March 14 / 15.53 Kempton

15.53

Good

Virgin Bet Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £5446
  • 2m 5f 0y
  • Class 4
  • 5 runners
RTV
View Course
Virgin Bet Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

9/2 (Won)

  • Win: £4.50
  • Place: £2.00

Form: 6-3134

Last run: 37 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
Fair level of form at about 2m4f over hurdles, winning a maiden at Windsor (good to soft) in November; well-fourth in Huntingdon Listed race latest but should be much more competitive with his sights lowered.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

14th Mar 2026

Good

2m 5f 0y

Class 4

15:53 Kempton

Tiddesley Wood

11st 7lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Fergal O’Brien

Fair level of form at about 2m4f over hurdles, winning a maiden at Windsor (good to soft) in November; well-fourth in Huntingdon Listed race latest but should be much more competitive with his sights lowered.

9/2

4th

5

5th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 3f 137y

Class 1

15:10 Huntingdon

Tiddesley Wood

11st 5lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Fergal O’Brien

Unraced on soft/heavy; fair level of form at about 2m4f over hurdles, with win at Windsor flanked by third-place finishes; has something to find upped in grade but ticks one significant box, being the only runner who is already proven over this sort of distance under rules.

20/1

5/2

  • Place: £1.70

Form: 3-3154 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 127

Form & Verdict
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.
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: 1F

Last run: 104 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Irish point winner who rewarded strong market support with 12l win on hurdle debut at Uttoxeter (2m4f, good to soft; made all) in October; fading in second when falling at the last at Leicester (extended 2m4f, soft) the following month but it was behind a useful sort; has had wind surgery ahead of this first start for 104 days; can go well.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

21st Apr 2026

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

16:38 Ffos Las

Home Made Hero

11st 12lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls

Drew 12l clear to make winning rules debut at Uttoxeter (2m4f, good to soft) in October and also ran well on next two outings, albeit a late faller on first occasion; might have to settle for a minor role in this deep race, though.

9/1

3rd

2

14th Mar 2026

Good

2m 5f 0y

Class 4

15:53 Kempton

Home Made Hero

11st 7lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls

Irish point winner who rewarded strong market support with 12l win on hurdle debut at Uttoxeter (2m4f, good to soft; made all) in October; fading in second when falling at the last at Leicester (extended 2m4f, soft) the following month but it was behind a useful sort; has had wind surgery ahead of this first start for 104 days; can go well.

11/4

1st

3

31st Oct 2025

Good

2m 3f 207y

Class 4

13:55 Uttoxeter

Home Made Hero

11st 0lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls

Off the mark in Irish points at third attempt, with soft-ground win last November, and subsequently changed hands for £80,000; no surprise if he poses a potent threat on this rules debut.

5/1

Form: 6/PP

Last run: 85 days

W: 11st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Pulled up in two maiden hurdles since returning from lengthy layoff; big outsider.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

14th Mar 2026

Good

2m 5f 0y

Class 4

15:53 Kempton

Fury Lad

11st 0lb

J: Tabitha Worsley

T: Richard Rowe

Pulled up in two maiden hurdles since returning from lengthy layoff; big outsider.

100/1

6th

3

11th Apr 2024

Soft

2m 0f 104y

Class 5

17:35 Taunton

Fury Lad

11st 4lb

J: James Davies

T: Richard Rowe

Bought for £45,000 after going close in his second Irish point and the winner went in again next time; warrants a market check.

12/1

OUR TIP

Form: 21

Last run: 94 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
3m Irish point winner who was beaten at short odds on his Ascot hurdle debut but made no mistake at Hereford (2m, good to soft) in December; that form has worked out quite well and there's almost certainly more to come, particularly over this sort of trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

14th Mar 2026

Good

2m 5f 0y

Class 4

15:53 Kempton

Soomaroy

11st 7lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

3m Irish point winner who was beaten at short odds on his Ascot hurdle debut but made no mistake at Hereford (2m, good to soft) in December; that form has worked out quite well and there's almost certainly more to come, particularly over this sort of trip.

13/8

2nd

6

1st Nov 2025

Good

1m 7f 157y

Class 3

14:35 Ascot

Soomaroy

11st 0lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

42,000euros 3yo; second foal; half-brother to a French 1m3f/1m4f winner; dam French 1m2f winner, half-sister to French 5.5f-1m Flat and prolific 2m1f-2m6f hurdle/chase winner The Stomp; joint-favourite when 4l winner of an Irish maiden point (3m, good to yielding) in March; fetched £190,000 in April and very much one to note for trainer with fine record in this race.

10/11

2nd

6

1st Nov 2025

Good

1m 7f 157y

Class 3

14:35 Ascot

Soomaroy

11st 0lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

42,000euros 3yo; second foal; half-brother to a French 1m3f/1m4f winner; dam French 1m2f winner, half-sister to French 5.5f-1m Flat and prolific 2m1f-2m6f hurdle/chase winner The Stomp; joint-favourite when 4l winner of an Irish maiden point (3m, good to yielding) in March; fetched £190,000 in April and very much one to note for trainer with fine record in this race.

10/11

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £11.60
Straight Forecast £14.41
Trifecta £26.60

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Soomaroy

RP RATINGS:

Etna Bianco

TOPSPEED:

Etna Bianco

POSTDATA:

Etna Bianco

Telegraph:

Etna Bianco

Daily Mirror:

Etna Bianco

LAMBOURN:

Soomaroy

The Times:

Soomaroy

The Guardian:

Soomaroy

Daily Mail:

Soomaroy

D Express:

Soomaroy

The Sun:

Soomaroy

The Star:

Soomaroy

Daily Record:

Soomaroy