January 26 / 16.10 Sandown

16.10

Soft

Anne Boleyn Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £5281
  • 2m 3f 173y
  • Class 4
  • 12 runners
RTV
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Anne Boleyn Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 12 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Windy

6/1 (Won)

  • Win: £6.00
  • Place: £2.40

Form: 46-611 D

Last run: 43 days

W: 10st 13lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Good enough to win a Group 2 on the Flat in France when owned by Godolphin; went 0-12 over hurdles for two previous yards but he's come good for this one with back-to-back Taunton wins (2m3f, good; 3m/good to soft); raised 20lb for those but something has clicked and deeper ground here will be no hardship.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

3

6th Feb 2024

Good

2m 3f 1y

Class 5

16:50 Taunton

Gyllen

12st 0lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Kayley Woollacott

in touch with leaders

3/1

1st

12

26th Jan 2024

Soft

2m 3f 173y

Class 4

16:10 Sandown

Gyllen

10st 13lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Kayley Woollacott

Good enough to win a Group 2 on the Flat in France when owned by Godolphin; went 0-12 over hurdles for two previous yards but he's come good for this one with back-to-back Taunton wins (2m3f, good; 3m/good to soft); raised 20lb for those but something has clicked and deeper ground here will be no hardship.

6/1

1st

5

14th Dec 2023

Soft

2m 7f 198y

Class 5

15:50 Taunton

Gyllen

11st 7lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Kayley Woollacott

Made just a fairly encouraging seasonal/stable debut in October but displayed big jolt of improvement to win easily by 13l here (2m3f, good) a fortnight ago; hiked up 13lb for that and has stamina to prove over new trip today but ought to handle the slower ground and commands respect.

7/2

8/1

  • Place: £2.50

Form: 153112 D

Last run: 43 days

W: 10st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Looked a little flattered to get within 2l of Gyllen at Taunton the last time but that was another sound effort from this in-form 7yo and dropping back from 3m won't count against him; continues to edge up the weights, however.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

27th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 164y

Class 5

15:00 Fontwell

Wot You Wearing

10st 2lb

J: Miss Kayla Ruddy

T: Fergal O’Brien

He was looking when regressive even before pulling up in his first two runs for this yard but ran better at Taunton (2m3f, good; ridden by Kayla Ruddy), where he was no match for the front two but did come from well off the pace; possibilities; 1lb wrong.

5/1

3rd

8

9th Mar 2026

Good

2m 3f 1y

Class 5

17:10 Taunton

Wot You Wearing

10st 5lb

J: Miss Kayla Ruddy

T: Fergal O’Brien

Out of sorts at the end of last term for Robert Stephens and he's been pulled up in handicaps (around 3m2f) at Fontwell and Warwick for his current yard this year; it's easy to look elsewhere.

20/1

6

20th Feb 2026

Soft

3m 2f 0y

Class 5

14:05 Warwick

Wot You Wearing

10st 5lb

J: Miss Kayla Ruddy

T: Fergal O’Brien

Three-time hurdle winner but the latest was back in November 2023 and it's been a long time since he posed a serious threat; pulled up when a 3-1 shot for last month's stable and seasonal debut at Fontwell.

12/1

14/1

  • Place: £3.00

Form: -22523

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Kept finding when again runner-up in a 2m handicap at Lingfield (good to soft) but didn't improve for going further at Kempton (2m5f, good); still looks a winner waiting to happen (runner-up in three of his six runs) and he's unexposed on this ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

4th Mar 2024

Soft

3m 0f 217y

Class 4

15:20 Plumpton

Artistic Endeavour

12st 0lb

J: Alan Johns

T: Tim Vaughan

took keen hold, disputed lead, good jump 4 out, going best when not fluent 3 out, soon led clearly, faced challenge 2 out, headed last, kept on run-in

9/4

Form: 23-323 BF

Last run: 41 days

W: 11st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Went up 6lb for a narrow defeat over 2m5f at Hereford (good) in November and that rise, combined with the step up to 3m1f, found him out when 12l away back there last month; however, has been placed in all his handicaps and he's unlikely to be far away.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

6th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 48y

Class 5

14:10 Exeter

Bertie Wooster

11st 8lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Only 1-24, the win coming over this far as a hurdler nearly two years ago; however, twice runner-up over fences this season (2m7f) and capable of going well.

13/2

3rd

1

20th Oct 2025

Good

2m 3f 166y

Class 5

14:40 Plumpton

Bertie Wooster

12st 0lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

0-6 and generally disappointing during first season over fences, signing off with a poor performance in April; returns from six-month break on a good mark, though, and last month's wind op could quite plausibly aid a return to form; cheekpieces (worn for last three runs) discarded.

5/2

Form: 223-57

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Runner-up in all his bumpers when confined to Carlisle; shaped well when third here in his first hurdle last February but heavy defeats have followed; has to turn things around on handicap debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

3

1st Nov 2024

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

15:45 Uttoxeter

Blue Ridge Hill

11st 10lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Samuel Drinkwater

Runner-up in all three bumpers but has mixed record over hurdles and was tailed off at Fontwell (3m2f) in his final run in the spring; on reduced mark for this chase debut but he's now 0-10 and comes with risks attached after a break; new headgear.

16/1

12th

3

1st Nov 2024

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

15:45 Uttoxeter

Blue Ridge Hill

11st 10lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Samuel Drinkwater

Runner-up in all three bumpers but has mixed record over hurdles and was tailed off at Fontwell (3m2f) in his final run in the spring; on reduced mark for this chase debut but he's now 0-10 and comes with risks attached after a break; new headgear.

16/1

4th

4

16th May 2024

Good

3m 1f 166y

Class 4

17:40 Fontwell

Blue Ridge Hill

10st 8lb

J: Robert Dunne

T: Samuel Drinkwater

raced in last but in touch with leaders, headway 10th, weakened after 3 out, tailed off

10/1

Form: 603212

Last run: 35 days

W: 12st 1lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Ex-Irish maiden who has made a cracking start for his new connections, following his novice success (2m, soft) with a narrow failure in a competitive Class 4 handicap at Ascot (1m7f, good to soft; pulled clear of the third); needs another jolt of improvement off 7lb higher but that's feasible over this longer trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

1st Apr 2025

Good

2m 7f 95y

Class 4

15:45 Fakenham

Toonagh Warrior

12st 2lb

J: Lee Edwards

T: Stuart Edmunds

Twice a runner-up late last year and came back to some form after some lesser efforts when just over a 3l second to Jongleur d'Etoiles at Wincanton (3m, good to soft) last month; remains competitively treated if backing that up.

7/2

1st

1

1st Apr 2025

Good

2m 7f 95y

Class 4

15:45 Fakenham

Toonagh Warrior

12st 2lb

J: Lee Edwards

T: Stuart Edmunds

raced in fourth, headway before 2 out, ridden and pressed leader approaching last, led towards finish, just did enough

7/2

2nd

3

6th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 150y

Class 4

16:50 Wincanton

Toonagh Warrior

12st 1lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Stuart Edmunds

Runner-up twice in a row at Southwell (2m4f/3m, good/good to soft) towards the end of last year and he's on a handy mark on that form; however, he's gone off the boil on his last three runs and has to raise his game.

14/1

Form: P-624 BF

Last run: 46 days

W: 11st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
After filling second in a Lingfield novice he came up shy of market expectations on his handicap debut back there (again 2m on good to soft), going down by 8l (behind Artistic Endeavour); bred for this longer distance and no doubt capable of better.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

10th Mar 2025

Good

2m 3f 164y

Class 5

15:00 Plumpton

Celtic Ned

11st 9lb

J: Niall Houlihan

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Yet to fire over fences but his best hurdle efforts would make him of interest off his reduced mark; better ground could help, as could blinkers, and he's one to watch in the market.

4/1

6th

2

23rd Feb 2025

Soft

2m 5f 135y

Class 5

14:30 Fontwell

Celtic Ned

11st 10lb

J: Niall Houlihan

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Soundly beaten in the autumn on his two chase starts but didn't run badly when fourth of six at Wincanton last time in a race that has worked out well; this lightly raced 7yo is on a handy mark on last season's best hurdle form and today's race may not take much winning; interesting.

5/1

4th

1

21st Nov 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 35y

Class 5

13:15 Wincanton

Celtic Ned

12st 0lb

J: Niall Houlihan

T: Gary & Josh Moore

raced in fourth, lost position but in touch with leaders from 5th, headway 13th, went third 4 out, weakened before 2 out

9/2

Form: /362-3

Last run: 34 days

W: 11st 10lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
Newton Abbot bumper winner on heavy; weak 14-1 chance when a never-dangerous 8l third over this trip at Haydock a month ago when making his handicap debut; could find something on that but will need to.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

31st Jan 2025

Soft

2m 3f 110y

Class 4

16:18 Lingfield

Knowwhentoholdem

12st 0lb

J: James Bowen

T: Neil Mulholland

Heavy defeats switched to chasing this term, with tongue tied last time and cheekpieces added today; that equipment hints at risks but his two runs over hurdles leading into that (about 2m4f in the mud) read pretty well, so he's given a second look on his return to this discipline.

9/1

2

31st Jan 2025

Soft

2m 3f 110y

Class 4

16:18 Lingfield

Knowwhentoholdem

12st 0lb

J: James Bowen

T: Neil Mulholland

in touch with leaders, weakened after 3 out, pulled up 2 out

9/1

6th

7

19th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 5f 110y

Class 4

15:17 Ffos Las

Knowwhentoholdem

11st 9lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Neil Mulholland

Came good over hurdles for Anthony Charlton at Newbury (2m4f, heavy) in March and also ran well for new stable later that month, but dropped out very tamely on chasing debut in October and needs first-time tongue-tie to aid his finishing effort here.

20/1

Form: 43

Last run: 63 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Has run okay in a couple of 2m3f maidens at Chepstow this season, one of them won by a subsequent Grade 2 winner; appeals as the type to raise his game in handicaps.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

17th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 48y

Class 4

15:30 Exeter

Captain Boudet

11st 7lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Jeremy Scott

Ended last season with a C&D success in sole chase attempt at Exeter; inconsistent this term but the return to this scenario may have a positive effect.

5/1

3rd

5

3rd Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 7f 3y

Class 3

15:45 Taunton

Captain Boudet

10st 10lb

J: Chad Bament

T: Jeremy Scott

Won twice last season (2m5f/2m3f); back in prime form when clear second at Hereford (3m1f, good to soft; also suited by soft) in December, his second start this term, and remains unexposed as a stayer but ran poorly at Newbury last month and has become hard to predict.

7/2

Form: /2305-

Last run: 345 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 101

Form & Verdict
Placed in maiden and handicap company in eight defeats for Harry Whittington; should be on a competitive mark but lacks match practice and may prefer goodish ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

3rd Jun 2026

Good

2m 4f 216y

Class 4

15:00 Newton Abbot

Vengeance

10st 2lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Jimmy Frost

0-12 over hurdles and, while there have been hints of encouragement off a sliding mark, he hasn't looked like capitalising and now faces a stiff task from out of the weights on chase debut.

16/1

4th

3

17th Apr 2026

Good To Firm

2m 7f 25y

Class 5

18:10 Exeter

Vengeance

11st 1lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Jimmy Frost

0-14 under rules; sliding in the weights in four starts for this trainer and those efforts suggest he'll need a further favour or two from the handicapper to break his duck.

7/1

5th

7

7th Apr 2026

Good

2m 5f 137y

Class 5

14:10 Exeter

Vengeance

11st 3lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Jimmy Frost

No wins in 13 but ran okay two weeks ago at Wincanton (2m4f, good), finishing under 8l behind the winner who comfortably followed up last week at Ludlow; each-way claims.

9/1

Form: 3-3111 D

Last run: 40 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Has done all his racing in Scotland or the north of England; not sure he had all that much in hand when bringing up the hat-trick at Carlisle (2m3f, good to soft) but going up 4lb isn't too damaging and he's earned his right to contest this better race.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

8

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 189y

Class 2

13:30 Kelso

Eloi Du Puy

11st 3lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

These cheekpieces and a switch to prominent tactics have prompted good performances at Ayr (2m4f, soft) on his last two starts, finishing second then first; he's won three times here in the past (including on good to soft) and might be thereabouts.

9/1

1st

3

23rd Feb 2026

Soft

2m 4f 100y

Class 4

16:00 Ayr

Eloi Du Puy

11st 11lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

Third in this last year (heavy) and achieved his best result of this season when 6l second to Diamond Geezer in first-time cheekpieces (retained) over C&D (soft) last month; could be thereabouts.

10/1

2nd

3

29th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 100y

Class 4

13:43 Ayr

Eloi Du Puy

11st 3lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

Four-time hurdle winner, including three over 2m5f at Kelso (good to soft/soft); disappointing start to chasing career in the autumn but he ran respectably back over hurdles at Kelso (extended 2m6f) last month; now back on last winning mark and he could be dangerous on this drop back in trip; cheekpieces added.

16/1

Form: 5-8033 BF

Last run: 48 days

W: 10st 11lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 98

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced and comfortably her best form yet when third in a small-field handicap over C&D in early December (heavy); dropped 2lb for that and yet was only just over 5l away; can progress some more.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

8th Feb 2025

Soft

3m 0f 0y

Class 5

15:58 Uttoxeter

Elle Est Beau

11st 10lb

J: Tristan Durrell

T: Dan Skelton

Cheekpieces have been installed this season, with a good second at Southwell (2m4f, good) on first occasion but she was not in quite the same form on soft ground on either start since; stamina to prove after one attempt at 3m (last March) and improvement is needed on this chase debut.

9/2

4

8th Feb 2025

Soft

3m 0f 0y

Class 5

15:58 Uttoxeter

Elle Est Beau

11st 10lb

J: Tristan Durrell

T: Dan Skelton

Cheekpieces have been installed this season, with a good second at Southwell (2m4f, good) on first occasion but she was not in quite the same form on soft ground on either start since; stamina to prove after one attempt at 3m (last March) and improvement is needed on this chase debut.

9/2

5th

6

23rd Jan 2025

Soft

2m 3f 154y

Class 5

14:05 Wetherby

Elle Est Beau

11st 11lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

in rear, steady headway from 5th

11/2

Non-runners

Bold Reaction, Lily Luna

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £15.70
Straight Forecast £33.05
Tricast £219.89
Trifecta £222.50

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Bold Reaction

Daily Mail:

Gyllen

TOPSPEED:

Wot You Wearing

The Guardian:

Eloi Du Puy

POSTDATA:

Elle Est Beau

SPOTLIGHT:

Toonagh Warrior

The Sun:

Celtic Ned

WEST COUNTRY:

Bertie Wooster

The Times:

Wot You Wearing

Daily Record:

Eloi Du Puy

LAMBOURN:

Bold Reaction

Telegraph:

Bold Reaction

D Express:

Bold Reaction

Daily Mirror:

Gyllen

The Star:

Gyllen