13.05
SoftWilliam Hill Formby Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) (Formerly Registered As The Tolworth Hurdle) (GBB)
- Prize money: £45560
- 2m 0f 103y
- Class 1
- 9 runners
Runners: 9 runners
Type: Hurdle Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Partly cloudy
3/1 (Won)
- Win: £9.50
- Place: £2.30
Form: 1 D
Last run: 52 days
W: 11st 8lb
4 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 2 |
9th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 3m 0f 210y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Kept on for close third to Impaire Et Passe in the 2m4f Manifesto here 12 months ago and has improved for longer trips this season; very close fourth in thrilling finish to the King George at Kempton (3m, good) in December and 8l second in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham (3m2f, good to soft) last month; leading claims if that hard race 27 days ago hasn't left a mark. |
5/6 |
|
2nd 8 |
13th Mar 2026 Good 3m 2f 70y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Came from behind to win the Arkle here (2m, good to soft) 12 months ago and, as could be anticipated, was well suited by the step up to 3m when a very close fourth behind The Jukebox Man and Gaelic Warrior in the King George at Kempton (3m, good) in December; of the four involved in that thrilling finish he arguably shaped as the one most likely to improve for today's stiffer test; seems versatile ground-wise; could play a leading role. |
4/1 |
|
3rd 6 |
3rd Apr 2025 Good To Soft 2m 3f 200y Class 1 |
11st 7lb |
Short-headed in Grade 1 Scilly Isles at Sandown (2m4f, heavy) in February on second chase start and rallied from a very unpromising position to win the Arkle at Cheltenham (2m, good to soft) last month; unraced on good ground; ran big races over hurdles on both visits here and he's a leading contender with the step back up in trip likely to be in his favour. |
9/4 |
10/1
- Place: £2.70
Form: 110-11 D
Last run: 38 days
W: 11st 8lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: 126
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5th 1 |
25th Apr 2026 Good 2m 3f 178y Class 2 |
12st 0lb |
Seen only twice this season but posted career-best performance when close third of 22 at Aintree (2m4f, good to soft) a fortnight ago, despite Tom Bellamy's saddle slipping after the last; respected. |
6/1 |
|
3rd 1 |
10th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 2m 4f 0y Class 1 |
12st 0lb |
Acts on any going; successful in major handicap at Ayr two years ago; his two attempts at Aintree were good efforts in the 2023 Formby (second to highly notable rival) and this race last year (finished third); each-way claims back here with Kempton reappearance under his belt. |
11/1 |
|
6th 1 |
21st Feb 2026 Good To Soft 2m 5f 0y Class 3 |
12st 2lb |
Won the Scottish Champion Hurdle (2m, soft) in April 2024 and showed he stays 2m4f when a good third of 20 at Aintree last spring; not ruled out but he'll need a career best to defy topweight after 11 months off. |
13/2 |
20/1
- Place: £5.60
Form: 2-11 D
Last run: 37 days
W: 11st 8lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5th 3 |
8th Dec 2024 Good To Soft 2m 0f 51y Class 3 |
11st 6lb |
Hasn't appeared to fancy fences this season but he was a good novice hurdler last campaign and a revival would come as no surprise now back in this discipline; cheekpieces may also assist. |
5/1 |
|
5th 3 |
8th Dec 2024 Good To Soft 2m 0f 51y Class 3 |
11st 6lb |
Hasn't appeared to fancy fences this season but he was a good novice hurdler last campaign and a revival would come as no surprise now back in this discipline; cheekpieces may also assist. |
5/1 |
|
4th 1 |
16th Nov 2024 Good 1m 7f 36y Class 3 |
11st 10lb |
Useful novice hurdler last season; yet to threaten over fences but he ran respectably when fourth of six at Kelso (2m1f, good to soft) three weeks ago and could be a work in progress in this sphere; respected. |
5/4 |
25/1
Form: 12 D
Last run: 31 days
W: 11st 8lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: 131
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
15th 22 |
12th Apr 2024 Soft 2m 4f 0y Class 1 |
10st 11lb |
Two novice hurdle wins this term (2m1f/2m, heavy) along with a Grade 2 second, and he rallied for a near-9l fourth of 16 on handicap debut in the Imperial Cup at Sandown (2m, soft) last month; this 3m point winner is open to improvement now up in trip and is one to consider; cheekpieces go on. |
6/1 |
|
15th 22 |
12th Apr 2024 Soft 2m 4f 0y Class 1 |
10st 11lb |
Two novice hurdle wins this term (2m1f/2m, heavy) along with a Grade 2 second, and he rallied for a near-9l fourth of 16 on handicap debut in the Imperial Cup at Sandown (2m, soft) last month; this 3m point winner is open to improvement now up in trip and is one to consider; cheekpieces go on. |
6/1 |
|
4th 7 |
9th Mar 2024 Heavy 1m 7f 216y Class 2 |
11st 4lb |
3m point winner who scored on hurdle debut at Carlisle (2m1f, heavy) in October and, after making the frame in Graded races the next twice, won Newbury novice (2m, heavy) last month when back down in grade; improvement needed on handicap debut but that's possible from this unexposed 6yo, who could prove well suited by this big-field scenario and expected strong pace. |
5/1 |
14/1
Form: 11-31 C
Last run: 15 days
W: 11st 8lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: 129
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5th 3 (2) |
21st May 2026 Soft 1m 3f 140y Class 3 |
10st 2lb |
Grade 2 bumper winner at Aintree in April 2023; well beaten over hurdles on last two starts (stable debut latest) but he's shown some useful form in that code and is an interesting contender on this Flat debut. |
12/1 |
|
8th 8 |
9th May 2026 Good 2m 4f 28y Class 3 |
11st 6lb |
Ex-Nicky Richards; smart bumper performer; has won two of his 17 races over hurdles, but disappointing on last two starts; makes debut for Sandy Thomson. |
12/1 |
|
6th 5 |
28th Feb 2026 Good To Soft 2m 4f 189y Class 2 |
11st 4lb |
Has won only one of his 13 handicaps but twice went very close at the start of the season and 3m possibly stretched his stamina at Musselburgh last time; back to a more suitable trip here and unlikely to be far away. |
3/1 |
8/1
Form: 13-121 D
Last run: 31 days
W: 11st 8lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 134
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 2 |
19th Apr 2026 Good 3m 0f 217y Class 2 |
11st 13lb |
Has faced a couple of difficult tasks since returned to hurdles but was beaten when taking a late fall returned to handicap level most recently; can be opposed off current mark in this deeper field. |
16/1 |
|
2 |
28th Feb 2026 Good To Soft 3m 0f 84y Class 2 |
11st 11lb |
Second in two small-field chases this season before reverting to hurdles at big odds for two Cheltenham Grade 2s, soundly beaten on latest occasion; runner-up off the same mark in this race last term; 5lb claimer takes over and they are considered each-way. |
4/1 |
|
5th 5 |
24th Jan 2026 Soft 2m 7f 213y Class 1 |
11st 2lb |
Some progressive form in handicap hurdles last season at up to 3m and, after two defeats over fences, he reverted to hurdles and finished fifth of six in the Grade 2 Relkeel Hurdle (2m4f) here on New Year's Day; that was a respectable performance but he faces another tough task today. |
33/1 |
11/4
Form: 15-11 D
Last run: 23 days
W: 11st 8lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 5 |
25th May 2026 Good 2m 2f 72y |
11st 2lb |
2-10 over hurdles and rated 143; Grade 1 novice winner at Fairyhouse in December 2023 but that was his last win in this sphere; vast majority of best form is on soft and heavy ground, so could probably do with some rain; would be getting 9lb from Daddy Long Legs in a handicap; place claims. |
15/8 |
|
6th 7 |
6th Apr 2026 Yielding To Soft 2m 3f 180y |
11st 3lb |
Grade 1-winning novice and won over fences last season; hasn't really reached the heights he once promised and was beaten in races won by Glen Kiln and Storm Heart before pulling up in the 2m5f handicap at Cheltenham when tried in cheekpieces (retained). |
16/1 |
5/1
Form: 21 D
Last run: 31 days
W: 11st 8lb
4 yo Gelding
OR: 132
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 1 |
23rd May 2026 Good To Soft 2m 1f 61y Class 3 |
11st 10lb |
Both wins came at Huntingdon when trained by Ben Pauling; made his stable debut in the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, when not beaten far, and he wasn't disgraced when hooded and held up out the back in the Swinton at Haydock (favourite) two weeks ago; this will feel like a drop in the ocean in comparison and, although turned over at a short price last October in his only chase, he should make light work of these two rivals on his return to fences. |
1/3 |
|
8th 6 |
9th May 2026 Good 1m 7f 144y Class 1 |
11st 6lb |
Lightly raced for his age; caught the eye in no uncertain terms when twelfth of 23 in the County at Cheltenham on first start for current yard, travelling smoothly but short of room in straight and finishing full of running; very best efforts for previous stables came on good ground and he missed the Scottish Champion when the rain came; still unexposed and a fascinating contender in a first-time hood. |
3/1 |
7/1
Form: 19-112
Last run: 30 days
W: 11st 1lb
4 yo Filly
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 10 |
28th Apr 2026 Yielding 3m 0f 213y |
11st 3lb |
Won Grade 2 Arkle Trial over 2m at Cheltenham in November before finishing third in 2m1f event at Leopardstown in December; appeared not to stay the extended 2m4f in the Grade 2 mares' chase at the Cheltenham Festival; however, she was placed in a Grade 1 hurdle around this distance in France two seasons ago. |
20/1 |
|
5th 3 |
13th Mar 2026 Good 2m 4f 127y Class 1 |
11st 5lb |
Made it 2-2 over fences in the Grade 2 Arkle Trial here (2m, soft) in November before finishing third in Grade 1 Racing Post Novice Chase at Leopardstown in December (2m1f, yielding; albeit no match for the first two); has won over 2m4f but faded up the hill in the 2m4f Mares' Hurdle here 12 months ago; probably needs a career-best performance if she's to run into a place. |
10/1 |
|
4 |
19th Oct 2025 Good 2m 3f 50y |
11st 7lb |
Dual bumper winner in France including a Grade 1 event and also won two hurdle races there; won a Leopardstown Grade 3 hurdle on second spell with this yard and respectable efforts in Grade 1 mares' races since; should be too good for these if jumping adequately on chasing debut. |
2/1 |
Non-runners
Jackpot D'Athou
+o+e Accumulators
| Payout | |
|---|---|
| Exacta | £73.70 |
| Straight Forecast | £86.89 |
| Tricast | £3176.08 |
| Trifecta | £1468.10 |
Selections
The Sun:
Favour And FortuneThe Times:
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TellherthenameTelegraph:
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