January 01 / 12.20 Cheltenham

12.20

Soft

Favourite From The Sun Now Daily Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £10562
  • 2m 4f 56y
  • Class 2
  • 6 runners
RTV
View Course
Favourite From The Sun Now Daily Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

6/4 (Won)

  • Win: £2.63
  • Place: £1.50

Form: 21-

Last run: 410 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Bought for £240,000 after winning an Irish maiden point (3m, yielding) on his debut in March 2022; short-priced favourite for bumpers in autumn 2022 when second at Bangor and winning on soft at Newcastle, for Michael Scudamore; had wind surgery in September 2023; looks sure to stay and may well prove potent on this hurdling debut for new trainer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

6

2nd May 2026

Good

3m 0f 10y

Class 2

14:35 Uttoxeter

Peaky Boy

10st 12lb

J: Benjamin Macey

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Early faller in February, after one-year layoff, and safely held in two major handicaps since (2m4f/2m5f); has more to prove than some of these but will be suited by the forecast good ground and is not written off just yet.

14/1

10th

21

10th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 19y

Class 1

16:05 Aintree

Peaky Boy

10st 5lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Showed abundant promise in late 2024 on his first two chase starts and is on a competitive mark on that form; remains lightly raced and he could improve for last month's run in the Plate at Cheltenham, when finishing mid-division, but others arrive with more compelling claims; a tongue-tie is added.

40/1

12th

11

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 44y

Class 1

16:40 Cheltenham

Peaky Boy

10st 13lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Sparingly raced but has a lot of ability, making a successful chase debut over C&D (good) in November 2024 then close up in a well-contested handicap here (about 3m1f, good to soft); however, he didn't jump well when tailed off for new yard at Ascot last February and took a heavy early fall at Newcastle last month on his only start since; now goes in cheekpieces; talented but risky.

16/1

OUR TIP

11/2

  • Place: £2.10

Form: 4

Last run: 38 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Won Irish maiden point (3m, yielding) last April on third start and changed hands for £60,000; 16-1 for maiden hurdle at Ascot (2m3f, good) in November, prominent long way before fading into about 15l fourth of ten; should improve and needs to.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

20th May 2026

Good

2m 5f 5y

Class 4

16:00 Warwick

Champagne Twist

11st 11lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

2024 EBF Final winner off 7lb higher; unseated too far out at Uttoxeter latest to say if and where he may have figured, but his poor winter up to that point tempers enthusiasm either way; overlooked.

10/1

4

28th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 70y

Class 4

16:20 Uttoxeter

Champagne Twist

11st 11lb

J: Elliott England

T: Ben Pauling

Very promising novice during 2023-24 season but generally very disappointing over last two campaigns; has dropped a long way in the weights but he was pulled up three times during the winter before a remote fifth at Newbury (3m, good to soft) last time; down the list.

12/1

Form: 225

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Went close on rules/hurdle debut in October and better form since when runner-up at Aintree (2m4f, soft) and a hampered fifth of seven on handicap debut at Sandown (2m, heavy); this step back up in trip can help and he has among the best form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

28th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 70y

Class 4

16:20 Uttoxeter

Magical King

12st 1lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Stuart Edmunds

Runner-up off this mark at Newbury (3m, soft) last February but he's not hit the same level since and was beaten 19l back at Newbury (third of nine) last month; overall record is now 1-15 and others are more persuasive.

7/1

3rd

5

27th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 57y

Class 3

16:43 Newbury

Magical King

11st 6lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Stuart Edmunds

Consistent over hurdles last season, with best effort a C&D second (soft) just over a year ago; disappointing over fences this term (three attempts; blinkers tried last time) and this switch back to hurdling needs to rekindle his enthusiasm; usual cheekpieces back on today.

20/1

3

2nd Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 0y

Class 4

13:27 Kempton

Magical King

11st 13lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Stuart Edmunds

Consistent over hurdles last season; ran well to a point on chasing debut at Bangor (3m, heavy) in November and may have found the good ground too lively when safely held at Doncaster in December; not out of this if change of headgear gives him a boost.

10/1

Form: 2750-2

Last run: 43 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Filly

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Closed to a neck in 2m maiden here (soft; has run respectably on heavy) six weeks ago on reappearance; that's four seconds from her nine races over hurdles, with both her wins having come in bumpers; well worth this second attempt at 2m4f and big chance on form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

4

11th Apr 2025

Good

2m 5f 110y

18:17 Ballinrobe

Innatendue

11st 8lb

J: Rachael Blackmore

T: Henry De Bromhead

led

7/1

9th

4

11th Apr 2025

Good

2m 5f 110y

18:17 Ballinrobe

Innatendue

11st 8lb

J: Rachael Blackmore

T: Henry De Bromhead

led

7/1

2nd

7

8th Mar 2025

Soft

2m 0f 30y

14:40 Gowran Park

Innatendue

11st 7lb

J: Rachael Blackmore

T: Henry De Bromhead

in touch with leaders, prominent 4th

11/4

Form: O-44

Last run: 80 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Unraced on worse than good to soft; won a maiden point last February; ran out on bumper debut and tendency to hang left again looked a problem when fourth of 12 on hurdling debut at Chepstow (2m) in October latest; had wind surgery soon after; hooded last two starts; best watched for now.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 133y

Class 2

14:40 Kelso

Diamond Dealer

12st 0lb

J: Tristan Durrell

T: Dan Skelton

Won in the autumn on first two chase starts (2m7f, good/good to soft; including here) then failed to stay 4m here in the Borders National; bounced back with short-head defeat at Wetherby (3m, soft) last month and there can be optimism he'll be fine at this shorter distance; major player.

3/1

2nd

4

26th Feb 2026

Soft

3m 0f 45y

Class 4

14:25 Wetherby

Diamond Dealer

11st 11lb

J: Tristan Durrell

T: Dan Skelton

Failed to settle and reportedly made a respiratory noise at Kelso (4m, soft) in December, when he ran well for a very long way before weakening (pulled up); 2-2 over fences previously (2m7f, good/good to soft) and there could still be mileage in his mark now back down in trip.

5/2

Form: 50-

Last run: 282 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
First bumper run last March (on good) was better than his second (on soft); neither gives him serious claims today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

7

12th Apr 2026

Good

2m 7f 191y

Class 5

17:20 Ffos Las

Glengolly

11st 3lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Billy Aprahamian

Seemingly aided by new tongue-tie when gaining breakthrough win at Hereford (3m1f, soft) in December, his 13th hurdle run, and has been placed on three of his four starts since; would appeal more on ground slower than good but still enters calculations; swaps usual cheekpieces for visor.

8/1

3rd

4

18th Mar 2026

Good

3m 1f 10y

Class 5

14:15 Huntingdon

Glengolly

11st 6lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Billy Aprahamian

The tongue-tie went on for last four starts, breaking his duck in good style at Hereford (3m2f, soft) on first occasion and creditable runner-up in two of his three starts since; the exception can be forgiven on heavy ground at Ffos Las; the tongue-tie is removed this time and he's not proven on good, but otherwise he has solid each-way claims.

6/1

2nd

2

23rd Feb 2026

Soft

3m 0f 217y

Class 5

15:45 Plumpton

Glengolly

11st 10lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Billy Aprahamian

Broke his duck in good style at Hereford (3m2f, soft) in December, fitted with a tongue-tie, and backed that up with another solid effort behind a big improver at Uttoxeter; can be forgiven recent Ffos Las run where the ground went against him and he's worth considering.

7/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £9.30
Straight Forecast £10.12
Trifecta £22.60

Selections

TOPSPEED:

Magical King

SPOTLIGHT:

Peaky Boy

RP RATINGS:

Innatendue

WEST COUNTRY:

Champagne Twist

POSTDATA:

Magical King

The Times:

Magical King

Daily Mirror:

Magical King

The Sun:

Magical King

The Guardian:

Champagne Twist

LAMBOURN:

Peaky Boy

Telegraph:

Peaky Boy

D Express:

Peaky Boy

Daily Mail:

Innatendue

The Star:

Innatendue

Daily Record:

Innatendue