October 08 / 16.35 Huntingdon

16.35

Good

JCB Hydradig Novices’ Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £3828.72
  • 2m 7f 129y
  • Class 5
  • 7 runners
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JCB Hydradig Novices’ Handicap Chase

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

6/1 (Won)

  • Win: £5.50
  • Place: £2.50

Form: 36-49

Last run: 111 days

W: 10st 11lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Failed to build on his reappearance promise when only ninth of 11 in 2m Worcester novice hurdle in June; cheekpieces go on for his chasing debut and this point winner may improve for a yard among the winners.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

5

3rd Jun 2026

Good To Firm

3m 2f 0y

Class 5

18:55 Warwick

Touchwoodexpress

11st 3lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Absent since two below-par runs in November but returned from a break to win five-runner contest at Newton Abbot (3m2f, good) in September, and is now back on the same mark; seems best on good ground but once won a point on soft; can't be ruled out.

11/1

4

23rd Oct 2025

Good To Firm

2m 7f 174y

Class 5

15:37 Ludlow

Touchwoodexpress

11st 10lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Achieved more on RPRs for his Newton Abbot 3m2f class 5 win last time (good) than Arctic Angel did for hers, despite bleeding from the nose; up just 2lb and he's hugely unexposed as a handicap hurdler.

2/1

4

29th Sep 2025

Good

3m 2f 105y

Class 5

15:41 Newton Abbot

Touchwoodexpress

11st 4lb

J: Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Returned from break to make winning chase/handicap debut at Huntingdon (2m7f, good; first-time cheekpieces) last autumn; absent since falling on consecutive outings during the winter but still enters calculations on this handicap hurdle debut.

7/2

Form: B76-32

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Maiden hurdler but this point winner has started well over fences, having a wind op before a very good second of seven in 3m2f Fontwell handicap two weeks ago; winner has gone in since so he's firmly in the picture off the same mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

7th May 2025

Good

3m 1f 210y

Class 5

19:40 Fontwell

Getupearly

10st 8lb

J: Micheal Nolan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Winning pointer; 18 defeats under rules equally divided between hurdles and fences; however, accepted the new cheekpieces when runner-up at Huntingdon (2m7f, good) last time and that run offers hope.

4/1

5th

4

7th May 2025

Good

3m 1f 210y

Class 5

19:40 Fontwell

Getupearly

10st 8lb

J: Micheal Nolan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Winning pointer; 18 defeats under rules equally divided between hurdles and fences; however, accepted the new cheekpieces when runner-up at Huntingdon (2m7f, good) last time and that run offers hope.

4/1

2nd

5

11th Apr 2025

Good

2m 7f 129y

Class 5

18:38 Huntingdon

Getupearly

10st 13lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Winning pointer who is 0-17 under rules and 0-8 as a chaser; he does have placed form in this discipline but his last three efforts have been well below his best, the latest after wind surgery; bit risky with cheekpieces turned to.

2/1

Form: P7-286 D

Last run: 37 days

W: 10st 11lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Resumed with a promising second in 3m Ffos Las handicap chase in May and he also caught the eye when a running-on sixth of 11 back hurdling at Worcester (2m4f) last month; interesting.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

6

24th May 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 210y

Class 5

15:10 Fontwell

Unspeakable

11st 1lb

J: Mr J J Murphy-Knight

T: Christian Williams

Battled well for narrow win off today's mark at Hereford (3m1f, good; wore cheekpieces) in the autumn but was given break after disappointing effort in December and again ran poorly when reappearing (without cheekpieces) last month; the cheekpieces are missing again here; stablemate Prince Cleni has much stronger claims.

10/1

6th

6

19th Apr 2026

Good

3m 3f 119y

Class 5

15:43 Stratford

Unspeakable

10st 12lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Christian Williams

Landed his second success over fences, at Hereford (3m1f, good) in October off 1lb lower mark; second at Plumpton the following month but was tailed off at Wincanton when last seen; has been freshened up since and holds claims if putting his best foot forward.

9/2

3

21st Oct 2025

Good To Firm

2m 7f 25y

Class 5

16:00 Exeter

Unspeakable

10st 9lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Christian Williams

Dug deep to win over fences last week at Hereford (3m1f, good) and gets in here over hurdles off the same mark; clear claims.

100/30

OUR TIP

Form: -22547

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 11lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
Twice runner-up over fences in May, including over C&D, but she turned in a below-par seventh back hurdling at Worcester (2m7f) last month; she needs to bounce back.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

15th Nov 2024

Good

3m 0f 60y

Class 4

12:23 Southwell

Hamartia

11st 0lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Neil Mulholland

Back on track with last month's Huntingdon fourth (3m, good), but once again couldn't tease out her resources for long enough and the change of headgear looks worth a go; player if that works with mark never lower.

9/2

5th

6

15th Nov 2024

Good

3m 0f 60y

Class 4

12:23 Southwell

Hamartia

11st 0lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Neil Mulholland

Back on track with last month's Huntingdon fourth (3m, good), but once again couldn't tease out her resources for long enough and the change of headgear looks worth a go; player if that works with mark never lower.

9/2

4th

2

8th Oct 2024

Good

2m 7f 129y

Class 5

16:35 Huntingdon

Hamartia

11st 11lb

J: James Bowen

T: Neil Mulholland

Twice runner-up over fences in May, including over C&D, but she turned in a below-par seventh back hurdling at Worcester (2m7f) last month; she needs to bounce back.

8/1

Form: 55P-1P BF

Last run: 41 days

W: 10st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
Gained his breakthrough success at Worcester (2m4f) in July but he's not the most reliable and was pulled up there following month; others appeal more.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

2nd Jul 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

14:15 Worcester

She Has Notions

10st 4lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Martin Keighley

Looked out of sorts when pulled up on last two hurdling starts but won race this race under Sean Bowen a year ago (good ground) and is only 1lb higher today; contender if perked up by headgear switch.

7/1

6

9th Jun 2025

Good

3m 0f 60y

Class 5

17:20 Southwell

She Has Notions

10st 2lb

J: Freddie Keighley

T: Martin Keighley

Only 3l away at Newton Abbot (2m5f, good) but was pulled up over nearly 3m at Uttoxeter; didn't appear to stay but goes again at about 3m with a tongue-tie added; 4lb out of the weights.

10/1

7

3rd May 2025

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 5

17:20 Uttoxeter

She Has Notions

10st 10lb

J: Freddie Keighley

T: Martin Keighley

Winning chaser who is 0-11 over hurdles but was only 3l away at Newton Abbot three weeks ago (2m5f, good); stamina not proven over this far but has each-way claims.

5/1

25/1

Form: /55-P5

Last run: 47 days

W: 10st 10lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
His sole hurdling success came back in 2019 and he's been below par both runs over fences this term, fitted with cheekpieces when fifth at Newton Abbot (3m2f) 47 days ago; others are preferred.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

5

10th Apr 2025

Good

3m 1f 44y

Class 5

16:53 Hereford

Hey Bud

10st 2lb

J: James Best

T: Ella Pickard

12yo whose sole win (27 races) came over hurdles in 2019 and he's been well held over fences for over two years now.

16/1

6th

5

10th Apr 2025

Good

3m 1f 44y

Class 5

16:53 Hereford

Hey Bud

10st 2lb

J: James Best

T: Ella Pickard

12yo whose sole win (27 races) came over hurdles in 2019 and he's been well held over fences for over two years now.

16/1

5th

7

6th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

3m 1f 30y

Class 5

14:20 Wincanton

Hey Bud

10st 12lb

J: Toby Wynne

T: Ella Pickard

towards rear but in touch with leaders, bad mistake 4th

25/1

Form: P/3/45

Last run: 15 days

W: 10st 2lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
Maiden hurdler/chaser who wasn't disgraced on his yard debut (visored and tongue tied) when fifth of six in 3m2f Sedgefield handicap chase 15 days ago; this winning pointer may still do better.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

5th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 16y

Class 5

13:45 Market Rasen

Debacle

10st 5lb

J: Tom Broughton

T: Max Comley

Two wins from 12 starts in points but he's 0-12 under rules and was pulled up over fences at Huntingdon (2m7f, good) last time; this 11yo is with another new yard now and looks opposable back over hurdles; change of headgear.

33/1

7

5th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 16y

Class 5

13:45 Market Rasen

Debacle

10st 5lb

J: Tom Broughton

T: Max Comley

Two wins from 12 starts in points but he's 0-12 under rules and was pulled up over fences at Huntingdon (2m7f, good) last time; this 11yo is with another new yard now and looks opposable back over hurdles; change of headgear.

33/1

9

8th Oct 2024

Good

2m 7f 129y

Class 5

16:35 Huntingdon

Debacle

10st 2lb

J: Jack Hogan

T: Fergal O’Brien

Maiden hurdler/chaser who wasn't disgraced on his yard debut (visored and tongue tied) when fifth of six in 3m2f Sedgefield handicap chase 15 days ago; this winning pointer may still do better.

8/1

Non-runners

Call Me Arthur, Imperial Pride

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £14.20
Straight Forecast £13.23
Tricast £40.75
Trifecta £52.50

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Getupearly

Telegraph:

Call Me Arthur

Daily Mail:

Touchwoodexpress

POSTDATA:

Hamartia

SPOTLIGHT:

Unspeakable

The Star:

Touchwoodexpress

D Express:

Call Me Arthur

Daily Mirror:

Call Me Arthur

WEST COUNTRY:

Getupearly

The Times:

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The Guardian:

Getupearly

The Sun:

Getupearly

Daily Record:

Getupearly