October 24 / 14.10 Hereford

14.10

Good

Vickers.Bet EBF “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle (Qualifier) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4356.8
  • 2m 0f 53y
  • Class 4
  • 9 runners
SKY
View Course
Vickers.Bet EBF “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle (Qualifier) (GBB Race)

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Scattered showers

2/1 (Won)

  • Win: £1.54
  • Place: £1.02

Form: 110- D

Last run: 223 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Bumper wins at Southwell and Warwick last winter before understandably finding Cheltenham too hot to handle in March; half-brother to a hurdle winner and can make his presence felt, at least, on debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

25th Apr 2026

Good

2m 3f 178y

Class 2

17:15 Sandown

Favour And Fortune

12st 0lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Alan King

Seen only twice this season but posted career-best performance when close third of 22 at Aintree (2m4f, good to soft) a fortnight ago, despite Tom Bellamy's saddle slipping after the last; respected.

6/1

3rd

1

10th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 1

13:45 Aintree

Favour And Fortune

12st 0lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Alan King

Acts on any going; successful in major handicap at Ayr two years ago; his two attempts at Aintree were good efforts in the 2023 Formby (second to highly notable rival) and this race last year (finished third); each-way claims back here with Kempton reappearance under his belt.

11/1

6th

1

21st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 0y

Class 3

13:10 Kempton

Favour And Fortune

12st 2lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Alan King

Won the Scottish Champion Hurdle (2m, soft) in April 2024 and showed he stays 2m4f when a good third of 20 at Aintree last spring; not ruled out but he'll need a career best to defy topweight after 11 months off.

13/2

2/1

  • Place: £1.10

Form: 265-1 D

Last run: 19 days

W: 10st 13lb

5 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Ability in bumpers and won in good style on this month's Warwick hurdling debut; faces a couple of tough rivals under her 7lb penalty but clearly progressive and comes to this in fine fettle.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

8

19th Aug 2024

Good

2m 0f 110y

Class 4

14:30 Worcester

Flight Of Freedom

11st 0lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Emma Lavelle

1-3 over hurdles last season but has yet to make an impact in handicaps after three starts, albeit she didn't enjoy a clear passage at Ludlow latest; down another 2lb and easy to make a case for on the pick of her hurdles form; interesting on chase debut.

8/1

7th

4

12th May 2024

Good

1m 7f 169y

Class 4

15:28 Ludlow

Flight Of Freedom

11st 12lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Emma Lavelle

Won at Warwick in October before chasing home the very classy Favour And Fortune at Hereford (2m, good), after which she didn't appear to stay 2m3f; back over 2m for handicap debut after a break at Huntingdon last month, she only lost out on the places on the run-in; might well strip fitter for that; respected.

6/1

7th

4

12th May 2024

Good

1m 7f 169y

Class 4

15:28 Ludlow

Flight Of Freedom

11st 12lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Emma Lavelle

Won at Warwick in October before chasing home the very classy Favour And Fortune at Hereford (2m, good), after which she didn't appear to stay 2m3f; back over 2m for handicap debut after a break at Huntingdon last month, she only lost out on the places on the run-in; might well strip fitter for that; respected.

6/1

50/1

  • Place: £16.30

Form: 90-

Last run: 213 days

W: 10st 13lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Not a great deal to show for two bumper efforts at the start of the year; best watched on hurdle debut; yard also runs Gower Prince
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

16th May 2025

Good

2m 3f 200y

Class 3

17:45 Aintree

Tedley

11st 4lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Launched chasing career with two wins in the autumn (2m/2m3f. good to soft/good) and generally remained in good form until end of last season; looked a non-stayer over 2m7f on latest outing and now drops back in trip with usual cheekpieces refitted; recent 3lb drop gives him a decent chance.

6/1

5th

3

16th May 2025

Good

2m 3f 200y

Class 3

17:45 Aintree

Tedley

11st 4lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Launched chasing career with two wins in the autumn (2m/2m3f. good to soft/good) and generally remained in good form until end of last season; looked a non-stayer over 2m7f on latest outing and now drops back in trip with usual cheekpieces refitted; recent 3lb drop gives him a decent chance.

6/1

5th

2

21st Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 86y

Class 3

14:30 Newbury

Tedley

11st 9lb

J: Jamie Brace

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

Has done well since switched to this discipline (winning twice) and his blowouts have come in strong races, latterly in the 2m4f Greatwood Gold Cup here three weeks ago; more exposed than some in here and he's unraced past 2m5f, but can be competitive off this mark.

6/1

Form: 2-1122 D

Last run: 43 days

W: 11st 3lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Two defeats in two days last month but didn't really have the rub of the green in either; had looked good when winning at Hexham and Market Rasen and, notwithstanding her 10lb penalty, could go very close.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

14th Apr 2026

Good

2m 5f 89y

Class 1

17:05 Market Rasen

All The Glory

11st 5lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Has rather mixed record over fences this season but belied 40-1 odds when close third in valuable Windsor handicap (2m4f, soft) won by Bluey in January and last month's Cheltenham Festival defeat is easily excused; on good mark if on her mettle.

9/1

7th

5

13th Mar 2026

Good

2m 4f 127y

Class 1

14:40 Cheltenham

All The Glory

11st 2lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Five-time hurdle winner who has shown some promise over fences this season but she was only fourth of six in a Listed mares' chase at Huntingdon last month and has bundles to find in today's company.

100/1

4th

2

5th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 3f 189y

Class 1

14:00 Huntingdon

All The Glory

11st 2lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Five wins over hurdles; 0-4 since switched to fences but ran well off a handy mark in Windsor handicap (2m4f, soft) most recently; however, at the weights she has about a stone to find with the pick on ratings in this field.

10/1

OUR TIP

Form: 4/00-

Last run: 381 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Three bumper runs; not beaten far when fourth of five on debut in April 2022 but twice tailed off after; has joined an in-form yard for hurdle debut (was with Matt Sheppard) but hard to fancy; hood fitted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

6th May 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 75y

Class 4

15:15 Newton Abbot

Gower Prince

11st 4lb

J: James Bowen

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Back to near best on first start for this stable when runner-up at Market Rasen (2m1f, good) with the hood back on; remains well treated on past form after 3lb rise and holds strong claims if able to repeat the effort.

2/1

2nd

2

5th Apr 2026

Good

2m 1f 43y

Class 5

15:58 Market Rasen

Gower Prince

11st 13lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Absent since pulled up over hurdles for Matt Sheppard last summer (wore cheekpieces) but was unlucky not to win a chase for him at Chepstow (2m, good) just under a year ago, and he's now 5lb below that mark; will need to be taken very seriously if strong in the betting before this stable debut; usual hood refitted.

6/1

2

25th Jul 2025

Good

1m 7f 168y

Class 5

15:12 Uttoxeter

Gower Prince

11st 13lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Matt Sheppard

In front when falling at the last over fences at Chepstow (2m, good) in April, but was pulled up in his next two starts and well beaten back over hurdles at Bangor (2m1f, good) three weeks ago; cheekpieces given a go but has plenty to prove.

40/1

Form: F37-

Last run: 198 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Ability in first two bumper outings but tailed off in the third, in April; Adam Wedge takes over for hurdle debut and, while others have more obvious claims, this one is worth keeping an eye on.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

15th May 2024

Good

1m 7f 182y

Class 4

14:30 Ffos Las

Three Cliffs Bay

11st 9lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: Evan Williams

Surprise winner of C&D novice (heavy; 25-1) in November but he hasn't gone on from that in four runs since including three handicaps; had tough task from out the weights at Haydock last time but he needs to find more back at this track.

6/1

5th

6

15th May 2024

Good

1m 7f 182y

Class 4

14:30 Ffos Las

Three Cliffs Bay

11st 9lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: Evan Williams

Surprise winner of C&D novice (heavy; 25-1) in November but he hasn't gone on from that in four runs since including three handicaps; had tough task from out the weights at Haydock last time but he needs to find more back at this track.

6/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Debutant; bought for 80,000euros as a 3yo; half-brother to three winners, including smart bumper/hurdler/chaser Keeper Hill; interesting but rather offputting that he's already undergone wind surgery and sports a tongue-strap on debut; still worth a look in the betting.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

5

13th Nov 2023

Good

2m 5f 0y

Class 4

13:50 Kempton

Rock Of The Nation

11st 0lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Jonjo O’Neill

Half-brother to smart jumper Keeper Hill and useful hurdler Dargiannini (runs in 3.00) but well beaten when 25-1 for recent bumper debut at Hereford.

50/1

7th

5

24th Oct 2023

Good

2m 0f 53y

Class 4

14:10 Hereford

Rock Of The Nation

11st 0lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Jonjo O’Neill

Debutant; bought for 80,000euros as a 3yo; half-brother to three winners, including smart bumper/hurdler/chaser Keeper Hill; interesting but rather offputting that he's already undergone wind surgery and sports a tongue-strap on debut; still worth a look in the betting.

14/1

Form: 9-7

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Horse

OR:

Form & Verdict
Tailed off in a bumper in January and on this month's hurdle debut (100-1).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

6

24th Oct 2023

Good

2m 0f 53y

Class 4

14:10 Hereford

Specialagent McGee

11st 0lb

J: James Bowen

T: Nicky Martin

Tailed off in a bumper in January and on this month's hurdle debut (100-1).

100/1

7th

5

4th Oct 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 145y

Class 4

16:35 Bangor-on-Dee

Specialagent McGee

11st 4lb

J: James Bowen

T: Nicky Martin

held up in rear, no impression from 3 out

40/1

4

13th May 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

17:55 Warwick

Specialagent McGee

11st 4lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Nicky Martin

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Newcomer; second foal; dam an unraced half-sister to several winners, Flat and hurdles; will need to be useful to trouble some of these.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

4

24th Oct 2023

Good

2m 0f 53y

Class 4

14:10 Hereford

Pallaton

11st 0lb

J: Ben Poste

T: Ryan Potter

Newcomer; second foal; dam an unraced half-sister to several winners, Flat and hurdles; will need to be useful to trouble some of these.

50/1

Non-runners

Orbys River

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £2.50
Straight Forecast £2.42
Trifecta £59.40

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Flight Of Freedom

RP RATINGS:

Favour And Fortune

WEST COUNTRY:

All The Glory

POSTDATA:

Flight Of Freedom

Telegraph:

Flight Of Freedom

Daily Mail:

Flight Of Freedom

D Express:

Flight Of Freedom

Daily Record:

Flight Of Freedom

The Times:

Favour And Fortune

The Guardian:

Favour And Fortune

Daily Mirror:

Favour And Fortune

The Star:

Favour And Fortune

The Sun:

All The Glory