February 25 / 14.53 Newcastle

14.53

Good To Soft

Think Smart At Vertem Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4520.18
  • 2m 0f 190y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
SKY
View Course
Think Smart At Vertem Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

OUR TIP

3/1 (Won)

  • Win: £3.00
  • Place: £1.20

Form: 233

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
All starts on soft ground; placed in points and his sole bumper, and has finished third on both hurdle starts (including C&D); solid contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

16th Oct 2025

Good

2m 1f 33y

Class 4

13:22 Carlisle

Blue Fin

12st 0lb

J: William Maggs

T: Donald McCain

Won this last year (soft) on his reappearance and ran well in the main subsequently, finishing fourth here in March when last seen (2m3f, good to soft); can have a big say if handling conditions (unraced on good ground).

9/2

4th

4

9th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 61y

Class 4

15:30 Carlisle

Blue Fin

11st 10lb

J: William Maggs

T: Donald McCain

Won over 2m1f here on his reappearance and that was off only 3lb lower; held his form after that but the wheels came off at Haydock last time; possibilities if back on song.

10/1

10th

5

18th Jan 2025

Heavy

2m 5f 50y

Class 4

13:20 Haydock

Blue Fin

11st 11lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

in touch with leaders on inner, weakened 3 out

12/1

7/2

  • Place: £3.30

Form: 2-O

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Runner-up on debut in French hurdle (2m2f, very soft) in September 2021 and then absent until Hereford (2m3f, good) three weeks ago, where he was 9-2 and in front when running out at the fifth flight; comes with risks attached after that but has potential if on his best behaviour this time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

30th Mar 2024

Heavy

2m 3f 203y

Class 4

17:00 Haydock

Si Elegant

11st 13lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Tailed off (bled from the nose) on his chase and handicap debut at Leicester (2m4f, soft) three weeks ago but that doesn't tell the full story as he was going well when making a very bad blunder three out; that was his first run for nearly a year and this unexposed 6yo is an interesting contender.

100/30

3rd

3

8th Mar 2024

Heavy

2m 4f 25y

Class 4

16:20 Leicester

Si Elegant

11st 9lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

keen to post, led approaching last, going okay when bad mistake 3 out, not recover

3/1

10

25th Mar 2023

Good To Soft

2m 3f 123y

Class 4

13:23 Bangor-on-Dee

Si Elegant

11st 7lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Christian Williams

Ran out at fifth flight on last month's British debut but made amends with promising second at Newcastle (2m1f, good to soft) a fortnight later; moves up in trip here and should still have more to offer; major player.

7/4

7/2

  • Place: £1.50

Form: 02

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Point winner who left her hurdle debut form miles behind when runner-up at Wetherby (2m, good to soft) three weeks ago; open to further improvement and she's firmly in calculations here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

1st Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 133y

Class 3

16:39 Kelso

Hashtag Boum

11st 3lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Ruth Jefferson

Her first three chase starts yielded wins at Sedgefield (2m5f, good to soft) and Ayr (2m4f, soft); only third of four at Ayr (2m4f, soft) since but that may not be the limit of her ability; won here over hurdles and she's not ruled out.

6/1

3rd

3

21st Jan 2025

Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 3

15:05 Ayr

Hashtag Boum

10st 5lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Ruth Jefferson

Progressive over fences; won on Sedgefield debut (2m5f, good to soft) before career-best when scoring over C&D earlier this month (soft); runs off 7lb higher today; contender.

11/8

3rd

3

21st Jan 2025

Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 3

15:05 Ayr

Hashtag Boum

10st 5lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Ruth Jefferson

Progressive over fences; won on Sedgefield debut (2m5f, good to soft) before career-best when scoring over C&D earlier this month (soft); runs off 7lb higher today; contender.

11/8

Form: 3

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
His jumping was novicey and he failed to settle when 22l third of ten over C&D (soft) on last month's debut; improvement is required and his pedigree suggests he may need further, but the form of that first run has been franked and he's in good hands to progress; not ruled out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

29th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 1f 14y

Class 3

14:03 Kelso

Caithness

11st 12lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell

It was only his second run over fences but he jumped well when pulling clear with the favourite at Wetherby (1m7f, good to soft) and a 6lb rise seems fair; good chance.

13/8

2

29th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 1f 14y

Class 3

14:03 Kelso

Caithness

11st 12lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell

It was only his second run over fences but he jumped well when pulling clear with the favourite at Wetherby (1m7f, good to soft) and a 6lb rise seems fair; good chance.

13/8

5

27th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

1m 7f 36y

Class 2

14:45 Wetherby

Caithness

10st 13lb

T: Lucinda Russell

Form: 46/1 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Returned from a long absence to win a bumper at 40-1 at Wetherby (2m, good to soft) three weeks ago, when wearing a first-time tongue-tie (retained) on his third start; a player if transferring that promise to hurdles.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

25th Apr 2023

Good To Soft

2m 5f 192y

Class 4

16:35 Ffos Las

Long Symphony

11st 6lb

J: Charlie Price

T: Laura Horsfall

Won a bumper at 40-1 at Wetherby (2m, good to soft) in February and has had wind surgery prior to this second hurdle start; however, he was well beaten at Newcastle (2m1f, good to soft) last time and needs to be an entirely different proposition here.

9/1

5th

4

25th Feb 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 190y

Class 4

14:53 Newcastle

Long Symphony

11st 7lb

J: Charlie Price

T: Laura Horsfall

Returned from a long absence to win a bumper at 40-1 at Wetherby (2m, good to soft) three weeks ago, when wearing a first-time tongue-tie (retained) on his third start; a player if transferring that promise to hurdles.

11/2

1st

5

4th Feb 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

16:30 Wetherby

Long Symphony

11st 7lb

J: Charlie Price

T: Laura Horsfall

Beaten 14l and 18l in two bumpers during early 2021; there's ability lurking but whether he's up to winning one of these remains to be seen.

20/1

Form: 05524

Last run: 82 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 101

Form & Verdict
Runner-up at Wexford (2m, good to yielding) on final run for Ross O'Sullivan; soundly beaten fourth of five at Musselburgh (1m7f, good to soft) on stable debut in December but has had wind surgery since and wears a first-time tongue-tie today; might not be far away if back to his best.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

11

5th Nov 2024

Good

2m 5f 34y

Class 5

15:55 Sedgefield

Lenebane

10st 8lb

J: Aaron Anderson

T: Rebecca Menzies

held up in rear

13/2

2nd

11

5th Nov 2024

Good

2m 5f 34y

Class 5

15:55 Sedgefield

Lenebane

10st 8lb

J: Aaron Anderson

T: Rebecca Menzies

held up in rear

13/2

3rd

12

23rd Oct 2024

Good

2m 4f 88y

Class 5

17:33 Southwell

Lenebane

10st 4lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Rebecca Menzies

held up in rear

14/1

Form: 7F

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
In the mix when falling at final fence in sole point (last April; sold for £50,000 in May) and ran okay in mid-division on bumper debut on Boxing Day; however, he was 50-1 and struggling when falling two out over hurdles at Wincanton earlier this month, and has to leave that run well behind.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

8

4th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 5f 55y

Class 5

16:07 Ludlow

Shuil Ceoil

11st 12lb

J: Bradley Harris

T: Neil Mulholland

Placed on last two starts, though was some 23l and 11l behind the winners (tried a visor last time); still needs a second look with him back in some sort of form and he goes well in the mud.

5/1

16

10th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 100y

Class 4

16:55 Chepstow

Shuil Ceoil

11st 3lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Neil Mulholland

2-14 over hurdles; suited by this C&D but absent since a below-par run in April and others in this line-up have much more potential.

25/1

Form: 7-P

Last run: 65 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Tailed off on debut in Ayr bumper last April and pulled up at the same venue in December on first hurdle start; hard to fancy.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

14

8th Mar 2024

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

14:30 Ayr

Captain Nelson

10st 2lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: R Mike Smith

0-7 in novice/maiden hurdles, completing only twice and showing no significant promise; makes handicap debut from a basement mark but still needs improvement.

50/1

8th

1

2nd Jan 2024

Heavy

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

15:15 Ayr

Captain Nelson

11st 8lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: R Mike Smith

Showed no significant promise when a big-priced outsider for his three hurdling starts last spring; returns from a break today.

100/1

3

31st May 2023

Good

2m 1f 46y

Class 4

18:20 Cartmel

Captain Nelson

11st 2lb

J: William Shanahan

T: R Mike Smith

Has a tongue tie on for first time but significant improvement needed.

50/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £32.40
Straight Forecast £34.88
Trifecta £114.70

Selections

The Times:

Hashtag Boum

SPOTLIGHT:

Blue Fin

Telegraph:

Caithness

D Express:

Lenebane

The Star:

Si Elegant

The Guardian:

Hashtag Boum

Daily Mail:

Hashtag Boum

Daily Mirror:

Hashtag Boum

The Sun:

Hashtag Boum

Daily Record:

Hashtag Boum

RP Ratings:

Blue Fin

POSTDATA:

Blue Fin