October 17 / 15.28 Wincanton

15.28

Good

Fitzdares Telephone Betting Handicap Hurdle (Div I)

  • Prize money: £4752.9
  • 2m 5f 82y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
RTV
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Fitzdares Telephone Betting Handicap Hurdle (Div I)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

7/2 (Won)

  • Win: £3.50
  • Place: £1.40

Form: 63/4-2 BF

Last run: 143 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Can fight the rider, but it was poor jumping instead which cost him victory at Huntingdon in May (2m4.5f, good); that near-2l second still rates career-best hurdling form and going back up 2lb makes some sense.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

20th Oct 2024

Good

2m 5f 0y

Class 4

17:10 Kempton

Far Sight

12st 1lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

Favourite, off the mark over hurdles (seventh attempt) in good style in eight-runner handicap at Wincanton (2m5f, good) three days ago; has 7lb penalty but good chance if he's in the same form.

10/11

1st

6

17th Oct 2024

Good

2m 5f 82y

Class 4

15:28 Wincanton

Far Sight

11st 7lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

held up in rear, good headway after 3 out, led before 2 out, pecked on landing 2 out, ridden and went clear approaching last, won going away

7/2

2nd

2

27th May 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 145y

Class 5

15:50 Huntingdon

Far Sight

11st 10lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

led

7/2

OUR TIP

Form: 122-12 BF

Last run: 138 days

W: 12st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Win penalty appeared more the issue than the step back up in trip for novice at Stratford in June (2m2.5f, good) when last seen, and the pedigree offers numerous grounds for optimism now he's sent over further still; most bases covered ground-wise, and he's a player on handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

10

29th Apr 2025

Yielding To Soft

2m 3f 93y

15:05 Punchestown

Stay If U Want To

10st 12lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Improving sort beat Rocheval over 2m6f at Kelso last time; ground-versatile and should go well if coping with this shorter trip (has won at 2m); yard has done well at this meeting over the years.

8/1

11th

10

29th Apr 2025

Yielding To Soft

2m 3f 93y

15:05 Punchestown

Stay If U Want To

10st 12lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Improving sort beat Rocheval over 2m6f at Kelso last time; ground-versatile and should go well if coping with this shorter trip (has won at 2m); yard has done well at this meeting over the years.

8/1

1st

11

14th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 6f 151y

Class 4

13:50 Kelso

Stay If U Want To

11st 4lb

J: Benjamin Macey

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

led

4/1

7/1

  • Place: £2.70

Form: /0673-

Last run: 220 days

W: 11st 10lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Put in some really good work at the end of Taunton maiden third (2m1f, soft) in March and looks a guaranteed improver for this sort of trip on that evidence; may appeal more given lots of rain, however, with Manatee still to sire a British or Irish winner on a genuinely sound surface.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

1

5th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 171y

Class 5

14:45 Ludlow

Tout Sur Moi

12st 0lb

J: David Noonan

T: Jane Williams

Made it 0-9 when below best at Taunton in December on his second chase start; however, he's shown some promise (including on chase debut) and has edged down the weights, and perhaps wind surgery will have helped.

11/2

7th

1

5th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 171y

Class 5

14:45 Ludlow

Tout Sur Moi

12st 0lb

J: David Noonan

T: Jane Williams

Made it 0-9 when below best at Taunton in December on his second chase start; however, he's shown some promise (including on chase debut) and has edged down the weights, and perhaps wind surgery will have helped.

11/2

6th

5

30th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 3y

Class 4

13:45 Taunton

Tout Sur Moi

11st 10lb

J: David Noonan

T: Jane Williams

0-5 over hurdles but looked suited by the move up in trip when keeping-on fourth (about 7l behind Langley Hundred) over C&D (good) on recent chasing debut; could easily have a bigger run in him; high on the list.

5/1

Form: 45-233

Last run: 50 days

W: 11st 11lb

8 yo Mare

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Essentially running to her mark over hurdles and on the Flat since the spring, but summer 2022's novice hurdle four-timer (2m-2m1f) remain her most recent wins; new longest ever trip is not an obvious plus.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

4

(8)

2nd Dec 2024

Standard

1m 5f 219y

Class 6

19:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Pop The Champagne

9st 7lb

J: Taylor Fisher

T: David Killahena & Graeme McPherson

taken down early

20/1

4

(8)

2nd Dec 2024

Standard

1m 5f 219y

Class 6

19:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Pop The Champagne

9st 7lb

J: Taylor Fisher

T: David Killahena & Graeme McPherson

Hasn't won in more than two years and needs to bounce back from a quiet run over hurdles three weeks ago; is a deal lower in the weights than for a couple of runs over C&D last winter but may be on the downgrade and wants a good test over this trip.

20/1

4th

2

11th Nov 2024

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

16:00 Kempton

Pop The Champagne

11st 10lb

J: Nick Slatter

T: David Killahena & Graeme McPherson

Consistent over hurdles and on the Flat this year; holds no secrets from the handicapper but last month's Wincanton fourth (2m5f, good) was perfectly respectable and she'll be fine over today's shorter trip; probably won't be far away.

7/1

Form: 5U37-2

Last run: 138 days

W: 10st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
Close second in a Stratford 0-105 in June proved effectiveness over both 2m6f and on good ground as well as softer, opening up options accordingly; chance if ready to roll in the retained tongue-tie.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

24th Apr 2026

Good

3m 6f 121y

Class 3

14:05 Perth

Express Surprise

11st 1lb

J: Ned Fox

T: Clive Boultbee-Brooks

Only defeat in his last four races came in a good-quality 3m4f handicap at Windsor; jumped well and stayed on best at Chepstow last time (2m7f, soft) where the front two pulled well clear; raised 7lb but Ned Fox takes away 3lb out of that; respected.

13/2

1st

6

15th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 7f 136y

Class 4

15:20 Chepstow

Express Surprise

11st 11lb

J: Richard Patrick

T: Clive Boultbee-Brooks

Back-to-back wins at Wetherby (3m, soft) and Uttoxeter (3m, good to soft) before finding a Class 3 beyond him at Windsor (3m4f), though didn't run at all badly; considered back at this level.

4/1

Form: 8976-P D

Last run: 160 days

W: 12st 2lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Plummeting mark thanks to a really below-par past 14 months, unimproved by a second wind operation, and he's received a third since last seen; no trip or ground concerns, but can't be recommended.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

4

25th Jul 2025

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 4

15:47 Uttoxeter

Shantou Express

11st 13lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls

Five-time hurdle winner; seemed to respond well to first-time cheekpieces (retained) when very respectable third at Stratford (2m6f, good to firm) this month but has become too inconsistent to rely upon.

12/1

3rd

5

1st Jul 2025

Good To Firm

2m 6f 7y

Class 4

19:48 Stratford

Shantou Express

11st 8lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls

5-32 over hurdles (2m-3m2f), including on good to firm; first run back from a break in April was encouraging but he's gone backwards since and has to be forgiven a poor effort latest; on a fair mark if first-time cheekpieces help.

14/1

7th

1

7th Jun 2025

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 4

17:25 Worcester

Shantou Express

12st 2lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls

Possible to say he's been temptingly handicapped for a while now, but dropping into a 0-110 here for just the second time; some hope if getting a less contested lead than last time (C&D), which isn't a given.

12/1

Form: 3-7PU4 C

Last run: 46 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Form and jumping have deserted him since his Plumpton chase win (2m4f, good) in March but his last hurdles success came in a military riders' race here in April 2023; poor on both starts at 2m5f+ (both chases).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

19th Jul 2025

Good

2m 7f 191y

Class 4

17:00 Market Rasen

Fame And Fun

11st 7lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Mickey Bowen

Has returned from a break in good order and gave an in-form rival a right fright at Worcester (2m7f, good); won't mind rain.

11/2

8

2nd Jul 2025

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 4

14:45 Worcester

Fame And Fun

10st 9lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Mickey Bowen

Encouraging third after a three-month break at Stratford (2m7f, good) last month; looks the type to be at his best in the summer and holds sound claims.

5/1

6

17th Jun 2025

Good

2m 6f 125y

Class 4

16:30 Stratford

Fame And Fun

11st 2lb

J: James Bowen

T: Mickey Bowen

Won modest chase at Fontwell (2m5f, heavy) in January and is also suited by much faster ground but has become very inconsistent in recent years; others in this line-up have much more appealing profiles.

12/1

Form: 334P-0

Last run: 164 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 98

Form & Verdict
Best RPRs win or lose have been recorded around flattish right-hand tracks, so she has more in her favour today than on last two outings; others are more persuasive on paper but she does have a career-low mark to exploit.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

8

17th Oct 2024

Good

2m 5f 82y

Class 4

15:28 Wincanton

Just Sophie

11st 2lb

J: James Davies

T: Noel Williams

prominent, outpaced after 3 out, weakened before 2 out

25/1

12th

2

6th May 2024

Good

2m 5f 0y

Class 5

14:40 Warwick

Just Sophie

11st 11lb

J: James Davies

T: Noel Williams

Won a Huntingdon novice (2m3f, good) last March but she's not gone on from that and was pulled at Plumpton (3m1f, soft) in final run during the winter; now drops back in trip but she needs a major revival after 105 days off; cheekpieces added.

14/1

12th

2

6th May 2024

Good

2m 5f 0y

Class 5

14:40 Warwick

Just Sophie

11st 11lb

J: James Davies

T: Noel Williams

Won a Huntingdon novice (2m3f, good) last March but she's not gone on from that and was pulled at Plumpton (3m1f, soft) in final run during the winter; now drops back in trip but she needs a major revival after 105 days off; cheekpieces added.

14/1

Non-runners

Sams Amour

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £11.50
Straight Forecast £12.02
Tricast £98.39
Trifecta £84.50

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Sam's Amour

SPOTLIGHT:

Stay If U Want To

The Times:

Tout Sur Moi

D Express:

Far Sight

Telegraph:

Stay If U Want To

The Guardian:

Tout Sur Moi

The Star:

Tout Sur Moi

POSTDATA:

Sam's Amour

Daily Mail:

Sam's Amour

Daily Mirror:

Sam's Amour

Daily Record:

Sam's Amour