March 15 / 15.57 Kempton

15.57

Good

Virgin Bet Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4356.8
  • 2m 5f 0y
  • Class 4
  • 4 runners
RTV
View Course
Virgin Bet Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 4 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

OUR TIP

10/11 (Won)

  • Win: £1.91

Form: 21-1P BF

Last run: 99 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Very disappointing favourite in Grade 2 novice at Sandown in December when last seen, but that was his first run on soft ground; this point and bumper winner had previously impressed with a ready win on hurdle debut at Uttoxeter (2m4f, good) and can have a big say if rediscovering that promise.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

21st Oct 2025

Good

2m 4f 20y

Class 3

15:00 Perth

Kingston Pride

11st 5lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Irish point winner who looked useful during three-race novice hurdle campaign for Nicky Henderson last season, signing off with small-field win at Kempton (2m5f, good) in March; probably still has potential, and new trainer Olly Murphy is evidently very keen to switch him to fences.

11/4

1st

1

15th Mar 2025

Good

2m 5f 0y

Class 4

15:57 Kempton

Kingston Pride

11st 7lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

raced in second, pushed along after 3 out, led just after 2 out, ridden run-in, stayed on

10/11

Form: 10-124

Last run: 49 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 131

Form & Verdict
Point runner-up on good to yielding and all rules start have been on soft; won by 8l on hurdle debut at Chepstow (extended 2m3f) in October before respectable efforts in Grade 2s the next twice (2m4f/extended 2m4f); leading claims if handling the ground now back down in grade.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

18th Apr 2026

Soft

3m 7f 176y

Class 1

15:35 Ayr

Quebecois

11st 13lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

0-5 in this first chase campaign but pipped at Cheltenham (2m4f, soft) in January and a close third of 22 in the Ultima at the Festival there (3m1f, good to soft) on latest outing; raised 5lb for this first attempt at a marathon trip but he's relatively unexposed and kept on stoutly in that bold show last time.

11/1

3rd

16

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 0y

Class 1

15:20 Cheltenham

Quebecois

10st 10lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Mixed form during this novice chase campaign but he went very close in handicap here (2m4f, soft) in January and 2m was against him back in novice company at Newbury latest; best performance over hurdles came when winning at 3m at Ayr (good to soft) last April; possible improver now back up in trip.

9/1

2nd

4

17th Feb 2026

2m 0f 92y

Class 3

14:15 Newbury

Quebecois

11st 2lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Tongue-tie has been retained since he won a 3m handicap hurdle at last season's big April meeting at Ayr; runner-up in two of his three chases and jumped well when nosed out by the likeable Jordans Cross at Cheltenham last month (2m4f, soft); surprising to see him back at 2m but at least the ground will be testing, and he'd be giving weight to all his rivals in a handicap.

4/7

Form: 5/94

Last run: 53 days

W: 11st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Point winner in May 2021 but has had an interrupted career since and he's been well beaten on all three rules starts; hard to fancy.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

30th Mar 2025

Good

2m 7f 118y

Class 4

15:55 Ascot

Kicks And Ale

10st 2lb

J: Tabitha Worsley

T: Richard Rowe

pressed leader, lost ground before 3 out

9/1

3rd

4

15th Mar 2025

Good

2m 5f 0y

Class 4

15:57 Kempton

Kicks And Ale

11st 0lb

J: Niall Houlihan

T: Richard Rowe

towards rear, detached from 5th

66/1

4th

5

21st Jan 2025

Heavy

2m 4f 110y

Class 4

14:20 Leicester

Kicks And Ale

11st 5lb

J: Niall Houlihan

T: Richard Rowe

Had a long absence after winning his Irish point and another prior to finishing tailed off in a maiden hurdle at Warwick (300-1).

100/1

Form: 0-

Last run: 445 days

W: 11st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
In good hands and there's potential in his pedigree, but tailed off at 20-1 on debut in a bumper in December 2023 and absent since; has had wind op in interim; a transformation is needed on this first hurdle start.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

15th Mar 2025

Good

2m 5f 0y

Class 4

15:57 Kempton

In The Shade

11st 0lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Alan King

in rear, pushed along and detached after 4th, not fluent 6th, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out

20/1

10th

5

26th Dec 2023

Good To Soft

1m 7f 50y

Class 5

15:45 Wincanton

In The Shade

11st 2lb

J: Oscar Palmer

T: Alan King

Second foal; dam 2m hurdle/chase winner, half-sister to useful winners Real Stone (2m-2m5f hurdle/chase) and Stoney's Teasure (2m3f-3m hurdle/chase) out of 2m3f/2m4f hurdle winning half-sister to smart 2m chaser Martin's Lamp; from a fine family but ridden by a 10lb claimer and probably best watched.

10/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £1.70
Straight Forecast £2.13
Trifecta £4.90

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Quebecois

SPOTLIGHT:

Kingston Pride

LAMBOURN:

Kingston Pride

Daily Mail:

Kingston Pride

D Express:

Kingston Pride

The Star:

Kingston Pride

TOPSPEED:

Quebecois

POSTDATA:

Quebecois

The Times:

Quebecois

Telegraph:

Quebecois

The Guardian:

Quebecois

Daily Mirror:

Quebecois

The Sun:

Quebecois

Daily Record:

Quebecois