February 01 / 15.15 Wincanton

15.15

Good To Soft

Weatherbys nhstallions.co.uk Novices’ Hurdle (Novices’ Championship Hurdle Qualifier) (GBB) (Div II)

  • Prize money: £4955.86
  • 1m 7f 50y
  • Class 3
  • 8 runners
RTV
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Weatherbys nhstallions.co.uk Novices’ Hurdle (Novices’ Championship Hurdle Qualifier) (GBB) (Div II)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

1/3 (Won)

  • Win: £1.16
  • Place: £1.02

Form: 17-22 D

Last run: 43 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Ascot winner who chased home the smart Brechin Castle on final bumper start in a Listed race at Cheltenham; bumped into another good one in last week's Cheltenham winner Gidleigh Park on his hurdling debut at Newbury (2m4f, soft) and he should be winning this without too much trouble.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

8th Mar 2025

Good

2m 4f 10y

Class 3

16:45 Sandown

Fire Flyer

11st 10lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Eventually lost his form over hurdles last season, and following a revival over fences at Exeter (2m1f) in December, he was pulled up (bled) at Kempton on Boxing Day; something to prove.

7/1

7/2

  • Place: £1.02

Form: 3-032

Last run: 37 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
Beaten about 8l in his last two novices (good to soft) and the winners of those races look to have bright futures; might not be good enough to trouble Fire Flyer but he looks very solid each-way.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

19th May 2026

Good To Firm

3m 1f 10y

Class 3

19:30 Huntingdon

Thank You Maam

12st 1lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Georgina Nicholls

Returned from layoff with three below-par chase/hurdle runs in February/March but, having swapped cheekpieces for blinkers, fared much better on last two appearances; lost out only by a nose after making most of the running at Warwick (3m1f, good) last time; can make another bold bid.

5/1

2nd

2

23rd Apr 2026

Good

3m 1f 5y

Class 3

14:30 Warwick

Thank You Maam

11st 8lb

J: Miss Olive Nicholls

T: Georgina Nicholls

Back hurdling the last twice after a brief stint over fences; the first time he'd worn these aids combined when a front-running third at Wetherby (3m, good; beaten 4.25l); exposed but firmly in the mix.

5/1

3rd

2

27th Mar 2026

Good

3m 0f 26y

Class 3

16:20 Wetherby

Thank You Maam

11st 4lb

J: Miss Olive Nicholls

T: Georgina Nicholls

Not solid on his chase/hurdles form this year; previously a consistent sort in this sphere and has a fighting chance off current mark back down in grade, provided he's resurgent.

7/1

66/1

  • Place: £22.60

Form: 55770

Last run: 42 days

W: 10st 13lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Has yet to get remotely competitive and can't be fancied to beat the best of these.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

5

13th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

17:35 Worcester

Basman Palace

11st 1lb

J: Micheal Nolan

T: Carroll Gray

Off the mark at the 13th attempt under rules at Wincanton (2m4f, good) in March, but finished a well-held fourth of seven at Taunton (3m, good to firm) last month; return to this trip should suit and one for the shortlist.

13/2

6th

5

13th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

17:35 Worcester

Basman Palace

11st 1lb

J: Micheal Nolan

T: Carroll Gray

Off the mark at the 13th attempt under rules at Wincanton (2m4f, good) in March, but finished a well-held fourth of seven at Taunton (3m, good to firm) last month; return to this trip should suit and one for the shortlist.

13/2

4th

6

9th Apr 2025

Good To Firm

2m 7f 198y

Class 5

14:25 Taunton

Basman Palace

10st 7lb

J: James Davies

T: Carroll Gray

in rear but in touch with leaders, some headway after 3 out, outpaced before 2 out, weakened approaching last

6/4

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Strike-rate of 1-26 on the Flat and showed his best form for the Coles (first yard); of useful ability, has no stamina issues for hurdling and has joined a respected stable.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

27th May 2026

Good

2m 1f 46y

Class 5

18:38 Cartmel

Zhang Fei

12st 0lb

J: Fern O’Brien

T: Fergal O’Brien

Has struggled over hurdles since rejoining this stable but his penultimate Flat run was encouraging and this is his first time in a seller.

12/1

5th

3

(6)

14th May 2026

Good

1m 4f 5y

Class 5

17:03 Salisbury

Zhang Fei

9st 6lb

J: Gina Mangan

T: Fergal O’Brien

He's struggled over hurdles since rejoining this stable but he ran a respectable race at Windsor (1m2f, good to firm) 10 days ago; needs to build on that effort now stepping back up in trip and he's without a win on the Flat since 2022.

5/1

4th

2

(7)

4th May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 0y

Class 6

17:53 Windsor

Zhang Fei

9st 9lb

J: Gina Mangan

T: Fergal O’Brien

8yo who has struggled back over hurdles since rejoining Fergal O'Brien in the autumn; his sole Flat win came at this track (11.4f, good to firm) but that was in 2022 and he has something to prove back in this sphere; hood reapplied.

16/1

OUR TIP

Form: 900

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Has trailed in tailed off in three runs for this yard, the last two hurdles at Taunton; very opposable.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

24th Jun 2025

Good

2m 2f 110y

Class 5

19:27 Newton Abbot

Bruce Gobbler

10st 7lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Kayley Woollacott

Did not take to chasing this spring (two attempts) and now reverts to hurdling; quite well handicapped if judged on his two Taunton runs (2m/2m3f) towards end of last season; not ruled out.

9/1

7

7th Jun 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

13:50 Worcester

Bruce Gobbler

10st 9lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Kayley Woollacott

2m4f point winner; never really threatened to win over hurdles and the same again on recent chase debut; needs a lift from cheekpieces.

12/1

5

15th May 2025

Good

2m 3f 104y

Class 5

18:40 Fontwell

Bruce Gobbler

10st 9lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Kayley Woollacott

Maiden under rules but he did keep galloping on his final two runs over hurdles, at 2m and 2m3f; pedigree points to improvement over fences.

6/1

20/1

Form: 60

Last run: 24 days

W: 10st 4lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Bought for 62,000euros after winning a 2m Flat race in France by nearly 10l; disappointing in both his hurdles either side of wind surgery and now has some questions to answer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

10th Apr 2025

Good

2m 5f 122y

Class 5

14:45 Newton Abbot

Johannes

10st 10lb

J: Ben Bromley

T: David Pipe

Made a winning handicap debut at Taunton (about 2m3f, soft) 13 months ago but the wheels have come off on a variety of ground since, pulled up in four of those five starts and tailed off in the other; blinkers (one sibling wore them for her two wins) are now given a go, replacing recent cheekpieces.

14/1

4

10th Apr 2025

Good

2m 5f 122y

Class 5

14:45 Newton Abbot

Johannes

10st 10lb

J: Ben Bromley

T: David Pipe

led, clear after 2nd, reduced lead when slow jump and headed 3rd

14/1

15

21st Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 137y

Class 5

16:30 Exeter

Johannes

10st 9lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

towards rear, not fluent 4th

33/1

Form: 7P/0P

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Has shown precious little in two West Country hurdles and was triple-digit odds for both.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

1st Feb 2024

Good To Soft

1m 7f 50y

Class 3

15:15 Wincanton

Our Nobby

11st 2lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Polly Gundry

Has shown precious little in two West Country hurdles and was triple-digit odds for both.

100/1

0

10

1st Jan 2024

Soft

2m 2f 111y

Class 4

14:10 Exeter

Our Nobby

11st 6lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Polly Gundry

Tailed off when 200-1 for last month's stable/hurdle debut at Taunton (2m, good to soft); can't be recommended here.

100/1

11th

6

14th Dec 2023

Soft

2m 0f 104y

Class 4

13:30 Taunton

Our Nobby

11st 0lb

J: Nick Scholfield

T: Polly Gundry

Soundly beaten in two bumpers for Tom George in early 2022; can only be watched on today's stable/hurdle debut; hood (worn on debut) is refitted.

100/1

Form: 7P

Last run: 193 days

W: 10st 4lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Confined to the AW for all nine Flat runs for George Boughey, gaining his only win over 1m; it's been an underwhelming start over hurdles (on good ground) and perhaps one for handicaps.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

6

(9)

1st Oct 2024

Soft

1m 2f 37y

Class 6

17:25 Bath

Hadley Park

9st 7lb

J: William Cox

T: Joe Ponting

in touch with leaders

50/1

9th

9

(11)

15th Sep 2024

Good To Soft

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

17:30 Bath

Hadley Park

9st 4lb

J: William Cox

T: Joe Ponting

prominent, reminder soon after start, took keen hold after 1f, lost ground from over 4f out

50/1

10th

6

(2)

4th Sep 2024

Good

1m 6f 0y

Class 5

14:32 Bath

Hadley Park

9st 12lb

J: Kieran O’Neill

T: Joe Ponting

took keen hold, midfield

33/1

Non-runners

Ugo Bingo

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £1.60
Straight Forecast £1.81
Trifecta £31.00

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Fire Flyer

TOPSPEED:

Thank You Ma'am

RP RATINGS:

Fire Flyer

POSTDATA:

Fire Flyer

WEST COUNTRY:

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The Times:

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Telegraph:

Fire Flyer

The Guardian:

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Daily Mail:

Fire Flyer

D Express:

Fire Flyer

Daily Mirror:

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The Sun:

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The Star:

Fire Flyer

Daily Record:

Fire Flyer