14.20
SoftBallymore Winter Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) (GBB Race)
- Prize money: £34170
- 2m 3f 173y
- Class 1
- 6 runners
Runners: 6 runners
Type: Hurdle Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Cloudy
11/4 (Won)
- Win: £2.75
- Place: £1.60
Form: 11P-2 BF
Last run: 38 days
W: 11st 2lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 2 |
14th Feb 2026 Good To Soft 3m 0f 58y Class 1 |
11st 6lb |
Easily won a handicap at Sandown (2m7f, heavy) a fortnight ago; his three hurdle wins have come there and he needs to prove he can reproduce his best form at a different track, but today's trip and forecast soft ground will be right up his street and he's not ruled out on his first run here. |
8/1 |
|
1st 4 |
31st Jan 2026 Heavy 2m 7f 103y Class 1 |
11st 4lb |
Won by 18l over C&D in December 2024 and runner-up to Red Dirt Road in this race (off 2lb higher than today) next time, both on heavy going; well beaten last March and November (given wind surgery in between) but surged back to some form when short-headed here four weeks ago; that was over just 2m4f on good ground and today's conditions are more likely to see him back to his best; big shout if he is. |
3/1 |
13/2
- Place: £3.10
Form: 13 D
Last run: 27 days
W: 11st 2lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: 120
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2 |
25th Apr 2026 Good 3m 4f 146y Class 1 |
11st 6lb |
Seems best making the running or racing prominently; his six races in the last 14 months have been a mixed bag, with an Ascot win (3m, good) in November the highlight; just 1lb higher today and ran respectably on penultimate start, but his two earlier attempts at 3m6f/4m did not work out; a tongue-tie (worn twice in 2023, with a win on first occasion) returns. |
16/1 |
|
9th 2 |
21st Feb 2026 Good To Soft 3m 0f 0y Class 1 |
11st 8lb |
Back to form when 5l behind Deep Cave last time at Ascot (3m, good to soft) but he does look vulnerable to better-treated opposition, for all that he's just 2lb higher than for November's win at Ascot; likely to race on the front end. |
14/1 |
|
2 |
1st Nov 2025 Good 2m 7f 185y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Record of 4-9 over fences, his best form when winning by 6l at Newbury (3m2f, good to soft; 5lb higher today); disadvantaged when slowly away (from a standing start) in the Ultima at Cheltenham and yet still made a challenge three out before fading; never got competitive in the Scottish National but he wasn't alone; a stiff 3m around here looks up his street; shortlisted. |
15/2 |
9/4
Form: 11-11 D
Last run: 23 days
W: 11st 2lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
13 |
18th Apr 2026 Soft 3m 7f 176y Class 1 |
11st 1lb |
Missed 2024 and came up a bit short in his six races since, sent chasing for his five starts this term; shaped as if he stayed when third of five on the step up to 3m4f at Haydock last time but he needs much better than that; perhaps the subsequent wind surgery (his second) will help his cause. |
25/1 |
|
3rd 2 |
5th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 3m 4f 97y Class 3 |
11st 11lb |
A useful winning novice hurdler back in 2022/23; lightly raced since and has failed to win in four small-field events over fences this term, just a fair third of six in 23f Kelso handicap 20 days ago; has his first run beyond 3m here and needs it to spark improvement. |
4/1 |
|
3rd 3 |
13th Feb 2026 Soft 2m 7f 96y Class 2 |
11st 7lb |
Runner-up in Grade 1 novice hurdle at Aintree (3m, soft) in April 2023 prior to very long absence; this 10yo has been runner-up in beginners'/novice chases on his three starts this season (2m5f/3m), bumping into the classy Wendigo last time, and he could be a contender now tackling a handicap. |
9/2 |
12/1
Form: 21-1 D
Last run: 35 days
W: 11st 2lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5th 1 |
22nd Jan 2024 Frozen 2m 4f 0y Class 4 |
12st 2lb |
Point (3m) and bumper winner who won two of his four hurdle starts (2m4f/2m3f, good/soft), with one of the defeats coming in a Grade 2 at Sandown; doesn't look on too bad a mark and his trainer has been looking forward to getting him over fences. |
9/2 |
|
4th 6 |
28th Jan 2023 Good 3m 0f 84y Class 1 |
11st 0lb |
took keen hold, prominent, not fluent 3rd |
16/1 |
11/4
Form: 1 D
Last run: 27 days
W: 11st 2lb
4 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3 |
1st Mar 2024 Soft 3m 0f 52y Class 3 |
11st 9lb |
always behind, pulled up after 4 out |
3/1 |
|
5th 4 |
2nd Dec 2022 Soft 2m 3f 173y Class 1 |
11st 2lb |
Shaped well in a point before changing hands for £155,000, and he made an immediate impact over hurdles when winning seven-runner novice at Aintree (2m4f, good to soft; 15-2) with plenty in hand; looks a useful prospect at least and needs to be taken seriously. |
11/4 |
|
1st 8 |
5th Nov 2022 Good To Soft 2m 4f 0y Class 3 |
10st 13lb |
In a 7l third when falling at the final fence on his debut in an Irish maiden point (3m, soft to heavy) in March; the first two have since joined leading Irish yards and this fellow was sold for £155,000 in April; there's every chance he'll have a bright future under rules and he's a possible. |
11/2 |
10/1
Form: 1 D
Last run: 36 days
W: 11st 2lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
8th 3 |
30th Nov 2024 Good To Soft 2m 0f 92y Class 2 |
11st 11lb |
pressed leader, led after 8th, hit 4 out, headed 3 out, weakened after 2 out |
12/1 |
|
8th 3 |
30th Nov 2024 Good To Soft 2m 0f 92y Class 2 |
11st 11lb |
Scored twice, including over C&D, in the spring but faces a stiffer task off current mark and ran poorly returned to Newbury (2m4f) this month; others preferred. |
12/1 |
|
5th 1 |
7th Nov 2024 Good 2m 3f 187y Class 3 |
12st 0lb |
sweating, in touch with leaders, mistake 4 out, weakened 3 out |
11/4 |
+o+e Accumulators
| Payout | |
|---|---|
| Exacta | £15.50 |
| Straight Forecast | £16.31 |
| Trifecta | £47.90 |
Selections
RP Ratings:
MaximilianWEST COUNTRY:
Man At WorkSPOTLIGHT:
Henri The SecondLAMBOURN:
Park This One