February 26 / 16.27 Ludlow

16.27

Soft

Nightjar British Stout Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £3696.7
  • 1m 7f 169y
  • Class 5
  • 6 runners
RTV
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Nightjar British Stout Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

OUR TIP

5/6 (Won)

  • Win: £1.91
  • Place: £1.20

Form: 544911 D

Last run: 7 days

W: 12st 7lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Often ungainly when under pressure but has been back in prime form this month, winning twice over 2m4f at Sedgefield (good to soft/soft); carries 7lb penalty for latter success but did it readily by 8l; can cope with this drop back in trip and needs to be taken very seriously.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

17th Apr 2026

Good To Firm

2m 5f 137y

Class 4

18:40 Exeter

Thank You Blue

12st 0lb

J: Lewis Stones

T: Jennie Candlish

Rattled off a hat-trick at Ludlow (2m) in February but he beat only one off a 7lb higher mark in 2m1f Newcastle handicap six days ago; could bounce back off a 2lb lower mark.

6/1

5th

2

11th Apr 2026

Good

2m 0f 190y

Class 4

15:25 Newcastle

Thank You Blue

11st 13lb

J: Lewis Stones

T: Jennie Candlish

Weakened when third of five (13-8 favourite) in this last year; back to form, completing a February hat-trick (Sedgefield twice and Ludlow, rising steadily in the weights); reportedly "ran flat" when pulling up at Ayr (2m5f, soft; from 5lb lower) latest; needs to bounce back.

4/1

8/1

  • Place: £2.50

Form: U705

Last run: 45 days

W: 11st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 96

Form & Verdict
Fair maiden on the Flat; made inauspicious start to hurdling career in the autumn but last month's keeping-on fifth at Hereford (2m, soft) was quite encouraging and he's open to further improvement on this handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

2

24th Mar 2026

Good

2m 0f 104y

Class 5

15:15 Taunton

Raging Al

11st 8lb

J: James Davies

T: Tim Vaughan

0-6 on Flat and 0-5 as hurdler but last two outings were his best in this sphere and dropped 2lb since last month's handicap hurdle debut; player.

4/1

2nd

3

26th Feb 2026

Soft

1m 7f 169y

Class 5

16:27 Ludlow

Raging Al

11st 5lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Tim Vaughan

Fair maiden on the Flat; made inauspicious start to hurdling career in the autumn but last month's keeping-on fifth at Hereford (2m, soft) was quite encouraging and he's open to further improvement on this handicap debut.

8/1

3

(4)

8th Sep 2025

Soft

1m 3f 99y

Class 5

15:32 Windsor

Raging Al

10st 0lb

J: Callum Hutchinson

T: Tim Vaughan

Five-race maiden; has inconsistent form but could be involved if latest effort (third over 1m4f at Newbury) is backed up.

16/1

Form: 891156 CD

Last run: 25 days

W: 10st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
Struck form with two wins in December (C&D claimer/Hereford handicap) but two lesser efforts have followed and he was behind Aim Straight on more recent occasion; needs to kick on again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

3

12th Apr 2026

Good

1m 7f 149y

Class 5

15:27 Wincanton

No Guarantee

10st 12lb

J: James Turner

T: Alexander Gibbons

Dual hurdle winner and only 2lb higher than for his win at Hereford in December; however, didn't look a natural on last month's chase debut and was pulled up.

11/1

4

18th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 8y

Class 5

16:00 Hereford

No Guarantee

11st 4lb

J: James Turner

T: Alexander Gibbons

Struck form with two 2m hurdle wins in December (Ludlow claimer and Hereford handicap) but three lesser efforts have followed, including a well-held third of five at Ludlow last month; still 4lb higher than for his last success and something to prove on this switch to chasing; reapplied cheekpieces replace a visor.

8/1

3rd

5

26th Feb 2026

Soft

1m 7f 169y

Class 5

16:27 Ludlow

No Guarantee

10st 12lb

J: James Turner

T: Alexander Gibbons

Struck form with two wins in December (C&D claimer/Hereford handicap) but two lesser efforts have followed and he was behind Aim Straight on more recent occasion; needs to kick on again.

12/1

Form: -5F145 C BF

Last run: 48 days

W: 11st 1lb

7 yo Filly

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
Won comfortably under Ned Fox at Leicester (1m7f, soft) in December and also ran well when fourth there (2m4f, soft) later that month; below that level on latest outing (2m5f), though, and current mark demands a career-best effort.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

26th Feb 2026

Soft

1m 7f 169y

Class 5

16:27 Ludlow

Olivia Kate

11st 1lb

J: Ned Fox

T: Matt Sheppard

Won comfortably under Ned Fox at Leicester (1m7f, soft) in December and also ran well when fourth there (2m4f, soft) later that month; below that level on latest outing (2m5f), though, and current mark demands a career-best effort.

6/1

4

23rd Oct 2025

Good To Firm

2m 5f 55y

Class 5

16:07 Ludlow

Olivia Kate

11st 2lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Matt Sheppard

Unraced on fast ground and best form was her second on soft ground at Exeter in January (2m5f); however, ran okay after a break at Chepstow (2m, good) and returns to a better trip here.

11/2

5th

10

10th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 11y

Class 5

17:30 Chepstow

Olivia Kate

10st 12lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Matt Sheppard

Came good with wide-margin success at Ludlow (2m5f, good to soft) in November and was placed twice on slow ground after the turn of the year (2m5f/2m4f); might find 2m a bit sharp on this first run since February, though.

10/1

Form: -64664

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
0-5 over hurdles but bettered disappointing handicap debut when respectable fourth at Market Rasen (2m, soft; first run after wind op) this month and can improve again if aided by added tongue-tie and/or cheekpieces.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

26th Feb 2026

Soft

1m 7f 169y

Class 5

16:27 Ludlow

Aim Straight

11st 6lb

J: Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: Alastair Ralph

0-5 over hurdles but bettered disappointing handicap debut when respectable fourth at Market Rasen (2m, soft; first run after wind op) this month and can improve again if aided by added tongue-tie and/or cheekpieces.

5/1

4th

1

1st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 125y

Class 5

15:30 Market Rasen

Aim Straight

12st 0lb

J: Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: Alastair Ralph

Soundly beaten on handicap debut five weeks ago but had shown significant promise beforehand and was given a wind op afterwards; remains open to improvement.

7/1

2

31st Oct 2025

Good

2m 3f 207y

Class 4

13:25 Uttoxeter

Aim Straight

11st 0lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Alastair Ralph

Not beaten far in Worcester bumper last autumn and again displayed promise when sixth in 2m maiden hurdle there (good to soft) for new stable last month; not bred for this longer trip but has each-way claims if that recent run brought him on.

16/1

Form: 7-P04P

Last run: 42 days

W: 10st 5lb

6 yo Filly

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
0-9 over hurdles; belied 66-1 odds when fourth of 20 at Down Royal (2m1f, yielding; first-time blinkers) on Boxing Day but that was a rather messy tactical race and she was pulled up last time; others look safer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

26th Feb 2026

Soft

1m 7f 169y

Class 5

16:27 Ludlow

Give Her Hollie

10st 5lb

J: Finn Brickley

T: Cian Collins

0-9 over hurdles; belied 66-1 odds when fourth of 20 at Down Royal (2m1f, yielding; first-time blinkers) on Boxing Day but that was a rather messy tactical race and she was pulled up last time; others look safer.

12/1

15

15th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 4f 0y

15:52 Fairyhouse

Give Her Hollie

10st 7lb

J: Finn Brickley

T: Cian Collins

Very modest form in maidens and in her first three handicaps; showed notable improvement when fourth in a 20-runner contest at Down Royal; could again be close between her and third-placed Back To Cali.

7/2

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £7.10
Straight Forecast £8.30
Trifecta £33.60

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Thank You Blue

POSTDATA:

Olivia Kate

The Guardian:

Aim Straight

The Times:

Raging Al

Telegraph:

No Guarantee

D Express:

Olivia Kate

RP RATINGS:

Thank You Blue

TOPSPEED:

Thank You Blue

Daily Mail:

Thank You Blue

Daily Mirror:

Thank You Blue

The Sun:

Thank You Blue

The Star:

Thank You Blue

Daily Record:

Thank You Blue