15:00 Newbury

Friday 20 March 2026

All14:0014:3015:0015:3216:0716:4217:16

BetVictor Handicap Hurdle

4YO plus | Class 3 | 2m 69y | 8 Runners | Turf

Age: 8| Weight: 12-2| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: A King| OR: 132| D

Strong-travelling sort held his form well last term, finishing runner-up in the Swinton at Haydock and returned better than ever when runner-up in the Greatwood on reappearance. Far from disgraced behind subsequent County Hurdle winner Wilful at Ascot latest and big player down in grade.

Form: 372-225

Faivoir⁴¹

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Miss Heidi Palin⁽⁵⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 130| C| D

13/2

Won the County Hurdle at Cheltenham Festival in 2023. On an ever growing losing run but retains more ability aged 11 than a cursory glance at this season's exploits might suggest, doing best of those in rear in the William Hill Hurdle over C&D on most recent outing. Interesting down in grade.

Form: 6/83873

Gentleman Joe²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: J M Quinlan| T: M Crawley| OR: 122| D

40/1

Fairly useful Flat/hurdles winner for Henry de Bromhead but was below form on first outing for current yard on the level at Newcastle last month. Much better needed now reverting to hurdling.

Form: 07U128/

Cornish Storm^p⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Ben Jones| T: W S Kittow| OR: 120| D

11/2

Improved again to make it 2 from 2 since cheekpieces were applied 8-runner handicap at Warwick (2m, soft) 41 days ago, albeit benefiting from a good ride. Needs to pull out more from a 6 lb higher mark but dangerous to dismiss in current mood.

Form: 602911

Nowmelad⁵³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Lee Edwards| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 118| BF| D

6/1

Produced a career best when finding only one too good for a third successive start in 6-runner handicap (5/2) at Hereford (2m, soft) in January. Respected off same mark.

Form: 9-46222

Spirou⁸⁵²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Harry Derham| OR: 117

14/1

Fair form when third in 14.5f maiden on second of 2 starts on Flat and confirmed the promise of his hurdling debut with victory in 9-runner juvenile at Bordeaux in 2023/24. Not seen out since but in good hands ahead of British/handicap debut.

Form: 21/

Across Earth⁸⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Caoilin Quinn| T: G & J Moore| OR: 116| BF| D

4/1

Returned an improved model this season, resuming winning ways in cosy fashion in 2m handicap at Sandown in December, ridden more patiently than usual. Beat all bar the one who'd had an easy lead at Huntingdon on latest start and remains of firm interest.

Form: 34-1312

Chief Sunday^t1¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 109| D

14/1

Failed to take to chasing as well as might have been expected but wasn't discredited back in this sphere when seventh of 13 in 2½m Lingfield handicap in January. Ran poorly at Ffos Las on most recent outing but was possibly unsuited by testing conditions. Tongue tie on for 1st time.

Form: 2-U4P75

Forecasts

Helnwein (9/4), Across Earth (3/1), Cornish Storm (4/1), Nowmelad (5/1), Faivoir (10/1), Spirou (12/1), Chief Sunday (16/1), Gentleman Joe (50/1)

HELNWEIN has run well in hotly-contested handicaps on his last 3 starts, including behind subsequent County Hurdle winner Wilful at Ascot on his most recent outing, and is expected to find the drop in grade liberating. Across Earth beat all bar one who had the run of things on his latest start at Huntingdon and is an obvious threat back from a break, with veteran Faivoir also shortlisted now eased in class.