January 31 / 14.55 Leicester

14.55

Soft

EBF British Stallion Studs “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle (Qualifier) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £5990.6
  • 2m 4f 110y
  • Class 3
  • 6 runners
RTV
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EBF British Stallion Studs “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle (Qualifier) (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

2/1 (Won)

  • Win: £2.00
  • Place: £1.10

Form: P2-721 D

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 8lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Took well to first-time cheekpieces at Ludlow (2m5f, soft) this month, opening his account at the tenth attempt; penalty is virtually offset by Beau Morgan's useful 5lb claim; leading player in the retained headgear.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

14th Jan 2026

Good

2m 7f 91y

Class 4

14:05 Newbury

Awaythelad

11st 10lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

He's just 1lb higher than when winning at Southwell (3m, good to soft) last March; Ascot in November was a step back in the right direction but he was still below his best and this 9yo needs to raise his game today.

20/1

9

24th Oct 2025

Good

3m 1f 0y

Class 3

16:45 Cheltenham

Awaythelad

11st 8lb

J: Miss Gina Andrews

T: Ben Pauling

Spoiled chance by jumping poorly on final appearance last season but won with considerable authority at Southwell (3m, good to soft) two starts ago and has good claims if able to repeat that performance.

14/1

4th

2

5th Apr 2025

Good

2m 7f 131y

Class 4

14:15 Chepstow

Awaythelad

11st 10lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Ben Pauling

didn't jump well, disputed lead, lost position when slow jump 2nd, led before 8th, headed 8th, lost position after 4 out, soon weakened

6/4

13/8

  • Place: £1.10

Form: 31-212 BF

Last run: 40 days

W: 11st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Dual bumper winner; has form figures of 212 over hurdles, the win gained at Fakenham (2m, good to soft); ran well in Ascot handicap (2m5f, good to soft) most recently; strong contender returned to novice level.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

1

25th May 2026

Good

3m 1f 83y

Class 2

15:23 Cartmel

Roger Pol

12st 0lb

J: Isabelle Ryder

T: Jamie Snowden

Won three 2m7f handicaps (all on good) in early part of last season; made low-key return behind Tranquil Sea last month but that race was competitive and, with that run behind him, he may yet have more improvement to come.

11/1

7th

4

19th Apr 2026

Good

3m 0f 217y

Class 2

15:27 Plumpton

Roger Pol

11st 8lb

J: Isabelle Ryder

T: Jamie Snowden

Absent since an October double (2m7f Class 3) that took his hurdles record to 4-12; returns to action off a stiffer mark in deeper waters and looks by no means certain to bag the hat-trick.

12/1

3

11th Oct 2025

Good

2m 7f 63y

Class 3

16:20 Hexham

Roger Pol

11st 12lb

J: Isabelle Ryder

T: Jamie Snowden

Has quickly struck up a good partnership with Isabelle Ryder and he came from well back to win easily at Uttoxeter (2m7f, good) last Sunday; if he's in the same sort of form he'll be in the mix again under a 7lb penalty.

5/4

OUR TIP

Form: 34-1P

Last run: 65 days

W: 11st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Made the frame in two Ayr bumpers for previous yard; sent to France for both hurdles starts, winning at Machecoul (2m3f, very soft) then pulled up at Nantes; hood now added; market can guide returned to British soil.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

31st Jan 2024

Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 3

14:55 Leicester

Giacosa

11st 8lb

J: David Bass

T: Sophie Leech

Made the frame in two Ayr bumpers for previous yard; sent to France for both hurdles starts, winning at Machecoul (2m3f, very soft) then pulled up at Nantes; hood now added; market can guide returned to British soil.

8/1

4th

5

22nd Apr 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

17:20 Ayr

Giacosa

11st 3lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: S R B Crawford

Showed some promise when third over C&D (good to soft; 4-1) in February and wouldn't have to improve much to be a serious contender today; Stuart Crawford and Brian Hughes combined to win this race in 2021.

8/1

3rd

3

27th Feb 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

17:00 Ayr

Giacosa

11st 2lb

J: Sam Ewing

T: S R B Crawford

chased leaders, pushed along and went third 3f out, soon ridden and no extra

4/1

Form: 4 BF

Last run: 43 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Placed twice in Irish points; jumping lacked fluency and he proved a disappointing favourite at Fakenham (2m4f, soft) for new stable but losing a shoe didn't help; open to improvement.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

18th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 198y

Class 5

14:05 Taunton

Bennettsbridge

10st 12lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Placed twice in Irish points; soundly beaten when fourth on all three starts over hurdles, upped to 2m7f for his handicap debut last time; now tries headgear.

10/1

9

18th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 198y

Class 5

14:05 Taunton

Bennettsbridge

10st 12lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Placed twice in Irish points; soundly beaten when fourth on all three starts over hurdles, upped to 2m7f for his handicap debut last time; now tries headgear.

10/1

Form: 32578

Last run: 60 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Form dipped sharply on final start in bumpers and he has struggled in both attempts over hurdles (2m); combination of first-time tongue-tie and new trip needs to have major effect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14

24th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 32y

Class 5

18:10 Bangor-on-Dee

Professor Higgins

10st 2lb

J: Jack Hogan

T: Gary Hanmer

pressed leader, wandered on approach 1st, prominent when mistake 6th, not fluent 8th, soon weakened

25/1

14

24th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 32y

Class 5

18:10 Bangor-on-Dee

Professor Higgins

10st 2lb

J: Jack Hogan

T: Gary Hanmer

pressed leader, wandered on approach 1st, prominent when mistake 6th, not fluent 8th, soon weakened

25/1

6th

10

4th May 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 70y

Class 5

18:53 Uttoxeter

Professor Higgins

10st 10lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Gary Hanmer

Poor hurdle form since showing promise in bumpers and headgear is added for today's handicap debut over a new trip; hard to be confident.

20/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
6,000euros 2yo; half-brother to French winners Vanada (7.5f) and Valeya (1m4f), out of Listed-placed 9.5f AW/1m7f turf winner; sole newcomer in the field; market instructive.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

8

31st Jan 2024

Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 3

14:55 Leicester

Valdivi

11st 2lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

6,000euros 2yo; half-brother to French winners Vanada (7.5f) and Valeya (1m4f), out of Listed-placed 9.5f AW/1m7f turf winner; sole newcomer in the field; market instructive.

10/1

Non-runners

Big John Wayne, Rocket Ronald

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £2.60
Straight Forecast £2.58
Trifecta £10.10

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Awaythelad

TOPSPEED:

Roger Pol

Daily Record:

Rocket Ronald

Telegraph:

Bennettsbridge

LAMBOURN:

Roger Pol

The Times:

Roger Pol

Daily Mail:

Roger Pol

The Sun:

Roger Pol

The Star:

Roger Pol

RP RATINGS:

Awaythelad

POSTDATA:

Awaythelad

WEST COUNTRY:

Awaythelad

The Guardian:

Awaythelad

D Express:

Awaythelad

Daily Mirror:

Awaythelad