April 26 / 15.00 Sandown

15.00

Good

bet365 Select Hurdle (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £45560
  • 2m 5f 110y
  • Class 1
  • 6 runners
ITV
View Course
bet365 Select Hurdle (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

7/1 (Won)

  • Win: £11.00
  • Place: £3.90

Form: 4-2634

Last run: 62 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 148

Form & Verdict
Below best the last twice (particularly last time) and finished held in fourth in this last year; however, today's race may not be as hot and the return to better ground is a likely plus; 1l runner-up to Lucky Place in good-ground Grade 2 at Ascot last November and now 6lb better off; chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

9th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 200y

Class 1

14:20 Aintree

Blueking DOroux

11st 7lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Useful 2m4f novice chaser but he won a substandard edition of the Rising Stars at Wincanton and his close second at Kempton (with cheekpieces fitted) last time was achieved in a handicap; faces a stiffer task at this level in the retained headgear.

25/1

2nd

2

14th Mar 2026

Good

2m 4f 110y

Class 2

15:18 Kempton

Blueking DOroux

11st 11lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Won two Grade 2 hurdles; still learning his trade over fences, safe enough apart from one blunder when winning at Wincanton (2m4f, good), albeit he made a meal of beating a lower-rated rival; out of depth in Grade 1 here since but he's 10lb lower than his hurdle mark now handicapping and still has potential; cheekpieces on; yard has won two of the last three runnings.

9/2

2nd

5

18th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 216y

Class 2

16:55 Newton Abbot

Blueking DOroux

10st 10lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Smart staying hurdling who looked as good as ever when ending last season with Grade 2 win from the front at Sandown (2m5f, good); will be very hard to beat on these terms if he jumps adequately on his chasing debut.

1/5

8/1

  • Place: £2.50

Form: 3-4F23 BF

Last run: 62 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 148

Form & Verdict
5yo who has been running creditably in defeat this season and was in the mix in the Grade 2 Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham (2m4f, soft) in January when falling at the final flight; effective on good to soft (unproven on good); could be in the mix if handling conditions.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

7

10th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 210y

Class 1

14:20 Aintree

Salver

11st 7lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Can take a while to warm up but he impressed when slamming Doyen Quest in December Grade 2 at Sandown (good to soft) and again dispatched that rival at Windsor (also about 3m, soft; first-time cheekpieces) the following month; 25-1 but ran a scorcher, despite little going right, when flying from the rear to grab third in the Grade 1 Brown Advisory (3m1f) at Cheltenham last month; there's potential for a good gallop here, which will suit, and he holds leading claims.

4/1

3rd

12

11th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 0y

Class 1

14:00 Cheltenham

Salver

11st 7lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Dual Grade 2 winner at about 3m over fences, at Sandown (good to soft) and Windsor (soft) in December/January; jumping again not fluent last time, despite added cheekpieces (retained), and he has his work cut out in this.

40/1

1st

1

18th Jan 2026

Soft

3m 0f 60y

Class 1

13:20 Windsor

Salver

11st 9lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Very useful over hurdles and comfortably bagged Grade 2 honours at Sandown (3m, good to soft) on second attempt over fences; ran creditably, despite the ground possibly being faster than ideal, in Grade 1 at Kempton since; leading player, provided he takes to first-time headgear.

7/4

Form: 12-115 BF

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 153

Form & Verdict
Made it 2-2 for Willie Mullins in Grade 3 at Gowran Park (2m, soft) in February; 15l fifth when upped markedly in trip in Grade 1 Liverpool Hurdle (3m, good) three weeks ago, but this headstrong 5yo could benefit from today's first-time hood and drop back in trip; could play a major role.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

28th Apr 2026

Yielding

3m 0f 213y

16:50 Punchestown

Kitzbuhel

11st 10lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

Set the early standard in the staying novice division, winning Grade 1 Kauto Star at Kempton (3m, good) at Christmas after a 2m3f beginners' win at this venue; blotted his record in Sandown Grade 1, jumped right before unseating at the sixth; redeemed himself with a stylish front-running victory in the Brown Advisory; now looks strongest of the Mullins quartet.

11/10

1st

5

11th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 0y

Class 1

14:00 Cheltenham

Kitzbuhel

11st 7lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: W P Mullins

Set the early standard in this division, beating Kaid d'Authie on chase debut then winning Grade 1 Kauto Star at Kempton (3m, good) on Boxing Day; jumped right before unseating in Sandown Grade 1 last time and the worries today are going left-handed plus the sense that others have improved past him.

16/1

Form: 24-117

Last run: 44 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 153

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced 6yo who has improved this season, with Grade 2 wins at Ascot (2m3f, good) and Cheltenham (2m4f, soft); soundly beaten in the Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham (3m, good to soft) last month, but drops back down in trip/grade today and he's a leading player if back to his best.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

25th Apr 2026

Good

2m 5f 110y

Class 1

16:02 Sandown

Lucky Place

11st 10lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

Dual Grade 2 winner last term; finished third at the same level on penultimate start but was behind Kabral Du Mathan and stablemate Jingko Blue in that Cheltenham race; seems set for another bronze medal at best.

11/1

Form: 153133

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 3lb

7 yo Filly

OR: 146

Form & Verdict
Won Grade 2 mares' hurdle at Ascot (1m7f, good) in January and she's been a creditable third to easy winner Lossiemouth at Cheltenham (2m4f, good to soft) and Aintree (2m4f, good to soft) the last twice; could give another good account now against males but a career-best is required.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

12

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 149y

Class 1

15:05 Aintree

Take No Chances

11st 3lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Not at the top of her game in the Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham (2m4f, good) last month but this sort of trip may be her optimum; neck second to Strong Leader at Wetherby (3m, good) in November and creditable third behind Impose Toi and Strong Leader in another Grade 2 at Newbury (3m, soft) later that month; ran well here 12 months ago; each-way claims if back on song.

25/1

4th

6

12th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 56y

Class 1

14:40 Cheltenham

Take No Chances

11st 5lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Won Grade 2 mares' event at Ascot before finishing third to Lossiemouth in this and the Aintree Hurdle (Wodhooh 8l ahead in second) last spring; has slightly bettered those RPRs in defeat on all four outings this season and she's an each-way player again.

9/1

3rd

3

16th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 2

15:00 Windsor

Take No Chances

11st 1lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Won Grade 2 mares' hurdle at Ascot (1m7f, good) last January and she's looked better than ever when running really well in defeat against males in Grade 2s at Wetherby (3m, good) and Newbury (3m, soft) on last two starts; she'll be fine now back down in trip and may well be in the mix.

3/1

OUR TIP

Form: -F3519 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 149

Form & Verdict
Posted handicap hat-trick at the end of last season and was better than ever when comfortably landing a Grade 2 at Haydock (3m, good to soft) this February; a case can be made on that form but he was tailed off in a Grade 1 at Aintree (3m, good) just three weeks ago and needs to bounce back.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

26th Apr 2025

Good

2m 5f 110y

Class 1

15:00 Sandown

Gwennie May Boy

11st 10lb

J: Charlie Todd

T: Dan Skelton

Posted handicap hat-trick at the end of last season and was better than ever when comfortably landing a Grade 2 at Haydock (3m, good to soft) this February; a case can be made on that form but he was tailed off in a Grade 1 at Aintree (3m, good) just three weeks ago and needs to bounce back.

16/1

6th

2

26th Apr 2025

Good

2m 5f 110y

Class 1

15:00 Sandown

Gwennie May Boy

11st 10lb

J: Charlie Todd

T: Dan Skelton

Posted handicap hat-trick at the end of last season and was better than ever when comfortably landing a Grade 2 at Haydock (3m, good to soft) this February; a case can be made on that form but he was tailed off in a Grade 1 at Aintree (3m, good) just three weeks ago and needs to bounce back.

16/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £56.20
Straight Forecast £57.67
Trifecta £208.30

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Kitzbuhel

LAMBOURN:

Lucky Place

TOPSPEED:

Take No Chances

WEST COUNTRY:

Blueking d'Oroux

RP RATINGS:

Kitzbuhel

POSTDATA:

Kitzbuhel

The Times:

Kitzbuhel

Telegraph:

Kitzbuhel

The Guardian:

Kitzbuhel

The Sun:

Kitzbuhel

Daily Record:

Kitzbuhel

Daily Mail:

Lucky Place

D Express:

Lucky Place

Daily Mirror:

Lucky Place

The Star:

Lucky Place