December 08 / 12.40 Sandown

12.40

Soft

betting.betfair.com “Introductory” Juvenile Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £15609
  • 1m 7f 216y
  • Class 2
  • 7 runners
RTV
View Course
betting.betfair.com “Introductory” Juvenile Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Windy

5/4 (Won)

  • Win: £1.91
  • Place: £1.30

Form: 2

Last run: 55 days

W: 11st 2lb

3 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Well backed into 2-1 when clear second to an experienced rival on debut at Chepstow (2m, heavy) in October; that was a very pleasing start to his career and he's open to improvement; strong claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

18th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 147y

Class 4

16:30 Hereford

Castelfort

11st 10lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Jane Williams

Triple hurdle winner at 2m on testing ground but effective over this far; didn't take to chasing in the autumn (two attempts) but he's shown promise since returned to hurdling, including when third at Chepstow (2m, soft) last month; continues to edge down the weights and has possibilities back up in trip and down in grade.

11/4

3rd

6

21st Feb 2026

Soft

2m 0f 16y

Class 3

16:13 Chepstow

Castelfort

11st 1lb

J: Isabelle Ryder

T: Jane Williams

Dual C&D winner in 2024 (soft/heavy); didn't take to chasing in the autumn (two attempts) and his two subsequent hurdle runs (2m4f/2m3f) were no better than respectable; back in trip today; needs to raise his game.

8/1

4th

6

27th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 3f 100y

Class 3

14:02 Chepstow

Castelfort

11st 11lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Jane Williams

Didn't really take to chasing on first two starts this season but kept on for respectable fifth when back over hurdles at Newbury (2m4f, good) last month, and this dual course winner ought to be better suited by today's slower ground.

10/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Has run well in defeat on the Flat on his last three starts (1m2f/1m4f), posting a fairly useful RPR of 80 on the final occasion; unproven on slow ground but he brings potential to this hurdle debut and is not ruled out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

(2)

25th Oct 2024

Heavy

1m 4f 0y

Class 3

16:01 Newbury

Ithacas Arrow

9st 7lb

J: Silvestre De Sousa

T: Dominic Ffrench Davis

Juvenile hurdle winner on heavy ground in March; five months off before doing well back on the Flat this August/September, notably when clearcut winner at Chester (1m4f, soft); third in useful 1m5f event here (heavy) five weeks ago; major each-way claims.

9/2

3rd

15

(11)

21st Sep 2024

Good To Soft

1m 5f 61y

Class 2

14:05 Newbury

Ithacas Arrow

8st 4lb

J: Sam Hitchcott

T: Dominic Ffrench Davis

Juvenile hurdle winner on heavy ground in March; five months off before showing improved Flat form when a close second at Goodwood (1m6f, soft) and clearcut winner last Saturday at Chester (1m4f, soft); up another 5lb; a rising force, with more to prove away from soft ground but the recent rain looks a big positive.

11/1

1st

4

(4)

14th Sep 2024

Heavy

1m 4f 63y

Class 4

17:15 Chester

Ithacas Arrow

11st 5lb

J: Ben Ffrench Davis

T: Dominic Ffrench Davis

Juvenile hurdle winner in March and returned from five months off to finish a good close second back on the Flat at Goodwood (1m6f, soft) three weeks ago; pulled 4l clear of the third so a 3lb rise looks more than fair.

5/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 2lb

3 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Comfortable win in France in September (1m4f, very soft) on third and final Flat start; makes hurdle debut with new trainer among the winners and he could go well, especially if attracting market support.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

4th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 1y

Class 2

17:13 Fakenham

Royal Way

11st 6lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Won comfortably off reduced mark at Ludlow (2m5f, good) in March and has also performed well on both outings since, more recently when fourth at Sandown (2m4f, good) nine days ago; ran poorly on only previous visit to Fakenham but still enters calculations.

12/1

4th

15

25th Apr 2026

Good

2m 3f 178y

Class 2

17:15 Sandown

Royal Way

10st 2lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Exploited reduced mark when winning quite comfortably at Ludlow last month and was one of two to pull clear of the others when second at Ascot (also 2m5f, good) ten days later; no surprise if he features.

10/1

2nd

7

29th Mar 2026

Good

2m 5f 146y

Class 3

17:25 Ascot

Royal Way

10st 13lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Won sole start here; two years without a win after that but, with tongue-tie removed and second-time cheekpieces, he then obliged comfortably at Ludlow (2m5f, good) ten days ago; back up 6lb but has returned to serious calculations.

4/1

OUR TIP

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 2lb

3 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
His peak RPR on the Flat for Nigel Tinkler was a ordinary 63 but he won three of his last four starts in that code and has joined a leading jumps trainer following an £18,000 sale; could have more to offer; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

6

(6)

10th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 6f 0y

Class 2

15:00 Newmarket (July)

Goblet Of Fire

8st 13lb

J: Saffie Osborne

T: Nicky Henderson

Second run after wind surgery saw him better than ever back on turf for a clearcut win in 12-runner race on the other Newmarket track (1m6f, good to firm) when last seen nearly ten weeks ago; 7lb rise demands better still but he's a regular Flat winner who needs respect.

6/1

1st

12

(2)

3rd May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 6f 0y

Class 2

14:55 Newmarket

Goblet Of Fire

8st 3lb

J: Saffie Osborne

T: Nicky Henderson

All of his Flat success for this yard has been on AW, albeit with good-ground hurdle wins too and he was runner-up at Goodwood (1m6f, good to firm) last August; has a run under his belt this term but to win this would require a new best performance on turf.

7/1

5th

9

(9)

6th Apr 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 3f 219y

Class 3

15:30 Kempton (AW)

Goblet Of Fire

9st 2lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Nicky Henderson

Was a more convincing Wolverhampton winner (2m) in October than the narrow margin suggests, making it 4-5 on sand for this yard, including at 1m3f and 1m4f on this track; well held over hurdles in November but had wind operation since; by no means out of it.

13/2

33/1

Form: 3

Last run: 25 days

W: 10st 9lb

3 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
She has a useful Flat pedigree but failed to shine in that code in France and she was a well-beaten third of four at 20-1 on last month's hurdle and stable debut at Fakenham (2m, good to soft); improvement needed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

10

(4)

22nd May 2026

Good

1m 6f 0y

Class 6

14:08 Bath

Zooks

8st 10lb

J: Kieran O’Neill

T: Ian Williams

37 starts, with her only wins coming last year on AW in February and at Ffos Las (1m6f, good) in July; went off the boil this January-March and no revival 15 days ago, after a break, but she'd be a major player if back on song.

14/1

7th

7

(1)

7th May 2026

Standard

2m 0f 102y

Class 6

21:00 Southwell (AW)

Zooks

8st 13lb

J: Edward Greatrex

T: Ian Williams

Two wins from 36 starts; runner-up at Wolverhampton (1m6f) in December but below that level in three starts since, including when a 12l third of ten here over 1m6f last time; still has place claims.

7/1

Form: 76

Last run: 13 days

W: 11st 2lb

3 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Soundly beaten in mid-division in bumpers last month on his first two starts (2m/1m5f, good to soft/good) and others make greater appeal.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

5

(1)

3rd Jul 2026

Good

1m 6f 0y

Class 4

16:42 Sandown

Macari

9st 11lb

J: Rose Dawes

T: Sheena West

Creditable second in small field on penultimate start; successful over C&D (off 2lb lower) last July but wasn't in the same form returned to this scenario (behind two of today's rivals) in latest outing.

14/1

8th

4

(8)

13th Jun 2026

Good

1m 6f 0y

Class 4

17:07 Sandown

Macari

9st 5lb

J: Rose Dawes

T: Sheena West

Four Flat wins to his name, including over C&D, and he was second of four at Lingfield 18 days ago (1m6f, good); should run his race but perhaps vulnerable for win purposes.

6/1

2nd

3

(2)

26th May 2026

Good

1m 6f 0y

Class 4

17:54 Lingfield

Macari

9st 5lb

J: Rose Dawes

T: Sheena West

Four wins last year including one over hurdles and two over this trip on the Flat; just 2lb above his last winning mark, but needs to put a tame effort at Nottingham (1m6f, good) last month behind him.

14/1

Form: P

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Pulled up at 40-1 on hurdle debut at Cheltenham three weeks ago but that was a Grade 2 and he was badly hampered early and hit a course marker; bought for 50,000gns in July after showing useful middle-distance form on the Flat and no surprise to see a good run now down in grade; a first-time hood replaces cheekpieces; makes stable debut after one run for Syd Hosie.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

4

(6)

3rd Jul 2026

Good

1m 6f 0y

Class 4

16:42 Sandown

Galactic Jack

9st 13lb

J: Tom Queally

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Well treated on 2023 form but hasn't raced on the Flat for over two years and recent hurdles efforts suggest he's not the same horse now; needs to prove he retains peak ability.

25/1

5th

6

10th Jun 2026

Good

2m 3f 29y

Class 5

16:30 Fontwell

Galactic Jack

11st 3lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Useful on the Flat in his prime; yet to win over hurdles, but has made the frame on his last three starts, since returning from a lengthy absence; down to a career-low mark and holds claims.

9/2

3rd

4

17th May 2026

Good To Firm

2m 0f 70y

Class 5

16:35 Stratford

Galactic Jack

11st 1lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Useful on the Flat in his prime; 0-8 over hurdles but posted best of three runs for new stable (since a long absence) when third at Taunton (2m, good; behind Mi Sueno) last month and is another 1lb lower here; respected.

4/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £9.60
Straight Forecast £11.60
Trifecta £33.90

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Castelfort

Daily Mail:

Royal Way

LAMBOURN:

Ithaca's Arrow

RP RATINGS:

Castelfort

POSTDATA:

Castelfort

WEST COUNTRY:

Castelfort

The Times:

Castelfort

Telegraph:

Castelfort

The Guardian:

Castelfort

D Express:

Castelfort

Daily Mirror:

Castelfort

The Sun:

Castelfort

The Star:

Castelfort

Daily Record:

Castelfort