February 11 / 16.10 Newbury

16.10

Good

Daily Tips On betting.betfair.com Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £7079.8
  • 2m 0f 69y
  • Class 3
  • 11 runners
RTV
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Daily Tips On betting.betfair.com Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 11 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

6/1 (Won)

  • Win: £12.00
  • Place: £2.20

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Pretty busy over middle distances on Flat in 2021 and 2022, with plenty of fairly useful form along with some lesser efforts; sold out of the Johnston stable for 40,000gns in October; basic Flat ability requires plenty of respect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

(3)

13th Jul 2026

Standard

1m 5f 0y

Class 5

17:40 Lingfield (AW)

Love Is Golden

9st 4lb

J: Ben Ffrench Davis

T: Paddy Butler

Well treated on his old form for the Johnstons but he returned after a mammoth absence last month and has been tailed off at big prices in both runs (1m4f/2m) for current yard; lots to prove.

66/1

5th

2

(5)

18th Jun 2026

Good

2m 0f 68y

Class 5

19:10 Lingfield

Love Is Golden

9st 9lb

J: Jack Dace

T: Paddy Butler

Quite useful on the Flat up to 1m4f for the Johnstons and later won twice over hurdles for Gary Moore; always in rear on return from a lengthy absence on stable debut at Goodwood (1m4f, good to soft) 13 days ago; best watched for now.

40/1

9th

5

(3)

5th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

1m 3f 218y

Class 4

20:12 Goodwood

Love Is Golden

9st 8lb

J: Seamus Cronin

T: Paddy Butler

Quite useful on Flat up to 1m4f for the Johnstons and later won twice over hurdles for Gary Moore; however, it's difficult to know what to expect after such a mammoth spell on the sidelines.

20/1

3/1

  • Place: £1.20

Form: 2-4411 D

Last run: 4 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
Comfortable win at Taunton (2m, good) in December and he followed up in clearcut style over 2m3f there (good to soft; made all) on Tuesday; only four days to get over that latest run and defying the double penalty should ask a big question but he's been on a roll and needs plenty of respect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

29th Apr 2023

Good

1m 7f 216y

Class 2

13:05 Sandown

Holetown Hero

12st 0lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Paul Nicholls

Dual winner at Taunton (2m/2m3f, good/good to soft) during the winter and probably posted personal-best effort when close second to short-odds favourite at Newton Abbot (2m1f, soft; front pair well clear) this month; benefits from Freddie Gingell's useful 7lb claim on today's handicap debut; enters calculations.

16/1

2nd

1

8th Apr 2023

Heavy

2m 0f 167y

Class 4

13:40 Newton Abbot

Holetown Hero

12st 0lb

J: Lorcan Williams

T: Paul Nicholls

led, awkward jump 2nd

7/4

2nd

1

11th Feb 2023

Good

2m 0f 69y

Class 3

16:10 Newbury

Holetown Hero

11st 12lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Comfortable win at Taunton (2m, good) in December and he followed up in clearcut style over 2m3f there (good to soft; made all) on Tuesday; only four days to get over that latest run and defying the double penalty should ask a big question but he's been on a roll and needs plenty of respect.

3/1

25/1

  • Place: £6.00

Form: 50

Last run: 43 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
His dam has produced some pretty useful winners but he was muted in a bumper at Southwell (good; favourite) last May and novice hurdle at Taunton (2m3f, good to soft; 25-1) in December.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

3

13th May 2023

Good To Soft

2m 3f 0y

Class 5

18:25 Warwick

Benefact

11st 10lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

No impact in four starts and tailed off here (2m, soft) last time but he showed promise when staying on well to snatch third in a Newbury novice (2m, good) on his penultimate run; now goes handicapping back up in trip and needs watching in the market for leading yard.

9/2

10th

1

22nd Mar 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

13:40 Warwick

Benefact

11st 6lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

Beaten favourite in his only bumper and achieved little on hurdling debut at Taunton (2m3f, good to soft) last December; 66-1 when making a marked improvement on that, keeping on to be 19l third at Newbury (2m, good) last month; no surprise if he is able to build on that and be competitive.

9/2

3rd

6

11th Feb 2023

Good

2m 0f 69y

Class 3

16:10 Newbury

Benefact

11st 2lb

J: A P Heskin

T: Nicky Henderson

His dam has produced some pretty useful winners but he was muted in a bumper at Southwell (good; favourite) last May and novice hurdle at Taunton (2m3f, good to soft; 25-1) in December.

25/1

Form: 2 BF

Last run: 15 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Useful over 1m2f on Flat last summer for William Jarvis; co-favourite, second of 14 in maiden hurdle at Huntingdon (2m, good to soft) 15 days ago for new yard, which confirms that he needs to be in serious calculations.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

(4)

3rd Jul 2026

Good

1m 6f 0y

Class 4

16:42 Sandown

Arqoob

10st 4lb

J: James Doyle

T: Lucy Wadham

Gained most recent win last August; below par in the latest of his two starts this term but is interesting on historical data, having defied a 2lb higher mark at Sandown on Eclipse day four years ago; drops in class.

7/1

6th

2

(1)

13th Jun 2026

Good

1m 3f 188y

Class 3

13:50 York

Arqoob

10st 9lb

J: Miss Brodie Hampson

T: Lucy Wadham

Two wins last year (1m4f/1m6f, AW/good to firm) and reappeared with close fifth of eight at Newmarket (1m4f, good) last month; Brodie Hampson is a positive booking; could build on that latest effort provided the reapplied cheekpieces aren't a negative (pulled up over hurdles when worn once previously).

11/2

5th

6

(8)

15th May 2026

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 3

14:32 Newmarket

Arqoob

9st 8lb

J: Harry Davies

T: Lucy Wadham

Exposed 8yo but he's still capable of useful form and scored at Kempton (1m4f, AW) last March; also won over 1m6f on the July course (good to firm; first-time blinkers) in August; returns on a stiff-enough mark with no headgear but they might go a solid gallop which can help.

14/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
10,000euros foal, £27,000 3yo; third foal; dam well-beaten half-sister to the bumper/useful 2m3f-2m5f hurdle/chase winner Le Toscan and 1m7f Flat/2m-2m4f hurdle/chase winner Zayta; stable also runs Love Is Golden and the market can guide.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

10th Apr 2025

Good

2m 0f 8y

Class 5

15:10 Hereford

Time To Dazzle

12st 0lb

J: James Best

T: Sarah-Jayne Davies

Respectable second at Ludlow (2m, good to soft; 10lb lower today) in December but the rest of his chase form is poor and he fell early when tried in first-time cheekpieces on latest start, which are fitted again.

25/1

1

10th Apr 2025

Good

2m 0f 8y

Class 5

15:10 Hereford

Time To Dazzle

12st 0lb

J: James Best

T: Sarah-Jayne Davies

Respectable second at Ludlow (2m, good to soft; 10lb lower today) in December but the rest of his chase form is poor and he fell early when tried in first-time cheekpieces on latest start, which are fitted again.

25/1

5

20th Mar 2025

Good

1m 7f 212y

Class 4

17:05 Ludlow

Time To Dazzle

10st 2lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Sarah-Jayne Davies

Ran respectably behind Famoso over C&D in December but the rest of his chase form is poor; chance largely depends on how well he responds to first-time cheekpieces; 7lb out of weights.

40/1

Form: 23028

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Irish maiden point winner in the mud; minor honours in three of his five races under rules (made the running in four) and the other two were heavy defeats, admittedly with a very stiff task in Grade 2 last time; has Cheltenham 2m5f Grade 1 novice entry; while there's nothing to suggest that is realistic, he has a place chance if back on song today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

9

16th Apr 2025

Good

2m 0f 179y

Class 3

17:00 Cheltenham

Way Out

10st 13lb

J: Luke Scott

T: Anthony Charlton

On a good mark if able to rediscover his peak form but his debut for this yard was disappointing and that was back in August.

33/1

11th

9

16th Apr 2025

Good

2m 0f 179y

Class 3

17:00 Cheltenham

Way Out

10st 13lb

J: Luke Scott

T: Anthony Charlton

On a good mark if able to rediscover his peak form but his debut for this yard was disappointing and that was back in August.

33/1

5th

5

31st Aug 2024

Good

2m 5f 122y

Class 2

15:55 Newton Abbot

Way Out

10st 11lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Anthony Charlton

in touch with leaders, prominent before 3rd, mistake 4 out

10/1

Form: 8

Last run: 15 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Pretty useful on his day on the Flat; while recent hurdle debut at Huntingdon (2m, good to soft; first run on softer than good) was not devoid of promise, he was well behind Arqoob and is probably best watched for the time being in this sphere.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

(5)

3rd Jan 2025

Standard

1m 4f 14y

Class 6

16:30 Southwell (AW)

Ace Rothstein

9st 11lb

J: Sean Levey

T: Matt Crawley

led narrowly, headed over 2f out, soon weakened

33/1

6th

2

(5)

3rd Jan 2025

Standard

1m 4f 14y

Class 6

16:30 Southwell (AW)

Ace Rothstein

9st 11lb

J: Sean Levey

T: Matt Crawley

led narrowly, headed over 2f out, soon weakened

33/1

6th

11

(7)

19th Dec 2024

Standard

1m 3f 23y

Class 5

13:45 Southwell (AW)

Ace Rothstein

9st 4lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: Matt Crawley

cajoled along soon after start, midfield, outpaced and dropped to rear 3f out, carried head high inside final furlong, kept on final 110yds

50/1

Form: 3/55

Last run: 17 days

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Irish maiden point winner; third in a bumper in March 2021 but, with wind surgery last August, he did not race again until well held twice in novice hurdles (2m/2m3f, soft) this winter; major work to do.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

6

6th Jan 2024

Heavy

1m 7f 50y

Class 5

14:05 Wincanton

Starevitch

11st 2lb

J: Will Featherstone

T: Jamie Snowden

Won a point and placed in a bumper before going absent for 638 days; minor form in three novice hurdles and a handicap chase last season; returns to hurdles with low mileage for an 8yo but others have more compelling credentials.

8/1

4th

2

2nd Mar 2023

Good

2m 7f 171y

Class 5

15:35 Ludlow

Starevitch

11st 12lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

Irish maiden point winner; third in a bumper in March 2021 but, with wind surgery last August, he did not race again until well held in three novice hurdles this winter (latest at Newbury last month); now makes chase debut and goes beyond 2m3f for the first time under rules.

9/2

OUR TIP

Form: 10 D

Last run: 51 days

W: 11st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Bought for £95,000 after his second in an Irish point; well backed when easy winner of a novice at Ffos Las (2m) in November on rules debut, nearly seven weeks before he faltered before three out when tailed off at same course (2m4f); all three runs have been on soft; it's too early to dismiss him after that one flop.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

5

17th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 85y

Class 4

14:37 Wetherby

Rath Gaul Hill

11st 7lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Samuel Drinkwater

He's now 5lb lower than when winning at Newbury (2m, soft) last February; however, this season's form has been patchy and today's trip may stretch him; major turnaround needed with blinkers replacing cheekpieces.

7/2

4th

5

27th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 92y

Class 3

16:08 Newbury

Rath Gaul Hill

11st 1lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Samuel Drinkwater

Returning from an absence when edging home in this 12 months ago off 2lb higher; his penultimate effort (here in first-time cheekpieces) was respectable and it's perhaps best to forget Sandown last time when his best form has been on left-handed tracks; respected.

12/1

10

31st Jan 2026

Soft

1m 7f 99y

Class 2

14:02 Sandown

Rath Gaul Hill

10st 2lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Samuel Drinkwater

Raced mainly on left-handed tracks; gained two of his three chase wins at Newbury; ran respectably with cheekpieces added there last time; capable of being involved but has a question mark over the course.

9/1

Form: 00

Last run: 43 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Irish point win last March; tailed off, however, in Irish bumper last May and a novice hurdle at Taunton (2m3f, good to soft; 80-1) six weeks ago; tongue tied on penultimate start and again today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

3rd Apr 2025

Good

3m 0f 217y

Class 5

15:05 Plumpton

Abbeyhill

10st 13lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Neil Mulholland

Dual hurdle winner last season (once over C&D) but was pulled up on reappearance outing in October and has largely been disappointing over fences since (five starts); seems very versatile regarding ground but reverts to hurdling with quite a bit to prove; swaps cheekpieces for first-time blinkers.

7/2

4th

5

3rd Apr 2025

Good

3m 0f 217y

Class 5

15:05 Plumpton

Abbeyhill

10st 13lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Neil Mulholland

led, awkward jump and reminders 1st, headed 1st, bad mistake and lost ground 10th, weakened before 2 out

7/2

4th

4

23rd Feb 2025

Soft

3m 1f 210y

Class 5

16:30 Fontwell

Abbeyhill

10st 6lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Neil Mulholland

Won two staying handicap hurdles last winter, on good to soft and heavy; hasn't reached the same heights this season (sent chasing for last four runs) but the upside is that he's back on a very good mark.

9/2

Form: 135-3P D BF

Last run: 46 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
Bumper winner who was fifth of eight in Grade 2 novice at Kempton (2m) last February; had a wind op last July and made a fair reappearance when 15l third here (2m4f, good; clear two out) but he stopped very quickly before two out at Chepstow (2m3f) latest; has easily the best hurdles form and this drop back in trip may help, as may the tongue-tie and second wind operation.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

22nd Apr 2025

Good

2m 4f 194y

Class 5

18:43 Hereford

Russian Ruler

11st 11lb

J: Harry Reed

T: L J Morgan

Ex-Nicky Henderson 8yo whose form hit the buffers last season under both codes; three non-completions in four starts for current yard and reservations remain.

10/1

6th

2

22nd Apr 2025

Good

2m 4f 194y

Class 5

18:43 Hereford

Russian Ruler

11st 11lb

J: Harry Reed

T: L J Morgan

Ex-Nicky Henderson 8yo whose form hit the buffers last season under both codes; three non-completions in four starts for current yard and reservations remain.

10/1

4

29th Mar 2025

Good

2m 3f 98y

Class 4

16:15 Stratford

Russian Ruler

11st 5lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: L J Morgan

Progressive hurdler in 2023 when with Nicky Henderson but he couldn't get it together over fences or hurdles last season and no sign of a revival for new yard; best watched with cheekpieces returning in place of a hood.

16/1

Non-runners

Rath Gaul Hill, Abbeyhill

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £43.30
Straight Forecast £31.01
Trifecta £1234.90

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Arqoob

RP Ratings:

Russian Ruler

POSTDATA:

Way Out

WEST COUNTRY:

Holetown Hero

D Express:

Way Out

Daily Mail:

Holetown Hero

The Times:

Russian Ruler

The Guardian:

Russian Ruler

TOPSPEED:

Arqoob

Telegraph:

Arqoob

Daily Mirror:

Arqoob

The Sun:

Arqoob

The Star:

Arqoob

Daily Record:

Arqoob