November 05 / 16.00 Wincanton

16.00

Good

Unibet Elite Hurdle (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £41608
  • 1m 7f 50y
  • Class 1
  • 4 runners
ITV4
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Unibet Elite Hurdle (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

Runners: 4 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Rain

2/1 (Won)

  • Win: £2.38

Form: 6011-1 CD

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 146

Form & Verdict
Grade 2 bumper winner and now 5-8 over hurdles having impressed in winning his last three, recording his best RPR yet when conceding weight to all in a 2m3f Chepstow handicap that has already been franked; with momentum behind him and getting 6lb off Sceau Royal, he's interesting; has won on soft but considered at his best on good ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 187y

Class 2

14:25 Newbury

Knappers Hill

11st 11lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Heavy ground provides an excuse for latest effort; has hinted at retaining ability otherwise since returning from lengthy layoff; very attractively treated on historical data, which includes four Grade 2 wins (bumper/hurdles/fences); one to consider.

9/2

1

7th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 2

14:25 Warwick

Knappers Hill

12st 0lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Paul Nicholls

Smart hurder/chaser in his prime; absent more than two years after Grade 2 novice chase win in autumn 2023 but returned with two pretty good efforts this season (2m5f/3m) and has possibiites in his first veterans' chase; copes well with soft ground; unraced on heavy.

3/1

11/10

Form: 6232-1 CD

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 8lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 157

Form & Verdict
Prolific hurdler/chaser who has won the past two renewals of this race, complementing his success in 2016; looked full of beans in winning a recent Listed hurdle at Kempton for the second year running and he'll take all the beating once again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

26th Dec 2023

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 1

13:55 Kempton

Sceau Royal

11st 10lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Alan King

Multiple winner down the years; turns 12 imminently and his two results this season, including behind Rubaud when bidding for a third success in Kempton Listed event in October, suggest he's perhaps finally on the wane; well held in this contest in 2022.

100/1

5th

2

25th Nov 2023

Good To Soft

2m 3f 58y

Class 1

14:05 Ascot

Sceau Royal

11st 4lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Alan King

prominent, disputing third before 2 out, weakened approaching last

11/2

4th

3

22nd Oct 2023

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 1

16:05 Kempton

Sceau Royal

11st 6lb

J: Daryl Jacob

T: Alan King

High-class hurdler/chaser who has been an excellent servant to connections over the years and is bidding to win this race for the third season running; seemed to race too freely in first-time cheekpieces (now removed) in Aintree Hurdle in April but faced a tough assignment there anyway and ought to be very hard to beat here.

10/11

OUR TIP

Form: 1191-2 D

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 5lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 145

Form & Verdict
Failed to fire in the Triumph but had a ball otherwise last season, winning for a sixth time when awarded Aintree's 4yo Grade 1 in the stewards' room after dead-heating with Pied Piper; brushed aside by that rival at Cheltenham two weeks ago but that was still a pleasing comeback in a steadily run race; tends to go under the radar and should run well.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

5th Nov 2022

Good

1m 7f 50y

Class 1

16:00 Wincanton

Knight Salute

11st 5lb

J: Paddy Brennan

T: Milton Harris

held up in last, mistake 3rd, not fluent 4th, detached 3 out, pushed along home turn, outpaced before 2 out, soon well held, went third run-in

8/1

2nd

1

22nd Oct 2022

Good To Firm

2m 0f 87y

Class 2

14:40 Cheltenham

Knight Salute

11st 8lb

J: Paddy Brennan

T: Milton Harris

in touch with leaders, switched right and headway 2 out, edged left but every chance approaching last, ridden run-in, kept on

5/2

Form: 245-F2 D

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 145

Form & Verdict
Strong traveller with a sharp turn of foot but he has been beaten in his last five races and he's probably relying on the market principals performing below par.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

2

27th Oct 2023

Good To Soft

2m 3f 200y

Class 3

17:05 Cheltenham

Milkwood

11st 10lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Neil Mulholland

2021 was his year, following his third in the County with victory in the Scottish Champion Hurdle and then finishing second in the Galway Hurdle; dangerously treated on all that but last season fizzled out and he wants good ground ideally.

14/1

6th

6

22nd Apr 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 1

14:25 Ayr

Milkwood

11st 0lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Neil Mulholland

On fire in 2021, following his third in the County with victory in this and then finishing second in the Galway Hurdle; dangerously treated on all that and forget his Cheltenham flop last month as soft ground was the last thing he needed (hood tried there also dispensed with); could be a player if there's not too much rain.

14/1

13

17th Mar 2023

Soft

2m 0f 179y

Class 1

14:10 Cheltenham

Milkwood

11st 0lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Neil Mulholland

Fine third in this race in 2021 (good to soft) before winning the Scottish Champion Hurdle (2m, good) and finishing second in the Galway Hurdle (2m, good); on those runs he's on a handy mark and he's better than he's shown on his last two starts; his each-way claims are likely to hinge on the ground, as a soft surface would be a probable negative; wears a first-time hood.

33/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £3.10
Straight Forecast £3.33
Trifecta £7.20

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Sceau Royal

TOPSPEED:

Knappers Hill

Daily Record:

Knight Salute

POSTDATA:

Knappers Hill

WEST COUNTRY:

Knappers Hill

The Guardian:

Knappers Hill

Daily Mail:

Knappers Hill

D Express:

Knappers Hill

RP Ratings:

Sceau Royal

The Times:

Sceau Royal

Telegraph:

Sceau Royal

Daily Mirror:

Sceau Royal

The Sun:

Sceau Royal

The Star:

Sceau Royal