February 11 / 14.21 Wetherby

14.21

Soft

wetherbyracing.co.uk Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £5446
  • 2m 3f 154y
  • Class 4
  • 9 runners
RTV
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wetherbyracing.co.uk Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

OUR TIP

Form: 2/221 D

Last run: 34 days

W: 11st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 129

Form & Verdict
Runner-up on first four starts (point, bumper and two novice hurdles) before winning maiden hurdle at Ffos Las (2m4f, soft) last month when upped in trip; he's a leading candidate under a 7lb penalty.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

17th Feb 2026

2m 4f 118y

Class 3

15:20 Newbury

Bobbys Nelson

11st 8lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Beaten by good horses in his first two runs over hurdles before getting off the mark at Ffos Las (2m4f, soft), the form of which was franked by third winning easily last week; smacks of a strong stayer and he's still entered in the Turners at Cheltenham.

11/10

Form: 1-31

Last run: 34 days

W: 11st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
Bumper winner who built upon his hurdle debut third at Warwick in November to win at Ffos Las (2m, soft) last month, coming well clear with a useful yardstick; his attractive pedigree suggests he'll be suited by today's step up in trip and he's firmly in calculations under a 7lb penalty.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 1

13:55 Aintree

Bossman Jack

11st 7lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Three wins from first four starts and he was keeping on well and disputing third when making a bad mistake at the final flight in the Turners at Cheltenham (2m5f, good to soft) last month, ultimately finishing sixth; leading claims on the back of that very promising performance.

11/4

6th

3

11th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 0y

Class 1

13:20 Cheltenham

Bossman Jack

11st 7lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Bumper winner who was off the mark on his second attempt over hurdles when winning a Ffos Las novice in January; heavy odds-on but he still impressed when easily defying a penalty at Chepstow (also 2m, soft) last month; dam won over this trip in a light hurdling career; not far away on the figures for last year's winning stable and he's impossible to rule out.

7/1

1st

1

13th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 0f 16y

Class 4

13:40 Chepstow

Bossman Jack

11st 9lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Placed in strong Warwick maiden (2m, good to soft) on seasonal/hurdle debut in November and built on that performance when beating useful rival to score at Ffos Las (2m, soft; front pair well clear of Emerald Breeze) last month; the one to beat.

8/13

Form: 36-313 D

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
Point runner-up and bumper winner who got off the mark over hurdles at the second attempt at Leicester in November (2m4f, soft; made all), form that was franked by the runner-up; didn't see out 3m at Windsor last time and there's every chance he'll be in the mix now back down in trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

18th

10

10th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 1

13:45 Aintree

Swindon Village

11st 7lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Charlie Longsdon

Weakened late on (shaped better than bare result) in the 3m Grade 1 novice hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival; won with plenty to spare at Newbury (soft) the time before, taking 2m4f record under rules to 311, and may have more to offer over this distance; interesting handicap debutant.

25/1

11th

16

13th Mar 2026

Good

2m 7f 213y

Class 1

15:20 Cheltenham

Swindon Village

11st 7lb

J: David Bass

T: Charlie Longsdon

This 6yo is a big lad with a bright future ahead of him; it's unlikely that Windsor played to his strengths when well behind Moneygarrow and he then stayed on much the best in a Newbury novice last month (extended 2m4f, soft); however, that latest race had no depth and the odds-on favourite wasn't on his game; this is a huge hike in class.

66/1

1st

2

17th Feb 2026

2m 4f 118y

Class 3

15:20 Newbury

Swindon Village

11st 8lb

J: David Bass

T: Charlie Longsdon

Bumper winner; made all at Leicester (2m4f, soft) and didn't appear to get home over 3m in a useful novice at Windsor; again has the penalty but this looks more suitable; holds the 2m5f/3m novice entries at Cheltenham.

13/8

Form: 0300

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Showed promise in both bumpers in Ireland but down the field on his two runs in Britain, most recently on hurdle debut at Newcastle.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 61y

Class 5

14:57 Carlisle

Au Plaisir

11st 11lb

J: Nathan Moscrop

T: Rebecca Menzies

Placed in big-field Irish bumper in September; unable to get seriously competitive in three maiden/novice hurdles for new stable this year but there was some promise at Newcastle (2m1f, good to soft) last time, and he should have more improvement to come in handicaps.

7/1

5th

2

21st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 190y

Class 4

13:05 Newcastle

Au Plaisir

11st 7lb

J: Ross Chapman

T: Rebecca Menzies

Definite promise in two Irish bumpers but nothing like so good in a bumper and two hurdle runs for current yard.

50/1

5th

5

13th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 0f 51y

Class 4

14:00 Kelso

Au Plaisir

11st 0lb

J: Rian Corcoran

T: Rebecca Menzies

Definite promise in two Irish bumpers but nothing like so good in a bumper and maiden hurdle for current yard.

200/1

Form: 62

Last run: 51 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form: 75U-0P

Last run: 45 days

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Not devoid of promise in a bumper at Newcastle last February but he's struggled over hurdles; transformation needed in first-time cheekpieces.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

8

19th May 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 48y

Class 5

20:50 Hexham

King Kodiak

11st 1lb

J: Jonathon Bewley

T: George Bewley

0-8 over hurdles; has a very mixed record and is sometimes a clumsy jumper but made a bold bid from the front when third at Carlisle (2m3f, good to soft) two runs ago and can't be ruled out; tongue tied for first time.

14/1

9th

10

24th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 5

16:25 Perth

King Kodiak

10st 6lb

J: Jonathon Bewley

T: George Bewley

Improved third in 2m1f Carlisle novice (soft) in February; well treated on that form but hasn't managed to reproduce it in two subsequent handicaps, although he probably pressed for home too far out when third back at Carlisle (2m3f, good to soft) in refitted cheekpieces (retained) three weeks ago; remains one who could click from a lowly mark.

9/1

3rd

6

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 61y

Class 5

14:23 Carlisle

King Kodiak

11st 0lb

J: Jonathon Bewley

T: George Bewley

Outran 150-1 odds when placed in novice hurdle here (2m1f, soft) last month, his fifth hurdling start, but jumped poorly and was safely held in Sedgefield handicap (2m1f, good) two days later; effectively 7lb higher today and comes with risk; cheekpieces refitted.

7/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form: 436

Last run: 63 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Two-time Irish point winner; also showed promise in bumpers there; market check advised on second hurdle/stable start but tailed off at 22-1 at Hereford (2m3f, good to soft) in December; has to leave that well behind.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

19th May 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 28y

Class 4

19:50 Hexham

Passing Diamond

11st 9lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Ben Haslam

Dual Irish point winner; showed marked improvement on what he'd previously achieved in three runs over hurdles when winning a maiden hurdle here over 2m this month, keeping on well; has to concede weight all round under a penalty, but his experience will help and it's likely there's more to come now going back up in trip.

7/2

1st

4

2nd May 2026

Good

2m 0f 48y

Class 4

17:15 Hexham

Passing Diamond

11st 4lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Ben Haslam

Won two points in Ireland; third in two hurdle races, although the latest effort at Sedgefield was a step in the wrong direction; needs to bounce back and may prove ideally suited by longer distances.

5/1

3rd

6

19th Mar 2026

Good

2m 0f 178y

Class 4

15:40 Sedgefield

Passing Diamond

11st 5lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Ben Haslam

Two point wins in Ireland and he also showed promise in bumpers there; however, soundly beaten over hurdles on both British starts and he may be one for handicaps.

33/1

Betting Forcast

13/8 Bobbys Nelson, 6/4 Bossman Jack, 9/4 Swindon Village, 200/1 Au Plaisir, 25/1 Forever Louie, 14/1 Jonny Setaside, 200/1 King Kodiak, 100/1 Nordic Gift, 50/1 Passing Diamond

Non-runners

The Foreman

Verdict

This is likely to be between the three previous hurdle winners. Top of the list is BOBBY’S NELSON, who was suited by the step up in trip when winning with something to spare over 2m4f at Ffos Las last month. Swindon Village failed to see out 3m at Windsor last time and he is feared most now back down in distance, ahead of Ffos Las winner Bossman Jack.[Ben Hutton]

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Bobby's Nelson

The Times:

Bossman Jack

POSTDATA:

Swindon Village

Daily Mail:

Bossman Jack

D Express:

Bossman Jack

Daily Record:

Bossman Jack

The Guardian:

Swindon Village

The Sun:

Swindon Village

RP RATINGS:

Bobby's Nelson

TOPSPEED:

Bobby's Nelson

Telegraph:

Bobby's Nelson

Daily Mirror:

Bobby's Nelson

The Star:

Bobby's Nelson