12.25
SoftTrustATrader trustarader.com Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race) (Div I)
- Prize money: £4520.18
- 1m 7f 171y
- Class 4
- 9 runners
Runners: 9 runners
Type: Hurdle Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Light rain
Abandoned
Form: —
Last run: —
W: 11st 2lb
4 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
9 |
12th Oct 2025 Good 2m 0f 11y Class 2 |
10st 11lb |
Did well for new stable in 2024, winning twice, and runner-up in valuable Southwell handicap (2m, good) on New Year's Day; reverts to hurdling after a pipe-opener on the Flat last month; probably needs to squeeze out even more improvement to land this prize. |
12/1 |
|
7th 6 (5) |
11th Sep 2025 Good 1m 4f 6y Class 4 |
11st 1lb |
Progressive since joining this yard and switched to hurdles, mainly under Paul O'Brien, while his sole Flat run for Harry Derham was a respectable third of 11 at Newbury (1m4f, heavy) last October; market may help on this first start since March but stable's horses don't tend to lack for fitness; should go well. |
9/2 |
|
2nd 1 |
10th Mar 2025 Good To Soft 2m 0f 70y Class 3 |
12st 0lb |
led, not fluent 3rd, headed just before last, weakened run-in |
4/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 7- BF
Last run: 589 days
W: 11st 2lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6th 10 |
24th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 2m 3f 104y Class 5 |
10st 8lb |
This 9yo has raced seven times under rules for three different yards; completed for the first time for this one (including pulled up on chase debut) when fifth in 2m2f Plumpton handicap hurdle 19 days ago but it wasn't a performance which makes him of obvious interest. |
33/1 |
|
5th 9 |
5th Apr 2026 Good 2m 1f 169y Class 5 |
10st 8lb |
9yo has raced six times under rules for three different yards; pulled up in both runs for this one, over hurdles and fences. |
66/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 4
Last run: 22 days
W: 11st 2lb
4 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6th 4 (8) |
17th Mar 2026 Standard 1m 1f 104y Class 6 |
9st 9lb |
Winless since his 3yo days but has gone close a few times over C&D; patchy since returning from an absence, cracking late in first-time cheekpieces latest having made a lot of the running. |
16/1 |
|
8th 2 (10) |
12th Feb 2026 Standard 1m 2f 0y Class 6 |
9st 9lb |
Won two C&D handicaps at the end of 2022, but 0-25 since; fourth in a couple of similar contest last month including over C&D and holds frame possibiltities again with cheekpieces given a go. |
7/1 |
|
3 |
8th Feb 2026 Standard 1m 2f 0y Class 6 |
9st 9lb |
|
Abandoned
Form: 79
Last run: 18 days
W: 11st 2lb
4 yo Colt
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 4 |
25th May 2026 Good To Firm 2m 7f 129y Class 5 |
10st 8lb |
2m4f hurdle winner on good ground; 0-5 as a chaser and failed to convince stamina-wise when stepped up to 3m at Southwell, finishing 28l off the winner; to give him the benefit of the doubt, that run was after a break. |
11/2 |
|
3rd 5 |
11th May 2026 Good 3m 0f 60y Class 5 |
10st 12lb |
Won 2m4f hurdle at the start of 2025 and made a fairly encouraging chase debut when third of six at Newton Abbot (2m, good) one year ago; returned from break with three disappointing runs from November to January, though, and has questions to answer on first attempt at 3m; hood refitted. |
12/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 5
Last run: 21 days
W: 11st 2lb
4 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6th 4 (5) |
14th May 2026 Good 1m 4f 5y Class 5 |
9st 6lb |
His three wins were all on the Flat in 2024, including here on heavy ground over 1m2f; failed to build on his comeback run when well beaten over hurdles at Kempton 52 days ago and the hood returns on this switch back to the Flat; makes some appeal from a good mark. |
3/1 |
|
4th 4 |
23rd Mar 2026 Good 2m 0f 0y Class 5 |
11st 7lb |
Maiden over hurdles but remains well treated judged on best Flat form and may build on latest effort, namely third at Plumpton (2m) on return from layoff and wind surgery; enters calculations. |
2/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 06-U
Last run: 18 days
W: 11st 2lb
4 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 4 |
24th May 2026 Good To Soft 2m 3f 104y Class 5 |
10st 9lb |
Made all to open account over C&D (good) in first-time blinkers ten days ago, his 11th start over fences; drew nicely clear of the others with the runner-up that day and was only raised 3lb; could be hard to catch. |
9/4 |
|
1st 7 |
14th May 2026 Good 2m 3f 104y Class 5 |
10st 7lb |
Can make mistakes but mainly consistent over fences for this yard; pulled up at Warwick after an error last time but 2m and ground that was likely faster than good were probably not ideal; that brought his record to 0-18 but he's not ruled out in first-time blinkers back up in trip. |
7/1 |
|
8 |
23rd Apr 2026 Good 2m 0f 54y Class 5 |
10st 6lb |
Held up and was never that threatening when beaten just over 7l into fourth at Ffos Las (2m3f, good to soft); that's two pleasing enough runs since the visor went on and this 17-race maiden has each-way claims. |
7/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 3U
Last run: 36 days
W: 11st 2lb
4 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
No Results Found |
Abandoned
Form: 714-8 D
Last run: 20 days
W: 11st 2lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 3 |
5th Dec 2024 Soft 1m 7f 201y Class 4 |
11st 9lb |
held up in rear, no impression before 4 out |
7/4 |
Abandoned
Form: 120-F C
Last run: 11 days
W: 11st 2lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 11 |
14th Feb 2026 Good To Soft 2m 3f 203y Class 3 |
11st 0lb |
Resumed winning ways in first-time blinkers at Newcastle (2m4f) in November but very in and out since, pulled up in 2m6f Leicester handicap chase 25 days ago; he's not easy to warm to today. |
14/1 |
|
4 |
20th Jan 2026 Good To Soft 2m 6f 151y Class 3 |
11st 9lb |
Inconsistent this season but won in first-time blinkers at Newcastle in November and looked unlucky not to add to his tally at Haydock (also 2m4f, good to soft) three weeks ago, when a last-fence error was costly; up another 4lb for that but could have more to offer if in the right mood again. |
9/2 |
|
1 |
31st Oct 2025 Good 2m 3f 207y Class 4 |
12st 0lb |
Won over fences here (2m4f, good to soft) on New Year's Eve but began this year with two disappointing runs; reverts to hurdling after 261-day break and with usual cheekpieces missing; others have much less to prove. |
20/1 |
Verdict
There are risks with one whose only appearance over hurdles resulted in an early fall but TARAS HALLS receives the vote nevertheless on the basis of his bumper performances at this track and the apparent weakness of credentials among today’s rivals. Hopefully he has learned plenty from that experience at Wetherby. Once-raced Ballybay is an intriguing newcomer to the Gary Moore stable, which also runs Kotari, and Balhambar needs respect on his transfer from the Flat. Royal Thunder’s third at Uttoxeter puts him second on the list, though.[Richard Austen]