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

1st

1

14th Oct 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 83y

Class 1

15:30 Ffos Las

Captain Teague

11st 5lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Grade 1-winning novice hurdler in 2023-24; walked over on chasing debut at Exeter before showing promise when fourth in 2m4f Grade 2 novice at Newbury (though reportedly finished lame) late in 2024; pulled up twice from three starts over hurdles for Paul Nicholls last season but starts out for Dan Skelton here and no surprise to see him bounce back reverting to this sphere.

10/1

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

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