October 18 / 13.50 Stratford

13.50

Good

Diesel Technic 10 Year Anniversary ‘National Hunt’ Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4356.8
  • 2m 6f 7y
  • Class 4
  • 4 runners
RTV
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Diesel Technic 10 Year Anniversary ‘National Hunt’ Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 4 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

Form: 242- BF

Last run: 220 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Placed in Irish points and positives to take from all his runs in maiden hurdles, last time only narrowly failing to make all over 2m at Huntingdon in March (good); this longer trip won't be an issue according to his pedigree; should be hard to beat on debut for Paul Nicholls (formerly with Fergal O'Brien).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

16th

9

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 149y

Class 1

13:20 Aintree

Absolutely Doyen

11st 2lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Successful on his first five starts for Paul Nicholls; winning run ended when eighth of 24 to Supremely West in the Pertemps but he did stay on again after getting outpaced; likely to be competitive.

12/1

8th

8

12th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 213y

Class 1

16:40 Cheltenham

Absolutely Doyen

10st 11lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

5-5 for Paul Nicholls (good/good to soft) and the last three of those races were over 3m, including in the Wincanton qualifier; racking up the wins would be a highly unusual profile for a Pertemps Final winner but he keeps finishing off the opposition in storming fashion and could easily still have more to give; on the shortlist.

14/1

1st

1

31st Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 2

15:00 Musselburgh

Absolutely Doyen

11st 8lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Paul Nicholls

Made it 4-4 for Paul Nicholls (good/good to soft) when readily winning 3m handicap at Wincanton on Boxing Day; runner-up in a point on soft ground; if conditions suit he holds leading claims under 8lb penalty.

5/6

OUR TIP

Form: /0-9PP

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Has the weakest form claims based on heavy defeats in three bumpers and two hurdles races.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

18th Oct 2025

Good

2m 6f 7y

Class 4

13:50 Stratford

Aceofadiamond

11st 4lb

J: Miss Megan Bevan

T: Ella Pickard

Has the weakest form claims based on heavy defeats in three bumpers and two hurdles races.

66/1

3

29th Sep 2025

Good

2m 0f 167y

Class 4

15:06 Newton Abbot

Aceofadiamond

11st 0lb

J: James Davies

T: Ella Pickard

Pulled up when 150-1 for hurdling debut at Worcester (2m4f, good) in July; had wind op during 12-week break and now drops back in trip.

100/1

2

7th Jul 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

15:15 Worcester

Aceofadiamond

11st 2lb

J: James Davies

T: Ella Pickard

Poor form in bumpers and this headgear combination made no difference last time; very limited appeal on hurdling debut.

100/1

Form: 385U2/

Last run: 541 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Twice placed, in a Ludlow bumper and on final run in a 2m3f maiden hurdle at Warwick (good); that was in April 2024 so difficult to know how he'll fare after such a long absence, though he returns in a weak race.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

22nd Feb 2026

Soft

2m 5f 164y

Class 5

15:50 Fontwell

Night Stalker

12st 0lb

J: Marc Goldstein

T: Sheena West

0-7 over hurdles; ran well when third (albeit safely held) in higher-grade event at Kempton (2m5f, good) in November but two lesser efforts have followed and the ground here is likely to be slower than he prefers.

10/1

4

4th Nov 2025

Good

2m 5f 5y

Class 4

16:02 Warwick

Night Stalker

11st 5lb

J: Marc Goldstein

T: Sheena West

Made inauspicious start to hurdling career in March 2024, unseating rider when trying to refuse at third flight, but his second of 14 here (2m3f, good) the following month was much more promising and he returned from long absence with perfectly respectable run last month; makes handicap debut today; further improvement possible

12/1

4

4th Nov 2025

Good

2m 5f 5y

Class 4

16:02 Warwick

Night Stalker

11st 5lb

J: Marc Goldstein

T: Sheena West

Made inauspicious start to hurdling career in March 2024, unseating rider when trying to refuse at third flight, but his second of 14 here (2m3f, good) the following month was much more promising and he returned from long absence with perfectly respectable run last month; makes handicap debut today; further improvement possible

12/1

Form: 565-56

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Showed a bit in bumpers but beaten 46l and 29l in 2m/2m4f maiden hurdles; unlikely to provide the answer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

16th May 2026

Good

2m 3f 123y

Class 5

14:45 Bangor-on-Dee

Vesalius

10st 12lb

J: Isabelle Ryder

T: Barry Brennan

Beaten 58l when placing at Stratford last October (2m6f, good), and unseen since; no chances taken with his initial mark.

33/1

4

18th Oct 2025

Good

2m 6f 7y

Class 4

13:50 Stratford

Vesalius

11st 2lb

J: Isabelle Ryder

T: Barry Brennan

Showed a bit in bumpers but beaten 46l and 29l in 2m/2m4f maiden hurdles; unlikely to provide the answer.

25/1

10

26th Sep 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

15:17 Worcester

Vesalius

11st 1lb

J: Isabelle Ryder

T: Barry Brennan

Has shown some ability in his bumpers but made an underwhelming start to his hurdle career when a 46l fifth of eight over 2m here last month; needs to find considerable improvement for this longer trip.

50/1

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Absolutely Doyen

RP RATINGS:

Absolutely Doyen

TOPSPEED:

Absolutely Doyen

POSTDATA:

Absolutely Doyen

The Times:

Absolutely Doyen

Telegraph:

Absolutely Doyen

The Guardian:

Absolutely Doyen

Daily Mail:

Absolutely Doyen

D Express:

Absolutely Doyen

Daily Mirror:

Absolutely Doyen

The Sun:

Absolutely Doyen

The Star:

Absolutely Doyen

Daily Record:

Absolutely Doyen