September 30 / 14.45 Market Rasen

14.45

Good

Smokey Joe Juvenile Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £8169
  • 2m 0f 125y
  • Class 2
  • 8 runners
RTV
View Course
Smokey Joe Juvenile Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

4/1 (Won)

  • Win: £2.50
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 21121 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 1lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Better over hurdles than on the Flat, having won three of her four juvenile events, last time scoring in good style at Stratford (2m, good ); not out of it.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

3rd Jul 2026

Good

2m 0f 167y

Class 3

16:30 Newton Abbot

Max Of Stars

11st 7lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Ollie Pears

Beat three rivals in this 12 months ago and has added further wins since then, on the Flat and over hurdles; only beaten a length in 1m4f handicap last time after a wind operation; not handicapped out of it by any means.

3/1

2nd

5

(2)

18th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

1m 4f 10y

Class 6

13:40 Ripon

Max Of Stars

10st 7lb

J: Miss Chelsea Brooks

T: Ollie Pears

117-rated hurdler, who regularly took travelling in her stride (three wins down at Newton Abbot); won well, making all, on the Flat at Thirsk (1m4f, soft; from 7lb lower) last September; notable candidate back to this discipline following more wind surgery.

13/2

2

19th Apr 2026

Good

2m 0f 70y

Class 4

15:08 Stratford

Max Of Stars

11st 13lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Ollie Pears

Front-runner who enjoyed a resurgence last year, winning three times over hurdles and once on the Flat; absent since November, though, and will need to resume in peak form to have any chance off current mark.

7/1

10/1

  • Place: £3.10

Form: 3

Last run: 33 days

W: 11st 0lb

3 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Fair Flat performer; third at Cartmel on jumps debut last month (2m1f, good to soft, hood tried); headgear left off but improvement needed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

3

30th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

2m 6f 7y

Class 4

19:18 Stratford

Balboa

11st 11lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Seamus Mullins

Lacks consistency but capitalised on a reduced mark when ending a near three-year drought at Ayr (extended 2m4f, soft) in April, but has failed to reproduce that effort since and the 6lb rise is not the chief concern; however, he could still go well if at his best.

7/1

4th

4

19th May 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 28y

Class 4

20:20 Hexham

Balboa

11st 13lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Seamus Mullins

Made the most of a reduced mark when justifying support and gaining a first win since 2023 when scoring at Ayr (2m4f, soft) last month; remains well treated on past form back up 6lb and likely to be in the mix again.

11/2

1st

8

17th Apr 2026

Soft

2m 4f 100y

Class 4

17:15 Ayr

Balboa

11st 0lb

J: Mr Jack Stenhouse

T: Seamus Mullins

Without a win since 2023 but he has dropped to a dangerous mark and ran surprisingly well over 3m last time at Wincanton when all his form is over shorter; goes on soft.

12/1

OUR TIP

11/8

  • Place: £1.20

Form: 1 D

Last run: 47 days

W: 11st 5lb

3 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Fair handicapper on the Flat (seemed not to stay when third over 1m6f); made a winning start over hurdles when beating a subsequent winner at Ballinrobe in August (2m, good to yielding); interesting contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

10th Oct 2023

Yielding

2m 0f 140y

13:50 Punchestown

Our Boy Wes

11st 0lb

J: Donagh Meyler

T: Emmet Mullins

disputed lead early, led clearly after 1st, mistake 4 out, joined when mistake 3 out, bad mistake 2 out, soon headed and lost second, no impression when jumped left and not fluent last

3/1

3rd

2

30th Sep 2023

Good

2m 0f 125y

Class 2

14:45 Market Rasen

Our Boy Wes

11st 5lb

J: Donagh Meyler

T: Emmet Mullins

Fair handicapper on the Flat (seemed not to stay when third over 1m6f); made a winning start over hurdles when beating a subsequent winner at Ballinrobe in August (2m, good to yielding); interesting contender.

11/8

7th

5

(2)

30th Aug 2023

Good

1m 4f 0y

15:15 Cork

Our Boy Wes

9st 12lb

J: Colin Keane

T: Emmet Mullins

Recent Ballinrobe maiden hurdle winner had shaped well previously without looking to quite stay 1m6f in Galway flat handicap; drop back in trip should suit and likely major player.

7/2

Form: 121 D

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 8lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Fair staying handicapper on the Flat; has taken well to hurdling with wins at Aintree (2m, good) and Fontwell (2m1f, good, wore cheekpieces); visor now tried for the first time; a contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

8

(10)

18th May 2024

Good

1m 6f 115y

Class 4

19:15 Doncaster

Two Past Eight

9st 0lb

J: Sean D Bowen

T: Alan King

Scored over hurdles in the autumn and in good form on the AW since, neck second of seven at Southwell (2m) 19 days ago; he ought to be in the shake-up nudged up 1lb.

6/1

5th

8

(10)

18th May 2024

Good

1m 6f 115y

Class 4

19:15 Doncaster

Two Past Eight

9st 0lb

J: Sean D Bowen

T: Alan King

raced wide, in touch with leaders on outer, headway and pressed leaders over 2f out, no extra over 1f out

6/1

2nd

2

(6)

29th Apr 2024

Standard

2m 0f 102y

Class 5

17:45 Southwell (AW)

Two Past Eight

9st 10lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Alan King

in touch with leaders, headway over 2f out, edged left when led narrowly over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on inside final furlong

4/1

Form: 5

Last run: 71 days

W: 10st 7lb

3 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Ex-Irish; modest form on the Flat and a well-beaten fifth of 11 in a Killarney maiden hurdle in July; has since changed yards; others stronger.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

19th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

2m 2f 148y

Class 5

14:48 Stratford

Northern Rose

10st 11lb

J: James Davies

T: Gary Hanmer

0-25 over hurdles but has run some good races at this track, most recently when close second over 2m (good to firm) three weeks ago; also suited by this longer trip and can make her presence felt again.

4/1

2nd

12

29th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

2m 0f 70y

Class 5

16:40 Stratford

Northern Rose

10st 4lb

J: James Davies

T: Gary Hanmer

Runner-up four times last year but she reappeared with a tailed-off effort over C&D (good) 13 days ago and is now 0-24 over hurdles; others are more convincing.

12/1

9th

8

16th Jun 2026

Good

2m 0f 70y

Class 5

14:40 Stratford

Northern Rose

10st 13lb

J: James Davies

T: Gary Hanmer

0-23 over hurdles but runner-up three times at this track, most recently over 2m2f (good) on latest outing in October; ran well fresh last spring and features prominently in calculations.

7/2

9/1

Form: 2117 D

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 1lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Front-runner who has improved since finishing a moderate second to Max Of Stars at Newton Abbot in June, with wins at Stratford (by 2l from Two Past Eight, who is 7lb better off) and Uttoxeter; well beaten in a Listed race on very soft ground at Auteuil last time; easier task here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

8th Jul 2024

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

17:25 Worcester

Vitani

11st 13lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Made all in two juvenile hurdles for Adam West last summer; not much has gone to plan since but she'll find this much less competitive than the two valuable handicaps she contested for Dan Skelton this spring (held up in rear both times) and may benefit from a return to more positive tactics.

3/1

10

18th Apr 2024

Good

2m 0f 179y

Class 1

13:30 Cheltenham

Vitani

10st 2lb

J: Tristan Durrell

T: Dan Skelton

Lowly rated on the Flat; won two juvenile hurdles on good ground for Adam West last summer before struggling in stronger company; had wind surgery ahead of stable debut at Ascot but was easy to back at 20-1 and finished well behind Spiced Rum.

25/1

10

18th Apr 2024

Good

2m 0f 179y

Class 1

13:30 Cheltenham

Vitani

10st 2lb

J: Tristan Durrell

T: Dan Skelton

Lowly rated on the Flat; won two juvenile hurdles on good ground for Adam West last summer before struggling in stronger company; had wind surgery ahead of stable debut at Ascot but was easy to back at 20-1 and finished well behind Spiced Rum.

25/1

Form: 3

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 0lb

3 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
1m4f winner on Tapeta in April; nearly 5l last of three behind a pair of Gordon Elliott runners on hurdles debut at Perth earlier this month (2m, soft); more needed
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

15th

2

23rd Jun 2024

Good

2m 0f 48y

Class 5

14:18 Hexham

Ironopolis

12st 0lb

J: Aaron Anderson

T: Rebecca Menzies

Fair Flat-racer who was placed in maiden hurdle at Sedgefield (2m1f, good) in October; struggled at triple-digit odds when upped to 2m4f for recent handicap hurdle debut, though.

33/1

8th

10

6th Jun 2024

Good

2m 3f 207y

Class 4

15:43 Uttoxeter

Ironopolis

11st 3lb

J: Ross Chapman

T: Rebecca Menzies

AW Flat winner in 2023; best hurdles run when third in a maiden hurdle at Sedgefield in October (2m1f, good; cheekpieces; form sound); pulled up when visored at Kelso last time (2m, soft); today's better ground should suit; up in trip on handicap debut with cheekpieces back on.

12/1

2

10th Mar 2024

Soft

2m 0f 51y

Class 4

13:35 Kelso

Ironopolis

11st 2lb

J: Ross Chapman

T: Rebecca Menzies

Showed fair winning AW form at Southwell (1m4f) last spring and has matched that switched to hurdles, cheekpieces on when a solid third of 11 in Sedgefield juvenile in October; visor goes on now and he's much respected after a break.

3/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 0lb

3 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Showed some promise on the Flat for Iain Jardine at 2, but well beaten since changing yards this year; watching brief advised on hurdles debut; tongue-tied first time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

(6)

8th Sep 2025

Soft

1m 2f 0y

Class 5

17:04 Windsor

Finn Russell

9st 10lb

J: Saffie Osborne

T: Ian Williams

Six-time winner, the latest over C&D in May off 2lb lower; underfoot conditions shouldn't faze him but he does need to rebound from a lesser effort at Chester six weeks ago.

10/1

6th

9

(5)

26th Jul 2025

Good

1m 2f 70y

Class 4

17:30 Chester

Finn Russell

9st 2lb

J: Stevie Donohoe

T: Ian Williams

Only 3lb lower when beating five others at Windsor (1m2f, good to firm) in May but he was beaten a long way over hurdles last time having bled from the nose.

12/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £20.70
Straight Forecast £25.57
Trifecta £73.60

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Our Boy Wes

POSTDATA:

Max Of Stars

RP RATINGS:

Two Past Eight

The Guardian:

Max Of Stars

The Star:

Max Of Stars

The Sun:

Two Past Eight

TOPSPEED:

Our Boy Wes

The Times:

Our Boy Wes

Telegraph:

Our Boy Wes

Daily Mail:

Our Boy Wes

D Express:

Our Boy Wes

Daily Mirror:

Our Boy Wes

Daily Record:

Our Boy Wes