October 28 / 15.35 Cheltenham

15.35

Good To Soft

William Hill Epic Weekend Free Bet Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £9241.75
  • 2m 7f 208y
  • Class 2
  • 6 runners
RTV
View Course
William Hill Epic Weekend Free Bet Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Rain

7/2 (Won)

  • Win: £4.00
  • Place: £1.90

Form: 7212-1 D

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 129

Form & Verdict
Improving as he gains experience and it was very easy on his first attempt over 3m at Southwell (good; has won on soft); good to see the remote second win easily next time at Kempton; has the double penalty but looks useful.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

17th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 210y

Class 3

13:50 Carlisle

Butch

11st 9lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

led narrowly, raced in second 3rd, briefly left in lead after 7th, pecked on landing 11th, not fluent and outpaced 3 out, rallied and disputed lead 2 out, no extra and lost second inside final 110yds

4/9

1st

2

28th Dec 2024

Soft

2m 4f 25y

Class 3

12:15 Leicester

Butch

11st 4lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

soon pressed leader, led narrowly or disputed lead from 3rd, led and going best before 4 out, went clear before 3 out, went further clear approaching last, readily

1/2

1st

2

28th Dec 2024

Soft

2m 4f 25y

Class 3

12:15 Leicester

Butch

11st 4lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

soon pressed leader, led narrowly or disputed lead from 3rd, led and going best before 4 out, went clear before 3 out, went further clear approaching last, readily

1/2

OUR TIP

11/10

  • Place: £1.70

Form: 821

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Has taken a nice step forward in each of his runs and he readily accounted for bumper winners from top yards when off the mark at Punchestown (2m4f, yielding); as a son of Presenting, 3m should be right up his alley; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

(8)

1st Sep 2026

Soft

1m 6f 0y

17:32 Gowran Park

Antrim Coast

9st 9lb

J: Luke McAteer

T: Rory Anthony Devine

Dual hurdles winner for Gavin Cromwell, currently rated 127; has been chasing with Henry de Bromhead; makes Flat debut at the age of eight on his first start for Rory Devine.

20/1

12th

18

31st Jul 2026

Good

2m 6f 111y

18:00 Galway

Antrim Coast

10st 7lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: Henry De Bromhead

0-9 over fences but has run well at times, including when a 1.5l second in this race last season for Gavin Cromwell; 2lb lower now and blew away the cobwebs after a 279-day break with a respectable run at Wexford earlier this month; preferred by O'Keeffe and an interesting runner.

12/1

6th

5

3rd Jul 2026

Good

2m 3f 110y

19:25 Wexford

Antrim Coast

10st 8lb

J: Mike O’Connor

T: Henry De Bromhead

Beat smart Oscars Brother in 3m hurdle here when with Gavin Cromwell; maiden over fences but his second of 20 in the Galway Blazers (2m6f) at last summer's festival showed what he's capable of; back from a long break and this smacks of a Galway prep, with yard also having likely favourite in this.

12/1

Form: 2313

Last run: 35 days

W: 11st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 134

Form & Verdict
Useful on the Flat in Britain (at up to 2m) and bought for 40,000gns; nicely progressive since returning from a year off and, after justifying strong market support in a Downpatrick maiden (2m5f, good), he was third at Listowel behind a Willie Mullins horse who has since followed up at Listed level; stepping up to 3m looks highly likely to suit.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

28th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

3m 0f 0y

18:47 Down Royal

Reverend Hubert

11st 10lb

J: Philip Byrnes

T: C Byrnes

Talented 8yo was well held when 8-1 (same price as Rocky's Diamond) in Galway Plate; easy winner of 3m conditions hurdle at Cork previously and won 2m handicap at the Curragh on Derby weekend (now rated 95 on the level); only third of five when favourite for this last year, but has improved in the interim. 

3/1

13th

12

29th Jul 2026

Good

2m 6f 111y

18:40 Galway

Reverend Hubert

11st 1lb

J: Phillip Enright

T: C Byrnes

2-4 over fences, though not seen in this discipline since well held in a Grade 3 at this fixture two years ago; he returns in excellent form, in recent weeks winning on the Flat (2m) and over hurdles at Cork (3m); could have a big run in him.

16/1

1st

3

10th Jul 2026

Good

3m 0f 0y

20:00 Cork

Reverend Hubert

11st 6lb

J: Phillip Enright

T: C Byrnes

Smart dual-purpose type won a nice Flat prize over 2m a fortnight ago; came off worse in a couple of 3m clashes with Happy Jacky last year, but not by much, including when beaten a head in the corresponding race; relishes good ground.

6/1

Form: -61311

Last run: 17 days

W: 11st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 131

Form & Verdict
Made it 3-4 over hurdles when making pretty much all the running to dispose of just three other finishers at Ludlow (2m5f, good; unraced on softer under rules); has more to deal with here under his penalties but represents a yard that's won this twice in three years with similarly progressive types.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

10

10th Jul 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

17:57 Kilbeggan

Lisnamult Lad

10st 9lb

J: Caragh Monaghan

T: Ian Patrick Donoghue

Has lost his way since a fine second in the 2025 Topham; four non-completions from six starts; recent return to hurdling has failed to spark a revival in form.

25/1

14th

9

4th Jul 2026

Good

2m 1f 40y

18:18 Bellewstown

Lisnamult Lad

11st 7lb

J: Mr T J Stafford

T: Ian Patrick Donoghue

Has lost way since a fine second in the 2025 Topham; four non-completions from five starts; recent return to hurdling at Kilbeggan failed to spark a revival in form; competes off 13lb lower than chase mark.

50/1

2

15th Jun 2026

Yielding To Soft

3m 0f 100y

19:42 Kilbeggan

Lisnamult Lad

11st 10lb

J: Kieren Buckley

T: Ian Patrick Donoghue

Has lost way since a superb second in the 2025 Topham Chase at Aintree; three non-completions from four starts since and hopes now pinned on return to hurdling off 10lb lower mark sparking something.

13/2

Form: 5/6-1

Last run: 33 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Had lengthy breaks between his last three runs and was returning from 11 months off when overcoming a late mistake to scramble home at Warwick (2m5f, good); down the pecking order on form but has potential.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

26th Apr 2024

Good

3m 2f 54y

Class 4

17:10 Chepstow

Track And Trace

12st 0lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo O’Neill

Off the mark over fences at third attempt, in North Yorkshire Grand National at Catterick (3m6f, soft; also suited by good ground) in January, but was pulled up on both subsequent outings and it's hard to know what to expect from him here.

8/1

4th

2

26th Apr 2024

Good

3m 2f 54y

Class 4

17:10 Chepstow

Track And Trace

12st 0lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo O’Neill

Off the mark over fences at third attempt, in North Yorkshire Grand National at Catterick (3m6f, soft; also suited by good ground) in January, but was pulled up on both subsequent outings and it's hard to know what to expect from him here.

8/1

3

10th Mar 2024

Soft

3m 5f 54y

Class 3

16:10 Warwick

Track And Trace

11st 13lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo O’Neill

held up in rear, not fluent 14th, not fluent 17th, weakened after 5 out, soon pulled up

3/1

Form: 212

Last run: 97 days

W: 10st 10lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
All three bumpers were on good ground; with Nigel Twiston-Davies when beating four rivals at Worcester and probably bumped into a decent horse when penalised at Stratford (debut for this yard); set tough task on his hurdling introduction.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

25th May 2025

Good

3m 1f 166y

Class 5

15:33 Fontwell

Thirtyfour Thirty

11st 12lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Joe Tickle

Kept on for respectable third at Worcester (2m7f, good; no threat to easy winner) 12 days ago and will be suited by today's longer trip but often looks unenthusiastic, and it's hard to predict the extent to which he'll warm to the task today; cheekpieces refitted.

6/1

2

25th May 2025

Good

3m 1f 166y

Class 5

15:33 Fontwell

Thirtyfour Thirty

11st 12lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Joe Tickle

Kept on for respectable third at Worcester (2m7f, good; no threat to easy winner) 12 days ago and will be suited by today's longer trip but often looks unenthusiastic, and it's hard to predict the extent to which he'll warm to the task today; cheekpieces refitted.

6/1

3rd

8

13th May 2025

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 4

16:30 Worcester

Thirtyfour Thirty

11st 2lb

J: Taylor Fisher

T: Joe Tickle

This time last year he posted back-to-back seconds over 3m2f on good ground at Fontwell and Warwick; well handicapped on that form but he hasn't been running well of late.

12/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £9.60
Straight Forecast £10.59
Trifecta £28.90

Selections

The Times:

Antrim Coast

TOPSPEED:

Lisnamult Lad

POSTDATA:

Butch

SPOTLIGHT:

Reverend Hubert

WEST COUNTRY:

Track And Trace

Telegraph:

Antrim Coast

The Guardian:

Antrim Coast

D Express:

Antrim Coast

Daily Mirror:

Antrim Coast

The Sun:

Antrim Coast

Daily Mail:

Lisnamult Lad

Daily Record:

Lisnamult Lad

The Star:

Butch

RP RATINGS:

Reverend Hubert