February 24 / 15.00 Kempton

15.00

Soft

Coral Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £34170
  • 2m 0f 0y
  • Class 1
  • 6 runners
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Coral Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

5/4 (Won)

  • Win: £2.63
  • Place: £1.40

Form: 13-112 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
Ran well in the Grade 2 Rossington Main at Doncaster (2m, good) four weeks ago, taking hurdles form figures to 112; acts on any ground; improving and has the best chance on ratings.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

31st Oct 2025

Good

1m 7f 214y

Class 3

15:05 Uttoxeter

Lump Sum

11st 5lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Sam Thomas

Smart hurdler who won Welsh Champion Hurdle at Ffos Las (2m, good to soft) on last season's reappearance and was subsequently second in Fighting Fifth at Newcastle and William Hill Hurdle at Newbury; absent since below-par run in March but still commands respect on chasing debut.

13/8

1st

4

31st Oct 2025

Good

1m 7f 214y

Class 3

15:05 Uttoxeter

Lump Sum

11st 5lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Sam Thomas

Smart hurdler who won Welsh Champion Hurdle at Ffos Las (2m, good to soft) on last season's reappearance and was subsequently second in Fighting Fifth at Newcastle and William Hill Hurdle at Newbury; absent since below-par run in March but still commands respect on chasing debut.

13/8

100/30

  • Place: £1.70

Form: 00-113 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 129

Form & Verdict
Good third in similar event at Doncaster (2m, good) four weeks ago, taking hurdles form figures to 113, and ties in closely with Lump Sum on that effort; acts on soft; major contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13th

6

10th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 1

13:45 Aintree

Fiercely Proud

11st 11lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Ben Pauling

Has gained both handicap wins in useful contests at Ascot (1m7f/2m3f); something to prove back at Aintree and finished behind some of today's rivals at the Cheltenham Festival (2m4f, soft) last time.

25/1

12th

9

13th Mar 2026

Good

2m 4f 56y

Class 2

17:20 Cheltenham

Fiercely Proud

11st 8lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Ben Pauling

Has gained both handicap wins in useful races at Ascot, including latest start when upped to 2m3f (good to soft) and back to best; back on career-high mark but is unexposed at this sort of trip and not necessarily track dependent; has bits of Cheltenham form, including a bumper success.

16/1

1st

5

14th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 3f 63y

Class 2

14:25 Ascot

Fiercely Proud

11st 4lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Ben Pauling

Folded tamely last time when bidding to land a notable Ascot handicap (1m7f) for the second year running; capable of being involved on best form and has sometimes shaped as if this new trip is worth exploring.

12/1

Form: 1-1321 D

Last run: 33 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 126

Form & Verdict
Good third in similar event at Cheltenham (2m, good) in October; justified favouritism at Plumpton (2m4f, soft) most recently, taking rules record to 3-5; could go well, back in this grade.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

2

17th Jul 2026

Good

2m 6f 180y

14:32 Killarney

Idy Wood

11st 11lb

J: Keith Donoghue

T: Gavin Cromwell

Four-time winner over hurdles in Britain with Jamie Snowden at up to 2m5f, also a dual winner over fences; well beaten in Pertemps Final and pulled up (lost right shoe) at Haydock in April final start before bought for 18,000GBP following month; interesting to see if new yard can spark a revival, ground to suit.

8/1

2

15th Apr 2026

Good

2m 5f 50y

Class 2

15:15 Haydock

Idy Wood

11st 5lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

Won over fences last season and has won twice over hurdles since September; now he's on a recovery mission after very quiet runs at Windsor (2m4f) and at the Cheltenham Festival (3m; again on his favoured good ground).

14/1

22th

16

12th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 213y

Class 1

16:40 Cheltenham

Idy Wood

10st 8lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

Won two chases last season and 2-4 back hurdling this term, with all those wins on good ground but he also scored on soft in his novice days; however, tailed off at Windsor on New Year's Day, unraced beyond 2m5f under rules and needs to resume his improvement.

50/1

8/1

Form: 513-12 D

Last run: 77 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
Absent since finishing second of three in Sandown Listed race (2m, heavy) 11 weeks ago; faces a harder task in this field but remains unexposed and has gained both wins when fresh; interesting.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

7

9th May 2026

Good

1m 7f 144y

Class 1

13:15 Haydock

Helnwein

11st 5lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Alan King

Often gives his running in strong handicaps (second in this event 12 months ago) but losing sequence is up to 11 and he looked held when falling two out in the Plumpton race won by Indemnity last time; cheekpieces left off today; opposable off unchanged mark.

10/1

3

5th Apr 2026

Good

1m 7f 195y

Class 2

16:05 Plumpton

Helnwein

11st 11lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Alan King

Had strong handicap form even before finishing second to Alexei in the Greatwood and fifth in an Ascot handicap that could barely have worked out any better, with the four ahead of him all delivering high-profile efforts in the meantime (well in with fourth-placed Mondo Man); failed favourite backers in a lower grade at Newbury but this strong traveller might have won had he not been left in front two out (then idled); every chance should this pan out more favourably; all ground seems fine.

13/2

2nd

1

20th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 69y

Class 3

15:00 Newbury

Helnwein

12st 2lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Alan King

Had some very strong handicap form even before his last two runs when second to Alexei in the Greatwood and fifth in an Ascot handicap that could barely have worked out any better, with the four ahead of him all delivering high-profile efforts in the meantime; must have every chance in this lower grade; drying ground won't bother him.

13/8

OUR TIP

Form: 521371 D

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 127

Form & Verdict
Took well to first-time cheekpieces at Musselburgh (1m7f, soft; scored easily) three weeks ago; now concedes 3lb all round in a better race but may have more to offer in the retained headgear.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14th

1

27th Apr 2024

Good

1m 7f 216y

Class 2

13:50 Sandown

Panjari

12st 0lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Paul Nicholls

A useful 1m2f Flat winner in Germany (on good and good to soft) who has had a fine first season over hurdles, and in the last of his three novice wins he beat Dartmoor Pirate who was close up in Sandown's EBF Final the time before; it's all come at a cost mark-wise but there could be even more in the locker under drying conditions.

12/1

14th

1

27th Apr 2024

Good

1m 7f 216y

Class 2

13:50 Sandown

Panjari

12st 0lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Paul Nicholls

A useful 1m2f Flat winner in Germany (on good and good to soft) who has had a fine first season over hurdles, and in the last of his three novice wins he beat Dartmoor Pirate who was close up in Sandown's EBF Final the time before; it's all come at a cost mark-wise but there could be even more in the locker under drying conditions.

12/1

1st

1

16th Apr 2024

Heavy

1m 7f 182y

Class 4

16:15 Ffos Las

Panjari

12st 0lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Paul Nicholls

travelled strongly, pressed leader, disputed lead 3rd, led narrowly 3 out, went clear run-in, easily

5/2

Form: 2-1450 D

Last run: 54 days

W: 11st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
Disappointing at Musselburgh on New Year's Day but consistent otherwise this term and may bounce back; ties in with Idy Wood and Panjari on Cheltenham form in October/December.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

1

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 144y

Class 2

14:12 Haydock

Williethebuilder

12st 0lb

J: Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: Christian Williams

Won two in a row at Kempton (2m, good) in the winter before another good run when fourth at Musselburgh (1m7f, good to soft), where he would have been a bit closer but for late interference; soft ground may not have been ideal in the County Hurdle three weeks ago; might not be far away.

7/1

18th

13

13th Mar 2026

Good

2m 0f 179y

Class 1

14:00 Cheltenham

Williethebuilder

10st 10lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Christian Williams

A rare one in that he's improved since leaving Dan Skelton, winning a pair of 2m handicaps on good ground at Kempton this winter; creditable fourth of ten in the Scottish County at Musselburgh six weeks ago but it underlines that he needs to find a bit more from this career-high mark.

25/1

4th

2

31st Jan 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 124y

Class 2

13:43 Musselburgh

Williethebuilder

11st 7lb

J: Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: Christian Williams

7yo who has been with a new stable since October and has shown career-best form to win at Kempton (2m, good) on his last two starts; has shown promise on soft/good to soft; clearly thriving and could take latest 6lb rise in his stride if today's slower conditions aren't an issue.

100/30

Non-runners

Fasol, Secret Squirrel

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £5.90
Straight Forecast £5.69
Tricast £28.06
Trifecta £30.40

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Lump Sum

POSTDATA:

Fiercely Proud

TOPSPEED:

Panjari

D Express:

Secret Squirrel

LAMBOURN:

Idy Wood

SPOTLIGHT:

Helnwein

The Times:

Lump Sum

Telegraph:

Lump Sum

Daily Mirror:

Lump Sum

The Sun:

Lump Sum

Daily Record:

Lump Sum

WEST COUNTRY:

Fiercely Proud

The Star:

Fiercely Proud

The Guardian:

Panjari

Daily Mail:

Panjari