May 05 / 18.12 Hereford

18.12

Good

Safer Gambling At CopyBet Maiden Hurdle (Gbb Race)

  • Prize money: £5446
  • 2m 0f 53y
  • Class 4
  • 7 runners
SKY
View Course
Safer Gambling At CopyBet Maiden Hurdle (Gbb Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

1/2 (Won)

  • Win: £1.29
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 3-

Last run: 359 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced 5yo who scored twice on Flat in 2024 for previous yard; absent since compromising his chance by taking a good hold in Plumpton maiden hurdle (2m, good; finished third) a year ago, but respected in terms of ability in this weak race and may show progress if he settles better.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

1

28th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

2m 0f 178y

Class 4

18:05 Sedgefield

Machete Beach

12st 2lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

Won maiden/novice hurdles in May, both at around 2m on good ground; left poor run on handicap debut behind when runner-up at Uttoxeter last time (2m, good); one with a chance.

5/2

2nd

4

15th Jul 2026

Good

1m 7f 168y

Class 4

15:48 Uttoxeter

Machete Beach

11st 6lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

Back-to-back hurdle wins in May (2m-extended 2m2f) on good or quicker ground, but was most disappointing when a remote third of three on handicap debut at Stratford last month; that effort was too bad to be true and he's not ruled out if bouncing back.

3/1

3rd

1

16th Jun 2026

Good

2m 0f 70y

Class 3

15:50 Stratford

Machete Beach

11st 10lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

Useful on the Flat in 2024 and a dual hurdle winner last month, latterly here (2m2f, good to firm); ought to make a bold bid from the front on this handicap hurdle debut.

15/8

Form: 7-

Last run: 19 days

W: 10st 12lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Has shown most of his Flat form on AW, winning once; never landed a blow over C&D switched to hurdles last time but this looks a weaker race.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

(3)

25th Aug 2026

Standard

1m 2f 0y

Class 6

17:02 Lingfield (AW)

Backer Bilk

9st 11lb

J: George Wood

T: Luke Dace

Has shown better form over hurdles than on the Flat in 2026 but may benefit from the return from this scenario, having gained sole success over C&D; second start for new yard.

12/1

8th

10

(10)

12th Aug 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 3f 219y

Class 5

21:00 Kempton (AW)

Backer Bilk

9st 2lb

J: George Wood

T: Luke Dace

Sole win from 15 starts came at Lingfield (1m2f, AW) last February when trained by Jim & Suzi Best; 0-5 for his previous stable (Flat/hurdles) and has a hood applied on his first outing for Luke Dace.

20/1

6th

2

3rd Jul 2026

Good

2m 2f 110y

Class 5

14:45 Newton Abbot

Backer Bilk

11st 2lb

J: Nick Slatter

T: David Killahena & Graeme McPherson

Low-grade winner on the AW who has shown some aptitude for hurdling, making the frame in run-of-the-mill 2m maidens at Hereford (good) and Huntingdon (good to firm); not obviously well treated for this handicap debut but should feature in a weak race.

3/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Hurdles debutant who is a nine-time AW winner at 1m6f/2m, most recently in March; one of the better contenders in terms of achievements but an unconvincing turf record leaves him with something to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

(4)

26th Aug 2026

Standard

1m 5f 219y

Class 5

15:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

The Craftymaster

9st 12lb

J: Molly Gunn

T: Tony Carroll

Has won five times this year including his last two starts off his lower turf mark; closely matched with V Power on last month's C&D running and another big effort is likely; stable also runs Letmebetheboss.

5/2

1st

7

(1)

14th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

20:10 Newmarket (July)

The Craftymaster

8st 10lb

J: Myla Coppins

T: Tony Carroll

Prolific AW winner, most recently when darting 14l clear at Wolverhampton (2m) in June; narrowly exploited lower turf mark at Lingfield (2m, good to firm) last month but he pulled clear with the runner-up and remains feasibly treated off 4lb higher; shortlisted.

4/1

Form: 9-

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Three-time AW winner at a modest level on Flat; beaten long way over C&D switched to hurdles time; opposed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

(4)

2nd Sep 2026

Good

1m 6f 0y

Class 6

16:00 Bath

Alex The Great

9st 0lb

J: William Carson

T: Tony Carroll

All three wins on the AW and turf form is very unconvincing; others safer.

20/1

4th

1

(2)

6th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 198y

Class 6

16:55 Brighton

Alex The Great

9st 9lb

J: Myla Coppins

T: Tony Carroll

Three-time AW winner but not since March 2025, and his record on turf is poor; last off four in Lingfield handicap (1m6f, good to firm) 12 days ago and not the percentage call here.

16/1

4th

2

(2)

25th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 6f 0y

Class 6

17:27 Lingfield

Alex The Great

8st 11lb

J: Kieren Fox

T: Tony Carroll

Regressive 6yo who has struggled in five hurdle runs this year and was well held back on the Flat in a classified event here (1m4f, AW) 12 days ago; this step back up in trip should suit but losing run is up to 20 and all of his three wins have been on AW; others preferred.

9/1

Form: 40-

Last run: 11 days

W: 10st 12lb

4 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Hasn't progressed from a good 2yo effort and he holds weak claims on Flat/hurdles form for current yard; however, may be capable of a resurgent display, with this contest being far from strong.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

11

7th Jul 2026

Good

1m 7f 168y

Class 5

15:30 Uttoxeter

Whatcombe

10st 7lb

J: Ben Poste

T: Steph Cameron

11-race maiden under both codes and only recently changed hands for 1,200gns after pulling up on his handicap debut over hurdles.

50/1

7

24th May 2026

Good To Soft

2m 1f 162y

Class 5

14:35 Fontwell

Whatcombe

10st 12lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Faye Bramley

Well beaten on both Flat starts for this stable in the autumn and showed nothing more than minor promise in three maiden hurdles this spring; may fair better now handicapping but others have more obvious claims.

12/1

5th

8

5th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 53y

Class 4

18:12 Hereford

Whatcombe

10st 12lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Faye Bramley

Hasn't progressed from a good 2yo effort and he holds weak claims on Flat/hurdles form for current yard; however, may be capable of a resurgent display, with this contest being far from strong.

13/2

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Raced mainly on AW, winning twice in 2024 then eventually regressing; best watched on stable/hurdles debut after a layoff.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

2

17th Jun 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

14:40 Worcester

Delta Legend

11st 4lb

J: James Best

T: Sarah-Jayne Davies

Regressed on the Flat last year and was well beaten at triple-digit odds on both hurdling starts for new stable last month.

100/1

6th

2

28th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

15:30 Worcester

Delta Legend

11st 3lb

J: Charlie Price

T: Sarah-Jayne Davies

Raced mainly on AW, winning twice in 2024 then eventually regressing; 100-1 when pulled up on his recent hurdle debut.

100/1

2

5th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 53y

Class 4

18:12 Hereford

Delta Legend

11st 4lb

J: Charlie Price

T: Sarah-Jayne Davies

Raced mainly on AW, winning twice in 2024 then eventually regressing; best watched on stable/hurdles debut after a layoff.

33/1

OUR TIP

Form: PP-

Last run: 164 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Dismal claims on form; combination of physical tweak (wind surgery) and fitting of tongue-tie/hood needs to make a huge difference.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

12th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

2m 0f 70y

Class 4

15:35 Stratford

Haderach

11st 4lb

J: Lewis Stones

T: Stephen Allen

Brings the worst form having achieved virtually nothing (Flat/hurdles); moreover, has failed to complete in three attempts under this code.

150/1

3

5th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 53y

Class 4

18:12 Hereford

Haderach

11st 4lb

J: Daire McConville

T: Stephen Allen

Dismal claims on form; combination of physical tweak (wind surgery) and fitting of tongue-tie/hood needs to make a huge difference.

100/1

4

2nd Nov 2025

Good

1m 7f 171y

Class 4

13:18 Huntingdon

Haderach

11st 4lb

J: Jamie Brace

T: Stephen Allen

Changed hands for 1,000gns after struggling in two Flat maidens for Charlie Fellowes in summer 2024; makes stable/hurdle debut after long absence.

100/1

Non-runners

Noble Don

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £4.40
Straight Forecast £3.76
Trifecta £9.80

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Machete Beach

POSTDATA:

Whatcombe

WEST COUNTRY:

Backer Bilk

LAMBOURN:

Machete Beach

The Times:

Machete Beach

Telegraph:

Machete Beach

The Guardian:

Machete Beach

Daily Mail:

Machete Beach

D Express:

Machete Beach

Daily Mirror:

Machete Beach

The Sun:

Machete Beach

The Star:

Machete Beach

Daily Record:

Machete Beach