November 17 / 13.10 Cheltenham

13.10

Good

Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice Maiden Hurdle (Novices’ Championship Hurdle Qualifier) (GBB)

  • Prize money: £10075.1
  • 2m 0f 87y
  • Class 2
  • 4 runners
RTV
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Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice Maiden Hurdle (Novices’ Championship Hurdle Qualifier) (GBB)

Runners: 4 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

OUR TIP

Form: 521-42 D

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Only fourth when odds-on for his hurdle debut but beaten just a short head at Exeter (2m2f, good to soft) next time and this good-ground bumper winner is in excellent hands to continue to progress; could have a big say.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

6

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 149y

Class 1

13:20 Aintree

Ace Of Spades

11st 6lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Dan Skelton

Successful over 2m4f on reappearance here (good to soft) in October and has shown better form at around 3m since, including a win at Huntingdon (good to soft) in January; only midfield behind reopposing stablemate Supremely West in the Pertemps at Cheltenham, though.

20/1

13th

4

12th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 213y

Class 1

16:40 Cheltenham

Ace Of Spades

11st 1lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Dan Skelton

Won two of his four starts this term and stayed on well for second to today's Grade 1 Stayers' candidate Ma Shantou here (3m, good) on New Year's Day on penultimate start; latest was a Huntingdon win (3m1f, soft) and he's now 5lb higher but this progressive 7yo has to be taken seriously.

11/1

1st

1

22nd Jan 2026

Soft

3m 1f 10y

Class 2

15:15 Huntingdon

Ace Of Spades

12st 0lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Progressive handicapper who stayed on well for second in a Class 2 at Cheltenham three weeks ago (3m, good; effective on good to soft; unraced on slower) and the winner is due to run in this weekend's Grade 2 Cleeve Hurdle; every chance despite the 4lb rise.

5/4

Form: 89-B23

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Point winner who is 0-5 under rules and could do with jumping better than at Carlisle last time; however, he has shown promise over hurdles, finishing second at Uttoxeter (2m, good) in June, and could be involved.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

22nd May 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

17:32 Worcester

Country Park

11st 12lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Point winner who is 0-13 under rules; has some useful hurdles form to his name, with his best effort coming on good ground and over a similar trip to this; on a handy mark for this chase debut if better for a recent hurdles start; check the market for clues.

15/2

4th

1

2nd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 131y

Class 4

14:00 Chepstow

Country Park

11st 8lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Now 0-12 under rules and beginning to look exposed; however, he brings the best form to this maiden and was going easily when falling three out at Sedgefield last time (2m1f maiden); unraced beyond 2m5f under rules but this winning pointer should stay.

6/4

2

14th Oct 2025

Good

2m 4f 139y

Class 4

14:21 Market Rasen

Country Park

11st 0lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

0-8 over hurdles but three times runner-up and ran well for fourth on handicap debut at Ascot (2m3f, good) before slipping up early at Aintree in April; the cheekpieces worn the last twice are left at home but he's a major player back in a novice.

11/10

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Below par this autumn on final two Flat runs for Charlie Hills but showed some very useful form in that code earlier in the year; versatile ground-wise and entitled to respect on today's hurdle and stable debut given his Flat ability; changed hands for 38,000gns recently.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

2

(3)

22nd May 2026

Good To Soft

2m 1f 27y

Class 4

19:52 Pontefract

Maghlaak

9st 8lb

J: Kyle McHugh

T: Mark Walford

Made a winning start for this yard in a novice handicap chase at Southwell (2m4f, soft) last November; finished a long way behind Sea Of Kings at Doncaster on his return to the Flat four weeks ago; others appeal more.

12/1

6th

3

(1)

25th Apr 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 197y

Class 4

19:15 Doncaster

Maghlaak

9st 8lb

J: Rhys Elliott

T: Mark Walford

Ended his time with Adrian Keatley below par last autumn but a winner over fences at Southwell for his new yard before being pulled up at Market Rasen in December; needs to bounce back after a layoff.

16/1

Form: 2722-2

Last run: 21 days

W: 10st 11lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
0-7 over hurdles and runner-up five times; however, she knows how to win on the Flat (handles a variety of ground) and holds leading form claims on hurdle form such as her close second at Galway (2m, yielding) three weeks ago.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

2

1st May 2026

Yielding

2m 0f 45y

19:10 Punchestown

Whimsy

12st 0lb

J: James Smith

T: Anthony McCann

Record of 1-19 over timber; three-time winner on the Flat has placed in two starts in that sphere since falling over hurdles at Leopardstown in March; recent form suggests she's fit and healthy but poor strike rate over hurdles is off-putting.

14/1

2nd

6

(3)

26th Apr 2026

Good

1m 7f 217y

Class 4

18:15 Musselburgh

Whimsy

9st 2lb

J: Patrick McGettigan

T: Anthony McCann

Had three seasons with Andrew Balding, including three wins, and has been with this yard since July 2023, including for two wins (one over hurdles) and plenty of place returns; third over 1m4f in her only two Flat runs in the last 13 months, including under Patrick McGettigan 17 days ago, and her very solid Flat record for this trainer suggests she will be on the premises.

7/1

Non-runners

Unleash The Beast

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Whimsy

Telegraph:

Ace Of Spades

WEST COUNTRY:

Country Park

D Express:

Ace Of Spades

RP RATINGS:

Whimsy

TOPSPEED:

Whimsy

POSTDATA:

Whimsy

The Times:

Whimsy

Daily Mirror:

Whimsy

The Sun:

Whimsy

The Star:

Whimsy

Daily Record:

Whimsy