November 14 / 13.10 Plumpton

13.10

Good To Soft

Download The At The Races App Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4629.1
  • 2m 4f 114y
  • Class 4
  • 12 runners
SKY
View Course
Download The At The Races App Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 12 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

25/1 (Won)

  • Win: £22.00
  • Place: £3.20

Form: 92632/

Last run: 624 days

W: 11st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Bumper winner who has place form in 2m4f/3m1f handicaps over hurdles, but he's probably vulnerable back in novice company, especially off the back of a long absence.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

4th May 2026

Good

3m 5f 24y

Class 3

16:38 Fakenham

Northern Poet

11st 4lb

J: James Davies

T: Nick Gifford

Pulled up three consecutive times after his two good-ground wins (3m/3m5f) in March 2025; back on a good mark now and was seemingly perked up by first-time visor when close fourth of six (just behind Enjoy d'Allen) at Plumpton (3m1f, good) last month but overall profile remains unconvincing.

12/1

4th

1

19th Apr 2026

Good

3m 1f 157y

Class 4

16:02 Plumpton

Northern Poet

12st 1lb

J: James Davies

T: Nick Gifford

Has five wins over fences, including over C&D, but has been pulled up on his last three starts; back on last winning mark and first-time visor now goes on but he comes with risks.

12/1

5

27th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 214y

Class 3

17:05 Doncaster

Northern Poet

11st 8lb

J: James Davies

T: Nick Gifford

Won this last year (good) and followed up at Warwick (3m5f, good) a week later; also effective on good to soft ground; pulled up on final two starts last season but can go well fresh and is not ruled out on his return.

8/1

25/1

  • Place: £2.20

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Ran a lot better in his first Irish point than the second but that initial RPR of 84 is ordinary; however, he has joined a yard that's having a fine season.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

8

6th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 29y

Class 5

15:40 Fontwell

Tea And Chats

11st 7lb

J: Freddie Gordon

T: Chris Gordon

in touch with leaders

14/1

4th

3

15th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 82y

Class 5

13:03 Wincanton

Tea And Chats

11st 8lb

J: Freddie Gordon

T: Chris Gordon

always behind

8/1

6th

8

21st Apr 2024

Good

2m 3f 179y

Class 5

13:22 Wincanton

Tea And Chats

11st 9lb

J: Sgt Nathan Rahman

T: Chris Gordon

Twice placed over hurdles but needs to get back on song as he was disappointing on his chase debut before finishing a remote second back hurdling in a Fontwell maiden; good ground is an unknown.

16/1

9/2

  • Place: £1.50

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
The form of his Irish point win (3m, soft) in April looks all the better now with the second having done particularly well in bumpers; stable buoyed by a winner at Cheltenham on Saturday and he could be interesting.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

4th Nov 2024

Good

3m 1f 152y

Class 3

14:30 Plumpton

Scamallach Liath

11st 13lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

Started off for Harry Derham with two good hurdle runs (the first a 3m win) towards end of last year and was very respectable sixth in valuable handicap on latest outing in February; has an Irish point win on his CV and looks a very interesting recruit to chasing.

10/11

3

4th Nov 2024

Good

3m 1f 152y

Class 3

14:30 Plumpton

Scamallach Liath

11st 13lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

Started off for Harry Derham with two good hurdle runs (the first a 3m win) towards end of last year and was very respectable sixth in valuable handicap on latest outing in February; has an Irish point win on his CV and looks a very interesting recruit to chasing.

10/11

7th

13

3rd Feb 2024

Soft

2m 7f 98y

Class 1

15:10 Sandown

Scamallach Liath

10st 8lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

Progressive 2212 record in handicap hurdles; scored in gritty fashion at Ascot (nearly 3m1f) in November and put up another most tenacious performance when beaten a head, having made most, over an extended 2m7f there (again on good; probably acts on soft) one month later; up another 5lb but surely won't go down without a fight.

7/1

8/11

Form: 903101

Last run: 34 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 127

Form & Verdict
Irish challenger who has won two of his last three starts, both of them good-ground handicaps at 2m5f and 2m7f; did it comfortably the last time and the runner-up has been placed again since; has the penalties but Philip Byrnes takes off 5lb and he's a key player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

1st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 7f 76y

Class 2

15:05 Musselburgh

Grozni

11st 3lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Sandy Thomson

With James Owen for 18 months (Scottish National fourth in April) before joining this yard; Borders National win at Kelso (4m, soft) in December was his best form for nearly two years and he kept jumping to his right, so reverting to a right-handed track today may well help; back up 5lb but shortlisted.

9/2

5th

7

25th Oct 2025

Good

3m 2f 39y

Class 2

15:55 Kelso

Grozni

10st 6lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Sandy Thomson

Only 1-10 (hurdles win) during his spell with James Owen but ran respectably in the Scottish National on last appearance; sold for £24,000 since; headgear removed; heed the market signals.

10/1

4th

18

12th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 7f 176y

Class 1

15:35 Ayr

Grozni

10st 5lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: James Owen

Won over hurdles in December in a first-time visor, which he also wore next time and returns today; well held with first-time blinkers in the Kim Muir at Cheltenham one month ago, taking sixth in that 3m2f race for the second year running; new trip but he's not persuasive.

50/1

Form: 7/

Last run: 702 days

W: 11st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Convincing Irish point winner on soft to heavy and he was highly tried on his hurdling debut nearly two years ago; remains unexposed but he's best watched after 702 days away.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

14th Nov 2022

Good To Soft

2m 4f 114y

Class 4

13:10 Plumpton

Promising Milan

11st 0lb

J: Robert Dunne

T: Syd Hosie

Convincing Irish point winner on soft to heavy and he was highly tried on his hurdling debut nearly two years ago; remains unexposed but he's best watched after 702 days away.

16/1

Form: 25

Last run: 20 days

W: 10st 13lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Two runs in bumpers, proving no match for the winner at Ffos Las and then a 14l fifth at Bangor; others have shown more.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

19th Nov 2024

Good

1m 7f 207y

Class 5

15:15 Carlisle

Titanium Bullet

10st 8lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Joanne Foster

prominent, pressed leader before 4 out, weakened after 3 out, pulled up before last

25/1

9

19th Nov 2024

Good

1m 7f 207y

Class 5

15:15 Carlisle

Titanium Bullet

10st 8lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Joanne Foster

prominent, pressed leader before 4 out, weakened after 3 out, pulled up before last

25/1

6th

7

1st Nov 2024

Good

2m 5f 56y

Class 4

15:35 Wetherby

Titanium Bullet

11st 2lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Joanne Foster

raced in second, weakened 3 out

20/1

Form: 6-

Last run: 210 days

W: 10st 13lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Never dangerous in his bumper (Chepstow) but the stable has a modest strike-rate in that scene and he can be expected to improve now hurdling.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

27th May 2026

Good

3m 2f 105y

Class 4

17:30 Newton Abbot

Belgarum

11st 3lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Joe Tizzard

Pulled up in his final two runs last year but he returned after wind surgery with a front-running win at Fontwell (2m3f, good; 22-1) this month; this is a different test but he won over fences here (3m2f) last spring and 3lb rise for that last success looks fair; respected.

4/1

1st

6

14th May 2026

Good

2m 3f 29y

Class 4

18:10 Fontwell

Belgarum

11st 7lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Joe Tizzard

Four-time chase winner who was out of sorts when last seen in the autumn, most recently when pulled up on return to hurdling; had another wind op (his fourth) during 168-day break; needs to get career back on track.

16/1

Form: 6

Last run: 10 days

W: 11st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
0-6 in points and well beaten when he completed; didn't show a lot on his switch to hurdling at Fontwell (2m1f, soft; 40-1) and is readily passed over in first-time headgear.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

9

4th Nov 2022

Good To Soft

2m 1f 162y

Class 4

14:05 Fontwell

Wang Dang Doodle

11st 4lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Jim & Suzi Best

0-6 in points and was beaten 23l or more in his completed starts in that sphere; returns form 530 days off and can only be watched on his rules debut.

100/1

100/30

Form: 2

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Placed in two of his seven Irish points and then bought for £38,000; no match for a smart novice over C&D two weeks ago but he was clear of the rest in a well strung-out field; thereabouts.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

18th Feb 2026

2m 4f 88y

Class 5

16:25 Southwell

Heaven Smart

11st 13lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: L J Morgan

In good form over fences in the autumn, bar a blip at Perth in October; 0-11 over hurdles but twice finished second in this sphere and often runs well after a break; entitled to respect.

9/2

1

21st Oct 2025

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 5

15:35 Perth

Heaven Smart

12st 0lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: L J Morgan

Showed the benefit of a wind op when dominating from the front here (2m4f, good) last month, his second start for Laura Morgan, and ran big race in defeat under penalty at Southwell (2m4f, good) a few days later; effectively another 5lb higher today but sure to be suited by the move back up in trip; good chance.

7/4

1

2nd Oct 2025

Good

2m 4f 88y

Class 5

15:05 Southwell

Heaven Smart

12st 2lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: L J Morgan

All-the-way Kempton 3m winner in early 2024 and, with stamina to spare at intermediate trips and the benefit of wind surgery, was played equally aggressively in victory at Perth last week (good); 2lb badly in under the penalty but still superbly handicapped on that previous winning form.

9/4

Form: 7-79

Last run: 68 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
150-1 and cheekpieces on when never-dangerous ninth of 12 on hurdling debut at Uttoxeter (2m4f, good) in September; needs to take a big step forward.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

5

10th Oct 2023

Good

2m 7f 129y

Class 5

16:20 Huntingdon

Claude Almighty

11st 2lb

J: Tabitha Worsley

T: Jo Davis

Well beaten in first-time blinkers on handicap hurdle debut four weeks ago (2m4f); moves back up in trip with cheekpieces refitted for this chasing debut; others have much more obvious claims.

33/1

0

7

12th Sep 2023

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

15:00 Worcester

Claude Almighty

10st 4lb

J: Tabitha Worsley

T: Jo Davis

Low-level form thus far but always a chance that blinkers will trigger something now into handicaps.

33/1

OUR TIP

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Modest on the Flat and a transformation is required on hurdle debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

14th Nov 2022

Good To Soft

2m 4f 114y

Class 4

13:10 Plumpton

El Paco

11st 0lb

J: Niall Houlihan

T: Richard Rowe

Modest on the Flat and a transformation is required on hurdle debut.

100/1

5

6th Nov 2022

Soft

1m 7f 216y

Class 4

15:00 Sandown

El Paco

11st 4lb

J: James Davies

T: Richard Rowe

Form: 9-P

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Won five on the Flat but jumping doesn't come easy to him and he lacked fluency before pulling up here two weeks ago.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

9

(2)

18th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 68y

Class 6

14:50 Lingfield

Smith

8st 9lb

J: Jack Dace

T: Lydia Richards

Seven wins over 2m on the AW here; getting on and lacks consisency now; hard to recommend having twice been pulled up over hurdles latterly.

16/1

7

5th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 116y

Class 5

17:10 Plumpton

Smith

10st 2lb

J: Marc Goldstein

T: Lydia Richards

Had lots of Flat racing and won eight times; has yet to offer a great deal over jumps (0-7) but soft ground was no good to him here last time; others are still far more convincing.

40/1

5

23rd Feb 2026

Soft

3m 0f 217y

Class 5

15:45 Plumpton

Smith

10st 12lb

J: Marc Goldstein

T: Lydia Richards

Eight-time Flat winner (1m2f-2m) who has yet to make a similar impact over hurdles and hasn't been seen in this sphere since pulling up over 2m4f here last April; others make more obvious appeal.

16/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £177.40
Straight Forecast £162.96
Trifecta £1167.10

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Grozni

WEST COUNTRY:

Belgarum

RP Ratings:

Grozni

TOPSPEED:

Grozni

POSTDATA:

Grozni

The Times:

Grozni

Telegraph:

Grozni

The Guardian:

Grozni

Daily Mail:

Grozni

D Express:

Grozni

Daily Mirror:

Grozni

The Sun:

Grozni

The Star:

Grozni

Daily Record:

Grozni