February 09 / 15.55 Chepstow

15.55

Soft

Download The Fitzdares App Now Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £3960.75
  • 2m 3f 100y
  • Class 5
  • 12 runners
SKY
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Download The Fitzdares App Now Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 12 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

Form: 45-5PP D

Last run: 40 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Chasing has not gone to plan this season and he now reverts to hurdling; has a lot more to prove than some of these but has been given a good chance by the handicapper and will be suited by today's trip/ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

3

15th May 2025

Good

2m 5f 164y

Class 4

19:10 Fontwell

Decorated

11st 7lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Oliver Signy

Has appreciated the return to hurdles and made pretty much all over 2m3f (good) here three weeks ago; up 7lb but rated higher in the past.

13/8

3rd

3

15th May 2025

Good

2m 5f 164y

Class 4

19:10 Fontwell

Decorated

11st 7lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Oliver Signy

Has appreciated the return to hurdles and made pretty much all over 2m3f (good) here three weeks ago; up 7lb but rated higher in the past.

13/8

1st

2

25th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 29y

Class 5

19:47 Fontwell

Decorated

12st 0lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Oliver Signy

Chasing did not go to plan but he's returned to hurdles on last two starts, runner-up over C&D (good to soft) on latest despite not always jumping fluently; off the same mark, he should make his presence felt.

11/4

OUR TIP

Form: 6-348P

Last run: 53 days

W: 11st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 98

Form & Verdict
Ex-French maiden who was pulled up in a handicap chase on British debut in December; might be happier back over hurdles but is very tricky to weigh up at the moment.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

12th Apr 2026

Good

2m 3f 83y

Class 5

16:20 Ffos Las

LEmpire Vert

11st 6lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Sheila Lewis

Best form over 2m on good ground, including win in autumn and second-place finish at Hereford last time; step back up in distance presents a question mark.

13/2

2nd

2

18th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 8y

Class 5

16:00 Hereford

LEmpire Vert

11st 7lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Sheila Lewis

Defied this mark in a handicap chase at Ludlow (2m, good) in November but has struggled since, including over hurdles here (2m4f, good) 11 days ago; record is now 1-17 and he needs a major revival back over fences.

16/1

Form: 00/P/5

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 11lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
Struggled on first two hurdling starts but, following a long layoff, made some fairly encouraging late headway at Hereford (2m, soft) last month; back up in trip for this handicap debut; further progress is possible.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

4

5th Apr 2025

Good

2m 3f 100y

Class 5

16:38 Chepstow

Sonic Gold

11st 8lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: John O’Shea

Pulled up in first two handicaps, latterly when back on good ground at Hereford (2m3f) last month (bled from the nose); huge leap of faith required to support him here.

25/1

Form: 4643

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced 6yo who travelled strongly for a long way before weakening into third on handicap debut at Taunton (3m, good to soft) three weeks ago; today's drop back in trip looks the right move; interesting.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

27th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 3f 1y

Class 5

14:25 Taunton

Babatunde

11st 11lb

J: Micheal Nolan

T: Richard Mitford-Slade

Perhaps a shade disappointing when dropped back to 2m3f at Chepstow recently but travelled strongly for a long way before weakening into third here (3m, good to soft) on last month's handicap debut and remains of interest.

11/2

5th

4

9th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 3f 100y

Class 5

15:55 Chepstow

Babatunde

11st 9lb

J: Miss Thomasina Eyston

T: Richard Mitford-Slade

Lightly raced 6yo who travelled strongly for a long way before weakening into third on handicap debut at Taunton (3m, good to soft) three weeks ago; today's drop back in trip looks the right move; interesting.

7/1

4

9th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 3f 100y

Class 5

15:55 Chepstow

Babatunde

11st 9lb

J: Miss Thomasina Eyston

T: Richard Mitford-Slade

Lightly raced 6yo who travelled strongly for a long way before weakening into third on handicap debut at Taunton (3m, good to soft) three weeks ago; today's drop back in trip looks the right move; interesting.

7/1

Form: 463631

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
Better known as a chaser now but battled well to exploit his lower hurdle mark in 15-runner contest at Exeter (2m5f, soft; front pair clear) last month; 6lb higher here but evidently in very good nick.
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: 4P5-60 C

Last run: 253 days

W: 11st 6lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
Won off a 4lb higher mark for Ben Clarke just over a year ago but was out of form when last seen last spring and has quite a bit to prove on stable debut (same owners); cheekpieces left off today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

5

2nd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 131y

Class 5

16:39 Chepstow

Bobalot

11st 7lb

J: Isabelle Ryder

T: Laura Horsfall

Well beaten before last-fence refusal on latest outing in February but has a largely consistent record over hurdles; will be suited by the trip/ground and has slipped to a good mark; each-way claims at least.

8/1

1

17th Feb 2026

2m 7f 191y

Class 5

14:30 Market Rasen

Bobalot

12st 0lb

J: Robert Dunne

T: Laura Horsfall

Has won three times over hurdles and finished third for the fourth successive time in that sphere at Southwell (3m, good to soft) 15 days ago; back over fences after a couple of failed attempts in November 2023 but tends to find at least one too good.

9/1

3rd

2

2nd Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 60y

Class 5

16:27 Southwell

Bobalot

11st 11lb

J: Mr Sean O’Connor

T: Laura Horsfall

Huntingdon winner in April (3m1f, good); fair runs over this trip on good to soft/soft/heavy on last three starts; each-way chance

9/1

Form: 313-23 D BF

Last run: 51 days

W: 11st 1lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Opened account at Ffos Las (2m4f, heavy) last March, her second handicap hurdle, and has remained in good form since; fitted with first-time tongue-tie here; likely to be on the premises again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

9th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 3f 100y

Class 5

15:55 Chepstow

Wonderweasle

11st 1lb

J: Alan Johns

T: Tim Vaughan

Opened account at Ffos Las (2m4f, heavy) last March, her second handicap hurdle, and has remained in good form since; fitted with first-time tongue-tie here; likely to be on the premises again.

4/1

6th

9

9th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 3f 100y

Class 5

15:55 Chepstow

Wonderweasle

11st 1lb

J: Alan Johns

T: Tim Vaughan

Opened account at Ffos Las (2m4f, heavy) last March, her second handicap hurdle, and has remained in good form since; fitted with first-time tongue-tie here; likely to be on the premises again.

4/1

3rd

12

20th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 6f 45y

Class 5

14:40 Uttoxeter

Wonderweasle

10st 9lb

J: Alan Johns

T: Tim Vaughan

towards rear

4/1

Form: 698-4

Last run: 276 days

W: 11st 1lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Fair on the Flat; still unexposed over hurdles but was just a respectable fourth on handicap debut at Stratford (2m2f, good) last May and has not raced again since.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

7

26th Mar 2026

Good

2m 0f 16y

Class 5

14:18 Chepstow

Nobody Told Me

10st 6lb

J: Isabelle Ryder

T: Thomas Faulkner

Stayed on for very respectable fourth at Hereford (2m3f, good) this month, his second run in a visor, but is yet to be placed after 11 hurdling starts and needs to find something extra today.

13/2

4th

8

7th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 147y

Class 5

15:25 Hereford

Nobody Told Me

10st 6lb

J: Tabitha Worsley

T: Thomas Faulkner

Respectable fifth in similar races at Taunton and Chepstow last month but has yet to place over hurdles after ten attempts.

12/1

5th

11

21st Feb 2026

Soft

2m 3f 100y

Class 5

16:48 Chepstow

Nobody Told Me

10st 8lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Thomas Faulkner

Didn't run badly when fifth on heavy ground at Taunton (2m3f) last week but he's 0-9 over hurdles now and needs to be perked up by a change of headgear today.

20/1

Form: /9-78P

Last run: 54 days

W: 10st 11lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Pulled up on chase/handicap debut in December (bled from the nose) and now quickly reverts to hurdling; needs to better his jumping form but remains very unexposed, and it's worth remembering he won a bumper in 2022.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

20th Mar 2025

Good

2m 7f 131y

Class 5

17:15 Chepstow

Largy Valley

10st 3lb

J: Lilly Pinchin

T: Charlie Longsdon

Given wind surgery before pulled up this winter in his only two handicaps (bled from the nose on chase debut first occasion) so caution has to be advised.

33/1

12

9th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 3f 100y

Class 5

15:55 Chepstow

Largy Valley

10st 11lb

J: Lilly Pinchin

T: Charlie Longsdon

Pulled up on chase/handicap debut in December (bled from the nose) and now quickly reverts to hurdling; needs to better his jumping form but remains very unexposed, and it's worth remembering he won a bumper in 2022.

16/1

12

9th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 3f 100y

Class 5

15:55 Chepstow

Largy Valley

10st 11lb

J: Lilly Pinchin

T: Charlie Longsdon

Pulled up on chase/handicap debut in December (bled from the nose) and now quickly reverts to hurdling; needs to better his jumping form but remains very unexposed, and it's worth remembering he won a bumper in 2022.

16/1

Form: 586044

Last run: 29 days

W: 10st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Yet to be placed after five hurdling starts but kept on well to snatch fourth at Ffos Las (2m4f, soft) last month and may still have a bigger performance in him.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

7

5th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

16:48 Ffos Las

Jukebox Joker

10st 12lb

J: Ellis Collier

T: Mrs C Williams

Won at Warwick (2m3f, good to soft) and then ran well behind next-time-out winner at Sedgefield (2m4f, good to soft); a chance on all that and his Ludlow run in February was too bad to be true.

10/1

8th

7

26th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 5f 55y

Class 5

15:52 Ludlow

Jukebox Joker

10st 13lb

J: Isabel Williams

T: Evan Williams

Came good over hurdles at eighth attempt on seasonal debut at Warwick (2m3f, good to soft) last month; ran well behind next-time-out winner at Sedgefield (2m4f, good to soft) three weeks ago; must be considered.

9/4

2nd

6

4th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 188y

Class 5

16:28 Sedgefield

Jukebox Joker

10st 11lb

J: Isabel Williams

T: Evan Williams

Came good over hurdles at eighth attempt, on seasonal debut at Warwick (2m3f, good to soft) 12 days ago; 5lb rise does not look excessive and he could quite plausibly have more improvement to come.

2/1

Form: 5-P690

Last run: 27 days

W: 10st 3lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
0-12 over hurdles; shaped well when sixth of 15 on stable debut at Ffos Las (2m4f, good to soft; first-time hood) in November but two lesser efforts have followed; others have more pressing claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

6th May 2025

Good

2m 5f 110y

Class 5

16:30 Ffos Las

Hi Riko

10st 2lb

J: Elizabeth Gale

T: Carroll Gray

Ran quite well over hurdles here (2m4f, good to soft) on stable debut in November but not much has gone to plan since; well held when unseating rider on last month's return to fences and effectively 5lb higher from out of the weights today; others appeal much more.

14/1

8

6th May 2025

Good

2m 5f 110y

Class 5

16:30 Ffos Las

Hi Riko

10st 2lb

J: Elizabeth Gale

T: Carroll Gray

Ran quite well over hurdles here (2m4f, good to soft) on stable debut in November but not much has gone to plan since; well held when unseating rider on last month's return to fences and effectively 5lb higher from out of the weights today; others appeal much more.

14/1

8

2nd Apr 2025

Good

2m 3f 48y

Class 5

14:55 Exeter

Hi Riko

10st 3lb

J: Elizabeth Gale

T: Carroll Gray

17-race maiden with form figures of P5P over fences and he was pulled up over hurdles in his final run during the winter; opposable back in this sphere after a short break.

20/1

Form: 3343-5 D

Last run: 278 days

W: 10st 2lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 74

Form & Verdict
Handles slow ground very well but has a modest strike-rate over hurdles (1-20) and has been absent since a below-par run last spring.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

15

26th Mar 2026

Good

2m 7f 131y

Class 5

16:50 Chepstow

Richardson

10st 3lb

J: Lee Edwards

T: Belinda Clarke

Slow-ground specialist who won twice over 2m3f (once here) in February 2025; should be fine over this trip but is yet to strike form this season (three runs; bled last time) and there may not be enough rain for him today.

40/1

9

13th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 3f 100y

Class 5

16:20 Chepstow

Richardson

10st 12lb

J: Lee Edwards

T: Belinda Clarke

Slow-ground specialist who won this race in 2025 (soft ground) and followed up at Bangor (2m3f, heavy) 17 days later; returned from layoff with two lesser efforts this season but still considered; usually held up in rear.

7/1

5th

5

24th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 3f 207y

Class 5

16:18 Uttoxeter

Richardson

10st 11lb

J: Richard Patrick

T: Belinda Clarke

Veteran campaigner with a C&D win to his name; goes well on soft/heavy ground and won at Chepstow and Bangor this time last year; probably needed run when last of five at Leicester on reappearance; more solid than most.

11/2

Non-runners

Archie Macdart, Churchman, Inchiquin Spirit, Lady Showtime

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Coconut Twist

SPOTLIGHT:

Babatunde

POSTDATA:

Wonderweasle

The Sun:

Jukebox Joker

D Express:

Nobody Told Me

The Times:

Babatunde

The Star:

Wonderweasle

WEST COUNTRY:

Coconut Twist

Telegraph:

Coconut Twist

Daily Mirror:

Coconut Twist

Daily Record:

Coconut Twist