15.20
SoftTote Guarantee, Bet Smarter EBF “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle (Qualifier) (GBB Race)
- Prize money: £6601.25
- 2m 0f 145y
- Class 3
- 6 runners
Runners: 6 runners
Type: Hurdle Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Light rain
Abandoned
Form: 124 D
Last run: 45 days
W: 11st 8lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 129
| 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 |
Abandoned
Form: 2421
Last run: 45 days
W: 11st 8lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: 113
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4 |
24th Nov 2024 Good To Soft 2m 3f 207y Class 4 |
11st 9lb |
Won 2m4f novice at Sedgefield (good to soft) after Christmas and fair efforts in defeat in the spring; however he didn't run much of a race on his handicap debut at Warwick (2m5f, good) so no strong case this time. |
9/1 |
|
7th 4 |
24th Nov 2024 Good To Soft 2m 3f 207y Class 4 |
11st 9lb |
raced in second, pressed leader before 3 out, weakened before 2 out |
9/1 |
|
7th 2 |
3rd Oct 2024 Good To Soft 2m 5f 0y Class 3 |
11st 11lb |
Won Sedgefield novice (2m4f, good to soft) on Boxing Day and probably bettered that form when placed on final two starts last season; makes handicap debut after a break but further progress is possible. |
7/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 9-237
Last run: 85 days
W: 11st 2lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 5 |
18th Jul 2026 Good 2m 5f 89y Class 1 |
11st 2lb |
Win/placed form in his usual cheekpieces before making all for a narrow success in the newly fitted visor (with tongue-tie worn for last seven starts) at Cartmel (2m5f, good); he's getting high in the weights now (raised another 4lb) and he won't be the only one racing prominently. |
9/1 |
|
1st 3 |
28th Jun 2026 Good 2m 5f 34y Class 2 |
11st 11lb |
In fine fettle in recent runs, landing his fifth win over fences at Kelso (2m5f, good) in April and placed since at Aintree and Perth; swaps cheekpieces for a first-time visor and looks sure to give another good account. |
3/1 |
|
2nd 9 |
7th Jun 2026 Good To Soft 2m 7f 180y Class 2 |
10st 2lb |
Career bests on the RPR front in his last two races, winning at Kelso (2m5f) and close up at Aintree (2m4f; again on good); could run well, though a nagging concern that he didn't appear to stay 3m when he tried it once before (at this track). |
10/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 3485
Last run: 16 days
W: 11st 2lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2 |
20th Jun 2025 Good 2m 4f 139y Class 5 |
12st 0lb |
Did not take to chasing at end of last year (two attempts) and was tailed off when reappearing over hurdles last month; on a good mark now but needs to have taken considerable benefit from that recent outing. |
8/1 |
|
4th 2 |
26th May 2025 Good 2m 4f 145y Class 5 |
11st 12lb |
Won maiden hurdle here (2m, soft) in March 2024 and is well handicapped if judged on that performance, but didn't take to chasing at end of 2024 and this return to hurdling comes after a 163-day break. |
5/1 |
|
4th 2 |
26th May 2025 Good 2m 4f 145y Class 5 |
11st 12lb |
Won maiden hurdle here (2m, soft) in March 2024 and is well handicapped if judged on that performance, but didn't take to chasing at end of 2024 and this return to hurdling comes after a 163-day break. |
5/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 67
Last run: 27 days
W: 11st 2lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2 |
26th May 2024 Soft 2m 3f 207y Class 5 |
11st 12lb |
didn't jump with fluency, led, hit 5th, not fluent 6th, headed when not fluent 7th, weakening when not fluent 3 out, soon lost touch and pulled up |
33/1 |
|
2 |
26th May 2024 Soft 2m 3f 207y Class 5 |
11st 12lb |
led, hit 5th, not fluent 6th, headed when not fluent 7th, weakening when not fluent 3 out, soon lost touch |
33/1 |
|
5th 3 |
4th May 2024 Good To Soft 2m 0f 48y Class 4 |
11st 6lb |
in touch with leaders, hit 3rd |
10/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 72-
Last run: 314 days
W: 10st 9lb
7 yo Mare
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 3 |
10th Jul 2026 Good 2m 4f 0y Class 2 |
10st 9lb |
Last five wins have all been gained over 2m4f, but three defeats since May's latest Uttoxeter success (her fifth there) have taken her score to 0-4 racing off marks in the 120s; rivalry for early lead. |
9/1 |
|
3rd 5 |
28th Jun 2026 Good 2m 1f 46y Class 2 |
11st 3lb |
6-16 over hurdles, her latest success being at Uttoxeter in May (2m4f, good); one of her best runs was when 2l second to Fiveonefive in this race last year, but she is now 6lb worse off with the winner. |
20/1 |
|
4th 1 |
13th Jun 2026 Good 2m 4f 28y Class 3 |
12st 0lb |
Only win away from Uttoxeter came over today's C&D in May 2025, and she was a good third in this race soon after (split Johnson's Blue and Well Educated) despite pulling; well held off career-high mark latest. |
9/1 |
Verdict
Having made an excellent start over hurdles, MAKING HEADWAY faces a straightforward task back in these much calmer waters having come in fourth in an Aintree Grade 1 last time out. Donald McCain has won two of the last three runnings of this contest and his Panhandle Slim rates second best ahead of Mount Gallion and Nick The Greek.[Peter Entwistle]