October 22 / 13.30 Cheltenham

13.30

Good To Firm

888Sport Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £8324.8
  • 2m 7f 208y
  • Class 2
  • 8 runners
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888Sport Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

7/2 (Won)

  • Win: £4.34
  • Place: £1.80

Form: 3215-1 D

Last run: 16 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 131

Form & Verdict
Newbury handicap winner last season (2m4f, soft) and, although it was only a four-runner novice at Worcester (2m7f, good; tongue-tie joined cheekpieces) that he won comfortably 16 days ago, that RPR of 136 was his best yet and the runner-up won over fences earlier this week; chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

16

13th Mar 2026

Good

3m 2f 70y

Class 2

16:40 Cheltenham

Shearer

12st 0lb

J: Miss Gina Andrews

T: Paul Nicholls

Relinquished an unbeaten record over regulation fences when fifth in this race last year, though he did well to be only 13l off Wonderwall given that he was in the firing line throughout; it's best not to read too much into a recent odds-on defeat behind past Festival hero Unexpected Party at Haydock (2m6f) as that was probably needed after 11 months off; has no ground preferences; can run well.

20/1

3rd

1

14th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 6f 54y

Class 3

16:30 Haydock

Shearer

12st 4lb

J: Miss Gina Andrews

T: Paul Nicholls

Useful hurdler/chaser who launched hunter chase career with two wins in this month last year (2m5f/2m7f) before a creditable fifth at the Cheltenham Festival (3m2f, good to soft); returns from 11-month absence but still commands respect.

9/4

5th

18

14th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

3m 2f 70y

Class 2

16:40 Cheltenham

Shearer

12st 0lb

J: Miss Olive Nicholls

T: Paul Nicholls

Unbeaten over regulation fences, having won two handicaps at about 3m in 2023 and come back from a long absence to win hunter chases at Ffos Las (2m5f, heavy) and Taunton (2m7f, good to soft); Haven't Time gave him something to think about last time and this demands more of him, probably a lot more; the cheekpieces he wore for those handicap wins are back on; Paul Nicholls has won this four times.

10/1

12/1

  • Place: £3.40

Form: /1-121 D

Last run: 16 days

W: 11st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 134

Form & Verdict
Has a pointing/hunter background and for this yard he has finished second to a very capable mare in a 2m7f novice chase at Worcester and won a three-runner 3m handicap at Warwick (again good); future looks bright but this is a tough race to be making a hurdling debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

23rd May 2026

Good

3m 0f 30y

Class 2

16:10 Bangor-on-Dee

Twig

12st 0lb

J: Beau Morgan

T: Ben Pauling

Second at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival and he started last season with two wins, including a gritty success in the Becher at Aintree (3m2f); struggled in the Grand National last month but he's now only 2lb higher than for his last win and looks interesting on this drop back in trip and class; last success was on soft but most of his wins have been on good ground.

5/2

15th

34

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Twig

10st 4lb

J: Beau Morgan

T: Ben Pauling

Second at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival and started this season with two wins, notably by a short head from Mr Vango in the 3m2f Becher over these fences (wore cheekpieces second time); warmed up for this over hurdles after three months off; the Becher performance was doughty stuff but his only go at a marathon trip was last year's National in which he finished a remote tenth, always behind.

40/1

7th

4

14th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 70y

Class 2

14:25 Uttoxeter

Twig

11st 7lb

J: Beau Morgan

T: Ben Pauling

Useful chaser who is 2-2 this season, latest success in notable race at Aintree; however, lower mark over hurdles reflects his level in this sphere and main target is again the Grand National next month.

20/1

Form: 1

Last run: 23 days

W: 10st 12lb

5 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Fetched 110,000euros at the sales after winning a 3m Irish point and did well to repel the favourite on her rules debut in a 2m maiden hurdle at Clonmel (good to yielding), responding well for pressure over a trip on the sharp side for her; interesting runner with her allowance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

1

17th Sep 2023

Good

2m 4f 0y

15:10 Listowel

The Moon Seas Me

12st 0lb

J: Jordan Gainford

T: Gordon Elliott

Point winner for noted producer Aidan Fitzgerald; won a 2m maiden hurdle at Clonmel a year ago on stable debut; ran in snatches before fading into a well-beaten third in six-runner 3m event at Cheltenham in October; given a break after a poor display at Carlisle the following month; probably best watched now.

16/1

5th

6

27th Nov 2022

Soft

2m 3f 61y

Class 4

13:30 Carlisle

The Moon Seas Me

10st 13lb

J: Denis O’Regan

T: Gordon Elliott

raced in second, lost second but prominent after 5th

5/2

3rd

8

22nd Oct 2022

Good To Firm

2m 7f 208y

Class 2

13:30 Cheltenham

The Moon Seas Me

10st 12lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

ran in snatches, prominent, pushed along when dropped to last 4th, going okay again when headway after 6th, went third omitted 3 out, ridden after 2 out, weakened approaching last

6/1

OUR TIP

Form: 1-2341 D

Last run: 100 days

W: 11st 5lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Three-time winner over fences and returned to hurdling with a comfortable all-the-way success over this trip in a Worcester novice; this is way harder than that and likely to come up short.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

7th Jul 2025

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 4

14:42 Worcester

No No Maestro

11st 6lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Fergal O’Brien

Four-time chase winner (2m4f-3m2f) on a good mark and returned to form when a clear second at Fontwell (3m2f); has to be considered.

13/2

5

10th Jun 2025

Good

3m 1f 210y

Class 4

19:50 Fontwell

No No Maestro

11st 2lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Fergal O’Brien

Four-time chase winner (2m4f-3m2f, good-soft); out of form during three-race spell last spring and made a low-key reappearance last month; well handicapped now but needs that recent outing to have brought him on.

9/1

5th

1

6th May 2025

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 4

18:18 Worcester

No No Maestro

12st 1lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Fergal O’Brien

Four-time chase winner, most recently in 2023; well below par in three runs last year, however, and needs a revival on reappearance; market may offer further guidance.

8/1

Form: 46-1

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Nowhere in two Irish bumpers but he's a dual point winner who joined this yard for £37,000 and he beat a solid yardstick (hurdler/chaser) in a 2m5f novice hurdle at Kelso, staying on the best; could have a good career ahead of him.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

24th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 3

15:47 Perth

Serious Operator

11st 10lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

9yo who was tailed off at Kelso in February last time but that was the competitive Morebattle Hurdle over 2m; in good form over 2m4f prior to that, winning at Newcastle then second at Aintree (both good to soft); likely to be in the mix back up in trip.

7/1

13th

9

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 51y

Class 2

14:55 Kelso

Serious Operator

11st 4lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Won at Newcastle (2m4f, good to soft) in November and second to progressive winner at Aintree (2m4f, good to soft) in December; unraced over a trip this short and there's a suspicion this 9yo will be vulnerable in a race this competitive, but he's 2-3 at Kelso and is not ruled out each-way.

33/1

Form: -31311

Last run: 64 days

W: 11st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
Point/bumper winner who has posted some eyecatching RPRs in winning minor events on goodish ground at Downpatrick (2m6f) and Killarney (2m7f); raised in class this time and with penalties to boot, but could be improving at a rate of knots and the stable has won the last two renewals with similarly progressive types.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

6th May 2026

Good

2m 6f 151y

Class 4

14:55 Kelso

Rexem

12st 2lb

J: Alex Harvey

T: John C McConnell

Pulled up in the Ulster National (3m4f, soft) in March but he was runner-up in two chase handicaps at Musselburgh (2m4f/2m7f) before that; now returns to hurdling but he's 3-8 in this sphere and is on a dangerous mark on this drop back in trip and grade; one to keep an eye on.

13/2

9

29th Mar 2026

Yielding To Soft

3m 4f 120y

16:27 Downpatrick

Rexem

10st 12lb

J: Eoin Staples

T: John C McConnell

Mixed form in 2025; ran his best race for a long time when going close at Musselburgh on New Year's Day (2m4f, good to soft); again finished second over 2m7f at that venue last time; main positive is his good record at this venue, two wins (bumper and maiden hurdle) and a second from four visits.

10/1

2nd

3

31st Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 138y

Class 3

16:11 Musselburgh

Rexem

11st 1lb

J: Dylan Kidd

T: John C McConnell

Mixed form in 2025 but ran his best race for a long time when going close here (2m4f, good to soft) under Dylan Kidd on New Year's Day; kept on strongly last time and he's run well on soft ground in the past; could be a player now back up in trip if backing up that latest performance.

7/2

Form: 218-51

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Respectable eighth in the Champion Bumper here in March; didn't exactly blow them away when odds-on for his hurdling debut at Galway (2m3f) and he could finish only third here on Friday over 2m4f; winning pointer who should at least improve for 3m.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

18

9th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 19y

Class 2

15:30 Aintree

Music Drive

12st 0lb

J: Miss Ellie Callwood

T: Kelly Morgan

He's made the frame at 33-1 in the last two runnings of the Cheltenham Festival hunter chase, finishing about 8l behind Barton Snow and Its On The Line last month when third; tackles a new track today and the drop back in trip isn't an obvious positive, but he could still be an each-way contender.

14/1

3rd

12

13th Mar 2026

Good

3m 2f 70y

Class 2

16:40 Cheltenham

Music Drive

12st 0lb

J: Miss Ellie Callwood

T: Kelly Morgan

2022 Champion Bumper eighth and twice placed over hurdles here when with Gordon Elliott; has done well for current team following a long absence, winning over C&D last May after his never-dangerous 13l fourth to Wonderwall in this 12 months ago; needs to get his skates on a bit earlier to improve on that placing and he was beaten by Linelee King in a recent point (after a long break); return of cheekpieces is no bad thing; seems fine on all ground.

16/1

1st

5

2nd May 2025

Good

3m 2f 70y

Class 4

18:20 Cheltenham

Music Drive

11st 12lb

J: Miss Gina Andrews

T: Kelly Morgan

prominent, disputing second from 15th, led narrowly before 2 out, ridden approaching last, kept on well final 110yds

15/8

Form: 11141- D

Last run: 217 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 148

Form & Verdict
Has come a long way over fences since he was last hurdling (0-4), with his only defeat last season when fourth to Ahoy Senor in a Grade 2; very impressive in defying top weight in a 3m Uttoxeter handicap the final time and, still only a 5yo, he's a bright prospect for both disciplines.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

16th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 7f 177y

Class 3

16:00 Ffos Las

Saint Palais

11st 12lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Richard J Bandey

4-7 over fences but ended 2025 with two disappointing hurdle runs and made very underwhelming return to chasing when seventh of eight at Newbury (2m7f, soft) in February; needs to turn things around.

14/1

7th

1

17th Feb 2026

2m 7f 91y

Class 3

15:55 Newbury

Saint Palais

12st 0lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Richard J Bandey

Well handicapped on his old chase form but this is a belated return to fences and recent hurdling exploits leave him with much to prove.

25/1

Non-runners

Music Drive, Saint Palais

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £28.90
Straight Forecast £33.58
Trifecta £100.60

Selections

RP Ratings:

Shearer

The Guardian:

Rexem

SPOTLIGHT:

The Moon Sea's Me

The Times:

Music Drive

The Sun:

Rexem

Daily Record:

Rexem

The Star:

The Moon Sea's Me

TOPSPEED:

Shearer

POSTDATA:

Shearer

WEST COUNTRY:

Shearer

Telegraph:

Shearer

Daily Mail:

Shearer

D Express:

Shearer

Daily Mirror:

Shearer