February 01 / 13.25 Sandown

13.25

Heavy

Virgin Bet Daily Price Boosts Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £9105.25
  • 2m 3f 173y
  • Class 3
  • 8 runners
ITV
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Virgin Bet Daily Price Boosts Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

OUR TIP

5/2 (Won)

  • Win: £4.00
  • Place: £1.60

Form: 11/621

Last run: 17 days

W: 11st 11lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Long time out after impressing in two bumpers (soft/heavy); getting the hang of it again over hurdles this winter, asserting strongly in the closing stages when 11-10 favourite for a novice at Hereford (extended 2m6f, soft; made most) 17 days ago after looking a hard ride hanging left; has clear potential for stamina tests (he was due to make handicap debut over 2m7f at Exeter on Wednesday) and this could still be a slog.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

11

31st Jan 2026

Heavy

2m 7f 103y

Class 1

15:10 Sandown

Sole Solution

10st 2lb

J: Ned Fox

T: Venetia Williams

All four wins in the mud and the latest was from the front on heavy ground at this track (2m4f) last February; made a creditable chase/seasonal debut over 3m in December but two muted performances (chase/hurdles) have followed and a big revival is needed in the first-time headgear.

14/1

5th

7

22nd Jan 2026

Soft

3m 1f 10y

Class 2

15:15 Huntingdon

Sole Solution

10st 11lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Dual hurdle/bumper winner on soft/heavy ground and could be happy to see the back of fences (last two runs); he's not handicapped out of it.

10/1

7/1

  • Place: £1.80

Form: 3-7722 BF

Last run: 13 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Ran in handicaps on last four starts, clearly his best efforts when second at Fontwell (extended 2m3f, soft; held up) and Fakenham (2m, good; made most at 1-2) on last two occasions; probably vulnerable to an improver in this field too.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

11th Apr 2025

Good

2m 3f 29y

Class 4

15:25 Fontwell

Kalif DAiry

11st 5lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

0-10 overall but he's finished a close second in four of his last five runs including in a maiden here (2m1f, good) last month; this step back up in trip is no problem and he's a big player again back in a handicap.

11/4

4

11th Apr 2025

Good

2m 3f 29y

Class 4

15:25 Fontwell

Kalif DAiry

11st 5lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

0-10 overall but he's finished a close second in four of his last five runs including in a maiden here (2m1f, good) last month; this step back up in trip is no problem and he's a big player again back in a handicap.

11/4

2nd

4

28th Mar 2025

Good

2m 1f 162y

Class 4

15:10 Fontwell

Kalif DAiry

11st 5lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

0-9 overall but second on a variety of ground at Fontwell (2m3f), Fakenham (2m) and Sandown (2m4f) in three consecutive starts this winter; flop in first-time cheekpieces here (extended 2m5f) last time is the big worry but he has a huge shout on those earlier performances.

11/4

5/1

  • Place: £1.70

Form: 16-213 D

Last run: 42 days

W: 11st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Heavy-ground bumper win on debut, unraced on worse than good to soft since; led on the line over 2m4f at Hereford in November on second start over hurdles but seemed stretched by 2m7f when about 14l third on handicap debut at Ascot; better is needed but this step back in down looks a plus.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

24th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 4f 25y

Class 5

16:20 Leicester

Just Lucky Sivola

12st 0lb

J: Mr James King

T: Luca Morgan

Bumper/hurdle winner for Paul Nicholls; had an excuse (made a respiratory noise) when running below expectations at Leicester on chase/stable/seasonal debut; open to improvement with tongue-tie fitted.

8/1

4

12th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 6f 151y

Class 5

16:25 Leicester

Just Lucky Sivola

12st 0lb

J: Mr James King

T: Luca Morgan

Lightly raced 7yo who won a bumper (heavy) and novice hurdle (2m3f, good to soft) for Paul Nicholls; changed hands for £5,000 last May; something to find on his stable and chase debut but it's possible he'll improve for fences, and Luca Morgan and James King combined to win this last year.

11/4

3rd

4

1st Feb 2025

Heavy

2m 3f 173y

Class 3

13:25 Sandown

Just Lucky Sivola

11st 9lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

took keen hold, in touch with leaders, not fluent 3 out

5/1

Form: -P0233

Last run: 32 days

W: 11st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
Close second over 2m4f at Carlisle and backed up that form when third over about 3m in maidens at Haydock (soft) and Uttoxeter; needs extra on this handicap debut and cheekpieces are enlisted, for in-form stable.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

15th Apr 2026

Good

3m 1f 125y

Class 2

17:00 Haydock

Grand Geste

10st 12lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

Suffered two flops in his last three races but the latest was in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham; both wins since December have been here (3m1f/3m4f), latterly in the 11-runner Grand National Trial that always takes some winning; if on a going day then he would have strong claims, for all that softer ground would be preferred.

2/1

8

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 5f 201y

Class 2

17:20 Cheltenham

Grand Geste

11st 5lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

Impressive in a useful handicap at Haydock (extended 3m1f, soft) and, following a Doncaster flop, even better when he emerged on top in the Grand National Trial back at Haydock (extended 3m4f, good to soft); up another 6lb but little to prove regarding stamina and should have more to give.

14/1

1st

7

14th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 4f 97y

Class 1

15:15 Haydock

Grand Geste

10st 12lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

Impressive when winning the Tommy Whittle here (extended 3m1f, soft) in December and on that evidence today's 10lb higher mark may not be beyond this unexposed 7yo; he's a lot better than he showed at Doncaster (3m, soft) three weeks ago but has something to prove following that flop.

10/1

Form: 43

Last run: 35 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Placed in all three of his points and, after 606 days off, gained further minor honours when appearing over about 2m (including on soft) under Ben Ffrench Davis in his two races over hurdles; upped in trip for this handicap debut and a step forward may be possible.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

7th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 161y

Class 4

14:40 Exeter

In Limbo

11st 5lb

J: James Davies

T: Chris Down

prominent, led after 5th, kept on run-in, ridden out

5/1

5th

2

1st Feb 2025

Heavy

2m 3f 173y

Class 3

13:25 Sandown

In Limbo

11st 12lb

J: Ben Ffrench Davis

T: Chris Down

towards rear, in touch with leaders 2nd

12/1

Form: 2-351 D

Last run: 45 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Flopped at Lingfield (2m, soft; made most) on penultimate start; off the mark at Newbury (upped to 2m4f, soft) in December thanks only to the winning jockey's whip offence, but kept at it tenaciously to get within a head and those battling qualities will be called upon on today's handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

3rd Mar 2024

Soft

2m 0f 128y

Class 5

17:00 Doncaster

De Kingpin

11st 2lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

prominent, led over 3f out, headed 1f out, kept on, no match for winner

3/1

Form: 10-657

Last run: 53 days

W: 10st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 99

Form & Verdict
Easily best effort when winning a Chepstow bumper on heavy going last February; well beaten over hurdles this term but this is a marked step up in trip and going handicapping could spark an upturn; he needs a market check.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

7

12th Feb 2026

Heavy

1m 7f 201y

Class 5

15:15 Leicester

Leech

11st 1lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Evan Williams

Bumper winner who is 0-10 over hurdles, but he made a promising start over fences when third of six at Ffos Las (2m, heavy) last month; that was eyecatching from an unpromising position and he wasn't far behind the runner-up Hawk Stone; interesting contender with cheekpieces added.

9/2

3rd

6

30th Jan 2026

Heavy

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

16:35 Ffos Las

Leech

11st 0lb

J: James Turner

T: Evan Williams

Chepstow bumper winner who has made the frame several times over hurdles at Ffos Las; could go well off a reduced mark, provided he takes to fences.

12/1

3rd

3

19th Nov 2025

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

14:45 Ffos Las

Leech

11st 7lb

J: Ellis Collier

T: Evan Williams

0-8 over hurdles and very inconsistent but kept on for respectable fourth here (2m, soft) on seasonal debut three weeks ago and is probably worth another crack at 2m4f.

4/1

Form: 4-644

Last run: 48 days

W: 10st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 99

Form & Verdict
Form of first two starts over hurdles looked better form than his subsequent two; latest was handicap debut at Windsor (2m4f, good to soft) seven weeks ago when beaten 17l into fourth of 13; two of the three ahead of him have won since but he still needs markedly better than that performance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

1st Feb 2025

Heavy

2m 3f 173y

Class 3

13:25 Sandown

Old Time Chaser

10st 10lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

raced wide, in touch with leaders, not fluent 2nd, soon towards rear, struggling after 3 out

8/1

9

1st Feb 2025

Heavy

2m 3f 173y

Class 3

13:25 Sandown

Old Time Chaser

10st 10lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

towards rear

8/1

4th

9

15th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

15:40 Windsor

Old Time Chaser

11st 5lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

Represents major stable; has failed to show progress in three races under rules but could be capable of significantly better now handicapping and is one to consider.

4/1

Non-runners

Springs A Girl

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £18.40
Straight Forecast £18.96
Tricast £75.76
Trifecta £97.80

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

De Kingpin

The Guardian:

Sole Solution

TOPSPEED:

Kalif d'Airy

RP RATINGS:

Old Time Chaser

Telegraph:

Just Lucky Sivola

D Express:

In Limbo

The Times:

Kalif d'Airy

POSTDATA:

De Kingpin

WEST COUNTRY:

De Kingpin

Daily Mail:

De Kingpin

Daily Record:

De Kingpin

Daily Mirror:

Sole Solution

The Sun:

Sole Solution

The Star:

Sole Solution

LAMBOURN:

Old Time Chaser