January 30 / 14.50 Huntingdon

14.50

Good To Soft

Racing TV Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4901.4
  • 2m 4f 145y
  • Class 4
  • 5 runners
RTV
View Course
Racing TV Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

4/7 (Won)

  • Win: £1.62

Form: 84-773

Last run: 35 days

W: 11st 0lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 127

Form & Verdict
Has raced only three times over hurdles (once runner-up) but is now established as a very talented chaser and he showed some of his old spark when third at Wetherby on Boxing Day; should be competitive in this company on his belated return to hurdling.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

6

27th Nov 2023

Good

2m 4f 110y

Class 3

15:05 Kempton

Amoola Gold

11st 2lb

J: Fergus Gillard

T: Dan Skelton

Both wins last season came over hurdles, including Chepstow contest on final outing; hasn't won over fences since 2020 and current mark reflects a general decline in his form; very well handicapped on his useful best.

7/1

1st

1

15th Apr 2023

Soft

2m 0f 11y

Class 4

12:45 Chepstow

Amoola Gold

11st 9lb

J: Bridget Andrews

T: Dan Skelton

Very useful chaser at his best; very much on the downgrade now and was tailed off at Haydock last month but was able to exploit his novice hurdle status in three-runner contest at Huntingdon (2m4f, good) two starts ago and ought to play a leading role here.

11/10

6th

4

22nd Mar 2023

Soft

2m 0f 67y

Class 3

17:20 Haydock

Amoola Gold

11st 10lb

J: Bridget Andrews

T: Dan Skelton

No win since 2020 as a chaser and he's not been firing on all cylinders this season; won latest start but that came when 8-13 in a three-runner novice hurdle; acts on soft, unraced on heavy; down the weights (14lb lower than this time last year) but has questions to answer.

13/2

Form: 126

Last run: 55 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Warwick bumper winner but beaten a long way into second on his hurdling debut at Hereford (2m3f; good) and even further at Uttoxeter (2m4f, good to soft); found a race lacking any depth in his bid to get back on track.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

5

29th Apr 2026

Yielding

2m 4f 80y

17:25 Punchestown

King Alexander

11st 2lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

Lightly-raced novice landed odds in 2m4f Gowran beginners' in February and fine effort for one so inexperienced when fourth of 18 in 2m5f Jack Richards Novices' Handicap at Cheltenham on much better ground; more scope for improvement than most of these.

7/2

4th

6

12th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 127y

Class 1

14:00 Cheltenham

King Alexander

11st 4lb

J: Danny Mullins

T: W P Mullins

Came up well short in the 2m5f handicap hurdle at this meeting last year but may fare better in this return visit as he's still unexposed over fences and has a solid record since switched to this sphere; comfortably justified favouritism at Gowran Park (2m3f) most recently, producing a career-best RPR; peaking at the right time.

28/1

3rd

6

22nd Jan 2026

Heavy

2m 4f 0y

14:55 Gowran Park

King Alexander

11st 12lb

J: Brian Hayes

T: W P Mullins

One of three for stable; 4-13 over hurdles and rated 136; a close third in a Sandown handicap hurdle in April (2m4f, good) on his final start last season; went close when stable's second string on chasing debut at Naas, with stablemate Funiculi Funicula 2l away in third; definite chance again despite Townend's vote of confidence in the other direction.

100/30

Form: 2-39

Last run: 70 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Placed in a couple of bumpers without genuinely threatening and he's better than he showed on his hurdling debut at Ludlow; wind surgery and the application of a tongue-tie could help matters.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 125y

Class 3

17:05 Haydock

Major Fortune

11st 11lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Prolific winner over hurdles; just as good over fences and holding his form well, beaten off only on run-in when second at Leicester (2m6f; stays 3m1f well) four weeks ago; handles any ground; leading contender.

9/2

2nd

2

6th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 6f 151y

Class 3

14:30 Leicester

Major Fortune

11st 5lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Prolific winner over hurdles; off the mark over fences at the seventh attempt at Wincanton (3m1f, soft) when fitted with first-time cheekpieces in January, and matched that level when runner-up at Newbury the following month; can make his presence felt again but he's never won off a mark this high.

2/1

2nd

5

17th Feb 2026

2m 7f 91y

Class 3

15:55 Newbury

Major Fortune

11st 6lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Prolific winner over hurdles; it was in a lower grade when getting off the mark over fences at Wincanton (3m1f, soft) but that was fairly comfortable and it was his first time in cheekpieces; off 5lb higher he can make his presence felt.

3/1

OUR TIP

Form: 622P5

Last run: 17 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Runner-up in two bumpers last year and there were positives to take from his latest fifth here behind a talented novice (beaten about 16l); this still looks a big ask.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

17th Jul 2024

Good

1m 7f 168y

Class 5

15:10 Uttoxeter

City Roller

11st 5lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Laura Horsfall

Still searching for first win (0-15) with form levels having dipped fractionally since finishing runner-up at Stratford (2m2f, good) in May; stays further than this and seems to handle soft ground; outside place claims.

8/1

5th

5

18th Jun 2024

Good

2m 0f 70y

Class 5

17:50 Stratford

City Roller

11st 8lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Laura Horsfall

0-10 over hurdles but ran big race from the front before succumbing to resurgent rival here (2m2f, good) last month, and his subsequent Newton Abbot sixth was perfectly respectable; one to consider.

4/1

6th

5

5th Jun 2024

Good

2m 0f 167y

Class 5

17:15 Newton Abbot

City Roller

11st 6lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Laura Horsfall

Exposed maiden but gave it a good go from the front at Southwell last month (2m2f, good) against a winner who was completing a double and has run well again since; solid candidate.

3/1

Form: 3

Last run: 65 days

W: 10st 7lb

5 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Bought for £35,000 after finishing a short-head second in a 3m Irish point in April; then had wind op; made a promising hurdling debut at Doncaster before winning easily at Sedgefield yesterday, for which she is penalised; this is tougher if turned out again but would need respecting.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

9

11th May 2024

Good

3m 0f 58y

Class 2

13:35 Haydock

Windtothelightning

11st 1lb

J: Henry Brooke

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Mare who was progressive last year and returned to form when seventh of 15 at Cheltenham (2m4f, good) last month, beaten just under 3l; she went very close in a 3m point and this first attempt at a staying trip under rules is worth a go; not discounted.

11/1

4th

9

11th May 2024

Good

3m 0f 58y

Class 2

13:35 Haydock

Windtothelightning

11st 1lb

J: Henry Brooke

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Mare who was progressive last year and returned to form when seventh of 15 at Cheltenham (2m4f, good) last month, beaten just under 3l; she went very close in a 3m point and this first attempt at a staying trip under rules is worth a go; not discounted.

11/1

7th

4

17th Apr 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 56y

Class 2

14:05 Cheltenham

Windtothelightning

11st 5lb

J: Henry Brooke

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

midfield, lost position 5th

12/1

Non-runners

City Roller, Windtothelightning

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £1.90
Straight Forecast £2.18
Trifecta £2.40

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Amoola Gold

TOPSPEED:

King Alexander

Telegraph:

City Roller

The Times:

Windtothelightning

LAMBOURN:

King Alexander

D Express:

King Alexander

RP Ratings:

Amoola Gold

POSTDATA:

Amoola Gold

The Guardian:

Amoola Gold

Daily Mail:

Amoola Gold

Daily Mirror:

Amoola Gold

The Sun:

Amoola Gold

The Star:

Amoola Gold

Daily Record:

Amoola Gold