April 25 / 18.35 Chepstow

18.35

Good To Soft

Braceys Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race) (Div I)

  • Prize money: £4193.42
  • 2m 0f 11y
  • Class 4
  • 9 runners
SKY
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Braceys Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race) (Div I)

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

8/13 (Won)

  • Win: £1.37
  • Place: £1.02

Form: 2

Last run: 19 days

W: 10st 10lb

4 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Dual winner at up to 1m4f on the Flat (RPR 85) and finished second of eight on hurdles debut at Ffos Las (2m4f, good to soft) this month, having been well clear at one stage; may be better for that run and dropping in trip looks to be a positive; the one to beat.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

3

3rd Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 0f 104y

Class 4

15:15 Taunton

Courageous Strike

11st 7lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Fairly useful Flat racer with 2-6 strike-rate over hurdles; gave good account when third of eight at Kempton (2m, good) last month and is probably still on a workable mark but has something to prove on the much slower ground here.

3/1

7

18th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 167y

Class 3

15:35 Newton Abbot

Courageous Strike

10st 13lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Useful Flat racer who was 2-3 in novice/maiden hurdles for Paul Nicholls in the spring; tackles much stronger opposition on this handicap hurdle debut and his tendency to race too freely is a nagging concern but, nevertheless, he's still very unexposed over jumps.

5/2

1st

1

14th May 2025

Good

2m 0f 167y

Class 4

14:19 Newton Abbot

Courageous Strike

11st 3lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Won Flat handicaps at about 1m1f (AW) and 1m4f (good; RPR 83) and he's found a new calling over hurdles judged by the way he won at Chepstow (dropped to 2m, good) recently; he shouldn't have a problem with this sharp 2m and is the one to beat.

2/9

Form: 235 BF

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Showed promise when placed in both bumpers and was still in touch when hanging badly off the final bend on hurdles debut at Plumpton (2m, good; 6-4) 19 days ago; shortlisted if putting that behind him.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

4th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

17:00 Warwick

Wild Goose

12st 2lb

J: Aamilah Aswat

T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls

The winner of two handicaps, the latest at Hereford (2m, good) very decisively despite being headstrong initially; Aamilah Aswat rides again off a 7lb higher mark; respected.

2/1

1st

2

16th Apr 2026

Good

2m 0f 53y

Class 4

19:00 Hereford

Wild Goose

11st 11lb

J: Aamilah Aswat

T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls

Went up 12lb for winning so well at Ludlow in December (2m, good to soft; first run in a tongue-tie) but probably bettered that form when runner-up at Kempton (good), finishing just ahead of Diyaken; solid chance with Aamilah Aswat again aboard.

2/1

2nd

4

23rd Mar 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

16:40 Kempton

Wild Goose

11st 8lb

J: Aamilah Aswat

T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls

Has taken his form to a new level since switched to handicaps, winning easily at Ludlow (2m) then fourth over C&D; may do better still; enters calculations.

7/1

OUR TIP

40/1

  • Place: £5.60

Form: 8-747

Last run: 9 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
200-1 when fourth of ten at Exeter (2m1f, good) last month, but well beaten in his starts either side; others more solid.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

6

5th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 191y

Class 5

15:48 Ffos Las

Dessie Haze

11st 3lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Phillip Dando

Low-mileage 8yo who opened his account in Chepstow event (2m7f, good to soft) then finished midfield, not disgraced, over C&D (good) later in April; reasonably solid in current form.

10/1

6th

11

21st Apr 2026

Soft

2m 7f 191y

Class 5

17:12 Ffos Las

Dessie Haze

11st 3lb

J: Ellis Collier

T: Phillip Dando

Beat well-handicapped, odds-on favourite when staying on well to open account at Chepstow (2m7f, good to soft) 19 days ago, his eighth start over hurdles; 6lb higher here but may yet have more to offer.

4/1

1st

7

2nd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 131y

Class 5

16:39 Chepstow

Dessie Haze

11st 2lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Phillip Dando

0-7 over hurdles; not disgraced when sixth of 17 at Exeter (2m7f, good to soft) last month and remains unexposed over this sort of trip but others have more pressing claims.

33/1

Form: 185 D

Last run: 64 days

W: 10st 11lb

5 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Point/bumper winner who was far from disgraced when fifth of 15 on hurdles debut at Huntingdon (2m5f, good to soft) last time, but the drop in trip doesn't look ideal.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

21st Apr 2026

Soft

2m 7f 191y

Class 5

17:12 Ffos Las

Smile Back

11st 9lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Richard Phillips

Placed in three of her four handicaps but was beaten about 19l when weakening third at Carlisle (3m1f, soft) in February and is not making any progress; hood left off here; stablemate Hidden Target appeals more.

14/1

3rd

4

16th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 0y

Class 5

16:40 Carlisle

Smile Back

11st 11lb

J: Finn Lambert

T: Richard Phillips

Course bumper winner (soft) who was runner-up at Leicester (2m4f, soft) towards the end of last year in her first two handicaps; only sixth when upped in trip at Taunton (3m, good to soft) last month but she could better that latest run when back on soft ground, on which she's shown her best form.

7/1

Form: 64

Last run: 35 days

W: 10st 11lb

5 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Showed some ability when fourth of seven in a Musselburgh bumper (good to soft) five weeks ago, but may need a stiffer test than this over hurdles; stable won this two years ago.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

9th Jun 2025

Good

2m 4f 88y

Class 5

16:50 Southwell

Chanelle Noir

11st 3lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Clarke

Her second at Ffos Las last time was no forward step with her beaten 24l by the winner; goes handicapping with plenty to prove.

8/1

5

22nd May 2025

Good

1m 7f 182y

Class 4

15:35 Ffos Las

Chanelle Noir

10st 9lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Clarke

Glimmer of ability in bumpers but she was well held on her hurdle debut and there was nothing new from her at Hereford recently; an unlikely novice winner.

33/1

5

22nd May 2025

Good

1m 7f 182y

Class 4

15:35 Ffos Las

Chanelle Noir

10st 9lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Clarke

Glimmer of ability in bumpers but she was well held on her hurdle debut and there was nothing new from her at Hereford recently; an unlikely novice winner.

33/1

Form: 9

Last run: 47 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Showed some ability in two Irish points, but well held on his hurdles debut at Warwick (2m, good) last month; needs to step up.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

8

8th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 5f 54y

Class 3

16:48 Warwick

House Of Habsburg

10st 9lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Christian Williams

Record of 211 since switched to chasing and the form of his Warwick success (3m1f, good to soft) last time has been boosted by the second/third since; respected off bottom weight upped in grade, with additional improvement plausible upped further in trip.

7/2

1st

7

23rd Jan 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 100y

Class 4

15:47 Warwick

House Of Habsburg

11st 0lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Christian Williams

Very close second here (3m, soft; front pair well clear) on last month's chasing debut and stayed on strongly to win gruelling contest by 20l at Uttoxeter (3m, heavy) a few days later; 10lb higher now but sure to be suited by the forecast rain and commands respect.

5/2

12

28th Oct 2025

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

15:58 Ffos Las

House Of Habsburg

11st 3lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Christian Williams

Well beaten in all three qualifying starts (2m, good); half-brother to a couple of 2m4f jumps winners; dam a 2m5f hurdle winner, so he may now be capable of improving going up in trip on his handicap debut.

12/1

Form: 67

Last run: 77 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Hinted at ability in the first of his two bumpers but still well held; bred to do better now hurdling but still some way down the pecking order.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

13

18th Apr 2026

Good

3m 0f 30y

Class 5

13:52 Bangor-on-Dee

Harksman

10st 6lb

J: James Best

T: Martin Keighley

Eight-race maiden who showed a bit more last time when beaten 8l in a 2m6f handicap hurdle at Stratford; that was his first run in cheekpieces as well; chase debut.

14/1

6th

7

28th Mar 2026

Good

2m 6f 7y

Class 5

15:57 Stratford

Harksman

10st 5lb

J: James Best

T: Martin Keighley

No impact in any of his seven races, the last two of which were handicaps at Kempton (3m, good; hooded) and Hereford (3m2f, soft); hooded on penultimate start and now tries cheekpieces; fair bit to prove even though the move back down in trip may help.

14/1

Form: 42-

Last run: 689 days

W: 10st 11lb

6 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Showed promise in two starts over hurdles in France in 2023, the latest when second of eight at Lyon-Parilly (2m3f, very soft); makes her debut for her new yard after 23 months off having undergone wind surgery; market revealing.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

6

25th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 11y

Class 4

18:35 Chepstow

Almeirinda

10st 11lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Showed promise in two starts over hurdles in France in 2023, the latest when second of eight at Lyon-Parilly (2m3f, very soft); makes her debut for her new yard after 23 months off having undergone wind surgery; market revealing.

9/2

8th

6

25th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 11y

Class 4

18:35 Chepstow

Almeirinda

10st 11lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Showed promise in two starts over hurdles in France in 2023, the latest when second of eight at Lyon-Parilly (2m3f, very soft); makes her debut for her new yard after 23 months off having undergone wind surgery; market revealing.

9/2

Form: 4F

Last run: 75 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Runner-up in a point bumper just over a year ago and showed some ability in a Stratford bumper in October, but was beaten when falling at the last on hurdle debut over C&D (soft) in February; something to prove for now.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

4th Jun 2025

Good

2m 3f 0y

Class 5

19:10 Warwick

Ballymena Boy

10st 9lb

J: Charlie Price

T: Robbie Llewellyn

Yet to threaten under rules but he finished second in a point-to-point bumper and goes handicapping off a lowly mark; this half-brother to a 2m4f hurdle winner could be suited by the step up in trip and is an interesting candidate, especially if attracting market support.

12/1

8

4th Jun 2025

Good

2m 3f 0y

Class 5

19:10 Warwick

Ballymena Boy

10st 9lb

J: Charlie Price

T: Robbie Llewellyn

Yet to threaten under rules but he finished second in a point-to-point bumper and goes handicapping off a lowly mark; this half-brother to a 2m4f hurdle winner could be suited by the step up in trip and is an interesting candidate, especially if attracting market support.

12/1

3rd

1

10th May 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

19:15 Warwick

Ballymena Boy

11st 4lb

J: Charlie Price

T: Robbie Llewellyn

Some promise in a point and then a bumper but was beaten when falling on his hurdling debut and tailed off in his second attempt.

50/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £12.20
Straight Forecast £8.81
Trifecta £91.20

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Courageous Strike

RP RATINGS:

Courageous Strike

POSTDATA:

Courageous Strike

The Times:

Courageous Strike

Telegraph:

Courageous Strike

The Guardian:

Courageous Strike

Daily Mail:

Courageous Strike

D Express:

Courageous Strike

Daily Mirror:

Courageous Strike

The Star:

Courageous Strike

Daily Record:

Courageous Strike