October 18 / 14.35 Fakenham

14.35

Good

Tapping House Norfolk Hospice Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4084.5
  • 2m 4f 1y
  • Class 4
  • 6 runners
RTV
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Tapping House Norfolk Hospice Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

Form: 563-4

Last run: 162 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
0-5 in points but he was placed in a maiden hurdle at Punchestown (2m5f, soft) last autumn and ran respectably in a hunter chase (fourth of ten) when last seen in May; joined Evan Williams for £16,000 since then; this is only his second run in this sphere and he needs a close look on his return; blinkers worn last time are removed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

30th Mar 2026

Good

2m 5f 55y

Class 5

15:27 Ludlow

Djo Dela Barriere

11st 10lb

J: Miss Eleanor Williams

T: Mrs C Williams

Won 3m handicap hurdle at Ffos Las (good) in October and followed up in a chase here over the same trip later that month when finishing alone; form has dipped since, over fences and hurdles; needs to bounce back.

12/1

6th

6

18th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 119y

Class 4

14:30 Hereford

Djo Dela Barriere

11st 3lb

J: Miss Eleanor Williams

T: Mrs C Williams

Won a 3m handicap hurdle at Ffos Las (good) before returning to fences at Ludlow (3m, good) where he finished alone; form has dipped since, over fences and hurdles; on a perfectly good mark if he can bounce back to form.

9/1

5th

6

18th Feb 2026

2m 5f 55y

Class 4

17:05 Ludlow

Djo Dela Barriere

11st 5lb

J: Miss Eleanor Williams

T: Evan Williams

Won a 3m handicap hurdle at Ffos Las (good) before returning to fences at Ludlow (3m, good) later in October where he finished alone after being left in isolation three out; tailed off in a Hereford chase on latest start and absent 107 days since; back hurdling on a competitive mark but with more to prove on worse than good to soft.

6/1

Form: 32332-

Last run: 227 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
0-5 in points and same record over hurdles, but he has form figures of 32332 in this sphere and he ran into a subsequent winner when second of three at Lingfield (2m, heavy) in March; sets fair standard on his best form and he's respected back up in trip on return.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

19th May 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 28y

Class 4

20:20 Hexham

Kilbarry Hill

11st 13lb

J: William Maggs

T: Mike Sowersby

Completed a hat-trick in late 2024 (including a walkover) but has largely struggled off higher marks since and signed off for Olly Murphy with a couple of modest efforts, including in cheekpieces last time; 3lb lower than for his latest success but needs the change of scenery to spark a revival.

33/1

4th

5

28th Mar 2026

Good

2m 6f 125y

Class 3

14:47 Stratford

Kilbarry Hill

11st 1lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Olly Murphy

Still to get his head in front in this sphere but he comes here on the back of a fair fifth of eight in 3m1f handicap at Wincanton last time; this three-time hurdles scorer is in the mix with cheekpieces fitted for the first time.

11/2

5th

3

5th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 30y

Class 4

15:40 Wincanton

Kilbarry Hill

12st 0lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Career-best RPR but not at all fluent when third at Wetherby in December (3m, soft), and lasted just two fences on sole run since; has neither trip nor ground issues and mark remains competitive, so just a case of whether he returns more fleet of foot following two months out.

5/2

OUR TIP

Form: 2

Last run: 154 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Put in a dominant display in a maiden point (2m4f, soft) in March and he kicked off his rules career with a near-miss in Aintree bumper (2m1f, good) in May; half-brother to some fairly useful winners in this sphere and he looks interesting back up in trip on his hurdling/stable debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

10th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 210y

Class 1

14:20 Aintree

Miami Magic

11st 7lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Stuart Edmunds

Prominent-racer whose flop over hurdles at this meeting last year can be forgiven; scored on his third start over fences when beating Regent's Stroll by 4l at Cheltenham (about 2m4f, good) in January; jumping left plenty to be desired when third in Sandown Grade 1 later that month, however, and the race he won at Newbury (about 3m, good to soft) last time fell apart; he wasn't always fluent that day either but a clear round puts him on the premises.

5/1

1st

1

27th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 91y

Class 3

15:00 Newbury

Miami Magic

11st 8lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Stuart Edmunds

Fine on good and soft ground; Grade 1 placed over hurdles and this Cheltenham chase winner did well to finish within 7l of the smart Sixmilebridge in the Grade 1 Scilly Isles at Sandown (2m4f) as he can jump a lot better than he did that day on soft ground; every chance that he'll be able to give weight and a beating to these, provided he stays this longer trip.

4/6

3rd

2

31st Jan 2026

Soft

2m 4f 15y

Class 1

14:40 Sandown

Miami Magic

11st 7lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Stuart Edmunds

Appears to act on soft ground, unraced on heavy; has steadily found his feet since switched to chasing and registered a 4l success at Cheltenham (2m4f, good) most recently; further improvement is possible but certainly needed; has the worst chance on bare ratings.

14/1

Form: 7-4497

Last run: 32 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Well held in all six runs over hurdles and his form has been generally regressive; hood is now added but he makes no appeal.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

8

28th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 5

16:00 Worcester

Saint Vic

10st 10lb

J: Lewis Stones

T: Anthony Day

Maiden hurdler but has twice threatened in handicaps, last time going close over Uttoxeter's 2m7f; that was his second run after a lengthy break; up 4lb.

6/1

2nd

10

2nd May 2026

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 5

16:20 Uttoxeter

Saint Vic

10st 2lb

J: Lewis Stones

T: Anthony Day

Inconsistent 11-race maiden who finished seventh of 11 finishers at Chepstow on his return three weeks ago from 12 months off.

25/1

Form: 78-4

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Didn't show a great in two Warwick bumpers in the spring but he was only beaten around 5l on hurdling debut at Perth (2m, good) last month; needs to build on that but his dam won at up to 2m6f over jumps and he's open to progress on this step up in trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

9

20th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

17:00 Warwick

Chief Sunday

10st 5lb

J: James Turner

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Dual winner in this sphere but has been operating below his best for a while and is best left alone at present.

40/1

9th

8

19th Apr 2026

Good

2m 2f 148y

Class 5

16:18 Stratford

Chief Sunday

11st 10lb

J: James Turner

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Chasing didn't go to plan in the autumn (three attempts) and he's looked out of sorts over hurdles lately; will appreciate this ease in grade but still needs huge boost from the first-time cheekpieces.

25/1

13

2nd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 100y

Class 4

16:07 Chepstow

Chief Sunday

10st 13lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Potentially well handicapped but he tried chasing earlier this season and hasn't offered a lot back over hurdles; it looks significant that regular rider Sam Twiston-Davies has turned elsewhere.

14/1

Form: 9-95U

Last run: 103 days

W: 10st 11lb

5 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Beaten a long way in two bumpers and was tailed off in her completed start over hurdles this summer; cheekpieces are now added and she has a lot to prove after a break.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

20th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 6f 45y

Class 4

12:20 Uttoxeter

Lucille Diamond

11st 0lb

J: Tom Buckley

T: Tracey Leeson

200-1 when pulled up at Huntingdon in a maiden won by Ebselysees; very opposable.

100/1

7

20th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 6f 45y

Class 4

12:20 Uttoxeter

Lucille Diamond

11st 0lb

J: Tom Buckley

T: Tracey Leeson

200-1 when pulled up at Huntingdon in a maiden won by Ebselysees; very opposable.

100/1

5

3rd Nov 2024

Good

2m 3f 137y

Class 4

14:33 Huntingdon

Lucille Diamond

11st 0lb

J: Harriet Tucker

T: Tracey Leeson

Triple-figure prices and modest form in two bumpers and a novice hurdle before unseating early in July; cheekpieces fitted; best watched.

200/1

Betting Forcast

5/1 Djo Dela Barriere, 5/4 Kilbarry Hill, 6/4 Miami Magic, 33/1 Saint Vic, 13/2 Chief Sunday, 100/1 Lucille Diamond

Non-runners

Never Seen Again

Verdict

Kilbarry Hill has a solid record over hurdles and sets a fair standard on his best form, but preference is for point winner MIAMI MAGIC who went very close in an Aintree bumper on his rules debut in May. He’s an interesting contender now switched to hurdling and is a half-brother to some fairly useful winners in this sphere. The other one on the shortlist is the ex-Irish D’Jo Dela Barriere, who needs a close look back over hurdles on his first run Evan Williams.[David Moon]

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Kilbarry Hill

SPOTLIGHT:

Miami Magic

The Times:

Miami Magic

The Guardian:

Miami Magic

The Sun:

Miami Magic

The Star:

Miami Magic

Daily Record:

Miami Magic

TOPSPEED:

Kilbarry Hill

POSTDATA:

Kilbarry Hill

Telegraph:

Kilbarry Hill

Daily Mail:

Kilbarry Hill

D Express:

Kilbarry Hill

Daily Mirror:

Kilbarry Hill