October 29 / 17.03 Ascot

17.03

Good To Soft

Molton Brown Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race (Category 1 Elimination) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £2723
  • 1m 7f 152y
  • Class 4
  • 13 runners
SKY
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Molton Brown Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race (Category 1 Elimination) (GBB Race)

Runners: 13 runners

Type: NH Flat

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

7/2 (Won)

  • Win: £4.50
  • Place: £1.90

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 1lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Value increased from 62,000euros as a yearling to 130,000euros at three; brother to bumper/2m3f-2m5f hurdle/chase winner Sevarano; dam placed in bumpers, half-sister to useful jumpers Champagne Mystery and Shantou Express (bumper winner); has to be of interest for top yard.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

8th Mar 2025

Good

2m 4f 10y

Class 3

16:45 Sandown

Fire Flyer

11st 10lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Eventually lost his form over hurdles last season, and following a revival over fences at Exeter (2m1f) in December, he was pulled up (bled) at Kempton on Boxing Day; something to prove.

7/1

20/1

  • Place: £5.40

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Recruited for £80,000 after winning a 3m Irish point on soft/heavy and the clear second went on to win a bumper at Kilbeggan; clearly has a good deal of ability.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

9

16th Apr 2025

Good

2m 0f 179y

Class 3

17:00 Cheltenham

Way Out

10st 13lb

J: Luke Scott

T: Anthony Charlton

On a good mark if able to rediscover his peak form but his debut for this yard was disappointing and that was back in August.

33/1

11th

9

16th Apr 2025

Good

2m 0f 179y

Class 3

17:00 Cheltenham

Way Out

10st 13lb

J: Luke Scott

T: Anthony Charlton

On a good mark if able to rediscover his peak form but his debut for this yard was disappointing and that was back in August.

33/1

5th

5

31st Aug 2024

Good

2m 5f 122y

Class 2

15:55 Newton Abbot

Way Out

10st 11lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Anthony Charlton

in touch with leaders, prominent before 3rd, mistake 4 out

10/1

10/1

  • Place: £3.90

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 1lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Third reported foal; half-brother to 1m6f bumper/2m5f hurdle winner Lunar Baby; dam point/2m2f bumper/3m hurdle winner; stable is an eyecatching 5-22 in bumpers here so the market needs checking.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

22

1st May 2026

Yielding

2m 4f 55y

17:25 Punchestown

Soldierofthestorm

10st 8lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

British runner is a three-time hurdles winner who has taken well to fences this season; built on positive chase debut when scoring from the front at Sandown (2m4f, soft) in March; not given an easy lead at Newton Abbott and jumping lacked fluency when last of the four runners (2m5f, good); easy lead could be difficult to find once again in this big field.

25/1

4th

1

14th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 216y

Class 3

16:52 Newton Abbot

Soldierofthestorm

11st 10lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Three-time hurdle winner who has taken well to fences this season, building on an encouraging second on chase debut when scoring from the front at Sandown (2m4f, soft) in March, jumping soundly throughout; this represents a different challenge but the 5lb rise is unlikely to halt his progress and another bold bid is on the cards.

6/4

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 1lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
£25,000 3yo; second foal; dam a bumper winner and out of a once-raced half-sister to Midlands National winner G V A Ireland and useful 2m jumper Dines; stable operating at a 10% strike-rate in bumpers the last five seasons.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

11th Apr 2025

Good

2m 3f 29y

Class 4

13:40 Fontwell

Ledders

11st 5lb

J: Niall Houlihan

T: Nick Gifford

held up in rear, detached and niggled along 3rd, joined main group 5th, outpaced 7th, kept on from 2 out, went remote third run-in

20/1

3rd

2

11th Apr 2025

Good

2m 3f 29y

Class 4

13:40 Fontwell

Ledders

11st 5lb

J: Niall Houlihan

T: Nick Gifford

held up in rear, detached and niggled along 3rd, joined main group 5th, outpaced 7th, kept on from 2 out, went remote third run-in

20/1

7th

5

17th Mar 2025

Good

2m 3f 29y

Class 4

14:02 Fontwell

Ledders

11st 7lb

J: James Davies

T: Nick Gifford

Fairly useful in bumpers in 2022 but off 718 days before pulling up at Lingfield (2m3f, soft; 33-1) on hurdle debut last month; entitled to have improved for that and likely to make his mark over hurdles at some point given his bumper ability but probably best watched at present; tongue-tie added.

20/1

OUR TIP

Form: 2-

Last run: 194 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Related to some useful winners and, at odds of 11-5 for his debut at Huntingdon (2m, good), he kept on well after being held up off a solid pace to finish second behind a subsequent winning hurdler; nothing wrong with that start and, now armed with some experience, he should be bang there.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

19th May 2026

Good To Firm

3m 1f 10y

Class 3

19:30 Huntingdon

Billy Boi Blue

11st 8lb

J: Nick Slatter

T: David Killahena & Graeme McPherson

Pulled up on consecutive appearances towards end of last season but seemed to run well until tiring on soft ground at Ayr last time; could be better suited by the less-testing conditions here; not ruled out.

25/1

6

17th Apr 2026

Soft

3m 0f 70y

Class 3

16:43 Ayr

Billy Boi Blue

11st 11lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: David Killahena & Graeme McPherson

Tailed off (fences) and pulled up (hurdles) on his last two starts; a major turnaround is necessary but he runs off the same mark as when winning this race last year; not ruled out and the betting may be interesting.

14/1

1

13th Mar 2026

Good

3m 0f 84y

Class 3

15:02 Doncaster

Billy Boi Blue

12st 0lb

J: Nick Slatter

T: David Killahena & Graeme McPherson

Ayr winner last April (3m, good to soft); disappointing both runs since, last time finishing well-beaten third of four back over fences; suited by good/good to soft ground.

7/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 1lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
11th foal; related to winning jumpers, notably high-class chaser Battleoverdoyen; dam French 1m2f Flat/2m-2m2f hurdle/chase winner; one of three runners for the stable so the betting should be informative.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

23rd Apr 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 88y

Class 5

15:30 Southwell

Tigger

11st 5lb

J: James Bowen

T: Warren Greatrex

Well beaten on hurdling debut in October but, following a wind op, shaped with promise on consecutive appearances at start of this year (2m4f/2m3f); should have more to offer in handicaps; no surprise if he features.

10/1

7

23rd Apr 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 88y

Class 5

15:30 Southwell

Tigger

11st 5lb

J: James Bowen

T: Warren Greatrex

Well beaten on hurdling debut in October but, following a wind op, shaped with promise on consecutive appearances at start of this year (2m4f/2m3f); should have more to offer in handicaps; no surprise if he features.

10/1

5th

4

29th Feb 2024

Soft

2m 3f 1y

Class 4

15:15 Taunton

Tigger

11st 2lb

J: James Bowen

T: Warren Greatrex

raced wide, in rear

20/1

11/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 1lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
65,000euros foal, 110,000euros 3yo; half-brother to five winners including Warriors Tale (smart 2m4f-3m hurdle/chase), Elkstone (2m4f-3m chase), Samarquand (bumper/2m5f hurdle) and Flying Sara (bumpers); dam French 1m-1m3f winner and placed over hurdles; one to note in the market for an in-form stable.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

5th Dec 2024

Soft

1m 7f 201y

Class 4

14:25 Leicester

Samazul

11st 9lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Ben Pauling

held up in rear, no impression before 4 out

7/4

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 1lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Bought for £95,000 after taking a significant step forward in his second Irish point, finishing second on good ground (3m); difficult to know what to make of that form with the first and third unraced since, although the fourth was well held on his recent debut under rules (went off favourite); has joined a yard that does terrifically well in these races.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

29th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 75y

Class 4

14:23 Newton Abbot

Breaking Cover

12st 0lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Anthony Honeyball

In fine form since returning from 14 months off in July, winning twice over hurdles and twice over fences including over C&D (good) in August; seemed to be beaten fair and square when second of three off this mark back here last time, but still a player in this field.

3/1

1st

2

29th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 75y

Class 4

14:23 Newton Abbot

Breaking Cover

12st 0lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Anthony Honeyball

In fine form since returning from 14 months off in July, winning twice over hurdles and twice over fences including over C&D (good) in August; seemed to be beaten fair and square when second of three off this mark back here last time, but still a player in this field.

3/1

2

29th Sep 2025

Good

2m 0f 75y

Class 3

13:56 Newton Abbot

Breaking Cover

10st 13lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Anthony Honeyball

4-5 since returning from long layoff this summer; kept on too strongly for Centara when back over fences here (good) last month and won another four-runner chase at Worcester (2m, good to soft) a fortnight ago; ought to make his presence felt again.

11/8

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 1lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
17,500euros 3yo; third foal; half-brother to 2m4f hurdle winner Biowavego; dam 12.5f winner (RPR 82), sister to bumper/very smart 2m-2m4f hurdle winner Get Me Out Of Here; interesting newcomer and one of three runners from a yard going well.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

1

9th Oct 2023

Good

2m 3f 98y

Class 5

15:40 Stratford

Claras Soldier

12st 0lb

J: Daire Davis

T: Fergal O’Brien

Unplaced all five hurdling starts; seemed to be travelling okay when brought down on handicap debut in March but was well beaten here the following month; switches to chasing after 169-day break.

8/1

7th

8

23rd Apr 2023

Good

2m 2f 148y

Class 5

16:45 Stratford

Claras Soldier

11st 1lb

J: Liam Harrison

T: Fergal O’Brien

Might well have shown improvement at Southwell (2m4f; handicap debut) last month but for being brought down on the final bend (was going nicely at the time); could be dangerous granted better luck.

10/1

4

6th Mar 2023

Good

2m 4f 88y

Class 5

16:10 Southwell

Claras Soldier

11st 6lb

J: Liam Harrison

T: Fergal O’Brien

Five-race maiden; in good hands; holds weak claims on form but looks a possible improver now handicapping over a new trip and in first-time tongue-tie; market support should be heeded.

8/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 1lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Only two completed when he was second in a slow-ground Irish point early this year but the winner is now with Nigel Twiston-Davies and only recently made all in a Fakenham novice hurdle; bought for £80,000 and has joined a stable with a good strike-rate in bumpers.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

22nd Mar 2023

Soft

1m 7f 182y

Class 4

13:30 Ffos Las

Bannow Bay Boy

12st 0lb

J: Cameron Iles

T: Tom Lacey

prominent, led 3 out, pushed along and bumped rival before 2 out, ran green after 2 out, pecked on landing last, soon ridden and hung left, kept on but headed final 110yds

5/2

3

5th Mar 2023

Good

1m 7f 171y

Class 4

15:00 Huntingdon

Bannow Bay Boy

11st 9lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Tom Lacey

3rd

5

30th Jan 2023

Soft

2m 0f 53y

Class 4

14:25 Hereford

Bannow Bay Boy

11st 9lb

J: Richard Patrick

T: Tom Lacey

Second in an Irish point last February (only two finished), after which he was sold for £80,000; two hurdle runs for this yard have seen him not get home over an extended 2m3f here; could rate higher now dropped in trip and handicapping but he will need more to defy this mark.

8/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 1lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
10,000euros 3yo; ninth foal; half-brother to bumper/2m3f-3m hurdle/chase winner Western Joe and 2m5f-3m hurdle/chase/prolific point winner Jepeck; dam placed in a point; trainer has occasional success in bumpers, though is 0-13 here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

10th Apr 2023

Good To Soft

2m 4f 114y

Class 4

14:23 Plumpton

Bar Thyme

11st 6lb

J: Micheal Nolan

T: Seamus Mullins

Minor form in bumpers and now clearly flattered by his debut effort at Ascot when under 9l off the winner; others preferred.

25/1

6th

2

2nd Mar 2023

Good

2m 0f 104y

Class 5

16:35 Taunton

Bar Thyme

11st 2lb

J: Micheal Nolan

T: Seamus Mullins

took keen hold, prominent, pushed along 6f out, weakened from 4f out

12/1

4th

1

1st Jan 2023

Soft

2m 0f 161y

Class 5

15:50 Exeter

Bar Thyme

11st 8lb

J: Micheal Nolan

T: Seamus Mullins

Half-brother to useful jumpers Jepeck and Western Jo; not beaten far when 11th of 12 at Ascot (good) in October but never really looked likely to land a telling blow there.

8/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 1lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
In second when falling late on in his first point and then finished runner-up in the next; changed hands for 50,000gns and his new trainer has won this bumper twice in ten seasons.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

9th May 2025

Good

2m 7f 16y

Class 3

16:23 Market Rasen

Scrum Diddly

11st 11lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

Chasing when last seen in June of last year, winning a four-runner handicap at Southwell before a close third off this mark at Worcester (2m7f, good); dual winning hurdler who has his ground and fitness might not be an issue given connections.

9/2

8th

2

9th May 2025

Good

2m 7f 16y

Class 3

16:23 Market Rasen

Scrum Diddly

11st 11lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

Chasing when last seen in June of last year, winning a four-runner handicap at Southwell before a close third off this mark at Worcester (2m7f, good); dual winning hurdler who has his ground and fitness might not be an issue given connections.

9/2

3rd

7

13th Jun 2024

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 3

18:50 Worcester

Scrum Diddly

11st 6lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

Came good over fences at fourth attempt, in two-finisher contest at Southwell (3m2f, good to soft) three weeks ago; the value of that form is quite tricky to assess but he seemed to have matters in control until idling in the home straight; only 2lb higher here and probably still has potential.

3/1

Form: 1- D

Last run: 288 days

W: 11st 5lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

7th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 48y

Class 5

15:45 Exeter

Odins Quest

11st 3lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

1-9 over hurdles; ended last season on a low note and was again well beaten when back in action in January; makes chasing debut from a good mark but others look much less risky.

14/1

13th

8

16th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

1m 7f 50y

Class 5

14:00 Wincanton

Odins Quest

11st 10lb

J: Niall Houlihan

T: Gary & Josh Moore

visibility reduced by fog

10/1

Non-runners

Odin's Quest

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £80.20
Straight Forecast £75.70
Trifecta £1193.10

Selections

TOPSPEED:

Billy Boi Blue

POSTDATA:

Fire Flyer

SPOTLIGHT:

Bannow Bay Boy

WEST COUNTRY:

Samazul

The Guardian:

Breaking Cover

The Times:

Fire Flyer

The Star:

Fire Flyer

D Express:

Billy Boi Blue

Daily Mirror:

Billy Boi Blue

The Sun:

Billy Boi Blue

Daily Record:

Billy Boi Blue

Telegraph:

Bannow Bay Boy

Daily Mail:

Bannow Bay Boy