January 28 / 15.25 Fontwell

15.25

Soft

Join The Vickers.Bet Free Bet Club Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4193.42
  • 2m 3f 49y
  • Class 4
  • 12 runners
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Join The Vickers.Bet Free Bet Club Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 12 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

Form: 144-1F BF

Last run: 64 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Useful in bumpers last season and created good impression when winning easily by 11l on hurdling debut at Stratford (2m, soft) in November; safely held in fourth before last-fight fall in Haydock Grade 2 (1m7f, good to soft) later that month but remains a very good prospect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

21st Apr 2026

Soft

2m 3f 83y

Class 4

17:42 Ffos Las

Bowenspark

12st 1lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Henry Daly

Came good over fences with small-field win at Uttoxeter (2m4f, good to soft) in February but was not in the same form on his latest outing and ran poorly the only previous time he wore cheekpieces; others look safer.

8/1

5th

4

28th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 3

15:08 Uttoxeter

Bowenspark

11st 2lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Henry Daly

Dual bumper and hurdle winner; mixed results in his first three runs over fences but he really got his act together when justifying favouritism at Bangor (2m5f, soft) last month; that was a four-runner race but he forged clear in the closing stages and a 6lb rise looks fair; shortlisted.

9/4

1st

3

25th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 4f 72y

Class 4

17:00 Bangor-on-Dee

Bowenspark

11st 5lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Henry Daly

Useful bumper horse and hurdler but has always struggled with consistency, a pattern that's threatening to continue over fences; however, if in the same form as when second to a sharp improver at Southwell two runs back (2m4f, good to soft; fine on soft) he'd have every chance.

5/1

Form: PP-9

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 3lb

8 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Irish point winner in February 2022 but well beaten on all three hurdling starts, most recently when 100-1 for stable debut three weeks ago; tongue-tie added here.
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

17:10 Fontwell

Come On Paddy Mac

10st 5lb

J: Thomasina Eyston

T: Neil Mulholland

midfield, mistake 3 out

5/1

10

8th May 2024

Good

2m 5f 164y

Class 5

17:10 Fontwell

Come On Paddy Mac

10st 5lb

J: Thomasina Eyston

T: Neil Mulholland

midfield, mistake 3 out

5/1

3rd

9

29th Feb 2024

Soft

2m 3f 1y

Class 5

14:05 Taunton

Come On Paddy Mac

10st 5lb

J: Thomasina Eyston

T: Neil Mulholland

in touch with leaders, not fluent 5th

10/1

OUR TIP

Form: 0/088

Last run: 41 days

W: 11st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Has struggled to get competitive in two bumpers and two maiden hurdles (2m3f/2m4f); makes no appeal.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

13th Feb 2024

Soft

2m 7f 0y

Class 5

15:35 Lingfield

DAmbonnay

10st 2lb

J: Charlie Price

T: Camilla Poulton

No impact in bumpers or three maiden/novice hurdles at up to 2m4f; may do better now handicapping in first-time cheekpieces, but 4lb wrong.

50/1

3

28th Jan 2024

Soft

2m 3f 49y

Class 4

15:25 Fontwell

DAmbonnay

11st 3lb

J: Charlie Price

T: Camilla Poulton

Has struggled to get competitive in two bumpers and two maiden hurdles (2m3f/2m4f); makes no appeal.

100/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 3lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Bought for £25,000 soon after Irish point second in May 2022 but that form isn't anything to go wild about and this rules debut comes after a 624-day absence.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

16th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 164y

Class 5

15:10 Plumpton

Hidalgo Des Bordes

12st 0lb

J: James Bowen

T: Warren Greatrex

Impressed on chase debut at Exeter (2m2f, good; first-time tongue-tie) in April and next race only six days on perhaps came too soon; ran better the following month and has had wind surgery during his break; might be on a tough mark but respected.

3/1

1

16th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 164y

Class 5

15:10 Plumpton

Hidalgo Des Bordes

12st 0lb

J: James Bowen

T: Warren Greatrex

Impressed on chase debut at Exeter (2m2f, good; first-time tongue-tie) in April and next race only six days on perhaps came too soon; ran better the following month and has had wind surgery during his break; might be on a tough mark but respected.

3/1

3rd

1

26th May 2024

Good

2m 3f 104y

Class 5

15:14 Fontwell

Hidalgo Des Bordes

12st 0lb

J: James Bowen

T: Warren Greatrex

Made an impressive winning chase debut at Exeter (2m2f, good; first-time tongue-tie) last month but disappointed under a 7lb penalty at Warwick (2m, good; 4-5) six days later; perhaps the race came too soon (he reportedly made a respiratory noise) and he is shortlisted, despite another 6lb rise, if back on song.

7/2

Form: 677

Last run: 13 days

W: 11st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Respectable sixth in Chepstow bumper (good to soft) on rules debut in October and not disgraced in Cheltenham maiden hurdle (2m1f, soft) last month; well beaten at Hereford (2m3f, good) since, though, and has a lot to find here; sports first-time cheekpieces.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

12th May 2025

Good

3m 0f 60y

Class 4

14:00 Southwell

How And Ever

11st 2lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Oliver Signy

led, headed but pressed leader 15th, lost second 2 out, weakened approaching last

7/2

3rd

4

12th May 2025

Good

3m 0f 60y

Class 4

14:00 Southwell

How And Ever

11st 2lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Oliver Signy

led, headed but pressed leader 15th, lost second 2 out, weakened approaching last

7/2

Form: 12

Last run: 83 days

W: 11st 3lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Narrowly won good-ground Worcester bumper on debut last June and made pretty good start to hurdling career when clear second to useful rival at Hereford (2m, good) in November; has a significant role to play if suited by the increased emphasis on stamina here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

1st Mar 2025

Heavy

2m 4f 0y

14:10 Navan

Johnny Blue

11st 7lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

midfield, brought down 6th

7/2

2nd

4

3rd Feb 2025

Soft To Heavy

2m 3f 92y

14:30 Punchestown

Johnny Blue

11st 12lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

midfield early, rushed up and raced in second behind clear leader after 1st, pressed leader 2nd

11/2

2nd

4

3rd Feb 2025

Soft To Heavy

2m 3f 92y

14:30 Punchestown

Johnny Blue

11st 12lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

midfield early, rushed up and raced in second behind clear leader after 1st, pressed leader 2nd

11/2

Form: 78

Last run: 39 days

W: 11st 3lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Showed no short-term promise in two novice hurdles towards the end of last year (2m/2m3f) and is probably one for further down the line.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

29th Jun 2025

Soft

2m 1f 61y

Class 5

17:40 Cartmel

Jolyjump

11st 10lb

J: Nathan Moscrop

T: R Mike Smith

Winning hurdler/chaser for the Moores and still fairly treated on his runner-up efforts at Southwell (2m, good to soft) and Plumpton (2m1f, good) in the spring; picked up for £16,000 last month and shortlisted on stable debut, especially if market positive.

6/1

4th

7

13th May 2025

Good

2m 0f 110y

Class 4

14:30 Worcester

Jolyjump

10st 12lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

1-7 over fences and not the easiest to predict; still ran well last time at Plumpton (2m1f, good; first-time cheekpieces) where his jumping got ragged late on; hard to rule out.

3/1

4th

7

13th May 2025

Good

2m 0f 110y

Class 4

14:30 Worcester

Jolyjump

10st 12lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

1-7 over fences and not the easiest to predict; still ran well last time at Plumpton (2m1f, good; first-time cheekpieces) where his jumping got ragged late on; hard to rule out.

3/1

Form: 04

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 3lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Out of a well-connected mare and represents a good stable but was unable to land a significant blow on his first two outings (2m/2m3f).
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

16:20 Fontwell

Nordic Storm

11st 1lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

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

14:18 Hereford

Nordic Storm

10st 10lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

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

14:05 Taunton

Nordic Storm

10st 9lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Joe Tizzard

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

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 3lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Improved to cause 20-1 surprise in soft-ground maiden point last month, his fourth start; faces much tougher opposition on today's rules debut but at least we know he's in good nick.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

17th Apr 2026

Soft

2m 0f 110y

Class 3

14:20 Ayr

Risk De Pluie

11st 7lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Ben Clarke

Beaten on first seven chase starts but showed improved form to win comfortably at Chepstow (2m3f, soft) in February and he bumped into a progressive winner there (2m3f, soft) last month, when clear of the third; there can be optimism that he will be fine back down in trip and he's respected.

6/1

2nd

1

15th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 3f 98y

Class 4

17:05 Chepstow

Risk De Pluie

12st 2lb

J: Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: Ben Clarke

Fully deserved his breakthrough chase success over C&D (soft) under Toby McCain-Mitchell last month; the style of his win suggests he will be a major player again off a 7lb higher mark.

2/1

Form: 9 BF

Last run: 68 days

W: 11st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Out of a half-sister to smart hurdlers Zamdy Man and Clyne; represents a top yard but was disappointing favourite when well-held ninth in good-ground Hereford bumper in November and stable jockey Harry Cobden has taken an outside ride in this race.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

28th Jan 2024

Soft

2m 3f 49y

Class 4

15:25 Fontwell

Rue St Denis

11st 3lb

J: Lorcan Williams

T: Paul Nicholls

Out of a half-sister to smart hurdlers Zamdy Man and Clyne; represents a top yard but was disappointing favourite when well-held ninth in good-ground Hereford bumper in November and stable jockey Harry Cobden has taken an outside ride in this race.

10/1

9th

9

21st Nov 2023

Good

2m 0f 53y

Class 5

15:45 Hereford

Rue St Denis

11st 2lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

75,000euros 3yo; first foal; dam placed in Czech Republic, half-sister to 1m Flat/smart 2m hurdle/chase winner Zamdy Man and useful 2m-2m4f hurdle winner Clyne; Ditcheat newcomer, has to be respected.

5/2

Form: 70-P63

Last run: 46 days

W: 11st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
0-7 over hurdles; stayed on for third off lowly mark in Exeter handicap (2m2f, soft) last month but that piece of form does little to advertise his claims at this level.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

9

6th May 2026

Good

2m 3f 104y

Class 5

19:42 Fontwell

Wellwillya

10st 5lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Helen Nelmes

Record of 2-7 over fences and he ran a big race in defeat at Exeter (2m3f, good to soft) last month; is also well suited by this track and he should be in the mix again after a short break.

10/1

2nd

10

6th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 48y

Class 5

14:10 Exeter

Wellwillya

10st 6lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Helen Nelmes

2-6 over fences and was running well when last seen 12 months ago; trip/ground fine and on a competitive mark, while has won after a break in the past.

13/2

Form: 222

Last run: 16 days

W: 11st 3lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Third on Irish point debut last April and runner-up in all three subsequent bumpers (good/good to soft); has good standard to reach on today's hurdling debut but Harry Cobden is a positive jockey booking; shortlisted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

3

12th May 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 114y

Class 3

16:25 Plumpton

Yalla Habibi

11st 10lb

J: Freddie Gordon

T: Harriet Dickin

raced in third, mistake 4 out, lost position after 3 out

13/8

3rd

3

12th May 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 114y

Class 3

16:25 Plumpton

Yalla Habibi

11st 10lb

J: Freddie Gordon

T: Harriet Dickin

raced in third, mistake 4 out, lost position after 3 out

13/8

1st

7

22nd Apr 2024

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

19:00 Kempton

Yalla Habibi

11st 10lb

J: Bradley Harris

T: Harriet Dickin

took keen hold, midfield, hit 3 out, good headway and went second 2 out, ridden and challenging last, led final 110yds, kept on well

6/1

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Johnny Blue

SPOTLIGHT:

Bowenspark

The Sun:

Yalla Habibi

LAMBOURN:

Johnny Blue

The Times:

Johnny Blue

Telegraph:

Johnny Blue

Daily Mirror:

Johnny Blue

Daily Record:

Johnny Blue

POSTDATA:

Bowenspark

D Express:

Bowenspark

The Star:

Bowenspark