April 24 / 14.55 Perth

14.55

Soft

British EBF Gold Castle ‘National Hunt’ Novices’ Hurdle (Listed Race) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £14237.5
  • 2m 7f 207y
  • Class 1
  • 6 runners
RTV
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British EBF Gold Castle ‘National Hunt’ Novices’ Hurdle (Listed Race) (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Windy

7/2 (Won)

  • Win: £6.00
  • Place: £1.90

Form: 422B-5 D

Last run: 67 days

W: 11st 2lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 149

Form & Verdict
Classy stayer over fences, finishing second in Grade 2 Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham (3m1f, soft) last season; soundly beaten fifth when back over hurdles in Grade 2 at Haydock (3m, heavy) in February on belated reappearance, but may have needed the run and his chase form gives him a big shout.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

5th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 149y

Class 1

15:05 Aintree

Sounds Russian

11st 10lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Ruth Jefferson

Has shown his best form over fences, notwithstanding a Listed win in this sphere; well behind Gwennie May Boy at Haydock on sole start this season and is bottom of this pack on hurdles figures; enough to prove.

100/1

9

5th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 149y

Class 1

15:05 Aintree

Sounds Russian

11st 10lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Ruth Jefferson

Has shown his best form over fences, notwithstanding a Listed win in this sphere; well behind Gwennie May Boy at Haydock on sole start this season and is bottom of this pack on hurdles figures; enough to prove.

100/1

5

15th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 58y

Class 1

14:40 Haydock

Sounds Russian

11st 4lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Ruth Jefferson

Merely fifth of six in this last year when back from an absence and this 10yo returns from some more time off today; however, he was a Grade 2 chase winner in January 2023 and he won a Listed novice hurdle at Perth (3m, soft) last April; in the mix if bringing his best chase form to the table.

10/1

11/10

  • Place: £1.20

Form: 9-11P3 D

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 143

Form & Verdict
Made it 2-2 over hurdles when landing Grade 2 at Limerick (2m7f, soft to heavy) in December, beating none other than subsequent Albert Bartlett winner Stellar Story; bounced back from Grade 1 flop when third in Grade 2 at Fairyhouse (2m4f, heavy) last month; leading player despite the 5lb penalty.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

12th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 20y

Class 2

13:43 Ayr

Loughglynn

11st 11lb

J: Sean O’Keeffe

T: W P Mullins

0-3 over fences but has run well in defeat the last twice and this Grade 2 novice hurdle winner is open to further improvement in this discipline, for a top Irish trainer who won this 12 months ago; respected.

7/2

2

12th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 20y

Class 2

13:43 Ayr

Loughglynn

11st 11lb

J: Sean O’Keeffe

T: W P Mullins

took keen hold, prominent

7/2

2nd

6

20th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 6f 150y

13:55 Punchestown

Loughglynn

11st 12lb

J: Sean O’Keeffe

T: W P Mullins

Two wins over hurdles, including a Grade 2 novice over 2m7f at Limerick, rated 140; satisfactory third on chase debut at this venue, 10l behind stablemate High Class Hero; unlikely to reverse that form in view of his failure to make the frame at Navan.

4/1

Form: 1-11PP

Last run: 81 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 129

Form & Verdict
Won his first two hurdle starts in the autumn (2m1f/2m5f, heavy/good); pulled up in Grade 1 Challow (2m4f, soft) next time and same outcome when back down in grade at Musselburgh (3m, good to soft) last time; something to prove but the break and first-time tongue-tie may help; not written off.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

17th May 2025

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 2

19:01 Uttoxeter

Farnoge

11st 11lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Paul Nicholls

Disappointed in both chases during very light campaign last season but looked very promising as a novice hurdler (including on good ground) during the 2023-24 campaign and it will be interesting to see whether he can get his career back on track now back over hurdles after a break.

6/1

5

17th May 2025

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 2

19:01 Uttoxeter

Farnoge

11st 11lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Paul Nicholls

Disappointed in both chases during very light campaign last season but looked very promising as a novice hurdler (including on good ground) during the 2023-24 campaign and it will be interesting to see whether he can get his career back on track now back over hurdles after a break.

6/1

3rd

3

28th Dec 2024

Soft

2m 4f 25y

Class 3

12:15 Leicester

Farnoge

11st 4lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Paul Nicholls

led narrowly or disputed lead, not fluent 6th, not fluent 7th, raced in second before 4 out, weakened before 3 out, soon tailed off

9/4

Form: 15451F C

Last run: 32 days

W: 10st 9lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
Two-time novice winner (2m4f, soft/good to soft) who was narrowly in front in competitive mares' novice handicap at Newbury (2m4f, good to soft) last month only to fall at the final flight; this 3m point runner-up could be suited by today's step up in trip and is 2-2 here; firmly in calculations.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

23rd Apr 2025

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 1

15:18 Perth

El Elefante

11st 0lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell

Record of 3-6 over rules fences features a Class 2 handicap win at Kelso (2m5f); faller in the Premier Chase there (2m7f) last time; may still have further progress in her; possibilities.

5/2

4

23rd Apr 2025

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 1

15:18 Perth

El Elefante

11st 0lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell

Record of 3-6 over rules fences features a Class 2 handicap win at Kelso (2m5f); faller in the Premier Chase there (2m7f) last time; may still have further progress in her; possibilities.

5/2

4

1st Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 96y

Class 1

13:45 Kelso

El Elefante

10st 9lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell

raced in second, fell 12th

8/1

Form: 512116 D BF

Last run: 268 days

W: 10st 9lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Won four times last April-July (2m3f-3m, soft/good); she could have more to offer but she was soundly beaten last July when last seen, and has plenty to find on today's terms even if returning at her very best.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

4th Jul 2024

Good

2m 4f 20y

Class 4

15:18 Perth

Dicey Rielly

11st 13lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Peter & Michael Bowen

Won four times last April-July (2m3f-2m7f, soft/good) and returned to form with close third of six at Fontwell (3m2f, good) three weeks ago; travelled well last time and could benefit from the drop back in trip.

3/1

3rd

2

12th Jun 2024

Good

3m 1f 210y

Class 4

16:13 Fontwell

Dicey Rielly

11st 13lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Peter & Michael Bowen

jumped right on occasions, in touch with leaders, dropped to rear 6th, in touch with leaders with one circuit to go, went third going easily before 3 out, not fluent 2 out, pressed leaders approaching last, kept on run-in, no extra towards finish

4/1

OUR TIP

Form: 11P

Last run: 67 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
Two-time 3m point winner who scored towards end of last year on first two rules starts (2m4f/2m6f, heavy/soft); pulled up in Grade 2 at Haydock (3m, heavy) latest and hard to be confident after that, but it was a highly attritional race and he retains potential; cheekpieces go on; not ruled out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

7

22nd Apr 2026

Soft

2m 4f 20y

Class 3

14:10 Perth

Great Pepper

11st 2lb

J: Charlotte Jones

T: James Moffatt

Lightly raced 8yo who was runner-up at Ayr (2m, soft) in January when dropped back in trip on his second chase start; however, pulled up at Carlisle (2m, good to soft) since, which severely dents confidence in his claims today, and the step up in distance may not be ideal.

12/1

2

22nd Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 207y

Class 2

15:17 Carlisle

Great Pepper

11st 9lb

J: Charlotte Jones

T: James Moffatt

Won over 2m6f as a hurdler but effective at this trip, as he showed when runner-up (in his fifth chase start) at Ayr last time out (soft); however, this is tougher and the drier ground is a cause for concern.

10/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £10.00
Straight Forecast £9.14
Trifecta £54.40

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Loughglynn

TOPSPEED:

Sounds Russian

The Guardian:

El Elefante

WEST COUNTRY:

Farnoge

RP RATINGS:

Loughglynn

POSTDATA:

Loughglynn

The Times:

Loughglynn

Daily Mail:

Loughglynn

D Express:

Loughglynn

Daily Mirror:

Loughglynn

The Sun:

Loughglynn

Daily Record:

Loughglynn

Telegraph:

Sounds Russian

The Star:

Sounds Russian