14:00 Newbury

Friday 27 February 2026

All14:0014:3015:0015:3516:0816:43

West Berkshire Mencap Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:00 | Winning time: 5m 5.23s

Guchen^t1²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 12-2| J: Aamilah Aswat⁽¹⁰⁾| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 112| D

10/3

Proved more settled when getting off the mark in 11-runner handicap hurdle at Kempton (21f, soft) 25 days ago, finding extra. Up 6 lb but he's not taken lightly with tongue strap added.

Form: 3-85841

Calme Olympien^t1²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 12-2| J: Alex Chadwick| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 112

12/1

Ex-French hurdler. Got off the mark on his yard debut at Ffos Las in October and not disgraced switched to handicaps after 4 months off when fourth of 5 at Sandown (2m4f) 27 days ago. Considered with tongue strap refitted.

Form: 4473-14

Our Dylan²⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-13| J: Callum Pritchard| T: K Woollacott| OR: 109

12/1

Made it 2-4 this season with a career-best effort in 10-runner handicap hurdle at Taunton (19f, soft) 24 days ago, responding well. Up 4 lb but this likeable sort must enter calculations.

Form: 26-0131

Karma Police²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: Ben Sutton| T: Harry Derham| OR: 109

10/3

Bought for £105,000 after winning a point and he's improved with each of his three runs over hurdles, scuppered by a bad error last when third of 8 in 2m4f Ffos Las novice four weeks ago. Open to further progress now he goes handicapping and interesting for yard among the winners.

Form: 1/2-363

Caliach Point^t⁶³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: Beau Morgan⁽³⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 109

17/2

Runner-up in 2m Doncaster novice hurdle in November but beat only one in 2m novice at Market Rasen following month. In good hands though and not written off now stepping into handicap company after a break.

Form: 44-P27

Super Freddie⁶⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-13| J: Toby McCain-Mitchell⁽³⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 109

11/2

Placed on each of his 2 starts in novice/maiden company but still looked inexperienced when seventh of 9 on handicap debut at Haydock (18.9f) in December. Remains with potential after a break.

Form: 9-237

Hackney Hill^t1⁴²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-13| J: Jay Tidball⁽³⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 109

22/1

Fair ex-Irish maiden hurdler for Eddie O'Grady. Starts out for a new yard after 14 months off here but no forlorn hope on his handicap hurdle debut.

Form: 6/860-

Activist^t,v¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Rian Corcoran⁽⁶⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 107

6/1

Yet to score this term but he got back on track when second of 6 in handicap hurdle at Plumpton (20.5f, soft) 18 days ago. Weighted to go well off an unchanged mark.

Form: 1-054P2

Couldntmakeitup^t⁴⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Gavin Brouder⁽³⁾| T: J Nash| OR: 104

16/1

Remains winless but this Irish challenger comes here on the back of a good third of 9 in handicap hurdle at Punchestown (16.2f, heavy) 46 days ago. Back up in trip and needs considering.

Form: 6U3493

El Curamach^t⁶⁵⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Dylan Johnston| T: R Potter| OR: 102

40/1

Took a big step forward on his third start when landing the odds in 2m novice hurdle at Warwick 21 months ago. Looked capable of better but off since and the market can guide on his comeback run.

Form: 54/1-

Boston Savr^p1⁴⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Benjamin Macey⁽³⁾| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 98

28/1

Has been brought along steadily, a patiently-ridden ninth of 14 in novice hurdle at Hereford (16.2f, soft) 46 days ago. Cheekpieces go on for his handicap debut and it would come as no surprise to see this son of Milan take a sizeable step forward here.

Form: 889

Osterberg²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Harry Atkins⁽³⁾| T: M Keighley| OR: 98| BF

14/1

Looked progressive when getting off the mark in 2m6f handicap at Ffos Las in January but he came in a remote third of 5 in 23f Lingfield handicap 22 days ago. Worth another chance.

Form: 007313

No Mean Feat⁶³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Paddy Hanlon| T: S Hodgson| OR: 82

100/1

Made the frame on several occasions in 2024 but he looked rusty after 15 months off when last of 4 in 2m2f Fontwell handicap hurdle in December. Can take a step forward now.

Form: P2253-4

Forecasts

Guchen (10/3), Karma Police (10/3), Super Freddie (11/2), Activist (6/1), Caliach Point (17/2), Calme Olympien (12/1), Our Dylan (12/1), Osterberg (14/1), Couldntmakeitup (16/1), Hackney Hill (22/1), Boston Savr (28/1), El Curamach (40/1), No Mean Feat (100/1)

This is wide open but Harry Derham continues in fine form and his improving KARMA POLICE is fancied to take another step forward now he ventures into handicap company and provide him with another winner. Our Dylan is feared most in his bid to go 3-5 this term, although Activist is weighted to have a big say and Kempton scorer Guchen also seems sure to be on the premises. Osterberg completes the shortlist in a cracking handicap.