July 18 / 19.40 Southwell

19.40

Good

Vickers.Bet.App Novices’ Hurdle (Arc Summer Novices’ Brush Hurdle Series Qualifier) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4356.8
  • 1m 7f 182y
  • Class 4
  • 10 runners
SKY
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Vickers.Bet.App Novices’ Hurdle (Arc Summer Novices’ Brush Hurdle Series Qualifier) (GBB Race)

Runners: 10 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

5/4 (Won)

  • Win: £1.84
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 1 CD

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Three-time Flat winner (twice in France) who readily made winning stable/hurdle debut over C&D (good) three weeks ago, form that was well advertised by the runner-up on Sunday; could easily have more to offer and commands respect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

8

1st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 171y

Class 4

14:30 Musselburgh

Young Merlin

11st 9lb

J: Benjamin Macey

T: Rebecca Menzies

Has several pieces of placed form (Flat/hurdles) for current yard but his losing sequence is mounting up; not the percentage call in this competitive affair.

16/1

2nd

9

(5)

23rd Oct 2025

Soft

2m 1f 208y

Class 5

15:00 Nottingham

Young Merlin

8st 11lb

J: David Allan

T: Rebecca Menzies

Runner-up on stable debut at Musselburgh (2m, good) in July and he's fine on testing ground; however, this 9yo has failed to threaten on his last two outings and needs something extra today.

12/1

5th

6

(5)

30th Sep 2025

Soft

1m 7f 0y

Class 6

17:05 Ayr

Young Merlin

9st 10lb

J: Kaiya Fraser

T: Rebecca Menzies

Won three Flat races at up to 1m7f when trained in France (including on heavy) and has since won three times over hurdles for Amy Murphy; good second on stable debut at Musselburgh in July (2m, good) but lesser run last time (2m1f, good to soft); each-way chance.

11/2

14/1

  • Place: £2.30

Form: /4-244

Last run: 15 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Made the frame on all four hurdling starts for Dan Skelton but safely held on both outings for current stable, more recently in C&D seller a fortnight ago; has a tendency to race too freely and looks risky in first-time cheekpieces.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

2

27th May 2026

Good

2m 1f 46y

Class 5

18:38 Cartmel

Book Of Secrets

11st 12lb

J: Leah Noreci

T: James Moffatt

Only 7l away when fourth at Newcastle (2m1f, good to soft) in March and remains on a good mark; without a win since 2023 but has possbilities; Leah Noreci is his regular partner.

6/1

4th

2

31st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 190y

Class 5

17:35 Newcastle

Book Of Secrets

11st 13lb

J: Leah Noreci

T: James Moffatt

Placed four times last June-September and he's on a handy mark on that form; however, not so good in his four starts since and the ground should not have been an excuse; tongue tied on last three outings.

7/1

OUR TIP

40/1

  • Place: £4.50

Form: PP2-P5

Last run: 32 days

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
Second off lowly mark in Fontwell handicap (2m1f, good; first-time cheekpieces) in April but quickly back in the doldrums since and faces a tough assignment.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

1st Apr 2024

Good To Soft

3m 1f 152y

Class 5

15:35 Plumpton

Bolberry Down

10st 2lb

J: Marc Goldstein

T: Karen Jewell

prominent, not fluent and dropped to last but in touch with leaders 1st, headway 5th, prominent 6th, weakened quickly after 14th, soon pulled up

33/1

6

1st Apr 2024

Good To Soft

3m 1f 152y

Class 5

15:35 Plumpton

Bolberry Down

10st 2lb

J: Marc Goldstein

T: Karen Jewell

12-race maiden; pulled up in his first two chases and was well held when he did get round at Huntingdon; opposable from 2lb out of the weights.

33/1

6th

14

13th Mar 2024

Soft

2m 7f 129y

Class 5

13:10 Huntingdon

Bolberry Down

10st 2lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Karen Jewell

midfield, in touch with leaders when slow jump 7th

50/1

Form: 049-22

Last run: 25 days

W: 10st 9lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Nothing special on the Flat but has improved with experience over hurdles this year and switches back to novice company after finishing second in two 2m handicaps; her tendency to race too freely remains a nagging concern but she has a good chance on the figures.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

8

4th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 3f 1y

Class 5

16:40 Taunton

Lucky Draw

10st 11lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Daniel Bourne

held up in rear

50/1

8th

8

4th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 3f 1y

Class 5

16:40 Taunton

Lucky Draw

10st 11lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Daniel Bourne

held up in rear, outpaced after 2 out (usual 3 out)

50/1

12th

1

20th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 0y

Class 5

14:40 Warwick

Lucky Draw

11st 12lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Daniel Bourne

0-9 over hurdles; achieved nothing last month on return from lengthy absence and is best watched unless the market speaks positively.

50/1

Form: 54

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Developed into fairly useful Flat-racer for Richard Hughes last year and bettered disappointing stable/hurdle debut when respectable fourth at Hexham (2m, good) last month; needs to improve again here but ought to be capable of a fair bit better over hurdles at some stage; market may guide.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

20th May 2025

Good

2m 0f 48y

Class 5

20:58 Hexham

Grand Scheme

10st 12lb

J: Jonathan England

T: Sam England

Three-time Flat winner (1m-1m6f) for Richard Hannon; having only his fifth start over hurdles when scoring by 15l at Southwell (2m, good) eight days ago; 7lb penalty shouldn't preclude another big effort.

6/4

9

20th May 2025

Good

2m 0f 48y

Class 5

20:58 Hexham

Grand Scheme

10st 12lb

J: Jonathan England

T: Sam England

Three-time Flat winner (1m-1m6f) for Richard Hannon; having only his fifth start over hurdles when scoring by 15l at Southwell (2m, good) eight days ago; 7lb penalty shouldn't preclude another big effort.

6/4

1st

5

12th May 2025

Good

1m 7f 182y

Class 5

15:30 Southwell

Grand Scheme

10st 8lb

J: Jonathan England

T: Sam England

took keen hold, prominent

11/2

Form: 9

Last run: 13 days

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Tailed off when 50-1 for belated debut at Worcester a fortnight ago; can only be watched here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

13

8th Nov 2023

Good To Soft

2m 4f 68y

Class 5

14:50 Musselburgh

Moo Moos Milan

10st 2lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: L J Morgan

Tailed off at big odds over hurdles this summer on first three starts and he's 13lb wrong for this chase and handicap debut; however, his trainer has an excellent 33% strike-rate here, including wins with well-backed chasing newcomers such as Champ Is Real and Clear The Runway, and he could play a leading role in first-time cheekpieces if attracting market support.

7/1

6th

5

6th Aug 2023

Good

2m 0f 125y

Class 4

13:35 Market Rasen

Moo Moos Milan

11st 4lb

J: Patrick Cowley

T: L J Morgan

Showed no significant promise on his first two starts (both 2m), and was a long way behind Book Of Secrets on latter occasion.

50/1

Form: 566

Last run: 13 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Showed only minor promise when sixth on his first two hurdling starts and low-grade handicaps are probably on the agenda after this
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

7

18th Jul 2023

Good

1m 7f 182y

Class 4

19:40 Southwell

Il Cima

11st 2lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: L J Morgan

prominent, pushed along and lost position 5th

66/1

6th

7

5th Jul 2023

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

16:58 Worcester

Il Cima

11st 2lb

J: Patrick Cowley

T: L J Morgan

Tailed off in a bumper and well beaten on recent hurdle debut.

66/1

6th

2

26th Jun 2023

Good

1m 7f 182y

Class 4

15:30 Southwell

Il Cima

11st 2lb

J: Patrick Cowley

T: L J Morgan

took keen hold, held up in rear halfway, pushed along after 5th

25/1

Form: 19-32 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 5lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Fair Flat-racer who beat three rivals in pretty good style on stable/hurdle debut at Musselburgh (1m7f, good to soft) in March; yet to build upon that performance but last month's Stratford second (2m, good) was perfectly respectable and he has good each-way claims here.
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: UP-P57

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Horse

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
Yet to show any significant promise after four hurdle runs and not the obvious answer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

18th Jul 2023

Good

1m 7f 182y

Class 4

19:40 Southwell

Dee Day Landing

11st 2lb

J: Lorcan Murtagh

T: Mark Weatherer

held up in rear, ridden and no impression from 3 out

100/1

Form: 4/5P-P

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
Not disgraced on hurdling debut in March but pulled up twice since; needs combination of first-time tongue and refitted hood to make a huge difference here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

8

29th Aug 2023

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

16:40 Worcester

My Boy Grizzle

10st 2lb

J: Ben Poste

T: Clare Ellam

Maiden whose struggles continued when pulled up on his recent chase debut; out of the weights.

66/1

0

10

19th Aug 2023

Good

2m 1f 43y

Class 5

18:00 Market Rasen

My Boy Grizzle

10st 2lb

J: James Best

T: Clare Ellam

Modicum of promise on hurdling bow in March but little since, and exited early last time; watching brief wisest switching to fences.

100/1

9

18th Jul 2023

Good

1m 7f 182y

Class 4

19:40 Southwell

My Boy Grizzle

11st 2lb

J: Ben Poste

T: Clare Ellam

took keen hold, held up in rear, bad mistake and unseated 3rd

100/1

Non-runners

VE Day

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £14.70
Straight Forecast £15.98
Trifecta £123.60

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Lucky Draw

Telegraph:

Young Merlin

RP RATINGS:

Lucky Draw

POSTDATA:

Lucky Draw

The Times:

Lucky Draw

Daily Mirror:

Lucky Draw

Daily Record:

Lucky Draw

The Guardian:

Young Merlin

Daily Mail:

Young Merlin

D Express:

Young Merlin

The Sun:

Young Merlin

The Star:

Young Merlin