November 13 / 13.50 Kempton

13.50

Good

Racing TV Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4901.4
  • 2m 5f 0y
  • Class 4
  • 13 runners
RTV
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Racing TV Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 13 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

11/10 (Won)

  • Win: £1.91
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 1- C

Last run: 261 days

W: 10st 13lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Seemingly the stable's second string in good-ground course bumper in February, but drew nicely clear to win that race by over 6l at 14-1; makes hurdling debut; looks a very good prospect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

19th Apr 2026

Good

3m 0f 217y

Class 2

15:27 Plumpton

East India Express

12st 0lb

J: Mr Daniel Williams

T: Nicky Henderson

Disappointing favourite back at the Cheltenham Festival (2m4f); otherwise a useful sort and had returned to form with close second at Windsor the time before; not written off, albeit has stamina to prove back up in distance.

5/1

17th

10

13th Mar 2026

Good

2m 4f 56y

Class 2

17:20 Cheltenham

East India Express

11st 8lb

J: Freddie Gordon

T: Nicky Henderson

Best on good/good to soft; has notable C&D form, namely a respectable seventh (best of the runners who raced prominently) in this contest last year and emphatic success next time; unlucky second at Windsor on New Year's Day when last seen; back on career-high mark but looks solid.

8/1

1

24th Oct 2025

Good

2m 3f 200y

Class 3

13:15 Cheltenham

East India Express

12st 0lb

J: Freddie Gordon

T: Nicky Henderson

Drew 6l clear of Whatsupwithyou on New course here (2m4f, good) at end of last season and is now 4-8 over hurdles; subsequent 8lb rise asks quite a lot of him but further progress is possible.

8/1

Form: /517-4

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Kept on strongly to win Huntingdon bumper (good to soft) on Boxing Day, but made very underwhelming seasonal/hurdle debut when well-held fourth there (2m3f, good to soft) last month and this race looks much stronger.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

7

10th Jul 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 2

18:41 Worcester

Billy Boi Blue

10st 2lb

J: Isabelle Ryder

T: David Killahena & Graeme McPherson

Generally fast-weakening efforts since returning from a winter break, so the recourse to wind surgery is unsurprising; mark never lower, but effectiveness down at 2m4f hasn't been tested since March 2024.

25/1

6th

2

13th Jun 2026

Good

2m 7f 63y

Class 4

16:10 Hexham

Billy Boi Blue

11st 13lb

J: David Bass

T: David Killahena & Graeme McPherson

Three-time hurdles winner, most recently at Ayr (3m, good to soft) in April last year, but pulled up twice since returning from a break this spring and again ran below form when fifth of six, beaten 21l, at Huntingdon last month; best watched for now.

12/1

5th

5

19th May 2026

Good To Firm

3m 1f 10y

Class 3

19:30 Huntingdon

Billy Boi Blue

11st 8lb

J: Nick Slatter

T: David Killahena & Graeme McPherson

Pulled up on consecutive appearances towards end of last season but seemed to run well until tiring on soft ground at Ayr last time; could be better suited by the less-testing conditions here; not ruled out.

25/1

12/1

  • Place: £1.60

Form: 2

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Joined Emma Lavelle after finishing second in good-ground Irish point in April and shaped with considerable promise when filling same position over C&D (good) on last month's rules debut, albeit well held by the comfortable winner in the end; needs to improve but has potential.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

5

21st Feb 2024

Soft

2m 7f 174y

Class 4

16:05 Ludlow

Monks Meadow

11st 6lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Emma Lavelle

Yet to race on soft/heavy; consistent over 2m5f under rules, running well behind a Paul Nicholls-trained rival at Hereford most recently; bred to be suited by this longer distance; leading player on form.

2/1

2nd

7

29th Jan 2024

Good To Soft

2m 5f 163y

Class 4

13:30 Hereford

Monks Meadow

11st 5lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Emma Lavelle

Runner-up in Irish maiden point (3m, good) last April and he's finished placed again in his three hurdle runs since October; found improvement when a staying-on third behind an odds-on rival at Ascot (2m5f, good to soft) last time and that form puts him firmly in the picture here; shortlisted.

9/2

3rd

6

22nd Dec 2023

Good To Soft

2m 5f 141y

Class 3

13:20 Ascot

Monks Meadow

11st 4lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Emma Lavelle

Runner-up in Irish maiden point (3m, good) and has finished placed at Kempton (2m5f, good) on both rules runs; soundly beaten on those hurdle outings and his limitations are evident but he has each-way claims once more.

14/1

Form: 536-2B

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
0-5 over hurdles and lacks the potential of some of these, but posted sound effort when second over C&D (good) in May and was unlucky to be brought down at the first flight here last month; considered each-way.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

7

24th Apr 2024

Good

2m 7f 174y

Class 4

14:35 Ludlow

Much Too Dear

11st 7lb

J: Charlie Price

T: Laura Horsfall

Ten-race maiden who was an unlucky second, having been badly hampered early on, at Ascot (2m7f; belated handicap debut) most recently; raised 6lb but has clear possibilities granted better fortune.

6/1

8th

7

24th Apr 2024

Good

2m 7f 174y

Class 4

14:35 Ludlow

Much Too Dear

11st 7lb

J: Charlie Price

T: Laura Horsfall

Ten-race maiden who was an unlucky second, having been badly hampered early on, at Ascot (2m7f; belated handicap debut) most recently; raised 6lb but has clear possibilities granted better fortune.

6/1

2nd

3

24th Mar 2024

Good

2m 7f 118y

Class 4

15:55 Ascot

Much Too Dear

11st 11lb

J: Charlie Price

T: Laura Horsfall

0-6 over hurdles but was second in Kempton maiden (2m5f, good) last spring and also ran well when fourth in novice race over that C&D in November; upped in trip for today's handicap debut; a possible.

7/1

16/1

Form: 6-

Last run: 233 days

W: 10st 13lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
From a German Flat family; beaten over 19l when sixth of 19 in valuable Newbury bumper (soft) on debut in March, but significant positives can be drawn from that performance; now makes his hurdling debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

20th Apr 2026

Good

2m 6f 151y

Class 4

14:30 Kelso

Menaggio

11st 13lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Billy Aprahamian

Seemed to be travelling well before falling four out at Southwell (2m4f, good; first run after wind op) last month and remains well handicapped but has not been firing on all cylinders for new stable this season; swaps visor for first-time cheekpieces; others have more pressing claims.

10/1

2

24th Mar 2026

Good

2m 4f 88y

Class 4

16:30 Southwell

Menaggio

11st 12lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Billy Aprahamian

Won a novice hurdle and two handicap chases for Alan King; no closer than 13l in five runs for this yard, the last two over hurdles; had a wind operation.

11/1

4th

2

9th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 3f 66y

Class 4

15:00 Catterick

Menaggio

11st 12lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Billy Aprahamian

Won two three-runner handicap chases at Plumpton (2m3f, good) for Alan King in 2024; mainly disappointing for present yard, including in today's headgear back over hurdles at Uttoxeter last time (2m4f, good to soft); first hurdle/chase run on slower than good to soft ground.

16/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Placed in two maiden points before changing hands for £28,000 in the spring; joined up-and-coming trainer for rules career but appears to face a tough assignment; tongue-tie fitted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

15th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 35y

Class 4

14:15 Wincanton

Thunder N Lightnin

11st 11lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

led, raced in second when headed 3rd, no chance with winner from 2 out

7/4

OUR TIP

7/4

Form: 7/0F1-

Last run: 225 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Irish point winner; looked unlucky not to make winning hurdle debut at Chepstow (2m3f, good to soft; in front before last-flight fall) in February, but quickly gained compensation when making all to score by 11l at Ascot (2m3f, soft) in April; may not be ideally suited by the forecast quicker ground here, but otherwise he's a leading contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

27th Sep 2025

Good

2m 5f 89y

Class 3

17:10 Market Rasen

El Rio

11st 11lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls

3-6 over fences, the latest win gained at Kempton (2m4f, soft; made all) in February; needs to return from seven-month break in prime form to have any chance off current mark but the forecast good ground won't be a problem.

4/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 10st 13lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Kept on from off the pace for modest third in slow-ground Irish point in April; not easy to gauge what that form is worth but the runner-up was second in a recent Sligo bumper for Gordon Elliott; market may guide.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

23rd Oct 2024

Soft

2m 5f 164y

Class 5

14:30 Fontwell

Defi Nonantais

11st 11lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

0-6 over hurdles and absent since a disappointing run in April but his first two handicap runs (2m5f/2m4f) were quite encouraging and improvement is possible this season; cheekpieces left off today.

10/1

5th

5

19th Apr 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 25y

Class 5

18:30 Exeter

Defi Nonantais

11st 10lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Joe Tizzard

Has shown glimpses of promise in both novice and handicap company and stepped up slightly on his return from wind surgery when fifth at Plumpton (2m4f, good; first-time tongue-tie and cheekpieces) latest; drops 2lb and likely to need more improvement to defy this mark.

20/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 10st 13lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Half-brother to useful chasers Jimmil and Wolf Shield; clear second on Irish point debut in April (yielding ground) and changed hands for £80,000 the following month; interesting to see how he fares on rules debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

20th May 2025

Good

3m 1f 185y

Class 4

14:50 Southwell

Ghost Hunter

11st 2lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Jamie Snowden

Inexplicably swerved left and ran out here on stable/chase debut in March but made amends at Chepstow (3m2f, good; first-time cheekpieces/tongue-tie) last month, where he was held up a long way off the pace before keeping on strongly to lead after the last fence; only 2lb higher today and could still have a lot more to offer.

8/11

4

20th May 2025

Good

3m 1f 185y

Class 4

14:50 Southwell

Ghost Hunter

11st 2lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Jamie Snowden

Inexplicably swerved left and ran out here on stable/chase debut in March but made amends at Chepstow (3m2f, good; first-time cheekpieces/tongue-tie) last month, where he was held up a long way off the pace before keeping on strongly to lead after the last fence; only 2lb higher today and could still have a lot more to offer.

8/11

1st

5

25th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 2f 54y

Class 4

17:05 Chepstow

Ghost Hunter

11st 4lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

Effectiveness of wind surgery yet to be fully tested when running out five from home on last month's Southwell stable/chasing debut (3m, good), though his jumping hadn't fully convinced before that and the adding of headgear here makes sense; interesting to see if the money comes again.

100/30

Form: 7

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
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.
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

100/1

Form: 9/3PP-

Last run: 318 days

W: 10st 7lb

6 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Achieved little when last of three on hurdling debut last November and was pulled up on both outings the following month.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

14th Oct 2024

Good

3m 1f 44y

Class 5

15:30 Hereford

Annie Wicks

12st 0lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: Evan Williams

Jumping to her right and looked out of sorts at Southwell in June but was in good form on right-handed tracks beforehand, winning at Taunton (2m5f, soft) and finishing second over C&D (good); back on a clockwise course today and a big player if back on song after her break.

7/2

4

11th Jun 2024

Good

3m 0f 60y

Class 5

14:15 Southwell

Annie Wicks

11st 5lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: Evan Williams

jumped right on occasions, prominent, lost position and reminders 13th, dropped to last 14th, lost touch and pulled up 15th

9/2

2nd

9

13th May 2024

Good

3m 1f 44y

Class 4

15:35 Hereford

Annie Wicks

10st 4lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: Evan Williams

Came good over fences at third attempt, with clearcut win from the front at Taunton (2m5f, soft) in March; 8lb rise asks quite a lot of her here but the longer trip might unlock further improvement and she should be fine if the ground stays good.

5/1

Form: 67-P

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Dead-heated in a maiden point in March but was pulled up at triple-digit odds when back under rules for last month's hurdling debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

7

1st Jul 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

16:25 Worcester

Scoresby

11st 1lb

J: Lorcan Murtagh

T: Harry Ryall

Multiple point winner who has raced just four times over hurdles and won a 2m3f Fontwell handicap in May (good); disappointing off this 5lb higher mark next time but that looked too bad to be true.

15/2

7th

7

27th May 2026

Good

2m 2f 110y

Class 5

16:23 Newton Abbot

Scoresby

11st 0lb

J: Lorcan Murtagh

T: Harry Ryall

Six-time point winner who made it third-time lucky over hurdles when scoring on his handicap debut at Fontwell (2m3f, good) three weeks ago; up 5lb but that was a smooth success and the runner-up has franked that form since; respected.

4/1

1st

7

6th May 2026

Good

2m 3f 29y

Class 5

19:12 Fontwell

Scoresby

10st 13lb

J: Lorcan Murtagh

T: Harry Ryall

Won his sixth point in March but was pulled up in his two previous races over hurdles (maiden/novice) and wouldn't be the percentage call here in his first handicap.

8/1

Form: 6

Last run: 183 days

W: 10st 7lb

5 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Out of a well-connected mare, but was unable to justify her prominence in the betting when well beaten in run-of-the-mill Plumpton bumper in May; had wind op soon afterwards; best watched on hurdling debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

13

13th Nov 2023

Good

2m 5f 0y

Class 4

13:50 Kempton

Mikhaila

10st 7lb

J: Joe Anderson

T: Emma Lavelle

Out of a well-connected mare, but was unable to justify her prominence in the betting when well beaten in run-of-the-mill Plumpton bumper in May; had wind op soon afterwards; best watched on hurdling debut.

50/1

6th

7

14th May 2023

Good

2m 1f 164y

Class 5

16:50 Plumpton

Mikhaila

10st 9lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Emma Lavelle

in touch with leaders, struggling 5f out, weakened over 3f out

7/2

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £90.40
Straight Forecast £68.00
Trifecta £501.20

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

El Rio

LAMBOURN:

East India Express

TOPSPEED:

Much Too Dear

WEST COUNTRY:

Defi Nonantais

Daily Mail:

East India Express

Daily Mirror:

East India Express

The Star:

East India Express

Daily Record:

East India Express

POSTDATA:

Much Too Dear

The Guardian:

Much Too Dear

RP RATINGS:

El Rio

The Times:

El Rio

Telegraph:

El Rio

D Express:

El Rio

The Sun:

El Rio