January 11 / 13.55 Catterick

13.55

Soft

Friends Of Kiplin Hall/EBF “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle (Qualifier) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4356.8
  • 2m 3f 66y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
RTV
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Friends Of Kiplin Hall/EBF “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle (Qualifier) (GBB Race)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

OUR TIP

8/13 (Won)

  • Win: £1.91
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 1/23-1

Last run: 52 days

W: 11st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Third in Grade 2 bumper at Aintree (2m1f, good to soft) last April and won readily on hurdle debut at Leicester (2m4f, heavy) in November; he could do with jumping with greater fluency but he's a useful prospect and holds leading claims under a 7lb penalty.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

3rd May 2025

Yielding

3m 7f 68y

15:05 Punchestown

Hasthing

11st 1lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

held up in rear, not fluent 6th

12/1

6

3rd May 2025

Yielding

3m 7f 68y

15:05 Punchestown

Hasthing

11st 1lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

held up in rear, not fluent 6th

12/1

13/2

  • Place: £1.40

Form: 532-5

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Placed in final two bumpers last spring (both good to soft); only fifth on hurdle debut at Newbury (2m4f, soft) three weeks ago but that was a warm race and he's open to improvement; could be a player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

2

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 5f 201y

Class 2

17:20 Cheltenham

Pic Roc

11st 11lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

Soundly beaten when just 17-2 at last year's Festival (2m4f); finally opened his chase account in November, before staying-on fifth in major handicap at Newbury (3m2f, good to soft) where he was badly hindered at the unsatisfactory start; 13l win at Sandown (3m, soft; made most) on latest outing confirmed he's got his act together, which earned a 7lb rise but he needs respect.

16/1

1st

3

31st Jan 2026

Soft

3m 0f 42y

Class 2

15:42 Sandown

Pic Roc

10st 7lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

Opened his chase account on reappearance, then did well to finish fifth in major handicap at Newbury (3m2f, good to soft) having badly hindered at the unsatisfactory start; lost chance with bad mistake four out when beaten favourite at Ascot since; remains of interest, assuming he puts in an error-free round.

9/2

1st

2

2nd Nov 2025

Good

2m 7f 129y

Class 3

13:48 Huntingdon

Pic Roc

11st 5lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Ben Pauling

Has the best hurdles form in this field and his good efforts (twice runner-up) over fences last season were even better; however, he was below form in first-time cheekpieces on penultimate outing and failed to complete on starts either side, the latest 11 days ago; that dents his case today (in returning cheekpieces) but he is the standout on form.

10/11

9/2

  • Place: £1.50

Form: 1 C

Last run: 48 days

W: 11st 3lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Easily won British maiden point (2m4f, soft) on debut last April and made it 2-2 in bumper here (1m7f, good to soft) in November; beat only three rivals last time and the strength of the form is questionable, but this longer trip promises to suit on hurdle debut and he certainly has potential.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

23rd May 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 107y

Class 5

16:30 Cartmel

Defence Witness

11st 8lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Sam England

Justified favouritism over 2m5f on this card last year (good to soft), and added a Catterick stayers' event in the winter, both off 4lb lower; all wins on good to soft and soft but last month's Sedgefield second on good was the equal of his peak soft-ground form; chance.

9/2

2nd

3

10th Apr 2026

Good

3m 2f 59y

Class 5

15:38 Sedgefield

Defence Witness

11st 3lb

J: Jonathan England

T: Sam England

Point, bumper and dual chase winner at up to 3m1f, all on slow ground; below par at Kelso latest (2m5f, good to soft); on a competitive mark if bouncing back but will need to produce better than he has previously done on good going.

7/2

7th

10

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 133y

Class 2

14:40 Kelso

Defence Witness

10st 2lb

J: Jonathan England

T: Sam England

Progressive in cheekpieces this season, winning twice (2m5f/3m1f, good to soft/soft) and posting a good second at Sedgefield (3m2f, soft) last time; it's possible the first-time blinkers will prompt a positive reaction today but he's up in grade and a career best is necessary.

9/1

Form: 0P5

Last run: 10 days

W: 11st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Beaten only 4l when fifth of seven at 80-1 over C&D (heavy) on New Year's Day but that was a much weaker race than this; others preferred.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

31st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 62y

Class 5

17:00 Newcastle

Ushuaia Dancer

11st 3lb

J: Callum Bewley

T: Justin Landy

Won a handicap here off 3lb higher in January 2024 (2m6f, heavy); has run only four times since; has form on this drier ground but no easy task after a break of 674 days.

10/1

4th

4

26th May 2024

Soft

2m 3f 207y

Class 5

17:20 Uttoxeter

Ushuaia Dancer

11st 6lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Justin Landy

towards rear

4/1

Form: P6

Last run: 10 days

W: 10st 10lb

6 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Respectable sixth of seven at 50-1 over C&D (heavy) on New Year's Day but today's company is much tougher; vulnerable once more.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

18th Nov 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 100y

Class 5

12:55 Kelso

Walk My Way

10st 2lb

J: Alice Stevens

T: Micky Hammond

Would have had a major say but for a mistake at the last at Hexham (2m4f, heavy; runner-up) in March 2024; however, she's shown little since (0-3) and competes off a 286-day absence from 3lb out of the handicap.

25/1

9th

12

5th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

3m 3f 9y

Class 5

14:05 Sedgefield

Walk My Way

10st 2lb

J: Emma Smith-Chaston

T: Micky Hammond

held up in rear

25/1

9th

12

5th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

3m 3f 9y

Class 5

14:05 Sedgefield

Walk My Way

10st 2lb

J: Emma Smith-Chaston

T: Micky Hammond

held up in rear

25/1

Form: -5F921

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
Improved form when runner-up over C&D (good to soft) in November and went one better at Carlisle (2m1f, good to soft) latest; unraced on soft ground; could continue to progress and he's respected under a penalty.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

7th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 15y

Class 3

16:45 Sandown

Here Comes Georgie

12st 0lb

J: Lee Edwards

T: Dylan Cunha

Close second at Doncaster (2m3f, good to soft) in November and bounced back from Ascot blip when third at Carlisle (2m, good to soft) recently, albeit soundly beaten by the first two; the step back up in trip might help and he's a possible player if conditions suit; unproven on soft ground.

9/2

3rd

2

16th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 207y

Class 3

13:40 Carlisle

Here Comes Georgie

11st 13lb

J: Lee Edwards

T: Dylan Cunha

Unproven on soft ground and tailed off at Ascot last time, although that was in a hot Class 2; went close in Class 3 at Doncaster (2m3f, good to soft) two starts ago and not ruled out now back down in grade.

7/1

Form: 95

Last run: 16 days

W: 11st 3lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Fair third in Irish maiden point (3m, good) last April but well beaten at big odds on both hurdle starts; lots of improvement is needed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

23rd May 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 34y

Class 5

17:05 Cartmel

Imperial Rule

11st 9lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Lizzie Quinlan

Triple scorer over just shy of this trip during 2024 (good and good to soft), and now back below his last winning mark; needs forgiving a pair of weakening efforts around Sedgefield most recently, however.

16/1

5th

3

19th Mar 2026

Good

2m 5f 28y

Class 5

16:40 Sedgefield

Imperial Rule

11st 10lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Lizzie Quinlan

Three chase wins in 2024 (good/good to soft; including here) and respectable efforts this season on first two starts for new yard; well beaten when reverting to hurdles here since but could be in the mix back chasing.

15/2

6th

5

25th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 188y

Class 5

16:10 Sedgefield

Imperial Rule

11st 6lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Lizzie Quinlan

Won three chases (one here) for Rebecca Menzies in 2024 and started off for Lizzie Quinlan with two very respectable chase runs this season; quite tricky to weigh up on first hurdling start for over two years and may not be favoured by rain but has a lower mark for this discipline.

6/1

Form:

Last run: 54 days

W: 11st 3lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Displayed some ability in points but tailed off at 50-1 on rules debut at Wetherby (2m3f, soft) in November and a transformation is needed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

24th Feb 2024

Heavy

2m 4f 62y

Class 3

13:05 Newcastle

Hemicycle

11st 2lb

J: Henry Brooke

T: Brian Ellison

held up in rear but in touch with leaders, weakened and lost touch 4 out, pulled up before 3 out

33/1

8th

4

11th Jan 2024

Soft

2m 3f 66y

Class 4

13:55 Catterick

Hemicycle

11st 3lb

J: Stephen Mulqueen

T: Brian Ellison

Displayed some ability in points but tailed off at 50-1 on rules debut at Wetherby (2m3f, soft) in November and a transformation is needed.

66/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £5.20
Straight Forecast £5.40
Trifecta £17.50

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Hasthing

TOPSPEED:

Here Comes Georgie

Daily Mail:

Pic Roc

RP RATINGS:

Hasthing

POSTDATA:

Hasthing

WEST COUNTRY:

Hasthing

The Times:

Hasthing

Telegraph:

Hasthing

The Guardian:

Hasthing

D Express:

Hasthing

Daily Mirror:

Hasthing

The Sun:

Hasthing

The Star:

Hasthing

Daily Record:

Hasthing