February 11 / 16.21 Wetherby

16.21

Soft

Follow @RacingTV On X “Hands And Heels” Handicap Hurdle (Conditionals & Amateurs)(Racing Excellence)

  • Prize money: £3168.6
  • 2m 3f 154y
  • Class 5
  • 10 runners
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Follow @RacingTV On X “Hands And Heels” Handicap Hurdle (Conditionals & Amateurs)(Racing Excellence)

Runners: 10 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

Form: P36-07 D

Last run: 125 days

W: 12st 0lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Two-time Irish hurdle winner; underwhelming in the main last year but perhaps he'll have been revived by a chance of scenery; one to be interested in on stable debut, especially if strong in betting; one of two for yard.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

22nd Apr 2026

Soft

2m 7f 207y

Class 5

17:12 Perth

Kells Priory

12st 0lb

J: Mr James King

T: Olly Murphy

Ex-Irish; bettered his first run for Olly Murphy when 3.5l fourth in a 3m handicap at Wincanton last time (good); has won on soft ground; chance.

3/1

4th

10

23rd Mar 2026

Good

3m 0f 150y

Class 4

14:45 Wincanton

Kells Priory

11st 7lb

J: Mr Johnathan Rees

T: Olly Murphy

Largely out of form for an Irish stable last year and ought to have coped better with the soft ground when well-held fourth behind Mr Griffiths on last month's stable debut at Warwick (3m2f); sports refitted cheekpieces today, though, and may yet stage a revival for Olly Murphy.

9/1

OUR TIP

Form: 241325 D

Last run: 90 days

W: 11st 13lb

10 yo Mare

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Tailed off at Market Rasen in November last time, but she'd enjoyed a predominantly consistent spell previously and maybe a three-month break will have helped; not ruled out on her return.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

20th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 171y

Class 4

17:00 Musselburgh

Spot On Soph

10st 10lb

J: Jonathan England

T: Sam England

Tailed off at Market Rasen in November and same story at Catterick last month on her sole run since; however, she may have needed that latest outing and runs off the same mark as for her win at Sedgefield (2m4f, good) in September; yard's horses are running well and she's not discounted.

7/1

7th

7

24th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 66y

Class 3

15:30 Catterick

Spot On Soph

10st 9lb

J: Jonathan England

T: Sam England

Tailed off at Market Rasen in November last time, but she'd enjoyed a predominantly consistent spell previously and maybe a break will have helped; has won here twice over fences; not ruled out on her return.

10/1

Form: 5-23

Last run: 44 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 101

Form & Verdict
3m point runner-up who hasn't threatened across his three hurdle starts, but he's hinted at promise when keeping on over 2m1f/2m (soft/good to soft) and could relish the step up in trip on handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

21

28th Apr 2026

Yielding

2m 3f 81y

15:05 Punchestown

Another High Five

10st 5lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Scottish raider; 0-5 but getting closer with each run this season; 2.5l behind Judicial Deference on penultimate at Kelso (22.5f, heavy); beaten a neck at Hexham on latest (2m4f, soft); cheekpieces go on now; can't discount.

25/1

2nd

1

25th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 28y

Class 5

16:11 Hexham

Another High Five

12st 0lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Lightly raced sort who took a big step forward on his handicap debut when a running-on second of eight at Kelso (2m6f) 40 days ago; this Irish point second merits serious consideration nudged up 1lb.

4/1

Form: 2P/64P

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 7lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 98

Form & Verdict
Won small-field novice hurdle at Catterick (1m7f, heavy) in January 2024 and took his Flat tally to four wins that April; however, he's struggled on his three hurdle starts this winter and a major turnaround is needed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

19th May 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 48y

Class 5

20:50 Hexham

Justus

11st 12lb

J: Joshua Thompson

T: Micky Hammond

Took big step back in right direction and arguably ran better than bare form suggests when fifth at Wetherby (2m, good to soft) in March, but was generally very disappointing last season; others have more appealing profiles.

16/1

Form: 911338 C

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 6lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
Tailed off at Market Rasen last month (reportedly never travelling) and this drop back in trip doesn't seem an obvious positive; however, following wind surgery she enjoyed a strong end to 2025 and could be in the picture if swiftly getting back on track.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

2nd May 2026

Good

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

19:45 Hexham

Princesse Milania

11st 10lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Mark Walford

Two wins over hurdles last October (first over 3m) and creditable runs since; quite interesting on her chase debut.

13/2

2nd

3

1st Apr 2026

Good

3m 0f 60y

Class 5

17:02 Southwell

Princesse Milania

11st 11lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Mark Walford

Made a winning start for this trainer at Wetherby (2m5f, good) in October; hasn't really built on that since (beaten 17l when second over just short of 3m at Newcastle latest) but this is a weak race and being dropped another 2lb can only help.

3/1

2nd

7

3rd Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 149y

Class 4

15:35 Newcastle

Princesse Milania

11st 2lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Mark Walford

Made a winning start for this trainer at Wetherby (2m5f, good; 4-1) in October, but she has found a few stronger since, including when a weakening third at Southwell (3m; beaten 12l) a fortnight ago; place possible, but no more than that from this mark.

7/1

Form: 276564

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced point-to-point bumper winner who took a step forward when 2l fourth of 16 at Newcastle (2m4f, good to soft) four weeks ago on his second handicap start; he can be involved if handling today's slower ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

19th May 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 15y

Class 5

18:50 Hexham

Scairp Dubh

12st 0lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

Got off the mark over hurdles at Carlisle in February and made a winning chase debut over C&D (good) 17 days ago; only four of the 13 managed to complete but a 3lb rise may not be enough to stop him following up.

4/5

1st

2

2nd May 2026

Good

2m 4f 15y

Class 5

19:15 Hexham

Scairp Dubh

11st 10lb

J: Peter Kavanagh

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

Won a novice handicap hurdle at Carlisle in February (2m3f, soft); creditable second over 3m at Doncaster next time but was disappointing with cheekpieces tried at Musselburgh last time (3m, good to soft; reportedly never travelled); headgear retained for chase debut.

10/1

11th

11

20th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 2

16:30 Musselburgh

Scairp Dubh

10st 9lb

J: Jack Power

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

Won at Carlisle (2m3f, soft) last month on third handicap start and 14l second of seven at Doncaster (3m, good to soft) 13 days later; kept to a similar trip, today's sharper track could be a positive, and this lightly raced 6yo wears first-time cheekpieces; remains open to improvement.

12/1

Form: 46PU2

Last run: 10 days

W: 10st 10lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Early unseat on last month's handicap debut before close second at 25-1 at Market Rasen (2m4f, good to soft) ten days ago; half-brother to three heavy-ground winners; major player if backing up that recent effort.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

1

8th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 139y

Class 5

16:52 Market Rasen

De Deli Counter

12st 0lb

J: Tom Midgley

T: Mark Walford

Came good over hurdles at eighth attempt, winning from the front over C&D (good) in first-time cheekpieces last month; subsequent 5lb rise doesn't look excessive and further progress is possible; must be considered.

7/4

1st

4

5th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 139y

Class 5

14:48 Market Rasen

De Deli Counter

11st 10lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Mark Walford

0-7 over hurdles but ran ran big race from the front when close/clear second over C&D (good to soft) in early February and returns here after pretty good third at Sedgefield (2m4f, good) last month; visored for recent runs; could be hard to catch if he responds well to first-time cheekpieces.

6/1

Form: 559-5 BF

Last run: 22 days

W: 10st 6lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Point winner who was well beaten in three novice hurdles in November 2024 then absent until three weeks ago, when sent off favourite for handicap/stable debut at Leicester (2m4f, heavy) where she was always behind but overtook several rivals in the straight to finish a 31l fifth (her amateur rider was suspended for 14 days due to serious misjudgement or inattention); it will be no surprise if she poses a much bigger threat today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

13th Apr 2026

Good

2m 7f 95y

Class 5

15:40 Fakenham

Natus Vincere

11st 12lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Came good under rules at Huntingdon (2m3f, heavy) in February, her second handicap; found one just too strong when odds-on to follow up at Market Rasen (2m2f, good to soft) last month but was given a wind op soon afterwards and now moves up in trip; probably still has potential.

13/8

2nd

3

15th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 2f 140y

Class 5

15:32 Market Rasen

Natus Vincere

11st 7lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Stable debut at Leicester in January landed her amateur rider in hot water, but she made no mistake under Sean Bowen at Huntingdon (2m4f, heavy) last month; up 8lb and it remains to be seen if testing ground is important to her, but she remains unexposed; should be hard to beat.

1/2

1st

5

19th Feb 2026

2m 3f 137y

Class 5

16:01 Huntingdon

Natus Vincere

11st 6lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Irish point winner; picked up for £15,000 in October after heavy defeats in non-handicaps for previous yard; favourite for stable debut at Leicester (2m4f, heavy; first-time tongue-tie) after an absence but never got involved for a jockey having her first ride under rules; plenty to find with After Many Days on that run but Sean Bowen now takes over.

3/1

Form: P4P5-P D

Last run: 31 days

W: 10st 5lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Three-time hurdle winner but the latest was back in November 2023 and it's been a long time since he posed a serious threat; pulled up when a 3-1 shot for last month's stable and seasonal debut at Fontwell.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

27th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 164y

Class 5

15:00 Fontwell

Wot You Wearing

10st 2lb

J: Miss Kayla Ruddy

T: Fergal O’Brien

He was looking when regressive even before pulling up in his first two runs for this yard but ran better at Taunton (2m3f, good; ridden by Kayla Ruddy), where he was no match for the front two but did come from well off the pace; possibilities; 1lb wrong.

5/1

3rd

8

9th Mar 2026

Good

2m 3f 1y

Class 5

17:10 Taunton

Wot You Wearing

10st 5lb

J: Miss Kayla Ruddy

T: Fergal O’Brien

Out of sorts at the end of last term for Robert Stephens and he's been pulled up in handicaps (around 3m2f) at Fontwell and Warwick for his current yard this year; it's easy to look elsewhere.

20/1

6

20th Feb 2026

Soft

3m 2f 0y

Class 5

14:05 Warwick

Wot You Wearing

10st 5lb

J: Miss Kayla Ruddy

T: Fergal O’Brien

Three-time hurdle winner but the latest was back in November 2023 and it's been a long time since he posed a serious threat; pulled up when a 3-1 shot for last month's stable and seasonal debut at Fontwell.

12/1

Form: /P0P-0

Last run: 47 days

W: 10st 2lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
9yo whose Flat wins came in 2022 and 2023; struggled in handicap hurdles in winter 2024-25 and same story on comeback here on Boxing Day.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

11

16th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 61y

Class 5

13:10 Carlisle

Gold Ring

10st 5lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Neil Mechie

Two Flat wins, the latest at 2m in 2023, but he's shown very little in a handful of starts on the Flat and over hurdles since spring 2024.

66/1

Betting Forcast

11/2 Kells Priory, 5/1 Spot On Soph, 5/1 Another High Five, 25/1 Justus, 10/1 Princesse Milania, 11/2 Scairp Dubh, 4/1 De Deli Counter, 11/2 Natus Vincere, 11/1 Wot You Wearing, 66/1 Gold Ring

Verdict

The very lightly raced mare NATUS VINCERE caught the eye making late headway in the straight at Leicester and she’s taken to score on her second handicap start. Another High Five is open to improvement now up in trip on his handicap debut and he is second choice ahead of recent Market Rasen runner-up De Deli Counter.[Ben Hutton]

Selections

RP RATINGS:

De Deli Counter

Telegraph:

Another High Five

SPOTLIGHT:

Natus Vincere

Daily Mirror:

Scairp Dubh

POSTDATA:

Princesse Milania

D Express:

Spot On Soph

TOPSPEED:

De Deli Counter

The Times:

De Deli Counter

The Sun:

De Deli Counter

The Guardian:

Another High Five

The Star:

Another High Five

Daily Record:

Another High Five

Daily Mail:

Natus Vincere