February 11 / 14.30 Hereford

14.30

Heavy

Spa Motors Hereford Novices’ Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £3247.81
  • 3m 1f 44y
  • Class 5
  • 5 runners
SKY
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Spa Motors Hereford Novices’ Handicap Chase

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

OUR TIP

10/1 (Won)

  • Win: £5.50
  • Place: £1.60

Form: 671-44

Last run: 22 days

W: 12st 0lb

8 yo Mare

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Record of 2-5 in British points and 1-5 over hurdles; something to find on her two handicap efforts but may show the benefit of this switch to chasing and step back up in trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

18th Apr 2026

Good

3m 0f 30y

Class 5

13:52 Bangor-on-Dee

Subtle Fortune

11st 13lb

J: Mr Darren Andrews

T: Mel Rowley

Rules wins (including one chase) came on soft or heavy but it was good ground when close up behind Streamsforth Lad over C&D last month; good chance.

8/1

3rd

3

31st Mar 2026

Good

3m 0f 30y

Class 5

16:20 Bangor-on-Dee

Subtle Fortune

11st 12lb

J: Mr Darren Andrews

T: Mel Rowley

Her hurdle win was on soft and the chase win at Hereford two runs back on heavy; had luck on her side that day and was then beaten 10l off this mark at Leicester (good to soft); however, at least she's a recent winner and did win a point on good ground.

8/1

4th

3

6th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 6f 151y

Class 5

15:30 Leicester

Subtle Fortune

11st 8lb

J: Mr Darren Andrews

T: Mel Rowley

2m6f soft-ground mares' novice hurdle winner at Uttoxeter in December 2024; struggled in a couple of handicap hurdles back from almost a year out, but made a winning chase debut, ridden by Darren Andrews, when left clear at Hereford (3m1f, heavy) last month; may have been lucky but respected off 2lb higher.

3/1

10/1

  • Place: £2.60

Form: 64-76P

Last run: 12 days

W: 11st 13lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
Seven-race maiden who has inconsistent form but may show improvement for this switch to fences and return to Hereford; has recorded his best hurdles RPRs at this venue.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

11th Feb 2026

Heavy

3m 1f 44y

Class 5

14:30 Hereford

Johnny Boy

11st 13lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Seven-race maiden who has inconsistent form but may show improvement for this switch to fences and return to Hereford; has recorded his best hurdles RPRs at this venue.

10/1

1

30th Jan 2026

Heavy

2m 7f 191y

Class 5

14:50 Ffos Las

Johnny Boy

12st 0lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Lightly raced 7yo; tailed off on handicap/seasonal debut (2m7f, soft) but, although he clearly needs a good deal better still, his sixth of 11 at Hereford (3m2f, soft; 7-1) six weeks ago was more like it.

12/1

Form: P-3123

Last run: 12 days

W: 12st 0lb

8 yo Mare

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Getting virtually no respite from the assessor but holds reasonably solid claims, having proved largely consistent in handicaps; has form figures of 3123 since switched to chasing.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

11th Apr 2026

Good

2m 7f 149y

Class 5

12:55 Newcastle

Seasmoke

11st 7lb

J: Benjamin Macey

T: Billy Aprahamian

Scored over fences at Market Rasen (3m) in November but she's failed to go on and underwent breathing surgery (also fitted with cheekpieces) before coming in a well-held third of five at Exeter (3m) 20 days ago; reverts to hurdles with plenty to prove.

6/1

3rd

3

22nd Mar 2026

Good

3m 0f 54y

Class 5

15:37 Exeter

Seasmoke

11st 8lb

J: James Bowen

T: Billy Aprahamian

Well beaten on heavy ground last month (jumped poorly) but has generally done well over fences this season, most notably when winning at Market Rasen (3m, good to soft) in November; likely contender if last month's wind op and/or first-time cheekpieces aid quick return to form.

3/1

Form: 074424 BF

Last run: 17 days

W: 11st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Made the frame several times in British points; in reasonably good form at Sedgefield (2m1f/2m4f) since handicapping over hurdles; still a maiden but looks capable of being involved on chase debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

11th Feb 2026

Heavy

3m 1f 44y

Class 5

14:30 Hereford

Kaviar Wood

11st 3lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Evan Williams

Made the frame several times in British points; in reasonably good form at Sedgefield (2m1f/2m4f) since handicapping over hurdles; still a maiden but looks capable of being involved on chase debut.

2/1

4th

6

25th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 188y

Class 5

16:10 Sedgefield

Kaviar Wood

10st 12lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Evan Williams

0-8 in points and 0-5 under rules but looked suited by the step up in trip and ran big race from the front when second over C&D (good to soft) on Boxing Day; obvious contender if in similar form again.

11/4

Form: 78P172

Last run: 20 days

W: 10st 8lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 74

Form & Verdict
Back in better form for new yard, notably an account-opening win over hurdles at Exeter and second-place finish at Huntingdon (2m7f, soft) returned to fences; hurdles mark is 7lb higher; fighting chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

5

16th Jul 2026

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 5

20:12 Worcester

Hardy Buck

10st 11lb

J: Luke Scott

T: Max Comley

Pulled up in his final run during winter but that was in the mud and he won by 7l over this trip at Exeter (good to soft) in December; looks interesting on that form and he needs a close look back from five months off.

13/2

6

11th Feb 2026

Heavy

3m 1f 44y

Class 5

14:30 Hereford

Hardy Buck

10st 8lb

J: Freddie Mitchell

T: Max Comley

Back in better form for new yard, notably an account-opening win over hurdles at Exeter and second-place finish at Huntingdon (2m7f, soft) returned to fences; hurdles mark is 7lb higher; fighting chance.

9/4

2nd

8

22nd Jan 2026

Soft

2m 7f 129y

Class 5

13:30 Huntingdon

Hardy Buck

10st 2lb

J: Luke Scott

T: Max Comley

Exeter hurdles winner (2m7f) on stable debut in November, before finding the follow-up bid coming too soon; still at the right end of the weights to improve on a chasing record of 649FP67, all for other yards.

12/1

Non-runners

The Moonlight Man

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £35.80
Straight Forecast £31.44
Trifecta £85.30

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Hardy Buck

The Guardian:

Kaviar Wood

POSTDATA:

Seasmoke

The Times:

Subtle Fortune

D Express:

Kaviar Wood

The Star:

Kaviar Wood

Daily Mail:

Seasmoke

Daily Mirror:

Seasmoke

Telegraph:

Hardy Buck

The Sun:

Hardy Buck

Daily Record:

Hardy Buck