April 12 / 14.55 Aintree

14.55

Soft

TrustATrader Top Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £56270
  • 2m 0f 103y
  • Class 1
  • 6 runners
ITV
View Course
TrustATrader Top Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

10/11 (Won)

  • Win: £2.10
  • Place: £1.30

Form: 1112 D

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 148

Form & Verdict
The son of distinguished parents, being by Galileo and out of Annie Power; has duly made a big splash and finished clear second in the Supreme at Cheltenham (2m, soft; hood applied) most recently, worn down by the rallying winner towards the finish having briefly looked likely to maintain an unbeaten record; headgear retained; leading claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

13th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 213y

Class 1

16:00 Cheltenham

Mystical Power

11st 10lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

Second in last year's Supreme Novices' (2m) before 2m Grade 1 wins at Aintree and Punchestown; while he takes a big step up in trip today, his dam Annie Power was second in this race and last term's promise isn't forgotten; however, he's been extremely lacklustre in 2m Grade 1s the last twice.

16/1

6th

4

29th Dec 2024

Yielding

2m 0f 0y

14:30 Leopardstown

Mystical Power

11st 12lb

J: Mark Walsh

T: W P Mullins

Sole defeat last season when second in the Supreme Novices' at Cheltenham, made amends with Grade 1 wins at Aintree and Punchestown; never going well on his reappearance in the Fighting Fifth; likely second-best of Mullins squad.

12/1

OUR TIP

2/1

  • Place: £1.50

Form: 1-1143 D

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 146

Form & Verdict
Acts on soft ground; has the notable honour of being the only horse to beat exciting prospect Ballyburn; did well to finish third (one place behind Mystical Power) in the Supreme most recently, having met trouble, and the bare form needs marking up; one of the main players.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

16th

8

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Firefox

11st 4lb

J: Keith Donoghue

T: Gordon Elliott

Tongue tied on last two starts; Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown (3m, soft) in February was also the first time he went beyond 2m5f, when 33-1 and spending most of the race out the back but running on into fourth of 12, beaten 14l; some encouragement might be derived from that but he didn't see it out so well when confronted by 3m2f in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham.

50/1

6th

2

13th Mar 2026

Good

3m 2f 70y

Class 1

16:00 Cheltenham

Firefox

11st 10lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

He's performed respectably in defeat at the last two Cheltenham Festivals and won a Grade 2 at Down Royal (2m3f, good to yielding) in November; 14l fourth when upped in trip in the Irish Gold Cup (3m, soft) last month and he'll be doing very well if he improves upon that finishing position today.

33/1

4th

4

2nd Feb 2026

Soft To Heavy

3m 0f 100y

15:30 Leopardstown

Firefox

11st 10lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Gordon Elliott

Smart performer over shorter distances; ended last season with second to Spindleberry in 2m4f Grade 1 at Fairyhouse; made winning reappearance in five-runner Grade 2 event at Down Royal (2m3f, good to yielding) in November; outpointed by Iroko at Ascot last month; first time beyond 2m5f and tongue-tie tried; vulnerable.

66/1

16/1

Form: 111220 C

Last run: 62 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 136

Form & Verdict
Acts on soft; disappointing in major handicap at Newbury two months ago but very consistent otherwise this term and may well rebound provided he takes to first-time cheekpieces; Greatwood effort is strong form and he scored at this meeting two years ago (Grade 2 bumper).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 210y

Class 1

14:30 Aintree

Lookaway

12st 0lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: Neil King

Landed the bumper on this card in 2022; justified market support in major handicap at Kempton (good to soft; first attempt at 3m under rules) most recently, taking chase record to 3-5 and overall strike-rate to 9-20; remains particularly unexposed over this sort of distance and commands respect returned to Aintree, with further progress plausible.

13/2

1st

6

21st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Kempton

Lookaway

11st 2lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: Neil King

A front-runner and not the only one; however, he was a Grade 2-winning hurdler and very much heading the right way over fences, as his third at Newbury (2m, good to soft) has worked out well and he then won by 24l over 2m4f here last month (left clear two out) despite being taken on by Leader In The Park; looks well in off only 4lb higher and, although unraced over this far, he's always looked a strong stayer at 2m4f.

10/1

Form: 52-15 D

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 141

Form & Verdict
Ex-French 5yo who opened his account at Limerick (2m, heavy) on debut for Willie Mullins; finished behind Mystical Power and Firefox when fifth in the Supreme since but shaped as if this sharper track will suit, having faded and lost two places towards the finish; remains of interest.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

6

11th Jan 2025

2m 1f 50y

14:18 Fairyhouse

Mistergif

11st 12lb

J: J J Slevin

T: W P Mullins

midfield, in touch with leaders after 4th, went fourth after 7th

4/1

1st

6

11th Jan 2025

2m 1f 50y

14:18 Fairyhouse

Mistergif

11st 12lb

J: J J Slevin

T: W P Mullins

midfield, in touch with leaders after 4th, went fourth after 7th

4/1

Form: 3-1121 D

Last run: 48 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 135

Form & Verdict
Acts on any going; useful Grade 2 form the last twice, finishing second at Doncaster then going one better in clearcut fashion at Kempton, both over 2m; faces a stiffer assignment upped further in class but he's improving and comes here fresh having bypassed Cheltenham.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

31st Oct 2025

Good

1m 7f 214y

Class 3

15:05 Uttoxeter

Lump Sum

11st 5lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Sam Thomas

Smart hurdler who won Welsh Champion Hurdle at Ffos Las (2m, good to soft) on last season's reappearance and was subsequently second in Fighting Fifth at Newcastle and William Hill Hurdle at Newbury; absent since below-par run in March but still commands respect on chasing debut.

13/8

1st

4

31st Oct 2025

Good

1m 7f 214y

Class 3

15:05 Uttoxeter

Lump Sum

11st 5lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Sam Thomas

Smart hurdler who won Welsh Champion Hurdle at Ffos Las (2m, good to soft) on last season's reappearance and was subsequently second in Fighting Fifth at Newcastle and William Hill Hurdle at Newbury; absent since below-par run in March but still commands respect on chasing debut.

13/8

Form: 1311 D

Last run: 41 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 131

Form & Verdict
Acts on soft ground; bagged Grade 2 honours at Kelso (2m2f) six weeks ago, taking hurdles record to 3-4, but had little to spare and posted a substandard performance for that particular race; has much more on his plate at this higher level.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

16th May 2026

Good

2m 1f 77y

Class 2

15:55 Bangor-on-Dee

Personal Ambition

11st 2lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

Won three-runner novice chase by 17l at Newbury (2m, soft; first-time blinkers) in February but that form is tricky to evaluate, and he was pulled up in the Grand Annual at Cheltenham in March; still needs to prove he can handle his current handicap mark and that he's fully effective on the forecast good ground.

4/1

15

11th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 199y

Class 1

16:40 Cheltenham

Personal Ambition

10st 11lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Ben Pauling

He's had jumping issues and should have won a Grade 2 novice chase at Ascot in December 2024 (2m3f, good to soft; bad mistake at final fence); beat just two rivals when getting off the mark in this sphere at Newbury (2m, soft) recently but that was still a very encouraging effort in first-time blinkers (retained); could make a bold bid if minimising the errors.

14/1

1st

3

17th Feb 2026

2m 0f 92y

Class 3

14:15 Newbury

Personal Ambition

11st 2lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

Three-time hurdle winner; 0-6 over fences but highly tried on occasions and unlucky not to win a Grade 2 at Ascot last season; disappointed in that same race two months ago but new headgear could help him turn things around.

100/30

Non-runners

Dysart Enos, Golden Ace

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £3.80
Straight Forecast £3.88
Tricast £24.39
Trifecta £29.00

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Mystical Power

WEST COUNTRY:

Dysart Enos

POSTDATA:

Golden Ace

RP RATINGS:

Mystical Power

TOPSPEED:

Mystical Power

Telegraph:

Mystical Power

The Guardian:

Mystical Power

D Express:

Mystical Power

The Sun:

Mystical Power

Daily Mirror:

Golden Ace

The Star:

Golden Ace

The Times:

Dysart Enos

Daily Mail:

Dysart Enos

Daily Record:

Dysart Enos