December 09 / 12.27 Chepstow

12.27

Soft

Coral Racing Club Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4356.8
  • 2m 7f 131y
  • Class 4
  • 9 runners
SKY
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Coral Racing Club Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

4/6 (Won)

  • Win: £2.38
  • Place: £1.10

Form: P223-2 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 126

Form & Verdict
Record of 1-21 and sole win came in a two-finisher chase; however, has been knocking on the door over hurdles and went close in a Class 2 handicap at Cheltenham most recently (3m, soft); that run gives him cast-iron form claims back in novice company.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 136y

Class 4

14:50 Chepstow

The Newest One

11st 7lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

11yo who was runner-up at Warwick (3m, good to soft) on New Year's Eve but he's had a heavy defeat and a fall in two subsequent runs; new headgear is now tried but he's hard to predict and has not won since October 2024; down the list.

8/1

4

28th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 10y

Class 4

15:45 Uttoxeter

The Newest One

11st 13lb

J: Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

11yo who was runner-up at Warwick (3m, good to soft) on New Year's Eve but he's hard to predict and was tailed off at Ludlow (visor added) last time; comes with risks attached and he needs to bounce back again.

12/1

6th

4

18th Feb 2026

2m 7f 171y

Class 4

15:35 Ludlow

The Newest One

11st 9lb

J: Miss Amber Jackson-Fennell

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

11yo who has an up-and-down profile but finished second at Warwick (3m, good to soft) on New Year's Eve; versatile ground-wise; major player if backing up that good performance with another; wears a first-time visor.

5/2

6/1

  • Place: £1.50

Form: 1

Last run: 44 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Scopey 5yo who comfortably won British maiden point (2m4f, soft) in January and followed up in a 2m4f novice hurdle at Carlisle (soft); has lots more on his plate here with a penalty but he's a nice prospect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

16th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 7f 177y

Class 3

16:00 Ffos Las

Big City Roller

11st 10lb

J: Lilly Pinchin

T: Charlie Longsdon

2-3 over fences, with both wins gained in four-runner 2m4f races on heavy ground; tailed off in a 3m hurdle last time but could quite plausibly have untapped potential over 3m as a chaser.

7/1

6th

3

27th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 57y

Class 3

16:43 Newbury

Big City Roller

11st 9lb

J: Lilly Pinchin

T: Charlie Longsdon

2-3 over fences this season, with both wins gained in four-runner 2m4f races on heavy ground (cheekpieces added last time); faces a different test on this return to hurdling but could have untapped potential over 3m.

6/1

1st

1

5th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

15:20 Lingfield

Big City Roller

12st 2lb

J: Lilly Pinchin

T: Charlie Longsdon

Very lightly raced 8yo who returned from long absence to win four-runner Bangor handicap (2m4f, heavy) by wide margin on chasing debut just under a year ago; in contention until nearly losing his jockey at the last fence at Exeter (2m3f, good to soft) last month, after another layoff, and may still have potential; cheekpieces added today.

3/1

5/1

  • Place: £1.40

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
It took six attempts to win an Irish point but he won that by 15l and the runner-up beat the useful Ivy Wood in winning his point; now with Paul Nicholls and even better days should lie ahead.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

17th Jun 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 3

15:50 Worcester

Paddy De Pole

11st 1lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Paul Nicholls

4-14 over hurdles, the latest win gained at Sedgefield (3m2f, good) in September; absent since a lesser effort over 2m7f in October, though, and might not be ideally suited by this drop back in trip.

6/1

4th

5

11th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 131y

Class 4

17:10 Chepstow

Paddy De Pole

11st 12lb

J: Freddie Keighley

T: Paul Nicholls

3-14 over hurdles, having battled well to beat two next-time-out winners at Sedgefield (3m3f, good) last month; effectively 7lb higher here if Freddie Keighley's reduced claim is considered; still enters calculations.

7/1

4

4th Sep 2025

Good

3m 3f 9y

Class 4

18:00 Sedgefield

Paddy De Pole

11st 7lb

J: Freddie Keighley

T: Paul Nicholls

Completed a hat-trick when winning at Hereford in May 2024 and remained in respectable form for the rest of that year; wasn't one of his better efforts when fifth on comeback at Newton Abbot (2m5f, good) in May, however, and pulled up in a three-runner chase at Worcester (mistakes) last time; last run can probably be forgiven and this return to hurdles is a positive.

9/2

Form: 4

Last run: 33 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Placed in an Irish point and then bought for £25,000; it was a decent novice hurdle in which he was beaten 12l at Plumpton (2m4f) and this trip on a stiffer track should work in his favour.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

5

13th Jan 2024

Soft

3m 0f 26y

Class 4

13:40 Wetherby

Sprucefrontiers

11st 5lb

J: David Bass

T: Kim Bailey

Third in Irish maiden point (3m, yielding to soft) and fair fourth towards the end of last year on first two rules starts (2m4f/2m7f, good to soft/heavy); improvement needed on handicap debut but he's very lightly raced and in good hands to progress.

6/1

4th

6

9th Dec 2023

Soft

2m 7f 131y

Class 4

12:27 Chepstow

Sprucefrontiers

11st 0lb

J: David Bass

T: Kim Bailey

Placed in an Irish point and then bought for £25,000; it was a decent novice hurdle in which he was beaten 12l at Plumpton (2m4f) and this trip on a stiffer track should work in his favour.

6/1

4th

5

6th Nov 2023

Good To Soft

2m 4f 114y

Class 4

14:07 Plumpton

Sprucefrontiers

11st 0lb

J: David Bass

T: Kim Bailey

Kept on well for third on Irish point debut in April 2022 and was bought by Kim Bailey for £25,000 the following month; that form hasn't worked out well and this rules debut comes after a 561-day absence.

12/1

OUR TIP

Form: P

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Won a 3m British point last December but failed to complete five of his other six; completely out of his depth in a novice chase at Cheltenham last month; also hard to recommend here on first run over hurdles.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

12

8th May 2024

Good

3m 1f 210y

Class 5

19:10 Fontwell

Cloudy Flamingo

10st 2lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Keiran Burke

0-6 under rules but put in fairly good front-running shift when third (albeit well held in the end) at Exeter (3m, soft) in March, and his winning point form offers hope he'll be better suited by the forecast good ground here; blinkers removed after one use; 2lb wrong; could have a say.

8/1

7th

12

8th May 2024

Good

3m 1f 210y

Class 5

19:10 Fontwell

Cloudy Flamingo

10st 2lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Keiran Burke

0-6 under rules but put in fairly good front-running shift when third (albeit well held in the end) at Exeter (3m, soft) in March, and his winning point form offers hope he'll be better suited by the forecast good ground here; blinkers removed after one use; 2lb wrong; could have a say.

8/1

3rd

7

19th Mar 2024

Soft

3m 0f 54y

Class 5

16:00 Exeter

Cloudy Flamingo

10st 3lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Keiran Burke

Won a point in 2022 but has not shown much under rules this season and was safely held on last month's handicap chase debut at Taunton (2m7f, soft); not written off just yet but needs a good boost from the first-time blinkers here.

10/1

Form: 322P2- BF

Last run: 229 days

W: 11st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Three-time chase winner in France and was runner-up in three hunter chases last season; retains plenty of ability but it is unlikely that he'll be good enough in a hurdle of this nature.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

2nd May 2025

Good

4m 0f 97y

Class 4

19:30 Cheltenham

Drop Flight

12st 1lb

J: Mr Ben Sutton

T: S Loxton

Ran well in only one of six hurdling starts for Dan Skelton last season and, having rejoined Sam Loxton, was pulled up in a hunter chase in February; last of three finishers in 4m point last month; revival needed.

25/1

4

2nd May 2025

Good

4m 0f 97y

Class 4

19:30 Cheltenham

Drop Flight

12st 1lb

J: Mr Ben Sutton

T: S Loxton

Ran well in only one of six hurdling starts for Dan Skelton last season and, having rejoined Sam Loxton, was pulled up in a hunter chase in February; last of three finishers in 4m point last month; revival needed.

25/1

Form: P

Last run: 33 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Bought for £100,000 soon after finishing third in slow-ground Irish point in December 2021; that form has worked out quite well but he stopped quickly on his belated return to action in a novice hurdle at Plumpton.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

5

8th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 135y

Class 4

15:40 Fontwell

Hawaii Du Mestivel

11st 2lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Neil Mulholland

Progressive over hurdles in 2024, winning three times, but missed 2025 and has been pulled up in two chases this year; combination of return to better ground and first-time cheekieces might aid a revival but others in this field have much less to prove.

6/1

2

14th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

16:45 Uttoxeter

Hawaii Du Mestivel

11st 11lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Neil Mulholland

Completed a hurdles hat-trick in 2024 but was then absent until achieving nothing switched to to chasing last month; had wind surgery since; difficult to ascertain exactly how much ability he retains.

12/1

6

2nd Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 0y

Class 4

13:27 Kempton

Hawaii Du Mestivel

11st 6lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Neil Mulholland

In excellent form in second half of 2024, winning three good-ground handicap hurdles (2m3f-2m5f) in a row; also has form on slower ground and could quite plausibly have more improvement to come over fences at some stage but this chasing debut comes after a 458-day absence.

9/1

Form:

Last run: 23 days

W: 10st 7lb

5 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Bought for £37,000 after going close in an Irish mares' maiden point (3m, good) in April 2022; weak 25-1 chance on her belated reappearance in a mares' maiden at Market Rasen and she didn't show a lot.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

9

9th Dec 2023

Soft

2m 7f 131y

Class 4

12:27 Chepstow

Easy On Me

10st 7lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

Bought for £37,000 after going close in an Irish mares' maiden point (3m, good) in April 2022; weak 25-1 chance on her belated reappearance in a mares' maiden at Market Rasen and she didn't show a lot.

66/1

11th

5

16th Nov 2023

Good To Soft

2m 4f 139y

Class 4

13:05 Market Rasen

Easy On Me

11st 2lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

midfield, hampered 1st

8/1

Form: 47

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Close fourth in a Ffos Las bumper before finishing tailed off on his hurdling debut at Aintree; cheekpieces are soon turned to.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

21st Mar 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 52y

Class 4

16:37 Newbury

Valens Bruyee

11st 9lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Rebecca Curtis

Cheekpieces back on for his last three races and competitive in two of those, over 2m4f and 3m; however, his profile is notoriously inconsistent and softer ground would be preferable.

12/1

3rd

4

27th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 7f 198y

Class 4

15:35 Taunton

Valens Bruyee

11st 11lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Rebecca Curtis

Returned to form and ran big race in defeat when back over hurdles in refitted cheekpieces at Ffos Las (2m4f, heavy) in December but was quickly back in the doldrums last month and now has it all to prove again.

16/1

8

15th Jan 2025

Heavy

3m 0f 52y

Class 4

16:08 Newbury

Valens Bruyee

11st 3lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Rebecca Curtis

midfield on outer, lost ground and towards rear 7th, pushed along when not fluent 4 out

6/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £8.90
Straight Forecast £8.41
Trifecta £23.20

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

The Newest One

D Express:

Big City Roller

Telegraph:

Drop Flight

The Sun:

Big City Roller

The Star:

Big City Roller

RP RATINGS:

The Newest One

TOPSPEED:

The Newest One

POSTDATA:

The Newest One

WEST COUNTRY:

The Newest One

The Times:

The Newest One

The Guardian:

The Newest One

Daily Mail:

The Newest One

Daily Mirror:

The Newest One

Daily Record:

The Newest One