May 23 / 13.58 Market Rasen

13.58

Good

Nicholsons Centenary Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4084.5
  • 2m 0f 125y
  • Class 4
  • 6 runners
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Nicholsons Centenary Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

4/7 (Won)

  • Win: £1.10
  • Place: £1.02

Form: 24/5-1 CD

Last run: 13 days

W: 11st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Bought for 310,000gns after impressing in an Irish point and came good on his fourth run over hurdles when beating his market rival with the pair clear over C&D two weeks ago (good); it remains to be seen what he'd make of soft ground should the rain come, but should be difficult to beat.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

6th Sep 2024

Good

2m 1f 77y

Class 4

15:55 Bangor-on-Dee

Ittack Blue

12st 0lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Made all in two Market Rasen novice hurdles (both 2m, good) in May but was soundly beaten in both subsequent handicaps, the latter his chasing debut; still has plenty of time to get career back on track but comes here with a point to prove.

12/1

7th

1

21st Jul 2024

Good

2m 3f 98y

Class 4

17:10 Stratford

Ittack Blue

12st 2lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Won back-to-back minor hurdle races on good ground at Market Rasen but didn't look obviously well treated for handicap debut back there and ended up tailed off; that was not his true running but, off just 2lb lower, he faces no straightforward task unless improving for fences (bred for it).

3/1

20/1

  • Place: £2.00

Form: 857-

Last run: 29 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Low-level bumper form and never got involved when 100-1 for hurdling debut at Uttoxeter; ran okay to be beaten 17l but still hard to envisage him winning this.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

16th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 5

17:20 Uttoxeter

Independent Jimmy

12st 0lb

J: William Maggs

T: Donald McCain

Got off the mark over hurdles at Bangor (2m4f) in September; placed twice when sent chasing after but only sixth in 2m handicap at Musselburgh when last seen in November; could bounce back after a break though.

3/1

Form: 40-

Last run: 108 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Ran okay to finish a 12l fourth in his first bumper but was then tailed off in the second, again on soft ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

12

24th Apr 2026

Good

3m 6f 121y

Class 3

14:05 Perth

Upfordebate

10st 10lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Patrick Neville

Went chasing last summer and he's won four times from 3m to 3m2f; now high in the ratings but still ran very well from the front at Carlisle last month (3m); unproven over this far and he does race up with the pace.

8/1

3rd

8

22nd Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 110y

Class 2

15:52 Carlisle

Upfordebate

10st 8lb

J: Paddy Hanlon

T: Patrick Neville

Perhaps in the grip of the assessor since the last of his four wins this term; Paddy Hanlon's 5lb claim may offer some help but this assignment looks difficult.

14/1

5th

2

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 2f 59y

Class 4

15:38 Sedgefield

Upfordebate

11st 9lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Patrick Neville

Made very good progress in second half of last year, with the last two of his four wins gained over C&D (soft; also suited by good); returned from ten-week break with very respectable effort in 0-130 grade at Carlisle (3m, good to soft) last month and might still be on the upgrade.

11/4

OUR TIP

Form: 6/PP-

Last run: 94 days

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Yet to show any real worthwhile form, in a bumper and two hurdles.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

18th Jul 2024

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 4

20:25 Worcester

Happy County

11st 4lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: Simon West

Has shown little across his six starts and others are preferred.

50/1

8th

11

1st Jul 2024

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

17:30 Worcester

Happy County

10st 8lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: Simon West

Makes handicap debut from a basement mark but has not shown any significant promise in four novice/maiden hurdles this year (2m1f-2m4f) and needs to improve.

20/1

7th

5

11th Jun 2024

Good

2m 4f 88y

Class 4

16:20 Southwell

Happy County

11st 4lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: Simon West

towards rear, some headway 8th, outpaced 3 out, soon lost touch

50/1

Form: 8P/0-

Last run: 196 days

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Flat maiden who was tailed off in a Sedgefield maiden last time at odds of 250-1.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

12

6th Sep 2024

Good

2m 0f 145y

Class 5

17:35 Bangor-on-Dee

Strip Light

10st 5lb

J: Emma Smith-Chaston

T: Paula Smith

Always behind when a big-priced outsider for recent Stratford handicap and has now been unplaced all six hurdling starts; 1lb wrong here; cheekpieces refitted; difficult to enthuse over.

66/1

14th

14

27th Aug 2024

Good To Firm

2m 0f 70y

Class 5

17:55 Stratford

Strip Light

10st 3lb

J: Emma Smith-Chaston

T: Paula Smith

Placed on the Flat but a longstanding maiden and very opposable on hurdle form.

66/1

9th

9

7th Jun 2024

Good

2m 0f 125y

Class 5

16:50 Market Rasen

Strip Light

10st 6lb

J: Emma Smith-Chaston

T: Paula Smith

0-22 when trained in Ireland (raced mainly on the Flat), and soundly beaten on both starts since reverted to hurdling for new stable; has lowly mark for this handicap hurdle debut but still makes only limited appeal.

33/1

Form: 98-P

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Tailed off in his two bumpers and hurdling debut was just as forgettable.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 133y

Class 2

14:40 Kelso

Glen Road

11st 10lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

Completed hurdle double when winning here (2m6f, soft) in December and tapped back into that promise when runner-up at Sandown (2m4f, soft) a fortnight ago on his third run over fences; won on good to soft going over hurdles; that latest form reads well and he's high on the list this afternoon.

11/2

2nd

7

7th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 15y

Class 3

16:10 Sandown

Glen Road

10st 9lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

Highly progressive over hurdles in 2025, winning four times (2m4f-2m7f, good to soft/soft), but he's performed below that level switched to fences in recent months; still early days in this sphere but difficult to make a case for him here.

25/1

4th

1

19th Feb 2026

2m 0f 77y

Class 4

13:58 Sedgefield

Glen Road

11st 8lb

J: Callum Bewley

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

Highly progressive over hurdles last year, winning four times (2m4f-2m7f, good to soft/soft); weakened quickly when soundly beaten sixth on last month's chase debut at Newcastle (2m4f, good to soft) but that's unlikely to be the limit of his ability over fences; no surprise to see a bold show.

4/1

Non-runners

Kopa Kilana, Reach For The Moon

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £1.60
Straight Forecast £2.07
Trifecta £2.90

Selections

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Daily Record:

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