16.10
SoftAIS Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) (Registered As The Classic Novices’ Hurdle) (GBB Race)
- Prize money: £45560
- 2m 4f 56y
- Class 1
- 8 runners
Runners: 8 runners
Type: Hurdle Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Sunny
20/1 (Won)
- Win: £15.80
- Place: £3.90
Form: 21-211 D
Last run: 38 days
W: 11st 5lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 130
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6th 6 |
10th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 3m 0f 149y Class 1 |
11st 8lb |
Tongue tied the last twice; completed his hat-trick in a 2m4f Grade 2 at Cheltenham on Trials' Day (soft; fine on good) but only sixth in the Albert Bartlett; however, he ran well for a long way in fairness only to wilt up the hill and this flatter track could be a better fit; not ruled out. |
16/1 |
|
6th 11 |
13th Mar 2026 Good 2m 7f 213y Class 1 |
11st 7lb |
Has left his bumper form behind over hurdles and completed his hat-trick in a 2m4f Grade 2 here on Trials' Day (first run in a tongue-tie; soft; fine on good); however, that was by the skin of his teeth and in a race that hasn't been that influential when it comes to the Festival; however he fares, he'll be a nice chaser next year. |
25/1 |
|
1st 5 |
24th Jan 2026 Soft 2m 4f 56y Class 1 |
11st 5lb |
Won at Ascot (2m3f, good) in November on second hurdle start and followed up in Newbury novice (2m4f, good to soft); went close in a bumper on soft; his jumping may improve and it remains to be seen where his limitations lie, but others have a bit more substance to their form; tongue-tie added. |
20/1 |
100/30
- Place: £2.00
Form: 11
Last run: 49 days
W: 11st 5lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: 132
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
15th 20 |
11th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 2m 5f 0y Class 1 |
11st 7lb |
Point winner (3m, yielding) who made it 2-2 over hurdles (2m, good to soft/soft) in three-runner novice at Aintree in December; only just denied over this sort of trip in soft-ground Grade 2 on the New course here in January; has quite a plucky attitude but that form leaves him with something to find. |
25/1 |
|
2nd 7 |
24th Jan 2026 Soft 2m 4f 56y Class 1 |
11st 5lb |
Point winner (3m, yielding) who made it 2-2 over hurdles (2m, good to soft/soft) in three-runner novice at Aintree last month; he did it nicely last time from a useful yardstick, who won either side of that defeat; there's every chance this step up in trip will suit and he's high on the list. |
100/30 |
|
13 |
30th Oct 2025 Good To Soft 2m 0f 70y Class 3 |
10st 13lb |
Bought for £155,000 after winning on Irish point debut (3m, yielding) in February; has Flat and hurdle winners in his striking pedigree and he could have a bright future at this new discipline. |
6/4 |
11/1
Form: 131
Last run: 29 days
W: 11st 5lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 129
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
17th 15 |
11th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 3m 0f 149y Class 1 |
10st 13lb |
Useful novice hurdler, including Fontwell wins over 2m3f and an extended 2m1f (both good to soft); also third in a Grade 2 novice at Cheltenham in January before performing with credit in the Grade 1 Turners at the Festival there (2m5f), staying on again when hampered at the last; that suggests this step up in trip could suit now he's handicapping; interesting. |
6/1 |
|
12th 5 |
11th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 2m 5f 0y Class 1 |
11st 7lb |
Won hurdles debut at Fontwell (2m3f) in October and by a wide margin at same track (2m2f, again good to soft) in December; third in a Grade 2 on the New course here (about 2m5f; Taurus Bay second) was another good effort; that form still leaves him with something to find, however. |
66/1 |
|
3rd 3 |
24th Jan 2026 Soft 2m 4f 56y Class 1 |
11st 5lb |
Point runner-up (3m, soft) who got back on the scoresheet at Fontwell on Boxing Day to make it 2-3 over hurdles (2m3f/2m1f, good to soft); today's company is much tougher but this prominent racer is open to further improvement for a trainer enjoying an excellent season; not discounted. |
11/1 |
100/30
Form: 122-12 BF
Last run: 71 days
W: 11st 5lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5 |
5th Apr 2026 Yielding To Soft 2m 0f 0y |
11st 4lb |
Runner-up to Bambino Fever in last year's Champion Bumper; won on hurdle debut at Listowel (2m, good-to-yielding) before 3l second to subsequent Challow Hurdle winner No Drama This End in Grade 2 at Cheltenham (2m5f, soft); much too free and jumped untidily in a similar Cheltenham race in January; back to form in winning a four-runner Punchestown event. |
8/1 |
|
5th 4 |
24th Jan 2026 Soft 2m 4f 56y Class 1 |
11st 5lb |
Runner-up in the Champion Bumper here (2m, good to soft) last March and won on hurdle debut at Listowel before 3l second in Grade 2 here (2m5f, soft), behind No Drama This End who won the Grade 1 Challow last month; this front-runner is open to improvement if settling better and he's a key player. |
100/30 |
|
1st 1 |
25th Sep 2025 Yielding 2m 0f 0y |
11st 12lb |
Only 1-5 in bumpers but finished second in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham in March and that form sets him apart in this company, for all that he was no doubt flattered after racing prominently off slow fractions; hard to oppose on hurdling debut. |
4/7 |
7/4
Form: 341-12 BF
Last run: 26 days
W: 11st 5lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 134
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 1 |
11th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 2m 5f 0y Class 1 |
11st 7lb |
Considered a Supreme hope at the start of the term and he did nothing to dispel those thoughts when impressing on hurdles debut in a Newbury maiden (about 2m, soft) in November; surprisingly turned over by a 3yo over that C&D (good) one month later but firmly back on track when sent up in trip to comfortably land a Huntingdon Listed event (about 2m4f, soft) last time; his trainer used that race as a stepping stone to Cheltenham Festival glory for Shishkin in 2020 and this one commands plenty of respect. |
7/1 |
|
1st 2 |
5th Feb 2026 Soft 2m 3f 137y Class 1 |
11st 5lb |
Solid form at Newbury (2m, soft/good) since joining Nicky Henderson and switched to hurdles, beating Sinnatra then runner-up to a fairly useful juvenile who received plenty of weight; bred to stay this longer distance and should still have further improvement in him; major player. |
10/11 |
|
1 |
24th Jan 2026 Soft 2m 4f 56y Class 1 |
11st 5lb |
Bumper winner (showed promise on soft in that sphere) who won on his hurdle/stable debut at Newbury (2m, soft) in November before close second at 2-7 there (2m, good) in December, behind £360,000 purchase Minella Yoga who is declared to run in the 12:40; there's every chance this longer trip will be within range and he's a leading player for his top stable. |
7/4 |
40/1
Form: 11
Last run: 40 days
W: 11st 5lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 121
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
No Results Found |
33/1
Form: 421
Last run: 40 days
W: 11st 5lb
5 yo Filly
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
No Results Found |
6/1
Form: 241-12
Last run: 50 days
W: 11st 5lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 129
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
8 |
24th Jan 2026 Soft 2m 4f 56y Class 1 |
11st 5lb |
Bumper winner who scored on his hurdle debut at Chepstow (2m, good to soft) then finished second in Grade 2 at Sandown (2m4f, soft) behind easy winner No Drama This End, who followed up in the Grade 1 Challow; open to further improvement and he might not be far away. |
6/1 |
|
1st 6 |
17th Apr 2025 Good To Soft 1m 7f 182y Class 4 |
11st 3lb |
Runner-up in Aintree bumper on Boxing Day and ran to a similar level when fourth at Exeter in February; fully expected to have a major say on all known form. |
2/1 |
+o+e Accumulators
| Payout | |
|---|---|
| Exacta | £61.80 |
| Straight Forecast | £53.25 |
| Tricast | £318.46 |
| Trifecta | £294.30 |