15.30
Good To SoftBallymore Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) (Registered as The Hyde Novices’ Hurdle) (GBB Race)
- Prize money: £28475
- 2m 5f 0y
- Class 1
- 7 runners
Runners: 7 runners
Type: Hurdle Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Partly cloudy
7/2 (Won)
- Win: £3.25
- Place: £1.70
Form: 1
Last run: 27 days
W: 11st 2lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3 |
3rd Feb 2024 Good To Soft 2m 4f 10y Class 1 |
11st 7lb |
raced in second, chased clear leader after 6th, not fluent 8th, still plenty to do 3 out, 13 lengths down when fell 2 out |
11/10 |
|
2nd 2 |
26th Dec 2023 Good 3m 0f 0y Class 1 |
11st 7lb |
Won 2m4f Grade 1 Challow Hurdle during last year's festive period; failed to justify favouritism at the spring festivals but had wind surgery prior to his successful chase debut at Newbury (2m4f, good to soft) and that was impressive in many ways; unraced over this far under rules but with his pointing background he should stay well; still unexposed and held in the highest regard by a trainer who has won this five times. |
13/8 |
|
1st 2 |
1st Dec 2023 Good To Soft 2m 3f 187y Class 1 |
11st 4lb |
Below-par favourite in Grade 1 novice hurdles at the Cheltenham and Aintree festivals but may well benefit from the subsequent wind surgery and he starts this campaign as a major prospect for novice chases; earlier progress culminated in an easy win in the Challow here (2m4f, soft; Grade 1) and that form has worked out well; point winner; leading player. |
11/8 |
11/2
- Place: £3.30
Form: 18-513 BF
Last run: 21 days
W: 11st 2lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: 131
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
10th 18 |
9th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 2m 5f 19y Class 2 |
12st 0lb |
He's made the frame at 33-1 in the last two runnings of the Cheltenham Festival hunter chase, finishing about 8l behind Barton Snow and Its On The Line last month when third; tackles a new track today and the drop back in trip isn't an obvious positive, but he could still be an each-way contender. |
14/1 |
|
3rd 12 |
13th Mar 2026 Good 3m 2f 70y Class 2 |
12st 0lb |
2022 Champion Bumper eighth and twice placed over hurdles here when with Gordon Elliott; has done well for current team following a long absence, winning over C&D last May after his never-dangerous 13l fourth to Wonderwall in this 12 months ago; needs to get his skates on a bit earlier to improve on that placing and he was beaten by Linelee King in a recent point (after a long break); return of cheekpieces is no bad thing; seems fine on all ground. |
16/1 |
|
1st 5 |
2nd May 2025 Good 3m 2f 70y Class 4 |
11st 12lb |
prominent, disputing second from 15th, led narrowly before 2 out, ridden approaching last, kept on well final 110yds |
15/8 |
9/2
Form: 1-
Last run: 251 days
W: 11st 2lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
7th 10 |
12th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 3m 2f 70y Class 2 |
11st 6lb |
Disappointing at Leopardstown in December last time but in good form previously for new yard, finishing second in the Munster National in October (3m, yielding to soft); 13l fourth in this race last year when he'd have been closer but for a bad late mistake; each-way shout if back on song. |
16/1 |
|
11 |
19th Oct 2025 Good 3m 0f 0y |
11st 0lb |
Won a 3m Doncaster novice handicap chase in fine style for Nigel Twiston-Davies in January; second-best of the home team when fourth behind Daily Present in the Kim Muir; can be expected to improve from stable debut at Listowel; prospects of reversing form with Talk In The Park. |
8/1 |
|
3 |
27th Sep 2025 Good To Yielding 2m 6f 0y |
11st 12lb |
Won a 3m Doncaster novice handicap chase in fine style for Nigel Twiston-Davies in January; not a bad effort when last seen at Aintree in April; bought for 40,000GBP at Goffs in May; worth a market check on first start for new yard. |
12/1 |
2/1
Form: /3-213
Last run: 40 days
W: 11st 2lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5th 2 |
1st Jun 2025 Good 2m 5f 44y Class 3 |
11st 11lb |
Formerly with Willie Mullins; five starts for this yard following a long absence, easily the best when beaten 5l over nearly 3m at Musselburgh in February (good to soft); becoming hard to predict, though, and has been tailed off since (latterly tried in cheekpieces; now goes in blinkers). |
11/2 |
|
5th 2 |
1st Jun 2025 Good 2m 5f 44y Class 3 |
11st 11lb |
Formerly with Willie Mullins; five starts for this yard following a long absence, easily the best when beaten 5l over nearly 3m at Musselburgh in February (good to soft); becoming hard to predict, though, and has been tailed off since (latterly tried in cheekpieces; now goes in blinkers). |
11/2 |
|
5th 2 |
20th Apr 2025 Good 3m 1f 152y Class 3 |
11st 13lb |
led, headed 3 out |
8/1 |
9/2
Form: 2-1
Last run: 35 days
W: 11st 2lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
16 |
18th Apr 2026 Soft 3m 7f 176y Class 1 |
10st 13lb |
Won the Somerset National over an extended 3m2f at Wincanton in January 2025 and second in the Welsh National Trial at Chepstow in December this term; he also showed last season that he stays 3m4f but there have been too many disappointing shows in major long-distance handicaps for him to be greatly fancied for this one. |
50/1 |
|
4 |
14th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 4m 2f 8y Class 1 |
11st 9lb |
Has a National in the bag already having captured the Somerset version over an extended 3m2f at Wincanton 14 months ago (good to soft; fine on softer), and best run since was his second in the Welsh National Trial in December; however, his form has dipped markedly on his last two starts, and his two runs over extreme distances have ended in disappointment. |
20/1 |
|
4th 2 |
29th Jan 2026 Heavy 3m 1f 30y Class 3 |
12st 1lb |
Has contested some competitive staying chases since winning the Somerset National over 3m3f here last January and found only one too good in the Welsh National Trial in December; offered little when only 11-1 for the real thing over Christmas but capable of bouncing back from that; hasn't shone on heavy ground previously but he's effective on soft. |
5/2 |
40/1
Form: 1
Last run: 31 days
W: 11st 2lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
10 |
25th Jul 2025 Good 2m 3f 207y Class 4 |
11st 4lb |
Ran fairly well when second over hurdles at Fontwell (2m5f, good) in May, albeit no threat to winner Doc McCoy and subsequently disqualified after rider weighed in light, but was tailed off over fences last month and has become unreliable. |
20/1 |
|
4th 3 |
18th Jun 2025 Good 2m 4f 0y Class 3 |
11st 4lb |
Ran fairly well when second over hurdles at Fontwell (2m5f, good) last month, albeit no threat to winner and subsequently disqualified after rider weighed in light; reverts to chasing on a workable mark but seemingly not in peak form this year. |
6/1 |
|
1 |
25th May 2025 Good 2m 5f 164y Class 4 |
12st 2lb |
Ran well on both visits here, winning over hurdles last March and second over fences in December; however, he's been out of form elsewhere on his last three outings, back hurdling on last two, and now has tongue tied first time; not proven over this far; 10lb claimer is recruited. |
8/1 |
14/1
Form: 16/114 D
Last run: 35 days
W: 11st 2lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 128
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6th 2 |
13th Nov 2024 Good 2m 4f 100y Class 4 |
11st 13lb |
raced in second, mistake 4 out, not fluent and lost position 3 out |
12/1 |
|
6th 2 |
13th Nov 2024 Good 2m 4f 100y Class 4 |
11st 13lb |
raced in second, mistake 4 out, not fluent and lost position 3 out, no impression after 2 out |
12/1 |
|
11th 1 |
16th Oct 2024 Good To Soft 3m 0f 26y Class 4 |
12st 0lb |
Bumper/hurdle/chase winner at up to 2m6f for Dan Skelton; placed on first four starts over fences last season, but absent for over a year and changed yards since finishing a well-beaten fifth of six at Warwick in October (2m4f, good); probably best watched back over hurdles after a year off. |
14/1 |
+o+e Accumulators
| Payout | |
|---|---|
| Exacta | £16.60 |
| Straight Forecast | £21.35 |
| Trifecta | £80.40 |