May 08 / 14.50 Newton Abbot

14.50

Heavy

Book Our Winning Post Restaurant Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4805.18
  • 2m 0f 167y
  • Class 4
  • 11 runners
SKY
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Book Our Winning Post Restaurant Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 11 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

Form: 28412- D

Last run: 44 days

W: 11st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced 6yo who won a soft-ground maiden at Exeter before finishing a clear second behind an in-form rival there on his handicap debut (heavy); looks progressive and has every chance in this field.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

4

20th Jul 2025

Good

3m 2f 105y

Class 4

16:42 Newton Abbot

Pirates Tale

11st 13lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Chris Honour

Won 2m maiden hurdle in March 2024 but an unknown quantity now, having been pulled up in two hurdle runs either side of three non-completions in points; now has a go in headgear.

33/1

3

14th May 2025

Good

2m 2f 110y

Class 4

15:55 Newton Abbot

Pirates Tale

11st 8lb

J: David Noonan

T: Chris Honour

Returns to rules action on the back of three non-completions in points but he has been competitive off this mark in the past and still only a 7yo; could be a surprise package after changing yards.

25/1

OUR TIP

Abandoned

Form: 3/721-

Last run: 52 days

W: 11st 9lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Handled heavy ground in an Irish bumper (third); runner-up in a 2m soft-ground Huntingdon handicap on his debut for this yard before justifying favouritism by 3l in a maiden there (2m3f, soft; first-time cheekpieces); every chance of defying a penalty.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

13th Feb 2025

Soft

3m 0f 37y

Class 3

15:05 Sandown

Roccovango

12st 5lb

J: Miss Brodie Hampson

T: Olly Murphy

9yo who is lightly raced for his age and made it four wins from his last five starts, and 2-3 over fences, when scoring at Uttoxeter (3m, soft) in November; has a progressive profile and could play another leading role.

2/1

Form: 05-

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Has shown next to nothing in his first two runs, on soft and good ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

18

21st Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 137y

Class 5

16:30 Exeter

Giddy Up

10st 2lb

J: James Best

T: Kevin Bishop

prominent

100/1

15

30th Jan 2025

Heavy

2m 3f 179y

Class 5

14:25 Wincanton

Giddy Up

10st 2lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Kevin Bishop

Very lightly raced 6yo who is related to winners and makes his handicap/stable debut off a basement mark; however, he showed very little over hurdles last spring and was pulled in a point-to-point in November.

50/1

15

30th Jan 2025

Heavy

2m 3f 179y

Class 5

14:25 Wincanton

Giddy Up

10st 2lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Kevin Bishop

Very lightly raced 6yo who is related to winners and makes his handicap/stable debut off a basement mark; however, he showed very little over hurdles last spring and was pulled in a point-to-point in November.

50/1

Form: F6074-

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
0-8 over hurdles for Gavin Cromwell in Ireland; appeared to show a huge level of improvement when fourth in a fairly good novice at Taunton (soft) and the handicapper raised his mark by 11l; if that's a fair reflection of his ability then he should serve it up to the penalised winners.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

25th May 2026

Good

2m 1f 61y

Class 3

16:36 Cartmel

Got Grey

10st 13lb

J: Leah Noreci

T: James Moffatt

Finished strongly to beat Jet Of Dreams on last summer's chasing debut but his three subsequent runs for Dan Skelton were somewhat underwhelming and he was sold for £10,000 in the autumn; makes stable debut after seven-month break; market may guide.

15/2

6th

5

19th Oct 2025

Good

2m 2f 0y

Class 3

14:16 Kempton

Got Grey

11st 2lb

J: Tristan Durrell

T: Dan Skelton

Won at Worcester (2m, good) on chase debut; has failed to repeat that form in two starts since, however, and was beaten in a match race on latest; others have stronger claims.

8/1

Form: 87-

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Beaten about 25l in two West Country bumpers and remains best watched for now.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

5th Jun 2024

Good

2m 5f 122y

Class 4

14:40 Newton Abbot

Henry Pick

11st 2lb

J: James Best

T: Sue Gardner

Down the field in two bumpers and 250-1 when pulled up here on hurdling debut.

100/1

5

20th May 2024

Soft

2m 0f 167y

Class 4

14:13 Newton Abbot

Henry Pick

11st 2lb

J: James Best

T: Sue Gardner

Safely held in two bumpers towards end of last season and can only be watched on hurdling debut.

100/1

5

20th May 2024

Soft

2m 0f 167y

Class 4

14:13 Newton Abbot

Henry Pick

11st 2lb

J: James Best

T: Sue Gardner

Safely held in two bumpers towards end of last season and can only be watched on hurdling debut.

100/1

Form: 85-

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Second in a British point; some promise when fifth in an Exeter maiden but still looks vulnerable; heavy ground a further concern.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

9th May 2026

Good

2m 5f 5y

Class 4

19:07 Warwick

Impecunious

11st 12lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: I Chanin

Won twice when trained by Chris Down last year; resumes following 293 days off for new trainer; betting will be best guide to his chance.

8/1

1st

5

20th Jul 2025

Good

3m 2f 105y

Class 4

16:42 Newton Abbot

Impecunious

11st 9lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Chris Down

Off the mark at Chepstow (2m3f, good) in April and consistent at up to 2m7f since; unraced beyond that trip but there are some strong stayers on the dam's side of his pedigree so there's a chance he'll improve for the new distance.

3/1

Abandoned

Form: 00P-

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Runner-up in an Irish point but nothing positive to take from his three hurdle runs (on soft); now hooded.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

10

10th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 198y

Class 5

16:10 Taunton

Skin Full

10st 7lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

Low-mileage 6yo; below form when when favourite for 1m7f handicap chase in December but evidently well suited by combination of hike up in trip and return to hurdling when close second at Doncaster (3m, good) last month; must be considered.

7/4

16

19th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 84y

Class 5

15:20 Doncaster

Skin Full

10st 5lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

6yo who kept on well for close fourth on his handicap and chase debut at Taunton (2m2f, good to soft) in November; failed to back that up at Wincanton (1m7f, good to soft) but this 3m point runner-up could be suited by the step up in trip now back hurdling; intriguing contender.

11/2

Form: 96-

Last run: 130 days

W: 10st 10lb

4 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Low-grade Flat maiden; beaten about 30l in two hurdles won by useful rivals but questionable what he achieved.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

10

22nd Apr 2026

Good

2m 3f 1y

Class 5

19:30 Taunton

Future Times

10st 5lb

J: Mr Jack Stenhouse

T: Gordon Edwards

Longstanding maiden who didn't run badly on first two starts back from a mammoth absence; out of the weights but not hard to see him hitting the frame in a weak contest, if bouncing back from a poor effort last time.

14/1

11th

11

7th Apr 2026

Good

2m 5f 137y

Class 5

14:10 Exeter

Future Times

10st 4lb

J: Mr Jack Stenhouse

T: Gordon Edwards

20-race maiden who only recently returned from a mammoth absence; beaten about 14l on both occasions and behind Vengeance last time.

14/1

8th

12

23rd Mar 2026

Good

2m 3f 179y

Class 5

17:32 Wincanton

Future Times

10st 2lb

J: Mr Jack Stenhouse

T: Gordon Edwards

Unplaced all five hurdle starts but returned from 596-day absence with an encouraging fourth at Taunton (2m3f, good) a fortnight ago and has possibilities if that run brought him on.

6/1

Form: P80-

Last run: 42 days

W: 10st 9lb

7 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
No sign of ability thus far in three hurdles and instantly opposable.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

12

23rd Oct 2024

Soft

2m 3f 29y

Class 4

13:55 Fontwell

Bollywollywotsit

10st 11lb

J: Ben Godfrey

T: Ella Pickard

A well-beaten outsider on all three hurdling starts (1m7f-2m2f) and makes no appeal here; sports first-time blinkers.

100/1

Form: 4958-

Last run: 12 days

W: 10st 9lb

5 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Some promise in two of her bumpers but it's low-level form and she was tailed off on her switch to hurdles.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14

20th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 207y

Class 5

15:15 Uttoxeter

Dropitlikeitshot

10st 5lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Chris Honour

Lightly raced 5yo who has run okay when fifth the last twice but hasn't been shaping as though a first win is imminent.

16/1

Form: 6PP-

Last run: 78 days

W: 10st 3lb

4 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Poor Flat maiden and going the same way over hurdles; reportedly made a noise last time after wind surgery and now returns from the same procedure.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

31st May 2025

Good

2m 0f 70y

Class 5

18:30 Stratford

What An Icon

10st 5lb

J: James Davies

T: Chris Down

Unseated rider at first flight on recent reappearance outing and has now been unplaced all nine hurdling starts; 1lb wrong here; sports refitted hood; not the most obvious answer.

33/1

10

31st May 2025

Good

2m 0f 70y

Class 5

18:30 Stratford

What An Icon

10st 5lb

J: James Davies

T: Chris Down

Unseated rider at first flight on recent reappearance outing and has now been unplaced all nine hurdling starts; 1lb wrong here; sports refitted hood; not the most obvious answer.

33/1

8

21st May 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

15:10 Warwick

What An Icon

10st 5lb

J: James Davies

T: Chris Down

No improvement for the return to assertive tactics on her final two outings last summer, beaten 25l in each; 5lb out of the weights on this return to action and not easily recommended.

50/1

Verdict

If Got Grey isn’t flattered by his Taunton form then he might well have a say in receipt of weight off the two previous winners, who are still expected to dominate. PIRATES’ TALE and Roccovango bring similar form credentials but the younger horses edges preference.[Alistair Jones]