April 01 / 14.45 Uttoxeter

14.45

Soft

Blithfield Building Services Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4356.8
  • 2m 7f 70y
  • Class 4
  • 6 runners
SKY
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Blithfield Building Services Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

9/2 (Won)

  • Win: £3.75
  • Place: £1.90

Form: 321438

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Found last month's EBF Final too hot but has shown some fairly useful form this season, most notably when winning at Southwell (2m4f, good) in December; seems versatile regarding ground and has a significant role to play if stamina holds out on first run beyond 2m5f.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

19th Oct 2023

Good

3m 0f 110y

Class 3

15:35 Carlisle

Mexico

12st 0lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Stuart Edmunds

Displayed improved form when upped in trip and winning easily in a novice hurdle at Uttoxeter (2m7f, soft) in April; unexposed over staying trips and not ruled out on his chase debut, but this is a tough first assignment in this sphere and he's not bred for fences.

10/1

12th

18

15th Apr 2023

Good To Soft

3m 0f 149y

Class 1

14:25 Aintree

Mexico

10st 10lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Stuart Edmunds

Proved a revelation stepping up to about 3m for the first time when barely coming off the bridle to win a Uttoxeter novice event (soft) a fortnight ago; went about 14l clear at the last before being eased, so a 7lb rise in his mark looks lenient; stable won this race in 2021; considered.

10/1

1st

1

1st Apr 2023

Soft

2m 7f 70y

Class 4

14:45 Uttoxeter

Mexico

11st 12lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Stuart Edmunds

in touch with leaders on outer, hit 6th, led going easily after 4 out, went clear after 3 out, eased run-in, easily

9/2

OUR TIP

9/2

  • Place: £1.90

Form: 223222 BF

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Won at Warwick (3m1f, good) on hurdle debut right at start of this season and, following a six-month break, has been placed six consecutive times since, the last five times in handicaps (cheekpieces added last time); effective on soft ground (untested on heavy); likely to be right in the thick of things again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

22nd Mar 2026

Good

3m 6f 153y

Class 3

15:02 Exeter

Sporting Ace

10st 8lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: Neil King

Reportedly appreciated the heavy ground when rallying to lead close home at Huntingdon (2m7f) last month; will be suited by the longer trip here but the ground will be much quicker this time and he's very unreliable now.

8/1

13

19th Jan 2026

Soft

3m 4f 178y

Class 3

13:50 Lingfield

Sporting Ace

10st 8lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: Neil King

Returned to form with narrow win in this race a year ago (heavy) and is now 1lb below that mark but well beaten all four starts since (three this season) and needs to bounce back again; headgear (worn for last two races) removed.

16/1

Form: 4-5P22 D BF

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 5lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Probably better known as a chaser now but runner-up on both starts since switching back to hurdling this year, more recently in Class 2 handicap at Doncaster (3m, good) last month; may not be ideally suited by the slower ground here but has good chance at these weights.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 136y

Class 4

14:50 Chepstow

The Newest One

11st 7lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

11yo who was runner-up at Warwick (3m, good to soft) on New Year's Eve but he's had a heavy defeat and a fall in two subsequent runs; new headgear is now tried but he's hard to predict and has not won since October 2024; down the list.

8/1

4

28th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 10y

Class 4

15:45 Uttoxeter

The Newest One

11st 13lb

J: Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

11yo who was runner-up at Warwick (3m, good to soft) on New Year's Eve but he's hard to predict and was tailed off at Ludlow (visor added) last time; comes with risks attached and he needs to bounce back again.

12/1

6th

4

18th Feb 2026

2m 7f 171y

Class 4

15:35 Ludlow

The Newest One

11st 9lb

J: Miss Amber Jackson-Fennell

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

11yo who has an up-and-down profile but finished second at Warwick (3m, good to soft) on New Year's Eve; versatile ground-wise; major player if backing up that good performance with another; wears a first-time visor.

5/2

Form: 12P D

Last run: 42 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
Battled well to win on hurdle debut at Haydock (3m, soft) in November and again displayed willing attitude when close second to fairly useful rival at Hereford (3m1f, soft) the following month; pulled up when upped to Grade 2 level in February but will find this race easier and is a contender if back on song.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

17

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Mr Vango

10st 12lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Mrs Sara V Bradstock

Usually goes well in the mud; last season's hat-trick culminated in the 4m2f Midlands National and he rallied to go very close against Twig in the 3m2f Becher over these fences on first outing this term; while there was so much to admire to that point, he's cracked with alarming speed in 3m and 4m1f races on his last two outings.

66/1

1

21st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

4m 1f 56y

Class 2

14:43 Newcastle

Mr Vango

12st 0lb

J: David Bass

T: Mrs Sara V Bradstock

Hugely the class act in this field and last season's hat-trick culminated in the 4m2f Midlands National; rallied to go very close in the Becher at Aintree (3m2f) on first outing this season; he wasn't going almost immediately once headed (fairly early stage) last time, which is a nagging worry despite that race being over just 3m; soft or heavy ground is ideal but there's no doubting his strength in stamina and that factor is key.

7/1

1

31st Jan 2026

Soft

3m 0f 42y

Class 2

15:42 Sandown

Mr Vango

12st 0lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Mrs Sara V Bradstock

Needs soft/heavy ground; grand stayer who completed a notable hat-trick (3m1f-4m2f) last term, culminating in Midlands National win; went very close in the Becher Chase at Aintree (3m2f) in sole outing this season, showing further progress on the figures; the weather has interrupted plans since; respected, with a slog at the trip on the cards.

13/8

Form: 2124 BF

Last run: 60 days

W: 11st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
Won quite comfortably on hurdle debut at Wetherby (2m5f, soft) in December and has performed well on both subsequent outings, more recently when fourth on handicap debut at Ffos Las (2m4f, soft) in January; that form already puts him in the mix here and he could quite plausibly have untapped potential over today's longer trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

14th Jan 2026

Good

2m 7f 91y

Class 4

14:05 Newbury

Top Target

11st 12lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls

Promising third on chase debut at Wetherby (2m3f, good) in November and he was 1l behind the leader and clear of the rest when falling at the final fence at Doncaster (3m, good to soft) last month; the winner has followed up and this fellow looks well treated now only 3lb higher.

7/2

4

1st Nov 2025

Good

2m 3f 85y

Class 3

13:15 Wetherby

Top Target

11st 3lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls

7yo who made a promising start to his rules career in 2022-23 (won a novice hurdle here) and showed enough over hurdles this April, following a mammoth absence, to suggest he retains plenty of ability; having won a point it's possible he'll relish this switch to fences and he's one to consider.

8/1

4

1st Nov 2025

Good

2m 3f 85y

Class 3

13:15 Wetherby

Top Target

11st 3lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls

7yo who made a promising start to his rules career in 2022-23 (won a novice hurdle here) and showed enough over hurdles this April, following a mammoth absence, to suggest he retains plenty of ability; having won a point it's possible he'll relish this switch to fences and he's one to consider.

8/1

Form: 9

Last run: 13 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Shaped with significant promise before falling at final fence in both Irish points this winter but was soundly beaten in Chepstow bumper on recent rules debut and is not the obvious answer here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

24th Mar 2026

Good

2m 7f 3y

Class 4

15:45 Taunton

Good Friday Fairy

11st 12lb

J: Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: Ben Clarke

Resumed with victory at Exeter (2m3f) in November and in good form until pulled up in 2m3f handicap chase at Fontwell ten days ago; this course winner is the sort to bounce back in a change of headgear, though.

9/2

1

14th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 3f 104y

Class 4

14:35 Fontwell

Good Friday Fairy

12st 2lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Ben Clarke

Did well for cheekpieces going on last year, winning three times at 2m3f-2m5f, latterly off 3lb lower, and going a stone and a half up the weights; 2m7f looked to find him out at Newbury last month and this is less competitive back down in trip; holds decent claims.

5/2

4th

3

17th Feb 2026

2m 7f 91y

Class 3

15:55 Newbury

Good Friday Fairy

11st 7lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Ben Clarke

All good since the cheekpieces went on, winning three times (2m3f-2m5f, good to soft/soft); kept on well for third off today's mark at Exeter (2m3f, good to soft) last month and returning to further looks the right move.

13/2

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £11.20
Straight Forecast £10.96
Trifecta £33.30

Selections

RP Ratings:

The Newest One

Telegraph:

Top Target

SPOTLIGHT:

Sporting Ace

The Star:

Mr Vango

Daily Mail:

Top Target

D Express:

Top Target

The Guardian:

Sporting Ace

TOPSPEED:

The Newest One

POSTDATA:

The Newest One

WEST COUNTRY:

The Newest One

The Times:

The Newest One

Daily Mirror:

The Newest One

The Sun:

The Newest One

Daily Record:

The Newest One