February 01 / 14.45 Wincanton

14.45

Good To Soft

Weatherbys nhstallions.co.uk Novices’ Hurdle (Novices’ Championship Hurdle Qualifier) (GBB) (Div I)

  • Prize money: £4955.86
  • 1m 7f 50y
  • Class 3
  • 9 runners
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Weatherbys nhstallions.co.uk Novices’ Hurdle (Novices’ Championship Hurdle Qualifier) (GBB) (Div I)

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

7/4 (Won)

  • Win: £2.75
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 257-2P BF

Last run: 51 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Second in a bumper on good to soft; looked poised to win on hurdling debut at Ffos Las (2m, heavy) in November until stumbling badly at last flight and succumbing to a strong finisher; raced too freely and was very disappointing favourite when returning there in December; major player if he's back to his best.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 199y

Class 1

14:00 Cheltenham

Steel Ally

11st 7lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Sam Thomas

Pulled up on two of his last three goes over hurdles but the transition to chasing has been smooth and he's 3-3; showed further improvement when easily beating two rivals (Mambonumberfive well held in third) in Grade 2 Kingmaker Novices' at Warwick (2m, heavy; handles good) last month; faces his sternest assignment and will need another personal best.

12/1

1st

1

7th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 0f 54y

Class 1

13:50 Warwick

Steel Ally

11st 7lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Sam Thomas

Very useful hurdler with 2-2 strike-rate over fences this season, the latter win gained by 9l in Grade 2 novice at Ascot (2m3f, soft) in December; should be fine back at 2m and ought to be a very tough nut to crack.

4/5

3

4th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 1

14:20 Aintree

Steel Ally

11st 13lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Sam Thomas

in touch with leaders

10/1

9/4

  • Place: £1.10

Form: 7-712 CD

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
Contested good bumpers; eased clear to win by 11l on hurdling debut over C&D (soft) and then bumped into a top prospect in Tellherthename at Huntingdon; there's nothing of his calibre to worry about here.
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

20/1

  • Place: £6.30

Form:

Last run:

W: 10st 4lb

4 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Looked ordinary in seven defeats for Richard Hannon, from 7f to 1m4f; wouldn't be the obvious answer to this.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

18th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 167y

Class 3

15:35 Newton Abbot

Manuelito

11st 11lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Never really got competitive at Aintree festival in April but his front-running win at Newbury (2m, good to soft) two starts ago makes him of interest here and, after only nine hurdle runs, he's not yet fully exposed.

3/1

9th

10

4th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 103y

Class 2

17:15 Aintree

Manuelito

10st 7lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

didn't always jump with fluency, towards rear

12/1

9th

10

4th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 103y

Class 2

17:15 Aintree

Manuelito

10st 7lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

didn't always jump with fluency, towards rear

12/1

Form: P7P

Last run: 19 days

W: 10st 4lb

4 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Two Flat wins for Andrew Balding; has been poor under both codes for current connections.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

17th May 2026

Good To Firm

2m 0f 70y

Class 5

16:35 Stratford

Galactic Jack

11st 1lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Useful on the Flat in his prime; 0-8 over hurdles but posted best of three runs for new stable (since a long absence) when third at Taunton (2m, good; behind Mi Sueno) last month and is another 1lb lower here; respected.

4/1

3rd

4

22nd Apr 2026

Good

2m 0f 104y

Class 5

18:30 Taunton

Galactic Jack

11st 0lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

A useful middle-distance Flat performer, but still a maiden over hurdles after seven attempts and has yet to rediscover his form in two starts since returning from a long absence this season; likely best watched for now.

12/1

4th

7

6th Apr 2026

Good

1m 7f 195y

Class 4

16:55 Plumpton

Galactic Jack

10st 8lb

J: Freddie Mitchell

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Useful on the Flat, won 1m4f Salisbury handicap in 2023 off a mark of 88; more off days than on in the meantime but soft ground no help on recent yard debut after nearly two years off; worth a market check off a very low mark now back on more suitable ground; cheekpieces refitted.

9/1

Form:

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Bought for £55,000 soon after finishing second in good-ground Irish point last May; it could be that heavy ground wasn't to his liking when tailed off at Exeter (2m2f); odds of 15-2 suggested more was expected of him.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

1

9th Mar 2026

Good

2m 0f 12y

Class 5

16:40 Taunton

Paddy In The Caddy

12st 0lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

A three-time 2m chase winner last season but he's offered precious little this term, tried in blinkers when pulled up on his last two runs at Ludlow and Exeter either side of Christmas; his mark is plummeting but it's still easy to look elsewhere.

14/1

9th

5

2nd Nov 2025

Good

2m 0f 104y

Class 4

14:55 Huntingdon

Paddy In The Caddy

11st 5lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

3-8 over fences, the latest win gained gamely from the front at Wincanton (1m7f, good to soft) in March; ended last season with two lesser efforts, though, and current mark probably demands a career best.

12/1

9th

5

2nd Nov 2025

Good

2m 0f 104y

Class 4

14:55 Huntingdon

Paddy In The Caddy

11st 5lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

3-8 over fences, the latest win gained gamely from the front at Wincanton (1m7f, good to soft) in March; ended last season with two lesser efforts, though, and current mark probably demands a career best.

12/1

OUR TIP

Form: 323-4

Last run: 100 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Placed in two bumpers and a 2m soft-ground novice at Warwick in late 2022; had 11 months off after that and he moved well for a long way before getting tired at Exeter (2m2f, good) in October; since had wind surgery and now tries a tongue-tie; probably has to improve a bit.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

3rd Jun 2026

Good

2m 0f 167y

Class 3

16:30 Newton Abbot

American Land

11st 6lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Prolific between November 2024 and June 2025, with his four wins in that spell including two here; his progress seemed to stall subsequently but he ran well when second of five to a progressive winner at Chepstow (2m, good) last time and could be in the mix; effective on good to soft.

4/1

2nd

4

24th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 16y

Class 3

19:07 Chepstow

American Land

11st 3lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Taunton win this time last year was the first leg of an eventual hat-trick (2m1f-2m3f) all recorded on good or quicker surfaces, so drying forecast is all to the good; chance, assuming he's not goaded into making the same sorts of errors as on his recent return here.

6/1

4th

2

2nd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 100y

Class 4

16:07 Chepstow

American Land

12st 0lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Has won five of his last seven races and he might be high in the weights now having come up well short (beaten 13l) on final sighting at Newton Abbot in October (2m1f); on the plus side, he's back at Class 4 level and has won over this far; others are preferred.

10/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 10st 4lb

4 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Dual 7f winner for David O'Meara for whom he raced eight times (stayed 1m2f on heavy); just the type that his new trainer does well with; tries headgear for the first time on hurdling debut following 22,000gns sale.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

24th Jun 2025

Good

2m 5f 122y

Class 4

18:57 Newton Abbot

Kentucky Bluegrass

11st 1lb

J: Lorcan Murtagh

T: Nigel Hawke

0-9 over hurdles; not disgraced when fifth of 11 off his lowly handicap mark here (2m2f, good) last month but a minor role is probably his best hope on these terms.

20/1

8

28th May 2025

Good

2m 2f 110y

Class 5

14:48 Newton Abbot

Kentucky Bluegrass

11st 4lb

J: Lorcan Murtagh

T: Nigel Hawke

Underwhelming form in handicaps and behind Privilege at Ffos Las despite that rival making a bad mistake.

25/1

8

28th May 2025

Good

2m 2f 110y

Class 5

14:48 Newton Abbot

Kentucky Bluegrass

11st 4lb

J: Lorcan Murtagh

T: Nigel Hawke

Underwhelming form in handicaps and behind Privilege at Ffos Las despite that rival making a bad mistake.

25/1

Form: 0667

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
The closest he's come was the 16l he finished behind Dartmoor Pirate here on his penultimate run; opposable.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

5

1st Mar 2026

Heavy

2m 3f 83y

Class 5

15:30 Ffos Las

Hawk Stone

11st 0lb

J: Miss Megan Bevan

T: Harriet Dickin

Rebounded from poor chasing debut when second to progressive rival here (2m, heavy; first-time visor) in January; could plausibly have untapped potential over this longer trip but was back in the doldrums on his latest outing and has become very hard to predict.

7/1

7th

3

12th Feb 2026

Heavy

1m 7f 201y

Class 5

15:15 Leicester

Hawk Stone

11st 8lb

J: Beau Morgan

T: Harriet Dickin

Record of 1-11 over hurdles and his win was in April 2024; pulled up on chase debut at Market Rasen last month but he bounced back with a good second at Ffos Las (2m, heavy; first-time visor) 13 days ago; on same mark here and has claims if he can build on that.

4/1

2nd

5

30th Jan 2026

Heavy

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

16:35 Ffos Las

Hawk Stone

11st 6lb

J: Beau Morgan

T: Harriet Dickin

Blinkered this season, running respectably in hurdles event then poorly on chase debut; bit to prove but is on a workable mark provided the switch to a visor has positive effect.

14/1

Form: 7

Last run: 43 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Had four Flat runs, winning twice over 1m4f in France; beaten 23l into seventh (of 18) on hurdling debut at Newbury (2m, soft; 11-2) but that was after an absence of 523 days so he was entitled to need it; this should reveal more.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

6

15th Dec 2023

Heavy

3m 0f 30y

Class 3

13:30 Bangor-on-Dee

Salvatore

11st 1lb

J: Tabitha Worsley

T: Mel Rowley

Won soft-ground hunter chase over C&D in February 2022 and was also successful in that sphere at Musselburgh in March but struggled on last month's seasonal/handicap debut at Fontwell (2m3f, heavy); will be suited by today's move back up in trip but others have much less to prove.

20/1

6th

1

19th Nov 2023

Heavy

2m 3f 104y

Class 4

13:00 Fontwell

Salvatore

12st 2lb

J: Alex Edwards

T: Mel Rowley

in touch with leaders, slow jump and lost position 4th, dropped to last when slow jump 6th, lost touch 9th

11/2

1st

2

1st Mar 2023

Good To Soft

2m 7f 170y

Class 5

17:00 Musselburgh

Salvatore

12st 6lb

J: Mr Darren Andrews

T: Philip Rowley

Won a hunter chase here (3m2f, soft) in February 2021 and landed another at Bangor (3m, soft) last February; fair second of four in a recent point-to-point (3m, good) and he's a leading contender now back under rules.

11/8

Non-runners

Hugo Alko

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £5.60
Straight Forecast £5.47
Trifecta £82.20

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Dartmoor Pirate

SPOTLIGHT:

Steel Ally

WEST COUNTRY:

American Land

Telegraph:

Hawk Stone

POSTDATA:

Dartmoor Pirate

The Times:

Dartmoor Pirate

The Guardian:

Dartmoor Pirate

Daily Mail:

Dartmoor Pirate

Daily Mirror:

Dartmoor Pirate

The Sun:

Dartmoor Pirate

TOPSPEED:

Steel Ally

D Express:

Steel Ally

The Star:

Steel Ally

Daily Record:

American Land