February 25 / 13.43 Newcastle

13.43

Good To Soft

Break From The Herd With Vertem Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £6001.48
  • 2m 4f 62y
  • Class 3
  • 8 runners
SKY
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Break From The Herd With Vertem Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

OUR TIP

8/15 (Won)

  • Win: £1.73
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 5/111

Last run: 33 days

W: 11st 5lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 127

Form & Verdict
Unbeaten for this yard over hurdles, winning three novices (1m7f/2m, soft/good to soft; two against males); gives weight all round and is up in trip, but there's every chance she'll stay and she has leading claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

1

7th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

12:50 Kempton

Endless Escape

12st 0lb

J: Joe Anderson

T: Ben Clarke

Disappointing favourite returned to chasing last time, extending her losing run; nicely treated on best form but chance largely depends on how well she responds to new headgear.

13/2

6th

1

7th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

12:50 Kempton

Endless Escape

12st 0lb

J: Joe Anderson

T: Ben Clarke

Disappointing favourite returned to chasing last time, extending her losing run; nicely treated on best form but chance largely depends on how well she responds to new headgear.

13/2

100/30

  • Place: £1.10

Form: 522

Last run: 61 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Runner-up the last twice at Musselburgh (1m7f, good to soft) and here (2m1f, soft); this 3m point winner could improve for today's step up in trip and he's the obvious danger to Endless Escape.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

6

11th Sep 2025

Good

3m 0f 10y

Class 4

17:35 Uttoxeter

Leading Force

11st 10lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: James Owen

C&D winner in May on his second start for James Owen and was holding his form until heavy defeats in his final two races; now on a recovery mission.

8/1

3rd

2

29th Aug 2025

Good

3m 1f 210y

Class 4

17:18 Fontwell

Leading Force

11st 9lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: James Owen

Scored at Uttoxeter (3m, good) in May, his second start for James Owen, and ran big race when clear second to thriving opponent at Cartmel (3m1f, soft) in June; needs to bounce back from last month's duff effort at Market Rasen but still features prominently in calculations.

4/1

7

19th Jul 2025

Good

2m 7f 191y

Class 4

17:00 Market Rasen

Leading Force

11st 10lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: James Owen

Looked a hard ride when second at Bangor (3m, good) but travelled sweeter with the blinkers back on at Cartmel (3m1f, soft) and just missed out; nudged up another 3lb but has to be respected.

8/1

10/1

  • Place: £1.70

Form: 622P5

Last run: 43 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Runner-up in two of his bumpers (good/soft) and fair fifth of 16 at Huntingdon (2m, good to soft) last month on his second hurdle start; improvement needed to win this but he's a place contender if staying the trip.
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: 5P4

Last run: 47 days

W: 10st 9lb

6 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Well beaten on all three starts and will have more realistic claims in handicaps, for which she'll be qualified after this run.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

10

17th Jun 2023

Good

2m 3f 207y

Class 5

20:10 Uttoxeter

Bowland Belle

10st 2lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Rebecca Menzies

Four career starts and beaten over 40l in two completions over hurdles; not obviously appealing on handicap debut; now tongue tied.

15/2

12

10th Jun 2023

Good

2m 3f 123y

Class 5

16:35 Bangor-on-Dee

Bowland Belle

10st 2lb

J: Nathan Moscrop

T: Rebecca Menzies

Four career starts and beaten over 40l in two completions over hurdles; not obviously appealing on handicap debut but shapes as if she has some ability and a tongue-strap might enable her to show more.

16/1

4th

6

25th Feb 2023

Good To Soft

2m 4f 62y

Class 3

13:43 Newcastle

Bowland Belle

10st 9lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Rebecca Menzies

Well beaten on all three starts and will have more realistic claims in handicaps, for which she'll be qualified after this run.

33/1

Form: 645-6P

Last run: 58 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Showed some ability in bumpers but failed to threaten and was pulled up at 200-1 on hurdle debut; the wind op needs to make a big difference.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

10

15th Jun 2024

Good

1m 7f 133y

Class 5

16:52 Hexham

Barley Breeze

10st 2lb

J: Ross Chapman

T: Stuart Coltherd

held up in rear

28/1

6th

10

29th May 2024

Good

2m 1f 61y

Class 5

19:50 Cartmel

Barley Breeze

10st 2lb

J: Ross Chapman

T: Stuart Coltherd

Pulled up on final two starts for Philip Kirby and also failed to complete both races for new stable this spring; 2lb out of the weights here and it takes a big leap of faith to support him.

25/1

8

19th May 2024

Good

2m 0f 213y

Class 5

14:05 Stratford

Barley Breeze

10st 3lb

J: Ross Chapman

T: Stuart Coltherd

midfield, hampered when unseated 2nd

16/1

Form: 5

Last run: 11 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Pulled up in sole point-to-point in November 2021 then absent until soundly beaten at Ayr (2m4f, good to soft) 11 days ago; in good hands and is open to improvement, but a swift and sizeable step forward is needed here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

25th Feb 2023

Good To Soft

2m 4f 62y

Class 3

13:43 Newcastle

Bryden

11st 2lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell

Pulled up in sole point-to-point in November 2021 then absent until soundly beaten at Ayr (2m4f, good to soft) 11 days ago; in good hands and is open to improvement, but a swift and sizeable step forward is needed here.

12/1

5th

1

14th Feb 2023

Good To Soft

2m 4f 100y

Class 4

14:45 Ayr

Bryden

11st 9lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell

Second foal from a dam who was placed on the Flat in France; pulled up in Irish point won by high-class novice hurdler Hermes Allen on debut in November 2021 and not seen again since but may yet have a good future.

16/1

Form: 09-67

Last run: 19 days

W: 10st 9lb

6 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Down the field in two bumpers and two novice hurdles.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

25th Feb 2023

Good To Soft

2m 4f 62y

Class 3

13:43 Newcastle

Ellistrin Star

10st 9lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Donald Whillans

Down the field in two bumpers and two novice hurdles.

50/1

7th

4

6th Feb 2023

Soft

2m 3f 61y

Class 4

14:45 Carlisle

Ellistrin Star

11st 2lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Donald Whillans

Soundly beaten in two bumpers and a 2m6f novice hurdle, all in Scotland; poor chance on form.

100/1

6th

7

29th Dec 2022

Heavy

2m 6f 151y

Class 4

14:13 Kelso

Ellistrin Star

10st 7lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Donald Whillans

Well down the field in two bumpers last season (good/heavy); can only be watched on today's hurdling debut.

66/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 10st 2lb

4 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Second foal; dam unplaced bumpers/2m-2m4f hurdles, out of half-sister to 2m4f-3m2f hurdle/chase winner Fox In The Box (RPR 131); makes debut in a race lacking depth but may be best watched.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

25th Feb 2023

Good To Soft

2m 4f 62y

Class 3

13:43 Newcastle

Mollyslittleangel

10st 2lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Mark Walford

Second foal; dam unplaced bumpers/2m-2m4f hurdles, out of half-sister to 2m4f-3m2f hurdle/chase winner Fox In The Box (RPR 131); makes debut in a race lacking depth but may be best watched.

14/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £2.20
Straight Forecast £2.38
Trifecta £8.20

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Endless Escape

Daily Mail:

Leading Force

TOPSPEED:

City Roller

Telegraph:

Bryden

Daily Record:

Leading Force

RP Ratings:

Endless Escape

POSTDATA:

Endless Escape

WEST COUNTRY:

Endless Escape

The Times:

Endless Escape

The Guardian:

Endless Escape

D Express:

Endless Escape

Daily Mirror:

Endless Escape

The Sun:

Endless Escape

The Star:

Endless Escape