November 10 / 12.35 Exeter

12.35

Soft

Betway Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £8168.46
  • 2m 5f 137y
  • Class 3
  • 6 runners
RTV
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Betway Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Scattered showers

Form: 3-

Last run: 380 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Bought for £40,000 after winning a British point on soft ground and ran to a useful level when finishing well for a close third in a 2m novice at Chepstow 12 months ago (good to soft); has that absence to overcome but this new trip looks a major plus for him.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

14th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

4m 2f 8y

Class 1

15:00 Uttoxeter

Deafening Silence

11st 10lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Sole win in eight chases came in a three-runner novice but he was racing beyond 3m for the first time when not beaten far in the Welsh National and again he was very competitive in the Grand National Trial at Haydock (3m4f, good to soft; could prove even better on soft); handicap mark hasn't really gone anywhere and he appeals as a likely type for this.

8/1

4th

5

14th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 4f 97y

Class 1

15:15 Haydock

Deafening Silence

11st 2lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Lightly raced 9yo who was suited by the step up in trip when third of 17 in the Welsh National at Chepstow (3m6f, good to soft) in December; he's won on soft and heavy ground and may well have more to offer over marathon trips; key player.

7/2

5th

1

15th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 0y

Class 2

15:35 Uttoxeter

Deafening Silence

12st 0lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

towards rear but in touch with leaders, jumped right 1st, jumped right and bumped rival 5th, slow jump 7th, some headway after 11th

11/4

Form: 13-2 C BF

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Easy winner of an Irish point and a bumper here (heavy) on first two starts; turned over at odds-on since those, though the Sandown winner (stablemate) is smart and he reportedly needed the run when second on his switch to hurdling at Ffos Las (2m6f, good to soft; the winner unbeaten); should be sharper here and trainer remained highly complimentary in his Stable Tour.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

14

1st May 2026

Yielding

3m 0f 160y

16:15 Punchestown

Wrappedupinmay

12st 0lb

J: Mr D Doyle

T: S Curling

Four wins in five races in points, the defeat inflicted by Hunters Yarn at Moig South last autumn; that rival seemed to be getting the upper hand when they both fell three out in the Fairyhouse race won by Five Star Getaway; useful second-string for champion-elect points trainer.

10/1

10

5th Apr 2026

Yielding To Soft

3m 0f 180y

17:30 Fairyhouse

Wrappedupinmay

12st 0lb

J: Mr D Doyle

T: S Curling

Wide-margin point winner in 2023; useful hurdler for Paul Nicholls, sold cheaply after two failures over fences; beaten 8l by Hunters Yarn at Moig South on return to pointing; reversed form with the winner at Dromahane and won readily at Carrigarostig in January; intended runner at Cheltenham until withdrawn because of concerns about the ground; valuable 7lb off.

7/4

OUR TIP

Form: 38/3-5 C

Last run: 177 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Beat the useful Knowsley Road in a heavy-ground bumper here and later ran okay in the Grade 2 at Aintree; looked in need of further when third in a Ffos Las maiden (2m, soft) and 2m1f on good to soft at Newton Abbot appeared too sharp a test; should give his running this time and be involved.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

6th May 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 170y

Class 4

14:45 Newton Abbot

Astronomic View

11st 2lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Sue Gardner

Didn't appear to stay 3m5f at Bangor two starts ago but fared little better when pulled up at Exeter last month back at a trip that should have suited; had been in good form prior to those runs and would hold at least place claims if able to rekindle that earlier spark.

10/1

6

17th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 137y

Class 4

14:55 Exeter

Astronomic View

11st 9lb

J: Lucy Gardner

T: Sue Gardner

In good form over fences prior to heavy defeat at Bangor where he failed to stay 3m5f; could go well now back down in trip on first hurdle start since December 2024.

16/1

6th

8

25th Feb 2026

Soft

3m 5f 142y

Class 4

16:00 Bangor-on-Dee

Astronomic View

11st 4lb

J: Lucy Gardner

T: Sue Gardner

0-7 over fences but has been running well, not beaten at all far the last twice in races at about 3m; however, although a 3m2f winner over hurdles, 3m6f appeared too far at Exeter in December.

10/1

Form: 410-5P BF

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Impressive in a Chepstow bumper (good to soft) before finishing nowhere in the big one at Cheltenham; market weakness suggested his hurdling debut was needed and he was much stronger in the betting at Kempton only for his jockey to lose his irons at the first flight (soon pulled up); hard to leave out of calculations.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

20

2nd May 2026

Yielding

3m 0f 104y

15:45 Punchestown

Beachcomber

10st 2lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Last win came in 3m Kempton handicap in Christmas of 2024; third to Bill Baxter in this race last year but not at best this season, chasing home a clear winner at Ludlow last time (only two finishers); 7lb lower than last year so don't rule out.

14/1

2nd

6

30th Mar 2026

Good

2m 7f 171y

Class 3

15:57 Ludlow

Beachcomber

11st 2lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Appeared to get his campaign back on track when third over hurdles at Musselburgh (3m, good to soft) and, when a 10l fifth over C&D since, he was softened up by getting competitive a good way out; he doesn't have a convincing profile but his pure ability is respected.

7/1

5th

1

26th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 171y

Class 3

14:07 Ludlow

Beachcomber

12st 1lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Out of form over fences this season but turned things around with creditable third over hurdles at Musselburgh (3m good to soft) last month and it will be interesting to see whether he can build on that performance on this return to chasing.

7/1

Form: 4-

Last run: 214 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Irish point winner bought for £80,000; unlike with many from this yard, he was patiently ridden in his bumper at Chepstow (April; good to soft) and off an ordinary gallop was never nearer than at the finish; the three ahead of him haven't disgraced the form since; promising.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

5

1st Apr 2026

Good

3m 1f 30y

Class 4

15:20 Wincanton

Law Of Supply

11st 7lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls

Dual chase winner (2m7f/3m) in autumn of 2024; lightly raced since but he was disputing third when he fell at the last at Hereford (3m1f, good to soft) in December; returns after another break but conditions should be fine and he's now 1lb lower than for his last win; respected.

2/1

4

19th Oct 2025

Good

3m 0f 0y

Class 4

16:25 Kempton

Law Of Supply

11st 11lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls

Couple of poor efforts in the spring but commenced last term (and chase career) with two wins, including on good ground at Ascot; this reappearance may be the time to catch him.

7/1

Form: 5-

Last run: 208 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Half-brother to former smart chaser Us And Them; patently in need of the experience when fifth of the six runners in a Wincanton bumper in April (good to soft); others have shown a lot more but no doubt he has a future.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

22nd Oct 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 25y

Class 3

15:53 Exeter

Mad Mike

11st 4lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Displayed huge improvement to finish first in Chepstow maiden (2m3f, heavy) in January, only to be demoted to second for causing interference; gained compensation in match race here (2m5f, heavy) the following month and might have more to offer in handicaps this term.

10/1

1st

1

23rd Feb 2024

Soft

2m 5f 137y

Class 4

14:03 Exeter

Mad Mike

11st 4lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Left previous form behind when first past the post at 100-1 at Chepstow (2m3f, heavy) last month, only to be demoted due to interference; needs to confirm that promise today, but leading claims if he can.

4/11

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Straight Forecast £7.22

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Wrappedupinmay

The Guardian:

Deafening Silence

The Sun:

Beachcomber

D Express:

Law Of Supply

TOPSPEED:

Astronomic View

RP RATINGS:

Wrappedupinmay

POSTDATA:

Wrappedupinmay

WEST COUNTRY:

Wrappedupinmay

The Times:

Wrappedupinmay

Telegraph:

Wrappedupinmay

Daily Mail:

Wrappedupinmay

Daily Mirror:

Wrappedupinmay

Daily Record:

Wrappedupinmay

The Star:

Deafening Silence