October 11 / 15.15 Chepstow

15.15

Soft

Unibet Persian War Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £28475
  • 2m 3f 100y
  • Class 1
  • 7 runners
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Unibet Persian War Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly sunny

3/1 (Won)

  • Win: £3.00
  • Place: £1.50

Form: 2-2111 D

Last run: 14 days

W: 10st 7lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
Progressive mare who completed a hat-trick when keeping on well to win valuable series final at Worcester (2m4f, soft) a fortnight ago; won't mind if the ground dries out here and her sex allowance gives her a very good chance at the weights.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

8

24th May 2026

Good

2m 3f 207y

Class 2

15:28 Uttoxeter

Flying Fortune

11st 3lb

J: James Bowen

T: Mickey Bowen

Won four on the trot at about 2m4f in 2024, culminating in a Grade 2 novice; hasn't recaptured that form since returning from an absence and she's in another competitive race here.

13/2

12th

14

9th May 2026

Good

3m 0f 58y

Class 2

12:45 Haydock

Flying Fortune

10st 4lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Mickey Bowen

Won four on the trot in July-October 2024 at about 2m4f, culminating in a Grade 2 novice event; long absence before three runs this year, easily best of those last time and that display gave some encouragement for this longer trip, but jumping was sketchy and cheekpieces are now applied.

20/1

7/2

  • Place: £2.40

Form: P-F211

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
Failed to complete his first three hurdle races but has come good in recent weeks, winning comfortably at Downpatrick (2m6f, good) and Kelso (2m5f, good); tackles strong opposition here but it's hard to gauge the limit of his ability; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

16th

12

12th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 127y

Class 1

14:00 Cheltenham

Intense Approach

10st 11lb

J: Alex Harvey

T: John C McConnell

Prevailed in a big field at Galway (2m6f, good) on chase debut but has failed to back up that form since and was particularly disappointing in October when bidding for a second win at the Cheltenham Showcase meeting; wears first-time headgear; less solid than others.

50/1

26

11th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 0y

Class 1

14:40 Cheltenham

Intense Approach

10st 10lb

T: John C McConnell

Reserve; won four times (once on good here) as a novice hurdler last season before pulling up at 14-1 in the 3m Grade 1 novice event here; won chase debut at the Galway festival (2m6f) last August but chase career has gone badly the wrong way since, latest start 11 days ago; returns to hurdling in first-time cheekpieces; next to no exposure in handicaps but low on the list.

50/1

5th

2

28th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 0f 0y

15:35 Navan

Intense Approach

11st 1lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: John C McConnell

Four-time hurdles winner with a liking for a sound surface and staying trips; had the going in his favour when making a winning chase debut over 2m6f at the Galway festival last August; disappointing when well fancied for a 3m1f contest at Cheltenham in October; unseated at the first at Musselburgh early this month.

33/1

Form: 32431-

Last run: 175 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Quickly developed into useful novice last season, albeit only win came at short odds in uncompetitive race at end of that campaign; finished behind Juventus De Brion when fourth at Ascot (2m3f, good to soft) in February, though, and that rival may have more potential.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 187y

Class 1

15:45 Newbury

Vincenzo

11st 8lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Sam Thomas

Ran well in this race last year and similarly notable handicaps at Cheltenham in November/December; confirmed his reliability by justifying favouritism at Ascot (2m5f, soft) most recently, taking chase record to 1212221; rock-solid contender who again looks sure to be involved.

11/4

1st

6

17th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 13y

Class 2

14:20 Ascot

Vincenzo

10st 13lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Sam Thomas

Reliable sort, runner-up in competitive events on last three starts; followed fine effort behind a thriving Panic Attack in the Paddy Power at Cheltenham (2m4f, soft) with another good run there five weeks ago when a mistake at the last didn't help; has notably solid form and high on the list again.

2/1

2nd

8

1st Mar 2025

Soft

2m 3f 187y

Class 1

15:45 Newbury

Vincenzo

10st 10lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Sam Thomas

All wins at about 2m; has form figures of 121 since switched to fences, winning at Sandown (soft) most recently; connections landed the big handicap chase at Kempton last Saturday with a similar type; interesting contender, assuming he's as effective back up in distance.

7/1

Form: 021-1

Last run: 158 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Returned from break with convincing novice wins at Taunton (2m, soft) and Kempton (2m, good) in the spring; that form already makes him of interest here, and there are good reasons to believe that today's longer's trip will unlock further improvement.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

9

9th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 176y

Class 1

16:40 Aintree

Ryans Rocket

11st 0lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Fergal O’Brien

Firmly in the picture judged on his handicap win at Newbury (2m, good to soft) in November and he drops back in trip today having weakened over 2m4f at Kempton last month; not ruled out but he made mistakes last time and has unseated on two of his last four starts; needs to cut out the blunders.

9/1

6th

4

14th Mar 2026

Good

2m 4f 110y

Class 2

15:18 Kempton

Ryans Rocket

11st 4lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Fergal O’Brien

One of two hurdle wins came on this track; two later chase wins, at Chepstow and Newbury, also came at about 2m (good to soft) but he has a good chance of staying this far and is a better jumper than suggested by two unseats from his last three starts; interesting.

5/2

22

11th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 199y

Class 1

16:40 Cheltenham

Ryans Rocket

10st 7lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Fergal O’Brien

Reserve; second-season chaser who won a shade cosily on reappearance at Newbury (2m, good to soft) in November and, although there was still a fair way to go, he was travelling nicely when unseating five out at Kempton (2m, good) in December; there is a firm suspicion he's an improved performer this season and he's one to consider.

8/1

OUR TIP

Form: 21

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Made very promising hurdle debut when second of 16 at Listowel (2m, good to yielding; form very well advertised by winner since) in June and did not need to better that performance to open account on last month's stable debut at Worcester (2m, good); likely to be suited by today's step up in trip; no surprise if he features.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

7th Jul 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 2

15:45 Worcester

Handlethekettle

11st 0lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

Didn't take to fences when tailed off on his penultimate run but he then made all for a 5l defeat of Ukantango over C&D to make it 3-5 over hurdles; a 5lb rise is fair enough with the promise of more to come.

5/2

6

18th Jun 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 3

16:30 Worcester

Handlethekettle

10st 7lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

Low-mileage 6yo with 2-4 strike-rate in maiden/novice hurdles last season; tailed off in three-runner race when switched to fences for last month's handicap debut but now quickly reverts to hurdling; should still have potential.

4/1

2

22nd May 2025

Good

2m 3f 83y

Class 4

14:05 Ffos Las

Handlethekettle

11st 6lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

Won two minor hurdles on either side of his remote fifth in the Grade 2 Persian War at Chepstow in October, last time making all at Taunton (2m3f, good to firm) after wind surgery; likely that he's held in some regard and brings plenty of potential to chasing.

5/6

Form: 311-P6 C

Last run: 127 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Displayed improvement when making all in two low-grade handicaps in April (2m2f/2m) and ran much better than bare form suggests when beaten 16l at Uttoxeter (2m4f, good) in June; could still have more to offer but has been set a tough task here; had another wind op (his third) last month.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

1

11th Oct 2024

Soft

2m 3f 100y

Class 1

15:15 Chepstow

Bullets Hill

11st 0lb

J: Nick Scholfield

T: Ella Pickard

in touch with leaders, prominent 4th, weakened after 3 out, tailed off

50/1

6th

3

6th Jun 2024

Good

2m 3f 207y

Class 4

15:43 Uttoxeter

Bullets Hill

11st 13lb

J: Nick Scholfield

T: Ella Pickard

Made all to win novice handicaps at Exeter (2m2f, good) and Ffos Las in April (2m, good); pulled up after early error on chase debut at Ffos Las last time; up 14lb (raised 7lb for each win); could go well but may find others better treated.

5/1

4

7th May 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

17:05 Ffos Las

Bullets Hill

11st 13lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Ella Pickard

midfield, jumped badly right 1st, soon in rear, pushed along after 2nd, reminders after 4th, lost touch and pulled up after 7th

7/4

Form: 33-

Last run: 237 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Shaped with considerable promise when third on both hurdling starts last season, latterly in strong Ascot novice (2m3f, good to soft) in February; needs to improve to land this prize but still features prominently in calculations.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

5

7th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 0y

Class 4

13:50 Kempton

Juventus De Brion

11st 5lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

prominent, hung left and weakened from 2 out

9/2

6th

5

7th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 0y

Class 4

13:50 Kempton

Juventus De Brion

11st 5lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

prominent, hung left and weakened from 2 out

9/2

2nd

4

16th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 62y

Class 4

13:00 Newcastle

Juventus De Brion

11st 10lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Fell at the first flight in Grade 2 Persian War at Chepstow (17-2) on penultimate start and never threatened to justify evens favouritism with an underpowered display in a maiden there (again about 2m4f on good to soft) later in October; last February's third at Ascot is the best form in this field but a lot now seems to depend on the wind surgery he had in November; also now tongue tied.

4/5

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £13.60
Straight Forecast £12.79
Trifecta £46.50

Selections

WEST COUNTRY:

Ryan's Rocket

SPOTLIGHT:

Flying Fortune

Daily Mirror:

Intense Approach

LAMBOURN:

Handlethekettle

The Star:

Juventus De Brion

Daily Record:

Intense Approach

RP RATINGS:

Flying Fortune

TOPSPEED:

Flying Fortune

POSTDATA:

Flying Fortune

The Times:

Ryan's Rocket

Telegraph:

Ryan's Rocket

The Guardian:

Ryan's Rocket

Daily Mail:

Ryan's Rocket

D Express:

Ryan's Rocket

The Sun:

Ryan's Rocket