October 14 / 15.30 Hereford

15.30

Good

Kestrel Valley Novices’ Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £3247.81
  • 3m 1f 44y
  • Class 5
  • 8 runners
SKY
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Kestrel Valley Novices’ Handicap Chase

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

Form: 731-2P

Last run: 125 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 91

Form & Verdict
Jumping to her right and looked out of sorts at Southwell in June but was in good form on right-handed tracks beforehand, winning at Taunton (2m5f, soft) and finishing second over C&D (good); back on a clockwise course today and a big player if back on song after her break.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

14th Oct 2024

Good

3m 1f 44y

Class 5

15:30 Hereford

Annie Wicks

12st 0lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: Evan Williams

Jumping to her right and looked out of sorts at Southwell in June but was in good form on right-handed tracks beforehand, winning at Taunton (2m5f, soft) and finishing second over C&D (good); back on a clockwise course today and a big player if back on song after her break.

7/2

4

11th Jun 2024

Good

3m 0f 60y

Class 5

14:15 Southwell

Annie Wicks

11st 5lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: Evan Williams

jumped right on occasions, prominent, lost position and reminders 13th, dropped to last 14th, lost touch and pulled up 15th

9/2

2nd

9

13th May 2024

Good

3m 1f 44y

Class 4

15:35 Hereford

Annie Wicks

10st 4lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: Evan Williams

Came good over fences at third attempt, with clearcut win from the front at Taunton (2m5f, soft) in March; 8lb rise asks quite a lot of her here but the longer trip might unlock further improvement and she should be fine if the ground stays good.

5/1

Form: 47-613 D

Last run: 36 days

W: 11st 11lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Battled on well to score at Uttoxeter (3m2f, soft) in July, his sixth start over fences, and his third at Fontwell (3m2f, good to soft) last month was perfectly respectable, albeit he was well held in the end; needs to prove he's effective on good ground but still goes on the shortlist.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

18th Oct 2025

Good

2m 6f 125y

Class 5

16:25 Stratford

Invictus Allen

11st 1lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Christian Williams

7yo who won off 2lb higher at Uttoxeter (3m2f, soft) last summer; has not gone on from that in only four runs since but he ran well for a long way at Fontwell (3m2f) last month and has claims if he can build on that.

4/1

5th

6

22nd Sep 2025

Good To Soft

3m 1f 210y

Class 4

16:50 Fontwell

Invictus Allen

10st 7lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Christian Williams

Scored at Uttoxeter (3m2f, soft) off this mark in July last year, but well held following ten-month break when fifth of seven finishers at Worcester (2m7f, good) last month; has work to do.

14/1

5th

7

31st Aug 2025

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 5

14:40 Worcester

Invictus Allen

11st 1lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Christian Williams

Pulled up at Hereford (3m1f, good) last October and absent since; however, he won at Uttoxeter (3m2f, soft) last July and it will be interesting to see how he goes in the betting on his return; may want slow ground.

7/1

OUR TIP

Form: 75542P BF

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Dropped out as though something was amiss when favourite for Fontwell hurdle three weeks ago and is now 0-6 in that sphere but his second there (2m5f, good) two starts ago was a good effort; could have a say if all is well on this chasing debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

3rd Apr 2025

Good

2m 3f 188y

Class 4

14:07 Sedgefield

Selectivelistening

11st 6lb

J: Emma Smith-Chaston

T: Paula Smith

Has shown ability on good ground over hurdles and fences but was disappointing when last seen here in November; has since had a wind op but needs to step up if he's to win this.

50/1

4

3rd Apr 2025

Good

2m 3f 188y

Class 4

14:07 Sedgefield

Selectivelistening

11st 6lb

J: Emma Smith-Chaston

T: Paula Smith

took keen hold, always behind, pulled up before 4 out

50/1

7th

5

5th Nov 2024

Good

2m 5f 28y

Class 5

15:20 Sedgefield

Selectivelistening

11st 5lb

J: Emma Smith-Chaston

T: Paula Smith

0-7 under rules for Tom Ellis but ran well in defeat on last month's chasing debut at Hereford (3m1f, good); recently changed hands for £6,000; drops back in trip with cheekpieces enlisted on this stable debut.

4/1

Form: 60254-

Last run: 205 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
Twice safely held since finishing second on handicap hurdle debut at Southwell (2m4f, good to soft) and has fitness to prove after 205-day break but his Irish point win in 2023 bodes well for his chasing prospects.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

8

23rd May 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 107y

Class 5

16:30 Cartmel

Mistymal

10st 11lb

J: James Bowen

T: Tim Vaughan

Form of October 2024's Hereford chase debut win (3m1f, good) has been consolidated rather than improved upon; fair record after long absences but realistically needs the wind surgery since last seen to elicit improvement.

10/1

5

5th Jun 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 177y

Class 5

18:45 Ffos Las

Mistymal

11st 2lb

J: David Noonan

T: Tim Vaughan

Scored at Hereford (3m1f, good) in October and ended last season with a pretty good third over that C&D; not always one to rely upon heavily but enters calculations.

5/1

Form: /P6034

Last run: 10 days

W: 10st 10lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
Winning pointer who left inauspicious chase/handicap debut a long way behind when third at Stratford (3m3f, good to firm) in first-time cheekpices/tongue-tie in August; didn't run badly at Hexham ten days ago and enters calculations here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

14th Oct 2024

Good

3m 1f 44y

Class 5

15:30 Hereford

No Promises

10st 10lb

J: Ben Poste

T: Steph Cameron

Winning pointer who left inauspicious chase/handicap debut a long way behind when third at Stratford (3m3f, good to firm) in first-time cheekpices/tongue-tie in August; didn't run badly at Hexham ten days ago and enters calculations here.

10/1

4th

12

4th Oct 2024

Good

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

16:05 Hexham

No Promises

10st 2lb

J: Ben Poste

T: Steph Cameron

Winning pointer; progressive over fences, last time finishing a creditable third of eight at Stratford (3m3f, good to firm; tongue and cheekpieces on for first time); headgear retained; could go well.

15/2

Form: -U42FP

Last run: 20 days

W: 10st 8lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 71

Form & Verdict
0-14 under all codes; posted some good efforts over fences at Newton Abbot this summer but was pulled up at Fontwell three weeks ago and needs to put that run behind him; hood removed after one use.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

9

5th May 2026

Good

2m 5f 110y

Class 5

17:22 Ffos Las

Radharc Na Slaine

10st 5lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: David Rees

1-14 as a chaser; won at Stratford in September (2m6f, good) and fair efforts since then; can go well if fitness isn't an issue on first run since October.

10/1

5

30th Oct 2025

Good To Firm

2m 7f 91y

Class 5

13:38 Newcastle

Radharc Na Slaine

11st 2lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: David Rees

Experienced chaser; off the mark on 12th attempt at Stratford in September (2m6f, good); fair run at Worcester last time; should go well.

7/1

5

30th Oct 2025

Good To Firm

2m 7f 91y

Class 5

13:38 Newcastle

Radharc Na Slaine

11st 2lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: David Rees

Experienced chaser; off the mark on 12th attempt at Stratford in September (2m6f, good); fair run at Worcester last time; should go well.

7/1

Form: P-7645

Last run: 36 days

W: 10st 8lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 71

Form & Verdict
Well handicapped on some of last year's placed form over fences and ran well to a point over hurdles last month (first-time blinkers) but it's over two years since her only win and others appeal more.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

14th Oct 2024

Good

3m 1f 44y

Class 5

15:30 Hereford

If I Say

10st 8lb

J: Lilly Pinchin

T: Charlie Longsdon

Well handicapped on some of last year's placed form over fences and ran well to a point over hurdles last month (first-time blinkers) but it's over two years since her only win and others appeal more.

13/2

5th

6

8th Sep 2024

Good To Soft

2m 5f 164y

Class 5

13:55 Fontwell

If I Say

10st 3lb

J: Elizabeth Gale

T: Charlie Longsdon

led, headed and raced in second after 1st, disputed lead 3rd

14/1

4th

7

21st Jul 2024

Good

3m 2f 83y

Class 5

14:25 Stratford

If I Say

10st 2lb

J: Elizabeth Gale

T: Charlie Longsdon

Respectable run after a break over 3m but made no impression with the cheekpieces back on at Bangor; won once in 20 starts.

16/1

Form: 8009-P

Last run: 85 days

W: 10st 2lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 64

Form & Verdict
Pulled up when 33-1 for handicap hurdle debut at Stratford (3m2f, good) in July; effectively 9lb lower for this chasing debut but still needs the switch to fences to enable significant improvement.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

28th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 110y

Class 5

14:25 Worcester

Fox Wallace

10st 5lb

J: Ben Godfrey

T: Ella Pickard

Has lost her way badly since her win/place form over fences last summer; cheekpieces tried last time are swiftly removed; couldn't trust.

14/1

7

5th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 8y

Class 5

20:17 Hereford

Fox Wallace

10st 6lb

J: Ben Godfrey

T: Ella Pickard

2m1f chase winner at Stratford a year ago but has largely struggled to reproduce that level, including after wind surgery; continues to ease in the weights and cheekpieces are enlisted, but others arrive with much more persuasive credentials.

25/1

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Invictus Allen

SPOTLIGHT:

Annie Wicks

WEST COUNTRY:

Fox Wallace

D Express:

Selectivelistening

Daily Mail:

No Promises

POSTDATA:

Invictus Allen

The Times:

Invictus Allen

Telegraph:

Invictus Allen

The Guardian:

Invictus Allen

Daily Mirror:

Invictus Allen

The Sun:

Invictus Allen

Daily Record:

Invictus Allen

The Star:

Annie Wicks