February 18 / 16.05 Ludlow

16.05

Michael Lumsden Memorial Handicap Hurdle

  • 1m 7f 169y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
RTV
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Michael Lumsden Memorial Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface:

Weather:

12/1 (Won)

  • Win: £7.50
  • Place: £1.90

Form: 1-3526 D

Last run: 35 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Merely sixth, beaten 15l, on last month's handicap debut at Newbury (2m, good to soft); however, it may well have been a warm race and prior to that he went close in a novice at Leicester (1m7f, soft); retains potential.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

18th Feb 2026

1m 7f 169y

Class 4

16:05 Ludlow

Sir Hobnob

11st 7lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Merely sixth, beaten 15l, on last month's handicap debut at Newbury (2m, good to soft); however, it may well have been a warm race and prior to that he went close in a novice at Leicester (1m7f, soft); retains potential.

12/1

6th

5

14th Jan 2026

Good

2m 0f 69y

Class 4

15:50 Newbury

Sir Hobnob

11st 8lb

J: Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Good-ground bumper winner who was a close second at Leicester (1m7f, soft) in November on his third hurdle start; the winner followed up in a handicap, indicating this unexposed 5yo has a workable opening mark.

8/1

13

30th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 70y

Class 3

13:47 Stratford

Sir Hobnob

10st 13lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Landed his second of two bumpers at Bangor (2m, good) in April; promising start over hurdles when third to one that has won again since at Worcester (2m4f, good) last month; steps back in trip and looks sure to run well.

7/1

2/1

  • Place: £1.10

Form: 23P-22

Last run: 63 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Filly

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Placed in two bumpers (including on soft) and runner-up on both hurdle starts (2m/2m5f, good/good to soft), here most recently; she could benefit from the drop back in trip on handicap debut and is one to consider.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

6

16th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 145y

Class 4

15:20 Bangor-on-Dee

Diamonds Galore

11st 6lb

J: James Bowen

T: Nicky Henderson

Clearly not herself when pulled up in valuable series final in March but quickly got career back on track with odds-on maiden win at Market Rasen (2m, good) last month; returns to a handicap on workable mark and remains lightly raced; shortlisted.

5/2

1st

4

14th Apr 2026

Good

2m 0f 125y

Class 4

14:10 Market Rasen

Diamonds Galore

11st 6lb

J: James Bowen

T: Nicky Henderson

Runner-up on first three hurdling starts this season, losing out only narrowly on handicap debut at Ludlow (2m, soft; front pair clear) in February; clearly not herself when pulled up in valuable series final last month but should be fine on the forecast good ground here and will be hard to beat if back on song.

1/2

5

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 51y

Class 2

14:10 Kelso

Diamonds Galore

10st 13lb

J: David Bass

T: Nicky Henderson

Runner-up in two novice hurdles towards end of last year (2m/2m5f, good/good to soft) and filled the same position when beaten half a length on last month's handicap debut at Ludlow (2m, soft); she was well clear of the third last time and could play another leading role even now 4lb higher.

14/1

33/1

  • Place: £7.50

Form: 82-4P

Last run: 60 days

W: 10st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
French Flat winner (soft) who showed promise in C&D novice hurdle (good to soft) last April; he may have needed the run when pulled up at 28-1 on handicap debut at Hereford (2m, soft) in December but he needs to be an entirely different proposition today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

3

17th Apr 2026

Good To Firm

2m 0f 161y

Class 5

19:10 Exeter

Regal Cavalier

11st 5lb

J: Lee Edwards

T: Belinda Clarke

15.5f winner (soft) on the Flat when trained in France; showed some ability on his second start when with Max Young (2m, good to soft) but well below that level since; handy mark if new trainer can revive him.

10/1

6th

7

11th Mar 2026

Good

1m 7f 171y

Class 5

15:38 Huntingdon

Regal Cavalier

11st 9lb

J: Ben Poste

T: Max Young

Pulled hard when pulled up behind Chevington on his handicap debut at Hereford in December; bettered that a few weeks ago, despite again overracing, and should have improvement in him, dropped 2lb, if more amenable.

12/1

3rd

8

18th Feb 2026

1m 7f 169y

Class 4

16:05 Ludlow

Regal Cavalier

10st 6lb

J: Ben Poste

T: Max Young

French Flat winner (soft) who showed promise in C&D novice hurdle (good to soft) last April; he may have needed the run when pulled up at 28-1 on handicap debut at Hereford (2m, soft) in December but he needs to be an entirely different proposition today.

33/1

Form: 124117 D

Last run: 16 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Won two novice hurdles in November (2m3f/2m, good); tailed off on recent handicap debut at Kempton (2m, good to soft), following a wind op, but could leave that performance behind if settling better; unraced on soft.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

3

30th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

2m 0f 213y

Class 3

18:18 Stratford

Ice In The Veins

10st 5lb

J: James Best

T: Sarah-Jayne Davies

2-7 over hurdles for Dan Skelton before being sold for £5,000 after bleeding from the nose and pulling up on chase debut at Bangor in May; made a satisfactory start for this stable when runner-up to Tellherthename at Uttoxeter two weeks ago but is 4lb out of the weights here.

8/1

2nd

5

13th Jun 2026

Good

1m 7f 214y

Class 3

17:42 Uttoxeter

Ice In The Veins

10st 7lb

J: James Best

T: Sarah-Jayne Davies

Won twice over hurdles for Dan Skelton last November; pulled up on his chase debut after reported to have bled from the nose at Bangor four weeks ago and subsequently sold for £5,000; regular hood is left off on stable debut and best to proceed with caution.

8/1

5

16th May 2026

Good

2m 1f 77y

Class 4

17:05 Bangor-on-Dee

Ice In The Veins

11st 9lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Made all for two good-ground novice hurdle wins last November (2m, 2m3f); lesser form this year likely more to do with a refusal to settle under restraint than the move to handicaps, but a return to previous tactics may put him in a pace battle with a few here; chasers in pedigree.

3/1

Form: 01751 D

Last run: 13 days

W: 11st 1lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Won juvenile hurdle at Fontwell (2m1f, good to soft) in November and returned to form to win handicap against older horses at Huntingdon (2m, soft) a fortnight ago; did it easily last time and a 9lb rise may not stop him.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

(5)

29th Apr 2026

Standard

2m 0f 102y

Class 5

14:20 Southwell (AW)

Westlain

9st 1lb

J: Hector Crouch

T: Jack Jones

Pick of Flat form when close third at Lingfield last June (11.6f; turf; Betelgeuse behind); won twice over hurdles since and is now asked to go further back on the level; interesting candidate.

100/30

5th

7

18th Feb 2026

1m 7f 169y

Class 4

16:05 Ludlow

Westlain

11st 1lb

J: Lorcan Williams

T: Jack Jones

Won juvenile hurdle at Fontwell (2m1f, good to soft) in November and returned to form to win handicap against older horses at Huntingdon (2m, soft) a fortnight ago; did it easily last time and a 9lb rise may not stop him.

15/8

1st

6

5th Feb 2026

Soft

1m 7f 171y

Class 4

14:35 Huntingdon

Westlain

11st 1lb

J: Lorcan Williams

T: Jack Jones

Juvenile hurdler who came up rather short in Fontwell handicap most recently, failing to back up the form of his 66-1 win there; others preferred.

10/1

Form: 42-357

Last run: 53 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Promise in bumpers (soft/good) before encouraging third on hurdle debut at Fontwell (2m1f, good to soft) in November; two lesser runs have followed but he now goes handicapping following wind surgery and it will be no surprise if he plays a leading role for his top trainer (who saddles three).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

12

5th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 2f 191y

Class 4

15:15 Haydock

Phineas Bunce

11st 0lb

J: Liam Harrison

T: Dan Skelton

Solid start over hurdles when third at Fontwell (about 2m2f, good to soft) in November but diminishing returns were predicted by progressively bigger prices the following month; no immediate promise when beaten 21l on handicap debut at Ludlow a fortnight ago.

25/1

6th

4

18th Feb 2026

1m 7f 169y

Class 4

16:05 Ludlow

Phineas Bunce

11st 4lb

J: Tristan Durrell

T: Dan Skelton

Promise in bumpers (soft/good) before encouraging third on hurdle debut at Fontwell (2m1f, good to soft) in November; two lesser runs have followed but he now goes handicapping following wind surgery and it will be no surprise if he plays a leading role for his top trainer (who saddles three).

6/1

2nd

13

2nd Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 128y

Class 5

16:50 Doncaster

Phineas Bunce

11st 2lb

J: Tristan Durrell

T: Dan Skelton

Stayed on for near-7l fourth on debut at Wincanton (1m7f, soft; 11-1) in December and that form has been franked by the runner-up and the third; his best days probably lie over further but he's open to improvement for his top yard and is a key player today.

4/1

Form: 44

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 3lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Flat winner (1m2f, AW) who has made the frame at 66-1 this winter on his first two hurdle starts (2m, soft); his opening mark looks workable and he's open to further improvement in this code; chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

11th May 2026

Good

1m 7f 182y

Class 4

17:17 Southwell

Sense Of Reason

11st 4lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Charlie Fellowes

1m2f winner; positives to take from three of his four runs over hurdles, last time chasing home an odds-on Olly Murphy runner; thereabouts.

11/2

2nd

2

13th Apr 2026

Good

2m 0f 3y

Class 4

16:40 Fakenham

Sense Of Reason

11st 6lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Charlie Fellowes

Won on the AW last summer (1m2f) and launched hurdling career with two encouraging fourths, latterly when just over 2l behind Jamada in 18-runner Lingfield maiden (2m, soft) in January; safely held on subsequent handicap debut but still considered here, with the switch to better ground a possible source of improvement.

2/1

OUR TIP

Form: -21410 D

Last run: 16 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Filly

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Headstrong mare who won three times between last April-September (1m7f/2m, good); tailed off at Kempton (2m, good to soft) recently following a break but may have needed the outing; showed promise on soft ground in France; not written off.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

2

(8)

10th Jun 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 3f 219y

Class 4

20:10 Kempton (AW)

Soleil DArizona

10st 0lb

J: Robert Dunne

T: Dan Skelton

Ex-French 1m3f Flat scorer; a fair 2m winning hurdler for her current yard in 2025 but she was tailed off in 2m Ludlow handicap hurdle last month; needs to take a big step forward on her first Flat run since 2023.

11/1

6th

4

10th May 2026

Good

1m 7f 169y

Class 4

16:02 Ludlow

Soleil DArizona

11st 12lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Skelton mare who had excuses (faced stiff task, bled from nose) in notable handicap returned to favoured good ground last time; quite progressive last spring to autumn and looks interesting off a workable mark back down in class.

4/1

14

5th Apr 2026

Good

1m 7f 195y

Class 2

16:05 Plumpton

Soleil DArizona

10st 2lb

J: Tristan Durrell

T: Dan Skelton

All three hurdle wins have been on good ground so drying conditions are a positive, and she has had to deal with soft surfaces the last twice; however, this is by some way the strongest hurdle race she's contested to date.

14/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £18.00
Straight Forecast £12.95
Tricast £343.47
Trifecta £366.70

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Westlain

TOPSPEED:

Diamonds Galore

RP RATINGS:

Sense Of Reason

Daily Mail:

Ice In The Veins

LAMBOURN:

Diamonds Galore

The Guardian:

Diamonds Galore

Daily Mirror:

Diamonds Galore

The Times:

Sense Of Reason

POSTDATA:

Westlain

Telegraph:

Westlain

D Express:

Westlain

The Sun:

Westlain

The Star:

Westlain

Daily Record:

Westlain