October 25 / 15.00 Cheltenham

15.00

Good

Sky Bet Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) (Registered As The Sharp Novices’ Hurdle) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £31322.5
  • 2m 0f 87y
  • Class 1
  • 6 runners
ITV
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Sky Bet Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) (Registered As The Sharp Novices’ Hurdle) (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

9/2 (Won)

  • Win: £4.00
  • Place: £1.50

Form: 24-11 D

Last run: 150 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Fourth of 18 in the Grade 2 bumper at last season's Grand National meeting; not overly troubled to go 2-2 over hurdles (odds-on both times), though the horse he beat by just over 3l last time at Bangor (2m3f) was hammered some 20l by Gale Mahler next time; no question that this commands a career best but going the right way.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

12th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 1

14:15 Ayr

Valgrand

11st 0lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Easily made all in Grade 2 novice hurdle at Cheltenham (2m, good) last October and he's on a handy mark on that form; it's possible he'll get back on track at some stage but he's finished down the field in all three handicaps, most recently the County Hurdle at Cheltenham, and has something to prove.

7/1

11

12th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 1

14:15 Ayr

Valgrand

11st 0lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Easily made all in Grade 2 novice hurdle at Cheltenham (2m, good) last October and he's on a handy mark on that form; it's possible he'll get back on track at some stage but he's finished down the field in all three handicaps, most recently the County Hurdle at Cheltenham, and has something to prove.

7/1

15th

12

14th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 179y

Class 1

14:00 Cheltenham

Valgrand

10st 10lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Easily made all in Grade 2 novice here in October (2m, good; has also won on soft); weakened when 11l second in 2m5f Grade 2 here next time; down the field since in his first two handicaps (2m1f/2m, good to soft) but a break may have helped this lightly raced 6yo and he's the sole representative of Dan Skelton, who has won four of the last nine runnings; not discounted.

8/1

4/6

  • Place: £1.20

Form: 111111 D

Last run: 87 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Mare

OR: 135

Form & Verdict
The improvement so evident in winning her last six races (all in cheekpieces; last four over hurdles) is backed up by her figures and she made light work of her seven rivals in a 2m Listed race at Galway in late July; provided the summer break (which she'd earned) hasn't stalled her progress then will take some beating.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

19th Oct 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:50 Kempton

Gale Mahler

10st 9lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Adrian Paul Keatley

Successful once during a spell over fences that ended poorly; two attempts back over hurdles represent no improvement on previous form in this sphere; difficult task in this field, despite receiving weight all round.

22/1

7th

2

27th Sep 2025

Good

2m 0f 125y

Class 2

17:45 Market Rasen

Gale Mahler

11st 9lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Adrian Paul Keatley

Won over fences at Uttoxeter (2m, good) in June and ran well when back over hurdles there (2m4f, good) this month; remains on a workable mark and is 2-2 at this track; shortlisted.

16/1

5th

2

11th Sep 2025

Good

2m 3f 207y

Class 3

18:05 Uttoxeter

Gale Mahler

11st 13lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Adrian Paul Keatley

Might have won over fences here in June but for a bad late mistake (2m4f, good) but, while her Grade 3 assignment at Galway can be forgiven, she was never at the races last time at Perth; could appreciate returning to hurdles and her mark is fine.

7/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 1lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Talented Flat performer from 1m to 2m and has never been better than this year, winning three times during a consistent campaign; in-form trainer asks a stiff question of him on hurdling debut but stamina won't be an issue; unwise to be too dismissive over his chances.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

9

(4)

6th Sep 2025

Good

1m 6f 1y

Class 2

15:00 Haydock

Dancing In Paris

9st 1lb

J: Saffie Osborne

T: Ian Williams

Consistent sort who was third in this last year (good) and has gone close three times this season, including at Glorious Goodwood (1m6f, good to soft) last month; another good run when fourth of 13 at York (2m, good to firm) last time and he's a solid each-way contender.

8/1

6

(12)

20th Aug 2025

Good To Firm

2m 0f 56y

Class 2

16:10 York

Dancing In Paris

9st 3lb

J: Saffie Osborne

T: Ian Williams

Career-best form this season, beaten a neck by Spirit Mixer in the Northumberland Plate at Newcastle (2m, AW) in June and another close second at Goodwood (1m6f, good to soft) 18 days ago; ran poorly when he tried front-running on penultimate start; up 2lb to another career-high mark, with a slight question about good to firm ground, but he has to be in serious calculations.

5/1

Form: 111 D

Last run: 55 days

W: 11st 1lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 127

Form & Verdict
Useful Flat stayer for Sir Mark Prescott; 3-3 over hurdles and, while at the time it was disappointing that he won only narrowly when odds of 2-5 at Newton Abbot (2m1f, good), the clear second has won twice since and really impressed in a recent Chepstow handicap; enjoys his jumping and could give the favourite something to think about.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

29th Mar 2026

Good

2m 5f 146y

Class 3

17:25 Ascot

Brave Knight

12st 0lb

J: Freddie Keighley

T: Paul Nicholls

5-10 over hurdles, including wins under Freddie Keighley at Fontwell (2m1f) and Taunton (2m3f, good) on two of his last three outings; respected even though he's never raced over this far (he worked his way to the front late on for that 2m3f win) and has been raised another 5lb.

4/1

1st

2

26th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 1f 162y

Class 4

12:57 Fontwell

Brave Knight

12st 0lb

J: Freddie Keighley

T: Paul Nicholls

Useful Flat stayer who won his first three starts over hurdles (2m-2m1f) last summer but he's been held back in this sphere in last three runs; mark is falling and he is still unexposed over hurdles but needs to raise his game back in trip; all of his hurdle wins have been on good but he seems versatile ground-wise.

7/1

Form: 1 D

Last run: 162 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Didn't really kick on for Ger Lyons after winning a Curragh maiden in his first season; still lightly raced and, after changing hands for 48,000gns, he made a winning hurdle debut in these colours at Perth (2m, good to soft) for Lucinda Russell; that was, however, a fairly ropey race and surprising that he made such heavy weather of it; new trainer leaves off the tongue-tie.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

3rd Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 0f 104y

Class 4

15:15 Taunton

Imaginarium

12st 0lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Came good for Olly Murphy with two wins (both on good to soft) towards end of last season; finished last on last month's reappearance outing, having dropped out tamely in the straight, but might have needed that run and further progress remains possible if he copes with the ground here.

11/2

1st

7

24th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 47y

Class 4

17:05 Perth

Imaginarium

11st 10lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

prominent

9/1

1st

7

24th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 47y

Class 4

17:05 Perth

Imaginarium

11st 10lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Debut hurdles winner over C&D for Lucinda Russell but he's proved rather hit and miss since for his current yard, scoring at Huntingdon in February before being pulled up at Exeter last month; others are preferred.

9/1

OUR TIP

Form: 454-1 D

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Beaten in his three bumpers and was behind Valgrand in one of those; prevailed narrowly in a three-way photo on hurdling debut at Warwick (2m, good) and has considerably more on his plate in today's company.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

1st Nov 2025

Good

2m 3f 85y

Class 3

13:15 Wetherby

Strong Foundations

10st 8lb

J: Robert Dunne

T: Samuel Drinkwater

Not obviously well treated judged on what he produced in his two handicap hurdles in the spring but this point runner-up and novice hurdle winner (2m, good) represents a trainer who has a much better strike-rate with chasers than hurdlers; possible improver now going over fences.

5/1

8

1st Nov 2025

Good

2m 3f 85y

Class 3

13:15 Wetherby

Strong Foundations

10st 8lb

J: Robert Dunne

T: Samuel Drinkwater

Not obviously well treated judged on what he produced in his two handicap hurdles in the spring but this point runner-up and novice hurdle winner (2m, good) represents a trainer who has a much better strike-rate with chasers than hurdlers; possible improver now going over fences.

5/1

9

26th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 1f 162y

Class 4

12:57 Fontwell

Strong Foundations

10st 13lb

T: Samuel Drinkwater

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £5.40
Straight Forecast £5.77
Trifecta £23.40

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Gale Mahler

SPOTLIGHT:

Brave Knight

Daily Mail:

Dancing In Paris

TOPSPEED:

Gale Mahler

POSTDATA:

Gale Mahler

The Times:

Gale Mahler

Telegraph:

Gale Mahler

The Guardian:

Gale Mahler

D Express:

Gale Mahler

Daily Mirror:

Gale Mahler

The Sun:

Gale Mahler

The Star:

Gale Mahler

Daily Record:

Gale Mahler

WEST COUNTRY:

Brave Knight