January 16 / 13.40 Hereford

13.40

Soft

Cazoo Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4330.42
  • 2m 3f 147y
  • Class 4
  • 6 runners
SKY
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Cazoo Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

10/11 (Won)

  • Win: £1.91
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 41

Last run: 41 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Soft-ground point winner; beaten at odds-on on rules debut at Ffos Las (2m, soft), but she made a marked improvement, despite greenness, to break her duck in a Uttoxeter maiden hurdle (2m, good to soft) last month; step up in trip should suit; should be more to come from this initial mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

5

1st May 2026

Good

3m 1f 100y

Class 4

18:50 Warwick

Missed Tee

11st 8lb

J: Mr Harry O’Dwyer

T: Miss V Collins

Third and sixth in the last two renewals of the 2m race on this card, and still appeals more over shorter despite a win over the full 3m trip at Chaddesley Corbett last May; 0-14 over rules fences.

12/1

4th

5

30th Mar 2026

Good

2m 4f 11y

Class 4

16:57 Ludlow

Missed Tee

11st 5lb

J: Mr Harry O’Dwyer

T: Miss V Collins

0-13 over regulation fences and she needs to improve on her recent seconds in hunter chases at Stratford and here.

13/2

2nd

9

19th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 11y

Class 4

16:50 Ludlow

Missed Tee

11st 5lb

J: Mr Lucas Murphy

T: Miss V Collins

Third in this race in 2024 and she easily won a ladies open at Chaddesley Corbett (3m, good) in May; had wind surgery (her third) before an encouraging second in novice hunter chase at Stratford (2m5f, soft) despite having the door slammed in her face on the home turn ten days ago; should go well again.

8/1

4/1

  • Place: £1.60

Form: 213412 D

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 11lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
2-6 over hurdles (both wins on good); stays 2m3f; arrives on the back of a career best when second at Taunton (2m3f, good) last month; up 1lb; likely player if handling soft ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

20th Mar 2023

Good To Soft

2m 4f 88y

Class 4

15:35 Southwell

Leading Theatre

11st 13lb

J: Max Kendrick

T: Fergal O’Brien

midfield

7/1

2nd

2

16th Jan 2023

Soft

2m 3f 147y

Class 4

13:40 Hereford

Leading Theatre

11st 11lb

J: Max Kendrick

T: Fergal O’Brien

2-6 over hurdles (both wins on good); stays 2m3f; arrives on the back of a career best when second at Taunton (2m3f, good) last month; up 1lb; likely player if handling soft ground.

4/1

2nd

1

21st Dec 2022

Good

2m 3f 1y

Class 5

12:53 Taunton

Leading Theatre

12st 0lb

J: Max Kendrick

T: Fergal O’Brien

Listed bumper runner-up who made it 2-5 over hurdles when winning at Fontwell (2m3f, good) in October on her second handicap start; she's in a deeper race here but is just 1lb higher and could have more to offer.

13/2

5/1

Form: 2-43 BF

Last run: 46 days

W: 11st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 98

Form & Verdict
Second in a conditions hurdle (2m2f, very soft) on his sole start in France; well beaten in two starts at around 2m since joining this trainer, the latest when odds-on at Leicester; step up in trip looks positive but he needs to find some improvement.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 0y

Class 4

13:48 Carlisle

Ramo

11st 10lb

J: Ned Fox

T: Venetia Williams

Hasn't won since Ludlow success in November 2023 (2m5f, good to soft); two fair runs over this sort of trip at Market Rasen and Ffos Las in February and could go well again.

6/1

2nd

3

20th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 191y

Class 4

16:52 Ffos Las

Ramo

11st 11lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Best effort for two years when under 4l behind Gold In The Rivers at Market Rasen latest (2m7f, soft), passing stopping rivals having lost his pitch; 2lb swing with that rival and yard back among winners in the meantime.

7/2

3rd

4

1st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 16y

Class 4

14:20 Market Rasen

Ramo

11st 6lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Well handicapped on old form but didn't fire during light campaign last season and was tailed off when reappearing in December; revival needed.

10/1

Form: 3955

Last run: 11 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 99

Form & Verdict
Point winner; well beaten in three mares' novices hurdles; initial mark looks stiff but she should at least be suited by this step up in trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

24th Nov 2023

Soft

2m 7f 131y

Class 4

14:50 Chepstow

Kym Eyre

11st 7lb

J: Isabel Williams

T: Evan Williams

Off the mark under rules in a 3m3f chase at Stratford in April (good to soft); returned from a three-month absence to win a 2m5f handicap hurdle at Newton Abbot in October and followed up over fences at Ffos Las two weeks later; not at her best over hurdles in hat-trick bid last month but no real surprise were she to bounce back.

5/1

4th

6

31st Oct 2023

Good To Soft

2m 7f 131y

Class 4

14:05 Chepstow

Kym Eyre

10st 7lb

J: Isabel Williams

T: Evan Williams

raced in third, slow jump 2nd, lost third after 4 out, weakened after 2 out

7/2

1st

3

15th Oct 2023

Soft

2m 5f 110y

Class 4

13:35 Ffos Las

Kym Eyre

11st 4lb

J: Isabel Williams

T: Evan Williams

Game winner of gruelling handicap chase at Stratford (3m3f, good to soft) in April and again looked suited by emphasis on stamina when keeping on well to reel in the long-time leader over hurdles at Newton Abbot (2m5f, soft) last month; probably needs a career best here.

11/2

OUR TIP

Form: 2/8041

Last run: 42 days

W: 11st 5lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Broke his duck over hurdles when scoring at 40-1 at Lingfield (2m, good to soft; cheekpieces) last month; well beaten on AW in the other code since; up 5lb for return to hurdles and back up in trip; not written off but others hold stronger claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13th

4

12th Oct 2023

Good To Firm

2m 0f 161y

Class 5

16:00 Exeter

Happy Company

11st 13lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: John O’Shea

Capable handicapper at this level but has run moderately on the Flat and over jumps on either side of a three-month absence; others safer.

14/1

6th

1

24th Aug 2023

Good

2m 5f 164y

Class 5

17:05 Fontwell

Happy Company

12st 0lb

J: Ned Fox

T: John O’Shea

Won at Lingfield in December and did so under Ned Fox in five-runner race over this C&D (good to firm) in May; ran poorly in a Flat run last time but that was just one day after his win here and is best forgiven; probably needs to improve on his British hurdles form.

5/1

10th

9

(11)

29th May 2023

Good To Firm

1m 3f 179y

Class 6

14:30 Leicester

Happy Company

9st 0lb

J: Rhiain Ingram

T: John O’Shea

Added to his three Flat wins in Ireland when scoring over hurdles in December; respectable second in a selling hurdle at Exeter (2m2f, good) last month and he's not ruled out off a dangerous mark back in this sphere following another hurdle win at Fontwell yesterday.

12/1

Form: 900

Last run: 25 days

W: 10st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
Well beaten at big odds in all three starts but goes handicapping off a modest mark and may yet improve.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

8

15th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 62y

Class 5

14:35 Newcastle

Luminaries

11st 2lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Ewan Whillans

Four-time hurdle winner but he generally struggled over fences in the autumn and was tailed off back in this sphere at Musselburgh (3m, good to soft) last month; needs to get back on track but he's 6b lower than for his last win and he's 3-3 over C&D.

12/1

1

30th Oct 2025

Good To Firm

2m 7f 91y

Class 5

13:38 Newcastle

Luminaries

12st 0lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Ewan Whillans

Won four times over hurdles at up to 3m, all on good/good to soft, latest at Kelso in May (3m, good); not as good over fences so far, having pulled up on first occasion and finished 33l behind runner-up Sir Carnegie at Sedgefield last time (3m2f, good to firm); visor replaces cheekpieces; should improve.

8/1

1

30th Oct 2025

Good To Firm

2m 7f 91y

Class 5

13:38 Newcastle

Luminaries

12st 0lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Ewan Whillans

Won four times over hurdles at up to 3m, all on good/good to soft, latest at Kelso in May (3m, good); not as good over fences so far, having pulled up on first occasion and finished 33l behind runner-up Sir Carnegie at Sedgefield last time (3m2f, good to firm); visor replaces cheekpieces; should improve.

8/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £3.00
Straight Forecast £6.03
Trifecta £8.30

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Missed Tee

TOPSPEED:

Leading Theatre

RP Ratings:

Ramo

D Express:

Ramo

The Sun:

Ramo

The Star:

Ramo

The Times:

Missed Tee

Telegraph:

Missed Tee

Daily Mail:

Missed Tee

Daily Record:

Missed Tee

POSTDATA:

Leading Theatre

WEST COUNTRY:

Leading Theatre

The Guardian:

Leading Theatre

Daily Mirror:

Leading Theatre