February 29 / 14.15 Wetherby

14.15

Soft

wetherbyracing.co.uk Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £3812.2
  • 2m 3f 154y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
RTV
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wetherbyracing.co.uk Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

5/4 (Won)

  • Win: £1.54
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 22535

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Runner-up in the autumn on first two hurdle starts (2m4f, good to soft/soft) and, while he hasn't really kicked on, he's run respectably in the face of some tough tasks since; has an easier assignment today and holds leading claims in first-time cheekpieces for yard in flying form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

28th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 70y

Class 4

16:20 Uttoxeter

Magical King

12st 1lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Stuart Edmunds

Runner-up off this mark at Newbury (3m, soft) last February but he's not hit the same level since and was beaten 19l back at Newbury (third of nine) last month; overall record is now 1-15 and others are more persuasive.

7/1

3rd

5

27th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 57y

Class 3

16:43 Newbury

Magical King

11st 6lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Stuart Edmunds

Consistent over hurdles last season, with best effort a C&D second (soft) just over a year ago; disappointing over fences this term (three attempts; blinkers tried last time) and this switch back to hurdling needs to rekindle his enthusiasm; usual cheekpieces back on today.

20/1

3

2nd Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 0y

Class 4

13:27 Kempton

Magical King

11st 13lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Stuart Edmunds

Consistent over hurdles last season; ran well to a point on chasing debut at Bangor (3m, heavy) in November and may have found the good ground too lively when safely held at Doncaster in December; not out of this if change of headgear gives him a boost.

10/1

OUR TIP

9/2

  • Place: £1.70

Form: 1-4214

Last run: 103 days

W: 11st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Bumper winner who scored on his hurdle debut at Sedgefield (2m1f, soft) in October before a fair fourth here (2m, heavy) in November; improvement needed to defy a penalty on this first run since but he returns having had a wind op and his pedigree suggests he'll be suited by the step up in trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

23rd Apr 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 88y

Class 4

16:40 Southwell

Tommy Time

11st 8lb

J: Thomas Dowson

T: Philip Kirby

Irish bumper winner (1m7f, good to yielding) who won on hurdle debut at Sedgefield (2m1f, soft) last October and has run creditably in defeat since at up to 2m3f; lightly raced and could have potential off opening mark.

7/1

8

23rd Apr 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 88y

Class 4

16:40 Southwell

Tommy Time

11st 8lb

J: Thomas Dowson

T: Philip Kirby

Irish bumper winner (1m7f, good to yielding) who won on hurdle debut at Sedgefield (2m1f, soft) last October and has run creditably in defeat since at up to 2m3f; lightly raced and could have potential off opening mark.

7/1

3rd

3

19th Mar 2024

Soft

2m 3f 154y

Class 4

14:15 Wetherby

Tommy Time

11st 9lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Philip Kirby

raced in third and in touch with leaders, jumped left 3rd, ridden after 3 out, no telling impression

4/1

40/1

  • Place: £9.10

Form: 7

Last run: 26 days

W: 10st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Nibbled at in the betting into 18-1 on debut in bumper here (2m, soft) four weeks ago but well beaten and may be best watched now hurdling.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

14

8th May 2024

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 4

14:10 Kelso

Para Handy

10st 7lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Tim Easterby

took keen hold, midfield, not fluent 8th, outpaced before 3 out, soon no impression

66/1

9th

14

8th May 2024

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 4

14:10 Kelso

Para Handy

10st 7lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Tim Easterby

took keen hold, midfield, not fluent 8th, outpaced before 3 out, soon no impression

66/1

6

14th Mar 2024

Heavy

2m 4f 28y

Class 4

15:10 Hexham

Para Handy

10st 9lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Tim Easterby

Beaten a distance on two visits to Wetherby, in a bumper and novice hurdle (soft both times); another minor role looks on the cards.

25/1

Form: 5

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
17-2, soundly beaten when fifth on debut in bumper here (2m, soft) four weeks ago; however, he wasn't devoid of promise and his stablemate and half-sister Midnight Mary has shown her best form over 2m4f/3m; very much unexposed and not ruled out now up in trip on first hurdle start.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

6th Apr 2026

Good

3m 0f 38y

Class 5

16:35 Fakenham

Brother Boris

12st 0lb

J: Mr Cian Murphy

T: Lucy Wadham

Front-runner who bids to complete a Fakenham hat-trick after two wide-margin wins in two-finisher contests this year (3m5f, soft/3m, good to soft); the value of his form is tricky to evaluate and today's faster ground may not be ideal but, nevertheless, another bold bid seems likely.

13/8

1st

1

13th Mar 2026

Good

3m 0f 38y

Class 5

12:55 Fakenham

Brother Boris

11st 13lb

J: Mr Cian Murphy

T: Lucy Wadham

Saw out the longer trip well to get off the mark here (3m5f, soft) four weeks ago; 6lb higher but has obvious claims and looks the one to beat.

4/6

Form: 443-77

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Made the frame in three good-ground bumpers for Mick Appleby but well beaten in seventh this year on first two hurdle/stable starts (2m4f, heavy).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

9

20th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

2m 6f 31y

Class 5

14:42 Cartmel

Zuul

10st 3lb

J: Ellis Collier

T: Rebecca Menzies

Returned from seven-month break with creditable third over C&D (good) in May and has obvious each-way claims if judged on that effort but Market Rasen last month was a backward step and he's now 0-14 over hurdles.

8/1

5th

7

12th Jun 2026

Good

2m 4f 139y

Class 5

20:36 Market Rasen

Zuul

10st 2lb

J: Ellis Collier

T: Rebecca Menzies

20-race maiden; bled from the nose and soundly beaten over fences at Sedgefield (2m5f) last October; returned with a creditable third to Evenwood Sonofagun over hurdles at Cartmel (2m6f; 20-1) 18 days ago; competes from 2lb out of the handicap.

10/1

3rd

11

25th May 2026

Good

2m 6f 31y

Class 5

14:13 Cartmel

Zuul

10st 3lb

J: Ellis Collier

T: Rebecca Menzies

19-race maiden who has been absent since some underwhelming chase runs in the autumn (bled from nose on latest outing); not the most obvious answer on this return to hurdling.

12/1

Form: 1-6861 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 9lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Won Warwick bumper on debut last March and improved upon his first two hurdle runs when winning at Ffos Las (2m4f, heavy) four weeks ago; carries a penalty today and could do with jumping better, but the first-time cheekpieces could help in that regard and his latest form reads well; key player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

28th Mar 2024

Soft

2m 5f 56y

Class 4

15:55 Wetherby

Willsburg

11st 13lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Oliver Signy

Bumper winner who won at Ffos Las (2m4f, heavy) last month on his third hurdle start and was narrowly in front from Magical King (who was receiving 7lb) when falling at the final flight here (2m3f, soft) last time; this 5yo front-runner brings potential to his handicap debut and could go well.

9/2

2

29th Feb 2024

Soft

2m 3f 154y

Class 4

14:15 Wetherby

Willsburg

11st 9lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Oliver Signy

Won Warwick bumper on debut last March and improved upon his first two hurdle runs when winning at Ffos Las (2m4f, heavy) four weeks ago; carries a penalty today and could do with jumping better, but the first-time cheekpieces could help in that regard and his latest form reads well; key player.

15/8

1st

8

1st Feb 2024

Heavy

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

13:30 Ffos Las

Willsburg

11st 9lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Oliver Signy

Won soft-ground Warwick bumper by 9l on debut last March and was very respectable sixth of 15 at Cheltenham (good to soft) in October; began hurdling career with two low-key runs towards end of last year, but was only beaten about 18l when sixth of 18 at Newbury (2m, soft) on latter occasion; still has potential.

8/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
10,000euros yearling; third foal; unraced dam from useful family; market check advised on debut but he may be one for further down the line.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

29th Feb 2024

Soft

2m 3f 154y

Class 4

14:15 Wetherby

Black Bart

11st 2lb

J: Callum Bewley

T: Chris Grant

10,000euros yearling; third foal; unraced dam from useful family; market check advised on debut but he may be one for further down the line.

25/1

Form: P

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
There's potential in his pedigree and it's very early days, but he was pulled up on debut at Newcastle (2m4f, heavy; 10-1) in January and needs to be an entirely different proposition this afternoon.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

7

11th Dec 2024

Soft

2m 4f 28y

Class 4

13:20 Hexham

Red Sam

11st 4lb

J: Tom Midgley

T: Mark Walford

Hasn't shown a great deal in three runs over hurdles and looks more one for handicaps.

50/1

9th

7

11th Dec 2024

Soft

2m 4f 28y

Class 4

13:20 Hexham

Red Sam

11st 4lb

J: Tom Midgley

T: Mark Walford

Hasn't shown a great deal in three runs over hurdles and looks more one for handicaps.

50/1

8th

7

8th Nov 2024

Good

2m 4f 28y

Class 4

14:10 Hexham

Red Sam

11st 4lb

J: Tom Midgley

T: Mark Walford

prominent, reminder and lost ground before 4th, soon pushed along and struggling in rear

100/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £5.30
Straight Forecast £5.63
Trifecta £72.50

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Magical King

LAMBOURN:

Willsburg

Telegraph:

Tommy Time

The Star:

Willsburg

RP RATINGS:

Magical King

TOPSPEED:

Magical King

POSTDATA:

Magical King

The Times:

Magical King

The Guardian:

Magical King

Daily Mail:

Magical King

D Express:

Magical King

Daily Mirror:

Magical King

The Sun:

Magical King

Daily Record:

Magical King