Lord ten days ago, with his usual tongue-tie removed; has 7lb penalty and a 7lb claimer is recruited; probably as good as ever but a bit more may be needed from him.

9/2

1st

2

6th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 177y

Class 5

15:30 Ffos Las

Airtothethrone

12st 0lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Billy Aprahamian

Rather inconsistent for Tim Vaughan since Taunton win in 2022 and made low-key stable debut last month, but has possibilities in this lower grade if that recent outing brought him on.

8/1

Form: 07-P64

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 99

Form & Verdict
Well-held sixth after a wind op on last month's stable debut but improved considerably upon that upped to 2m7f when a keeping-on fourth back there 19 days ago; well beaten on anything worse than yielding in Ireland so heavy ground is a concern but still of interest on handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

2

6th Nov 2024

Good

2m 7f 131y

Class 5

14:55 Chepstow

Shaving

11st 12lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

Failed to go on for Willie Mullins; just her second run for this yard when a close fourth at Worcester (2m7f, good; 100-1) up in trip in September but below that form on handicap debut at Hereford (3m1f, good) last month; still early days but needs to do better.

14/1

7th

2

6th Nov 2024

Good

2m 7f 131y

Class 5

14:55 Chepstow

Shaving

11st 12lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

Failed to go on for Willie Mullins; just her second run for this yard when a close fourth at Worcester (2m7f, good; 100-1) up in trip in September but below that form on handicap debut at Hereford (3m1f, good) last month; still early days but needs to do better.

14/1

5th

4

14th Oct 2024

Good

3m 1f 119y

Class 4

16:00 Hereford

Shaving

11st 6lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

soon led narrowly or disputed lead, raced in second after 2nd, led from 5th, headed 3 out

8/1

Form: -16324 C

Last run: 6 days

W: 11st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
Maiden hurdler who has looked a better proposition over fences this season, winning one of his five starts and in the frame on three other occasions (2m4f-3m2f), reverts to hurdles on a 5lb lower mark and likely to run his race; handles most ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

18th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 122y

Class 4

16:15 Newton Abbot

Coconut Twist

11st 8lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Daisy Hitchins

Won three times in early part of year and was back in good nick when close fourth (hampered close home) over C&D (good) last month but may find others better handicapped in this stronger race; cheekpieces refitted.

16/1

2

29th Sep 2025

Good

2m 5f 122y

Class 4

16:50 Newton Abbot

Coconut Twist

11st 12lb

J: Robbie David

T: Daisy Hitchins

Won three times in early part of this year, most recently here (3m2f, good) in April, but seemed to have gone off the boil on last two outings in May/June and current mark demands a career-best performance.

5/1

15

29th Jun 2025

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 2

13:30 Uttoxeter

Coconut Twist

10st 5lb

J: Mr Robbie David

T: Daisy Hitchins

Ridden by Robbie David on last eight outings; won four of his 15 races last season, with a stack of place returns as well; latest win was off a 5lb lower mark at Newton Abbot (3m2f, good) in April, followed by a creditable second there but he was pulled up at Southwell five weeks ago; has bounced back before but this is a tough race in which to do it.

16/1

Form: 744

Last run: 85 days

W: 10st 11lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 91

Form & Verdict
Has shown some ability, the latest when a staying-on fourth at Market Rasen (2m4f, good) in July and that form has some substance with the second and third having been placed since; should stay this far and she needs considering on handicap debut; handles heavy.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

3rd Jun 2026

Good

3m 2f 105y

Class 4

16:00 Newton Abbot

Queens Venture

12st 0lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: D Summersby

Completed a double (2m6f/2m5f, good/good to soft) when winning here for Dan Skelton last August; she's run some reasonable races since for this yard but was a well-beaten second of two finishers at Fontwell recently.

10/1

2nd

2

24th May 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 164y

Class 4

15:45 Fontwell

Queens Venture

11st 12lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: D Summersby

Led close home to land quite valuable prize for Dan Skelton at Newton Abbot (2m5f, good to soft) last summer; not at same level on any of three subsequent starts for new stable but ran well for long way when fourth of five at Hereford (3m1f, good) this month, after a break, and may be better suited by this shorter trip.

13/2

4th

4

5th May 2026

Good

3m 1f 119y

Class 4

18:47 Hereford

Queens Venture

11st 7lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: D Summersby

Signed off for Dan Skelton with two wins last summer (about 2m6f); shaped well on stable debut when third at Newcastle in November but pulled up at Chepstow three weeks later, both at about 3m; off 150 days but she's won off similar breaks in the past and not ruled out if back on song.

10/1

Form: 005820 BF

Last run: 6 days

W: 10st 3lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Best hurdle run when beaten a neck at Cartmel (3m1f, heavy) last month but failed to back that up when last to finish at Fontwell (good) six days ago when reported to have stopped quickly; tongue-tie now goes on and a return to a more demanding surface should also help; place claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

12

25th May 2026

Good

2m 6f 31y

Class 5

14:13 Cartmel

Lady Harriett

10st 2lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Mickey Bowen

Suited by this track and has the assistance of Sean Bowen but has not been at her best since returning from a break in the autumn and would appeal more on good to soft or slower ground; 2lb out of the weights.

7/1

5th

7

4th May 2026

Good

3m 1f 5y

Class 5

15:50 Warwick

Lady Harriett

10st 2lb

J: Shane Fenelon

T: Mickey Bowen

Won over 2m4f in late 2024; a couple of thirds in the meantime but pulled up the last twice when slow ground was no excuse.

11/2

7

18th Feb 2026

3m 0f 60y

Class 5

16:55 Southwell

Lady Harriett

10st 2lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Mickey Bowen

First-time cheekpieces did the trick when she won at Ffos Las in November 2024 and she matched that form when third of 14 here (also about 2m4f, good to soft) last February; inconsistent and generally struggling since and pulled up after a bad mistake when blinkered for chase debut last time; handy mark, however, and the return to hurdles and cheekpieces might help.

8/1

Abandoned

Form: 85-P04

Last run: 22 days

W: 10st 2lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
Shown only minor promise, the pick of her form coming on a sound surface, and has failed to find any significant improvement for cheekpieces/blinkers on latest two starts (omitted here); 2lb out of the weights.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

23rd Oct 2024

Soft

2m 3f 29y

Class 5

16:45 Fontwell

Jaunty Belle

10st 2lb

J: Conor Ring

T: David Rees

Ran much better than 30l defeat might suggest when fourth under very positive ride here (2m5f, good to soft; first-time blinkers) last month but she's effectively on the same mark from 2lb out of the weights today and has now been unplaced all eight hurdling starts; cheekpieces refitted.

14/1

4th

4

8th Sep 2024

Good To Soft

2m 5f 164y

Class 5

13:55 Fontwell

Jaunty Belle

10st 8lb

J: Jay Tidball

T: David Rees

prominent, led after 1st, bad mistake 2nd, joined 3rd, not fluent 5th

16/1

Verdict

Queens Venture (second choice) has potential upped in distance on her handicap debut but SKYJACK HIJACK (nap) is on a steep upward curve and should take all the beating in his hat-trick bid with conditions ideal. Lady Harriett has to be forgiven a poor run last time but could leave that effort behind now returned to heavy ground. [Tim Mitchell]

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Skyjack Hijack

The Times:

Lady Harriett

WEST COUNTRY:

Coconut Twist

RP RATINGS:

Skyjack Hijack

POSTDATA:

Skyjack Hijack

Telegraph:

Skyjack Hijack

The Guardian:

Skyjack Hijack

Daily Mail:

Skyjack Hijack

D Express:

Skyjack Hijack

Daily Mirror:

Skyjack Hijack

The Sun:

Skyjack Hijack

The Star:

Skyjack Hijack

Daily Record:

Skyjack Hijack