November 23 / 14.20 Hereford

14.20

Good To Soft

Hereford Motor Group Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4901.4
  • 2m 0f 53y
  • Class 4
  • 10 runners
SKY
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Hereford Motor Group Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 10 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

OUR TIP

1/3 (Won)

  • Win: £1.50
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 2

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Joined Paul Nicholls after impressive Flat debut in France in April and, despite racing a bit too freely, made good start to hurdling career when close second at Chepstow (2m, good to soft) last month; ought to be hard to beat here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

8

21st Apr 2025

Good

2m 3f 98y

Class 2

15:34 Chepstow

Beau Balko

11st 2lb

J: Ben Bromley

T: Paul Nicholls

Largely consistent 7yo who was runner-up three consecutive times after his Wincanton win (2m4f, good) in November; slightly below form when dropped back to 2m at Newbury last month but this move back up in trip will suit and his current mark is workable.

8/1

3rd

8

21st Apr 2025

Good

2m 3f 98y

Class 2

15:34 Chepstow

Beau Balko

11st 2lb

J: Ben Bromley

T: Paul Nicholls

Largely consistent 7yo who was runner-up three consecutive times after his Wincanton win (2m4f, good) in November; slightly below form when dropped back to 2m at Newbury last month but this move back up in trip will suit and his current mark is workable.

8/1

4th

3

22nd Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 92y

Class 3

17:00 Newbury

Beau Balko

11st 12lb

J: Ben Bromley

T: Paul Nicholls

Consistent type, in frame all six starts this term, including over C&D; respectable fourth of 14 in Greatwood Gold Cup over 2m4f here last time; acts on any ground; should be in the thick of things again.

4/1

5/1

  • Place: £1.10

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Narrowly won good-ground Irish point on debut in March and was sold for 85,000gns two months later; has fairly good standard to aim at on today's rules debut but still looks interesting.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

2

18th Apr 2026

Good

3m 0f 30y

Class 5

13:52 Bangor-on-Dee

Atlanta Brave

12st 0lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Kerry Lee

Has become bitterly disappointing but handicapped accordingly and his third at Hereford was better (3m1f, good); cheekpieces are back on but they'd done little for him previously.

10/1

3rd

2

18th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 44y

Class 5

17:00 Hereford

Atlanta Brave

12st 0lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Kerry Lee

Thrown in on his old form but last win was in January 2023 and he was out of sorts over fences and hurdles last year; has lots to prove back from a break and he's failed to complete in his last three chase runs.

8/1

6

28th Oct 2025

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

15:58 Ffos Las

Atlanta Brave

11st 11lb

J: Charlie Todd

T: Kerry Lee

Dual novice hurdle winner at up to 2m5f (both soft); has struggled since finishing second in Newbury's Mandarin Chase in December 2023, sliding 19lb since; failed to complete in his two starts since wind surgery and returns to hurdles with a fair bit to prove.

14/1

16/1

  • Place: £1.80

Form: 56

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Displayed minor promise on last month's bumper debut and again when sixth of 15 in 2m3f maiden hurdle here at end of October; considered each-way.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

5

8th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 5y

Class 4

15:10 Warwick

Thankyourluckystar

11st 7lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Alastair Ralph

Returned to form with creditable second at Southwell (2m4f) last time but looks unlikely to go one better; the 10yo faces a difficult task against several younger rivals who are open to further improvement.

14/1

2nd

4

2nd Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 88y

Class 4

15:52 Southwell

Thankyourluckystar

11st 9lb

J: Jack Hogan

T: Alastair Ralph

All wins have been on good ground, latest at Worcester in May (2m7f); below-par two runs since and bit to prove at present.

11/1

2

19th Nov 2025

Soft

3m 1f 5y

Class 4

15:10 Warwick

Thankyourluckystar

12st 0lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Alastair Ralph

Burst back to life with 15l win at Worcester (2m7f, good) in May; absent since and up 11lb, which puts him on clear career-high mark at the age of nine; also has a slight query on this forecast soft ground but Harry Skelton retains the ride; should be in the mix if ready to go.

5/2

Form: /52-30

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Runner-up in three of his four bumpers but began hurdling career career with two heavy defeats (2m4f/2m) and needs to get his career back on track.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

18th Mar 2023

Soft

2m 3f 49y

Class 5

15:45 Fontwell

Waterloo Quay

10st 13lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: David Dennis

prominent, not fluent 2nd, disputed lead before 5th, not fluent 6th, mistake and lost position 7th, soon pushed along and weakened

5/1

7

5th Mar 2023

Good To Soft

2m 7f 191y

Class 5

14:45 Ffos Las

Waterloo Quay

11st 1lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: David Dennis

0-11; best of the rest behind a well-treated winner at Uttoxeter (2m4f) on penultimate start, making most; flopped at Warwick (2m5f) three weeks ago and now takes another step up in trip.

9/1

9th

9

11th Feb 2023

Good

2m 5f 0y

Class 5

16:23 Warwick

Waterloo Quay

11st 1lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: David Dennis

raced in second, hit 7th, lost second when not fluent 8th, soon ridden, weakened before 2 out

9/2

Form: 68

Last run: 8 days

W: 11st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Not disgraced on last month's bumper debut but was soundly beaten when 100-1 for C&D maiden hurdle eight days ago and is probably one for a bit further down the line.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

17th Jul 2025

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 5

18:12 Worcester

Unwanted Attention

10st 12lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Mickey Bowen

Won well off 4lb lower last summer for a different yard (2m5f, good); disappointing favourite on stable debut at Cartmel (2m5f) and soft ground was no excuse.

4/1

Form: 6/4/

Last run: 839 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Four-time Flat winner (always in low-grade AW handicaps) who has been pretty consistent this year; not seen over hurdles since respectable fourth at Stratford (2m, good) in summer 2020 but has each-way claims if in similar form here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

9

(10)

21st May 2024

Good

1m 3f 198y

Class 5

15:50 Brighton

Be Fair

8st 10lb

J: Aidan Keeley

T: Andy Irvine

Five wins on AW for previous yard; below best in two starts for new stable this year; 0-13 on turf but has some respectable form (off higher marks) at Brighton; place claims if back to that level.

20/1

6th

9

(10)

21st May 2024

Good

1m 3f 198y

Class 5

15:50 Brighton

Be Fair

8st 10lb

J: Aidan Keeley

T: Andy Irvine

Five wins on AW for previous yard; below best in two starts for new stable this year; 0-13 on turf but has some respectable form (off higher marks) at Brighton; place claims if back to that level.

20/1

6th

1

(4)

2nd May 2024

Standard

1m 6f 0y

Class 6

19:00 Chelmsford (AW)

Be Fair

9st 11lb

J: Grace McEntee

T: Andy Irvine

In good form last winter including a win at Lingfield (1m4f), but he returned after 13 months off with a heavy defeat on his stable debut at Kempton; this step back up in trip is no problem but he needs to leave that latest form well behind.

20/1

Form: 5-3

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Well beaten on hurdling debut in the spring and achieved very little when last of three in uncompetitive Newbury novice this month.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12

6th Feb 2023

Good To Soft

2m 1f 162y

Class 5

16:30 Fontwell

Le Balcon

10st 2lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: D J Jeffreys

in touch with leaders, hit 3rd, dropped to midfield and reminder after 4 out

14/1

7th

6

23rd Nov 2022

Good To Soft

2m 0f 53y

Class 4

14:20 Hereford

Le Balcon

11st 0lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: D J Jeffreys

Well beaten on hurdling debut in the spring and achieved very little when last of three in uncompetitive Newbury novice this month.

50/1

100/1

Form: 8U-

Last run: 511 days

W: 10st 7lb

5 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Placed at a lowly level on the Flat for Tom Clover but struggled on her two hurdling starts for this stable in June 2021 and makes no appeal on this first outing for 511 days.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

3

(2)

27th Mar 2023

Standard

1m 7f 169y

Class 6

15:45 Lingfield (AW)

Stevie McKeane

9st 5lb

J: Jordan Williams

T: Max Young

Failed to win for Tom Clover, has since missed a chunk of her career and is the lowest rated of the septet; up in trip and stamina is far from assured.

33/1

8th

9

(8)

17th Mar 2023

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 6

18:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Stevie McKeane

9st 3lb

J: Kieran O’Neill

T: Max Young

raced in second

66/1

10

(4)

9th Mar 2023

Standard

1m 4f 14y

Class 6

13:50 Southwell (AW)

Stevie McKeane

9st 3lb

J: Jordan Williams

T: Max Young

15-race maiden who was second in a Chelmsford classified event (13.5f) two years ago but has done nothing to recommend her in just six starts across both codes since.

66/1

Form: 66F-00

Last run: 7 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Displayed first significant hurdling promise when tenth of 17 at Warwick (2m, soft) a week ago (beaten about 22l) but needs to take another good step forward here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

23rd Jan 2023

Soft

2m 7f 191y

Class 5

16:30 Ffos Las

Ardenay

11st 1lb

J: Ellis Collier

T: Christian Williams

First significant hurdling promise when tenth of 17 at Warwick (2m, soft; beaten 22l) in November and handicaps should see him in a better light; one to check in the betting over this longer trip.

16/1

Form: 0-

Last run: 262 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Tailed off when 33-1 for bumper debut at Huntingdon (soft; had wind op soon afterwards) in March and can only be watched here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

2

12th Feb 2024

Soft

1m 7f 195y

Class 4

15:15 Plumpton

Freddy Boy

11st 7lb

J: James Martin

T: David Bridgwater

held up in last, always behind

150/1

7th

2

27th Jan 2024

Heavy

1m 7f 168y

Class 4

13:23 Uttoxeter

Freddy Boy

11st 8lb

J: James Martin

T: David Bridgwater

Tailed off in his sole bumper in March 2022 and was pulled up in both hurdle runs (2m, soft) last season; hood is now added on his comeback after 383 days off.

66/1

Non-runners

Ardenay

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £2.20
Straight Forecast £2.54
Trifecta £5.10

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Beau Balko

RP Ratings:

Beau Balko

POSTDATA:

Beau Balko

WEST COUNTRY:

Beau Balko

The Times:

Beau Balko

Telegraph:

Beau Balko

The Guardian:

Beau Balko

Daily Mail:

Beau Balko

D Express:

Beau Balko

Daily Mirror:

Beau Balko

The Sun:

Beau Balko

The Star:

Beau Balko

Daily Record:

Beau Balko