November 25 / 12.55 Ascot

12.55

Good To Soft

Bet With Ascot Donation Box Scheme Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £13615
  • 2m 5f 141y
  • Class 2
  • 5 runners
SKY
View Course
Bet With Ascot Donation Box Scheme Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

11/8 (Won)

  • Win: £5.00
  • Place: £1.90

Form: 1-1

Last run: 35 days

W: 11st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Runner-up in his Irish maiden point (3m, soft) in February 2022 before £125,000 sale; 2-2 for the champion trainer, having taken a bumper at Uttoxeter (2m, soft) this March and a novice hurdle at Newton Abbot (2m1f, heavy) five weeks ago; responded well to a strong challenge when making all in the latter, so he's promising, well regarded and another win would not surprise despite his stiffer task on ratings.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

17th May 2025

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 2

19:01 Uttoxeter

Farnoge

11st 11lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Paul Nicholls

Disappointed in both chases during very light campaign last season but looked very promising as a novice hurdler (including on good ground) during the 2023-24 campaign and it will be interesting to see whether he can get his career back on track now back over hurdles after a break.

6/1

5

17th May 2025

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 2

19:01 Uttoxeter

Farnoge

11st 11lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Paul Nicholls

Disappointed in both chases during very light campaign last season but looked very promising as a novice hurdler (including on good ground) during the 2023-24 campaign and it will be interesting to see whether he can get his career back on track now back over hurdles after a break.

6/1

3rd

3

28th Dec 2024

Soft

2m 4f 25y

Class 3

12:15 Leicester

Farnoge

11st 4lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Paul Nicholls

led narrowly or disputed lead, not fluent 6th, not fluent 7th, raced in second before 4 out, weakened before 3 out, soon tailed off

9/4

7/2

  • Place: £1.60

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
20,000euros foal, 52,000euros 3yo; 10th foal; half-brother to high-class 2m1f-2m4f hurdle/chase winner Benefficient; dam unraced half-sister to 2m-2m4f hurdle/chase winner Silent Creek and bumper/useful 2m-2m4f hurdle/chase winner Ask The Butler; evens, left clear two out when winning by miles in an Irish maiden point (3m, yielding); sold for £250,000 later in February; an eyecatching recruit to hurdling for new connections.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

21st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Kempton

Leader In The Park

10st 8lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Ben Pauling

Hasn't raced over 3m since winning his Irish point; probably a career best when second over 2m6f at Newbury on reappearance (good to soft) but couldn't live with Lookaway when both got competiitve a good way out over 2m4f here last month; regular partner Ben Jones prefers Henry's Friend but Harry Cobden's style could suit this 8yo.

12/1

6th

8

11th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 2

15:15 Ayr

Leader In The Park

11st 6lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

Made all at Kempton (2m4f, good) in December on second chase start and followed up at Warwick (2m4f, good to soft); only third of five at Kelso (2m5f, good to soft) since but that was still a fair run and this unexposed 7yo remains of interest, especially with the Warwick form reading well.

6/1

6th

8

11th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 2

15:15 Ayr

Leader In The Park

11st 6lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

Made all at Kempton (2m4f, good) in December on second chase start and followed up at Warwick (2m4f, good to soft); only third of five at Kelso (2m5f, good to soft) since but that was still a fair run and this unexposed 7yo remains of interest, especially with the Warwick form reading well.

6/1

Form: 22212- BF

Last run: 221 days

W: 10st 13lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 133

Form & Verdict
Fifth foal; half-brother to useful winners Altus (2m2f-2m3f hurdle/chase), Mauricius (2m1f hurdle/chase) and Primco (2m hurdle); dam 1m7f-2m2f hurdle (including 2m2f Listed) winner; runner-up in both his French hurdle races, with a win and two seconds from three attempts there over fences; two of those seconds were in Listed events (including 2m6f latest start); has been front-running; off since April; sets the standard on form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

30

10th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 19y

Class 1

16:05 Aintree

Excello

10st 2lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

4lb out of the handicap today and his losing sequence is up to 12 races; however, he ran pretty well when outstayed in the Kim Muir at Cheltenham (3m2f, good) last month and is racing off just 2lb higher than when third of 17 over C&D (good to soft) in the Grand Sefton in November; yard has won this five times and he holds each-way possibilities back down in trip.

25/1

9th

15

12th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 2f 70y

Class 2

17:20 Cheltenham

Excello

11st 1lb

J: Mr Henry Main

T: Nicky Henderson

Very close fourth of six at Sandown last March (3m, good; albeit lost three places close home) and good third over the National fences at Aintree (2m5f, good to soft) in November; however, tailed off there (3m2f, soft) in December and there's a suspicion he'll again be lacking the necessary stamina.

33/1

OUR TIP

Form: 45-5

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Irish maiden point winner in April 2022; second bumper run was a backward step but he had wind surgery and did better when fifth of 16 in maiden hurdle at Chepstow (2m3f, good to soft) last month; needs more again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

16th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 7f 177y

Class 3

16:00 Ffos Las

Genietoile

10st 9lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Rebecca Curtis

Low-mileage 8yo who fell at first fence on penultimate outing but was placed in other two chases this season, more recently when second of 16 behind progressive rival at Chepstow (2m7f, soft; refitted tongue-tie) in January; up in grade here but still a likely contender.

4/1

2nd

3

27th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 7f 136y

Class 4

15:47 Chepstow

Genietoile

12st 1lb

J: Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: Rebecca Curtis

Low-mileage 8yo who was placed here (2m3f, good to soft) on seasonal debut in November; fell at first fence on latest outing but could still have significant potential over staying trips; high on the list.

8/1

2nd

3

15th Jan 2024

Good

2m 3f 147y

Class 4

13:07 Hereford

Genietoile

11st 4lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Rebecca Curtis

Irish maiden point winner; 0-5 under rules but fair efforts in two hurdles behind respected opposition (2m3f/2m5f) before struggling in a Grade 2 at Cheltenham (16-1); needs a second look at this level.

9/2

Form: 3-4

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Won Irish maiden point last December; significant ability when taking minor honours in a bumper at Taunton (good to soft) in March and maiden hurdle at Chepstow (2m3f, good to soft; made most) in October; not dismissed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 125y

Class 3

17:05 Haydock

Saladins Son

11st 11lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Anthony Honeyball

Most consistent since chasing debut, twice making the frame over C&D (good to soft/soft) and again running creditably when a close third of six at Wincanton (3m1f, heavy); hard to knock and should be thereabouts again.

4/1

3rd

1

14th Feb 2026

Heavy

3m 1f 30y

Class 4

16:00 Wincanton

Saladins Son

12st 2lb

J: Ben Godfrey

T: Anthony Honeyball

Won two C&D handicaps (soft/good to soft) early last year and the first leg was in this race; two creditable frame efforts in Class 2 events at Haydock this season and he may have paid the price for getting involved in a duel with a major improver last time; still unexposed over fences and he's an interesting contender on this big drop back in grade.

9/4

1st

4

6th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

3m 1f 30y

Class 3

16:20 Wincanton

Saladins Son

11st 7lb

J: Ben Godfrey

T: Anthony Honeyball

Point and maiden hurdle winner (good to soft) who bounced back from chase debut flop to win by 6l over C&D (soft) last month; a 5lb rise may not stop this unexposed 7yo today.

Evs

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £14.70
Straight Forecast £16.19
Trifecta £24.50

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Excello

TOPSPEED:

Saladins Son

The Times:

Leader In The Park

WEST COUNTRY:

Farnoge

POSTDATA:

Saladins Son

Telegraph:

Saladins Son

D Express:

Leader In The Park

The Star:

Leader In The Park

RP RATINGS:

Excello

LAMBOURN:

Excello

The Guardian:

Excello

Daily Mail:

Excello

Daily Mirror:

Excello

The Sun:

Excello

Daily Record:

Excello