February 08 / 14.50 Huntingdon

14.50

Good

M1 Agency Sidney Banks Memorial Novices’ Hurdle (Listed Race) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £17085
  • 2m 3f 137y
  • Class 1
  • 4 runners
RTV
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M1 Agency Sidney Banks Memorial Novices’ Hurdle (Listed Race) (GBB Race)

Runners: 4 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

5/2 (Won)

  • Win: £3.25

Form: 11 D

Last run: 33 days

W: 11st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 131

Form & Verdict
Promising sort who is unbeaten in three races, namely an Irish point and two novice hurdles (good/soft); readily justified favouritism at Newcastle (2m4f) most recently; brings a very attractive profile to this higher grade and looks the type to develop into a smart sort; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 0y

Class 1

15:20 Cheltenham

Handstands

11st 12lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

2m4f Grade 1 novice chase winner last February; a couple of good runs in defeat this term, last time third of five at Windsor (2m6f, soft; first run after wind surgery), but he needs something extra today and there's a suspicion a shorter trip may be preferable; well beaten (over hurdles) on sole run here; cheekpieces go on.

11/1

3rd

1

18th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 6f 50y

Class 2

15:00 Windsor

Handstands

11st 10lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

Concedes weight all round and he hasn't been able to recapture last season's abundant novice chase promise on his two outings this season; however, he's had wind surgery since last time, which may have helped, and he could be a contender if rediscovering the form shown when winning the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices' Chase at Sandown last February (2m4f, heavy; made all).

4/1

2nd

1

2nd Nov 2025

Good

2m 3f 210y

Class 1

14:37 Carlisle

Handstands

11st 10lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

Lost touch after being hampered when one of the favourites for a 3m1f Grade 1 at the Grand National meeting; had won all his completed starts over fences, the pick when edging out subsequent Arkle winner Jango Baie in the Grade 1 Scilly Isles at Sandown (2m4f, heavy; versatile ground-wise); these terms are favourable despite top weight and he will be tough to conquer if on his game.

8/15

OUR TIP

Form: 11

Last run: 44 days

W: 11st 10lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 139

Form & Verdict
2-2 under rules, winning soft-ground novice hurdles at Ascot (1m7f) and Aintree (2m Grade 1); somewhat fortunate in latter, with task made easier when the favourite fell, but he's top on ratings in this field and still very unexposed; bred to be as effective at this longer trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

9th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 210y

Class 1

14:55 Aintree

Jango Baie

11st 10lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

Kept on for close third to Impaire Et Passe in the 2m4f Manifesto here 12 months ago and has improved for longer trips this season; very close fourth in thrilling finish to the King George at Kempton (3m, good) in December and 8l second in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham (3m2f, good to soft) last month; leading claims if that hard race 27 days ago hasn't left a mark.

5/6

2nd

8

13th Mar 2026

Good

3m 2f 70y

Class 1

16:00 Cheltenham

Jango Baie

11st 10lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

Came from behind to win the Arkle here (2m, good to soft) 12 months ago and, as could be anticipated, was well suited by the step up to 3m when a very close fourth behind The Jukebox Man and Gaelic Warrior in the King George at Kempton (3m, good) in December; of the four involved in that thrilling finish he arguably shaped as the one most likely to improve for today's stiffer test; seems versatile ground-wise; could play a leading role.

4/1

3rd

6

3rd Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 200y

Class 1

13:45 Aintree

Jango Baie

11st 7lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

Short-headed in Grade 1 Scilly Isles at Sandown (2m4f, heavy) in February on second chase start and rallied from a very unpromising position to win the Arkle at Cheltenham (2m, good to soft) last month; unraced on good ground; ran big races over hurdles on both visits here and he's a leading contender with the step back up in trip likely to be in his favour.

9/4

Form: 11 D

Last run: 53 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 129

Form & Verdict
Similar type to two of these rivals, being 2-2 under rules, albeit showing a lower level of form; the wins came in novice hurdles at Catterick (2m3f) and Southwell (2m4f), both on good to soft ground; faces a harder assignment upped in grade but is open to further improvement.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

13th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 213y

Class 1

14:40 Cheltenham

Bugise Seagull

11st 10lb

J: David Bass

T: Charlie Longsdon

12l third in Grade 1 novice hurdle at Aintree (2m4f) last April; back from chasing for 3m handicap hurdles on last two outings, always close up when second of 11 at Musselburgh (again good to soft) last time; up 2lb but, in this second season under rules, no shock if he has more to give.

28/1

2nd

1

2nd Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 2

15:00 Musselburgh

Bugise Seagull

12st 0lb

J: David Bass

T: Charlie Longsdon

disputed lead, raced in second after 5th, ridden before 2 out, stayed on

12/1

2nd

1

2nd Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 2

15:00 Musselburgh

Bugise Seagull

12st 0lb

J: David Bass

T: Charlie Longsdon

12l third in Grade 1 novice hurdle at Aintree (2m4f) last April; back from chasing when creditable third of six off this mark at Doncaster five weeks ago on his step up to 3m; closely matched with runner-up Pyffo on that result and he could have more to offer as a stayer.

12/1

Form: 1-21 D

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 131

Form & Verdict
Justified favouritism in clearcut fashion at Warwick (2m3f, soft; second hurdles run) last month, adding to his bumper win and taking record to 2-3; solid effort (form has substance) the time before; incurs 3lb penalty upped in class but is likely to progress further; interesting.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

1

6th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 161y

Class 4

15:10 Exeter

Diamond Ri

12st 2lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Promising novice hurdler but no sign of that form since returning from an absence; had wind surgery and a tongue-tie is added, but very risky.

20/1

1

15th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 150y

Class 3

15:02 Wincanton

Diamond Ri

11st 9lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

His novice hurdle form reads well but he went absent for 590 days and has shown very little since returning, albeit in just two races; cheekpieces tried.

25/1

2nd

1

17th Apr 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 56y

Class 2

13:30 Cheltenham

Diamond Ri

11st 10lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Won by 13l on last season's bumper debut and built upon promising hurdling debut when scoring at Warwick (2m3f, soft) in January; didn't really fire when last of four in subsequent Huntingdon Listed race but remains a good prospect.

6/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £5.00
Straight Forecast £5.46
Trifecta £11.80

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Jango Baie

SPOTLIGHT:

Handstands

WEST COUNTRY:

Diamond Ri

The Star:

Handstands

Daily Record:

Handstands

TOPSPEED:

Jango Baie

POSTDATA:

Jango Baie

LAMBOURN:

Jango Baie

The Times:

Jango Baie

Telegraph:

Jango Baie

The Guardian:

Jango Baie

Daily Mail:

Jango Baie

D Express:

Jango Baie

Daily Mirror:

Jango Baie

The Sun:

Jango Baie