August 17 / 18.05 Worcester

18.05

Good

Cazoo Novices’ Hurdle (Arc Summer Novices’ Brush Hurdle Series Qualifier) (GBB)

  • Prize money: £4520.18
  • 2m 0f 0y
  • Class 4
  • 6 runners
SKY
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Cazoo Novices’ Hurdle (Arc Summer Novices’ Brush Hurdle Series Qualifier) (GBB)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

4/5 (Won)

  • Win: £1.29
  • Place: £1.02

Form: 31-317 D

Last run: 32 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
No impact in the Summer Plate at Market Rasen latest but progressive chaser before that, recording RPRs of 138 when winning at Plumpton and Stratford; showed enough over hurdles in 2021 to have major claims in this, assuming he doesn't find 2m on the sharp side.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

6th May 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 216y

Class 2

13:45 Newton Abbot

Light N Strike

11st 5lb

J: James Bowen

T: Mickey Bowen

Progressive for Emma Lavelle last term, winning this off today's mark and backing it up with solid placed efforts; however, he's struggled for this yard (early unseat in Kerry National, pulled up at Chepstow and tailed off at Cheltenham when last seen in October) and now has something to prove.

13/2

5

25th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

3m 1f 0y

Class 2

14:20 Cheltenham

Light N Strike

11st 1lb

J: James Bowen

T: Mickey Bowen

Five-time winner over fences but got no further than the first in the Kerry National on stable debut and didn't run much of a race at Chepstow two weeks ago; this is a tough race in which to bounce back.

40/1

1

11th Oct 2025

Good

2m 7f 131y

Class 2

14:45 Chepstow

Light N Strike

12st 0lb

J: James Bowen

T: Mickey Bowen

Got no further than the first in the recent Kerry National at Listowel; has won five times over fences and was mostly consistent for Emma Lavelle earlier this year; wouldn't be that well handicapped but entitled to have a say.

8/1

OUR TIP

11/4

  • Place: £1.70

Form: 21 CD

Last run: 56 days

W: 11st 4lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
Dual Flat winner; narrowly beaten on stable/hurdle debut in May and readily justified favouritism over C&D the following month; that form has little substance but he should have more to offer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

23rd May 2026

Good

2m 1f 77y

Class 4

15:32 Bangor-on-Dee

Nibras Gold

12st 0lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: James Owen

Dual 1m4f Flat winner (made all) and Summer Hurdle third last year, and jumped perfectly well when second on two of three chase starts in summer 2024; record of 62121 when returning from breaks of over 200 days.

7/1

9th

8

27th Sep 2025

Good

2m 0f 125y

Class 2

17:45 Market Rasen

Nibras Gold

10st 13lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: James Owen

Dual Flat winner for new stable in the spring before reverting to hurdling with commendable third behind Cavern Club in C&D Summer Hurdle (good) in July; only 1lb higher today and ought to be right in the thick of things.

10/1

Form: 77442/

Last run: 605 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Showed enough in two attempts at the end of 2020 to be a serious factor in this but unraced since; interesting to note his market strength on return from the absence; yard also runs Retrospect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

5

26th Oct 2022

Good

2m 0f 3y

Class 4

16:45 Fakenham

First Soldier

11st 10lb

J: Luke Scott

T: Dr Richard Newland

led, headed and lost two places when prominent 3rd, ridden and lost position before 3 out, soon well held

16/1

5th

2

8th Oct 2022

Good To Soft

2m 4f 28y

Class 4

15:34 Hexham

First Soldier

11st 4lb

J: Cillin Leonard

T: Dr Richard Newland

towards rear, headway into midfield after 2 out (usual 3 out), ridden before last, made no telling impression

6/1

Form: 4

Last run: 37 days

W: 10st 7lb

5 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Limited promise in three points (two of them bumpers) and well beaten on last month's hurdle/stable debut at Newton Abbot (40-1).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

16

27th Apr 2023

Good

2m 7f 198y

Class 5

19:00 Taunton

Universal Island

10st 2lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Neil Mulholland

Began her handicap career with two respectable runs at Plumpton in the autumn (both 3m1f, good to soft) but she was pulled up at Wincanton in her final run last year; has something to prove again after a break and she hasn't looked entirely straightforward; hood added.

16/1

13

1st Dec 2022

Good To Soft

3m 0f 150y

Class 5

13:55 Wincanton

Universal Island

10st 2lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Neil Mulholland

visibility reduced by fog

16/1

4th

7

14th Nov 2022

Good To Soft

3m 0f 217y

Class 5

15:40 Plumpton

Universal Island

10st 2lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Neil Mulholland

Her first effort of real note in points or over hurdles when a 5l third over C&D (good to soft) four weeks ago and did well to finish that close after pulling hard; 2lb out of the weights but seriously considered.

9/4

Form: 5-8

Last run: 56 days

W: 10st 11lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Not beaten far in a French bumper but was tailed off over C&D on British/hurdle debut in June.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

10

7th Sep 2022

Good

2m 3f 207y

Class 4

13:30 Uttoxeter

Illico De Moutiers

11st 1lb

J: James Best

T: Richard Hobson

prominent, ridden before 2 out (usual 3 out), weakened before last

33/1

5th

5

17th Aug 2022

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

18:05 Worcester

Illico De Moutiers

10st 11lb

J: James Best

T: Richard Hobson

held up in behind leaders, ridden before 3 out, weakened 2 out

50/1

Form: 52

Last run: 92 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Flat winner; better of two efforts over hurdles when second at Huntingdon in May and enters the argument on that; wind surgery since (second such procedure).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

4th Sep 2022

Good

2m 1f 162y

Class 4

15:50 Fontwell

Retrospect

11st 0lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Dr Richard Newland

led, headed and pushed along just before 3 out, ridden and lost second after 3 out, soon weakened, left in poor fourth run-in, tailed off

5/1

6th

4

17th Aug 2022

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

18:05 Worcester

Retrospect

11st 0lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Dr Richard Newland

prominent, ridden home turn, weakened before 2 out

5/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £1.70
Straight Forecast £1.96
Trifecta £4.20

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Light N Strike

The Times:

Nibras Gold

TOPSPEED:

Retrospect

Telegraph:

Nibras Gold

Daily Express:

Nibras Gold

Daily Mirror:

Nibras Gold

RP Ratings:

Light N Strike

POSTDATA:

Light N Strike

The Guardian:

Light N Strike

Daily Mail:

Light N Strike

The Sun:

Light N Strike

The Star:

Light N Strike

Daily Record:

Light N Strike