August 20 / 13.07 Newton Abbot

13.07

Good

Happy Birthday John Lane Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £5990.6
  • 2m 0f 167y
  • Class 3
  • 12 runners
SKY
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Happy Birthday John Lane Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 12 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

4/5 (Won)

  • Win: £1.45
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 69-111 D

Last run: 34 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
Completed a hat-trick of hurdle wins when successful in a three-runner contest at Stratford (2m, good) last time despite some indifferent jumping; penalties are mounting up but she is progressive and tough, and likely to prove hard to beat.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

4

(8)

2nd Dec 2024

Standard

1m 5f 219y

Class 6

19:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Pop The Champagne

9st 7lb

J: Taylor Fisher

T: David Killahena & Graeme McPherson

taken down early

20/1

4

(8)

2nd Dec 2024

Standard

1m 5f 219y

Class 6

19:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Pop The Champagne

9st 7lb

J: Taylor Fisher

T: David Killahena & Graeme McPherson

Hasn't won in more than two years and needs to bounce back from a quiet run over hurdles three weeks ago; is a deal lower in the weights than for a couple of runs over C&D last winter but may be on the downgrade and wants a good test over this trip.

20/1

4th

2

11th Nov 2024

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

16:00 Kempton

Pop The Champagne

11st 10lb

J: Nick Slatter

T: David Killahena & Graeme McPherson

Consistent over hurdles and on the Flat this year; holds no secrets from the handicapper but last month's Wincanton fourth (2m5f, good) was perfectly respectable and she'll be fine over today's shorter trip; probably won't be far away.

7/1

8/1

  • Place: £1.60

Form: /339-3

Last run: 46 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Fair placed form in bumpers; tailed off on hurdling debut at Uttoxeter but, following eight months off, he shaped much better when third at the same track (2m, good) last month; should be sharper for that run and has each-way claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

3

30th May 2026

Good To Firm

2m 0f 213y

Class 4

19:50 Stratford

Turpin Gold

11st 8lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Tom Lacey

Four-times winning hurdler making a belated debut over fences after six-month break; hard to fancy unless there is a move in the market.

5/1

1

16th Oct 2025

Good

1m 7f 182y

Class 4

15:50 Ffos Las

Turpin Gold

12st 0lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Tom Lacey

3-6 since returning from long absence for new stable this spring; only fourth off today's mark at Worcester (2m, good) last month but possibly had a bit too much use made of him there; remains very much of interest.

7/4

3

26th Sep 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

16:27 Worcester

Turpin Gold

11st 11lb

J: Cameron Iles

T: Tom Lacey

Won in May on first two starts for this yard (2m, good) and back to winning ways at Newton Abbot (2m1f, good to soft) four weeks ago; did it readily last time and a 7lb rise may not stop him today.

9/4

25/1

  • Place: £11.60

Form: P/

Last run: 638 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Pulled up on only hurdles outing when trained in Ireland; 16 runs without a win on the Flat and well held on both starts for this stable over 6f and 1m; doesn't appeal as the sort to thrive in this sphere.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

3

21st Jun 2023

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

16:30 Worcester

Sydney Blues

11st 13lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Evan Williams

took keen hold, prominent, pressed leader 4 out, pushed along 3 out, ridden and weakened before 2 out

16/1

6th

3

8th Jun 2023

Good

1m 7f 182y

Class 4

16:00 Ffos Las

Sydney Blues

11st 11lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Evan Williams

Still a maiden (0-16 on Flat, 0-3 over hurdles) but ran well at Newton Abbot last summer and could be open to progress on this handicap hurdle debut; heed the market signals on return from layoff.

13/2

4th

6

30th Aug 2022

Good

2m 2f 110y

Class 4

16:30 Newton Abbot

Sydney Blues

11st 4lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Evan Williams

took keen hold, prominent, pressed leader from 4th, ridden home turn, soon weakened

4/1

Form: 6

Last run: 37 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Winner over 6f/7f on the Flat; following a year off, he wore a hood on hurdling/stable debut at Worcester (2m, good) last month and shaped with only limited promise in finishing sixth of ten; no headgear this time and big improvement required.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

13

(11)

5th Oct 2022

Good To Soft

1m 2f 50y

Class 4

17:30 Nottingham

Duesenberg

9st 2lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: David Pipe

midfield, towards rear after 2f, switched right and up the centre from over 4f out, pushed along over 3f out, soon outpaced and beaten

25/1

6th

5

(3)

8th Sep 2022

Good To Soft

1m 4f 6y

Class 4

14:15 Epsom

Duesenberg

11st 4lb

J: Tom Scudamore

T: David Pipe

held up in rear, switched to near side 3f out, ridden and minor headway over 2f out, no impression over 1f out

14/1

4th

4

20th Aug 2022

Good

2m 0f 167y

Class 3

13:07 Newton Abbot

Duesenberg

11st 2lb

J: Tom Scudamore

T: David Pipe

held up in rear, headway after 5th, went fourth but raced wide home turn, ridden before 2 out, stayed on but not pace to challenge

10/1

OUR TIP

Form: 07/

Last run: 626 days

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Little impact in maiden/claiming hurdles late in 2020; kept to the Flat since and won over 1m at Brighton in April; not an obvious contender on this switch back to jumping.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

7

5th Jul 2024

Good

2m 0f 75y

Class 4

15:25 Newton Abbot

Bbob Alula

10st 2lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Bill Turner

in touch with leaders, struggling and dropped to last from 3rd, detached from 8th, no chance from 3 out, tailed off

20/1

4th

6

18th Jun 2024

Good

2m 0f 213y

Class 5

15:15 Stratford

Bbob Alula

10st 11lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Bill Turner

midfield, stayed on run-in, not pace to challenge

40/1

8th

9

(1)

7th Jun 2024

Good To Firm

1m 2f 37y

Class 6

20:25 Bath

Bbob Alula

8st 12lb

J: Luke Morris

T: Bill Turner

Wins have come over shorter round easy, undulating courses and he's regressed in recent times; it's been the best part of two years since he ran well on turf and he's some way down the pecking order.

16/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 10st 9lb

7 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Third in an Irish point in May; first run under rules on debut for Jimmy Frost; probably best watched.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

9

2nd Nov 2022

Good To Soft

2m 7f 131y

Class 5

16:22 Chepstow

Wrap Your Wings

11st 0lb

J: Bryony Frost

T: Jimmy Frost

Maiden after five starts; pick of three hurdle efforts at Newton Abbot two starts ago but last at Worcester since; handicap debut and, with stamina in the pedigree, might do better now upped in trip; hood fitted.

20/1

9th

8

19th Oct 2022

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

15:10 Worcester

Wrap Your Wings

11st 0lb

J: Bryony Frost

T: Jimmy Frost

always towards rear, not fluent 4 out

33/1

6th

11

20th Aug 2022

Good

2m 0f 167y

Class 3

13:07 Newton Abbot

Wrap Your Wings

10st 9lb

J: James Best

T: Jimmy Frost

midfield, ridden home turn, weakened before 2 out

25/1

Form: 0-3333

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
0-9 over hurdles but has been placed six times including when third at Worcester (2m, good) on latest start, form which has since been boosted by the second; place claims again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

6

22nd Aug 2023

Good

2m 2f 110y

Class 4

15:30 Newton Abbot

Ollys Folly

11st 4lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Mark Gillard

took keen hold, never better than midfield, mistake 1st

66/1

8th

6

23rd Jul 2023

Good

2m 0f 167y

Class 5

16:35 Newton Abbot

Ollys Folly

10st 6lb

J: David Noonan

T: Mark Gillard

0-15 over hurdles and 0-61 overall; very well handicapped on some of last year's form but was safely held over C&D (good) last month and remains a difficult horse to enthuse over; raced mainly on good ground; once placed on the Flat on soft.

25/1

7th

6

14th Jun 2023

Good

2m 0f 167y

Class 5

16:40 Newton Abbot

Ollys Folly

10st 10lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Mark Gillard

held up in last, pushed along after 3 out, ridden 2 out, no telling impression

33/1

Form: 0-37

Last run: 47 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Mildly encouraging third in a bumper at Newton Abbot (2m1f, good) in June but backward step when distant seventh at Worcester last time; brother to a winning hurdler so may do better at this game.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

6

20th May 2026

Good

3m 1f 100y

Class 5

15:00 Warwick

Testflight

11st 4lb

J: Ciaran O’Shea

T: Sue Gardner

1-28 under rules, his win coming over fences off this mark at Newton Abbot (3m2f, good) last July; has been off since October and needs to hit the ground running.

8/1

7

21st Oct 2025

Good To Firm

2m 7f 25y

Class 5

16:00 Exeter

Testflight

10st 2lb

J: Tabitha Worsley

T: Sue Gardner

Usually gives his running, over hurdles and fences; close third in the latter discipline at the weekend.

6/1

4

18th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

3m 1f 170y

Class 5

14:54 Newton Abbot

Testflight

11st 3lb

J: Ciaran O’Shea

T: Sue Gardner

Rallied well to win small-field C&D (good) chase off today's mark in July and reverts to fences after perfectly respectable hurdle run from out of the weights here last month; likely contender.

11/2

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
No wins in 20 starts on the Flat from 7f-1m4f; worth a crack over hurdles but doesn't make a great deal of appeal.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

6

20th Aug 2022

Good

2m 0f 167y

Class 3

13:07 Newton Abbot

Productive

11st 2lb

J: David Noonan

T: Stuart Kittow

towards rear of midfield, ridden after 3 out, weakened home turn, tailed off

25/1

Form: 6-7654

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Beaten more than 30l in all three starts in maiden/novice hurdles; looks one of his strong stable's lesser lights and is readily opposed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

30th May 2024

Good

2m 3f 83y

Class 4

15:00 Ffos Las

Blue Shark

11st 4lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Strike-rate of 6-17 over hurdles and the latest of those wins was off a 3lb higher mark; however, there's been pretty much nothing to take from his last five appearances and would appear to be going chasing under a cloud.

12/1

0

8

25th Jan 2024

Good

2m 4f 145y

Class 4

14:35 Huntingdon

Blue Shark

11st 10lb

J: James Smith

T: Jonjo O’Neill

Six wins between November 2022 and May 2023 included one over C&D (good); back to within 1lb of the final winning mark in that sequence, but too far below par the last four times to expect him to capitalise.

16/1

0

5

16th Dec 2023

Good

3m 1f 119y

Class 4

14:48 Hereford

Blue Shark

11st 10lb

J: Benjamin Macey

T: Jonjo O’Neill

Between November of last year and this May he won six times in seven starts (2m3f-2m4f); however, shot up the weights as a consequence and he's beaten only one finisher in his last three appearances; has stamina to prove.

12/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Two wins in 41 starts on the Flat, the most recent of them over 1m in June last year; obvious stamina concerns on hurdling debut but interesting to see how he fares.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

5

10th Nov 2022

Good

2m 0f 104y

Class 4

15:00 Taunton

Regulator

11st 4lb

J: Philip Armson

T: Alexandra Dunn

Infrequent Flat winner despite keeping modest company for the most part; 66-1 when pulled up mid-race in a novice hurdle at Newton Abbot.

40/1

8

(8)

13th Oct 2022

Good To Firm

1m 1f 207y

Class 6

15:15 Brighton

Regulator

9st 3lb

J: Daniel Muscutt

T: Alexandra Dunn

Some reasonable runs in defeat of late, including when fourth of seven at Leicester (1m2f, good to firm) on Tuesday, but he needs something extra if he's to boost his modest 2-45 strike-rate.

16/1

4th

8

(6)

11th Oct 2022

Good

1m 2f 0y

Class 5

13:55 Leicester

Regulator

8st 9lb

J: Oliver Searle

T: Alexandra Dunn

midfield, headway on outer 4f out, pushed along 3f out, ridden 2f out, weakened over 1f out

14/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 10st 6lb

4 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Nine-race maiden on the Flat and no encouragement on debut for Nigel Hawke three weeks ago; hurdling may prove more suitable but a watching brief is advised.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

7

11th Sep 2023

Good

2m 0f 167y

Class 5

17:00 Newton Abbot

Time To Burn

10st 2lb

J: David Noonan

T: Nigel Hawke

took keen hold, midfield

16/1

6th

6

2nd Sep 2023

Good

2m 0f 167y

Class 3

14:32 Newton Abbot

Time To Burn

10st 9lb

J: David Noonan

T: Nigel Hawke

Placed for first time over hurdles when third off lowly handicap mark at Wincanton (1m7f, good) in March but faces very tough assignment on these terms.

33/1

Non-runners

Blue Shark

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £4.10
Straight Forecast £3.76
Trifecta £76.70

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Pop The Champagne

Daily Express:

Duesenberg

RP Ratings:

Pop The Champagne

TOPSPEED:

Pop The Champagne

POSTDATA:

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The Times:

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Telegraph:

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The Guardian:

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Daily Mail:

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Daily Mirror:

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The Star:

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Daily Record:

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