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

5th

5

(4)

21st Jun 2026

Good

2m 2f 2y

Class 4

15:35 Pontefract

Isle Of Sark

8st 10lb

J: Jack Nicholls

T: Micky Hammond

Sole Flat win (31 attempts) was debut in 2020; had two hurdle wins (2m5f and 2m4f) in 2025 and there have been bits of chase form in recent months; visor returning instead of blinkers might possibly help, but there are more likely candidates.

16/1

3rd

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

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

4

19th Jul 2026

Good

2m 4f 216y

Class 5

15:40 Newton Abbot

Chillhi

11st 5lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Barry John Murphy

Had plenty of racing under both codes and has been regressing for a while now; chase debut.

33/1

7th

6

(10)

30th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

2m 0f 0y

Class 6

20:39 Ffos Las

Chillhi

9st 2lb

J: Tyrese Cameron

T: Barry John Murphy

Been around a bit and has regressed sharply for this yard, mainly over hurdles; Sapphire Sirocco looks the more likkely of the stable pair.

25/1

4

23rd Jun 2026

Good

2m 0f 167y

Class 4

17:35 Newton Abbot

Chillhi

10st 10lb

J: Mr Louis Burke

T: Barry John Murphy

Out of form over a range of trips for new stable this spring (five runs; including one on the Flat); drops back to 2m after 42l defeat over 2m7f in refitted cheekpieces (retained) ten days ago; revival needed.

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

2nd

4

13th Jul 2026

Good

3m 1f 170y

Class 4

16:42 Newton Abbot

Balkardy

11st 0lb

J: Miss Eleanor Williams

T: Mrs C Williams

Multiple hurdle/chase winner but he's lost his way since a 2m4f success at Ffos Las (good to soft) last June and has offered little in three runs this season; well treated on his best form but with plenty to prove.

25/1

3

23rd Jun 2026

Good

3m 2f 105y

Class 4

20:20 Newton Abbot

Balkardy

11st 13lb

J: Miss Eleanor Williams

T: Mrs C Williams

Multiple hurdle/chase winner; unseated rider in early stages of a chase last month, after a layoff, and was tailed-off 66-1 shot when back over hurdles at Worcester (2m7f, good) 17 days ago; others have much less to prove.

33/1

7th

6

6th Jun 2026

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 4

17:25 Worcester

Balkardy

11st 12lb

J: Miss Eleanor Williams

T: Mrs C Williams

7-39, with three wins over hurdles, but he's hard to predict and was badly out of sorts in the autumn; unseated early on last month's return and reverts to hurdles off his last winning mark, but it's difficult to know what to expect.

16/1

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