March 26 / 12.50 Carlisle

12.50

Heavy

Happy 60th Birthday Helen Butterworth Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4629.1
  • 2m 3f 61y
  • Class 4
  • 6 runners
RTV
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Happy 60th Birthday Helen Butterworth Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

10/11 (Won)

  • Win: £1.50
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 1

Last run: 15 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Had just two rivals to beat on recent rules debut at Ayr (2m4f, good) but this point winner (3m, soft to heavy) did it in fine style and he's a likeable prospect; major player under a penalty.
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

13:45 Aintree

Giovinco

11st 7lb

J: Stephen Mulqueen

T: Lucinda Russell

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

13:45 Aintree

Giovinco

11st 7lb

J: Stephen Mulqueen

T: Lucinda Russell

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

14:10 Cheltenham

Giovinco

11st 7lb

J: Stephen Mulqueen

T: Lucinda Russell

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

8/1

  • Place: £1.60

Form: 9680-

Last run: 392 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Down the field in bumpers and a maiden hurdle in winter 2021-22 but he's been a different proposition in Irish points this season, winning three times (3m, yielding/soft); no surprise to see a good run on stable debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

14th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 4

14:33 Perth

Busty Boy

11st 10lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Daragh Bourke

Only 1-22 under rules and clearly hard to win with but he arrives in form having placed in a second successive Highland National here (3m6f, good) last month; just as effective over this shorter distance.

7/2

2nd

6

24th Apr 2026

Good

3m 6f 121y

Class 3

14:05 Perth

Busty Boy

11st 5lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Daragh Bourke

Only 1-21 overall and clearly hard to win with, but he was runner-up in this 12 months ago and returns in form having been running well from 2m4f to 3m; in the mix.

5/1

3rd

4

31st Mar 2026

Good

2m 4f 72y

Class 4

15:50 Bangor-on-Dee

Busty Boy

11st 11lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Daragh Bourke

Sole win under rules came in a handicap chase in 2023 (2m7f, soft); stays 3m6f but nearly won over this far at Carlisle on his reappearance and not disgraced since.

6/1

Form: 46

Last run: 7 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Point winner who was a fair fourth for Gordon Elliott in a maiden hunter chase at Clonmel in January; however, he was well beaten over C&D on his recent hurdle and stable debut and others make greater appeal.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

20th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

2m 5f 34y

Class 5

16:47 Cartmel

Wearelongterm

11st 0lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Dianne Sayer

Placed in two 2m7f Kelso chases in the autumn (good/good to soft) but ran poorly over 3m1f here on Saturday, after a five-month break, and will need to rebound quickly.

16/1

4

18th Jul 2026

Good

3m 1f 107y

Class 5

16:21 Cartmel

Wearelongterm

11st 0lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Dianne Sayer

Placed in two 2m7f Kelso chases in the autumn (good/good to soft) but absent since below-par hurdle run in February and returns with rules strike-rate standing at 0-21.

10/1

5th

5

15th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 5

15:50 Musselburgh

Wearelongterm

11st 3lb

J: Peter Kavanagh

T: Dianne Sayer

0-20 under rules but stayed on from the rear to take third over C&D (good to soft) when back over hurdles last month and has now been placed on three of his last four appearances; no surprise if he's on the premises.

11/2

Form: 485

Last run: 16 days

W: 10st 12lb

6 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Fair efforts on two of her three starts, most recently fifth on hurdle debut in a mares' novice at Ayr (2m4f, good); improvement is possible but necessary if she's to make an impact here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

6

15th Jul 2026

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 5

16:48 Uttoxeter

Theirshegoes

11st 4lb

J: Joshua Thompson

T: Sandy Thomson

Placed twice in spring 2025 (2m4f/2m5f) but generally disappointing since; moves back up in trip after a quiet 2m run last month; cheekpieces (worn for last four races) are removed; others have much less to prove.

20/1

8th

4

21st Jun 2026

Good

2m 0f 48y

Class 5

14:13 Hexham

Theirshegoes

11st 9lb

J: Gregor Walkingshaw

T: Sandy Thomson

Hasn't won since November 2024; well beaten over 2m5f at Kelso last time but comes into the reckoning on her previous close-up fifth to Snapaudaciaheros over C&D in April (good).

25/1

7th

7

24th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 5

15:37 Kelso

Theirshegoes

11st 4lb

J: Joshua Thompson

T: Sandy Thomson

Hasn't won for a while, but fair runs with cheekpieces on last two starts (fourth in mares' handicap over C&D on good on first occasion); each-way chance.

14/1

Form: 90-PP7

Last run: 16 days

W: 10st 12lb

7 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Has shown very little across her five runs; cheekpieces go on.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

9

14th Apr 2023

Soft

3m 3f 9y

Class 5

16:30 Sedgefield

Alien Encounter

10st 2lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Leonard Kerr

Well beaten at triple-figure odds in all four hurdles starts.

100/1

5th

5

26th Mar 2023

Heavy

2m 3f 61y

Class 4

12:50 Carlisle

Alien Encounter

10st 12lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Leonard Kerr

Has shown very little across her five runs; cheekpieces go on.

100/1

7th

4

10th Mar 2023

Good

2m 4f 100y

Class 4

16:20 Ayr

Alien Encounter

11st 0lb

J: Sam Coltherd

T: Leonard Kerr

Pulled up at huge odds in two maiden hurdles here last month (2m4f/2m3f); makes no appeal.

100/1

OUR TIP

Form: 75-41 D

Last run: 117 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Improved upon his bumper form when upped in trip and winning on hurdle debut at Ayr (2m3f, soft) last November; absent since but he could have more to offer and is respected under a 7lb penalty.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

12th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 6f 151y

Class 5

16:25 Leicester

Largy Shark

12st 0lb

J: Mr Thomas Easterby

T: W H Easterby

Two novice hurdle wins in 2022-23 season (including on soft) and he won a point (2m6f, good) last March; bang there when falling at final fence in a point in December; however, not discounted now back under rules.

11/2

5th

8

6th May 2024

Good

2m 3f 150y

15:20 Down Royal

Largy Shark

11st 12lb

J: Liam Quinlan

T: S R B Crawford

towards rear, headway 6th, went second before 7th, pressed leader when pecked on landing 3 out

33/1

5th

8

6th May 2024

Good

2m 3f 150y

15:20 Down Royal

Largy Shark

11st 12lb

J: Liam Quinlan

T: S R B Crawford

towards rear, headway 6th, went second before 7th, pressed leader when pecked on landing 3 out, weakened from 2 out

33/1

Non-runners

Largy Shark

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £2.90
Straight Forecast £3.31
Trifecta £5.80

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Giovinco

TOPSPEED:

Largy Shark

Telegraph:

Busty Boy

Daily Mirror:

Largy Shark

The Sun:

Largy Shark

Daily Record:

Largy Shark

RP Ratings:

Giovinco

POSTDATA:

Giovinco

The Times:

Giovinco

D Express:

Giovinco

The Star:

Giovinco