15.20
SoftTote Guarantee, Bet Smarter EBF “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle (Qualifier) (GBB Race)
- Prize money: £6601.25
- 2m 0f 145y
- Class 3
- 6 runners
Runners: 6 runners
Type: Hurdle Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Light rain
Abandoned
Form: 124 D
Last run: 45 days
W: 11st 8lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 129
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
15th 22 |
12th Apr 2024 Soft 2m 4f 0y Class 1 |
10st 11lb |
Two novice hurdle wins this term (2m1f/2m, heavy) along with a Grade 2 second, and he rallied for a near-9l fourth of 16 on handicap debut in the Imperial Cup at Sandown (2m, soft) last month; this 3m point winner is open to improvement now up in trip and is one to consider; cheekpieces go on. |
6/1 |
|
15th 22 |
12th Apr 2024 Soft 2m 4f 0y Class 1 |
10st 11lb |
Two novice hurdle wins this term (2m1f/2m, heavy) along with a Grade 2 second, and he rallied for a near-9l fourth of 16 on handicap debut in the Imperial Cup at Sandown (2m, soft) last month; this 3m point winner is open to improvement now up in trip and is one to consider; cheekpieces go on. |
6/1 |
|
4th 7 |
9th Mar 2024 Heavy 1m 7f 216y Class 2 |
11st 4lb |
3m point winner who scored on hurdle debut at Carlisle (2m1f, heavy) in October and, after making the frame in Graded races the next twice, won Newbury novice (2m, heavy) last month when back down in grade; improvement needed on handicap debut but that's possible from this unexposed 6yo, who could prove well suited by this big-field scenario and expected strong pace. |
5/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 2421
Last run: 45 days
W: 11st 8lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: 113
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4 |
24th Nov 2024 Good To Soft 2m 3f 207y Class 4 |
11st 9lb |
Won 2m4f novice at Sedgefield (good to soft) after Christmas and fair efforts in defeat in the spring; however he didn't run much of a race on his handicap debut at Warwick (2m5f, good) so no strong case this time. |
9/1 |
|
7th 4 |
24th Nov 2024 Good To Soft 2m 3f 207y Class 4 |
11st 9lb |
raced in second, pressed leader before 3 out, weakened before 2 out |
9/1 |
|
7th 2 |
3rd Oct 2024 Good To Soft 2m 5f 0y Class 3 |
11st 11lb |
Won Sedgefield novice (2m4f, good to soft) on Boxing Day and probably bettered that form when placed on final two starts last season; makes handicap debut after a break but further progress is possible. |
7/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 9-237
Last run: 85 days
W: 11st 2lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 7 |
15th May 2026 Good 2m 3f 200y Class 3 |
11st 5lb |
Not as good as he was but has still won two of his last four races and has only raced six times for this yard; up 5lb for Kelso but couldn't dismiss. |
13/2 |
|
1st 3 |
20th Apr 2026 Good 2m 5f 133y Class 4 |
11st 12lb |
Made all to land good prize at Musselburgh (2m4f, good to soft; first-time tongue-tie) in January and is also very well suited by this track but he's no longer the force of old and was unable to land a telling blow at Carlisle last month; others have more appealing profiles. |
10/1 |
|
5th 3 |
22nd Mar 2026 Good To Soft 2m 3f 210y Class 2 |
11st 11lb |
Strike-rate over fences is 4-14; has form figures of 3312 since joining new yard, the success in notable handicap at Musselburgh (2m4f, good to soft); remains well treated on historical data; solid claims. |
4/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 3485
Last run: 16 days
W: 11st 2lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2 |
20th Jun 2025 Good 2m 4f 139y Class 5 |
12st 0lb |
Did not take to chasing at end of last year (two attempts) and was tailed off when reappearing over hurdles last month; on a good mark now but needs to have taken considerable benefit from that recent outing. |
8/1 |
|
4th 2 |
26th May 2025 Good 2m 4f 145y Class 5 |
11st 12lb |
Won maiden hurdle here (2m, soft) in March 2024 and is well handicapped if judged on that performance, but didn't take to chasing at end of 2024 and this return to hurdling comes after a 163-day break. |
5/1 |
|
4th 2 |
26th May 2025 Good 2m 4f 145y Class 5 |
11st 12lb |
Won maiden hurdle here (2m, soft) in March 2024 and is well handicapped if judged on that performance, but didn't take to chasing at end of 2024 and this return to hurdling comes after a 163-day break. |
5/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 67
Last run: 27 days
W: 11st 2lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2 |
26th May 2024 Soft 2m 3f 207y Class 5 |
11st 12lb |
didn't jump with fluency, led, hit 5th, not fluent 6th, headed when not fluent 7th, weakening when not fluent 3 out, soon lost touch and pulled up |
33/1 |
|
2 |
26th May 2024 Soft 2m 3f 207y Class 5 |
11st 12lb |
led, hit 5th, not fluent 6th, headed when not fluent 7th, weakening when not fluent 3 out, soon lost touch |
33/1 |
|
5th 3 |
4th May 2024 Good To Soft 2m 0f 48y Class 4 |
11st 6lb |
in touch with leaders, hit 3rd |
10/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 72-
Last run: 314 days
W: 10st 9lb
7 yo Mare
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
8th 6 |
24th May 2026 Good 2m 3f 207y Class 2 |
11st 8lb |
C&D winner on this card last year and made it 5-9 here when making all to defeat Sir Galahad by 3l three weeks ago; 6lb rise sees her on a career-high mark but lots to like otherwise. |
13/2 |
|
1st 5 |
2nd May 2026 Good 2m 3f 207y Class 3 |
11st 7lb |
Four of her five wins over hurdles have been at this track (three over today's distance); must overcome a lengthy absence and is 7lb higher than for her last success but she cannot he dismissed around here. |
6/1 |
|
2 |
19th Jul 2025 Good To Soft 2m 1f 46y Class 3 |
11st 12lb |
Keen-going front-runner; in career-best form this season, winning twice over 2m4f in May before very creditable second in valuable C&D contest last month; effective on good and soft ground; could be hard to catch. |
3/1 |
Verdict
Having made an excellent start over hurdles, MAKING HEADWAY faces a straightforward task back in these much calmer waters having come in fourth in an Aintree Grade 1 last time out. Donald McCain has won two of the last three runnings of this contest and his Panhandle Slim rates second best ahead of Mount Gallion and Nick The Greek.[Peter Entwistle]