October 24 / 16.10 Cheltenham

16.10

Good

Champions: Full Gallop Streaming On ITVX Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £10892
  • 2m 3f 200y
  • Class 2
  • 7 runners
RTV
View Course
Champions: Full Gallop Streaming On ITVX Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly sunny

Form: -21321 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 128

Form & Verdict
Headed to Worcester four weeks ago with a record of 1-10 over hurdles but in first-time cheekpieces he showed much improved form to make all for a 17l success (2m4f, good; placed on soft); if new mark (after a 19lb hike) is a fair reflection of his ability then he should be up to this level.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

25th Feb 2024

Heavy

2m 0f 53y

Class 4

14:40 Hereford

Don Virginia

11st 0lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo O’Neill

£32,000 2yo; dam French 2m1f hurdle winner, half-sister to several winners notably Viking Blond (useful 2m7f-3m hurdle/chase); major yard; interesting newcomer.

8/1

OUR TIP

Form: F-2423

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
Posted some useful RPRs, as when only 4l behind the highly touted Davy Crockett at Listowel last month; didn't run so well in a 2m Grade 3 at Tipperary last time but has proved his stamina for this far and his peak form is right up there.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

3

27th May 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 1f 0y

17:12 Wexford

Arch Empire

11st 7lb

J: Josh Williamson

T: Gordon Elliott

Winning hurdler; fair maiden on the Flat; useful form in small-field hurdle races in the first half of last season; should improve from a run in a handicap at the Punchestown festival; was one of the outsiders then, and made some late headway, plenty of horses behind him.

5/1

7th

14

28th Apr 2026

Yielding

2m 0f 132y

15:40 Punchestown

Arch Empire

10st 1lb

J: Jordan Gainford

T: Gordon Elliott

Dual-purpose; 1-10 over hurdles; soundly beaten off 2lb higher when last seen at Down Royal in November; others make more appeal.

25/1

Form: 4-3421

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Had useful form in Ireland in a bumper and maiden hurdles; beaten at evens on British debut (2m7f) but under a positive ride back over 2m at Uttoxeter he made a lot of the running for a hard-fought win; faces a much stiffer examination here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

12

14th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 3f 63y

Class 2

14:25 Ascot

De Temps En Temps

10st 9lb

J: Freddie Keighley

T: Martin Keighley

Novice hurdler who has failed to sustain his progress in two handicap attempts; physical tweak (wind surgery since last run) needs to make a difference.

16/1

4

24th Oct 2025

Good

2m 3f 200y

Class 2

16:10 Cheltenham

De Temps En Temps

11st 5lb

J: Freddie Keighley

T: Martin Keighley

Had useful form in Ireland in a bumper and maiden hurdles; beaten at evens on British debut (2m7f) but under a positive ride back over 2m at Uttoxeter he made a lot of the running for a hard-fought win; faces a much stiffer examination here.

20/1

Form: 11 D

Last run: 16 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Running well at a useful level on the Flat before winning comfortably on hurdling debut at Uttoxeter (2m4f, good), after which he enjoyed a walkover at Ludlow; given Flat ability and having shown he can jump, he's one to consider.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

7

24th May 2026

Good

2m 3f 207y

Class 2

15:28 Uttoxeter

Percy Shelley

11st 6lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: James Owen

Three Flat wins and he's 2-5 over hurdles; competitive in both disciplines since returning from a break and this scenario is ideal for him.

10/1

4th

1

(6)

2nd May 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

14:45 Goodwood

Percy Shelley

9st 12lb

J: Cieren Fallon

T: James Owen

Made good start to hurdling career in the autumn, including when going close in a Cheltenham novice (2m4f, good to soft; has won on good ground); reappeared with a creditable third at Plumpton last month and he's feasibly treated on his best Flat form last year, including a sequence of runner-up efforts over staying trips; respected back in this sphere.

9/2

3rd

1

6th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 116y

Class 3

15:45 Plumpton

Percy Shelley

12st 0lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: James Owen

Useful Flat performer who made good start to hurdling career in the autumn, including when going close in a Cheltenham novice (2m4f, good to soft; has won on good ground); flopped at Ascot (2m5f, good) in November but has had a break since and retains potential now in his first handicap hurdle.

10/1

Form: 110-

Last run: 226 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Winning pointer who justified a shade of odds-on in his first two bumpers, at Ayr (good to soft; by 9l) and Aintree (soft; by 2l); rejected by Harry Skelton and was 66-1 when down the field in the Champion Bumper here; nice prospect for hurdling.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

2

10th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 149y

Class 1

16:40 Aintree

Dalston Lad

11st 8lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

He's gone 3-3 since the cheekpieces went on and it was pretty straightforward from the front in a Grade 2 at Haydock the last time (3m, good to soft) when 4l too good for the strong-finishing Ubatuba who ran a respectable seventh in the Albert Bartlett; arrives here fresher than some; respected.

8/1

1st

2

14th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 58y

Class 1

14:40 Haydock

Dalston Lad

11st 2lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Made it 2-2 in these cheekpieces when upped in trip on handicap debut over C&D (good to soft) four weeks ago; won a bumper on soft ground; open to further improvement for his top yard and is firmly in calculations.

3/1

1st

7

17th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 58y

Class 3

14:35 Haydock

Dalston Lad

10st 13lb

J: Tristan Durrell

T: Dan Skelton

3m point and two-time bumper winner who has improved with each of his three hurdle starts, winning easily at 4-9 at Sedgefield (2m4f, good to soft) last time in first-time cheekpieces (retained); bred to be suited by this step up in trip on handicap debut (half-brother to leading Peter Marsh contender Myretown, among others) and could have lots more to offer for top yard.

3/1

Form: 3- BF

Last run: 259 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Irish point winner who joined new connections for £140,000; beaten favourite in a Kempton bumper (soft) but could have done with a truer pace; presumably showing the right signs at home to be sent here for hurdling debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

14th Mar 2026

Good

2m 5f 0y

Class 4

15:53 Kempton

Etna Bianco

11st 7lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Joe Tizzard

Justified favouritism in novice at Ascot (2m5f, good) in November but hasn't managed to build on that in his two outings since, albeit it was the Grade 1 Challow on the first occasion; will need to resume his progression to take this.

5/2

4th

1

14th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 3f 63y

Class 2

13:15 Ascot

Etna Bianco

11st 10lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Joe Tizzard

Justified favouritism at Ascot (2m5f, good) in November, building on reappearance effort; came up short in the Challow since but enters calculations back down in class, even with 8lb penalty; tongue-tie fitted.

7/2

7

24th Oct 2025

Good

2m 3f 200y

Class 2

16:10 Cheltenham

Etna Bianco

11st 0lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Irish point winner who joined new connections for £140,000; beaten favourite in a Kempton bumper (soft) but could have done with a truer pace; presumably showing the right signs at home to be sent here for hurdling debut.

10/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 10st 12lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Finished a clear second in his Irish point and was bought for £160,000 soon after; a 4yo who receives weight off all his rivals and the stable won this last year with Potters Charm.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

6

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 88y

Class 3

15:05 Doncaster

Leader Crik

11st 7lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Bought for £160,000 soon after finishing a close second to a subsequent hurdle winner in an Irish point last May; well beaten in a Cheltenham novice hurdle (2m4f, good to soft; 10-1) in October but had wind surgery since then and no doubt capable of a lot better; the market could be instructive.

7/2

Non-runners

Sporting Glance

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £130.30
Straight Forecast £134.02
Trifecta £675.20

Selections

POSTDATA:

Don Virginia

Daily Mail:

Leader Crik

SPOTLIGHT:

Arch Empire

The Times:

Percy Shelley

WEST COUNTRY:

Etna Bianco

TOPSPEED:

De Temps En Temps

D Express:

Leader Crik

The Star:

Leader Crik

The Guardian:

Don Virginia

Daily Mirror:

Don Virginia

The Sun:

Don Virginia

RP RATINGS:

Arch Empire

Telegraph:

Arch Empire

Daily Record:

Percy Shelley