April 16 / 18.30 Hereford

18.30

Good

Robert Howell Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £4066.37
  • 3m 1f 119y
  • Class 4
  • 5 runners
SKY
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Robert Howell Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

3/1 (Won)

  • Win: £5.50
  • Place: £1.90

Form: 348PP3

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Both wins were at Huntingdon in winter 2024-25; ran well at Cheltenham (2m) in October but has had a bleak time of it since until something of an upturn at Chepstow (extended 2m3f) two weeks ago; needs to build on that and there was some encouragement last time for stepping up in trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

15

9th May 2026

Good

3m 0f 58y

Class 2

12:45 Haydock

Gold For Alec

10st 2lb

J: Ned Fox

T: Tom Symonds

A marked step up in trip saw him emerge from the wilderness to win five-runner handicap at Hereford (extended 3m1f, good) last month and he did it comfortably, but he's 10lb higher today (4lb out of the handicap) against far more daunting opposition.

12/1

1st

5

16th Apr 2026

Good

3m 1f 119y

Class 4

18:30 Hereford

Gold For Alec

11st 3lb

J: Ben Poste

T: Tom Symonds

Both wins were at Huntingdon in winter 2024-25; ran well at Cheltenham (2m) in October but has had a bleak time of it since until something of an upturn at Chepstow (extended 2m3f) two weeks ago; needs to build on that and there was some encouragement last time for stepping up in trip.

3/1

3rd

10

2nd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 100y

Class 4

16:07 Chepstow

Gold For Alec

11st 5lb

J: Ben Poste

T: Tom Symonds

Ran well in defeat on his reappearance but nowhere near as effective in his last four races; the cheekpieces tried last time are removed.

25/1

6/1

  • Place: £1.70

Form: -04198

Last run: 49 days

W: 11st 8lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
1-8 over hurdles, up in trip when winning at Lingfield (2m7f, soft) in December; with two major backward steps since, a lot seemingly depends on his subsequent wind surgery and today's first tongue-tie.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

16th Apr 2026

Good

3m 1f 119y

Class 4

18:30 Hereford

Block Rockin Beats

11st 8lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Oliver Signy

1-8 over hurdles, up in trip when winning at Lingfield (2m7f, soft) in December; with two major backward steps since, a lot seemingly depends on his subsequent wind surgery and today's first tongue-tie.

6/1

8th

9

26th Feb 2026

Soft

3m 0f 26y

Class 3

16:10 Wetherby

Block Rockin Beats

11st 5lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Oliver Signy

Listed bumper runner-up who was suited by the step up in trip when winning at Lingfield (2m7f, soft) in December on his third handicap start; merely mid-division at Newbury (3m, good to soft) since but not written off in view of the promise shown on his penultimate start.

8/1

9th

8

14th Jan 2026

Good

3m 0f 57y

Class 4

14:40 Newbury

Block Rockin Beats

11st 9lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Oliver Signy

Opened his hurdles account in similar event at Lingfield (2m7f, soft) last time; remains unexposed at this sort of distance and bumper form suggests he has the potential to do better still; shortlisted.

7/1

Form: 1-1F74 C

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Good ground for all seven of his races; won in small fields for a maiden (here) and a novice hurdle; ran creditably in 3m/2m7f handicaps on last two outings, seemingly needing some respite from the handicapper, who's not made much of a reaction, but this field may offer him a better chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

12th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 170y

Class 3

19:35 Newton Abbot

Court In A Storm

10st 13lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls

Bumper and two-time novice hurdle winner who built on a solid sequence of placed form in staying handicap hurdles when switched to fences at Worcester (2m7f, good) a fortnight ago, jumping soundly and finishing second to a Dan Skelton-trained favourite; main concern is the forecast rain, as he has been confined to good ground.

3/1

2nd

4

28th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 4

14:55 Worcester

Court In A Storm

11st 9lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls

Confined to good ground for all eight races; a bumper and two-time novice hurdle winner who has been running well in staying handicap hurdles and he may well improve for going chasing, as did his useful dam.

7/2

Form: 331-P6

Last run: 32 days

W: 11st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
2-8 in points and 1-5 under rules; took a handicap at Market Rasen (2m7f, good; 2lb higher today) in March 2025 but heavy defeats in his only two runs since; at least he could be back on good ground today; trainer had a winner 11 days ago.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

6

16th Apr 2026

Good

3m 1f 119y

Class 4

18:30 Hereford

Grangeclare Diego

11st 2lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Jonathan Barlow

2-8 in points and 1-5 under rules; took a handicap at Market Rasen (2m7f, good; 2lb higher today) in March 2025 but heavy defeats in his only two runs since; at least he could be back on good ground today; trainer had a winner 11 days ago.

6/1

6th

3

15th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 16y

Class 4

16:07 Market Rasen

Grangeclare Diego

12st 0lb

J: Tom Broughton

T: Jonathan Barlow

Won this race from 4lb lower last year, but was pulled up in his only start (over fences) since; not quite sure what to expect.

9/1

Form: 577384 C

Last run: 148 days

W: 11st 6lb

13 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Registered a four-timer last April-June (3m1f/2m7f, good/good to soft); very in and out since and he's now a 13yo but he finished on the heels of the principals off today's mark at Warwick in November when last seen; more to prove after the break.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

16th Jul 2026

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 5

18:27 Worcester

Im A Starman

12st 0lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Mark Rimell

Admirable veteran who nearly recorded his ninth hurdle win when a close second here (2m7f, good) in May; 0-8 over fences but he's 12lb lower back in this sphere and he does have some placed form in chase handicaps; dangerous with blinkers reapplied.

13/2

2nd

4

22nd May 2026

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 4

19:41 Worcester

Im A Starman

12st 0lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Mark Rimell

Grand veteran with eight wins over hurdles, including two over C&D last summer; down to his last winning mark and should be sharper for his fifth at Hereford last month following a five-month layoff, but you have to think that one of his younger rivals should have his measure.

12/1

5th

4

16th Apr 2026

Good

3m 1f 119y

Class 4

18:30 Hereford

Im A Starman

11st 6lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Mark Rimell

Registered a four-timer last April-June (3m1f/2m7f, good/good to soft); very in and out since and he's now a 13yo but he finished on the heels of the principals off today's mark at Warwick in November when last seen; more to prove after the break.

4/1

Non-runners

Queens Venture

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £17.90
Straight Forecast £19.06
Trifecta £24.70

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Court In A Storm

Telegraph:

Gold For Alec

Daily Mirror:

I'm A Starman

Daily Mail:

Block Rockin Beats

RP RATINGS:

Court In A Storm

TOPSPEED:

Court In A Storm

POSTDATA:

Court In A Storm

The Times:

Court In A Storm

The Guardian:

Court In A Storm

D Express:

Court In A Storm

The Sun:

Court In A Storm

The Star:

Gold For Alec

Daily Record:

I'm A Starman