October 03 / 14.45 Hexham

14.45

Good

Martin Bowler Memorial Novices’ Limited Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £4937.73
  • 2m 4f 28y
  • Class 5
  • 11 runners
SKY
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Martin Bowler Memorial Novices’ Limited Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 11 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

8/1 (Won)

  • Win: £11.00
  • Place: £2.80

Form: 8556

Last run: 29 days

W: 11st 1lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Unplaced all four hurdling starts but shaped fairly well before fading into sixth on recent handicap debut at Sedgefield (2m4f, good) 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

4th

6

18th Jul 2026

Good

2m 7f 191y

Class 4

16:40 Market Rasen

You Did

10st 6lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Brian Ellison

Won over hurdles at Hexham (2m4f, good) and Musselburgh (3m, soft) last season; only 1lb higher than for his last success but he's struggled in his last three runs and has something to prove on chase debut.

12/1

12th

8

5th Jul 2026

Good

2m 7f 16y

Class 5

15:25 Market Rasen

You Did

11st 2lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Brian Ellison

Won over hurdles at Hexham (2m4f, good) and Musselburgh (3m, soft) last season; below par last two outings and was due to go chasing last week when withdrawn due to the ground.

14/1

25/1

  • Place: £3.20

Form: P/09-9

Last run: 25 days

W: 10st 8lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
Runner-up in C&D maiden in September 2022; lightly raced and generally very disappointing since but was not disgraced at Perth last month, after a long absence, and is worth a glance in the betting.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

15

16th Oct 2025

Good

2m 3f 218y

Class 5

15:42 Carlisle

Longstone Cowboy

10st 2lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Hugh Burns

9yo who has been lightly raced since showing promise in novice hurdles in September 2022 but he returned to form with a close second at Hexham (2m4f, good) recently on his second start back from an absence and a repeat of that performance will put him firmly in the picture.

7/1

2nd

10

3rd Oct 2025

Good

2m 4f 28y

Class 5

14:45 Hexham

Longstone Cowboy

10st 8lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Hugh Burns

Runner-up in C&D maiden in September 2022; lightly raced and generally very disappointing since but was not disgraced at Perth last month, after a long absence, and is worth a glance in the betting.

25/1

10

8th Sep 2025

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 5

16:10 Perth

Longstone Cowboy

10st 7lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Hugh Burns

Promising in 2022 but lengthy absences are a feature in his profile and was tailed off in two handicaps last year.

100/1

8/1

  • Place: £2.10

Form: 87747-

Last run: 209 days

W: 10st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
Kept on for very respectable fourth of eight on handicap debut at Musselburgh (3m, good to soft) in February but was soundly beaten (albeit on soft ground) over that trip at Ayr in March and has not raced again since.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

25th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

14:41 Hexham

Didntgotwenty

10st 12lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Martin Todhunter

On the up since fitted with cheekpieces and he readily got off the mark in 2m4f handicap at Musselburgh last month; hiked up 9lb but he seems sure to go well if his stamina holds out over this longer trip.

15/8

OUR TIP

Form: 75U62-

Last run: 172 days

W: 11st 7lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 91

Form & Verdict
0-4 over hurdles for Paul Collins; kept on for respectable second behind short-odds favourite here (2m, good) in April but probably needs improvement over this new trip on stable/handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

10

15th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 62y

Class 5

14:35 Newcastle

Cap Ricochet

11st 0lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: John Dawson

Eight-race maiden who has been well held in two handicaps for his current yard and latest was at Wetherby (2m5f, good) in October; tongue-tie is now added and he needs to significantly raise his game after a break.

25/1

9

31st Oct 2025

Good

2m 5f 56y

Class 5

15:30 Wetherby

Cap Ricochet

10st 10lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: John Dawson

May have needed the run after a break when beaten 26l on handicap/stable debut at Hexham (2m4f, good) and was short in the betting at 9-2; remains relatively unexposed.

10/1

10th

9

31st Oct 2025

Good

2m 5f 56y

Class 5

15:30 Wetherby

Cap Ricochet

10st 10lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: John Dawson

May have needed the run after a break when beaten 26l on handicap/stable debut at Hexham (2m4f, good) and was short in the betting at 9-2; remains relatively unexposed.

10/1

Form: 5880-2

Last run: 35 days

W: 10st 13lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Soundly beaten in all three qualifying races last season but displayed significant improvement when clear second to another handicap debutant at Fontwell (2m3f, good to soft; first-time cheekpieces) in August; good chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

23rd Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 164y

Class 5

16:50 Fontwell

Slemish

10st 11lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Laura Horsfall

Disappointed when favourite at Hexham three weeks ago but was clear second to another handicap debutant here (2m3f, good to soft; first-time cheekpieces) in August and has good claims if judged on that performance.

5/1

5th

8

3rd Oct 2025

Good

2m 4f 28y

Class 5

14:45 Hexham

Slemish

10st 13lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Laura Horsfall

Soundly beaten in all three qualifying races last season but displayed significant improvement when clear second to another handicap debutant at Fontwell (2m3f, good to soft; first-time cheekpieces) in August; good chance.

13/8

2nd

13

29th Aug 2025

Good

2m 3f 29y

Class 5

17:48 Fontwell

Slemish

10st 5lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Laura Horsfall

Makes handicap debut from a lowly mark but showed no significant promise in his three qualifying races in February/March (2m-2m4f); sports first-time cheekpieces; improvement required.

25/1

Form: 816259 C

Last run: 16 days

W: 10st 7lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
Belatedly opened account with 2m course win off today's mark in May but has very modest 1-35 strike-rate over hurdles and is far too inconsistent to rely upon.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

10

13th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 28y

Class 5

16:30 Hexham

Blended Stealth

10st 2lb

J: James Best

T: Lizzie Quinlan

1-39 over hurdles, the win gained here (2m, good) last May; inconsistent and although he stays 2m4f and latest start was one of his better days, today's position 7lb out of the handicap makes things tough.

25/1

4th

10

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 61y

Class 5

14:23 Carlisle

Blended Stealth

10st 5lb

J: Joshua Thompson

T: Lizzie Quinlan

1-38 over hurdles, the win gained at Hexham (2m, good) last May; his good days have become infrequent, though, and he's 3lb out of the weights today; not the percentage call.

25/1

5th

7

20th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 5

14:50 Musselburgh

Blended Stealth

10st 2lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Lizzie Quinlan

Runner-up at Sedgefield in November and not disgraced on penultimate start, but those are the only bright spots in his last nine races; reverts from chasing (last five starts); overall he's won just one (a hurdle race last May) of 47 and today he is 3lb out of the handicap.

16/1

Form: -58U54

Last run: 33 days

W: 11st 10lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Safley held in his three completed qualifying races but caught the eye when travelling well for a long way on penultimate appearance and is open to improvement on this handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

2

3rd Oct 2025

Good

2m 4f 28y

Class 5

14:45 Hexham

Mini Mario

11st 10lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Stuart Edmunds

Safley held in his three completed qualifying races but caught the eye when travelling well for a long way on penultimate appearance and is open to improvement on this handicap debut.

12/1

8

31st Aug 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

15:40 Worcester

Mini Mario

11st 1lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Stuart Edmunds

Five-race maiden who hasn't shown enough to suggest he'll be getting off the mark today.

50/1

7

20th Aug 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

18:30 Worcester

Mini Mario

10st 10lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Stuart Edmunds

Ran okay in a bumper here in May but was tailed off on hurdling debut and 50-1 when unseating early last time.

50/1

Form: 27-5

Last run: 136 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Irish point winner; runner-up on rules debut at Carlisle (2m3f, good) in April but two heavy defeats (one over C&D) followed later in the spring and she has quite a bit to prove on this handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

9th Feb 2026

Heavy

1m 7f 156y

Class 5

16:00 Catterick

Theatre Light

11st 2lb

J: Nathan Moscrop

T: Susan Corbett

Won Irish point in 2023; promising hurdle debut last spring when back from an absence but hard to fancy on more recent runs, pulled up in two of last three starts and remote (2m2f, good to soft) in between.

25/1

6

22nd Jan 2026

Soft

3m 0f 26y

Class 5

15:40 Wetherby

Theatre Light

11st 5lb

J: Jack Power

T: Susan Corbett

Point winner who was runner-up in a Carlisle maiden hurdle (2m3f, good) on her rules debut but has struggled since; others preferred.

66/1

1

3rd Oct 2025

Good

2m 4f 28y

Class 5

14:45 Hexham

Theatre Light

11st 12lb

J: Nathan Moscrop

T: Susan Corbett

Irish point winner; runner-up on rules debut at Carlisle (2m3f, good) in April but two heavy defeats (one over C&D) followed later in the spring and she has quite a bit to prove on this handicap debut.

10/1

Form: 234PP-

Last run: 214 days

W: 11st 3lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Still unexposed after only six hurdle races but was pulled up in consecutive 2m4f handicaps in February/March and needs to have taken considerable benefit from subsequent seven-month break.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 61y

Class 4

16:40 Carlisle

Devon Skies

11st 8lb

J: Joe Williamson

T: Philip Kirby

Completed a hat-trick in November (2m5f/2m4f, good-soft) and bounced back from Sedgefield blip to win at Catterick (2m3f, soft) in January; only a respectable fourth at Wetherby next time but has been eased 2lb since.

11/2

4th

3

26th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 3f 154y

Class 4

16:45 Wetherby

Devon Skies

11st 10lb

J: Joe Williamson

T: Philip Kirby

Completed a hat-trick in November (2m5f/2m4f, good-soft) and bounced back from Sedgefield blip to win at Catterick (2m3f, soft) four weeks ago; this front-runner is clearly progressive and could make another bold bid.

7/2

1st

5

30th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 3f 66y

Class 5

14:10 Catterick

Devon Skies

11st 6lb

J: Joe Williamson

T: Philip Kirby

Completed a hat-trick in November (2m4f/2m5f, good-soft); pulled up at Sedgefield (2m4f, good to soft) on Boxing Day when bidding for four-timer and something to prove after that, but it's possible it was just a blip.

6/1

Form: 9P5-P

Last run: 117 days

W: 10st 11lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
Weakened quickly and was pulled up when upped to 3m for handicap debut in June but remains very unexposed and it would be reckless to write him off at this stage.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

3rd Oct 2025

Good

2m 4f 28y

Class 5

14:45 Hexham

King Coconut

10st 11lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

Weakened quickly and was pulled up when upped to 3m for handicap debut in June but remains very unexposed and it would be reckless to write him off at this stage.

14/1

8

8th Jun 2025

Good

2m 7f 207y

Class 5

17:07 Perth

King Coconut

10st 10lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

Thrice-raced 5yo who is not a solid option on form but may be capable of improvement now handicapping; market support should be heeded.

8/1

5th

4

8th Apr 2025

Good

2m 3f 61y

Class 4

14:50 Carlisle

King Coconut

11st 7lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

in touch with leaders, outpaced when hit 2 out, soon weakened

25/1

Form: -95747

Last run: 16 days

W: 10st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 74

Form & Verdict
Safely held in first-time cheekpieces (retained) at Kelso (2m2f, good) last month and has now been unplaced all nine hurdling starts; difficult to enthuse over.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13

3rd Oct 2025

Good

2m 4f 28y

Class 5

14:45 Hexham

Woodys Boy

10st 6lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Mark Walford

Safely held in first-time cheekpieces (retained) at Kelso (2m2f, good) last month and has now been unplaced all nine hurdling starts; difficult to enthuse over.

33/1

7th

10

17th Sep 2025

Good

2m 2f 25y

Class 5

17:30 Kelso

Woodys Boy

10st 4lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Mark Walford

Eight-race maiden who has struggled in his four handicaps (2m-2m7f) and was well held in a Market Rasen novice last time; cheekpieces are now added and he needs improvement back up in trip.

12/1

Non-runners

Ascension Day, Ebony Jade

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £64.50
Straight Forecast £77.89
Tricast £370.65
Trifecta £548.70

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Slemish

Daily Mail:

Cap Ricochet

POSTDATA:

Woody's Boy

D Express:

Didntgotwenty

RP RATINGS:

Slemish

The Times:

Slemish

Telegraph:

Slemish

The Guardian:

Slemish

Daily Mirror:

Slemish

The Sun:

Slemish

The Star:

Slemish

Daily Record:

Slemish