16.20
GoodP H Betts (Holdings) Ltd Novices’ Handicap Hurdle
- Prize money: £7921.5
- 2m 4f 1y
- Class 5
- 10 runners
Runners: 10 runners
Type: Hurdle Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Partly cloudy
Form: 425/F5
Last run: 42 days
W: 12st 0lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 98
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 2 |
30th Mar 2025 Good 2m 5f 141y Class 3 |
11st 9lb |
Consistent gelding who won by a comfortable 3l at Market Rasen (2m7f, good to soft; won on good) last time and the runner-up has since filled the same berth at Newbury; this 7yo was ideally positioned that day in what developed into a sprint finish but a 5lb rise could have been worse; Murray Dodd rides again claiming his 7lb. |
9/4 |
|
1st 2 |
4th Mar 2025 Good To Soft 2m 7f 16y Class 4 |
11st 11lb |
Mostly consistent in his six runs for Stuart Edmunds, winning twice (2m4f/2m7f); a well-held third over C&D last month but Murray Dodd takes off 7lb and drying conditions are a further bonus. |
6/1 |
|
3 |
4th Feb 2025 Good To Soft 2m 7f 16y Class 4 |
11st 12lb |
Has won two of his five starts since returning to rules action in September, the latest by a wide margin at Fakenham (2m7f, good to soft); a 10lb rise asks questions of him but he's strongly considered. |
6/4 |
Form: 115416
Last run: 28 days
W: 11st 13lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: 97
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5th 6 |
22nd May 2026 Good 2m 4f 0y Class 4 |
11st 4lb |
Multiple hurdle winner at up to 2m5f on a sound surface; 1-2 over fences; won a three-runner chase at Wincanton (1m7f, good) when last seen in March; encouraging record after a break; up 3lb and is unexposed as a chaser over this trip; player. |
6/1 |
|
1st 2 |
23rd Mar 2026 Good 1m 7f 149y Class 4 |
11st 5lb |
5-19 over hurdles, with all wins gained on good/good to firm; well beaten on last month's chasing debut at Chepstow (2m3f, soft) but will be much better suited by today's quicker conditions and may yet have a future over fences. |
6/1 |
|
6th 9 |
21st Feb 2026 Soft 2m 3f 98y Class 4 |
11st 8lb |
5-19 over hurdles, the latest win gained at Taunton (2m3f, good to firm) in November; makes chasing debut from fairly tough mark, though, and does not have a good record on soft ground. |
16/1 |
Form: 5625-3
Last run: 24 days
W: 11st 12lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: 96
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5 |
26th May 2025 Good 2m 4f 145y Class 5 |
11st 10lb |
Came good with two good-ground hurdle wins this spring (2m3f/2m); slightly disappointing when only third of six at Uttoxeter (2m, good) last week but may yet have a bit more to offer. |
2/1 |
|
5 |
26th May 2025 Good 2m 4f 145y Class 5 |
11st 10lb |
Came good with two good-ground hurdle wins this spring (2m3f/2m); slightly disappointing when only third of six at Uttoxeter (2m, good) last week but may yet have a bit more to offer. |
2/1 |
|
3rd 1 |
17th May 2025 Good 1m 7f 168y Class 5 |
12st 0lb |
Confidence never higher following wins in two tactical affairs of late, beating Granny B about 7l over C&D latest (good); 8lb higher in a better race, but plenty in his favour again otherwise. |
11/10 |
Form: 444-44
Last run: 57 days
W: 11st 11lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 95
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2 |
6th Sep 2025 Good To Firm 2m 2f 148y Class 5 |
11st 0lb |
Won on the Flat in May but was safely held on both hurdling starts this year (both in 2m handicaps in July) and reverts to this code after a very poor Flat run last month; stablemate Chillhi looks a safer option. |
6/1 |
|
6 (2) |
9th Aug 2025 Good 1m 6f 0y Class 5 |
9st 7lb |
Had a good run of form in 1m2f-1m5f handicaps (1423) before tailed off in his last two hurdle races and he's a dual winner in that scene; some wellbeing concerns all of a sudden. |
8/1 |
|
7th 1 |
24th Jul 2025 Good 2m 0f 0y Class 4 |
11st 8lb |
Won twice over hurdles in the autumn (2m4f/2m7f) and has been in good form on the Flat in recent weeks but was well beaten when back over hurdles on Saturday (2m; raced too freely) and has a point to prove here. |
16/1 |
Form: 5-5534
Last run: 24 days
W: 11st 10lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 94
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5th 5 |
3rd Jun 2026 Good To Firm 2m 4f 0y Class 4 |
10st 2lb |
Only three completed when runner-up last week at Plumpton (2m4f, good) and that extended his losing sequence under rules to 36. |
8/1 |
|
2nd 4 |
26th May 2026 Good 2m 3f 166y Class 4 |
10st 3lb |
0-35, often placed; recent respectable efforts suggest he's on a tough mark but he's versatile regarding trip and Murray Dodd can claim his full allowance on this occasion, so he should still be competitive. |
5/1 |
|
4th 6 |
9th May 2026 Good 3m 0f 0y Class 5 |
10st 13lb |
0-30 over hurdles and fences but in the frame on last five starts, two of them here (3m1f/2m4f); deserves to find a race and he should be involved again providing this doesn't come too soon after his run on Tuesday. |
7/1 |
Form: 411-11 CD
Last run: 2 days
W: 12st 2lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: 93
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 3 |
19th Apr 2026 Good 3m 0f 217y Class 2 |
11st 13lb |
Good second in major handicap at Kempton (2m5f) in January, putting a few non-completions (fences/hurdles) behind him; has performed below market expectations in two starts since but is a likely player provided he bounces back with usual hood removed. |
7/1 |
|
8th 4 |
14th Mar 2026 Good 2m 5f 0y Class 2 |
11st 10lb |
Six wins in 2024 but out of luck since; only third in this race last year but a sterling effort when runner-up in the Lanzarote over C&D in January off this mark and he'll be better off back at this trip after the race didn't pan out for him at Musselburgh (3m) since; respected. |
11/2 |
|
5th 4 |
1st Feb 2026 Good To Soft 2m 7f 180y Class 2 |
11st 7lb |
Back hurdling for last two starts, coming a cropper again on first occasion (hampered) but second of 15 from the back in the Lanzarote at Kempton (2m5f, good; has won on soft/heavy) nine days later; progressive when he does complete and he showed at Aintree last April that he stays 3m; player. |
7/2 |
Form: 217-P4
Last run: 108 days
W: 11st 9lb
4 yo Gelding
OR: 95
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 3 (2) |
26th May 2026 Good 1m 6f 0y Class 4 |
9st 5lb |
Four wins last year including one over hurdles and two over this trip on the Flat; just 2lb above his last winning mark, but needs to put a tame effort at Nottingham (1m6f, good) last month behind him. |
14/1 |
|
6th 3 (1) |
26th Apr 2026 Good 1m 6f 0y Class 4 |
9st 7lb |
An excellent Flat campaign last year yielded three turf wins under Rose Dawes from May to October and he's been in AW/hurdles action this winter; absent 11 weeks but has to be considered seriously. |
11/2 |
|
4th 6 |
9th Feb 2026 Soft 2m 4f 116y Class 4 |
11st 4lb |
Both hurdle wins have been here, the latest over this trip last April (good; off 3lb lower); three Flat wins since, including on soft ground; should go well. |
3/1 |
Form: /653P-
Last run: 360 days
W: 11st 1lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 85
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5th 5 |
21st Nov 2024 Good To Soft 2m 3f 179y Class 5 |
11st 1lb |
Lightly raced 7yo who is on a good mark if rediscovering his bumper promise; however, he was pulled up on his handicap debut at Exeter in October 2023 and this is his first run since; he may be best watched. |
20/1 |
|
5th 5 |
21st Nov 2024 Good To Soft 2m 3f 179y Class 5 |
11st 1lb |
Lightly raced 7yo who is on a good mark if rediscovering his bumper promise; however, he was pulled up on his handicap debut at Exeter in October 2023 and this is his first run since; he may be best watched. |
20/1 |
Form: 533227
Last run: 24 days
W: 10st 12lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 82
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3 |
31st May 2026 Good 2m 4f 1y Class 5 |
10st 11lb |
Safely held when fourth over fences at Fontwell (2m2f, good) this month but that was his first run since November (also his first after a wind op); reverts to hurdling on mark just 2lb higher then when winning this race by 14l on good ground a year ago; must be considered. |
15/8 |
|
4th 5 |
14th May 2026 Good 2m 1f 165y Class 5 |
10st 9lb |
Sole success came when wide-margin winner over hurdles at Fakenham just under one year ago but he's finished runner-up on 12 occasions, including five times in succession over fences between September and November; had wind surgery after heavy defeat over hurdles at Windsor over five months ago; market might guide on this return. |
9/1 |
|
2nd 4 |
20th Oct 2025 Good 2m 3f 166y Class 5 |
10st 11lb |
Won over hurdles at Fakenham (2m4f, good) in June and was runner-up in two chases last month, latterly behind King Of The Story at Warwick (2m4f, good); also ran well back over hurdles at Fakenham on Friday, but the forecast rain is a worry. |
11/4 |
Form: P60-
Last run: 206 days
W: 10st 8lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: 78
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2 |
21st Feb 2024 Soft 2m 3f 88y Class 4 |
11st 9lb |
26,000euros 3yo; second foal; dam unraced half-sister to bumper and smart 2m4f-3m1f hurdle/chase winner Casey Jones; ran in two Irish maiden points last year, runner-up in October on second occasion; probably one for later on but market should guide on rules debut. |
16/1 |
Betting Forcast
14/1 Court Cian, 6/1 Melton Mossy, 11/1 Highway One O Five, 6/1 Laser Focus, 11/1 Bahtiyar, 11/10 Double Powerful, 11/1 Macari, 33/1 The Punt, 14/1 Gone In Sixty, 20/1 Cave Article
Non-runners
Sawpit Samantha
Verdict
A case can be made for a few of these but it’s still impossible to side against improving hurdler DOUBLE POWERFUL who easily completed his four-timer at Worcester two days ago and can make light of a 7lb penalty here. Both Laser Focus (second choice) and Macari come here in fine form from the Flat and can have a say, while Melton Mossy, Court Cian and Highway One O Five also need factoring in.[Peter Entwistle]
Selections
SPOTLIGHT:
Double PowerfulTelegraph:
Laser FocusRP RATINGS:
Double PowerfulPOSTDATA:
Double PowerfulThe Times:
Double PowerfulThe Guardian:
Double PowerfulDaily Mail:
Double PowerfulD Express:
Double PowerfulDaily Mirror:
Double PowerfulThe Sun:
Double PowerfulThe Star:
Double PowerfulDaily Record:
Double Powerful