February 28 / 14.10 Newbury

14.10

Good To Soft

BetVictor Favourite Things, Bet Boosts Handicap Hurdle (Challenger Two Mile Hurdle Series Qualifier)

  • Prize money: £10926.3
  • 2m 0f 69y
  • Class 3
  • 7 runners
SKY
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BetVictor Favourite Things, Bet Boosts Handicap Hurdle (Challenger Two Mile Hurdle Series Qualifier)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

5/1 (Won)

  • Win: £2.38
  • Place: £1.40

Form: 9-047P CD

Last run: 44 days

W: 10st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Has not been at his best this season but trying 2m4f (twice; showed plenty on first occasion) and 3m (pulled up on heavy last time) on his last three outings may have been against him; career peak was a C&D novice win (soft) last February and his stable form, as well as the drop back in trip, makes him of renewed interest.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

2nd May 2026

Good

2m 4f 15y

Class 3

18:15 Hexham

Rubber Ball

11st 5lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: Neil King

Not at his best in competitive handicap hurdles at Sandown in March and Aintree in April, but he'd previously won well at Newbury (2m, good to soft; probably stays 2m4f); began his career in points (1-1) and has a jumps pedigree so there's a reasonable chance he'll make a chaser; respected in first-time headgear.

3/1

14th

5

10th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 103y

Class 2

17:15 Aintree

Rubber Ball

11st 7lb

J: Miss Gina Andrews

T: Neil King

Returned to form with a bang when seeing off the reopposing Melon at Newbury (2m, good to soft) in February; has a quick turnaround as an excuse for a lesser effort in the Imperial Cup at Sandown (2m, soft) one week later, while his trainer reported to the stewards that he'll be suited by a flatter track and a quicker surface, both of which he should get today; not dismissed.

12/1

8th

7

7th Mar 2026

Soft

1m 7f 216y

Class 2

14:27 Sandown

Rubber Ball

11st 3lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: Neil King

Returned to form with a bang when dropped back in trip and a well-backed winner at Newbury (2m, good to soft) last Saturday; now 8lb higher in a much hotter race but he's unexposed at this sort of distance and his stable is in tremendous form; has also won on soft ground; not ruled out.

9/1

Form: 614-38 D

Last run: 43 days

W: 10st 11lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
2-4 in juvenile hurdles (including a win on soft) and reappeared with a good third of 11 in handicap at Cheltenham (2m1f, good to soft) in December; claimer ridden when disappointing at Windsor six weeks ago but could bounce back.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

13

10th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 103y

Class 2

17:15 Aintree

Melon

11st 3lb

J: Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Two juvenile hurdle wins last winter; reappeared with a good third of 11 in handicap at Cheltenham (2m1f, good to soft) in December and bounced back quickly from a lesser effort at Windsor when chasing home the reopposing Rubber Ball at Newbury (2m, good to soft) in February.

16/1

2nd

6

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 69y

Class 3

14:10 Newbury

Melon

10st 11lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

2-4 in juvenile hurdles (including a win on soft) and reappeared with a good third of 11 in handicap at Cheltenham (2m1f, good to soft) in December; claimer ridden when disappointing at Windsor six weeks ago but could bounce back.

7/1

8th

13

16th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 2

15:35 Windsor

Melon

10st 10lb

J: Michael Kenneally

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

2-4 in juvenile hurdles last season (including a win on soft) and he reappeared with a close third of 11 in a handicap at Cheltenham (2m1f, good to soft) last month; open to improvement and has an each-way shout up 2lb.

12/1

Form: 20-229 D

Last run: 42 days

W: 10st 9lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
1-8 over hurdles, with the win on first attempt; good second at Wetherby and Sandown (both 2m on soft) to start this season, before tailing off over 2m3f at Ascot on soft six weeks ago; back down in trip and has now had wind surgery; needs to resume his progress.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

7

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 144y

Class 2

14:12 Haydock

Marche dAligre

10st 10lb

J: Joe Anderson

T: Jamie Snowden

Runner-up twice in a row at the end of last year (2m, soft) then tailed off at Ascot (2m3f, soft); following wind surgery he took a step back in the right direction at Newbury (2m, good to soft) in February but was still soundly beaten, and very much needs to build on that latest effort.

14/1

3rd

7

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 69y

Class 3

14:10 Newbury

Marche dAligre

10st 9lb

J: Isabelle Ryder

T: Jamie Snowden

1-8 over hurdles, with the win on first attempt; good second at Wetherby and Sandown (both 2m on soft) to start this season, before tailing off over 2m3f at Ascot on soft six weeks ago; back down in trip and has now had wind surgery; needs to resume his progress.

9/2

9th

7

17th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 63y

Class 2

14:53 Ascot

Marche dAligre

10st 10lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

Arrives in good form after seconds at Wetherby and Sandown (both 2m, soft), no extra after a mistake at the last on second occasion; now moves up in distance, and if he stays he should be involved again.

9/1

Form: 446313 CD

Last run: 35 days

W: 11st 12lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 138

Form & Verdict
Won by a neck at Haydock (2m, good to soft) last month under Megan Fox and is 4lb higher today; performed as well as could be expected in the face of a stiff task when third of four in Grade 2 at Cheltenham a week later and has each-way claims on this return to handicap company.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 69y

Class 3

14:10 Newbury

Brentford Hope

11st 12lb

J: Megan Fox

T: Harry Derham

Won by a neck at Haydock (2m, good to soft) last month under Megan Fox and is 4lb higher today; performed as well as could be expected in the face of a stiff task when third of four in Grade 2 at Cheltenham a week later and has each-way claims on this return to handicap company.

3/1

3rd

4

24th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 0f 179y

Class 1

15:00 Cheltenham

Brentford Hope

11st 4lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

Took advantage of a handy mark in Haydock handicap last Saturday, bringing record over hurdles to 6-20; has the worst chance at the weights back up in class and seems unlikely to match his second-place finish, which was a realistic outcome at the time, in this race last year.

66/1

Form: 53-216 D BF

Last run: 61 days

W: 10st 13lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
Bumper winner who went close in Cheltenham Grade 2 on hurdle debut before getting off the mark at Ascot (1m7f, good) in November; found to have bled when well held next time and played up at the start (deemed a non-runner) at Exeter eight days ago; wore tongue-tie on those last three appearances and cheekpieces at Exeter, but has neither today; unexposed handicap debutant.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 69y

Class 3

14:10 Newbury

Doctor Blue

10st 13lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Sam Thomas

Bumper winner who went close in Cheltenham Grade 2 on hurdle debut before getting off the mark at Ascot (1m7f, good) in November; found to have bled when well held next time and played up at the start (deemed a non-runner) at Exeter eight days ago; wore tongue-tie on those last three appearances and cheekpieces at Exeter, but has neither today; unexposed handicap debutant.

5/2

1

20th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 0f 161y

Class 4

14:14 Exeter

Doctor Blue

11st 12lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Sam Thomas

Bumper winner who went close in Cheltenham Grade 2 on hurdle debut before getting off the mark at Ascot (1m7f, good; first-time tongue-tie) in November; found to have bled when well held at Doncaster since, which is a concern, but would have obvious claims if back to best with cheekpieces added.

11/10

2nd

1

24th Oct 2025

Good

2m 0f 87y

Class 1

15:00 Cheltenham

Doctor Blue

11st 2lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Sam Thomas

Favourite for two of his three bumpers (good to soft or good), winning the first and on the latest occasion finishing third under a penalty at Chepstow where they didn't go much of a gallop; others in here have superior form but he's a likely improver over hurdles.

25/1

OUR TIP

Form: 1-161P D

Last run: 15 days

W: 12st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 140

Form & Verdict
Both his chase wins this term were gained at very skinny odds in tiny-field novice events; pulled up in his latest chase 15 days ago but last spring's peak hurdles form would put him in the mix.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

9th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 28y

Class 3

17:42 Hexham

The Four Sixes

12st 0lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

But disappointing in four runs over hurdles since a spell chasing; has dropped to a good mark as a result and better run last time; down in grade; could go well.

5/1

4th

3

17th Apr 2026

Soft

2m 5f 91y

Class 2

16:05 Ayr

The Four Sixes

11st 11lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Easily made all in this last year when 5lb higher and he's one to watch in the betting; however, he's struggled for form over fences/hurdles since winning a novice chase at Kelso in December.

11/1

7th

3

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 123y

Class 2

15:20 Bangor-on-Dee

The Four Sixes

11st 11lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Olly Murphy

Won this last year before following up at Ayr and is well handicapped on all that; however, this season's wins have been over fences and it's been a struggle back hurdling the last twice.

5/1

Form: 27148P D

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 9lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 135

Form & Verdict
Came good for Willie Mullins last spring and went in again at Listowel in September; looked a non-stayer at 2m4f on final Irish start and, although he didn't show much when 50-1 confronted with 2m5f on heavy on British debut, he's not entirely dismissed given that this test looks more suitable.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

5

15th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 3

18:20 Aintree

Last Kingdom

11st 0lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Faye Bramley

Both hurdles wins when trained by Willie Mullins; has shown little in four starts for current yard and hard to be at all confident.

25/1

Non-runners

Brave Knight

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £6.50
Straight Forecast £6.39
Tricast £30.41
Trifecta £34.00

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Brentford Hope

TOPSPEED:

Doctor Blue

The Times:

Melon

SPOTLIGHT:

Rubber Ball

The Sun:

The Four Sixes

D Express:

Melon

Telegraph:

Doctor Blue

Daily Mail:

Doctor Blue

Daily Mirror:

Doctor Blue

POSTDATA:

Brentford Hope

LAMBOURN:

Brentford Hope

The Guardian:

Brentford Hope

The Star:

Brentford Hope

Daily Record:

Brentford Hope