April 08 / 15.05 Carlisle

15.05

Soft

Racing TV HD On Sky 424 Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4629.1
  • 2m 3f 61y
  • Class 4
  • 10 runners
RTV
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Racing TV HD On Sky 424 Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 10 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

100/30 (Won)

  • Win: £4.10
  • Place: £1.30

Form: 75-41 D

Last run: 130 days

W: 11st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Improved upon his bumper form when upped in trip and winning on hurdle debut at Ayr (2m3f, soft) in November; absent since but he should have more to offer and could be the chief threat to Grain d'Oudairies.
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

4/1

  • Place: £1.40

Form: 322/51 D

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 9lb

8 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Off the best part of two years before his hurdle debut fifth; all the sharper for that run when winning over 2m4f at Hexham (heavy) 23 days ago; more will be needed here but he did score pretty readily.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

17th May 2023

Soft

2m 7f 207y

Class 4

19:30 Perth

Fly By Milan

11st 6lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

Off the mark over hurdles at just the second time of asking in 2m4f Hexham maiden in March; backed it up under a 7lb penalty with a solid second in 2m3f Carlisle novice the following month so this son of Milan needs considering now upped in trip on his handicap debut.

3/1

2nd

1

8th Apr 2023

Soft

2m 3f 61y

Class 4

15:05 Carlisle

Fly By Milan

11st 9lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

Off the best part of two years before his hurdle debut fifth; all the sharper for that run when winning over 2m4f at Hexham (heavy) 23 days ago; more will be needed here but he did score pretty readily.

4/1

1st

1

16th Mar 2023

Heavy

2m 4f 28y

Class 4

15:10 Hexham

Fly By Milan

11st 7lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

in touch with leaders, pushed along and headway after 2 out, made strong challenge approaching last, led run-in, soon edged right, readily

6/1

250/1

  • Place: £16.40

Form: 098-PP

Last run: 91 days

W: 10st 9lb

5 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Triple-digit odds on all five starts; down the field in her three bumpers and pulled up in two hurdles this winter; big outsider again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

26th May 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 96y

Class 5

16:35 Kelso

Izzy Bell

10st 5lb

J: Peter Kavanagh

T: Maurice Barnes

Placed over hurdles at 250-1 at Carlisle (2m3f, good to soft) 13 months ago but has not shown much since; upped in trip for today's chasing debut; big leap of faith required to support her.

33/1

6

26th May 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 96y

Class 5

16:35 Kelso

Izzy Bell

10st 5lb

J: Peter Kavanagh

T: Maurice Barnes

Placed over hurdles at 250-1 at Carlisle (2m3f, good to soft) 13 months ago but has not shown much since; upped in trip for today's chasing debut; big leap of faith required to support her.

33/1

14th

10

10th May 2024

Good

2m 3f 188y

Class 5

18:20 Sedgefield

Izzy Bell

10st 5lb

J: Peter Kavanagh

T: Maurice Barnes

Placed at 250-1 at Carlisle (2m3f, good to soft) 13 months ago but has not shown a great deal since and is now 0-8 over hurdles; makes handicap debut after 134-day break.

50/1

OUR TIP

Form: 3-1

Last run: 133 days

W: 11st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Promise in sole bumper last spring and scored comfortably on his Bangor hurdle debut (2m, soft) in November; it's taken a bit of time to get him back but he's potentially useful and is probably the one to beat.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

16th May 2026

Good

2m 1f 77y

Class 2

15:55 Bangor-on-Dee

Grain dOudairies

10st 4lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Donald McCain

Safely held at last month's Aintree festival but back in calmer waters here and now back on same mark as for win at Haydock (2m4f, good to soft) in December; will be fine over this trip; might be the answer.

6/1

9th

12

9th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 176y

Class 1

16:40 Aintree

Grain dOudairies

10st 10lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

10yo who hasn't had much racing for his age and has been progressive this term, with wins at Kelso (2m1f, good to soft) and Haydock (2m4f, good to soft); however, below par at Carlisle in February last time and, even if back on song, there's a firm suspicion this will prove too competitive.

33/1

6th

1

16th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 207y

Class 3

13:40 Carlisle

Grain dOudairies

12st 0lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

Two wins towards the end of last year (2m1f/2m4f, good to soft) and 8l second to progressive winner at Doncaster (2m, soft) last time; he can give another good account and is one to consider.

100/30

Form: 9680-2

Last run: 13 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Three Irish point wins this winter and left last season's efforts under rules behind when 9l second in a C&D novice (heavy) 13 days ago; he'll likely need to step up on that form if he's to seriously threaten some of the previous hurdle winners in this line-up.
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: 44566

Last run: 9 days

W: 10st 9lb

5 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Soundly beaten sixth in two maiden hurdles at Hexham in recent weeks and handicaps her thing after this.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

11

11th Dec 2024

Soft

2m 7f 63y

Class 5

14:20 Hexham

Lunar Glow

10st 10lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: Paul Robson

in touch with leaders

16/1

Form: 603

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Has shown definite ability but beaten 25l when third on his 2m3f Wetherby hurdle debut (soft) 18 days ago; probably more one for the longer term.
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

13:00 Carlisle

Navigate West

11st 9lb

J: Peter Kavanagh

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

in touch with leaders, not fluent 6th

12/1

2nd

5

15th Dec 2024

Soft

2m 3f 61y

Class 5

13:00 Carlisle

Navigate West

11st 9lb

J: Peter Kavanagh

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

in touch with leaders, not fluent 6th

12/1

9th

9

24th Apr 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 48y

Class 4

13:40 Hexham

Navigate West

11st 2lb

J: Ross Chapman

T: Sue Smith

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

Form: -83471

Last run: 53 days

W: 11st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Came good at the fourth time of asking over hurdles when seeing off eight rivals in maiden company at Ayr (2m4f, god to soft) in February; more will be needed to defy a penalty here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

10

29th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 100y

Class 4

13:43 Ayr

Langdale Lane

10st 13lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: R Mike Smith

Won a C&D maiden (good to soft) in February 2023 but he's had only five runs since and has been well held in last three completed starts; unseated over fences here last month and has plenty to prove back in this sphere.

16/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Remote sixth in a 2m point bumper six weeks ago; likely outsider on hurdle debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

8th Apr 2023

Soft

2m 3f 61y

Class 4

15:05 Carlisle

Eagle Watch

11st 2lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: James Walton

Remote sixth in a 2m point bumper six weeks ago; likely outsider on hurdle debut.

100/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Fifth foal; dam point winner, half-sister to a point winner, out of a point winner; Fly By Milan has to be considered the yard first string unless the betting suggests otherwise.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

14th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 70y

Class 2

14:25 Uttoxeter

Nab Wood

11st 2lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

Has a record of 2-4 this term but gained the second success in one of the weaker Pertemps qualifiers and faces a stiffer task off 6lb higher in this field; possibly unsuited by Windsor most recently.

16/1

10th

5

18th Jan 2026

Soft

3m 0f 0y

Class 2

14:25 Windsor

Nab Wood

11st 4lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

Largely progressive northern raider; won going away in Pertemps qualifier at Carlisle (3m1f, soft) most recently, taking record this term to 2-3 and overall strike-rate to 4-12; ventures south with respectable claims.

7/1

1st

7

1st Nov 2025

Soft

3m 0f 70y

Class 3

13:58 Ayr

Nab Wood

11st 0lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

Lightly raced for his age; beaten a head by Ginger Mail over 2m4f here (soft) in January and he was a good fifth at Kelso on his final start last term; unexposed over 3m+ and gets weight all round; commands major respect.

5/1

Non-runners

Langdale Lane, Nab Wood

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £14.40
Straight Forecast £12.34
Trifecta £535.10

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Grain d'Oudairies

POSTDATA:

Fly By Milan

TOPSPEED:

Largy Shark

RP Ratings:

Grain d'Oudairies

The Times:

Grain d'Oudairies

The Guardian:

Grain d'Oudairies

Daily Mail:

Grain d'Oudairies

D Express:

Grain d'Oudairies

Daily Mirror:

Grain d'Oudairies

Daily Record:

Grain d'Oudairies

Telegraph:

Fly By Milan

The Star:

Fly By Milan