February 28 / 15.40 Doncaster

15.40

Good To Soft

Virgin Bet Novices’ Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £4330.42
  • 2m 0f 128y
  • Class 5
  • 7 runners
SKY
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Virgin Bet Novices’ Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

14/1 (Won)

  • Win: £3.90
  • Place: £2.00

Form: 28-596

Last run: 37 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 98

Form & Verdict
Beaten a neck on his handicap debut last April (2m1f, good) but four lesser runs have followed, so has to turn things around.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

14th Apr 2026

Good

2m 2f 140y

Class 5

15:20 Market Rasen

Caramelo Rapido

11st 11lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Mark Walford

Opened his account at Doncaster (2m) in February but he beat only one in 2m Hexham handicap 20 days ago; needs to bounce back.

16/1

8th

10

25th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 48y

Class 4

15:11 Hexham

Caramelo Rapido

10st 11lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Mark Walford

Advanced his form when getting off the mark at the tenth attempt in 2m Doncaster handicap 25 days ago; this demands another personal best off a 5lb higher mark.

9/2

1st

5

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 128y

Class 5

15:40 Doncaster

Caramelo Rapido

11st 7lb

J: James Bowen

T: Mark Walford

Beaten a neck on his handicap debut last April (2m1f, good) but four lesser runs have followed, so has to turn things around.

14/1

Form: 3-9611 D

Last run: 43 days

W: 12st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Justified favouritism in his last two handicaps on soft and good to soft; it was harder work after a 6lb hit last time and now has to defy the same rise, but he has momentum behind him.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 128y

Class 5

15:40 Doncaster

The Resdev Tyke

12st 0lb

J: Tom Midgley

T: Michael & David Easterby

Justified favouritism in his last two handicaps on soft and good to soft; it was harder work after a 6lb hit last time and now has to defy the same rise, but he has momentum behind him.

3/1

1st

1

16th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 125y

Class 5

12:18 Market Rasen

The Resdev Tyke

12st 0lb

J: Ben Smith

T: Michael & David Easterby

Off the mark over hurdles at fifth attempt, rewarding strong market support with clearcut success at Wetherby (2m, soft) on Boxing Day; could easily have more improvement to come and goes on the shortlist.

11/4

Form: 445347

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
Had plenty of Flat racing and won five times; 0-6 as a hurdler and after his fourth to The Resdev Tyke on Boxing Day he ran no race at Sedgefield; others preferred.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

3

18th Jul 2026

Good

2m 1f 46y

Class 5

14:35 Cartmel

Animato

11st 11lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Ran well for a long way when third of seven on latest hurdling start, at Doncaster (2m, soft) in February, and will be fine on the faster ground here but recent Flat form has been underwhelming; others appeal more.

10/1

3rd

5

(5)

4th Jul 2026

Good

2m 1f 47y

Class 5

20:09 Carlisle

Animato

9st 8lb

J: Miss Lizzie O’Neill

T: Donald McCain

Five-time Flat winner for David O'Meara but hasn't really threatened to add to tally on the Flat or over hurdles for this yard, including back on the level last month.

25/1

5th

1

(1)

25th Jun 2026

Good

1m 5f 16y

Class 6

18:00 Hamilton

Animato

11st 2lb

J: Miss Lizzie O’Neill

T: Donald McCain

Five-time Flat winner, the latest in May 2024, and he ran okay in February on his last hurdle start; he may have needed the run when back on the Flat three weeks ago and is not ruled out off a reduced mark.

16/1

Form: 6007

Last run: 43 days

W: 10st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Thoroughly tailed off so far over hurdles but handicap newcomers from this yard always need checking in the betting.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

14

27th Mar 2026

Good

3m 0f 26y

Class 5

16:50 Wetherby

Yummy

10st 9lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

First effort of note over hurdles when a keeping-on fourth (beaten 13l) on handicap debut at Doncaster (2m, soft) and this longer trip could make a difference according to her pedigree.

4/1

4th

10

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 128y

Class 5

15:40 Doncaster

Yummy

10st 5lb

J: Tristan Durrell

T: Dan Skelton

Thoroughly tailed off so far over hurdles but handicap newcomers from this yard always need checking in the betting.

6/1

7th

6

16th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 2f 140y

Class 4

12:53 Market Rasen

Yummy

11st 5lb

J: Liam Harrison

T: Dan Skelton

Displayed minor promise in Worcester bumper in October but well beaten on first two hurdling starts (both 2m); riding arrangements suggest Typhoon Warrior is the stable's main hope.

66/1

Form: 38UF66

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
A long way clear when falling at the fourth-last fence at Sedgefield (2m5f, good) in October and ran well to a point back there on his stable debut; she never got that competitive back over hurdles this month.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

6

17th Apr 2026

Good To Firm

2m 0f 161y

Class 5

19:10 Exeter

Prized Jet

11st 2lb

J: Ian Power

T: Jennie Candlish

Placed in a 3m hurdle (good) when trained in Ireland; has gone backwards in three starts for her current trainer, both in terms of performance and trip; latest 5lb drop sees her on a handy mark and no surprise if she can take advantage.

7/1

5th

7

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 128y

Class 5

15:40 Doncaster

Prized Jet

11st 2lb

J: Ian Power

T: Jennie Candlish

A long way clear when falling at the fourth-last fence at Sedgefield (2m5f, good) in October and ran well to a point back there on his stable debut; she never got that competitive back over hurdles this month.

12/1

6th

3

4th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 178y

Class 5

14:42 Sedgefield

Prized Jet

11st 10lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jennie Candlish

Lightly raced 6yo who was a long way clear when falling at the fourth-last fence here (2m5f, good) in October and ran well for a long way before weakening rapidly here (2m5f, good) in November on stable debut; the drop in trip could be just what she needs and she's one to consider back hurdling.

4/1

Form: 4-0P8P

Last run: 23 days

W: 10st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
In a respected yard but has offered little in either of his handicaps, at 2m and 3m (latterly with cheekpieces added); hard to make a case.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

7

2nd May 2026

Good

3m 0f 10y

Class 5

15:10 Uttoxeter

New Invention

10st 9lb

J: Toby Wynne

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Unplaced all six hurdle runs; might improve over fences at some stage but was well beaten when 33-1 for chasing debut at Bangor (3m, good) in March and could be considered only if much stronger in the betting here; swaps cheekpieces for first-time blinkers.

14/1

9th

9

31st Mar 2026

Good

3m 0f 30y

Class 5

16:20 Bangor-on-Dee

New Invention

10st 12lb

J: Toby Wynne

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Forgettable form over hurdles, including three handicaps from 2m to 3m; there's a chance he could turn out better over fences but a watching brief seems best on this first attempt.

12/1

6th

8

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 128y

Class 5

15:40 Doncaster

New Invention

10st 10lb

J: Toby Wynne

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

In a respected yard but has offered little in either of his handicaps, at 2m and 3m (latterly with cheekpieces added); hard to make a case.

16/1

Form: 432134 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 101

Form & Verdict
It's been a solid start in handicaps and held his own in a higher grade four weeks ago at Musselburgh (good to soft); the tongue-tie is retained and the cheekpieces tried last time are removed; that's no obvious negative and he can run well.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

3

19th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

2m 0f 213y

Class 2

15:58 Stratford

Captain Cool

11st 6lb

J: Luke Scott

T: Jennie Candlish

Progressive 6yo with 3-4 strike-rate over fences, including two fast-ground C&D wins this season; the form of last month's 20l success in a three-runner race is tricky to evaluate (odds-on favourite below par) but a 4lb rise could have been worse and he may still be on the upgrade.

15/8

1st

2

30th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

2m 0f 213y

Class 3

18:18 Stratford

Captain Cool

10st 8lb

J: Luke Scott

T: Jennie Candlish

Won first two starts over fences (2m1f, good) and shaped just as well when reverting to hurdles off 13lb lower, finishing runner-up at Southwell this month; latest second, over fences at Perth 23 days ago, was perfectly respectable but his current mark looks demanding.

3/1

2nd

2

7th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

15:52 Perth

Captain Cool

11st 4lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jennie Candlish

Launched chasing career with wins at Stratford (2m1f, good to firm) and Plumpton (2m1f, good) last month, and also ran well when second over hurdles on Tuesday; evidently in very good nick but current chase mark asks a question of him, and today's forecast slower ground is probably not ideal.

4/1

Non-runners

Tilehurst, Chevington, Romancier

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £12.90
Straight Forecast £10.25
Tricast £146.92
Trifecta £104.70

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Captain Cool

The Times:

The Resdev Tyke

Telegraph:

Chevington

D Express:

Tilehurst

Daily Mail:

The Resdev Tyke

Daily Record:

The Resdev Tyke

RP RATINGS:

Captain Cool

TOPSPEED:

Captain Cool

POSTDATA:

Captain Cool

Daily Mirror:

Captain Cool

The Sun:

Captain Cool

The Guardian:

Chevington

The Star:

Chevington