March 01 / 17.07 Doncaster

17.07

Good To Soft

Virgin Bet Handicap Hurdle (Go North Sea Pigeon Series Qualifier)

  • Prize money: £6337.2
  • 2m 0f 128y
  • Class 4
  • 10 runners
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Virgin Bet Handicap Hurdle (Go North Sea Pigeon Series Qualifier)

Runners: 10 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

13/2 (Won)

  • Win: £8.50
  • Place: £2.20

Form: 12427 D

Last run: 78 days

W: 11st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Useful Flat form and he's 1-5 over hurdles; excellent second to the talented Wreckless Eric in a Cheltenham handicap in November (2m, good; fine on soft) and it was a deep handicap in which he struggled back there last time; in the mix.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

27th Sep 2025

Good

2m 0f 125y

Class 2

17:45 Market Rasen

Cavern Club

11st 9lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: James Owen

Posted career-best performance when leading close home in valuable Summer Hurdle over C&D (good) in July; 6lb higher today but confirmed his wellbeing with a good Flat run last month; probably won't be far away.

7/2

3rd

3

(6)

30th Aug 2025

Good

1m 7f 196y

Class 4

17:35 Chester

Cavern Club

10st 0lb

J: Callum Shepherd

T: James Owen

Never better on Flat than when winning over C&D (soft) in June, coming from the rear with the first two finishing 6l clear; 4lb higher today but that was followed by a hurdling career best, when winning a good prize on good ground six weeks ago, so he's on a roll.

5/2

12/1

  • Place: £2.70

Form: 0-611P D BF

Last run: 59 days

W: 11st 11lb

6 yo Colt

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
First defeat in the cheekpieces when running no race at Fakenham, but his previous comfortable Huntingdon win off 6lb lower needs respecting; beaten too far out last time to blame the 2m4f but dropping back in trip is probably a good move.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

8

2nd May 2026

Good

2m 3f 207y

Class 3

15:50 Uttoxeter

Bluegrass

11st 6lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Stuart Edmunds

All five wins over hurdles have been at 2m; hasn't won since his return to action in October and ran poorly when eighth of nine finishers at Chepstow (2m3f, good to soft) last month; handicapper is at last relenting but his best chance of success in the short-term may be back at 2m.

8/1

8th

1

2nd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 100y

Class 4

16:07 Chepstow

Bluegrass

12st 0lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Stuart Edmunds

Record of 5-23 over hurdles and placed a few times as well; a bit up and down this season but ran respectably in the new blinkers at Fakenham last time and now regular cheekpieces return over a longer trip that may suit him better.

10/1

Form: 1583 D BF

Last run: 27 days

W: 10st 11lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Last year was a good one on the Flat, winning four times at up to 1m5f; contested two Graded races after winning his juvenile hurdle and was all the rage for his handicap debut at Musselburgh (first run over 2m4f) only to finish a well-held third; drops back in trip here with cheekpieces added and needs a close look.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

26th Jun 2026

Good

2m 4f 72y

Class 4

17:58 Bangor-on-Dee

My Noble Lord

12st 0lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Seemingly boosted by change of headgear when winning by 6l over C&D (good) in first-time blinkers in April; obvious contender if judged on that evidence but ran a lacklustre race at Aintree last month and it's hard to tell whether he'll be in the right mood in first-time visor today.

3/1

8th

6

15th May 2026

Good

2m 3f 200y

Class 3

17:45 Aintree

My Noble Lord

11st 5lb

J: Toby Wynne

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Back down in grade with blinkers tried he registered a second chase win when 6l to the good at Bangor (2m4f, good); 6lb rise has elevated him to a career-high mark but it was comfortable last time.

6/1

1st

3

18th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 72y

Class 4

16:10 Bangor-on-Dee

My Noble Lord

11st 11lb

J: Toby Wynne

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Won at Uttoxeter (2m4f, soft) in January when wearing first-time cheekpieces (retained) and subsequent defeats have come in better races than this; didn't run at all badly in the latest at Kelso (2m5f); back down in grade and with blinkers given a go, he's feared.

9/2

Form: 43/22 BF

Last run: 45 days

W: 11st 8lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Twice runner-up since returning from a long absence and he went close at Newbury on his handicap debut behind one who has since followed up (by a long way); 7lb rise annoying but he has to be of interest.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

15

1st May 2026

Yielding

2m 4f 55y

17:25 Punchestown

Norn Iron

11st 1lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

British runner; hurdles winner is now rated 22lb higher over fences after back-to-back wins on soft ground over 2m4f at Sandown; decisive victor of five-runner contest in January and justified 4-6 odds last month when seeing off two rivals; this big field is new for him, but he's in fine form.

14/1

1st

2

7th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 15y

Class 3

16:45 Sandown

Norn Iron

11st 11lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

Things clicked when he went up in trip over C&D (soft) in January in a first-time tongue-tie (retained) on his third chase start, and he won in decisive fashion from one who scored next time; 8lb rise might not stop him.

11/10

1st

4

31st Jan 2026

Soft

2m 4f 15y

Class 3

13:25 Sandown

Norn Iron

11st 1lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Harry Derham

Has proved expensive to follow, aside from one win (over hurdles); however, campaigned mostly at 2m and may improve for this step back up in distance, combined with fitting of tongue-tie, in third chase attempt.

3/1

Form: 7-3425

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Seemed in good form over fences before the turn of the year and reportedly suffered an overreach on his return to hurdling at Musselburgh; on a competitive mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

24th Mar 2025

Good

2m 5f 82y

Class 4

15:00 Wincanton

Mr Mackay

11st 8lb

J: Mr Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

Pretty consistent over fences and hurdles on good/good to soft ground this season and has slipped to a good mark; campaigned mainly at around 2m but has won over an extended 2m3f; probably won't be far away.

5/2

5th

8

1st Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 128y

Class 4

17:07 Doncaster

Mr Mackay

11st 4lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

Seemed in good form over fences before the turn of the year and reportedly suffered an overreach on his return to hurdling at Musselburgh; on a competitive mark.

12/1

5th

2

1st Feb 2025

Good To Soft

1m 7f 124y

Class 4

16:27 Musselburgh

Mr Mackay

11st 13lb

J: James Turner

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

Fair efforts in the autumn across first three chase starts, finishing second last time (2m, good) despite not jumping well; on a handy mark on last season's best hurdle form; could be a contender now back in this sphere.

8/1

Form: 37-235 D

Last run: 19 days

W: 10st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Did well for his former yard when winning twice on the Flat and three hurdles; will need to run better than at Catterick last time to add another here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

29th Aug 2026

Good

2m 1f 46y

Class 3

15:53 Cartmel

Saligo Bay

11st 10lb

J: Jonathan England

T: Sam England

Won five times over hurdles (once over C&D) and three times on the Flat last year; quite versatile regarding ground but has been safely held on both starts this summer (hurdle/Flat) and current mark probably demands a personal-best.

20/1

8th

3

(1)

2nd Aug 2026

Good

1m 2f 70y

Class 4

16:52 Chester

Saligo Bay

10st 0lb

J: Tom Eaves

T: Sam England

Progressive form under both codes last year included a 1m4f course win; quiet return to jumping at Cartmel two weeks ago but that was after a lengthy break and he's on better Flat mark than he is over hurdles.

4/1

8th

2

18th Jul 2026

Good

2m 1f 46y

Class 3

15:10 Cartmel

Saligo Bay

11st 12lb

J: Miss Heidi Palin

T: Sam England

Progressive on the Flat and over hurdles last year, collecting eight wins (one over C&D) in total; absent since respectable fifth in Scottish County Hurdle at Musselburgh (1m7f, good to soft) in January, though, and current mark demands another personal best.

14/1

Form: 0-4921 D

Last run: 75 days

W: 11st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Heads into handicaps on the back of a comfortable maiden win at Southwell (2m, good to soft) and he has the scope to keep progressing; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

5th May 2025

Good

2m 0f 54y

Class 4

14:40 Warwick

Land Of Moon

11st 5lb

J: James Bowen

T: Warren Greatrex

Delivered on earlier promise when comfortably making all in Southwell maiden hurdle (2m, good to soft) in December; both subsequent handicap hurdle runs were underwhelming but connections are evidently keen to switch him fences.

7/1

1st

3

5th May 2025

Good

2m 0f 54y

Class 4

14:40 Warwick

Land Of Moon

11st 5lb

J: James Bowen

T: Warren Greatrex

Delivered on earlier promise when comfortably making all in Southwell maiden hurdle (2m, good to soft) in December; both subsequent handicap hurdle runs were underwhelming but connections are evidently keen to switch him fences.

7/1

Form: -41542 D BF

Last run: 64 days

W: 11st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Hexham winner in October (2m, good); well held afterwards but settled better in the hood when a front-running second at Wetherby (good to soft; clear of the third); now into handicaps and open to further improvement.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

11th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

13:30 Ayr

Kingston James

11st 8lb

J: Jack Power

T: Lucinda Russell

disputed lead, led with one circuit to go, faced challenge after 3 out, headed approaching last, kept on but no extra towards finish

7/1

2nd

4

11th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

13:30 Ayr

Kingston James

11st 8lb

J: Jack Power

T: Lucinda Russell

disputed lead, led with one circuit to go, faced challenge after 3 out, headed approaching last, kept on but no extra towards finish

7/1

1st

2

21st Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 1f 87y

Class 2

17:00 Musselburgh

Kingston James

11st 12lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Lucinda Russell

Point/bumper winner who landed a Hexham novice (2m, good) in October but has a mixed record since and was only eighth of ten on handicap debut at Doncaster (2m, good to soft) three weeks ago; edging down the weights and is still unexposed in this sphere but others are more convincing.

15/2

Form: 35-P16 D

Last run: 36 days

W: 11st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Beat a well-backed Skelton handicap debutant with a subsequent winner in third when off the mark in a Uttoxeter maiden (2m, soft) but he finished a weary last at Sandown in a handicap for military amateur riders; perhaps best to turn a blind eye to that and he can be given another chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

21st Mar 2025

Good

1m 7f 182y

Class 4

16:15 Ffos Las

Give Me A Boom

12st 2lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole

took keen hold, prominent, pressed leader 3 out

11/1

9th

3

1st Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 128y

Class 4

17:07 Doncaster

Give Me A Boom

11st 9lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole

Beat a well-backed Skelton handicap debutant with a subsequent winner in third when off the mark in a Uttoxeter maiden (2m, soft) but he finished a weary last at Sandown in a handicap for military amateur riders; perhaps best to turn a blind eye to that and he can be given another chance.

12/1

6th

1

24th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

1m 7f 216y

Class 4

13:50 Sandown

Give Me A Boom

12st 0lb

J: Maj Will Kellard

T: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole

in touch with leaders, headway and disputed lead before 3rd, not fluent 3rd, soon pressed leader, hit 4th

3/1

12/1

Form: 1622 D BF

Last run: 79 days

W: 10st 8lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Beat just two rivals on Stratford debut; better form in defeat the last twice behind the same unexposed horse of Emma Lavelle's; can race keenly but he's an interesting handicap debutant with his age allowance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

7

20th Apr 2025

Good

2m 1f 164y

Class 4

14:55 Plumpton

Denzil

11st 0lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

took keen hold, in touch with leaders, outpaced 3 out, weakened approaching last

12/1

8th

7

20th Apr 2025

Good

2m 1f 164y

Class 4

14:55 Plumpton

Denzil

11st 0lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

took keen hold, in touch with leaders, outpaced 3 out, weakened approaching last

12/1

2nd

4

2nd Apr 2025

Good

2m 2f 111y

Class 4

14:25 Exeter

Denzil

10st 12lb

J: Harry Atkins

T: Dan Skelton

prominent, lost ground after 3rd, headway before 4 out, went second 3 out, carried right run-in, kept on

15/8

Non-runners

All In You

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £64.10
Straight Forecast £67.95
Tricast £415.73
Trifecta £470.40

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Norn Iron

Daily Mail:

Denzil

SPOTLIGHT:

My Noble Lord

TOPSPEED:

Saligo Bay

Daily Record:

Denzil

The Times:

My Noble Lord

POSTDATA:

Norn Iron

LAMBOURN:

Norn Iron

Telegraph:

Norn Iron

The Guardian:

Norn Iron

D Express:

Norn Iron

Daily Mirror:

Norn Iron

The Sun:

Norn Iron

The Star:

Norn Iron