March 17 / 15.30 Southwell

15.30

Good

Play At The Races Stableduel Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4193.42
  • 2m 4f 88y
  • Class 4
  • 7 runners
SKY
View Course
Play At The Races Stableduel Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

15/8 (Won)

  • Win: £2.10
  • Place: £1.20

Form: 31/431 C

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Confirmed the promise of his two previous runs when getting off the mark over 2m here earlier this month (good to soft; long odds-on); this longer trip should suit (2m AW bumper winner); a possible.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

24th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 3

15:47 Perth

Jack Hyde

11st 12lb

J: Tom Broughton

T: Fergal O’Brien

Didn't feature in the Imperial Cup (Go Dante two places ahead of him) but back on track with his sights lowered when shading a tight finish in 2m Ludlow handicap (good) 25 days ago, taking his hurdles record to 4-12; has won over this trip; should remain very competitive off 6lb higher.

9/2

1st

1

30th Mar 2026

Good

1m 7f 169y

Class 4

16:27 Ludlow

Jack Hyde

12st 2lb

J: Tom Broughton

T: Fergal O’Brien

Three-time novice winner on good to soft who has performed admirably in Graded and handicap company; didn't run much of a race in the Imperial Cup but he was single-figure odds and this wouldn't be as demanding as that Sandown race; tongue-tie removed; respected.

7/2

9th

13

7th Mar 2026

Soft

1m 7f 216y

Class 2

14:27 Sandown

Jack Hyde

10st 13lb

J: Tom Broughton

T: Fergal O’Brien

Three novice hurdle wins last year (2m-2m4f, good to soft) and second of 15 at Cheltenham (2m, soft) in November when back in a handicap; also runner-up at Taunton last month (2m, heavy; would have been closer granted a clear run) when back from a three-month break (and wind op); each-way player.

14/1

13/8

  • Place: £1.30

Form: 74312 D

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
Showed promise in bumpers before getting off the mark on stable/hurdle debut at Fakenham in January (2m4f, good); runner-up reversed the form over same C&D next time; conditions suit; chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

26th May 2026

Good

3m 0f 217y

Class 4

19:39 Plumpton

Escapologist

11st 10lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Nick Scholfield

Dual hurdle winner for James Owen, most recently at Market Rasen (2m7f, good to soft) in March; backed that up with a solid effort next time but was beaten 22l when favourite back there 18 days ago, which leaves him with a bit to prove; makes stable debut with the booking of Sean Bowen catching the eye.

9/2

6th

7

8th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 16y

Class 3

16:20 Market Rasen

Escapologist

11st 9lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: James Owen

C&D scorer in March (good to soft) on his first realistic staying assignment, and 3lb badly in when not quite up to defying a penalty next time; of renewed interest after a break, and a winner on good also.

6/1

4th

6

27th Mar 2026

Good

3m 0f 26y

Class 3

16:20 Wetherby

Escapologist

10st 11lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: James Owen

Seems badly in under a penalty for recent 2m7f success at Market Rasen, with future mark 3lb lower; however, remains unexposed at this sort of distance and may show the progress that's needed to follow up.

11/4

Form: 4-437

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Creditable third over 2m here on hurdles debut (2m, good to soft) but that wasn't a strong race; well-beaten seventh in softer ground at Ludlow next time; steps up in trip here; wouldn't rule out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

8

2nd Oct 2025

Good

2m 4f 88y

Class 4

16:40 Southwell

Little Dipper

10st 11lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Mel Rowley

0-5 over hurdles and absent since June but shaped well before fading into third in C&D (good) maiden on that latest outing and could plausibly still have a bigger run in him on this handicap return.

10/1

6

9th Jun 2025

Good

2m 4f 88y

Class 4

16:15 Southwell

Little Dipper

11st 4lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Mel Rowley

Beaten in two bumpers and four runs over hurdles; has performed okay on occasions (including here) but needs to find extra to get his head in front.

12/1

Form: 3-4655

Last run: 16 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Runner-up in an Irish point; some promise in bumpers but beaten over 30l in his two runs over hurdles; plenty to find.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

24th Mar 2026

Good

2m 4f 88y

Class 5

17:00 Southwell

Little Big Kev

11st 12lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Richard Phillips

Looked a non-stayer over 2m7f on his handicap debut but was beaten even further back over 2m4f at Market Rasen (14l off the winner); off the same mark here but has undergone a wind operation, which may help.

12/1

5th

3

25th May 2025

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 5

14:03 Uttoxeter

Little Big Kev

11st 7lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Richard Phillips

Good finishing effort in his first few races; hasn't sustained that trend, latterly over hurdles, but may improve now handicapping on first run since further wind surgery.

8/1

5th

3

25th May 2025

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 5

14:03 Uttoxeter

Little Big Kev

11st 7lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Richard Phillips

Good finishing effort in his first few races; hasn't sustained that trend, latterly over hurdles, but may improve now handicapping on first run since further wind surgery.

8/1

Form: 7/1-1P

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Hereford bumper winner last year (2m, good); made a winning hurdle/stable debut at Wincanton in January (1m7f, good to soft) but pulled up in testing ground at Exeter last time; these conditions will suit better and he should stay 2m4f; chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

1

13th May 2025

Good

2m 0f 110y

Class 4

14:30 Worcester

South Omo Zone

12st 0lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Olly Murphy

Bumper winner on good and a maiden winner on good to soft; feasible excuses for last two runs on account of ground/trip and now goes chasing with a pointing background; first-time tongue-tie.

6/1

6th

1

13th May 2025

Good

2m 0f 110y

Class 4

14:30 Worcester

South Omo Zone

12st 0lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Olly Murphy

Bumper winner on good and a maiden winner on good to soft; feasible excuses for last two runs on account of ground/trip and now goes chasing with a pointing background; first-time tongue-tie.

6/1

5th

4

17th Mar 2025

Good

2m 4f 88y

Class 4

15:30 Southwell

South Omo Zone

11st 12lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

led, headed after 3 out, weakened before 2 out

3/1

OUR TIP

Form: 1533

Last run: 48 days

W: 11st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Won a conditions hurdle in the French Provinces in October (2m3f, heavy); fair form since joining Micky Hammond, last time finishing nearly 10l third at Newcastle (2m4f, soft); stiffer task here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

9

9th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 28y

Class 3

17:42 Hexham

Monaco Rules

10st 11lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Micky Hammond

Won over hurdles in France (2m3f, heavy); some fair form since joining Micky Hammond and was a close second at Sedgefield in November (2m4f, soft) but hasn't run since.

10/1

Form: UP

Last run: 37 days

W: 11st 5lb

8 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Doesn't look the easiest and yet to complete in two runs over hurdles; best watched for now.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

27th Mar 2025

Good

1m 7f 182y

Class 4

16:05 Southwell

Tommy Tucker

11st 5lb

J: William Shanahan

T: Giuseppe Fierro

took keen hold, held up in rear, not fluent 1st, pulled up after 4th

200/1

7

17th Mar 2025

Good

2m 4f 88y

Class 4

15:30 Southwell

Tommy Tucker

11st 5lb

J: William Shanahan

T: Giuseppe Fierro

always behind, pulled up after 3 out

100/1

6

8th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 7f 70y

Class 4

13:03 Uttoxeter

Tommy Tucker

11st 0lb

J: William Shanahan

T: Giuseppe Fierro

Brother to fairly useful hurdler The Herds Garden (1m7f-2m2f winner); 200-1, very green, jinked and unseated at the first over C&D in December.

100/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £3.70
Straight Forecast £3.98
Trifecta £28.70

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Jack Hyde

POSTDATA:

Escapologist

Daily Mail:

South Omo Zone

Daily Mirror:

Escapologist

RP RATINGS:

Jack Hyde

TOPSPEED:

Jack Hyde

WEST COUNTRY:

Jack Hyde

The Times:

Jack Hyde

Telegraph:

Jack Hyde

The Guardian:

Jack Hyde

D Express:

Jack Hyde

The Sun:

Jack Hyde

Daily Record:

Jack Hyde

The Star:

South Omo Zone