October 13 / 14.10 Chepstow

14.10

Good

Unibet Persian War Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £28475
  • 2m 3f 100y
  • Class 1
  • 7 runners
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Unibet Persian War Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Rain

4/5 (Won)

  • Win: £1.84
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 13-

Last run: 212 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Point/bumper winner who raised his profile in a big way in finishing third in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham in March (soft), when the only British runner to make the top ten; on the strength of that display he looks a seriously exciting prospect for novice hurdles.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

10th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 1

13:45 Aintree

Captain Teague

11st 10lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Has perhaps needed his two runs since a lengthy layoff, sixth to Fiercely Proud at Ascot latest; may be ready to hit top form and accordingly looks interesting off current mark when considering his back class (Grade 1 novice winner over 2m4f in December 2023).

20/1

6th

3

14th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 3f 63y

Class 2

14:25 Ascot

Captain Teague

11st 9lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Seemed to need latest run when back from a lengthy layoff; interesting off current mark assuming he's still capable of peak form, which includes a success in the 2023 Challow on soft ground.

5/1

2

18th Jan 2026

Soft

3m 0f 0y

Class 2

14:25 Windsor

Captain Teague

11st 9lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Absent since finishing lame at Newbury in November 2024, truncating a novice chase campaign; smart previously and has Grade 1 form, including a success in the Challow (2m4f, soft) as a novice hurdler; 2-4 in this sphere; on a workable mark provided he retains ability.

14/1

10/1

  • Place: £3.10

Form: 1311-

Last run: 168 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Unlike in bumpers, he had enough under the bonnet to defy a penalty to go 2-2 over hurdles on soft ground at Perth; beat a disappointing horse there and whether he's up to this level is questionable for now; hooded from the outset.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

25th Apr 2026

Good

3m 4f 146y

Class 1

15:30 Sandown

Resplendent Grey

12st 0lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Won this race (good ground) last year in first-time cheekpieces off a 10lb lower mark; first and second in two small fields this season, alongside two heavy defeats in top handicaps; tried blinkers when fading right out of it at the Cheltenham Festival last time and now reverts to cheekpieces; also back on firmer ground but a new career best is needed.

12/1

15th

3

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 0y

Class 1

15:20 Cheltenham

Resplendent Grey

11st 10lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Won the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown (extended 3m4f, good) last April in first-time cheekpieces and returned to form when second at Windsor (2m6f, soft) in January; his jumping can sometimes lack fluency but, with first-time blinkers replacing the cheekpieces, he has an each-way chance if minimising the mistakes; fourth of 18 in the NH Chase here (3m6f, good to soft) last March.

16/1

2nd

3

18th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 6f 50y

Class 2

15:00 Windsor

Resplendent Grey

11st 6lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Won the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown (3m4f, good) last April and reappeared with Listed Intermediate win at Carlisle (2m4f, good to soft); also effective on soft ground; however, soundly beaten in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury (3m2f, good to soft) last time and has something to find today.

10/1

Form: 1-21

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Point winner; unable to defy a penalty in his second bumper (won the first on soft) but he was well backed for his hurdling debut at Worcester (2m, good) and won as he liked; the third in that race has won since and he's one with a future.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

8th Jul 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

18:30 Uttoxeter

Rock House

11st 12lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Can jump right; two fair efforts over fences since the spring, including at 2m4f (good), with another one over hurdles in between; not obviously ahead of his mark but adding a tongue-tie could help.

7/1

4th

3

26th May 2025

Good

2m 0f 104y

Class 4

14:36 Huntingdon

Rock House

11st 6lb

J: Tristan Durrell

T: Dan Skelton

Only beaten about 1l when third of four on chasing debut at Ludlow (2m4f, good) in March, despite a tendency to jump right, and reverts to fences after perfectly respectable 2m hurdle run last month; still unexposed in this sphere and current mark is workable; must be considered.

11/4

4th

3

26th May 2025

Good

2m 0f 104y

Class 4

14:36 Huntingdon

Rock House

11st 6lb

J: Tristan Durrell

T: Dan Skelton

Only beaten about 1l when third of four on chasing debut at Ludlow (2m4f, good) in March, despite a tendency to jump right, and reverts to fences after perfectly respectable 2m hurdle run last month; still unexposed in this sphere and current mark is workable; must be considered.

11/4

OUR TIP

Form: 11- D

Last run: 181 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
Irish point winner who is 2-2 over hurdles after fairly comfortable wins on heavy ground at Newcastle; RPRs of 108 don't exactly leap off the page but he's heading in the right direction and rain is welcomed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

28th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 75y

Class 4

14:55 Newcastle

Cold Sobar

12st 0lb

J: Sam Coltherd

T: Stuart Coltherd

Won a maiden point and two races over hurdles at Newcastle (2m1f/2m4f, heavy) in 2023; made a pleasing chase/handicap debut when third of five finishers at Carlisle (2m, soft) last month; should run well.

4/1

2nd

1

28th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 75y

Class 4

14:55 Newcastle

Cold Sobar

12st 0lb

J: Sam Coltherd

T: Stuart Coltherd

Won a maiden point and two races over hurdles at Newcastle (2m1f/2m4f, heavy) in 2023; made a pleasing chase/handicap debut when third of five finishers at Carlisle (2m, soft) last month; should run well.

4/1

Form: 11-111 D

Last run: 118 days

W: 11st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 128

Form & Verdict
Not your typical winner of a Persian War having already raced ten times over hurdles but he's won the last five, all of them handicaps (the first on heavy but improvement has come on good); this represents a different test altogether and perhaps placed at best.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

5th Jun 2024

Good

2m 4f 216y

Class 4

15:40 Newton Abbot

Mullinaree

12st 0lb

J: Bradley Harris

T: Syd Hosie

Landed a five-timer over hurdles (2m3f-2m4f) for Milton Harris last March-June, ridden by Bradley Harris and the final leg off 5lb higher than today; respectable fourth at Plumpton in December on his second attempt over fences for this stable but off since pulling up over hurdles the following month; needs to be ready to roll back from a break and reverting to fences.

7/1

0

2

26th Jan 2024

Soft

2m 3f 173y

Class 3

15:35 Sandown

Mullinaree

11st 10lb

J: Micheal Nolan

T: Syd Hosie

Defied a 2lb lower mark last summer (2m4f, good; fine on softer) and returns to this discipline after two defeats over fences, the latest a respectable effort (beaten 10l); probably in fair form and entitled to run well.

20/1

Form: 3-

Last run: 195 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Bought for £165,000 after finishing second in a point at Belharbour; only 100-30 for his bumper debut at Stratford but couldn't pick up on the heavy ground; no doubt capable of a lot better.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

12th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 20y

Class 2

13:43 Ayr

Lord Of Thunder

11st 1lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Off the mark over fences at the fourth attempt in Newbury handicap in February (2m7f, soft; Pic Roc second); also effective on good going; merely mid-division in the Jack Richards at Cheltenham since but he's back in a less competitive race here and he could tap back into his previous promise.

14/1

4th

5

12th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 20y

Class 2

13:43 Ayr

Lord Of Thunder

11st 1lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

in touch with leaders, not fluent 2nd

14/1

Form: 3F132-

Last run: 170 days

W: 10st 10lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 131

Form & Verdict
Ex-Irish mare who was coming along very nicely in the spring, producing easily her best form yet when second to a smart novice at Punchestown's feature spring fixture (yielding; effective on softer); new connections went to £150,000 to secure her services and she has each-way claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

23rd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 3

15:40 Perth

Della Casa Lunga

11st 1lb

J: Ned Fox

T: Clive Boultbee-Brooks

Mainly in fair form this season and can be forgiven a below-par run on testing ground at Exeter last time; these conditions suit; each-way chance with cheekpieces back on.

13/2

3rd

3

20th Feb 2026

Heavy

3m 0f 54y

Class 1

15:14 Exeter

Della Casa Lunga

11st 0lb

J: Richard Patrick

T: Clive Boultbee-Brooks

Three front-running hurdle wins in 2024 (2m5f/3m, soft/good to soft) and she was running pretty well in defeat towards the end of 2025; 10l second of four at Carlisle 17 days ago on chase debut, showing she has some way to go before she's matching today's rivals over fences.

5/1

2nd

4

3rd Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 198y

Class 3

14:00 Carlisle

Della Casa Lunga

10st 12lb

J: Richard Patrick

T: Clive Boultbee-Brooks

Three front-running hurdle wins in 2024 (2m5f/3m, soft/good to soft) and she was running pretty well in defeat against fellow mares towards the end of 2025; receives 7lb from the males today and holds leading claims if taking to fences at the first attempt.

13/8

Non-runners

Everyonesgame, Way Out

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £7.20
Straight Forecast £7.30
Tricast £12.07
Trifecta £16.90

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Captain Teague

The Guardian:

Resplendent Grey

RP RATINGS:

Della Casa Lunga

D Express:

Rock House

POSTDATA:

Way Out

The Sun:

Resplendent Grey

TOPSPEED:

Della Casa Lunga

Daily Record:

Rock House

WEST COUNTRY:

Captain Teague

The Times:

Captain Teague

Daily Mail:

Captain Teague

Daily Mirror:

Captain Teague

The Star:

Captain Teague

Telegraph:

Way Out