16.10
GoodAlastair Down Press Room Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)
- Prize money: £9505.8
- 2m 3f 200y
- Class 2
- 8 runners
Runners: 8 runners
Type: Hurdle Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Showers
7/4 (Won)
- Win: £2.20
- Place: £1.20
Form: 1-1 D
Last run: 28 days
W: 11st 5lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5th 4 |
9th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 2m 4f 0y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Acts on any ground; the freshest contender in this race, having bypassed the Cheltenham Festival and been absent since landing the National Spirit at Fontwell (2m3f) over six weeks ago when taking hurdles record to 7-11; sole attempt at Aintree resulted in a Grade 1 novice success on Boxing Day 2024; likely to go well. |
14/1 |
|
1st 1 |
22nd Feb 2026 Soft 2m 3f 29y Class 1 |
11st 7lb |
Smart novice (Grade 1 winner on soft) at up to 2m5f last season; early faller on reappearance in November before 8l third in Grade 2 Ascot Hurdle (2m3f, good to soft); outstayed when fourth in Grade 1 Long Walk at Ascot (3m, good to soft) the following month but got back on the scoresheet when taking a classy Windsor conditions hurdle (2m4f, soft; career-best form) last month; key player despite a half penalty for the Grade 1 win. |
8/13 |
15/8
- Place: £1.10
Form: 1
Last run: 18 days
W: 11st 5lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
11th 4 |
30th Apr 2026 Yielding 2m 7f 110y |
10st 13lb |
Dual hurdle winner was just denied in a Naas handicap two starts back; then ran a solid race in the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham; looks the yard's first-string but needs more. |
22/1 |
|
11th 5 |
12th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 2m 7f 213y Class 1 |
10st 13lb |
Second here (on good) early as novice but tailed off in the Martin Pipe last March; better over this sort of trip and surged back to form when a close second to Melbourne Shamrock in the Naas qualifier (2m7f, heavy) 18 days ago in a second-time visor, staying on strongly from off pace; requires better to justify this British mark but needs a second look for trainer who's done well in this race. |
25/1 |
|
2nd 3 |
22nd Feb 2026 Soft To Heavy 2m 7f 20y |
11st 11lb |
Two wins last term on good ground included 2m6f Thurles novice; never sighted on Fairyhouse comeback but did fare a bit better early this month at DRF on unsuitably heavy ground; ground concerns remain. |
13/2 |
8/1
- Place: £1.70
Form: —
Last run: —
W: 11st 0lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
10th 13 |
10th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 3m 5f 201y Class 2 |
11st 3lb |
Pulled up at 50-1 in last year's 3m Grade 1 novice hurdle here; ran well in three of his five chases this term, notably with his easy win in a 2m5f beginners' event at Carlisle (good to soft) last time, but Cheltenham in December was one of the exceptions and he didn't jump well that day, before falling at Exeter on his next start; work to do on a few counts. |
25/1 |
|
1st 1 |
3rd Feb 2026 Good To Soft 2m 4f 198y Class 3 |
11st 5lb |
The only one of these with chasing experience; didn't jump well when soundly beaten at Cheltenham in December and fell at Exeter latest; however, before those he ran well to finish third over C&D (good to soft) and at Kempton (3m, good) in his first two chases; major player if he's on song. |
6/4 |
16/1
Form: 13
Last run: 35 days
W: 10st 12lb
5 yo Mare
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5th 12 |
29th Apr 2026 Yielding 2m 3f 58y |
11st 9lb |
Has done most of her racing over fences since a creditable fifth behind Thanksforthehelp in this race last season; led at the last then, faded in the closing stages; chase form disappointing since Listowel festival win. |
20/1 |
|
4th 6 |
17th Mar 2026 Yielding 2m 4f 86y |
11st 1lb |
117 rated hurdler has achieved the same rating over fences; 1-3 in this sphere, the win coming over 19.5f (yielding) at Listowel in a mares' novice; heavy defeats thrice since (two over fences); cheekpieces now tried. |
14/1 |
4/1
Form: 1-41
Last run: 21 days
W: 11st 5lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 4 |
11th Apr 2025 Good To Soft 2m 0f 0y Class 3 |
11st 8lb |
disputed lead, led with one circuit to go, faced challenge after 3 out, headed approaching last, kept on but no extra towards finish |
7/1 |
|
2nd 4 |
11th Apr 2025 Good To Soft 2m 0f 0y Class 3 |
11st 8lb |
disputed lead, led with one circuit to go, faced challenge after 3 out, headed approaching last, kept on but no extra towards finish |
7/1 |
|
1st 2 |
21st Mar 2025 Good To Soft 2m 1f 87y Class 2 |
11st 12lb |
Point/bumper winner who landed a Hexham novice (2m, good) in October but has a mixed record since and was only eighth of ten on handicap debut at Doncaster (2m, good to soft) three weeks ago; edging down the weights and is still unexposed in this sphere but others are more convincing. |
15/2 |
20/1
Form: 1
Last run: 69 days
W: 11st 5lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4 |
1st Apr 2026 Good To Soft 3m 2f 59y Class 4 |
11st 3lb |
Yet to score in this sphere but has made the frame on both starts since fitted with blinkers, albeit remote when third of six in 3m1f Catterick handicap chase 36 days ago; possibilities. |
13/2 |
|
3rd 6 |
24th Feb 2026 Good To Soft 3m 1f 54y Class 4 |
11st 1lb |
Two novice hurdle wins last term (2m/2m4f, good) and he returned to form in first-time blinkers when going close here (2m3f, soft) last month on third chase start; kept on well last time so this step up in trip is worth a go; could have a part to play if the blinkers maintain their effect. |
13/2 |
|
2nd 3 |
30th Jan 2026 Soft 2m 3f 51y Class 4 |
11st 6lb |
Two-time novice hurdle winner (2m/2m4f, good), the latest last March; however, he's struggled since, including on both chase starts; the first-time blinkers need to prompt a major turnaround. |
11/2 |
100/1
Form: 4
Last run: 28 days
W: 11st 0lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
10 |
15th Mar 2026 Soft 2m 7f 136y Class 4 |
11st 8lb |
Runner-up in a maiden hurdle over this far (on soft) and that's just about his best run; 0-4 over fences and has twice pulled up, though the third at Uttoxeter was encouraging and 1m7f would have been too sharp last time. |
10/1 |
|
4th 4 |
14th Feb 2026 Heavy 1m 7f 149y Class 4 |
11st 9lb |
Ran well against a hotpot in 2m7f hurdle at Lingfield (soft) last January; pulled up in first two chases but he wasn't too far away at Uttoxeter (2m4f, heavy; first run since wind surgery) in December, where a couple of late mistakes spoiled an otherwise sound round of jumping; blinkers are now tried and he needs a close look after another break. |
4/1 |
66/1
Form: —
Last run: —
W: 11st 0lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
17 |
11th Jan 2025 Soft 2m 4f 0y Class 5 |
10st 11lb
|
|
+o+e Accumulators
| Payout | |
|---|---|
| Exacta | £4.10 |
| Straight Forecast | £3.85 |
| Trifecta | £16.70 |
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