BetVictor Favourite Things, Bet Boosts Handicap Hurdle (Challenger Two Mile Hurdle Series Qualifier)

Newbury

14:10

Date 2026-02-28

Distance 2m69y

Class Class 3

Going Good To Soft

Type Hurdle

Surface Turf

Age Band 4yo+

Prize £10,926

Weather Light Drizzle

Temp 8.2°C

Wind 4mph E

Runners (8)

EW Terms: 3 places, ¼ odds (standard bookmaker terms — may vary)

#	Horse	Jockey / Trainer	Wt	Gear	Form	OR	RPR	TS	Last	Crs	Dst	Val	Scr	EW	Odds
8	Rubber Ball Bay J:Jack Quinlan T:Neil King	J:Jack Quinlan T:Neil King	148	—	9-047P	120	143	82	44d	—	0W/0P 1 run	-9	30	0.31/1	5/4 44%
C&D novice win (soft) last February; stable form and return to 2m boost interest in him
6	Melon Chestnut J:Jonjo O'Neill Jr T:Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero	J:Jonjo O'Neill Jr T:Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero	151	—	614-38	123	141	112	43d	—	0W/1P 1 run	+5	24	0.83/1	10/3 23%
Good third at Cheltenham; claimer ridden when disappointing at Windsor six weeks ago
5	Doctor Blue Bay J:Dylan Johnston T:Sam Thomas	J:Dylan Johnston T:Sam Thomas	153	—	53-216	125	138	131	61d	—	—	+8	23.2	1.13/1	9/2 18%
Unexposed handicap debutant, including because he played up before latest intended start
2	Brentford Hope Bay J:Megan Fox(7) T:Harry Derham	J:Megan Fox(7) T:Harry Derham	166	tp	446313	138	143	109	35d	—	—	+24	37.1	1.63/1	13/2 13%
Won under Megan Fox at Haydock before running well in Grade 2 at Cheltenham; e-w player
7	Marche d'Aligre Bay J:Isabelle Ryder(5) T:Jamie Snowden	J:Isabelle Ryder(5) T:Jamie Snowden	149	—	20-229	121	141	128	42d	—	—	+11	20.3	3.00/1	12/1 8%
Two good 2nds before tailing off over 2m3f at Ascot; back down in trip and from wind op
1	The Four Sixes Bay J:Kevin Brogan T:Olly Murphy	J:Kevin Brogan T:Olly Murphy	168	—	1-161P	140	143	97	15d	—	—	+26	30.6	7.00/1	28/1 3%
Pulled up in his latest chase; last spring's peak hurdles form would put him in the mix
3	Last Kingdom Bay J:Harry Cobden T:Faye Bramley	J:Harry Cobden T:Faye Bramley	163	—	27148P	135	139	112	21d	—	0W/0P 1 run	+20	23.8	8.25/1	33/1 3%
Not entirely dismissed given that this test looks more suitable than recent British debut
NR	Brave Knight Bay J:NON-RUNNER T:Paul Nicholls	J:NON-RUNNER T:Paul Nicholls	160	p	037131	132	141	-	51d	—	—	—	38.2	—	—
5-10 over hurdles, including with wins under Freddie Keighley on two of last three outings

Horse	bet365	Coral	Virgin Bet
Rubber Ball	5/4	5/4	5/4
Melon	10/3	10/3	10/3
Doctor Blue	9/2	9/2	9/2
Brentford Hope	13/2	6/1	6/1
Marche d'Aligre	12/1	11/1	10/1
The Four Sixes	28/1	25/1	25/1
Last Kingdom	33/1	25/1	28/1
Brave Knight	-	-	-

Predictor

Scored on Official Rating (max 30), Recent Form (max 25), and Market Odds (max 20). Max score: 75.

1st

Brave Knight

38.2

OR: 20.5 Form: 17.7 Odds: 0

—

2nd

Brentford Hope

37.1

OR: 22 Form: 11.5 Odds: 3.6

13/2

3rd

The Four Sixes

30.6

OR: 22.5 Form: 7 Odds: 1.1

28/1

Rubber Ball

OR: 17.5 Form: 0 Odds: 12.5

5/4

Melon

OR: 18.3 Form: 0 Odds: 5.7

10/3

Last Kingdom

23.8

OR: 21.3 Form: 1.5 Odds: 1.1

33/1

Doctor Blue

23.2

OR: 18.8 Form: 0 Odds: 4.4

9/2

Marche d'Aligre

20.3

OR: 17.8 Form: 0 Odds: 2.5

12/1

Ratings

Horse	OR	RPR	TS
The Four Sixes	140	143	97
Brentford Hope	138	143	109
Last Kingdom	135	139	112
Brave Knight	132	141	—
Doctor Blue	125	138	131
Melon	123	141	112
Marche d'Aligre	121	141	128
Rubber Ball	120	143	82

Last Run

Horse	Last Run	Status
The Four Sixes	15d ago	Fit
Last Kingdom	21d ago	Fit
Brentford Hope	35d ago	Fit
Marche d'Aligre	42d ago	Fit
Melon	43d ago	Fit
Rubber Ball	44d ago	Fit
Brave Knight	51d ago	Fresh
Doctor Blue	61d ago	Fresh