February 18 / 13.30 Haydock

13.30

Good To Soft

Betfred Victor Ludorum Juvenile Hurdle (Go North Grey Bomber Series Qualifier) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £13615
  • 1m 7f 144y
  • Class 2
  • 9 runners
RTV
View Course
Betfred Victor Ludorum Juvenile Hurdle (Go North Grey Bomber Series Qualifier) (GBB Race)

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

OUR TIP

4/1 (Won)

  • Win: £3.25
  • Place: £1.50

Form: 1-3 D BF

Last run: 42 days

W: 11st 8lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Won on debut in France last April (1m7f, very soft) and that form has worked out very well; disappointing when 4-11 favourite on last month's British debut at Sandown (2m, soft) and something to prove after that, but remains of interest and his trainer won this last year.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13th

3

8th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

1m 7f 216y

Class 2

14:25 Sandown

Bo Zenith

11st 4lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

Went close in Grade 1 juvenile hurdle two seasons ago for previous yard; couple of encouraging handicap efforts (2m1f/2m3f) since returning from lengthy absence; could have a race of this nature in him.

11/2

12/1

  • Place: £2.10

Form: 3213

Last run: 22 days

W: 10st 12lb

4 yo Filly

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Off the mark over hurdles at the third attempt at Sedgefield (2m4f, soft) last month, and she's since been third in a Listed juvenile fillies' race at Doncaster (2m, good); she's back against males here but may be involved.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

20th Apr 2023

Good

2m 0f 179y

Class 1

15:50 Cheltenham

Cianciana

12st 0lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Brian Ellison

Likeable and consistent filly; got to within 4l of Aintree Grade 1 runner-up Bo Zenith at Haydock in February and it was all very straightforward in a Musselburgh handicap a month ago (2m1f, good to soft); 7lb rise sees her with top weight but she's earned it.

8/1

1st

4

24th Mar 2023

Good To Soft

2m 1f 87y

Class 2

14:25 Musselburgh

Cianciana

11st 10lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Brian Ellison

in touch with leaders, headway 3 out, pressed leader 2 out, shaken up to lead approaching last, pushed out and went clear run-in, comfortably

6/1

6th

12

(6)

6th Mar 2023

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 5

19:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Cianciana

9st 3lb

J: Ben Robinson

T: Brian Ellison

Dual Tapeta winner (1m/1m2f), who won a maiden hurdle in January and has run well to finish placed in two valuable juvenile contests since (including a Listed event); untried at this trip on the Flat but she's on a workable mark back in this sphere and is not ruled out.

8/1

7/2

  • Place: £1.60

Form: 91 D

Last run: 61 days

W: 11st 8lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Left his debut form behind with a convincing win in France (2m, heavy) in December; has joined a top stable for his British career and could play a leading role.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

15th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 150y

Class 3

15:02 Wincanton

Punta Del Este

11st 8lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

Well handicapped on form shown for Dan Skelton and ran his best race since joining David Pipe when a rallying third at Ascot (2m5f, soft); this return to further is worth exploring.

8/1

1

29th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 122y

Class 3

14:53 Newton Abbot

Punta Del Este

12st 0lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

Triple hurdle winner who has claims on his best form for Dan Skelton but he's failed to beat a rival in two runs for current yard; has had wind surgery but he needs a major revival after another break.

14/1

1

29th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 122y

Class 3

14:53 Newton Abbot

Punta Del Este

12st 0lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

Triple hurdle winner who has claims on his best form for Dan Skelton but he's failed to beat a rival in two runs for current yard; has had wind surgery but he needs a major revival after another break.

14/1

Form: 36

Last run: 45 days

W: 11st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Flat winner at Killarney in October but well beaten on first two hurdle starts and the first-time hood needs to prompt dramatic improvement.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

15

(7)

7th Jun 2025

Good

1m 6f 0y

17:05 Navan

Apologise

9st 4lb

J: Sam Coen

T: Gary McGill

Won on the Flat (11.5f) for Andy Slattery in 2022; three-time hurdles winner for separate yards, including a spell in Britain; market will prove informative returning to the Flat.

18/1

16th

17

1st May 2025

Yielding

2m 0f 94y

14:30 Punchestown

Apologise

11st 3lb

J: Mr D McGill

T: Gary McGill

midfield

33/1

16th

17

1st May 2025

Yielding

2m 0f 94y

14:30 Punchestown

Apologise

11st 3lb

J: Mr D McGill

T: Gary McGill

midfield

33/1

10/1

Form: 4943

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 0lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Two-time good-ground Flat winner who has also shown ability over hurdles, most recently third in Punchestown handicap (2m, soft); now 0-4 in this code and vulnerable if bumping into anything useful but might not be far away.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

22nd May 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

20:11 Worcester

Snapius

12st 0lb

J: Alex Chadwick

T: James Owen

Won a similar handicap at Huntingdon (2m3f, good) in March and made another bold bid when runner-up at Ludlow (2m5f, good) 12 days ago; only just caught in that race and he's 4lb well in off the same mark here; strongly respected.

5/2

2nd

1

10th May 2026

Good

2m 5f 55y

Class 5

17:10 Ludlow

Snapius

12st 0lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: James Owen

He only beat two other finishers at Huntingdon (about 2m3f, good) and the 6lb rise appeared to find him out when behind Midnight View at Warwick; he's back down 2lb but they did claim 3lb off his back last time.

4/1

4th

5

23rd Apr 2026

Good

2m 3f 0y

Class 5

16:30 Warwick

Snapius

11st 11lb

J: Alex Chadwick

T: James Owen

Best effort for a while when beating two other finishers at Huntingdon (about 2m3f, good) last month; back up 6lb in a race that will take more winning but that recent success could have had a reviving effect.

11/2

Form: 11 D

Last run: 13 days

W: 11st 8lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
Won on hurdle/stable debut at Taunton (2m, soft) last month and followed up in Musselburgh Listed race (1m7f, good) a fortnight ago; strong claims for top trainer who won this three times in a row between 2019 and 2021.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

3

4th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 1y

Class 2

17:13 Fakenham

Afadil

11st 7lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Paul Nicholls

Without a win since February 2024 but gave good account when sixth (promoted to fifth) at last month's Aintree festival; 2lb lower here and well worth another crack at 2m4f; considered.

14/1

6th

22

10th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 103y

Class 2

17:15 Aintree

Afadil

10st 13lb

J: Jay Tidball

T: Paul Nicholls

18 races and over two years since his last win, albeit still frequently competitive; below par over 2m5f at Ascot only 12 days ago but his peak form has come at around 2m (third in this in 2024).

22/1

7th

5

29th Mar 2026

Good

2m 5f 146y

Class 3

17:25 Ascot

Afadil

11st 2lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

17 races and over two years since his last win, albeit still frequently competitive; big majority of his career has been at about 2m (he last went over further in October 2024) and he's never been this far.

9/2

Form: 43191 D

Last run: 42 days

W: 11st 8lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
Has made all for easy wins on two of his last three starts (2m, good/soft), the latest at Sandown last month; can make another bold bid.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

4

7th Mar 2025

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

15:35 Ayr

I Have A Voice

11st 12lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Adam Nicol

Fairly useful 2m hurdles winner in early 2023, but offered little for Nigel Hawke in a pair of 2m handicap hurdles at Leicester and Lingfield in December; needs this yard switch to spark a resurgence.

33/1

8th

4

9th Dec 2024

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

15:00 Lingfield

I Have A Voice

11st 9lb

J: Lorcan Murtagh

T: Nigel Hawke

Scored twice as a juvenile hurdler two seasons ago; showed poor form last term and was pulled up on heavy ground only eight days ago on first start since wind surgery.

33/1

8th

4

9th Dec 2024

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

15:00 Lingfield

I Have A Voice

11st 9lb

J: Lorcan Murtagh

T: Nigel Hawke

Scored twice as a juvenile hurdler two seasons ago; showed poor form last term and was pulled up on heavy ground only eight days ago on first start since wind surgery.

33/1

Form: U61 D

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 5lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Talented maiden on the Flat and he won by 15l at Huntingdon (2m, good) last month on his third hurdle start; the strength of that form is open to question but he did it in good style and is respected today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

23rd Apr 2025

Good

2m 7f 171y

Class 4

15:38 Ludlow

Planet Legend

11st 6lb

J: Luke Scott

T: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole

His last four outings have seen him runner-up twice and pulled up twice; that makes him 2-14 over hurdles, with the two wins early in 2023 before he went handicapping; no problems with trip or ground but he does not appear the most reliable proposition on this switch to chasing.

8/1

4th

3

23rd Apr 2025

Good

2m 7f 171y

Class 4

15:38 Ludlow

Planet Legend

11st 6lb

J: Luke Scott

T: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole

His last four outings have seen him runner-up twice and pulled up twice; that makes him 2-14 over hurdles, with the two wins early in 2023 before he went handicapping; no problems with trip or ground but he does not appear the most reliable proposition on this switch to chasing.

8/1

7

16th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 150y

Class 3

15:10 Wincanton

Planet Legend

11st 1lb

J: Oliver Boyden

T: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole

Only four ran at Catterick (3m1f, good) in November but he ran well behind an in-form rival; has each-way claims with Oliver Boyden again taking 10lb off his back.

20/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 0lb

4 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Went close on Flat handicap debut (1m, good) last September then went one better at Windsor (1m2f, soft; RPR 76); gelded since; has the credentials to be effective over hurdles but makes jumps debut in a tough race.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

9th May 2026

Good

1m 7f 133y

Class 5

15:55 Hexham

V Twelve

11st 7lb

J: Callum Bewley

T: Martin Todhunter

Hurdle/Flat winner; wasn't at his best on the Flat following a break at Catterick last month but should come on for the run; conditions fine; quite interesting on chase debut.

13/2

9th

2

(4)

8th Apr 2026

Good

1m 4f 13y

Class 6

15:58 Catterick

V Twelve

9st 8lb

J: David Nolan

T: Martin Todhunter

Pulled up over hurdles in October but he won off today's mark at Hamilton (1m5f, good) last summer and can go well fresh; a possible.

6/1

5

31st Oct 2025

Good

2m 5f 56y

Class 5

16:05 Wetherby

V Twelve

11st 5lb

J: Callum Bewley

T: Martin Todhunter

Exposed under both codes these days and wasn't at his best on the Flat before a 16l defeat back jumping at Carlisle.

8/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £22.30
Straight Forecast £28.15
Trifecta £104.30

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Afadil

RP Ratings:

I Have A Voice

D Express:

Punta Del Este

Telegraph:

V Twelve

Daily Mirror:

Bo Zenith

POSTDATA:

Afadil

WEST COUNTRY:

Afadil

The Times:

Afadil

The Guardian:

Afadil

Daily Mail:

Afadil

The Sun:

Afadil

The Star:

Afadil

Daily Record:

Afadil

TOPSPEED:

I Have A Voice