May 19 / 17.20 Aintree

17.20

Good

Visit racingtv.com Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4356.8
  • 2m 0f 103y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
RTV
View Course
Visit racingtv.com Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

OUR TIP

5/4 (Won)

  • Win: £2.10
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 277-1 D

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Very useful Flat-racer; briefly lost his way after an encouraging first run over hurdles when with Dan Skelton (same owners) but got himself right back on track with a smooth success at Kempton (2m, good; stable debut); should have every chance of defying a penalty in what looks a weaker race.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

12th Oct 2025

Good

2m 0f 11y

Class 3

16:27 Chepstow

Father Of Jazz

11st 10lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: James Owen

Completed a hat-trick in a 2m good-ground handicap at Aintree in June (2lb lower) but was turned over at odds-on back in a novice next time and has twice performed miserably on the Flat since; something to prove now.

8/1

14th

8

(8)

13th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 2

13:15 Doncaster

Father Of Jazz

9st 1lb

J: Mason Paetel

T: James Owen

Completed a hurdles hat-trick in 2023; failed to beat a rival last month on return from lengthy absence and needs to prove he retains ability; raced mainly over longer trips.

50/1

11th

3

(2)

28th Aug 2025

Standard

1m 3f 23y

Class 3

20:15 Southwell (AW)

Father Of Jazz

9st 12lb

J: Darragh Keenan

T: James Owen

Progressive hurdler when last seen in 2023, although below best on final start that September; had smart AW form in Group 3 and Listed 1m2f races for Roger Varian earlier and his mark has dropped 8lb since last seen on the Flat; fascinating to see how the betting goes back from absence.

16/1

9/2

  • Place: £1.60

Form: 19- D

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 3lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Fair maiden on the Flat for Andrew Balding; won a four-runner Musselburgh maiden hurdle (1m7f, good to soft) before dropping out disappointingly at Ludlow; will need his best form yet to win this.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

1

14th Jul 2024

Good

2m 0f 47y

Class 5

16:45 Perth

VE Day

12st 0lb

J: William Maggs

T: Donald McCain

Won on his hurdles debut at Musselburgh in March 2023 but no wins since; respectable sixth, on second run back from a seven-month break, at Uttoxeter (2m, good) last month in first-time blinkers which are retained; still needs to ease in the weights.

10/1

6th

1

6th Jun 2024

Good

1m 7f 168y

Class 5

17:20 Uttoxeter

VE Day

12st 0lb

J: William Maggs

T: Donald McCain

1m7f hurdle winner (good to soft) who was largely consistent in handicaps last year; bad mistake put paid to his chance on his reappearance at Kempton (2m, good); 2lb drop means he gets a slight ease in grade here; blinkers go on and he could have a big say.

9/1

Form: 4-4

Last run: 13 days

W: 10st 10lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Hooded for both runs (tongue-tie added latest) and hasn't settled well enough to give himself a chance; still showed ability at Uttoxeter (beaten 12l; 2m, good) but looks work in progress; stable also runs Father Of Jazz.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

(4)

9th Jul 2024

Standard

1m 0f 1y

Class 5

16:55 Lingfield (AW)

Smart Deal

9st 10lb

J: Kieran O’Neill

T: Alice Haynes

Three 1m Polytrack wins since November, the latest in a small-field C&D claimer six weeks ago; more needed back in a handicap but he's not ruled out; cheekpieces left off today.

4/1

1st

4

(1)

30th May 2024

Standard

1m 0f 1y

Class 5

14:50 Lingfield (AW)

Smart Deal

9st 9lb

J: Kieran O’Neill

T: Alice Haynes

Front-runner; wore cheekpieces on last five starts, including three good runs (one 1m win) on Chelmsford Polytrack this February-April but below form there on latest outing; made less of an impact early in 2024 on his two runs here; wore a hood earlier in career and it's now restored; considered.

2/1

5th

4

(3)

2nd May 2024

Standard

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

18:25 Chelmsford (AW)

Smart Deal

9st 8lb

J: Kieran O’Neill

T: Alice Haynes

led

13/2

Form: P74PP/

Last run: 392 days

W: 11st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
Triple Flat winner but 0-8 over hurdles and was pulled up in his final two attempts more than a year ago; has no obvious claims on these terms.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

2

(6)

8th Apr 2024

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 6

16:50 Newcastle (AW)

Breaking Records

9st 9lb

J: Connor Beasley

T: Maurice Barnes

took keen hold, led, headed 4f out, soon weakened

25/1

2

(6)

8th Apr 2024

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 6

16:50 Newcastle (AW)

Breaking Records

9st 9lb

J: Connor Beasley

T: Maurice Barnes

took keen hold, led, headed 4f out, soon weakened

25/1

2

1st Jun 2023

Good

2m 0f 125y

Class 4

18:10 Market Rasen

Breaking Records

11st 0lb

J: Conor Rabbitt

T: Maurice Barnes

took keen hold, jumped left throughout, led, clear before 2nd, went further clear with one circuit to go, much reduced lead but jumped badly left 4 out

66/1

Form: 6/9

Last run: 11 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Has done very well on the AW this year, winning five times at around 1m4f; disappointing that he couldn't build on all that when finishing tailed off back over hurdles at Worcester 11 days ago.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

5

(7)

15th Oct 2025

Standard To Slow

1m 3f 219y

Class 6

20:10 Kempton (AW)

Buxted Too

9st 11lb

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: Ian Williams

Hard to recommend on recent efforts, but has dropped 7lb lower than when gaining his second C&D success back in February; worth a second look with a visor given a try, especially if attracting support.

9/1

10th

8

(6)

26th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

1m 6f 0y

Class 5

17:40 Haydock

Buxted Too

9st 2lb

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: Ian Williams

Won at Kempton (1m4f, AW) in February but he's not fired in three starts since July and seems out of sorts at present; only of interest with market support.

25/1

5

(9)

5th Sep 2025

Good

1m 6f 0y

Class 5

13:32 Haydock

Buxted Too

9st 8lb

J: Donagh Murphy

T: Ian Williams

This year's win was on Polytrack at Kempton (1m4f) in February and he's 2lb lower today, having gone off the boil in his two runs this summer; has never won beyond 1m4f and he last ran on ground softer than good in 2021.

20/1

Form: U9-

Last run: 279 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Modest Flat maiden and was 50-1 when never counting in a Perth maiden last August.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

(4)

9th Jul 2025

Good

1m 7f 189y

Class 6

16:20 Catterick

Propagation

8st 10lb

J: Gina Mangan

T: Dianne Sayer

Longstanding maiden who has been tried over a variety of distances; steps up in trip here but hard to fancy.

16/1

5th

11

(8)

1st Jul 2025

Good

1m 4f 104y

Class 6

14:30 Musselburgh

Propagation

9st 0lb

J: P J McDonald

T: Dianne Sayer

Has form over a variety of distances, so stepping back up from 1m seems unlikely to be an issue; however, he's one of several longstanding maidens in the field.

20/1

10

(6)

16th Jun 2025

Soft

0m 7f 173y

Class 6

15:45 Carlisle

Propagation

8st 4lb

J: James Sullivan

T: Dianne Sayer

31-race maiden; has been placed nine times and is on a good mark; well beaten after a break when tried at 1m4f last time; may fare better down in trip but hard to fancy.

20/1

100/30

Form: 34-

Last run: 133 days

W: 10st 10lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Useful Flat horse at up to 1m2f for Richard Hannon; 72,000gns buy last August and then gelded; two respectable runs over hurdles (on soft), especially when beaten 6l at Ludlow the final time; won't mind these drier conditions and should have a say.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

1

17th Apr 2023

Soft

2m 4f 120y

17:45 Tramore

Gaius

12st 0lb

J: Philip Byrnes

T: C Byrnes

Enjoyed a good autumn for Noel Kelly with wins at Punchestown and Sligo; good Ayr second in December when last seen and now reappears for new yard; trip/ground okay and market could prove best guide.

10/1

2nd

3

22nd Dec 2022

Good To Soft

2m 4f 100y

Class 3

14:00 Ayr

Gaius

11st 10lb

J: Mr O McGill

T: Noel C Kelly

held up in rear

9/1

7th

8

3rd Dec 2022

Yielding

2m 4f 40y

15:02 Fairyhouse

Gaius

11st 0lb

J: Simon Torrens

T: Noel C Kelly

Beaten favourite in handicap hurdle hat-trick bid at Clonmel in October but ran with credit; suspicion is that the handicapper has caught up with him.

11/2

Form: P/

Last run: 808 days

W: 10st 9lb

7 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Pulled up when trying hurdling once before, more than two years ago, but her Flat ability is respected (stayed well) and she ran a decent race at Haydock this April (1m2f, good; after a break); wouldn't be too dismissive.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

5

(1)

11th May 2026

Good

1m 7f 189y

Class 6

15:30 Catterick

Arctic Fox

9st 7lb

J: Mark Winn

T: Martin Todhunter

10yo who snapped a losing sequence at Carlisle last June and reappeared with a good second here (1m6f, good) last month; she should be fine back up in trip and can be bang there if backing up that latest performance.

11/2

2nd

2

(3)

22nd Apr 2026

Good To Firm

1m 5f 192y

Class 6

17:00 Catterick

Arctic Fox

9st 3lb

J: Mark Winn

T: Martin Todhunter

Six-time winner at up to this trip on varying ground, including soft; back on the same mark she scored from at Carlisle (1m6f, soft) in June; chance rests on whether she's ready to roll for this reappearance.

8/1

10th

2

(1)

28th Oct 2025

Soft

1m 7f 189y

Class 6

15:10 Catterick

Arctic Fox

10st 0lb

J: Shay Farmer

T: Martin Todhunter

Multiple winner at up to 1m6f on varying ground, including soft; 1lb higher than her latest success at Carlisle in June; thereabouts over 1m6f (good) here latest but still has to prove she fully sees out this longer trip.

11/4

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £3.90
Straight Forecast £4.28
Trifecta £13.90

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Father Of Jazz

D Express:

VE Day

RP RATINGS:

Father Of Jazz

TOPSPEED:

Father Of Jazz

POSTDATA:

Father Of Jazz

NEWMARKET:

Father Of Jazz

The Times:

Father Of Jazz

Telegraph:

Father Of Jazz

The Guardian:

Father Of Jazz

Daily Mail:

Father Of Jazz

Daily Mirror:

Father Of Jazz

The Sun:

Father Of Jazz

The Star:

Father Of Jazz

Daily Record:

Father Of Jazz