13.30
Good To SoftGo Racing With Vickers.Bet Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)
- Prize money: £4901.4
- 2m 4f 62y
- Class 4
- 10 runners
Runners: 10 runners
Type: Hurdle Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Snow showers
Abandoned
Form: 7-4P6
Last run: 32 days
W: 11st 5lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 7 |
26th May 2024 Good To Soft 2m 7f 96y Class 5 |
10st 5lb |
Eight-race maiden; did not jump well enough when last of five on chasing debut at Sedgefield (3m3f, soft) in March and has since been pulled up (albeit on heavy ground) at Hexham; may fare better on the quicker surface here but still looks too risky. |
16/1 |
|
2nd 7 |
26th May 2024 Good To Soft 2m 7f 96y Class 5 |
10st 5lb |
Eight-race maiden; did not jump well enough when last of five on chasing debut at Sedgefield (3m3f, soft) in March and has since been pulled up (albeit on heavy ground) at Hexham; may fare better on the quicker surface here but still looks too risky. |
16/1 |
|
8 |
22nd Apr 2024 Heavy 3m 0f 41y Class 5 |
10st 8lb |
Modest form over hurdles; didn't jump particularly well when last of five on chase debut at Sedgefield last month (3m3f, soft; first run after a wind op); bit to prove. |
12/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 50-222 D
Last run: 34 days
W: 11st 5lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 115
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3 |
23rd Feb 2026 Soft 3m 1f 157y Class 4 |
11st 11lb |
Mudlover who has won four times over fences and he's run creditably at Warwick (3m, good to soft) and over C&D (soft) in last two starts; finished behind Lumi Plugin last time but he should give it another good shot and any rain would be a bonus. |
9/4 |
|
3rd 3 |
26th Jan 2026 Soft 3m 1f 157y Class 4 |
11st 4lb |
Mudlover who was out of sorts in just three runs last winter but ran well for a long way in a better race than this at Bangor (3m, soft) in April and kept on gamely when third at Warwick (3m, good to soft) last month; this more testing ground will suit better; solid claims. |
2/1 |
Abandoned
Form: —
Last run: —
W: 11st 5lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3 |
12th Apr 2024 Soft 3m 0f 210y Class 1 |
11st 7lb |
Acts on heavy ground; the only C&D winner in this field, ran well in the Brown Advisory at Cheltenham (3m) most recently and represents a trainer who landed this prize two years ago; therefore has respected credentials and cannot be dismissed. |
9/1 |
|
3 |
12th Apr 2024 Soft 3m 0f 210y Class 1 |
11st 7lb |
Acts on heavy ground; the only C&D winner in this field, ran well in the Brown Advisory at Cheltenham (3m) most recently and represents a trainer who landed this prize two years ago; therefore has respected credentials and cannot be dismissed. |
9/1 |
|
3 |
13th Mar 2024 Soft 3m 0f 110y Class 1 |
11st 7lb |
Strong traveller who has won two small-field handicaps this season but Stay Away Fay had too much for him in 3m Sandown Grade 2 on soft ground in December; pulled up in Kauto Star at Kempton later that month on his other attempt at Graded level; playing for minor honours unless his form takes a leap forward. |
20/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 86
Last run: 20 days
W: 11st 5lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6th 6 |
31st Mar 2026 Good To Soft 2m 4f 62y Class 5 |
11st 2lb |
Only win in 17 runs over hurdles was at Carlisle in November 2024 (3m, good to soft); back on the same mark and two good runs over C&D on last two starts so could go well. |
7/1 |
|
4th 11 |
14th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 2m 4f 62y Class 5 |
11st 0lb |
Sole win from a similar mark at Carlisle (3m) in November 2024; runner-up over C&D latest, one of many solid efforts at this track (22242P2); still in front - looking the likeliest winner - in void race over C&D two-years ago; entitled to respect. |
5/1 |
|
2nd 12 |
21st Feb 2026 Good To Soft 2m 4f 62y Class 5 |
10st 13lb |
Only previous win was over 3m but off this mark; stopped the rot when beaten 5l in first-time cheekpieces at Wetherby and he's effective at this trip. |
12/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 43
Last run: 21 days
W: 11st 5lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5th 1 |
21st Jan 2025 Soft 2m 6f 151y Class 5 |
12st 0lb |
Inconsistent sort who was pulled up on sole chase start and beaten before the trip may have been an issue in 3m1f maiden hurdle in November; however, that run may have come too soon, 12 days after a promising comeback in a handicap hurdle at Carlisle, and this point winner is not written off. |
14/1 |
|
5th 1 |
21st Jan 2025 Soft 2m 6f 151y Class 5 |
12st 0lb |
Inconsistent sort who was pulled up on sole chase start and beaten before the trip may have been an issue in 3m1f maiden hurdle in November; however, that run may have come too soon, 12 days after a promising comeback in a handicap hurdle at Carlisle, and this point winner is not written off. |
14/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 60
Last run: 31 days
W: 11st 5lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 5 |
15th Dec 2024 Soft 2m 3f 61y Class 5 |
11st 9lb |
in touch with leaders, not fluent 6th |
12/1 |
|
2nd 5 |
15th Dec 2024 Soft 2m 3f 61y Class 5 |
11st 9lb |
in touch with leaders, not fluent 6th |
12/1 |
|
9th 9 |
24th Apr 2023 Good To Soft 2m 0f 48y Class 4 |
11st 2lb |
No impact in bumpers and same story in two novice hurdles this spring, most recently when seventh of eight at Carlisle (2m3f, good to soft); has good pedigree and it's still early days but handicaps look the way forward after this. |
25/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 04
Last run: 15 days
W: 11st 5lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
7 |
16th Mar 2023 Heavy 2m 4f 28y Class 4 |
11st 7lb |
in touch with leaders, struggling 3 out, weakened 2 out, tailed off when pulled up before last |
50/1 |
|
4th 10 |
20th Feb 2023 Good To Soft 2m 3f 61y Class 4 |
11st 3lb |
prominent, not fluent 3rd, dropped to midfield with one circuit to go |
100/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 25
Last run: 31 days
W: 11st 5lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6 |
15th Jan 2026 Good To Soft 2m 7f 91y Class 4 |
11st 12lb |
10yo whose form has been mixed this season but he's edged back down the weights and his Newmarket yard is 3-6 here; capable of a big run. |
10/1 |
|
1 |
17th Oct 2025 Good 2m 5f 44y Class 4 |
11st 8lb |
Most consistent win or lose over either obstacle for this stable until finding a brush hurdle series final at Worcester all too much last time (2m4f, good); swimming in calmer waters again on this return to fences, albeit still above any class he's ever won in. |
3/1 |
|
12 |
26th Sep 2025 Good 2m 4f 0y Class 2 |
11st 2lb |
Consistent over fences and hurdles for new stable this season, winning once under each discipline; suited by this C&D but may find less exposed rivals better handicapped today; swaps cheekpieces for refitted visor. |
20/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 2
Last run: 71 days
W: 11st 5lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 3 |
22nd Apr 2023 Good 2m 3f 123y Class 4 |
11st 11lb |
Irish point winner (good to yielding ground) who was placed on first two hurdling starts, more recently when third at Hexham (2m4f, heavy) last month; back on a less testing surface for today's handicap debut and open to significant improvement; high on the list. |
4/1 |
|
3rd 9 |
16th Mar 2023 Heavy 2m 4f 28y Class 4 |
11st 7lb |
prominent, led after 2 out, faced strong challenge approaching last, ridden and headed run-in, no extra when lost second towards finish |
3/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 53
Last run: 71 days
W: 10st 12lb
5 yo Filly
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
7th 6 (2) |
15th May 2023 Good To Soft 1m 7f 189y Class 5 |
8st 12lb |
Ex-French mare who was again beaten a fair way at Pontefract last time when having Vintage Valley behind over 2m5.6f; is on a competitive mark now though. |
12/1 |
|
4th 6 (6) |
24th Apr 2023 Good 2m 5f 139y Class 6 |
9st 7lb |
Fair fourth over 2m2f here (good to soft) last October and now 4lb lower; however, she was well beaten by the first two when third at Redcar (2m, soft) a fortnight ago when fit from hurdling; others appeal more. |
12/1 |
|
3rd 2 (2) |
10th Apr 2023 Soft 1m 7f 217y Class 6 |
9st 9lb |
1-23 in France and 0-7 in Britain; hurdling hasn't worked out (refused to race on penultimate appearance, tailed off latest) and her one piece of solid handicap form last season is not enough to persuade. |
11/1 |
Verdict
Having finished runner-up over hurdles on his last three starts dual French chase winner Georges Saint is an obvious contender but it could pay to take a chance with Irish point winner GIOVINCO on his hurdles debut. Vandemere is another to consider.[Colin Russell]
Selections
The Times:
Georges SaintTelegraph:
Georges SaintThe Guardian:
Georges SaintDaily Mirror:
Georges SaintDaily Record:
Vandemere