March 14 / 13.50 Sedgefield

13.50

Soft

Le Raaj Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4752.9
  • 2m 0f 178y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
SKY
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Le Raaj Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

OUR TIP

4/1 (Won)

  • Win: £15.00
  • Place: £2.20

Form: 8

Last run: 74 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Winning Irish pointer (3m, soft) who was well beaten in a bumper on stable debut in December; has had wind surgery since and a tongue-tie is now tried; should fare better.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

26th Aug 2024

Soft

2m 1f 61y

Class 4

17:50 Cartmel

Forcing Bull

12st 2lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

Made a winning chasing debut at Uttoxeter (2m4f, soft) last month when racing prominently throughout; up 4lb, he was unable to lead when below form over C&D (soft) 13 days later; races off the same mark and may be able to dominate here.

7/2

5th

3

22nd Jul 2024

Good

2m 1f 61y

Class 3

15:55 Cartmel

Forcing Bull

11st 1lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

prominent

100/30

1st

7

9th Jul 2024

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

17:35 Uttoxeter

Forcing Bull

11st 4lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

The winner of two soft-ground hurdles but his recent efforts in that discipline weren't his best; goes chasing with a bit to prove, though pointing background bodes well.

12/1

4/6

  • Place: £1.02

Form: -22321

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Has run well on all four starts over hurdles, last time running out an easy winner at Catterick (1m7f, good); looks the one to beat.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

13th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 0f 51y

Class 4

14:30 Kelso

Chase A Fortune

11st 11lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Chris Grant

Won in first-time cheekpieces (retained since) at Wetherby (2m, soft) in December and has continued in good form, finishing second on his last two starts (1m7f/2m1f, good to soft); very solid claims.

4/1

2nd

2

25th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 178y

Class 4

15:10 Sedgefield

Chase A Fortune

11st 13lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Chris Grant

Record of 212 since switched back to hurdles from chasing, the win at Wetherby (2m, soft) in first-time cheekpieces; Musselburgh effort (1m7f, good to soft) last time resulted in a career-best RPR; should go well in the retained headgear.

11/2

1

25th Oct 2025

Good

2m 1f 14y

Class 5

14:45 Kelso

Chase A Fortune

12st 0lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Chris Grant

Both his wins have been over 1m7f at Catterick, the latest off this mark in February 2024 (soft); several fair efforts since, including after a 325-day break last time; each-way chance.

11/2

66/1

  • Place: £7.60

Form: 50

Last run: 33 days

W: 10st 9lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Won over 8.5f on the Flat for Richard Fahey but well beaten both starts over hurdles and has his stamina to prove; has had wind op since last time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

8th Nov 2024

Good

2m 0f 48y

Class 5

15:20 Hexham

Grifter

10st 10lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jennie Candlish

in rear, pulled up quickly before 3 out

8/1

6

8th Nov 2024

Good

2m 0f 48y

Class 5

15:20 Hexham

Grifter

10st 10lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jennie Candlish

in rear, pulled up quickly before 3 out

8/1

11th

12

31st Oct 2024

Good

2m 0f 190y

Class 5

15:15 Newcastle

Grifter

10st 7lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jennie Candlish

Has improved over hurdles this season, finishing third in a novice handicap at Bangor (2m, good) and second in a similar event at Perth (2m, good) last month; contender.

5/1

Form: 5/2515 D

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Ex-French; won an AQPS bumper in November but only fifth of six at Wetherby on hurdles/stable debut (2m3f, good); improvement likely.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

19th Feb 2026

2m 5f 28y

Class 5

16:17 Sedgefield

Halpha Soleil

12st 0lb

J: Joshua Thompson

T: Micky Hammond

Yet to win over fences; fair run having had a wind op at Doncaster last time (3m, soft) and could go well off his current good mark.

3/1

3rd

5

5th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 214y

Class 4

15:00 Doncaster

Halpha Soleil

11st 2lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Micky Hammond

Runner-up at Hexham (2m4f, good to soft) last May and runs off 8lb lower today; however, he struggled on his four starts towards the end of last year; major turnaround required on first run since wind surgery.

11/1

8th

11

2nd Nov 2025

Good

2m 4f 198y

Class 3

12:32 Carlisle

Halpha Soleil

10st 5lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Micky Hammond

Stuck to his task very well when second at Hexham (2m4f, good to soft) in May but that took his record over fences to 0-7 and he may find this race too competitive; returns without the cheekpieces worn in his three previous races.

14/1

Form: P

Last run: 101 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Modest Flat performer who was pulled up when a 300-1 shot on hurdles debut; others stronger.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

8

(8)

6th Aug 2024

Good To Firm

1m 7f 189y

Class 6

15:25 Catterick

Third Avenue

8st 9lb

J: Mark Winn

T: Andrew Crook

A couple of fair efforts on AW in early 2023 but form went the wrong way subsequently; tailed off at Pontefract in June after an absence.

40/1

13th

13

(3)

10th Jun 2024

Good To Firm

2m 1f 27y

Class 6

20:00 Pontefract

Third Avenue

8st 9lb

J: William Pyle

T: Andrew Crook

Nearly three years since Irish win; far from solid on his form for current yard and lacks recent match practice (absent for eight months).

50/1

9th

7

(6)

9th Oct 2023

Standard

1m 5f 219y

Class 6

18:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Third Avenue

9st 3lb

J: Josephine Gordon

T: Andrew Crook

Has generally struggled since a couple of absences and this summer's work was poor under both codes; would be a surprise winner.

33/1

Form: 09

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Well beaten at long odds in two bumpers and needs to show marked improvement on this switch to hurdling.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

5

22nd Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 210y

Class 2

16:27 Carlisle

Heeztheboy

11st 4lb

J: Jack Hogan

T: Gary Hanmer

Progressive for new stable, winning four times, until form dipped sharply in last two outings; has seemingly gone off the boil and may be in the assessor's grip now to boot.

16/1

3

24th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 54y

Class 4

16:00 Catterick

Heeztheboy

11st 7lb

J: Jack Hogan

T: Gary Hanmer

Tailed off at Leicester (2m6f, good to soft) last month but highly progressive for new yard previously, winning four times (2m4f/3m, good to soft/heavy); no surprise if he bounces back with a big performance.

13/2

Form: P-4

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Winner three times over 1m4f on the AW on the Flat, but hasn't shown the same level of form over hurdles.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

1

(3)

4th Oct 2025

Standard

1m 4f 98y

Class 6

17:45 Newcastle (AW)

Percy Willis

10st 1lb

J: Jack Garritty

T: Jedd O’Keeffe

All six wins have been on Tapeta, including three over C&D; well treated on his best form last year and he went close off this mark over C&D (Rubellite third) last Thursday; that was his second run after a break and he's a big player if he can repeat that form.

9/2

2nd

3

(7)

25th Sep 2025

Standard

1m 4f 98y

Class 6

17:30 Newcastle (AW)

Percy Willis

10st 1lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Jedd O’Keeffe

Three C&D wins to his name; should be sharper for his recent return to action and he'll appreciate both dropping into Class 6 and returning to a longer trip; one to consider.

100/30

4th

8

(1)

8th Sep 2025

Standard To Slow

1m 2f 42y

Class 5

16:39 Newcastle (AW)

Percy Willis

8st 13lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Jedd O’Keeffe

2lb below last winning mark and although not seen in six months, has won after a similar absence; has run well in all four starts over C&D, but all six wins have come over 1m4f (three here) so he wouldn't want a dawdle over this trip.

14/1

Form:

Last run: 77 days

W: 10st 12lb

6 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Placed in four of her six runs pointing in Ireland; well beaten 50-1 shot in a Wetherby bumper in December (pulled hard) on stable debut; tongue tie now tried for hurdles debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

2

31st Mar 2023

Soft

2m 5f 56y

Class 4

13:40 Wetherby

Blooming Fortune

11st 6lb

J: Emma Smith-Chaston

T: Paula Smith

Three-time point runner-up but tailed off at big odds on both rules starts, more recently her hurdle debut at Sedgefield.

200/1

8th

7

14th Mar 2023

Soft

2m 0f 178y

Class 4

13:50 Sedgefield

Blooming Fortune

10st 12lb

J: Emma Smith-Chaston

T: Paula Smith

Placed in four of her six runs pointing in Ireland; well beaten 50-1 shot in a Wetherby bumper in December (pulled hard) on stable debut; tongue tie now tried for hurdles debut.

66/1

3

23rd Feb 2023

Good

2m 3f 188y

Class 4

13:00 Sedgefield

Blooming Fortune

11st 5lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Paula Smith

Placed on four of five Irish pointing completions in early 2022, but 80l bumper defeat on seasonal/stable debut over Christmas (wouldn't settle) needs improving upon markedly; hood retained.

100/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £24.10
Straight Forecast £21.00
Trifecta £524.10

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Chase A Fortune

The Star:

Forcing Bull

RP Ratings:

Chase A Fortune

POSTDATA:

Chase A Fortune

The Times:

Chase A Fortune

Telegraph:

Chase A Fortune

The Guardian:

Chase A Fortune

Daily Mail:

Chase A Fortune

D Express:

Chase A Fortune

Daily Mirror:

Chase A Fortune

The Sun:

Chase A Fortune

Daily Record:

Chase A Fortune