April 20 / 13.05 Bangor-on-Dee

13.05

Soft

Weatherbys nhstallions.co.uk Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £5281
  • 2m 7f 32y
  • Class 3
  • 7 runners
SKY
View Course
Weatherbys nhstallions.co.uk Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly sunny

2/1 (Won)

  • Win: £3.00
  • Place: £1.30

Form: 2241 D

Last run: 34 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Only blip so far over hurdles came in a Grade 2 and he made light work of his opposition in a 2m7f heavy-ground maiden at Chepstow a month ago; beat a horse who had been consistent in handicaps; major player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14th

6

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

4m 2f 74y

Class 1

16:00 Aintree

Haiti Couleurs

11st 10lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Rebecca Curtis

In the last 13 months he's won Cheltenham's NH Chase (3m6f), the Irish National (3m5f), a hurdle race, Welsh National (near 3m7f; 12lb higher today) and a Newbury Grade 2; no way can he be ruled out, particularly as he finished well on top in those four chases, but there have also been two major blips this season; latest was in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, for which he was just 6-1 and made most but went to nothing turning for home (writing on the wall four out); however, he's bounced back before, the likely tempo of this race can suit him better and the trip looks like doing so as well.

16/1

6

13th Mar 2026

Good

3m 2f 70y

Class 1

16:00 Cheltenham

Haiti Couleurs

11st 10lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Rebecca Curtis

Prominent-racer who won the NH Chase (Handicap) at this meeting 12 months ago (3m6f, good to soft) and bounced back from November's Betfair Chase flop to win the Welsh National (3m6f, good to soft) and also the Grade 2 Denman Chase (2m7f, heavy); this highly progressive 9yo is now 6-8 over fences and should prove well suited to the demands of today's race, all the more so if there's rain and stamina is at a premium; firmly in calculations.

5/1

1st

3

7th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 91y

Class 1

14:10 Newbury

Haiti Couleurs

11st 6lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Rebecca Curtis

Superbly progressive novice last term, winning Cheltenham's NH Chase (3m6f, good to soft) and the Irish National (3m5f, soft to heavy); hurdles win here in November before something seemed amiss in a Grade 1 at Haydock 16 days later, but he bounced back from that with a sparkling display to dominate the Welsh National (3m6f) six weeks ago; that was another serious advance and he looks like earning his place in top Graded races after this.

4/5

OUR TIP

2/1

  • Place: £1.10

Form: 2321 C

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Winning pointer who has shown steady improvement in each of his hurdle starts and comfortably made all over 2m3f (soft) here four weeks ago; has plenty of stamina in his pedigree and unlikely that he's reached anything like his limit.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

11

14th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

4m 2f 8y

Class 1

15:00 Uttoxeter

Grand Albert

10st 12lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

He hasn't always been pretty over his fences but the cheekpieces might be helping in that respect and he's stayed on strongly at Haydock on his last two starts, over 3m1f and 3m4f; although behind some of these last time, he was digging in at the finish and this extreme stamina test might be up his street; very at home on soft ground.

12/1

6th

10

14th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 4f 97y

Class 1

15:15 Haydock

Grand Albert

10st 5lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Donald McCain

He's had jumping issues but was better in that department in first-time cheekpieces (retained) in the Tommy Whittle here (extended 3m1f, soft) in December, and the way he kept on for fifth of 12 behind Grand Geste (beaten about 14l) hints this step up in trip may be a good move; each-way chance.

11/1

Form: 2P213

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Irish point winner; form figures of 221 in maiden hurdles (2m3f-3m1f) and the heavier defeats have come in a Grade 2 and last time when finishing weakly on handicap debut (3m1f, good; first-time cheekpieces); plenty to like at this level if returning to his best.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

29th Jan 2026

Heavy

3m 1f 30y

Class 5

16:03 Wincanton

Illico De Cotte

12st 2lb

J: Mr Frederick Philipson-Stow

T: Will Biddick

Lightly raced gelding who did well in handicap chases last season for Dan Skelton before losing his way; beaten in two points for current yard and he'll need more here; has won on heavy.

4/1

3

16th Apr 2025

Good

3m 4f 21y

Class 3

15:15 Cheltenham

Illico De Cotte

12st 0lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Scored by 8l on seasonal/chase debut at Carlisle (3m2f, good to soft) in October and was placed over 3m on next two outings; finished very weakly when upped to 3m5f at Warwick last month, which is a concern, but could plausibly still have untapped potential over marathon trips.

10/1

3

16th Apr 2025

Good

3m 4f 21y

Class 3

15:15 Cheltenham

Illico De Cotte

12st 0lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Scored by 8l on seasonal/chase debut at Carlisle (3m2f, good to soft) in October and was placed over 3m on next two outings; finished very weakly when upped to 3m5f at Warwick last month, which is a concern, but could plausibly still have untapped potential over marathon trips.

10/1

Form: 2-

Last run: 549 days

W: 11st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Has been a long-time absent but still interesting as this winning pointer was easily best of the rest behind a now 141-rated horse in a 2m7f good-ground maiden at Worcester in October 2022; heed market signals.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

2nd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 131y

Class 5

16:39 Chepstow

Galassian

12st 0lb

J: Mr Darren Andrews

T: Mel Rowley

Won a soft-ground maiden (2m3f) last season but a subsequent spell over fences was disappointing, and he has also looked out of sorts back over hurdles this term (three runs; cheekpieces added last time); eased in grade today; needs to turn a corner.

10/1

5th

5

25th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 32y

Class 4

15:00 Bangor-on-Dee

Galassian

11st 2lb

J: Toby Wynne

T: Mel Rowley

Won a maiden hurdle here last season but chasing halted his progress and he's struggled back over hurdles following a break and wind surgery; now goes in cheekpieces; risky.

14/1

5

24th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 3f 207y

Class 4

15:06 Uttoxeter

Galassian

11st 6lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Mel Rowley

Bangor maiden winner last season; never took to fences and was tailed off back over hurdles after a wind operation; now has questions to answer.

25/1

Form: 1/3-6

Last run: 40 days

W: 11st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Bumper winner more than two years ago; has had some lengthy breaks already in his career and has yet to offer much over hurdles.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

9th Feb 2026

Soft

3m 1f 157y

Class 5

16:15 Plumpton

Record High

12st 0lb

J: Isabelle Ryder

T: Suzy Smith

1-10 over fences, the win gained over 3m2f on heavy at Fontwell a year ago; competitive in three of his four races this season and has a solid chance; first run in a tongue-tie.

9/2

1

23rd Oct 2025

Good To Soft

3m 1f 210y

Class 5

16:15 Fontwell

Record High

12st 0lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Suzy Smith

Off the mark over fences in four-runner C&D (heavy) contest in February; signed off with poor performance in April and may not find today's ground slow enough but probably still has more to offer over staying trips this season and the booking of Sean Bowen catches the eye.

8/1

5

16th Apr 2025

Good

2m 7f 177y

Class 5

19:15 Ffos Las

Record High

11st 13lb

J: Micheal Nolan

T: Suzy Smith

Lightly raced but he's going the right way over fences and was a convincing winner of a four-runner race at Fontwell (3m2f, heavy; up 4lb) in February; has missed engagements when the ground was good, including one last month, but enters calculations if this surface is thought suitable.

11/2

50/1

Form: 6-6

Last run: 151 days

W: 11st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Outpaced and beaten 22l when favourite for an Exeter bumper and fared no better on his switch to hurdling at Lingfield (2m3f, good to soft) when easier to back at 16-1; reservations for now.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

28th Nov 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 110y

Class 5

13:45 Lingfield

Top Kap

10st 13lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Alan King

From a major yard but he struggled over hurdles including when pulled up on handicap debut at Ffos Las (2m4f, good to soft) 18 days ago; still lightly raced but he needs a transformation on this switch to fences.

16/1

7

28th Nov 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 110y

Class 5

13:45 Lingfield

Top Kap

10st 13lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Alan King

From a major yard but he struggled over hurdles including when pulled up on handicap debut at Ffos Las (2m4f, good to soft) 18 days ago; still lightly raced but he needs a transformation on this switch to fences.

16/1

6

10th Nov 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

15:35 Ffos Las

Top Kap

11st 5lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Alan King

From a major yard; needs better after some heavy defeats, the last two at triple-figure odds, but he goes handicapping for the first time.

13/2

Form: 904-PP

Last run: 106 days

W: 11st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Beaten 9l in a soft-ground Perth bumper 12 months ago but has pulled up in both hurdles at Aintree (2m1f, heavy) and Ludlow (2m5f, soft); now has some questions to answer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

6

20th Apr 2024

Soft

2m 7f 32y

Class 3

13:05 Bangor-on-Dee

Industrialist

11st 6lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Henry Daly

took keen hold, midfield, outpaced before 3 out, soon no impression

50/1

7th

6

20th Apr 2024

Soft

2m 7f 32y

Class 3

13:05 Bangor-on-Dee

Industrialist

11st 6lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Henry Daly

took keen hold, midfield, outpaced before 3 out, soon no impression

50/1

0

8

5th Jan 2024

Soft

2m 5f 55y

Class 4

15:20 Ludlow

Industrialist

11st 8lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Henry Daly

Showed promise in his final bumper last season but he started his hurdling career with a pulled-up effort at Aintree (2m1f, heavy; 22-1) last month; this step up in trip looks a good move on pedigree but he has something to prove after that last run; one of two runners for the yard.

16/1

Non-runners

Heros De Romay

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £4.80
Straight Forecast £4.81
Trifecta £11.60

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Grand Albert

TOPSPEED:

Heros De Romay

SPOTLIGHT:

Haiti Couleurs

The Guardian:

Galassian

POSTDATA:

Grand Albert

Telegraph:

Grand Albert

Daily Mail:

Grand Albert

The Sun:

Grand Albert

Daily Record:

Grand Albert

WEST COUNTRY:

Heros De Romay

The Times:

Heros De Romay

D Express:

Heros De Romay

The Star:

Heros De Romay

Daily Mirror:

Haiti Couleurs