February 25 / 15.40 Kempton

15.40

Good

Sky Bet Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £34170
  • 2m 0f 0y
  • Class 1
  • 7 runners
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Sky Bet Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

3/1 (Won)

  • Win: £3.75
  • Place: £1.70

Form: 8-1120 D

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
Had wind surgery after a heavy defeat in last season's Adonis on this card on British/hurdles debut; progressive on first three starts this term, scoring twice in emphatic style at Taunton (2m, good) then runner-up in Class 2 novice over C&D (soft); races freely and made all for those two wins but he had nothing left after racing in touch long way in top handicap at Newbury (8-1) two weeks ago; hooded today and the clear form pick if back to his best.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

25th Apr 2026

Good

2m 5f 110y

Class 1

16:02 Sandown

Rubaud

11st 10lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Form dipped in Cheltenham Festival handicap returned to fences last time; multiple Grade 2 winner but has raced mostly at about 2m and isn't crying out for this step back up in trip; first go beyond a sharp 2m4f.

14/1

3

11th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 199y

Class 1

16:40 Cheltenham

Rubaud

11st 7lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Listed/Grade 2 wins over hurdles this term; goes back over fences for the first time since last May and he's 1-5 in this sphere, the win coming in a Grade 2 novice last February; sixth of 15 off this mark in the Scottish Champion Hurdle in April 2024 when he last tackled a handicap; may be vulnerable.

16/1

2nd

1

14th Feb 2026

Heavy

1m 7f 50y

Class 1

13:35 Wincanton

Rubaud

11st 10lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Paul Nicholls

Front-runner who is 2-3 since returned to hurdles from fences, winning races at Kempton (Listed) and Wincanton (Elite Hurdle) that he also took in 2023 and 2024; held in a 9l third at Kempton on Boxing Day but that was behind Sir Gino in a Grade 1 and he's strongly respected on this drop back in class; most of his wins have been on good ground but he's effective on soft.

7/4

12/1

  • Place: £3.20

Form: 321116 D BF

Last run: 78 days

W: 10st 12lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
Did well in bumpers last term and registered a hat-trick over hurdles (Plumpton, Fakenham and Ludlow) in the autumn, the last two legs of which were in handicaps; while she did not come near to justifying favouritism in Cheltenham handicap 11 weeks ago when last seen, she was not discredited; this test could suit and she's one to consider.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

13

16th Mar 2023

Soft

2m 0f 179y

Class 1

16:50 Cheltenham

Mullenbeg

11st 2lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Milton Harris

Winner of a Listed bumper here; has won only a maiden and two handicaps over hurdles but she ran well against male opposition in a Grade 2 at Kempton 19 days ago despite racing freely, as is her way; this bigger field will suit but she looks up against it on the figures and she seems ideally suited by good ground.

33/1

2nd

6

25th Feb 2023

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:40 Kempton

Mullenbeg

10st 12lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Milton Harris

Did well in bumpers last term and registered a hat-trick over hurdles (Plumpton, Fakenham and Ludlow) in the autumn, the last two legs of which were in handicaps; while she did not come near to justifying favouritism in Cheltenham handicap 11 weeks ago when last seen, she was not discredited; this test could suit and she's one to consider.

12/1

6th

8

9th Dec 2022

Good

2m 0f 179y

Class 3

15:00 Cheltenham

Mullenbeg

10st 12lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Milton Harris

Progressive mare whose recent hat-trick came at sharp tracks but she handles Cheltenham, having performed well in two good-ground bumpers here (including Listed win) last term; respected under 7lb penalty for last week's ready success at Ludlow; future mark 1lb higher.

11/4

Form: 1-112P D

Last run: 49 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 129

Form & Verdict
Won his only bumper and his first two hurdle races; good second in Grade 2 novice at Cheltenham (2m, good) in November and soft ground at Sandown may have been against him when 40-1 in a Grade 1 seven weeks ago; contender at this level if he's back to form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

3

22nd May 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

17:32 Worcester

Ukantango

11st 9lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Triple hurdle winner and chase winner (2m4f), on good or slower; that chase win came readily on his penultimate start, at Southwell; unable to back that up after a 7lb rise and step up in grade at Uttoxeter (2m5f, good) latest; still well treated on his winning effort, if he can repeat it.

11/2

4th

3

2nd May 2026

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 4

16:50 Uttoxeter

Ukantango

11st 9lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Bumper winner and has three wins over hurdles; got off the mark on the return to fences when a convincing winner at Southwell (2m4f, good) last month; up 7lb but looks sure to give another bold account.

7/2

OUR TIP

Form: 120-31 D

Last run: 29 days

W: 11st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
1m5f AQPS bumper winner (soft) in France; promising when 25-1 for hurdles debut at Leicester and he built on that with a clearcut win at Huntingdon (2m, good to soft) four weeks ago; this race asks a lot more, though.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

4th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

16:25 Warwick

Imperial Bede

12st 2lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Cheekpieces fitted in last three races; won at Catterick and back to form when a clear second at Haydock (2m4f, good); back up 3lb but still well handicapped on old exploits.

2/1

2nd

1

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 203y

Class 4

15:55 Haydock

Imperial Bede

12st 0lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Evidently not the force of old but he built on an encouraging C&D reappearance when winning in first-time cheekpieces at Catterick (2m3f, soft) in February; made early mistakes when a disappointing favourite at Hereford since but it's possible he'll be happier back on a left-handed course and likely he's still on a winnable mark if putting his best foot forward.

100/30

5th

1

22nd Feb 2026

Soft

2m 2f 208y

Class 4

16:40 Hereford

Imperial Bede

12st 0lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Evidently not the force of old but built upon an encouraging reappearance when winning in first-time cheekpieces at Catterick (2m3f, soft) a fortnight ago and has good claims here if the headgear continues to aid him.

4/5

6/4

Form: 361-11 D

Last run: 54 days

W: 11st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
Won bumper at Ballinrobe last April before £48,000 sale; Flat bred but has looked good on his switch to hurdling with 2m novice wins at Huntingdon (good) and Plumpton (soft); asked serious questions last time but that was when upstaging an odds-on favourite; promising and one to take very seriously.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 199y

Class 1

14:00 Cheltenham

Hansard

11st 7lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Had a simple task when beating two stablemates at Lingfield (2m, good to soft) in December; finished behind Jax Junior and Mambonumberfive in his runs on either side of that win; bottom of the list on ratings.

100/1

7th

7

20th Apr 2025

Good

1m 7f 195y

Class 2

16:05 Plumpton

Hansard

11st 2lb

J: Niall Houlihan

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Only 1lb above his last winning mark but hasn't truly threatened this season and no better for cheekpieces the last twice, in the County Hurdle and then over 2m4f at Aintree; he wouldn't be the obvious answer here.

8/1

Form: 71 D

Last run: 6 days

W: 10st 7lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Fairly useful up to 1m2f on Flat; made low-key start to hurdling career here at Christmas (soft) but readily justified 11-8 favouritism in four-runner maiden at Newbury (2m, good to firm) last Sunday; hooded for last three Flat starts and at Newbury but not today; faces a big step up in class but improvement in his jumping would help.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

9

(4)

29th Dec 2023

Standard

1m 4f 14y

Class 2

18:00 Southwell (AW)

Postmark

8st 12lb

J: Callum Hutchinson

T: Anthony Charlton

led, headed and raced in second after 2f

14/1

3rd

3

(2)

14th Dec 2023

Standard

1m 2f 0y

Class 3

19:00 Chelmsford (AW)

Postmark

9st 4lb

J: Kieran O’Neill

T: Anthony Charlton

The handicapper was in command on the Flat this summer and although his latest hurdle second (October) was respectable, he will need to raise his game to win here.

14/1

2nd

4

17th Oct 2023

Good

1m 7f 171y

Class 4

17:00 Huntingdon

Postmark

11st 9lb

J: Bradley Harris

T: Milton Harris

in touch with leaders, pushed along before 2 out, ridden and kept on run-in, no match for winner

15/2

Form: 1561 D

Last run: 11 days

W: 11st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Stratford bumper winner; second run over hurdles when winning a novice at Lingfield (2m, good to soft) 11 days ago, keeping on stoutly to regain the lead; today's is a much stiffer task but his stable is going very strongly and won this race in 2020 and 2022.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

1

21st Aug 2024

Good

2m 0f 110y

Class 5

16:50 Worcester

Kayf Legend

12st 0lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Chris Gordon

Looked quite promising when winning 2m novice hurdle in early 2023 but returned from long absence with three disappointing handicap hurdle runs this year; switches to fences with first-time cheekpieces fitted today.

16/1

10th

5

8th Jul 2024

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

16:50 Worcester

Kayf Legend

11st 11lb

J: Freddie Gordon

T: Chris Gordon

midfield

20/1

8th

11

5th Jun 2024

Good

2m 0f 167y

Class 3

16:10 Newton Abbot

Kayf Legend

10st 11lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Chris Gordon

Looked a nice prospect when winning at Lingfield (2m, good to soft) in February last year; outclassed in Grade 2 at Kempton 11 days later and likely needed March's return from nearly a year away when down the field on handicap debut at Taunton (2m3f, soft); better can be expected with that run behind him but he has a bit to prove at present.

25/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £18.40
Straight Forecast £20.51
Trifecta £63.20

Selections

RP Ratings:

Rubaud

Daily Mirror:

Hansard

D Express:

Ukantango

The Times:

Postmark

SPOTLIGHT:

Mullenbeg

The Sun:

Hansard

Daily Record:

Hansard

TOPSPEED:

Rubaud

POSTDATA:

Rubaud

WEST COUNTRY:

Rubaud

Telegraph:

Rubaud

The Guardian:

Rubaud

Daily Mail:

Rubaud

The Star:

Ukantango