12.55
SoftFarmers Friend Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)
- Prize money: £4955.32
- 2m 3f 1y
- Class 4
- 11 runners
Runners: 11 runners
Type: Hurdle Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Mostly cloudy
7/2 (Won)
- Win: £7.00
- Place: £1.20
Form: 152-
Last run: 270 days
W: 10st 12lb
6 yo Filly
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 6 |
1st May 2026 Yielding 2m 0f 45y |
11st 5lb |
Fortuitous winner of the 2025 Champion Hurdle (same story in this season's Fighting Fifth); could only manage fifth when attempting to retain her crown (9.75l behind Lossiemouth); posted another solid effort in the Aintree Hurdle last time when fourth (2m4f, good to soft); return to 2m should suit, cheekpieces go on and she was second in this contest last year (good) but may need further luck to increase Grade 1 haul. |
8/1 |
|
4th 7 |
9th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 2m 4f 0y Class 1 |
11st 3lb |
Fortuitous winner of the 2025 Champion Hurdle (same story in the Fighting Fifth) and finished only fifth, behind some of today's rivals, when attempting to retain her crown; largely consistent and has won over 2m4f but increasing her Grade 1 tally may require further luck. |
12/1 |
|
5th 8 |
10th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 2m 0f 87y Class 1 |
11st 3lb |
Record of 3-4 at Cheltenham features two Festival wins, beating Brighterdaysahead in the Grade 2 novice hurdle in 2024 then admittedly fortuitous (left in lead when State Man took a late fall; odds-on Constitution Hill exited earlier) when 25-1 in this race last year; also had fortune on her side in this season's Fighting Fifth as the front two in the market, including The New Lion, failed to complete; ran creditably on Boxing Day when last seen; largely consistent and should go well but may require further luck to retain her crown. |
8/1 |
7/4
- Place: £1.10
Form: 221 D
Last run: 24 days
W: 11st 12lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 2 |
25th Apr 2026 Good 2m 5f 110y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Dual Grade 2 winner last term; finished third at the same level on penultimate start but was behind Kabral Du Mathan and stablemate Jingko Blue in that Cheltenham race; seems set for another bronze medal at best. |
11/1 |
10/11
- Place: £1.10
Form: 4-12
Last run: 31 days
W: 11st 12lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 132
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 1 |
16th Apr 2026 Good 2m 4f 194y Class 3 |
12st 0lb |
Back to his winning trip over fences after failing to defy some serious stamina doubts over the 3m2f of the Kim Muir; he's none too consistent and looked a hard ride at Musselburgh the run before (2m4f), but he's realistically handicapped if he can travel kinder in the new cheekpieces. |
100/30 |
|
18th 4 |
12th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 3m 2f 70y Class 2 |
11st 7lb |
Impressive at Musselburgh (2m4f, good to soft) last February and back to form when third there (2m4f, good to soft) in January; however, this inconsistent 9yo was well beaten at Musselburgh last month and this is a big step into the unknown in terms of stamina (albeit that he did win a 3m point). |
33/1 |
|
8th 2 |
31st Jan 2026 Good To Soft 2m 4f 68y Class 2 |
10st 11lb |
Inconsistent but he's run really well on both visits here, winning comfortably over C&D (good to soft) at this meeting 12 months ago and doing well to finish third over C&D (good to soft) on reappearance having made a bad blunder three out; effective on soft ground earlier in career; big chance. |
3/1 |
33/1
Form: —
Last run: 26 days
W: 11st 5lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6 |
17th Mar 2025 Good 3m 1f 210y Class 5 |
11st 1lb |
Not fully exposed after only eight runs but unplaced all seven hurdling starts before struggling on last month's chasing debut (bled from the nose); leap of faith is required to support him here. |
12/1 |
|
7th 7 |
12th Feb 2025 Good To Soft 3m 1f 44y Class 5 |
10st 10lb |
prominent, lost position 4th, slow jump 5th, dropped to last 7th, reminders 10th, tailed off from 3 out (usual 4 out) |
16/1 |
|
9th 10 |
18th Jan 2025 Good To Soft 2m 7f 198y Class 5 |
10st 9lb |
Soundly beaten, including in two handicaps over 3m and another over 2m6f; had wind surgery since latest start, with a tongue-tie also now enlisted, and they need to work wonders. |
16/1 |
50/1
Form: 06P
Last run: 9 days
W: 11st 5lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3 |
8th Sep 2024 Good To Soft 3m 1f 210y Class 5 |
11st 0lb |
never going well, towards rear, mistake and reminders 5th, dropped to last 10th, ridden with one circuit to go, lost touch 14th, pulled up before 3 out |
9/2 |
|
4th 7 |
25th Jun 2024 Good 3m 1f 170y Class 5 |
10st 13lb |
2m4f point winner; moderate form under rules but took a step in the right direction when a staying-on third at Fontwell (2m3f) on April's chase debut; failed to improve on that when third again back there in May but has since been given wind surgery; likely to be suited by this longer trip and he remains capable of better. |
100/30 |
|
3rd 5 |
16th May 2024 Good 2m 3f 104y Class 5 |
10st 9lb |
prominent, outpaced before 3 out, kept on run-in |
11/4 |
100/1
Form: 9P/98
Last run: 53 days
W: 11st 5lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
11 |
6th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 2m 3f 48y Class 5 |
10st 2lb |
Pulled up in his two handicaps over hurdles on either side of a long absence; out of the weights for this switch to fences. |
100/1 |
|
13 |
17th Jan 2026 Good To Soft 2m 7f 198y Class 5 |
10st 2lb |
Pulled up on handicap debut in May 2024 when a 100-1 chance; off since and he's 6lb wrong. |
100/1 |
|
9 |
12th May 2024 Good 2m 7f 174y Class 5 |
10st 9lb |
Arguably his first worthwhile form was at Taunton (2m3f, soft) on latest start when beaten 56l but behind two classy principals; cheekpieces go on for this handicap debut over a markedly longer trip. |
20/1 |
50/1
Form: 0-74
Last run: 20 days
W: 11st 5lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 4 |
25th Aug 2026 Good To Firm 2m 4f 205y Class 5 |
11st 3lb |
Won last autumn on final two runs for Olly Murphy (3m2f/2m5f, good to firm/good to soft) and he took a step back in the right direction when third of six at Warwick (3m, good) in June when last seen; runs off his last winning mark and he might not be far away. |
7/1 |
|
3rd 3 |
3rd Jun 2026 Good To Firm 3m 0f 0y Class 5 |
11st 4lb |
Left Olly Murphy for 5,500gns and pretty much tailed off in four handicap chases since. |
25/1 |
|
5th 2 |
19th Apr 2026 Good 3m 3f 119y Class 5 |
11st 9lb |
Won twice for Olly Murphy in the autumn and subsequently sold for 5,500gns; hasn't been in the same form in three runs for his current trainer; cheekpieces worn on his last three starts are dispensed with on this step up in trip; still has time on his side but all of a sudden has a bit to prove. |
8/1 |
33/1
Form: 7
Last run: 9 days
W: 11st 5lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 4 |
19th Feb 2026 2m 3f 189y Class 5 |
11st 2lb |
Won by 8l over hurdles at Uttoxeter (2m4f, good to soft) last January and on that evidence this 4lb higher mark shouldn't be beyond him; however, he's been well beaten this season on his first three chase starts. |
7/1 |
33/1
Form: PP-
Last run: 430 days
W: 11st 5lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
10 |
8th May 2024 Good 2m 5f 164y Class 5 |
10st 5lb |
midfield, mistake 3 out |
5/1 |
|
10 |
8th May 2024 Good 2m 5f 164y Class 5 |
10st 5lb |
midfield, mistake 3 out |
5/1 |
|
3rd 9 |
29th Feb 2024 Soft 2m 3f 1y Class 5 |
10st 5lb |
in touch with leaders, not fluent 5th |
10/1 |
100/1
Form: 0P0
Last run: 21 days
W: 11st 5lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
10th 3 |
8th Jan 2024 Soft 2m 3f 1y Class 4 |
11st 5lb |
Struggled when a big-priced outsider for first two hurdling attempts (2m/2m4f). |
100/1 |
|
11th 1 |
18th Dec 2023 Good To Soft 2m 4f 114y Class 4 |
11st 4lb |
in touch with leaders |
150/1 |
|
0 1 |
20th Nov 2023 Soft 2m 0f 161y Class 4 |
11st 0lb |
Runner-up in British maiden point (2m4f, good to soft) in April on second start but tailed off at 150-1 on bumper debut at Chepstow (2m, good to soft) three weeks ago and is probably best watched now hurdling. |
100/1 |
150/1
Form: 8-P
Last run: 19 days
W: 11st 5lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
0 7 |
8th Jan 2024 Soft 2m 3f 1y Class 4 |
11st 5lb |
Struggled when a 400-1 outsider for recent hurdling debut at Newbury (2m4f). |
150/1 |
|
0 8 |
20th Dec 2023 Soft 2m 4f 118y Class 3 |
11st 0lb |
33-1, always towards rear when 39l eighth of nine in bumper at Fontwell (1m6f, soft) in April; bred to jump but best watched on this first go. |
100/1 |
|
8th 2 |
4th Apr 2023 Soft 1m 5f 159y Class 5 |
11st 2lb |
towards rear, outpaced and pushed along 5f out |
14/1 |
+o+e Accumulators
| Payout | |
|---|---|
| Exacta | £19.60 |
| Straight Forecast | £13.67 |
| Trifecta | £18.50 |
Selections
Daily Record:
InsurrectionThe Star:
Golden Ace