April 25 / 13.40 Ffos Las

13.40

Good To Soft

Cazoo Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4520.18
  • 1m 7f 182y
  • Class 4
  • 10 runners
SKY
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Cazoo Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 10 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

7/1 (Won)

  • Win: £3.75
  • Place: £1.30

Form: 661P37

Last run: 44 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Caused a 20-1 surprise when winning at Carlisle (2m3f, soft) last November, and did okay (third) back there on that same sharp inner hurdles track penultimate; substandard in first-time cheekpieces (retained) latest; a possible contender under a 7lb penalty.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

14th Apr 2026

Good

2m 7f 191y

Class 4

13:35 Market Rasen

Knockanore

11st 9lb

J: Mr Lucas Murphy

T: Ryan Potter

Generally very disappointing since winning last season's Eider Chase at Newcastle (4m1f, good to soft) by 16l but took small step back in right direction when fourth over hurdles last month (wore first-time blinkers) and is too well handicapped to rule out on this return to chasing; usual cheekpieces back on.

7/1

4th

2

18th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 119y

Class 4

14:30 Hereford

Knockanore

11st 10lb

J: Freddie Mitchell

T: Ryan Potter

Hasn't run a race of note since winning last season's 4m1f Eider Chase at Newcastle, in which his struggles continued last time out (tailed off or pulled up over hurdles prior to that); too well handicapped to rule out and blinkers go on for cheekpieces.

12/1

7th

10

21st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

4m 1f 56y

Class 2

14:43 Newcastle

Knockanore

10st 2lb

J: Freddie Mitchell

T: Ryan Potter

Stormed clear for a 16l win under Freddie Mitchell in this race last year, form which has not been seen from him before or since but his last three outings were over hurdles; 11lb higher (10lb out of the handicap) than 12 months ago but well treated if he returns to that peak form and stranger things have happened.

11/1

OUR TIP

2/1

  • Place: £1.10

Form: 315452

Last run: 38 days

W: 11st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Hooded for the first time when taking a juvenile maiden at Fontwell (2m1f, good to soft) on Boxing Day; consistent in the same headgear since, albeit without showing marked improvement, but must enter the reckoning on the strength of a respectable run in a Class 4 handicap last time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

7

2nd Dec 2023

Soft

2m 0f 145y

Class 4

13:11 Bangor-on-Dee

Polyphonic

11st 6lb

J: Mr Alex Chadwick

T: James Owen

Won Fontwell maiden (2m1f, good to soft) for Milton Harris last December but he has a mixed record since; wasn't beaten far when third of five at Uttoxeter two weeks ago but he's now 1-11 over hurdles and others are more convincing.

14/1

6/1

  • Place: £1.50

Form: 4

Last run: 37 days

W: 11st 3lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
25,000euros foal, £30,000 3yo; stayed on from off the pace when a well-held fourth of 12 at Chepstow (2m bumper, soft; 20-1) last month; may fare better for the switch to hurdling, but it should be noted that his dam was most proficient over 2m4f-2m5f; early days.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

15

1st May 2026

Yielding

2m 4f 55y

17:25 Punchestown

Norn Iron

11st 1lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

British runner; hurdles winner is now rated 22lb higher over fences after back-to-back wins on soft ground over 2m4f at Sandown; decisive victor of five-runner contest in January and justified 4-6 odds last month when seeing off two rivals; this big field is new for him, but he's in fine form.

14/1

1st

2

7th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 15y

Class 3

16:45 Sandown

Norn Iron

11st 11lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

Things clicked when he went up in trip over C&D (soft) in January in a first-time tongue-tie (retained) on his third chase start, and he won in decisive fashion from one who scored next time; 8lb rise might not stop him.

11/10

1st

4

31st Jan 2026

Soft

2m 4f 15y

Class 3

13:25 Sandown

Norn Iron

11st 1lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Harry Derham

Has proved expensive to follow, aside from one win (over hurdles); however, campaigned mostly at 2m and may improve for this step back up in distance, combined with fitting of tongue-tie, in third chase attempt.

3/1

Form: 13-27P

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 3lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
French bumper winner (1m4f, heavy) in December 2021; moved on for 40,000euros last summer, but hasn't offered much in two starts over hurdles for Venetia Williams; potentially one for handicapping further down the line.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

7

22nd Apr 2024

Soft

1m 7f 182y

Class 5

16:15 Ffos Las

Icarat

11st 0lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

prominent behind clear leaders, weakened after 5th, tailed off

12/1

9th

7

22nd Apr 2024

Soft

1m 7f 182y

Class 5

16:15 Ffos Las

Icarat

11st 0lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Bumper winner in France but he's generally struggled in Britain and has failed to complete in chase handicaps in his last two runs; dropped another 4lb but he needs a transformation back over hurdles.

12/1

4

21st Feb 2024

Soft

1m 7f 212y

Class 5

16:40 Ludlow

Icarat

11st 1lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Bumper winner in France; has far-from-solid claims on British form but he's in good hands and unexposed over fences; admittedly well held when unseating rider two out at Ffos Las (2m; 11-2 for chase debut) most recently.

7/1

Form: 6

Last run: 36 days

W: 11st 3lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Half-brother to the bumper and 2m3f-3m hurdle winner I Spy A Diva; caught flat-footed before rallying on last month's Taunton debut (2m bumper; good to soft; sixth of 13); likely to need further, although interesting to see how he fares now switching to hurdles; early days.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

14th Nov 2024

Good

2m 7f 16y

Class 5

15:15 Market Rasen

I Got Stung

11st 9lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Kim Bailey

in touch with leaders

9/1

5th

3

14th Nov 2024

Good

2m 7f 16y

Class 5

15:15 Market Rasen

I Got Stung

11st 9lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Kim Bailey

in touch with leaders, pulled up before 2 out

9/1

8th

2

24th Oct 2024

Good To Soft

2m 5f 55y

Class 5

17:40 Ludlow

I Got Stung

11st 9lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Kim Bailey

Half-sister I Spy A Diva won the mares' novice on this card in 2022, and dam's brother was a C&D scorer also (all for the same connections); non-stayer of trips in excess of 2m last winter, and fate likely rests on how much he's come on during a six-month break.

16/1

Form: 6F-6

Last run: 22 days

W: 10st 10lb

7 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Ex-Stuart Crawford; took a keen early hold, and predictably backpedaled swiftly as the race developed in earnest at Ludlow (2m mares' novice, soft; sixth of 12, beaten 13l; 150-1) three weeks ago; safer options elsewhere.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

20th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 177y

Class 5

16:50 Ffos Las

Miss Pearl

10st 9lb

J: Shane Fenelon

T: David Rees

Went close at Bangor early last year and was placed again next time; however, her form ran cold afterwards and she finished well behind over hurdles last week after a layoff.

10/1

7th

8

13th May 2026

Good

2m 2f 110y

Class 5

18:00 Newton Abbot

Miss Pearl

10st 3lb

J: Conor Ring

T: David Rees

Very nearly won a handicap at Bangor early last year and was placed again next time; however, her form ran cold afterwards and she's been off for 13 months; new trainer.

14/1

8th

10

23rd Apr 2025

Good

2m 5f 55y

Class 5

16:10 Ludlow

Miss Pearl

10st 7lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Sheila Lewis

The closest she's come in 13 races was very close indeed, coming from the back off this mark at Bangor (2m3f, soft) in February, but her form has subsided again.

20/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 3lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Low 50s-rated Flat maiden (0-15; runner-up three times); could well draw some benefit from his recent comeback run, but there isn't anything in his pedigree to suggest that he'll be able to make the grade over hurdles (debut).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

8th Jun 2023

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

17:05 Ffos Las

Twilight Prince

10st 13lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Peter Bowen

0-15 on the Flat but did show some ability at a low level over staying trips; no impact in three hurdle runs here this spring but he faces a more realistic assignment on this handicap debut.

5/1

6th

5

22nd May 2023

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

13:35 Ffos Las

Twilight Prince

11st 3lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Peter Bowen

Placed twice on the Flat last year but soundly beaten here on both hurdling starts this spring (2m/2m4f).

33/1

4th

8

9th May 2023

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

14:00 Ffos Las

Twilight Prince

11st 3lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Peter Bowen

raced in last

33/1

Form: 70P

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 3lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Modest over hurdles (0-2) so far, including when pulling up on return from a 71-day absence at Fontwell (2m3f, soft; bled from the nose) recently; drops back to 2m in a newly applied tongue-tie seeking a sharp upturn in fortunes.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

6

25th Apr 2023

Good To Soft

1m 7f 182y

Class 4

13:40 Ffos Las

Modern Monarch

11st 3lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: Evan Williams

Modest over hurdles (0-2) so far, including when pulling up on return from a 71-day absence at Fontwell (2m3f, soft; bled from the nose) recently; drops back to 2m in a newly applied tongue-tie seeking a sharp upturn in fortunes.

25/1

3

4th Apr 2023

Soft

2m 3f 49y

Class 4

14:00 Fontwell

Modern Monarch

11st 6lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: Evan Williams

Arguably shaped with a bit more promise than bare form suggests when tenth of 15 on hurdling debut at Ffos Las (2m, soft) in January but will almost certainly need to build on that performance here.

16/1

10th

8

23rd Jan 2023

Soft

1m 7f 182y

Class 4

13:30 Ffos Las

Modern Monarch

11st 2lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Evan Williams

Distant seventh (behind stablemate Lelant) in bumper at this course on debut; needs to improve markedly on that bare form.

66/1

Form: 510P-P D

Last run: 158 days

W: 11st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Game Newton Abbot bumper winner (2m1f, good; September 2021); pulled up at triple-figure odds on both hurdle starts so far and, returning from a five-month absence, doesn't offer the likeliest solution.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

6

17th Jul 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

17:40 Worcester

Deal Em High

10st 11lb

J: Robert Dunne

T: Debra Hamer

8lb out of the weights when prevailing by 2l over C&D ten days ago for which he carries a penalty; therefore, 1lb lower now, but whether he'll back that up remains to be seen.

3/1

6

7th Jul 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

14:12 Worcester

Deal Em High

10st 2lb

J: Robert Dunne

T: Debra Hamer

Fair third over hurdles last September but struggled in that sphere subsequently and soundly beaten on recent chase debut here; 0-15 over hurdles/fences and 9lb out of the handicap this afternoon.

14/1

7

18th Jun 2025

Good

2m 0f 110y

Class 5

14:40 Worcester

Deal Em High

10st 2lb

J: Robert Dunne

T: Debra Hamer

0-14 over hurdles, having been pulled up on his last two outings; might be boosted by the refitted cheekpieces on this chasing debut but looks far too risky.

25/1

Form: 250-11 D

Last run: 165 days

W: 11st 10lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Impressive French bumper winner (1m7f, good) who justified favouritism on hurdles debut at Strasbourg (2m2f; heavy) last November; has since changed hands, and makes his British debut under a 7lb penalty in a winnable affair; an interesting candidate.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

15th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 1f 43y

Class 5

14:57 Market Rasen

Ilot De LIsle

12st 0lb

J: James Davies

T: Richard J Bandey

Bumper/hurdle winner in France; two fair efforts with cheekpieces on his last two runs over hurdles; needs to improve on chase debut.

9/1

7th

3

3rd Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 3f 1y

Class 5

16:45 Taunton

Ilot De LIsle

11st 9lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: Richard J Bandey

Bumper/hurdle winner in France in autumn 2022; pulled up in two British handicap hurdles last year but, following a wind op, ran well for a long way when fifth at Leicester (1m7f, heavy; first-time cheekpieces) a fortnight ago; back up in trip with tongue-tie refitted today; a possible.

12/1

5th

2

20th Jan 2026

Soft

1m 7f 113y

Class 4

15:02 Leicester

Ilot De LIsle

11st 9lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Richard J Bandey

Bumper/hurdle winner in France in autumn 2022 but not seen again until pulled up in two British handicap hurdles last year; had wind op in November and now sports cheekpieces; big leap of faith required to support him.

33/1

Non-runners

Ilot De L'Isle

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £7.90
Straight Forecast £7.39
Trifecta £19.50

Selections

RP Ratings:

Polyphonic

WEST COUNTRY:

I Got Stung

SPOTLIGHT:

Ilot De L'Isle

The Star:

Icarat

Daily Mirror:

Norn Iron

Daily Mail:

I Got Stung

The Sun:

Ilot De L'Isle

TOPSPEED:

Polyphonic

POSTDATA:

Polyphonic

The Times:

Polyphonic

Telegraph:

Polyphonic

The Guardian:

Polyphonic

D Express:

Polyphonic

Daily Record:

Polyphonic