13.05
Good To SoftWilliam Hill Formby Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race)
- Prize money: £56950
- 2m 0f 209y
- Class 1
- 7 runners
Runners: 7 runners
Type: Hurdle Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Cloudy
Form: 131-11
Last run: 34 days
W: 11st 8lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: 134
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
12th Oct 2025 Good 2m 0f 11y Class 2 |
11st 12lb |
A very useful novice hurdler last season and ran big race when third of 17 on handicap debut at Aintree festival (2m, good) in April, having been badly hampered in early stages and made up considerable ground from the rear; 5lb higher here but still has more to offer. |
15/8 |
|
3rd 4 |
4th Apr 2025 Good To Soft 2m 0f 103y Class 2 |
10st 13lb |
in rear, badly hampered on turn before 1st, towards rear after 3rd, good headway after 4 out, challenging 3 out, led narrowly 2 out, soon ridden, headed last, no extra final 110yds |
15/2 |
|
3rd 4 |
4th Apr 2025 Good To Soft 2m 0f 103y Class 2 |
10st 13lb |
in rear, badly hampered on turn before 1st, towards rear after 3rd, good headway after 4 out, challenging 3 out, led narrowly 2 out, soon ridden, headed last, no extra final 110yds |
15/2 |
Form: 1-121 D
Last run: 13 days
W: 11st 8lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: 138
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 6 |
24th Oct 2025 Good 1m 7f 199y Class 2 |
11st 4lb |
Point runner-up and bumper winner who won two novice hurdles last season (2m/2m1f, good to soft), including here, and also ran well on soft ground; beaten just under 4l by Alnilam when second of three on his recent chase and seasonal debut at Uttoxeter (2m, good) but he's 5lb better off with the winner today and could improve for that latest run; firmly in calculations. |
5/2 |
|
1 |
27th Dec 2024 Soft 2m 0f 11y Class 3 |
11st 10lb
|
|
|
|
1 |
27th Dec 2024 Soft 2m 0f 11y Class 3 |
11st 10lb
|
|
Form: 13-2 D
Last run: 27 days
W: 11st 8lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
8th 4 |
5th Apr 2025 Good To Soft 2m 4f 0y Class 1 |
11st 7lb |
Close third to Horaces Pearl in the Grade 2 bumper here last April; no match for Regent's Stroll on hurdle debut at Newbury and although he's been a creditable third in two Grade 1s since, on this track and at Leopardstown, he has his work cut out here and the drying ground spells danger. |
16/1 |
|
8th 4 |
5th Apr 2025 Good To Soft 2m 4f 0y Class 1 |
11st 7lb |
Close third to Horaces Pearl in the Grade 2 bumper here last April; no match for Regent's Stroll on hurdle debut at Newbury and although he's been a creditable third in two Grade 1s since, on this track and at Leopardstown, he has his work cut out here and the drying ground spells danger. |
16/1 |
Form: 222-11 D
Last run: 43 days
W: 11st 8lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: 131
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 4 |
28th Mar 2026 Good 2m 2f 148y Class 5 |
11st 10lb |
A three-time hurdles winner (around 2m) last season; failed to go on in three starts over fences this term and he was pulled up back in this sphere at Warwick (2m5f) last month; player in this grade if first-time cheekpieces spark a revival. |
5/2 |
|
5 |
7th Feb 2026 Soft 2m 5f 5y Class 3 |
11st 2lb |
Won three novice hurdles last season and was highly tried in his defeats; it's been a mixed start over fences (after wind surgery), let down by his jumping on handicap debut latest; probably worthy of this mark and he's back over hurdles. |
13/2 |
Form: 211 D
Last run: 31 days
W: 11st 8lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: 132
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5 |
10th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 3m 0f 210y Class 1 |
11st 7lb |
Prominent-racer whose flop over hurdles at this meeting last year can be forgiven; scored on his third start over fences when beating Regent's Stroll by 4l at Cheltenham (about 2m4f, good) in January; jumping left plenty to be desired when third in Sandown Grade 1 later that month, however, and the race he won at Newbury (about 3m, good to soft) last time fell apart; he wasn't always fluent that day either but a clear round puts him on the premises. |
5/1 |
|
1st 1 |
27th Feb 2026 Good To Soft 2m 7f 91y Class 3 |
11st 8lb |
Fine on good and soft ground; Grade 1 placed over hurdles and this Cheltenham chase winner did well to finish within 7l of the smart Sixmilebridge in the Grade 1 Scilly Isles at Sandown (2m4f) as he can jump a lot better than he did that day on soft ground; every chance that he'll be able to give weight and a beating to these, provided he stays this longer trip. |
4/6 |
|
3rd 2 |
31st Jan 2026 Soft 2m 4f 15y Class 1 |
11st 7lb |
Appears to act on soft ground, unraced on heavy; has steadily found his feet since switched to chasing and registered a 4l success at Cheltenham (2m4f, good) most recently; further improvement is possible but certainly needed; has the worst chance on bare ratings. |
14/1 |
Form: 1-111
Last run: 41 days
W: 11st 8lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: 146
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5th 4 |
9th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 2m 4f 0y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Acts on any ground; the freshest contender in this race, having bypassed the Cheltenham Festival and been absent since landing the National Spirit at Fontwell (2m3f) over six weeks ago when taking hurdles record to 7-11; sole attempt at Aintree resulted in a Grade 1 novice success on Boxing Day 2024; likely to go well. |
14/1 |
|
1st 1 |
22nd Feb 2026 Soft 2m 3f 29y Class 1 |
11st 7lb |
Smart novice (Grade 1 winner on soft) at up to 2m5f last season; early faller on reappearance in November before 8l third in Grade 2 Ascot Hurdle (2m3f, good to soft); outstayed when fourth in Grade 1 Long Walk at Ascot (3m, good to soft) the following month but got back on the scoresheet when taking a classy Windsor conditions hurdle (2m4f, soft; career-best form) last month; key player despite a half penalty for the Grade 1 win. |
8/13 |
Form: 111 D
Last run: 33 days
W: 11st 8lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: 138
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 4 (2) |
25th Mar 2026 Standard To Slow 1m 3f 219y Class 3 |
9st 5lb |
Useful, having shown best hurdles form with Grade 2 novice win; not in same league as Constitution Hill in that sphere and duly proved no threat to that rival at Southwell on Flat debut, finishing midfield; bagged a silver medal there (1m3f) since, however, and again has place claims. |
12/1 |
|
2nd 7 (2) |
4th Mar 2026 Standard 1m 3f 23y Class 3 |
9st 5lb |
Lightly raced hurdler with a Grade 2 win to his name in November 2024, but he signed off that campaign with two non-completions; returned from 356 days off with a midfield finish behind Constitution Hill on his Flat debut here over 1m4f 12 days ago. |
10/1 |
|
6th 8 (6) |
20th Feb 2026 Standard 1m 4f 14y Class 2 |
9st 6lb |
Lightly raced hurdler with Grade 2-winning honours in late 2024; signed off that campaign with two non-completions and this winning pointer makes Flat debut after nearly a year off; looks very vulnerable. |
50/1 |
Betting Forcast
5/1 Celtic Dino, 9/2 Country Mile, 25/1 Good And Clever, 9/1 Junker DAllier, 13/2 Miami Magic, 7/4 Potters Charm, 4/1 Roadlesstravelled
Selections
Daily Mail:
Junker d'AllierDaily Record:
Celtic DinoRP RATINGS:
Potters CharmTOPSPEED:
Potters CharmPOSTDATA:
Potters CharmWEST COUNTRY:
Potters CharmDaily Mirror:
Potters CharmThe Sun:
Potters Charm