March 07 / 16.10 Sandown

16.10

Good To Soft

Betfair Exchange Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £10562
  • 2m 4f 15y
  • Class 3
  • 5 runners
RTV
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Betfair Exchange Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

11/2 (Won)

  • Win: £3.25
  • Place: £1.70

Form: 84-012 D

Last run: 54 days

W: 10st 13lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Has shown career-best form since returning this winter, winning over hurdles at Catterick (2m3f, goods) then clear second at Hereford (2m5f, soft) on chase debut; may be capable of further progress.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

22

1st May 2026

Yielding

2m 4f 55y

17:25 Punchestown

Soldierofthestorm

10st 8lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

British runner is a three-time hurdles winner who has taken well to fences this season; built on positive chase debut when scoring from the front at Sandown (2m4f, soft) in March; not given an easy lead at Newton Abbott and jumping lacked fluency when last of the four runners (2m5f, good); easy lead could be difficult to find once again in this big field.

25/1

4th

1

14th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 216y

Class 3

16:52 Newton Abbot

Soldierofthestorm

11st 10lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Three-time hurdle winner who has taken well to fences this season, building on an encouraging second on chase debut when scoring from the front at Sandown (2m4f, soft) in March, jumping soundly throughout; this represents a different challenge but the 5lb rise is unlikely to halt his progress and another bold bid is on the cards.

6/4

25/1

  • Place: £2.10

Form: 311464 D

Last run: 16 days

W: 10st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Highly progressive over hurdles in 2025, winning four times (2m4f-2m7f, good to soft/soft), but he's performed below that level switched to fences in recent months; still early days in this sphere but difficult to make a case for him here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 133y

Class 2

14:40 Kelso

Glen Road

11st 10lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

Completed hurdle double when winning here (2m6f, soft) in December and tapped back into that promise when runner-up at Sandown (2m4f, soft) a fortnight ago on his third run over fences; won on good to soft going over hurdles; that latest form reads well and he's high on the list this afternoon.

11/2

2nd

7

7th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 15y

Class 3

16:10 Sandown

Glen Road

10st 9lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

Highly progressive over hurdles in 2025, winning four times (2m4f-2m7f, good to soft/soft), but he's performed below that level switched to fences in recent months; still early days in this sphere but difficult to make a case for him here.

25/1

4th

1

19th Feb 2026

2m 0f 77y

Class 4

13:58 Sedgefield

Glen Road

11st 8lb

J: Callum Bewley

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

Highly progressive over hurdles last year, winning four times (2m4f-2m7f, good to soft/soft); weakened quickly when soundly beaten sixth on last month's chase debut at Newcastle (2m4f, good to soft) but that's unlikely to be the limit of his ability over fences; no surprise to see a bold show.

4/1

Form: P4-114 D

Last run: 65 days

W: 11st 3lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
Returned to win handicap chases at Fontwell and Chepstow (both 2m3f, good to soft) in November/December; fared about as well as could be expected from 10lb out of the weights when fourth of 12 in a valuable Premier Handicap at Cheltenham (just short of 2m5f, good) on New Year's Day; respected with his sights lowered.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

11

18th Apr 2026

Soft

3m 0f 20y

Class 2

13:45 Ayr

Just Over Land

10st 11lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Sam Thomas

Two chase wins towards the end of last year (2m3f, good to soft) and did well to finish third of five at Sandown (2m4f, soft) last month having made mistakes; pulled up over 3m4f last January on sole previous run beyond 2m5f but he's worth a go at this trip; could go well if finding fluency.

9/1

3rd

3

7th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 15y

Class 3

16:10 Sandown

Just Over Land

11st 3lb

J: Mr Harvey Barfoot-Saunt

T: Sam Thomas

Returned to win handicap chases at Fontwell and Chepstow (both 2m3f, good to soft) in November/December; fared about as well as could be expected from 10lb out of the weights when fourth of 12 in a valuable Premier Handicap at Cheltenham (just short of 2m5f, good) on New Year's Day; respected with his sights lowered.

4/1

5

13th Feb 2025

Soft

1m 7f 201y

Class 3

14:40 Leicester

Just Over Land

10st 8lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Sam Thomas

Yet to score over fences and he has failed to progress since a promising second at Ffos Las (2m) in October; didn't stay 3m4f when pulled up in Windsor handicap chase 25 days ago but more is still needed on this drop back in trip.

10/1

Form: 123-63 D

Last run: 105 days

W: 11st 11lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 131

Form & Verdict
Fairly useful hurdler who stepped up on his Carlisle chase debut sixth when beaten just over 6l into third behind The Jukebox Man and Iroko in a Haydock graduation event over an extended 2m5f (good to soft) in November; while his proximity to that high-class pair almost certainly shouldn't be taken at face value he could still be well treated back in a handicap off 131.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

16

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 210y

Class 1

14:30 Aintree

Mr Hope Street

10st 13lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Four-time hurdles winner, including in one of only two attempts at 3m; campaigned over 2m4f/2m5f switched to fences this term, best effort when third behind very notable rivals in graduation chase at Haydock; well handicapped on that bare form and could be open to any amount of improvement back up in distance; a typically interesting runner of his type for the Skeltons.

5/2

4th

1

7th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 15y

Class 3

16:10 Sandown

Mr Hope Street

11st 11lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Fairly useful hurdler who stepped up on his Carlisle chase debut sixth when beaten just over 6l into third behind The Jukebox Man and Iroko in a Haydock graduation event over an extended 2m5f (good to soft) in November; while his proximity to that high-class pair almost certainly shouldn't be taken at face value he could still be well treated back in a handicap off 131.

2/1

6th

3

2nd Nov 2025

Good

2m 4f 198y

Class 3

12:32 Carlisle

Mr Hope Street

11st 9lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Made very good progress over hurdles last season (three wins); signed off with creditable third in competitive Cheltenham handicap (3m, good) in April and has possibilities if he takes well to chasing at first attempt.

5/1

Form: P1-25P D BF

Last run: 49 days

W: 10st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Soft-ground maiden hurdle winner last spring and bettered that form when second in 2m4f course handicap hurdle (good to soft) on reappearance; two lesser runs have followed, particularly when pulled up latest, and now switches to fences in a bid to resume his progression.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

7th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 15y

Class 3

16:10 Sandown

Akimos

10st 10lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

Soft-ground maiden hurdle winner last spring and bettered that form when second in 2m4f course handicap hurdle (good to soft) on reappearance; two lesser runs have followed, particularly when pulled up latest, and now switches to fences in a bid to resume his progression.

10/1

2

17th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 50y

Class 4

15:10 Haydock

Akimos

11st 13lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

Henderson hurdler who has low mileage; successful in maiden event last spring and good second in Sandown handicap (again over 2m4f) on reappearance; lesser effort at Leicester since but can't be written off.

8/1

Non-runners

Followcato, Captain Bellamy

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £10.30
Straight Forecast £11.78
Trifecta £29.10

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Soldierofthestorm

SPOTLIGHT:

Mr Hope Street

Daily Mail:

Just Over Land

TOPSPEED:

Captain Bellamy

The Times:

Mr Hope Street

Telegraph:

Mr Hope Street

The Sun:

Just Over Land

POSTDATA:

Soldierofthestorm

The Guardian:

Soldierofthestorm

D Express:

Soldierofthestorm

Daily Mirror:

Soldierofthestorm

The Star:

Soldierofthestorm

Daily Record:

Soldierofthestorm