February 03 / 12.50 Sandown

12.50

Soft

Virgin Bet Daily Extra Places Novices’ Hurdle (Novices’ Championship Hurdle Series Qual’) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £7804.5
  • 1m 7f 216y
  • Class 3
  • 7 runners
RTV
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Virgin Bet Daily Extra Places Novices’ Hurdle (Novices’ Championship Hurdle Series Qual’) (GBB Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Windy

8/11 (Won)

  • Win: £2.63
  • Place: £1.30

Form:

Last run:

W: 10st 4lb

4 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Showed notable form on the Flat last year for Aidan O'Brien, winning 1m5f Listed race and making the frame in Irish Derby and a 1m4f Group 3 race won by Vauban; sold for 100,000gns and gelded since last run; entered in Triumph; brings plenty of potential to hurdling and commands respect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

9

(3)

1st May 2026

Good

1m 6f 0y

Class 4

17:35 Goodwood

Peking Opera

8st 13lb

J: Rhys Clutterbuck

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Listed Flat winner for Aidan O'Brien and initially looked a good prospect for hurdling; however, has struggled badly under both codes since returning from an absence.

33/1

7th

1

(2)

17th Apr 2026

Good To Firm

2m 1f 24y

Class 5

16:15 Bath

Peking Opera

9st 9lb

J: Tom Queally

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Listed Flat winner for Aidan O'Brien; made a successful hurdle debut for this yard in early 2024 but it's been a struggle since then under both codes; has dropped a long way in the weights but he's hard to trust at the moment and others are preferred.

10/1

4th

2

27th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 164y

Class 5

15:00 Fontwell

Peking Opera

11st 12lb

J: Jude Fernandes

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Listed Flat winner for Aidan O'Brien; made a successful hurdle debut for this yard in early 2024 but it's been a struggle since then under both codes and he's tough to trust at the minute.

12/1

3/1

  • Place: £1.30

Form: P-3141

Last run: 39 days

W: 11st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
Justified favouritism with 8l success in similar event at Fontwell (2m1f, good to soft; second British start) on Boxing Day, adding to his French win; incurs 10lb penalty but is open to further progress.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

31st Mar 2026

Good

2m 4f 72y

Class 4

15:50 Bangor-on-Dee

The Good Doctor

11st 9lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

Potentially well handicapped but he's 0-7 over fences and has been well below his best the last twice, on good ground (tried a visor) and soft (no headgear); did win in a tongue-tie when trained in France and that aid belatedly returns; couldn't rule out.

8/1

5th

4

20th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 3

15:05 Warwick

The Good Doctor

11st 3lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

Made it 0-6 over fences when tailed off in first-time visor at Leicester in December; however, the headgear is left off today and he's on a competitive mark on his best chase form; won on testing ground in France; could be thereabouts if bouncing back to form.

11/2

4th

1

28th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 3f 187y

Class 4

15:23 Newbury

The Good Doctor

12st 2lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

Two hurdle wins and better form when second over fences in December in 2m handicaps at Warwick and Newbury, both on good to soft; short-headed in the latter but flopped when favourite at Hereford (upped to 2m5f) six weeks ago, when having three runs in just over a month was blamed; stamina to prove beyond 2m2f, even if he's back to form; yard is going strongly.

15/8

Form: 4

Last run: 22 days

W: 10st 4lb

4 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Sole Flat win came in ordinary handicap; belied his 200-1 odds by shaping well in the Chatteris Fen at Huntingdon (2m, good to soft; fourth of six) on the switch to hurdles but lacks potential to some extent.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

24th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 29y

Class 5

19:50 Fontwell

Blue Universe

12st 0lb

J: Paddy Hanlon

T: Michael Attwater

0-12 over hurdles but he ran well to finished second off this mark at Huntingdon (2m3f, soft) in February; this is a deeper race but he's versatile ground-wise and has each-way claims again after a short break.

5/1

2nd

1

5th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 3f 137y

Class 5

12:50 Huntingdon

Blue Universe

12st 0lb

J: Shane Fenelon

T: Michael Attwater

Still a maiden over hurdles and he was beaten off current mark, having made mistakes, at Huntingdon (2m4f) on most recent attempt in this sphere.

5/1

3rd

1

17th Oct 2025

Good

2m 4f 1y

Class 4

15:50 Fakenham

Blue Universe

11st 4lb

J: Marc Goldstein

T: Michael Attwater

A fair 1m2f Flat scorer who has shown similar form in this sphere, collared only late on when a good runner-up in 2m4f Worcester novice three weeks ago; big shout.

2/1

Form: 50-P6

Last run: 11 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Showed some promise on bumper debut; has failed to build on that effort and is likely to be more interesting in handicaps shortly; drops back in trip for third hurdles attempt.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

7

12th Apr 2026

Good

2m 7f 191y

Class 5

17:20 Ffos Las

Glengolly

11st 3lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Billy Aprahamian

Seemingly aided by new tongue-tie when gaining breakthrough win at Hereford (3m1f, soft) in December, his 13th hurdle run, and has been placed on three of his four starts since; would appeal more on ground slower than good but still enters calculations; swaps usual cheekpieces for visor.

8/1

3rd

4

18th Mar 2026

Good

3m 1f 10y

Class 5

14:15 Huntingdon

Glengolly

11st 6lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Billy Aprahamian

The tongue-tie went on for last four starts, breaking his duck in good style at Hereford (3m2f, soft) on first occasion and creditable runner-up in two of his three starts since; the exception can be forgiven on heavy ground at Ffos Las; the tongue-tie is removed this time and he's not proven on good, but otherwise he has solid each-way claims.

6/1

2nd

2

23rd Feb 2026

Soft

3m 0f 217y

Class 5

15:45 Plumpton

Glengolly

11st 10lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Billy Aprahamian

Broke his duck in good style at Hereford (3m2f, soft) in December, fitted with a tongue-tie, and backed that up with another solid effort behind a big improver at Uttoxeter; can be forgiven recent Ffos Las run where the ground went against him and he's worth considering.

7/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Useful on Flat for German-based Waldemar Hickst, winning three times on French soil (1m2f-12.5f); ran well in German Listed event (2m4f) last time out; holds two Grade 1 entries at Cheltenham Festival; interesting recruit and market support should be heeded.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

(5)

17th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

14:17 Ripon

No More Bolero

10st 0lb

J: Mason Paetel

T: James Owen

Ready winner at Bath (2m1f, good to firm) on reappearance and good second under Mason Paetel over C&D (good) eight days later; another bold bid looks on its way.

3/1

2nd

1

(2)

25th Apr 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

15:00 Ripon

No More Bolero

10st 3lb

J: Mason Paetel

T: James Owen

Ready winner back from a break at Bath (2m1f, good to firm) eight days ago; his 4lb rise is offset by Mason Paetel's claim; likely to follow up.

6/5

1st

3

(5)

17th Apr 2026

Good To Firm

2m 1f 24y

Class 5

16:15 Bath

No More Bolero

9st 3lb

J: Saffie Osborne

T: James Owen

Turned things around back over hurdles with a win at Ludlow (2m, good) in November but he was a well-held third in a small field at Sedgefield the following month; bit to prove again after that but conditions should be fine back in this sphere and he's well treated on his close call at Chester last autumn; not ruled out on his return.

5/2

Form: 3/9-46

Last run: 11 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
French bumper effort has substance; has something to find on the balance of his British form, sixth in Newbury maiden hurdle (2m, good to soft) most recently, but may still do better for top stable.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

25th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 1f 77y

Class 5

16:30 Bangor-on-Dee

Jaitroplaclasse

11st 13lb

J: Charlie Price

T: Robbie Llewellyn

Gave good account when close third in first-time cheekpieces at Ludlow (2m4f, good to soft) last month and perhaps not helped by the heavy ground when a beaten favourite next time; only 1-12 as a chaser but he's in the mix.

5/1

4th

1

3rd Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 2f 40y

Class 5

16:15 Taunton

Jaitroplaclasse

12st 0lb

J: Charlie Price

T: Robbie Llewellyn

Just 1-11 over fences but gave good account when close third in first-time cheekpieces at Ludlow (2m4f, good to soft) last month and should be fine on the slower ground here; one to consider.

7/2

3rd

7

15th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 11y

Class 5

14:17 Ludlow

Jaitroplaclasse

11st 8lb

J: Charlie Price

T: Robbie Llewellyn

Made all in small-field Newton Abbot chase (2m, good to soft) in September and put a below-par run behind him when respectable third at Sedgefield (2m, good to soft) on Boxing Day but others appeal more all the same; moves back up in trip and sports first-time cheekpieces.

10/1

Form: 0-6

Last run: 86 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Both starts in Newbury bumpers, better effort when midfield on latest; has some ability on that evidence but will need further progress on return from another break.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

20th May 2026

Good

3m 1f 100y

Class 5

15:00 Warwick

Grand Sabre

11st 1lb

J: Tabitha Worsley

T: Nick Gifford

His sole success came here (3m, good) last May off this mark but he's been disappointing since; first-time cheekpieces are applied on his first run for five months and they need to spark him back to form.

8/1

5

23rd Oct 2025

Good To Soft

3m 1f 210y

Class 5

16:15 Fontwell

Grand Sabre

10st 10lb

J: James Davies

T: Nick Gifford

Low-mileage 6yo who left some very poor performances behind when staying on dourly to cause 22-1 surprise at Warwick (3m, good) in May; quickly back in the doldrums on next outing, though, and returns from 141-day break with it all to prove again.

20/1

4th

3

4th Jun 2025

Good

3m 1f 170y

Class 5

14:35 Newton Abbot

Grand Sabre

11st 5lb

J: James Davies

T: Nick Gifford

Nothing to show for seven previous runs but he popped up in a small field when staying on strongly at Warwick (3m, good; 22-1) last time, with Moonlight Artist well adrift; that was just his second run over fences and his jumping was noticeably better; probably has more to offer, particularly over this sort of trip.

5/1

Non-runners

Dartmoor Pirate

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £3.60
Straight Forecast £4.08
Trifecta £19.50

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Peking Opera

TOPSPEED:

The Good Doctor

WEST COUNTRY:

Dartmoor Pirate

Telegraph:

The Good Doctor

The Guardian:

The Good Doctor

Daily Mail:

The Good Doctor

The Sun:

The Good Doctor

POSTDATA:

Peking Opera

The Times:

Peking Opera

D Express:

Peking Opera

Daily Mirror:

Peking Opera

The Star:

Peking Opera

Daily Record:

Peking Opera