February 28 / 16.20 Bangor-on-Dee

16.20

Heavy

Ruabon Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £5281
  • 2m 3f 123y
  • Class 3
  • 8 runners
SKY
View Course
Ruabon Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

5/1 (Won)

  • Win: £6.50
  • Place: £1.30

Form: 52-2

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Second in bumpers at Wetherby (good to soft/soft) in February 2023 and 2024, having been absent in between; so nearly got back up in the latter and has a pretty useful pedigree for hurdling; winning at this first attempt over hurdles demands quite a bit but he's one to consider.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

1st Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 189y

Class 2

14:20 Kelso

Mr Bramley

12st 0lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Jedd O’Keeffe

Won on reappearance at Wetherby (2m4f, good to soft) and made it 4-6 over hurdles when returning to winning ways at Wetherby (2m3f, soft) four weeks ago; has also won elsewhere (first visit here); could be suited by today's extra yardage and he's a strong contender.

7/2

1st

6

1st Feb 2025

Soft

2m 3f 154y

Class 3

14:43 Wetherby

Mr Bramley

11st 8lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Jedd O’Keeffe

midfield

11/4

1st

6

1st Feb 2025

Soft

2m 3f 154y

Class 3

14:43 Wetherby

Mr Bramley

11st 8lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Jedd O’Keeffe

midfield

11/4

OUR TIP

10/11

  • Place: £1.10

Form: 6113 C

Last run: 35 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Well related; won two small-field bumpers here (soft/heavy) in December; much better form when third of ten in a maiden hurdle at Chepstow (2m3f, soft) five weeks ago and that sets a good standard.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 5f 201y

Class 2

17:20 Cheltenham

Guard The Moon

11st 7lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Made a bad mistake at the fourth fence at Newbury in December and soon pulled up; clearcut winner of small-field novice handicaps at Aintree (2m4f, soft) and Windsor (3m, soft; first-time cheekpieces) in his other two chases and he shaped in the latter as if stamina was a strong suit.

20/1

1st

2

16th Jan 2026

Soft

3m 0f 60y

Class 3

13:15 Windsor

Guard The Moon

11st 7lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Made a bad mistake at the fourth fence and soon pulled up at Newbury last month; however, prior to that he won in good style on his chase debut at Aintree (2m4f, soft) and he should be fine now back up in trip; likely player if minimising the blunders in first-time cheekpieces.

11/2

3

25th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 2f 127y

Class 3

15:52 Perth

Guard The Moon

11st 10lb

J: James Turner

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

Struggled in the Pertemps Final and his previous run was no better; however, he beat recent Cheltenham winner Long Draw at Warwick earlier this season and followed that with two excellent seconds at up to 3m; if back in that sort of form he'd be a live contender.

6/1

7/2

  • Place: £1.10

Form: 2421 D

Last run: 64 days

W: 11st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Second in one of his bumpers and here on hurdle debut (2m, soft) in December, before going one better when upped to 2m4f at Sedgefield (good to soft; led run-in) on Boxing Day; should need further improvement to win this and now has 7lb claimer on board.
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

15:10 Uttoxeter

Panhandle Slim

11st 9lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Donald McCain

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

15:10 Uttoxeter

Panhandle Slim

11st 9lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Donald McCain

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

15:30 Warwick

Panhandle Slim

11st 11lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

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

Form: 5-6P

Last run: 70 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Dam sister to high-class Mighty Man; beaten 38l, however, in his first bumper, reportedly bled next time and pulled up on hurdle debut latest.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

8

28th Feb 2024

Heavy

2m 3f 123y

Class 3

16:20 Bangor-on-Dee

Scrumpy

11st 2lb

J: Richard Patrick

T: Henry Daly

Dam sister to high-class Mighty Man; beaten 38l, however, in his first bumper, reportedly bled next time and pulled up on hurdle debut latest.

50/1

0

9

20th Dec 2023

Good To Soft

1m 7f 169y

Class 4

15:35 Ludlow

Scrumpy

11st 0lb

J: Richard Patrick

T: Henry Daly

Out of a sister to stable's high-class staying hurdling Mighty Man; tailed off in both his bumpers and reportedly bled in the latest.

33/1

6th

4

12th May 2023

Good

2m 0f 125y

Class 5

17:08 Market Rasen

Scrumpy

11st 2lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Henry Daly

Out of a sister to stable's high-class staying hurdling Mighty Man but was beaten about 38l when fifth on debut at Hereford (good to soft) in November and hasn't raced again since.

16/1

Form: 0/400/

Last run: 907 days

W: 11st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Fourth in a maiden hurdle at Kilbeggan (2m, good) in May 2021 was far and away the best he did in six Irish runs for Olivia Hegarty; absent 907 days and surely best watched.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

8

22nd Jul 2024

Good

2m 5f 34y

Class 5

17:00 Cartmel

Over Milk Wood

10st 13lb

J: Jack Hogan

T: Gary Hanmer

2-4 since switched to fences this spring, the latter win gained from the front in four-runner race at Uttoxeter (2m4f, good to soft); has a bit more on his plate here but further progress is possible.

7/1

1st

6

15th Jun 2024

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

19:45 Uttoxeter

Over Milk Wood

10st 4lb

J: Jack Hogan

T: Gary Hanmer

made all, hit 11th, kept on well from 2 out, pushed out

7/2

4th

6

30th May 2024

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

20:40 Warwick

Over Milk Wood

10st 9lb

J: Jack Hogan

T: Gary Hanmer

Improved on his chase debut when scoring at Uttoxeter (2m5f, good to soft) recently; up 5lb since that career-best effort but if he is able to step up again he'd be a contender.

7/2

Form: 501

Last run: 17 days

W: 11st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
First two starts saw him beat a total of one rival; 200-1, therefore, for a novice hurdle at Exeter (2m2f, heavy) 17 days ago but he made most to win that eight-runner race, rallying to see off the 4-9 favourite; wandered at plenty of his hurdles that day and looks the type to improve but the penalty may be his undoing today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

22nd Apr 2024

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

15:12 Ffos Las

Absolute Steel

11st 10lb

J: Richard Patrick

T: Tom Lacey

midfield, dropped to rear after 2nd, reminders after 3rd, soon raced in last and detached, pulled up before 6th, never going well

10/1

4

22nd Apr 2024

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

15:12 Ffos Las

Absolute Steel

11st 10lb

J: Richard Patrick

T: Tom Lacey

Caused a 200-1 surprise when landing a novice at Exeter (2m2f, heavy) in February but he stopped quickly and was pulled up at Bangor next time; still unexposed but has bit to prove again on this handicap debut and drying ground would be an unknown factor.

10/1

1

28th Feb 2024

Heavy

2m 3f 123y

Class 3

16:20 Bangor-on-Dee

Absolute Steel

11st 12lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Tom Lacey

First two starts saw him beat a total of one rival; 200-1, therefore, for a novice hurdle at Exeter (2m2f, heavy) 17 days ago but he made most to win that eight-runner race, rallying to see off the 4-9 favourite; wandered at plenty of his hurdles that day and looks the type to improve but the penalty may be his undoing today.

100/30

Form: /46/0P

Last run: 50 days

W: 11st 2lb

9 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
1-9 in British points; 300-1 and 200-1 when showing little over this sort of trip in hurdle races (good to soft) at Doncaster and Market Rasen.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

1st Jul 2024

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

14:25 Worcester

Legostar

10st 2lb

J: William Maggs

T: Jake Thomas Coulson

1-9 in points; showed little in his four starts over hurdles; makes chasing debut in first-time visor but has little to recommend.

20/1

8th

8

4th May 2024

Good To Soft

1m 7f 168y

Class 4

16:00 Uttoxeter

Legostar

11st 6lb

J: William Shanahan

T: Jake Thomas Coulson

in touch with leaders, lost ground and towards rear before 4th

100/1

8th

8

4th May 2024

Good To Soft

1m 7f 168y

Class 4

16:00 Uttoxeter

Legostar

11st 6lb

J: William Shanahan

T: Jake Thomas Coulson

in touch with leaders, lost ground and towards rear before 4th

100/1

Form: 000

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Big prices, behind in his bumper and two hurdle races.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

28th Feb 2024

Heavy

2m 3f 123y

Class 3

16:20 Bangor-on-Dee

Pearly King

11st 2lb

J: Mr Huw Edwards

T: Simon Edwards

Big prices, behind in his bumper and two hurdle races.

100/1

10th

7

29th Jan 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 53y

Class 4

16:00 Hereford

Pearly King

11st 5lb

J: Mr Huw Edwards

T: Simon Edwards

Big prices and out the back in a course bumper and a maiden hurdle at Southwell this winter.

200/1

10th

6

17th Dec 2023

Soft

1m 7f 182y

Class 4

13:55 Southwell

Pearly King

11st 4lb

J: Mr Huw Edwards

T: Simon Edwards

80-1 and never counted in a modest Hereford bumper (good).

100/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £15.40
Straight Forecast £8.43
Trifecta £26.40

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Guard The Moon

The Sun:

Absolute Steel

Daily Record:

Panhandle Slim

Telegraph:

Mr Bramley

RP RATINGS:

Guard The Moon

TOPSPEED:

Guard The Moon

POSTDATA:

Guard The Moon

The Times:

Guard The Moon

The Guardian:

Guard The Moon

Daily Mail:

Guard The Moon

D Express:

Guard The Moon

Daily Mirror:

Guard The Moon

The Star:

Guard The Moon