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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
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 |
|
3rd 8 |
9th Mar 2026 Soft 2m 6f 125y Class 4 |
10st 7lb |
In good form for Olly Murphy in the autumn, winning in blinkers at Sedgefield (3m2f, good to firm) and Market Rasen (2m5f, good to soft), but soundly beaten in cheekpieces (retained) at Warwick for new stable twice since and now has a point to prove. |
25/1 |
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