January 31 / 15.00 Musselburgh

15.00

Good To Soft

bet365 Scottish Stayers’ Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £13202.5
  • 2m 7f 180y
  • Class 2
  • 5 runners
RTV
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bet365 Scottish Stayers’ Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

5/6 (Won)

  • Win: £1.73
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 2-1111 D

Last run: 36 days

W: 11st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 132

Form & Verdict
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.
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

9/2

  • Place: £1.60

Form: 324115

Last run: 42 days

W: 11st 1lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
3m point winner who made all in good style in the autumn on first two hurdle starts (2m4f/2m6f, good to yielding/good to soft); ran well for a very long way when fifth in Listed mares' novice at Haydock (2m3f, good to soft) last time and trainer has a good record in this race; could go well.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

10th Apr 2026

Good To Yielding

3m 0f 0y

17:28 Wexford

Walks The Talk

11st 12lb

J: Alex Harvey

T: John C McConnell

Form figures of 1521 on ground with good in the description, the fifth coming in a listed mares' hurdle at Haydock; floundered on heavy in a Gowran Grade 3 on latest but return to better ground a huge plus; should go well.

9/2

Form: 2-222

Last run: 29 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Runner-up on first two hurdle starts (2m4f/3m, soft/good to soft) before 12l second at Ayr (2m4f, soft) four weeks ago; today's step back up in trip looks a firm plus and he's receiving weight all round; possible player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

6

24th Apr 2026

Good

3m 2f 127y

Class 3

14:40 Perth

Sleedagh

11st 3lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Last run too bad to be true but had been consistent in novice/maidens and the previous third at Musselburgh (3m, good to soft) came in a strong race; the potential is there to be competitive off this mark on handicap debut.

10/1

3rd

5

27th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 84y

Class 3

14:50 Doncaster

Sleedagh

11st 5lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Runner-up on first three hurdle starts (2m4f/3m, soft/good to soft) before third of five in strong novice at Musselburgh (3m, good to soft) four weeks ago; suspicion his limitations may again be exposed today but he's receiving weight all round and might not be far away.

11/2

3rd

5

31st Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 2

15:00 Musselburgh

Sleedagh

11st 0lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Runner-up on first two hurdle starts (2m4f/3m, soft/good to soft) before 12l second at Ayr (2m4f, soft) four weeks ago; today's step back up in trip looks a firm plus and he's receiving weight all round; possible player.

5/1

Form: 16-17

Last run: 63 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Soft-ground bumper winner who scored in good style on hurdle debut at Hexham (2m4f, good to soft) in November; finished held in warm novice at Newcastle (2m6f, good to soft) subsequently and improvement is necessary, but there can be optimism he'll be capable of better; not discounted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

7th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 4f 100y

Class 4

13:32 Ayr

Out Of The Woods

11st 7lb

J: Conner McCann

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Soft-ground bumper winner who scored in good style on hurdle debut at Hexham (2m4f, good to soft) in November; showed no improvement for stepping up in trip when fourth of five at Musselburgh (3m, good to soft) in January but has possibilities back down in distance/grade.

9/2

4th

3

31st Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 2

15:00 Musselburgh

Out Of The Woods

11st 5lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Soft-ground bumper winner who scored in good style on hurdle debut at Hexham (2m4f, good to soft) in November; finished held in warm novice at Newcastle (2m6f, good to soft) subsequently and improvement is necessary, but there can be optimism he'll be capable of better; not discounted.

9/1

OUR TIP

Form: 56221

Last run: 16 days

W: 11st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Beaten on first four hurdle starts (good to soft/good) before winning recent maiden at Newcastle (2m4f, good to soft) when well backed; others have more substance to their form but this 5yo could have more to offer up in trip now things have clicked; interesting.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

13th Mar 2026

Good

2m 0f 128y

Class 4

13:42 Doncaster

Lewisham Grove

11st 12lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jennie Candlish

Deservedly got off the mark over hurdles at Newcastle (2m4f) in January and not disgraced under a penalty despite coming in last of five in 3m Musselburgh novice 41 days ago; must enter calculations with cheekpieces added.

6/4

5th

2

31st Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 2

15:00 Musselburgh

Lewisham Grove

11st 5lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jennie Candlish

Beaten on first four hurdle starts (good to soft/good) before winning recent maiden at Newcastle (2m4f, good to soft) when well backed; others have more substance to their form but this 5yo could have more to offer up in trip now things have clicked; interesting.

6/1

1st

8

15th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 62y

Class 4

13:25 Newcastle

Lewisham Grove

11st 10lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jennie Candlish

0-4 over hurdles but runner-up on last two starts, beaten 1l over C&D (good to soft) in November last time; every chance he'll be bang there.

4/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £2.90
Straight Forecast £3.54
Trifecta £11.10

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Absolutely Doyen

The Times:

Walks The Talk

TOPSPEED:

Out Of The Woods

RP RATINGS:

Absolutely Doyen

POSTDATA:

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