November 23 / 14.40 Wetherby

14.40

Soft

Watch Race Replay At Racing TV Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4084.5
  • 2m 0f 0y
  • Class 4
  • 11 runners
RTV
View Course
Watch Race Replay At Racing TV Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 11 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

15/8 (Won)

  • Win: £2.38
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 1-7 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Solid success in Huntingdon bumper (2m, soft) on rules debut, beating a subsequent dual winner by 11l; only midfield at Chepstow on the switch to hurdles, having made a bad mistake two out; should improve if avoiding errors.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

1

18th Jan 2025

Heavy

1m 7f 144y

Class 3

12:45 Haydock

Pembroke

12st 0lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

raced wide, prominent, mistake 3rd, not fluent and lost position 5th, dropped to rear 6th, soon lost touch

14/1

8th

1

18th Jan 2025

Heavy

1m 7f 144y

Class 3

12:45 Haydock

Pembroke

12st 0lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

raced wide, prominent, mistake 3rd, not fluent and lost position 5th, dropped to rear 6th, soon lost touch

14/1

6th

1

14th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 128y

Class 2

15:15 Doncaster

Pembroke

12st 0lb

J: Fergus Gillard

T: Dan Skelton

Well handicapped on last season's best novice chase form and he reappeared with a fair sixth in the Welsh Champion Hurdle; however, he was well beaten at Carlisle only a fortnight ago and needs to bounce back.

9/1

7/4

  • Place: £1.10

Form: 22-1 D

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Strong form in bumpers, having finished a solid second (behind subsequent hurdle winners) twice before going one better with a 13l success at Ayr (2m, good to soft); nicely bred and should improve further; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

23rd May 2026

Good

2m 3f 123y

Class 4

15:00 Bangor-on-Dee

Magic Wave

12st 0lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Mark Walford

Won off 2lb lower at Kelso (2m5f, good) last April but he's not seen much action since and has been beaten 39l in both runs this year; has some questions to answer and he needs a big turnaround.

14/1

10th

3

20th Apr 2026

Good

2m 6f 151y

Class 4

14:30 Kelso

Magic Wave

11st 12lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Mark Walford

Course winner (2m5f, good) a year ago; absent since disappointing run in January but his C&D (good to soft) second just after Christmas was a good effort and he'll be right in the thick of things if back on song today.

8/1

10th

6

17th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 50y

Class 4

15:10 Haydock

Magic Wave

11st 9lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Mark Walford

Campaigned at Kelso (2m5f/2m6f) since last April, posting form figures of 132; edging back up the weights and now goes into a much bigger field switched back to elsewhere; not certain to remain competitive.

14/1

12/1

  • Place: £4.00

Form: 4-

Last run: 263 days

W: 11st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Ran to a modest figure on sole attempt over hurdles but should be capable of better, having reached a fairly useful standard on the Flat (7f/1m winner on soft); stamina is still a question mark, however.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

26th Jun 2026

Good

2m 1f 46y

Class 4

16:58 Cartmel

Lightening Company

11st 13lb

J: Mr James Murray

T: Ben Haslam

Has been running on the Flat, winning 1m4f/1m2f handicaps before a respectable effort in a competitive race at York; capable hurdler with winning form here and James Murray takes off a useful 7lb.

6/1

8th

16

(2)

13th May 2026

Good

1m 3f 188y

Class 4

17:15 York

Lightening Company

8st 10lb

J: Andrew Mullen

T: Ben Haslam

Form figures of 5075 at this meeting in the last four years; one win a season had previously appeared his quota but he's already exceeded that in 2026, having scored at Pontefract (1m4f/1m2f) on last two outings; that demands some respect but this race is a higher grade.

10/1

1st

2

(2)

29th Apr 2026

Good

1m 2f 5y

Class 5

16:33 Pontefract

Lightening Company

9st 8lb

J: Harry Vigors

T: Ben Haslam

Four-time Flat winner, including C&D, who has been all or nothing since scoring over hurdles at Cartmel in July; three AW no-shows followed good second over C&D (soft; 40-1) in October but market support predicted a going day when scoring here (1m4f, good to soft) three weeks ago; might not want the ground to get too quick but otherwise a key player under 2lb nudge.

5/4

10/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Fair handicapper on the Flat in 2021, winning on turf (1m) and AW (9.5f); below par in two runs this year but has possibilities if he responds well to this change of code; major stable.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

5

27th May 2026

Good

2m 6f 31y

Class 4

19:08 Cartmel

Dickens

11st 5lb

J: Luke Scott

T: Jennie Candlish

In a consistent run of form when last seen in November, mostly hooded but also in just a tongue-tie last time; this mark is very manageable but he does lack a recent run.

13/2

1

30th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 2f 148y

Class 5

12:47 Stratford

Dickens

11st 12lb

J: Luke Scott

T: Jennie Candlish

Has been in fine fettle since joining current yard in the summer with four wins in handicaps; incurs 12lb penalty here partially offset by Luke Scott's 3lb claim; should be hard to beat at this level.

Evs

1

30th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 2f 148y

Class 5

12:47 Stratford

Dickens

11st 12lb

J: Luke Scott

T: Jennie Candlish

Has been in fine fettle since joining current yard in the summer with four wins in handicaps; incurs 12lb penalty here partially offset by Luke Scott's 3lb claim; should be hard to beat at this level.

Evs

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Gamely made all in Irish point eight months ago; granddam is a half-sister to Denman; interesting rules debutant, especially if the market speaks positively.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

16th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 68y

Class 5

15:30 Musselburgh

Henry Gray

11st 3lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

9yo point winner who is 0-7 under rules but there were encouraging signs over fences last winter and he shaped on his comeback over hurdles two months ago as though he would improve for that run; he's one to consider.

4/1

5th

5

20th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

1m 7f 168y

Class 5

12:55 Uttoxeter

Henry Gray

11st 5lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

raced slightly wide, midfield

7/1

5th

5

20th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

1m 7f 168y

Class 5

12:55 Uttoxeter

Henry Gray

11st 5lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

raced slightly wide, midfield

7/1

Form: 709

Last run: 11 days

W: 11st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Comfortably held in two Irish bumpers and it was the same story in 2m3f novice hurdle here 11 days ago for new stable; opposed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

10

17th Nov 2023

Good

2m 0f 78y

Class 5

13:00 Doncaster

Out For The Count

10st 2lb

J: Philip Armson

T: Jennie Candlish

Modest maiden hurdler; unseated rider at first fence on chasing debut in September and was tailed off when fourth at Huntingdon (2m7f) last month; needs this sharp drop back in trip to show him in a much better light; 1lb wrong.

25/1

4th

8

10th Oct 2023

Good

2m 7f 129y

Class 5

16:20 Huntingdon

Out For The Count

10st 4lb

J: Philip Armson

T: Jennie Candlish

Modest maiden hurdler who unseated rider at first fence when 33-1 for last month's chasing debut; not the most obvious answer.

20/1

0

9

19th Sep 2023

Good

3m 0f 0y

Class 5

15:10 Uttoxeter

Out For The Count

10st 2lb

J: Lewis Stones

T: Jennie Candlish

held up in rear, not fluent and unseated 1st

12/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
12,000euros foal, 40,000euros 3yo, £22,000 5yo; half-brother to 2m5f hurdle/3m chase winner Toviere, out of sister to bumper/hurdle/high-class chase winner Thisthatandtother; market informative on debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

1st Mar 2025

Good To Soft

3m 2f 1y

Class 2

15:15 Doncaster

White Rhino

11st 9lb

J: Henry Brooke

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Big progress as hurdler initially last term (2m4f-3m) and also won handicaps when switched to chasing for first two starts this season (up to an extended 2m5f); 12-1 but unseated early for 3m Grade 1 novice at Kempton on Boxing Day (has similar Cheltenham entry); has a question to answer with new trip but, barring mishaps, best days are still ahead of him.

5/1

Form: 22U1 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 7lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

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

5th

4

28th Jun 2026

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 2

16:03 Uttoxeter

American Sniper

11st 4lb

J: Rian Corcoran

T: David Pipe

Made all for 13l success at Newton Abbot (2m5f, good) last time, ending a losing run that went back to 2024; still competitively handicapped on historical data and has won at up to 3m; not dismissed.

7/1

1st

1

27th May 2026

Good

2m 5f 122y

Class 4

16:56 Newton Abbot

American Sniper

12st 2lb

J: Rian Corcoran

T: David Pipe

Has patchy profile but he's well handicapped on his Taunton second (2m3f, good) in December and he may have needed his reappearance run at Hereford this month; this step back up in trip is no problem and he's one to keep an eye on for in-form yard.

11/2

5th

1

5th May 2026

Good

2m 3f 147y

Class 4

19:17 Hereford

American Sniper

12st 0lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

Has become hard to predict, as his 16l fourth at Taunton (2m3f, good) in January would suggest, having failed to back up a decent effort there the previous month; back on his last winning mark and could play a leading role if at his best.

7/2

Form: 263234

Last run: 7 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Comparatively exposed with a record of just 1-9 over hurdles, the win gained at Cartmel (2m1f, good to soft) in June; however, he's a leading player on the figures back in a novice event and has back class (formerly useful on Flat).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

31st May 2023

Good

2m 1f 46y

Class 4

17:50 Cartmel

Battle Of Toro

11st 5lb

J: Charlotte Jones

T: James Moffatt

Only win was in a modest C&D novice last June (good to soft, cheekpieces on for first time); some fair efforts since, including a second off this mark in a C&D handicap in August (good); lacks a recent run, but a chance.

4/1

2

23rd Nov 2022

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

14:40 Wetherby

Battle Of Toro

11st 7lb

J: Charlotte Jones

T: James Moffatt

Comparatively exposed with a record of just 1-9 over hurdles, the win gained at Cartmel (2m1f, good to soft) in June; however, he's a leading player on the figures back in a novice event and has back class (formerly useful on Flat).

10/1

4th

4

16th Nov 2022

Good To Soft

2m 0f 48y

Class 4

15:23 Hexham

Battle Of Toro

11st 9lb

J: Charlotte Jones

T: James Moffatt

prominent, pushed along on turn before last, soon outpaced and beaten, hit last

9/1

OUR TIP

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Modest performer on the Flat where he has a better record on AW than on turf; sole win came over 1m2f; brings limited potential to hurdling.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

(5)

14th Aug 2025

Good To Firm

1m 0f 100y

Class 6

16:55 Beverley

Calcutta Dream

9st 0lb

J: Lewis Chalkley

T: Michael & David Easterby

All six wins have been on the AW; two fair runs at Newcastle in June/July but well beaten on last three runs on turf; plenty to prove.

12/1

10

(11)

26th Jul 2025

Standard To Slow

1m 0f 5y

Class 6

16:50 Newcastle (AW)

Calcutta Dream

9st 0lb

J: Lewis Chalkley

T: Michael & David Easterby

Six-time winner but unreliable in handicaps and classified races; not the percentage call.

10/1

3

(4)

15th Jul 2025

Good To Firm

0m 7f 218y

Class 6

18:30 Thirsk

Calcutta Dream

9st 9lb

J: Billy Garritty

T: Michael & David Easterby

Won a similar race at Southwell in January; best effort since when third of 14 at Newcastle 19 days ago (1m; blinkered first time); a danger to all if the headgear works so well a second time.

5/1

Form: 319-38 D

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Fairly useful in bumpers last term, winning twice on good ground and midfield in Aintree Grade 2; has not transferred that form to hurdling in two attempts, well beaten over 2m3f here latest; revival needed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

5

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 187y

Class 2

14:25 Newbury

Prairie Wolf

11st 6lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

Northern runner who has looked as good as ever in winning two of his last three races, taking chase record to 6-18; did it quite readily at Newcastle (2m4f, good to soft) latest; ran respectably at Newbury in November; likely player in current form.

5/1

1st

3

21st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 19y

Class 3

15:58 Newcastle

Prairie Wolf

11st 8lb

J: Callum Bewley

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

5-17 over fences and his win at Aintree (2m4f, good to soft) on Boxing Day was up there with his best efforts; ran poorly at Cheltenham four weeks later but in the mix if bouncing back.

5/1

Non-runners

American Sniper, Calcutta Dream, Prairie Wolf

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £3.30
Straight Forecast £3.46
Trifecta £19.40

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Magic Wave

RP Ratings:

Pembroke

Telegraph:

Henry Gray

THE NORTH:

Magic Wave

The Guardian:

Magic Wave

Daily Mail:

Magic Wave

D Express:

Magic Wave

Daily Mirror:

Magic Wave

The Sun:

Magic Wave

Daily Record:

Magic Wave

POSTDATA:

Pembroke

The Times:

Pembroke

The Star:

Pembroke