13.00
Softstarsports.bet Novices’ Hurdle (Novices’ Championship Hurdle Series Qualifier) (GBB Race)
- Prize money: £4752.9
- 2m 2f 140y
- Class 4
- 11 runners
Runners: 11 runners
Type: Hurdle Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Partly cloudy
Abandoned
Form: —
Last run: —
W: 11st 5lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5th 6 (8) |
15th May 2026 Good 1m 4f 0y Class 3 |
9st 8lb |
Exposed 8yo but he's still capable of useful form and scored at Kempton (1m4f, AW) last March; also won over 1m6f on the July course (good to firm; first-time blinkers) in August; returns on a stiff-enough mark with no headgear but they might go a solid gallop which can help. |
14/1 |
|
4 |
1st Oct 2025 Good 2m 5f 5y Class 3 |
11st 6lb |
Recently won on the Flat in first-time blinkers and then ran respectably in a valuable handicap at Doncaster; returns to hurdling in fair form and he's on a handy mark. |
7/2 |
|
6th 9 (1) |
12th Sep 2025 Good To Soft 1m 6f 115y Class 2 |
8st 13lb |
53 races already (17 over hurdles) and six wins before he made his first appearance over 1m6f three weeks ago, winning it in good style in first-time blinkers at Newmarket (good to firm; acts on soft); only five ran in that race and he's gone back up 5lb but it could be argued that he's not fully exposed either in blinkers or at this sort of trip. |
16/1 |
Abandoned
Form: —
Last run: —
W: 11st 5lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 8 (5) |
15th Oct 2023 Soft 2m 0f 0y Class 4 |
11st 6lb |
prominent, led narrowly 2f out, soon ridden and faced challenge, kept on well inside final furlong |
10/1 |
|
5th 2 |
3rd Oct 2023 Good 2m 4f 88y Class 4 |
11st 10lb |
Fairly useful Flat stayer who opened hurdling account in Worcester maiden (2m, good; first-time hood) in June; safely held when upped to 2m4f for handicap debut there in August, though, and needs subsequent wind op to have made a difference. |
20/1 |
Abandoned
Form: —
Last run: —
W: 11st 5lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
12th 11 (13) |
31st Mar 2023 Standard 2m 0f 102y Class 6 |
9st 0lb |
took keen hold, in touch with leaders |
50/1 |
|
6th 3 (4) |
4th Mar 2023 Standard 1m 4f 0y Class 6 |
9st 3lb |
It's been a struggle for current yard and although this exposed maiden may appreciate the return to the Flat, he can't be recommended. |
50/1 |
|
11th 1 |
27th Feb 2023 Good 1m 7f 195y Class 4 |
11st 7lb |
took keen hold, in touch with leaders, shaken up and lost ground from 6th, soon got behind and beaten |
100/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 4
Last run: 13 days
W: 11st 5lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 2 (4) |
9th Aug 2023 Good To Soft 2m 1f 27y Class 4 |
10st 1lb |
Comes alive at Pontefract and was gaining his fifth course win from seven goes when gamely scoring over 1m4f in June; not disgraced at Haydock last time; stays 2m and will probably see out this slightly longer distance; seems equally effective on good to firm and good to soft; solid contender. |
100/30 |
|
5th 6 (7) |
21st Jul 2023 Soft 1m 6f 0y Class 4 |
9st 0lb |
Took Pontefract record to 5-7 (4-6 over 1m4f) ten days ago, as with the other wins gained on quicker ground than awaits here; penalty which obliges him to race off his highest ever mark is more of a concern. |
6/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 13-0
Last run: 12 days
W: 11st 5lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 5 |
22nd May 2026 Good 2m 4f 0y Class 5 |
11st 9lb |
Well handicapped on old form for David Bridgwater but he returned for new yard after a mammoth absence with a well-held eighth at Stratford (2m2f, good) last month; shaped as though he needed that run but this looks a tough assignment against some improvers and he's probably best watched; cheekpieces (tried once in 2023) are reapplied. |
20/1 |
|
8th 11 |
19th Apr 2026 Good 2m 2f 148y Class 5 |
11st 10lb |
Well handicapped on old form for David Bridgwater but absent since two disappointing runs in November 2023; considered only if lively in the betting before this stable debut; had wind op in 2024. |
14/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 798
Last run: 10 days
W: 11st 5lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
7 |
15th Apr 2023 Soft 2m 3f 100y Class 5 |
11st 2lb |
Displayed first glimmer of promise over hurdles when plugging on for modest fourth in 2m Southwell maiden in January; probably needs to improve again on today's handicap debut but is with a top stable and can't be ignored. |
7/1 |
|
4th 5 |
29th Jan 2023 Good 1m 7f 182y Class 4 |
11st 2lb |
Uncompetitive in a bumper and two hurdles; looks the stable's third string. |
33/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 0P
Last run: 18 days
W: 11st 5lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4 |
1st Jun 2025 Good 2m 7f 95y Class 5 |
10st 8lb |
Runner-up over C&D (good) off 2lb higher in February and reverts to hurdling after two respectable chase runs this spring; probably won't be far away but overall strike-rate now stands at 0-18 and others in this line-up appeal more. |
10/1 |
|
4 |
1st Jun 2025 Good 2m 7f 95y Class 5 |
10st 8lb |
Runner-up over C&D (good) off 2lb higher in February and reverts to hurdling after two respectable chase runs this spring; probably won't be far away but overall strike-rate now stands at 0-18 and others in this line-up appeal more. |
10/1 |
|
4th 6 |
7th May 2025 Good 3m 1f 210y Class 5 |
10st 2lb |
Maiden hurdler; beaten about 10l and 14l in his two chases, latterly a never-dangerous third at Huntingdon when behind Getupearly; opposable. |
11/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 321-32
Last run: 25 days
W: 11st 5lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 116
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6th 2 |
15th May 2026 Good 2m 4f 0y Class 3 |
11st 11lb |
It's been a struggle in some competitive handicaps but he ran well enough here at the National meeting (behind Ike Sport) to merit some attention; others still preferred. |
16/1 |
|
11th 2 |
10th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 2m 4f 0y Class 1 |
11st 12lb |
Landed a notable handicap at Chepstow (2m3f, good; off just 1lb lower) in the autumn; not in anything like the same form since, always behind at the Cheltenham Festival (2m5f) most recently; other preferred. |
66/1 |
|
19th 17 |
11th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 2m 5f 0y Class 1 |
10st 13lb |
Landed a notable prize at Chepstow (near 2m4f, good; 3lb higher today) in October but failed to show his form in his three starts since; Sean Bowen rides him for the first time since Chepstow; he'd still be a surprise winner. |
50/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 32-03
Last run: 21 days
W: 11st 5lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3 |
13th Feb 2025 Soft 3m 0f 37y Class 3 |
12st 5lb |
9yo who is lightly raced for his age and made it four wins from his last five starts, and 2-3 over fences, when scoring at Uttoxeter (3m, soft) in November; has a progressive profile and could play another leading role. |
2/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 22
Last run: 29 days
W: 11st 5lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 116
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
7th 12 |
11th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 3m 0f 210y Class 1 |
11st 6lb |
1-6 over fences, the success at Aintree (2m4f) on seasonal debut; seemed a non-stayer in the Welsh National before eventually falling, then ran below form at Cheltenham (2m4f); return to this venue may have a positive effect but he ideally needs assistance from the weather, having gained all wins on soft ground. |
20/1 |
|
7th 5 |
24th Jan 2026 Soft 2m 4f 127y Class 1 |
11st 0lb |
Made much of the running when winning in dominant style at Aintree (2m4f, soft) in December; beaten when falling late on in the Welsh National three weeks later, lack of stamina a possible factor; back to a more suitable trip here but now off a career-high mark and others appeal more. |
9/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 986
Last run: 40 days
W: 10st 12lb
5 yo Filly
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 3 |
10th Apr 2025 Good 2m 0f 8y Class 5 |
11st 12lb |
Two good runs this winter, winning a novice handicap chase at Market Rasen (2m1f, soft; 8lb higher today) on second occasion; however, she made a bad mistake when tailed-off favourite next time and bled from the nose when pulled up on latest, so there are very mixed messages. |
8/1 |
|
3 |
10th Apr 2025 Good 2m 0f 8y Class 5 |
11st 12lb |
Two good runs this winter, winning a novice handicap chase at Market Rasen (2m1f, soft; 8lb higher today) on second occasion; however, she made a bad mistake when tailed-off favourite next time and bled from the nose when pulled up on latest, so there are very mixed messages. |
8/1 |
|
4 |
25th Feb 2025 Good To Soft 1m 7f 145y Class 5 |
11st 5lb |
in touch with leaders, outpaced and dropped to rear 9th |
4/1 |
Verdict
Having finished a solid second on both starts, UNCLE BERT looks capable of going one better. Rambo T (second choice) and Roccovango are the chief threats on hurdles form.[Steve Boow]