January 07 / 15.08 Newcastle

15.08

Soft

At The Races App Expert Tips Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4901.4
  • 2m 4f 62y
  • Class 4
  • 7 runners
SKY
View Course
At The Races App Expert Tips Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

11/2 (Won)

  • Win: £12.10
  • Place: £4.30

Form: 46-15 D

Last run: 77 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Two-time 3m point winner (on yielding to soft and good to yielding) who won on hurdle/stable debut at Kelso (2m5f, good) in October; tailed off in hot novice at Cheltenham (3m, good) three weeks later but has had wind op since and retains potential; not ruled out in first-time tongue-tie.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

24th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 3

15:47 Perth

Serious Operator

11st 10lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

9yo who was tailed off at Kelso in February last time but that was the competitive Morebattle Hurdle over 2m; in good form over 2m4f prior to that, winning at Newcastle then second at Aintree (both good to soft); likely to be in the mix back up in trip.

7/1

13th

9

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 51y

Class 2

14:55 Kelso

Serious Operator

11st 4lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Won at Newcastle (2m4f, good to soft) in November and second to progressive winner at Aintree (2m4f, good to soft) in December; unraced over a trip this short and there's a suspicion this 9yo will be vulnerable in a race this competitive, but he's 2-3 at Kelso and is not ruled out each-way.

33/1

15/2

  • Place: £4.70

Form: 3

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Went close last May in his sole Irish maiden point (3m, good to yielding) and again showed promise when third in bumper here (2m, good to soft) last month; the step up in trip could be a plus on this hurdle debut and he might not be far away for last year's winning yard.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

12th Feb 2024

Heavy

3m 1f 71y

Class 4

14:30 Catterick

Had To Be Hugo

11st 4lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Rebecca Menzies

raced in last

11/2

0

10

26th Dec 2023

Good To Soft

3m 3f 123y

Class 3

14:57 Market Rasen

Had To Be Hugo

10st 12lb

J: David Noonan

T: Rebecca Menzies

Lightly raced; well-beaten third on his chase debut at Kelso last month (2m7f) but then stayed on well for the same placing on his return there over hurdles (both runs in cheekpieces); looks a thorough stayer who might be helped by the new visor, but lack of chasing experience is a concern.

8/1

3rd

2

29th Nov 2023

Good To Soft

3m 1f 170y

Class 4

14:10 Kelso

Had To Be Hugo

11st 9lb

J: Ross Chapman

T: Rebecca Menzies

in touch with leaders, outpaced and dropped to rear after 3 out, rallied approaching last, kept on run-in, went third inside final 110yds

3/1

Form: 3-48

Last run: 35 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Hasn't gone on from his promising debut third in bumper here (2m, AW) last February and he was tailed off on hurdle debut at Sandown (2m, soft) last month; has had wind op since and represents in-form yard, which are causes for optimism, but a major turnaround is needed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

23rd Apr 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 88y

Class 4

14:18 Southwell

Star Flyer

11st 6lb

J: James Bowen

T: Warren Greatrex

Seemingly boosted by first-time cheekpieces when winning comfortably over C&D (good to soft) in February; not quite in the same form on either subsequent appearance but still ran respectably at Plumpton last time, and the return to this track is an obvious plus.

5/1

5th

6

23rd Apr 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 88y

Class 4

14:18 Southwell

Star Flyer

11st 6lb

J: James Bowen

T: Warren Greatrex

Seemingly boosted by first-time cheekpieces when winning comfortably over C&D (good to soft) in February; not quite in the same form on either subsequent appearance but still ran respectably at Plumpton last time, and the return to this track is an obvious plus.

5/1

3rd

6

31st Mar 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 164y

Class 4

16:50 Plumpton

Star Flyer

11st 3lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Warren Greatrex

Won comfortably in the first-time cheekpieces at Southwell (2m4f, good to soft) but he ran moderately off a 9lb higher mark next time when perhaps the headgear failed to help a second time; if it was just an off-day then he might bounce back.

11/2

OUR TIP

Form: 132 D

Last run: 36 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 128

Form & Verdict
Won on debut at Aintree (2m4f, good) last May and has run well in defeat the next twice, most recently second in a Grade 2 novice at Sandown (2m4f, soft) last month; sets strong form standard under 7lb penalty.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

25th Apr 2026

Good

3m 4f 146y

Class 1

15:30 Sandown

Henrys Friend

11st 6lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

Seems best making the running or racing prominently; his six races in the last 14 months have been a mixed bag, with an Ascot win (3m, good) in November the highlight; just 1lb higher today and ran respectably on penultimate start, but his two earlier attempts at 3m6f/4m did not work out; a tongue-tie (worn twice in 2023, with a win on first occasion) returns.

16/1

9th

2

21st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Kempton

Henrys Friend

11st 8lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

Back to form when 5l behind Deep Cave last time at Ascot (3m, good to soft) but he does look vulnerable to better-treated opposition, for all that he's just 2lb higher than for November's win at Ascot; likely to race on the front end.

14/1

2

1st Nov 2025

Good

2m 7f 185y

Class 1

15:45 Ascot

Henrys Friend

11st 10lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

Record of 4-9 over fences, his best form when winning by 6l at Newbury (3m2f, good to soft; 5lb higher today); disadvantaged when slowly away (from a standing start) in the Ultima at Cheltenham and yet still made a challenge three out before fading; never got competitive in the Scottish National but he wasn't alone; a stiff 3m around here looks up his street; shortlisted.

15/2

Form: 0-525

Last run: 12 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced 5yo who has shown some promise in Ireland; improvement required to win here but his yard is in good form and he's not discounted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

5

15th May 2026

Good

2m 3f 200y

Class 3

17:45 Aintree

Bleu Denfer

11st 6lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Back from wind surgery he bumped into one well handicapped at Bangor (2m4f, good) and it was a strong race in which he struggled at Haydock; he's no forlorn hope on that penultimate effort.

25/1

9th

11

15th Apr 2026

Good

2m 3f 203y

Class 1

14:40 Haydock

Bleu Denfer

10st 7lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Back from wind surgery he bumped into one well handicapped at Bangor two weeks ago (2m4f, good); it could be a similar story here and winning this would demand a career best from him.

16/1

2nd

1

31st Mar 2026

Good

2m 4f 72y

Class 4

15:50 Bangor-on-Dee

Bleu Denfer

12st 2lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Donald McCain

Out of the handicap when a respectable fourth in a Class 2 at Musselburgh on his penultimate start (2m4f, good to soft) and has had wind surgery since finishing tailed off at Kelso; hard to dismiss.

12/1

Form: 7-P

Last run: 12 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Tailed off in sole bumper and pulled up on recent hurdle debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

7th Jan 2023

Soft

2m 4f 62y

Class 4

15:08 Newcastle

Armys Dream

11st 0lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Gillian Boanas

prominent

100/1

1

26th Dec 2022

Good To Soft

2m 0f 190y

Class 4

13:25 Newcastle

Armys Dream

11st 4lb

J: Tom Midgley

T: Gillian Boanas

Tailed off on debut (reportedly burst blood vessel) at Doncaster in March.

100/1

Form: 15-P

Last run: 9 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Has run just twice since winning on debut in Ayr bumper for Stuart Crawford in May 2021; pulled up at 150-1 on recent hurdle and stable debut at Doncaster and he's very hard to fancy on the back of that.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

16th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 210y

Class 4

16:10 Carlisle

Largy Train

11st 10lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Henry Hogarth

Completed hat-trick when winning here (2m5f, soft) in March 2024; lightly raced since and he got back on the scoresheet at Sedgefield (2m3f, good to soft) three weeks ago; he can give another good account up 4lb.

7/2

1st

2

25th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 65y

Class 5

13:40 Sedgefield

Largy Train

11st 12lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Henry Hogarth

Very lightly raced since completing a hat-trick as a novice chaser two seasons ago; his Sedgefield form (2m5f) this season has received a few boosts, and latest effort suggests this drop back in trip may prove ideal; enters calculations.

4/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £78.90
Straight Forecast £103.14
Trifecta £550.60

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Henry's Friend

RP Ratings:

Henry's Friend

TOPSPEED:

Henry's Friend

POSTDATA:

Henry's Friend

The Times:

Henry's Friend

Telegraph:

Henry's Friend

The Guardian:

Henry's Friend

Daily Mail:

Henry's Friend

D Express:

Henry's Friend

Daily Mirror:

Henry's Friend

The Sun:

Henry's Friend

The Star:

Henry's Friend

Daily Record:

Henry's Friend