October 20 / 15.08 Fakenham

15.08

Good

Opening Of Adrian Flux Bar Today Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4629.1
  • 2m 0f 3y
  • Class 4
  • 5 runners
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Opening Of Adrian Flux Bar Today Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Rain

Form: 979P49

Last run: 8 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
Limited in Ireland and was bought for only £6,500; beaten 13l and 19l in two handicaps for this yard, the latest when a weakener last week at Exeter; others appeal more.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

8

1st Jul 2024

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

17:00 Worcester

Ferrybridge

11st 8lb

J: Ciaran O’Shea

T: James Owen

took keen hold, held up in rear, headway before 3 out, weakened after 2 out

13/2

6th

2

18th Jun 2024

Good

2m 0f 213y

Class 5

15:15 Stratford

Ferrybridge

11st 6lb

J: Lilly Pinchin

T: James Owen

midfield, not fluent 3rd, weakening when mistake 4 out

4/1

2nd

3

2nd Jun 2024

Good

2m 0f 59y

Class 5

15:10 Fakenham

Ferrybridge

11st 6lb

J: Lilly Pinchin

T: James Owen

Off the mark over fences in a novice handicap at Huntingdon in March (2m, good); fair efforts over fences last twice; one to consider.

9/2

Form: 3354-U D

Last run: 59 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Bumper winner who hasn't progressed over hurdles, with his keen-going tendencies a drawback; had wind surgery since unseating on handicap debut latest when held at the time; reservations.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

24th Mar 2026

Good

3m 0f 60y

Class 5

15:30 Southwell

Jack The Savage

11st 5lb

J: Isabelle Ryder

T: Laura Horsfall

Had dropped to a good mark and finally exploited it with a head success at Hereford (3m1f, good); that was a weak race but he's only 2lb higher and should give some less exposed rivals plenty to think about.

11/4

1st

5

7th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 119y

Class 5

13:42 Hereford

Jack The Savage

11st 8lb

J: Isabelle Ryder

T: Laura Horsfall

Sole hurdles win came off 15lb higher mark but he's been struggling for a while and finished last of four at Fakenham last time after four months off; needs a revival.

12/1

4th

4

18th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 95y

Class 5

13:00 Fakenham

Jack The Savage

11st 4lb

J: Isabelle Ryder

T: Laura Horsfall

Potentially well handicapped but was struggling for form when last seen and has been off since early September.

12/1

OUR TIP

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Quite high mileage on the Flat with a strike-rate of 4-35; has had a good year in that scene (at about 1m2f) and could make a jumper.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

(1)

10th Mar 2026

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 6

18:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Sun Festival

9st 9lb

J: Kyle McHugh

T: Joseph Parr

Course winner (9.5f) but losing run up to 20 and rarely seen over this far; look elsewhere.

14/1

6th

9

(3)

23rd Feb 2026

Standard

1m 1f 104y

Class 6

19:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Sun Festival

9st 9lb

J: Jack Nicholls

T: Joseph Parr

Winless since 2023 but he ran a big race at a big price when third in classified event at Lingfield (1m2f) last month; that was eyecatching from off the pace and he has each-way claims again if he can repeat that form.

6/1

3rd

6

(9)

21st Jan 2026

Standard

1m 2f 0y

Class 6

14:05 Lingfield (AW)

Sun Festival

9st 9lb

J: Zacharia Clarke

T: Joseph Parr

Winless since 2023 and he beat only one after six months off in 1m2f classified event at Chelmsford ten days ago; he's not easy to make a case for.

33/1

Form: 3 BF

Last run: 9 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Had some notable Flat form in Germany, holding his own in Group races this year; changed hands for 62,000euros; came up short when well backed for hurdling debut at Sedgefield (2m1f, good; first-time hood); that wasn't a strong race but neither is this; rain won't harm.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

19th May 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 48y

Class 5

20:50 Hexham

Western Soldier

11st 13lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Seamus Mullins

Scored in pretty good style at Wincanton (1m7f, good) in November and today's 4lb higher mark is probably workable but not much has gone to plan since and he arrives here with a bit to prove.

4/1

4

23rd Mar 2026

Good

1m 7f 50y

Class 4

14:15 Wincanton

Western Soldier

10st 11lb

J: Bdr Jody Sole

T: Seamus Mullins

Good-ground C&D winner in November, despite racing a bit too freely; just over 19l behind Thankyouandplease over C&D this month but his margin of defeat was magnified by a last-flight jumping error and the good to soft ground probably wasn't ideal for him; he has a nice pull in the weights today and the services of top military rider Jody Sole.

5/1

9th

4

5th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 50y

Class 5

15:07 Wincanton

Western Soldier

11st 12lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Seamus Mullins

Scored over C&D (good) in November, despite racing too freely; looked a non-stayer over 2m4f on next outing and had soft ground as his excuse last time but others appeal more all the same.

14/1

Form: 5-3

Last run: 16 days

W: 11st 1lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Won a point bumper in March; no match for a comfortable winner on his hurdling debut at Bangor (2m, soft) but faces nothing of that one's calibre here; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

28th Oct 2025

Soft

1m 7f 182y

Class 5

14:28 Ffos Las

Wise Guy

12st 0lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Stuart Edmunds

Generally disappointing last season but showed the benefit of a wind op when making the frame on final two appearances (2m/2m4f); begins new campaign on a workable mark and will be suited by the ground; a possible.

6/1

1

28th Oct 2025

Soft

1m 7f 182y

Class 5

14:28 Ffos Las

Wise Guy

12st 0lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Stuart Edmunds

Generally disappointing last season but showed the benefit of a wind op when making the frame on final two appearances (2m/2m4f); begins new campaign on a workable mark and will be suited by the ground; a possible.

6/1

3rd

7

17th Mar 2025

Good

2m 4f 88y

Class 4

16:40 Southwell

Wise Guy

11st 2lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Stuart Edmunds

in touch with leaders

13/2

Verdict

It’s worth giving another chance to WESTERN SOLDIER despite him coming up short in an ordinary maiden at Sedgefield. His notable Flat form suggests he should do better and rain is welcomed. Wise Guy ran okay at Bangor and he’s second choice ahead of hurdling debutant Sun Festival.[Alistair Jones]

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Western Soldier

The Guardian:

Wise Guy

POSTDATA:

Ferrybridge

RP RATINGS:

Western Soldier

The Times:

Western Soldier

Telegraph:

Western Soldier

Daily Mail:

Western Soldier

D Express:

Western Soldier

Daily Mirror:

Western Soldier

The Sun:

Western Soldier

The Star:

Western Soldier

Daily Record:

Western Soldier