January 06 / 12.20 Wincanton

12.20

Heavy

Virgin Bet Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4220.64
  • 2m 5f 82y
  • Class 4
  • 5 runners
RTV
View Course
Virgin Bet Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

OUR TIP

11/8 (Won)

  • Win: £1.80
  • Place: £1.40

Form: 3-P21 C

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Highly tried in the Grade 2 Persian War on hurdling debut and duly struggled; however, has since confirmed himself to be smart and wasn't at all pressed to win easily on soft ground over 2m4f here 18 days ago; promising on the strength of that effort.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

12th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 20y

Class 2

13:43 Ayr

Lord Of Thunder

11st 1lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Off the mark over fences at the fourth attempt in Newbury handicap in February (2m7f, soft; Pic Roc second); also effective on good going; merely mid-division in the Jack Richards at Cheltenham since but he's back in a less competitive race here and he could tap back into his previous promise.

14/1

4th

5

12th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 20y

Class 2

13:43 Ayr

Lord Of Thunder

11st 1lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

in touch with leaders, not fluent 2nd

14/1

6/1

  • Place: £6.50

Form: 4

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Bought for £55,000 after finishing second in an Irish point; no threat when fourth of five on bumper debut at Market Rasen (2m, soft; 2-1) but should do better now raised in trip for hurdling debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

23rd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 4

17:15 Perth

Casual Observer

12st 0lb

J: Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: Harry Derham

Winning hurdler (2m4f, heavy) who has shown promise in defeat over 2m4f on his two chase starts (soft); now steps up to 3m for first time under rules (was second in a 3m point).

11/4

3rd

5

25th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 15y

Class 4

16:41 Hexham

Casual Observer

11st 9lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

Won at Ffos Las (2m4f, heavy) last February on second handicap hurdle start and it was his first run since when an encouraging second of four on chase debut at Bangor last month (2m4f, soft; albeit no match for the winner); open to improvement over fences and could play a leading role.

13/8

2nd

5

25th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 4f 72y

Class 4

17:00 Bangor-on-Dee

Casual Observer

11st 2lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

Lightly raced and career-best form in winning a 2m4f handicap hurdle at Ffos Las (heavy) when last seen 12 months ago; looks on a realistic mark for chase debut and he was second in an Irish point; fitness might not be an issue given the yard he represents.

5/2

Form: 12-1

Last run: 59 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Half-brother to stable's very smart chaser Espoir De Romay; won a bumper on heavy and revelled in the same conditions when digging deep for a successful hurdling debut at Chepstow (2m3f) two months ago; high up the list on form and potential.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

22nd Feb 2025

Soft

2m 3f 98y

Class 4

14:00 Chepstow

Heros De Romay

11st 12lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls

Course winner over hurdles last season (2m3f, heavy) and made quite promising chase debut in December; yet to build on that performance but was in contention before bad jumping error seemed to knock the stuffing out of him in the straight here a fortnight ago (first-time visor); no surprise if he gets his act together over fences soon.

11/2

4th

5

9th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 3f 98y

Class 3

14:50 Chepstow

Heros De Romay

10st 9lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls

led, headed 10th, led again home turn, faced challenges when mistake and pecked on landing 5 out, soon lost three places, weakened from 4 out, no chance when not fluent 3 out

6/1

4th

5

9th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 3f 98y

Class 3

14:50 Chepstow

Heros De Romay

10st 9lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls

led, headed 10th

6/1

Form: 7-18

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Half-brother to smart jumper Sporting John; following a wind op, kept on strongly to cause 125-1 surprise on hurdling debut at Lingfield (2m3f, soft) but then dropped out to be tailed off on heavy at Chepstow; hard to be confident on the back of that capitulation.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

5

8th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 129y

Class 4

15:00 Huntingdon

Theyseekhimthere

11st 10lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Warren Greatrex

Has inconsistent form but this seasonal/chase debut may be the time to catch him; gained sole hurdles win on reappearance last term; had wind surgery (his second) since last run.

14/1

1st

5

8th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 129y

Class 4

15:00 Huntingdon

Theyseekhimthere

11st 10lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Warren Greatrex

Has inconsistent form but this seasonal/chase debut may be the time to catch him; gained sole hurdles win on reappearance last term; had wind surgery (his second) since last run.

14/1

Form: 3

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
It took six attempts to win an Irish point but he won that by 15l; perhaps needed the run when getting tired on heavy ground at Chepstow (2m7f) four weeks ago and finishing a remote third; in the right hands to do better.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

11th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 131y

Class 4

17:10 Chepstow

Paddy De Pole

11st 12lb

J: Freddie Keighley

T: Paul Nicholls

3-14 over hurdles, having battled well to beat two next-time-out winners at Sedgefield (3m3f, good) last month; effectively 7lb higher here if Freddie Keighley's reduced claim is considered; still enters calculations.

7/1

4

4th Sep 2025

Good

3m 3f 9y

Class 4

18:00 Sedgefield

Paddy De Pole

11st 7lb

J: Freddie Keighley

T: Paul Nicholls

Completed a hat-trick when winning at Hereford in May 2024 and remained in respectable form for the rest of that year; wasn't one of his better efforts when fifth on comeback at Newton Abbot (2m5f, good) in May, however, and pulled up in a three-runner chase at Worcester (mistakes) last time; last run can probably be forgiven and this return to hurdles is a positive.

9/2

2

17th Jul 2025

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 3

17:05 Worcester

Paddy De Pole

11st 5lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Completed a good-ground hat-trick over hurdles during the first half of last year and only 4lb higher than for the last of those wins; perhaps needed his comeback race and, given his yard, he may well do better over fences.

15/8

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £13.10
Straight Forecast £12.48
Trifecta £29.90

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Heros De Romay

SPOTLIGHT:

Lord Of Thunder

LAMBOURN:

Casual Observer

POSTDATA:

Lord Of Thunder

D Express:

Lord Of Thunder

The Star:

Lord Of Thunder

TOPSPEED:

Heros De Romay

WEST COUNTRY:

Heros De Romay

The Times:

Heros De Romay

Telegraph:

Heros De Romay

The Guardian:

Heros De Romay

Daily Mail:

Heros De Romay

Daily Mirror:

Heros De Romay

The Sun:

Heros De Romay

Daily Record:

Heros De Romay