March 18 / 16.25 Kempton

16.25

Good To Soft

Virgin Bet Fives Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4356.8
  • 2m 5f 0y
  • Class 4
  • 7 runners
RTV
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Virgin Bet Fives Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

7/2 (Won)

  • Win: £3.75
  • Place: £1.70

Form: 32-212 BF

Last run: 79 days

W: 11st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 127

Form & Verdict
Front-runner who has improved over hurdles, having no trouble winning an ordinary 2m3f Hereford novice (soft) in November and was run down only late at Doncaster in December (good); this track can play to his strengths; should give it a good shot again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

5

22nd Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 187y

Class 2

14:40 Newbury

Theatre Man

11st 1lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Richard J Bandey

Launched chasing career with three good runs last season but fell next time and suffered heavy defeats in his three starts since; this should be a good mark but plenty now seems to depend on January's wind surgery.

5/1

4th

2

10th Dec 2024

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 3

13:42 Uttoxeter

Theatre Man

11st 6lb

J: David Bass

T: Richard J Bandey

Launched chasing career with three good runs last season, most notably when chasing home subsequent dual Grade 1 runner-up Ginny's Destiny at Cheltenham (2m4f, good to soft) in January; holds strong claims here if judged on that evidence but was a disappointing favourite when returned to Cheltenham for seasonal debut in October and needs to rebound.

4/1

4th

2

10th Dec 2024

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 3

13:42 Uttoxeter

Theatre Man

11st 6lb

J: David Bass

T: Richard J Bandey

Launched chasing career with three good runs last season, most notably when chasing home subsequent dual Grade 1 runner-up Ginny's Destiny at Cheltenham (2m4f, good to soft) in January; holds strong claims here if judged on that evidence but was a disappointing favourite when returned to Cheltenham for seasonal debut in October and needs to rebound.

4/1

15/8

  • Place: £1.30

Form: 1-232 BF

Last run: 67 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
Bumper winner; keeps finding one to beat him but seemed to lose concentration at Hereford two starts ago (2m3f, soft) and getting hampered before the last at Doncaster (2m5f, good to soft) may have cost him, too; has a big run in him for yard that's won two of the last six runnings.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

16th Sep 2024

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 2

14:25 Worcester

Issuing Authority

11st 10lb

J: James Bowen

T: Nicky Henderson

towards rear, outpaced before 4 out, struggling when slow jump 3 out, soon pulled up

7/2

6th

8

30th Jun 2024

Good

1m 7f 214y

Class 2

14:25 Uttoxeter

Issuing Authority

10st 12lb

J: James Bowen

T: Nicky Henderson

Low-mileage 7yo who won three-runner beginners' chase on heavy ground during the winter; probably raced too close to hot pace when weakening fifth in Cartmel race won by Al Zaraqaan last month, and may still have potential.

12/1

OUR TIP

Form: 213 D BF

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 129

Form & Verdict
Irish point winner; stepped up on hurdle debut two years later when coming clear in grand style at Exeter (2m5f, good to soft) and subsequently ran a taking third in a Grade 2 at Haydock (3m, good to soft), considering his stride was broken when having to be switched before the last; this sharp test is an interesting move but can improve further.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

8

12th Oct 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 98y

Class 2

16:00 Chepstow

The King Of Ryhope

10st 6lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

C&D winner at a different meeting last October on his reappearance and later ran well in a 3m Grade 2 at Ascot until a costly late mistake; disappointed the final time in a strong handicap at Aintree but went off favourite that day off a 1lb higher mark and evidently failed to give his running; remains an interesting handicapper.

4/1

8th

9

13th Apr 2024

Soft

3m 0f 210y

Class 1

14:30 Aintree

The King Of Ryhope

10st 11lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Lightly raced 3m point winner whose best hurdle run came over 3m, and he tackled that trip for the first time over fences in a Grade 2 novice at Ascot (3m, good to soft) in February, travelling well into contention but making a race-losing mistake at final fence (finished 3l fourth of five); there will be a slight doubt about him if he's back on soft/heavy but he's unexposed over staying trips and could be better than his current mark.

5/1

8th

9

13th Apr 2024

Soft

3m 0f 210y

Class 1

14:30 Aintree

The King Of Ryhope

10st 11lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Lightly raced 3m point winner whose best hurdle run came over 3m, and he tackled that trip for the first time over fences in a Grade 2 novice at Ascot (3m, good to soft) in February, travelling well into contention but making a race-losing mistake at final fence (finished 3l fourth of five); there will be a slight doubt about him if he's back on soft/heavy but he's unexposed over staying trips and could be better than his current mark.

5/1

Form: 6P2

Last run: 36 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Showed ability in Irish points but hurdle form has not amounted to much so far, a C&D second last month being a remote one; handicaps are likely to be more his line.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

19th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 7f 110y

Class 5

15:20 Lingfield

Endersen

10st 3lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Richard Rowe

Maiden who would come into it on his best staying hurdle form but his chase efforts don't compare, including when soundly beaten on the return to fences at Fontwell last time out.

9/1

8

23rd Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 164y

Class 5

16:50 Fontwell

Endersen

10st 8lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Richard Rowe

0-7 over hurdles; ran well when clear third here (3m2f, good) in May but has fitness to prove after five-month break and today's drop back in trip may not be ideal; others preferred.

12/1

6

25th May 2025

Good

3m 1f 166y

Class 5

15:33 Fontwell

Endersen

10st 5lb

J: James Davies

T: Richard Rowe

Struggled over hurdles last season and was pulled up when given another try over fences in January; now 0-14 under all codes and has a lot more to prove than some of these.

20/1

Form: 45

Last run: 75 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Useful form when runner-up in Irish point last winter and his close fourth in a Chepstow bumper was a good start for this yard in December; however, well adrift in hurdle debut at Plumpton in January and needs to move on a good deal from that.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

16

17th Apr 2024

Good To Soft

3m 4f 21y

Class 3

15:15 Cheltenham

Haston Clermont

11st 2lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Noel Williams

Progressive 7yo who kept on well to score at Catterick (3m1f, soft) six weeks ago and is now 3-5 over fences; has more on his plate here but open to further improvement over the longer trip.

9/2

7th

16

17th Apr 2024

Good To Soft

3m 4f 21y

Class 3

15:15 Cheltenham

Haston Clermont

11st 2lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Noel Williams

Progressive 7yo who kept on well to score at Catterick (3m1f, soft) six weeks ago and is now 3-5 over fences; has more on his plate here but open to further improvement over the longer trip.

9/2

1st

4

6th Mar 2024

Soft

3m 1f 54y

Class 4

15:45 Catterick

Haston Clermont

11st 10lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Noel Williams

Lightly raced point runner-up who won at Lingfield (2m7f, good to soft) in December on second chase start and followed up at Wincanton (3m1f, heavy); beaten just a nose at Chepstow (2m7f, heavy) last time by a winner who has since defied a 6lb rise, and he has attractive claims up 4lb.

5/4

Form: 64

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Out of half-sister to Presenting; made respectable bumper debut and plenty of promise in never-nearer fourth on hurdle debut at Sandown in February (2m, good to soft) where better-fancied stablemate was runner-up; can improve for this longer trip but Issuing Authority looks the yard's main hope.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

3

27th Apr 2023

Good To Soft

2m 3f 0y

Class 4

13:40 Warwick

Easy Rider

11st 6lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

Well beaten when upped to 2m5f at Kempton (soft) last month but today's race is much easier and his fourth at Sandown (2m, good to soft) in February makes him of significant interest.

11/4

6th

4

18th Mar 2023

Good To Soft

2m 5f 0y

Class 4

16:25 Kempton

Easy Rider

11st 2lb

J: Daryl Jacob

T: Nicky Henderson

Out of half-sister to Presenting; made respectable bumper debut and plenty of promise in never-nearer fourth on hurdle debut at Sandown in February (2m, good to soft) where better-fancied stablemate was runner-up; can improve for this longer trip but Issuing Authority looks the yard's main hope.

12/1

4th

3

16th Feb 2023

Good To Soft

1m 7f 216y

Class 4

15:35 Sandown

Easy Rider

11st 2lb

J: James Bowen

T: Nicky Henderson

Stablemate of Immortal; showed some promise in Wincanton bumper (1m7f, good to soft) on Boxing Day, finishing sixth of 17; half-brother to two winners over jumps; open to improvement and could go well.

16/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Eighth foal; closely related to winners Willie Butler (bumper) and Mulcahys Hill (bumper/useful 2m4f hurdle/3m chase), half-brother to bumper/2m4f and 2m6f hurdle winner Penn Lane; dam French 1m7f claiming hurdle winner; trip can suit on pedigree but others have a massive experience advantage.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

10th Mar 2025

Good

2m 3f 164y

Class 5

15:00 Plumpton

Celtic Ned

11st 9lb

J: Niall Houlihan

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Yet to fire over fences but his best hurdle efforts would make him of interest off his reduced mark; better ground could help, as could blinkers, and he's one to watch in the market.

4/1

6th

2

23rd Feb 2025

Soft

2m 5f 135y

Class 5

14:30 Fontwell

Celtic Ned

11st 10lb

J: Niall Houlihan

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Soundly beaten in the autumn on his two chase starts but didn't run badly when fourth of six at Wincanton last time in a race that has worked out well; this lightly raced 7yo is on a handy mark on last season's best hurdle form and today's race may not take much winning; interesting.

5/1

4th

1

21st Nov 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 35y

Class 5

13:15 Wincanton

Celtic Ned

12st 0lb

J: Niall Houlihan

T: Gary & Josh Moore

raced in fourth, lost position but in touch with leaders from 5th, headway 13th, went third 4 out, weakened before 2 out

9/2

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £7.40
Straight Forecast £7.77
Trifecta £11.90

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

The King Of Ryhope

LAMBOURN:

Issuing Authority

Telegraph:

Theatre Man

The Sun:

Theatre Man

The Star:

Issuing Authority

Daily Record:

Issuing Authority

RP Ratings:

The King Of Ryhope

TOPSPEED:

The King Of Ryhope

POSTDATA:

The King Of Ryhope

The Times:

The King Of Ryhope

The Guardian:

The King Of Ryhope

Daily Mail:

The King Of Ryhope

D Express:

The King Of Ryhope

Daily Mirror:

The King Of Ryhope