October 16 / 16.22 Ffos Las

16.22

Good

Bear Hotel Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £4066.37
  • 2m 7f 191y
  • Class 4
  • 6 runners
SKY
View Course
Bear Hotel Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

OUR TIP

Form: -14361

Last run: 8 days

W: 12st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Built upon satisfactory stable debut when keeping on too strongly for progressive/well-handicapped rival at Sedgefield (2m4f, good to firm) last week; only due a 6lb rise for that but takes his chance under a 7lb penalty and with Shane Fenelon claiming 5lb here; should be fine over the longer trip; major player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

3rd Jun 2026

Good

3m 1f 170y

Class 5

15:30 Newton Abbot

Isle Of Sark

11st 9lb

J: Alice Stevens

T: Micky Hammond

Flat/hurdles winner; ran encouragingly on his return to chasing but has failed to back up that effort in two starts since, taking record in this sphere to 0-8; admittedly well treated on best form.

10/1

5th

1

23rd May 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 107y

Class 5

16:30 Cartmel

Isle Of Sark

12st 0lb

J: Alice Stevens

T: Micky Hammond

Posted best effort for these connections when third at Sedgefield in April (2m5f, good), before appearing to find it harder work last time; mixed record over stayers' trips, and would appreciate the ground drying out.

10/1

5th

2

8th May 2026

Good

2m 5f 89y

Class 5

15:15 Market Rasen

Isle Of Sark

11st 12lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Micky Hammond

Both hurdles wins (one at today's trip) came on sound surfaces last year, and April's staying-on Sedgefield chase third (2m5f, good) is his best effort to date for current connections; coming to the boil again.

4/1

Form: 2P1413

Last run: 27 days

W: 12st 2lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Flat and dual hurdle winner during busy summer for James Owen but finished last for new stable on the Flat on Saturday and is still on a career-high mark over hurdles.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

5

27th May 2026

Good

2m 5f 122y

Class 4

16:56 Newton Abbot

Chillhi

10st 13lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Barry John Murphy

Flat and dual hurdle winner for James Owen last summer but well beaten in three runs for new stable (Flat/hurdles) this spring; now 4lb lower than for his last success but he needs a major revival; blinkers return and visor is removed.

25/1

11th

10

4th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 1y

Class 2

17:13 Fakenham

Chillhi

10st 8lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Barry John Murphy

Flat and dual hurdle winner for James Owen last summer but well beaten on both starts for new stable last month (hurdle/Flat); might be aided by refitted visor and/or first-time tongue-tie here but has lots to prove.

33/1

8th

1

(4)

27th Apr 2026

Standard

1m 7f 169y

Class 6

14:15 Lingfield (AW)

Chillhi

9st 12lb

J: Liam Wright

T: Barry John Murphy

Flat and dual hurdle winner during busy summer for James Owen last year but well beaten (over hurdles) on stable debut on Tuesday and returns to the Flat with quite a bit to prove.

33/1

Form: F45-15 C

Last run: 47 days

W: 12st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Found Class 2 race at Newton Abbot slightly too hot last time but is now only 2lb higher than when winning here (2m4f, good to soft) in June, and today's longer trip probably suits him better; one to consider.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

5th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 177y

Class 4

16:18 Ffos Las

Balkardy

10st 13lb

J: Miss Eleanor Williams

T: Mrs C Williams

Multiple winner but hasn't become easy to predict and followed two modest runs over hurdles with a pull-up on his return to fences at Ludlow; others safer.

20/1

3

16th Oct 2025

Good

2m 7f 191y

Class 4

16:22 Ffos Las

Balkardy

12st 0lb

J: Isabel Williams

T: Evan Williams

Found Class 2 race at Newton Abbot slightly too hot last time but is now only 2lb higher than when winning here (2m4f, good to soft) in June, and today's longer trip probably suits him better; one to consider.

11/2

9

30th Aug 2025

Good

2m 5f 122y

Class 2

16:30 Newton Abbot

Balkardy

10st 2lb

J: Isabel Williams

T: Evan Williams

Kept on well to assert at Ffos Las (2m4f, good to soft) when back over hurdles in June, his fourth hurdling success, and does not look harshly treated by a 3lb rise for that but moves up from 0-115 company today and others in this line-up look stronger.

12/1

Form: U434-2

Last run: 30 days

W: 12st 0lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Not really firing on all cylinders at end of last season but returned from break with creditable second of 15 at Uttoxeter (2m4f, good) last month and could plausibly still have untapped potential over staying trips.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

5

13th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 6f 151y

Class 4

13:30 Kelso

Wolfspear

10st 13lb

J: Edward Austin

T: Daragh Bourke

Three-time hurdle winner (including on heavy) who has run a couple of fair races since joining this yard in the autumn, but this 10yo was tailed off at Ayr (2m4f, soft) a fortnight ago and his losing sequence continues.

16/1

9th

6

29th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 100y

Class 4

13:43 Ayr

Wolfspear

11st 1lb

J: Callum Bewley

T: Daragh Bourke

10yo who has not won since January 2024 but he's reached the frame in two of his three runs for current yard; now 2lb lower than when third of 14 at Kelso (2m5f, good to soft) in November and he could be in the mix back at this trip.

12/1

Form: 135555

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Did not get competitive when ridden very patiently at Newton Abbot (2m5f) last month but will appreciate this ease in grade and is now back on same mark as when winning under very positive ride at Plumpton (2m4f, good) in May; unexposed as a stayer under rules; worth a second look.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

30th Mar 2026

Good

2m 5f 55y

Class 5

15:27 Ludlow

Djo Dela Barriere

11st 10lb

J: Miss Eleanor Williams

T: Mrs C Williams

Won 3m handicap hurdle at Ffos Las (good) in October and followed up in a chase here over the same trip later that month when finishing alone; form has dipped since, over fences and hurdles; needs to bounce back.

12/1

6th

6

18th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 119y

Class 4

14:30 Hereford

Djo Dela Barriere

11st 3lb

J: Miss Eleanor Williams

T: Mrs C Williams

Won a 3m handicap hurdle at Ffos Las (good) before returning to fences at Ludlow (3m, good) where he finished alone; form has dipped since, over fences and hurdles; on a perfectly good mark if he can bounce back to form.

9/1

5th

6

18th Feb 2026

2m 5f 55y

Class 4

17:05 Ludlow

Djo Dela Barriere

11st 5lb

J: Miss Eleanor Williams

T: Evan Williams

Won a 3m handicap hurdle at Ffos Las (good) before returning to fences at Ludlow (3m, good) later in October where he finished alone after being left in isolation three out; tailed off in a Hereford chase on latest start and absent 107 days since; back hurdling on a competitive mark but with more to prove on worse than good to soft.

6/1

Form: /6223-

Last run: 220 days

W: 11st 1lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
Placed on final three outings last season, most recently when third of ten at Taunton (3m, good) in March; remains on career-high mark for this reappearance but won't be far away if fully tuned up.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

16th Oct 2025

Good

2m 7f 191y

Class 4

16:22 Ffos Las

Weavers Answer

11st 1lb

J: James Bowen

T: Tim Vaughan

Placed on final three outings last season, most recently when third of ten at Taunton (3m, good) in March; remains on career-high mark for this reappearance but won't be far away if fully tuned up.

5/1

3rd

1

10th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 198y

Class 5

16:10 Taunton

Weavers Answer

12st 0lb

J: Alan Johns

T: Tim Vaughan

Back on track with two good seconds this winter, the latter at Lingfield (2m7f, soft) last month, and ought to handle the faster ground here; can make his presence felt again.

4/1

2nd

3

20th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 7f 0y

Class 5

16:05 Lingfield

Weavers Answer

11st 10lb

J: Alan Johns

T: Tim Vaughan

Dual hurdle winner who got back on track with a second at Hereford (3m2f, good to soft) in December and the first three pulled well clear in that race; looks interesting off unchanged mark and he's still unexposed as a stayer.

7/2

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £38.40
Straight Forecast £30.93
Trifecta £111.50

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Isle Of Sark

The Times:

Weaver's Answer

Telegraph:

Wolfspear

The Guardian:

Weaver's Answer

Daily Mail:

Wolfspear

RP RATINGS:

Isle Of Sark

TOPSPEED:

Isle Of Sark

POSTDATA:

Isle Of Sark

D Express:

Isle Of Sark

Daily Mirror:

Isle Of Sark

The Sun:

Isle Of Sark

The Star:

Isle Of Sark

Daily Record:

Isle Of Sark