January 12 / 14.20 Huntingdon

14.20

Soft

Arkle Finance EBF “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle (Qualifier) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4220.64
  • 1m 7f 171y
  • Class 4
  • 6 runners
RTV
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Arkle Finance EBF “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle (Qualifier) (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

OUR TIP

4/9 (Won)

  • Win: £1.25
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 21P CD

Last run: 17 days

W: 11st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 134

Form & Verdict
Best to forgive his Grade 1 effort on Boxing Day (lost his action, pulled up); made all for 14l success over C&D (good) the time before and that form has worked out well; earlier Ascot effort (soft) also reads positively; leading claims back down in class.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

23rd May 2026

Good To Soft

2m 1f 61y

Class 3

15:20 Cartmel

Tellherthename

11st 10lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Both wins came at Huntingdon when trained by Ben Pauling; made his stable debut in the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, when not beaten far, and he wasn't disgraced when hooded and held up out the back in the Swinton at Haydock (favourite) two weeks ago; this will feel like a drop in the ocean in comparison and, although turned over at a short price last October in his only chase, he should make light work of these two rivals on his return to fences.

1/3

8th

6

9th May 2026

Good

1m 7f 144y

Class 1

13:15 Haydock

Tellherthename

11st 6lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Lightly raced for his age; caught the eye in no uncertain terms when twelfth of 23 in the County at Cheltenham on first start for current yard, travelling smoothly but short of room in straight and finishing full of running; very best efforts for previous stables came on good ground and he missed the Scottish Champion when the rain came; still unexposed and a fascinating contender in a first-time hood.

3/1

Form: 7-71 D

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Finished seventh in a couple of big-field bumpers, then recorded an easy win at Wincanton (1m7f, soft) on the switch to hurdles; needs further progress to defy a 6lb penalty but that's not out of the question.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14

2nd May 2026

Yielding

3m 0f 104y

15:45 Punchestown

Dartmoor Pirate

10st 7lb

J: Sean Flanagan

T: Anthony Honeyball

Tongue-tie brought about improvement with wins over the winter in handicaps at Lingfield and valuable 3m Great Yorkshire Chase at Doncaster (soft); reportedly never travelled when unseating at latter venue in February however and given time off since; can't rule out.

14/1

4

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 2f 1y

Class 2

14:30 Doncaster

Dartmoor Pirate

11st 7lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Anthony Honeyball

He's 2-2 since the tongue-tie went on and, although it looked unlikely for much of the race, he stayed on much the best in the 3m Great Yorkshire Chase here a month ago (soft); he'll need to travel a bit better if he's to defy the 5lb rise but the extra 2f should help.

6/1

1st

8

24th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 7f 214y

Class 1

14:05 Doncaster

Dartmoor Pirate

10st 12lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Anthony Honeyball

7yo who produced a career-best to win at Lingfield (2m6f, good to soft) last month, in a first-time tongue-tie (retained) in his third chase; had just four rivals to beat and he's up 7lb in a hotter race, but he had plenty in hand and could have more to offer over fences; effective on soft.

9/1

Form: 23-

Last run: 321 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Notable connections; showed clear promise in two bumpers last winter, solid third (behind subsequent scorers) at Chepstow last February; open to progress over hurdles this season and looks interesting on reappearance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

27th Dec 2024

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 1

13:55 Kempton

Home Free

11st 4lb

J: Fergus Gillard

T: Dan Skelton

3

27th Dec 2024

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 1

13:55 Kempton

Home Free

11st 4lb

J: Fergus Gillard

T: Dan Skelton

4th

2

23rd Nov 2024

Good

2m 0f 67y

Class 3

12:40 Haydock

Home Free

12st 0lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

prominent, led after 4th, jumped right 5 out, not fluent and headed 3 out, not fluent 2 out, soon lost third and weakened

9/4

Form: 5-3S

Last run: 72 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Good-ground point winner; something to find on his completed rules efforts at Bangor (bumper/hurdle); slipped up at Fakenham when last seen.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

28th Oct 2025

Soft

1m 7f 182y

Class 5

14:28 Ffos Las

Wise Guy

12st 0lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Stuart Edmunds

Generally disappointing last season but showed the benefit of a wind op when making the frame on final two appearances (2m/2m4f); begins new campaign on a workable mark and will be suited by the ground; a possible.

6/1

1

28th Oct 2025

Soft

1m 7f 182y

Class 5

14:28 Ffos Las

Wise Guy

12st 0lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Stuart Edmunds

Generally disappointing last season but showed the benefit of a wind op when making the frame on final two appearances (2m/2m4f); begins new campaign on a workable mark and will be suited by the ground; a possible.

6/1

3rd

7

17th Mar 2025

Good

2m 4f 88y

Class 4

16:40 Southwell

Wise Guy

11st 2lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Stuart Edmunds

in touch with leaders

13/2

Form: 9

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Unpromising debut (always behind, well beaten) in similar event at Plumpton last month; best watched.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

7

23rd Feb 2025

Soft

2m 5f 164y

Class 5

16:00 Fontwell

Je Suis Sacre

10st 10lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Robert Walford

Lightly raced 6yo; bred to win races but tailed off this winter in his first two handicaps and dramatic improvement is needed now up in trip.

14/1

11th

13

16th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

1m 7f 50y

Class 5

14:00 Wincanton

Je Suis Sacre

10st 9lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Robert Walford

visibility reduced by fog

7/1

11th

13

16th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

1m 7f 50y

Class 5

14:00 Wincanton

Je Suis Sacre

10st 9lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Robert Walford

visibility reduced by fog

7/1

Form: P5

Last run: 37 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Modest fifth in claiming grade at Ludlow last time; handicaps may be more suitable shortly.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

20th Mar 2024

Soft

2m 4f 139y

Class 5

17:15 Market Rasen

Protector Pete

10st 13lb

J: David Noonan

T: Tom Gretton

took keen hold, towards rear

10/1

6th

5

12th Jan 2024

Soft

1m 7f 171y

Class 4

14:20 Huntingdon

Protector Pete

11st 2lb

J: Luke Scott

T: Tom Gretton

Modest fifth in claiming grade at Ludlow last time; handicaps may be more suitable shortly.

66/1

5th

1

6th Dec 2023

Soft

1m 7f 169y

Class 4

12:50 Ludlow

Protector Pete

11st 6lb

J: David Noonan

T: Tom Gretton

took keen hold, held up in rear, hampered before 4th, headway after 4 out, weakened from 3 out

50/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £2.20
Straight Forecast £2.34
Trifecta £3.20

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Tellherthename

The Times:

Dartmoor Pirate

Daily Record:

Home Free

RP RATINGS:

Tellherthename

TOPSPEED:

Tellherthename

POSTDATA:

Tellherthename

The Guardian:

Tellherthename

Daily Mail:

Tellherthename

D Express:

Tellherthename

Daily Mirror:

Tellherthename

The Sun:

Tellherthename

The Star:

Tellherthename

Telegraph:

Dartmoor Pirate