November 09 / 14.55 Wincanton

14.55

Good

BetMGM Elite Hurdle (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £41608
  • 1m 7f 50y
  • Class 1
  • 3 runners
ITV
View Course
BetMGM Elite Hurdle (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

Runners: 3 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

Evs (Won)

  • Win: £2.10

Form: 2456-1 CD

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 147

Form & Verdict
Bolted up from the front at Kempton 20 days ago (2m, good) and he won that same race last season en route to winning this without much fuss when also penalised; that was on good to soft ground and yet he's a more potent force when it's good; the one to beat, with the only nagging concern being if Aspire Tower takes him on at the head of affairs.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

25th Apr 2026

Good

2m 5f 110y

Class 1

16:02 Sandown

Rubaud

11st 10lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Form dipped in Cheltenham Festival handicap returned to fences last time; multiple Grade 2 winner but has raced mostly at about 2m and isn't crying out for this step back up in trip; first go beyond a sharp 2m4f.

14/1

3

11th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 199y

Class 1

16:40 Cheltenham

Rubaud

11st 7lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Listed/Grade 2 wins over hurdles this term; goes back over fences for the first time since last May and he's 1-5 in this sphere, the win coming in a Grade 2 novice last February; sixth of 15 off this mark in the Scottish Champion Hurdle in April 2024 when he last tackled a handicap; may be vulnerable.

16/1

2nd

1

14th Feb 2026

Heavy

1m 7f 50y

Class 1

13:35 Wincanton

Rubaud

11st 10lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Paul Nicholls

Front-runner who is 2-3 since returned to hurdles from fences, winning races at Kempton (Listed) and Wincanton (Elite Hurdle) that he also took in 2023 and 2024; held in a 9l third at Kempton on Boxing Day but that was behind Sir Gino in a Grade 1 and he's strongly respected on this drop back in class; most of his wins have been on good ground but he's effective on soft.

7/4

OUR TIP

Form: 3211-2 CD

Last run: 193 days

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 148

Form & Verdict
Formerly smart on the Flat; well beaten by Rubaud on similar terms during their novice careers but vastly improved these days having progressed to win five times (three handicaps); probably better than ever when second of 24 under a welter burden at the Punchestown festival in April (2m, yielding); the good ground will be borderline (best form with juice underfoot) but strong claims otherwise.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 69y

Class 3

14:10 Newbury

Brentford Hope

11st 12lb

J: Megan Fox

T: Harry Derham

Won by a neck at Haydock (2m, good to soft) last month under Megan Fox and is 4lb higher today; performed as well as could be expected in the face of a stiff task when third of four in Grade 2 at Cheltenham a week later and has each-way claims on this return to handicap company.

3/1

3rd

4

24th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 0f 179y

Class 1

15:00 Cheltenham

Brentford Hope

11st 4lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

Took advantage of a handy mark in Haydock handicap last Saturday, bringing record over hurdles to 6-20; has the worst chance at the weights back up in class and seems unlikely to match his second-place finish, which was a realistic outcome at the time, in this race last year.

66/1

Form: 342F-1 D

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 148

Form & Verdict
Dual Grade 2 winner so he's more than capable at this level; after falling in his final chase he returned to hurdling at Punchestown (2m2f, good) and dominated from the front in a small field; didn't have to be at his best there and the odds-on favourite was off his game, but he's not easily knocked.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

1st Jul 2025

Good To Firm

2m 0f 213y

Class 3

18:18 Stratford

Aspire Tower

11st 10lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Jennie Candlish

Smart hurdler in his prime and a dual chase winner for Henry de Bromhead this spring (2m, yielding/good); held every chance before last-flight mishap in French hurdle race on recent stable debut and commands respect on this return to fences.

3/1

1st

1

17th May 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

16:45 Wexford

Aspire Tower

11st 12lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: Henry De Bromhead

Dual Grade 2 hurdles winner in his pomp back in 2020/21; missed two full seasons before returning in October 2023 and hasn't looked the same horse, though he has won twice this season, including decent C&D beginners' chase last month (yielding); okay handicap debut run in competitive Punchestown contest since, this looks much easier despite the weight concession.

4/7

1st

1

17th May 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

16:45 Wexford

Aspire Tower

11st 12lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: Henry De Bromhead

Dual Grade 2 hurdles winner in his pomp back in 2020/21; missed two full seasons before returning in October 2023 and hasn't looked the same horse, though he has won twice this season, including decent C&D beginners' chase last month (yielding); okay handicap debut run in competitive Punchestown contest since, this looks much easier despite the weight concession.

4/7

Non-runners

Forever William

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £2.90
Straight Forecast £3.45
Trifecta £3.20

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Rubaud

RP RATINGS:

Brentford Hope

POSTDATA:

Aspire Tower

TOPSPEED:

Rubaud

WEST COUNTRY:

Rubaud

Daily Mail:

Rubaud

D Express:

Rubaud

Daily Mirror:

Rubaud

The Star:

Rubaud

The Times:

Brentford Hope

The Guardian:

Brentford Hope

The Sun:

Brentford Hope

Telegraph:

Aspire Tower

Daily Record:

Aspire Tower