June 26 / 17.05 Worcester

17.05

Good

Stepway Charity Maiden Hurdle (ARC Summer Novices’ Brush Hurdle Series Qualifier)(GBB Race) (Div II)

  • Prize money: £4193.42
  • 2m 0f 0y
  • Class 4
  • 10 runners
SKY
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Stepway Charity Maiden Hurdle (ARC Summer Novices’ Brush Hurdle Series Qualifier)(GBB Race) (Div II)

Runners: 10 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

11/10 (Won)

  • Win: £1.84
  • Place: £1.10

Form:

Last run:

W: 10st 13lb

4 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Won twice and developed into a fairly useful Flat stayer for Sir Mark Prescott last year; sold for 70,000gns in the autumn and gelded soon afterwards; with top stable for hurdling career; interesting to see how he fares.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

29th Mar 2026

Good

2m 5f 146y

Class 3

17:25 Ascot

Brave Knight

12st 0lb

J: Freddie Keighley

T: Paul Nicholls

5-10 over hurdles, including wins under Freddie Keighley at Fontwell (2m1f) and Taunton (2m3f, good) on two of his last three outings; respected even though he's never raced over this far (he worked his way to the front late on for that 2m3f win) and has been raised another 5lb.

4/1

1st

2

26th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 1f 162y

Class 4

12:57 Fontwell

Brave Knight

12st 0lb

J: Freddie Keighley

T: Paul Nicholls

Useful Flat stayer who won his first three starts over hurdles (2m-2m1f) last summer but he's been held back in this sphere in last three runs; mark is falling and he is still unexposed over hurdles but needs to raise his game back in trip; all of his hurdle wins have been on good but he seems versatile ground-wise.

7/1

Form: 54-2

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Winning pointer who built upon his encouraging bumper runs when second of 13 on hurdling debut at Ffos Las (2m, good) in May; that form already makes him a leading contender here, and he has plenty of scope for improvement.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

20th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 69y

Class 3

15:00 Newbury

Nowmelad

11st 2lb

J: Lee Edwards

T: Henry Oliver

Just the one blip in five runs since joining Henry Oliver and ran his usual honest race when going down narrowly at Hereford in January (2m, soft; effective on drier); the winner of that race has failed to frank the form but this 7yo could still be in the thick of it here.

6/1

2nd

4

26th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 0f 53y

Class 3

15:30 Hereford

Nowmelad

11st 2lb

J: Lee Edwards

T: Henry Oliver

Won twice for the Newland/Insole stable in the autumn of 2024; creditable efforts in three of his four runs for current yard including when a close second in Market Rasen handicap (2m2f, good to soft) on Boxing Day; up 3lb but he went down fighting last time and that was behind a major improver; respected.

9/4

12/1

  • Place: £5.10

Form:

Last run:

W: 10st 6lb

4 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
2-12 on the Flat for James Fanshawe, the latter win gained at Kempton (1m, AW; RPR 78) in September; makes stable/hurdle debut after a layoff and her stamina is not assured but at least we know she has a good engine.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

4

6th Sep 2024

Good

2m 0f 145y

Class 5

17:05 Bangor-on-Dee

Lady Wormsley

11st 6lb

J: Miss Olive Nicholls

T: Georgina Nicholls

Fair Flat racer who displayed improvement over hurdles when third under positive ride in recent Worcester maiden (2m, good); sports refitted cheekpieces for this handicap debut and could still have more to offer.

12/1

3rd

8

21st Aug 2024

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

17:55 Worcester

Lady Wormsley

11st 1lb

J: Miss Olive Nicholls

T: Georgina Nicholls

Winning miler on the Flat for James Fanshawe at Class 5 level; it's been a very quiet start over hurdles.

25/1

6th

12

25th Jul 2024

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

17:10 Worcester

Lady Wormsley

10st 7lb

J: Miss Olive Nicholls

T: Georgina Nicholls

Winning miler on the Flat for James Fanshawe at Class 5 level; 28-1 for her hurdling introduction here and was beaten 30l into third.

20/1

Form: 00-93

Last run: 25 days

W: 10st 11lb

5 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Reportedly made a respiratory noise when posing no threat on last month's hurdling debut but her clear third over C&D (good) 25 days ago was quite promising, and she's open to further improvement if aided by a tongue-tie.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

26th Feb 2026

Soft

1m 7f 169y

Class 5

16:27 Ludlow

Olivia Kate

11st 1lb

J: Ned Fox

T: Matt Sheppard

Won comfortably under Ned Fox at Leicester (1m7f, soft) in December and also ran well when fourth there (2m4f, soft) later that month; below that level on latest outing (2m5f), though, and current mark demands a career-best effort.

6/1

4

23rd Oct 2025

Good To Firm

2m 5f 55y

Class 5

16:07 Ludlow

Olivia Kate

11st 2lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Matt Sheppard

Unraced on fast ground and best form was her second on soft ground at Exeter in January (2m5f); however, ran okay after a break at Chepstow (2m, good) and returns to a better trip here.

11/2

5th

10

10th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 11y

Class 5

17:30 Chepstow

Olivia Kate

10st 12lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Matt Sheppard

Came good with wide-margin success at Ludlow (2m5f, good to soft) in November and was placed twice on slow ground after the turn of the year (2m5f/2m4f); might find 2m a bit sharp on this first run since February, though.

10/1

Form: 79-

Last run: 165 days

W: 10st 11lb

5 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Soundly beaten in two soft-ground bumpers last season; needs the quicker conditions to enable huge improvement on this hurdling debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

1

11th May 2026

Good

1m 7f 182y

Class 5

16:42 Southwell

Miss Kassiopi

12st 0lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Richard J Bandey

Back to form in handicaps as recent figures would imply; did go up 7lb for the win at Hereford (2m3f, good) and only third next time, but has shown before that this mark is workable; likes to lead and this drop back in trip could work.

7/2

3rd

1

12th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

14:03 Ffos Las

Miss Kassiopi

12st 1lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Richard J Bandey

Back to form on last three starts (about 2m4f, variety of ground) and latest saw her get off the mark at 15th attempt, doing so by 9l from the front in a six-runner race at Hereford on Monday; carries 7lb penalty in a larger field but should have a huge shout as an in-form candidate against unpersuasive rivals.

6/5

1st

5

6th Apr 2026

Good

2m 3f 147y

Class 5

14:10 Hereford

Miss Kassiopi

11st 6lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Richard J Bandey

14-race maiden but has returned to something near best on last two starts, finishing runner-up on both occasions, tried in a tongue-tie at Windsor (2m4f, good to soft) in November and without it at Plumpton (near 2m5f, soft) in February after a break; workable mark and should go well again.

11/2

Form: 887-

Last run: 63 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Displayed improvement and was not beaten far when seventh of 16 in good-ground Ludlow bumper in April, his third start, but needs to make further progress to land a significant blow on today's hurdling debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

9th Oct 2024

Good

2m 5f 55y

Class 4

15:05 Ludlow

Billy Butcher

11st 0lb

J: Lee Edwards

T: Dave Roberts

Not beaten far when seventh in good-ground course bumper in April but struggled to get competitive when 50-1 for hurdle debut at Worcester (2m, good) in June; tries a new trip here.

66/1

6th

1

26th Jun 2024

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

17:05 Worcester

Billy Butcher

11st 4lb

J: Jay Tidball

T: Dave Roberts

Displayed improvement and was not beaten far when seventh of 16 in good-ground Ludlow bumper in April, his third start, but needs to make further progress to land a significant blow on today's hurdling debut.

33/1

7th

1

24th Apr 2024

Good

1m 7f 169y

Class 4

17:45 Ludlow

Billy Butcher

11st 3lb

J: Jay Tidball

T: Dave Roberts

Poor claims on form, having finished down the field in both runs.

100/1

OUR TIP

20/1

Form: 7-84

Last run: 11 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Soundly beaten in a bumper and on first two hurdling starts; significant improvement required today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

31st Aug 2025

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 5

14:40 Worcester

Mokoro

11st 0lb

J: Tristan Durrell

T: Dan Skelton

0-8 over hurdles but kept on for second at Stratford (2m6f, good to firm) last month and this 6yo is a possible improver now switched to fences by his top trainer; unproven on slow ground; could be a player.

5/1

4

13th Jul 2025

Good To Firm

2m 6f 7y

Class 5

17:35 Stratford

Mokoro

11st 1lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Standout run is the close third at Warwick in April (2m3f, good); had a break since running too bad to be true next time; has a race in him off this mark, and there's a good chance he'll stay okay.

6/1

Form: 6

Last run: 27 days

W: 10st 13lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Made the frame in a low-grade Flat handicap in April and ran well to a point before weakening into sixth (albout 17l behind Nowmelad) on recent stable/hurdle debut at Ffos Las (2m, good); not ruled out each-way.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

27th Aug 2024

Good To Firm

2m 0f 70y

Class 5

17:25 Stratford

Katstar

10st 10lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Sheila Lewis

in touch with leaders, lost ground and mistake 2nd

25/1

9th

6

18th Jul 2024

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

18:45 Worcester

Katstar

10st 10lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Sheila Lewis

Made the frame in a low-grade Flat handicap in April and ran well to a point on hurdling debut in May but struggled over C&D three weeks ago and is not the most obvious answer today.

66/1

8th

7

26th Jun 2024

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

17:05 Worcester

Katstar

10st 13lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Sheila Lewis

Made the frame in a low-grade Flat handicap in April and ran well to a point before weakening into sixth (albout 17l behind Nowmelad) on recent stable/hurdle debut at Ffos Las (2m, good); not ruled out each-way.

33/1

Form: 5-P

Last run: 21 days

W: 10st 13lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Won a point bumper in March but was pulled up in pretty thin novice hurdle at Newton Abbot three weeks ago and is difficult to enthuse over after that performance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

26th Jun 2024

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

17:05 Worcester

Go Johnny Go

10st 13lb

J: Ben Godfrey

T: Kayley Woollacott

Won a point bumper in March but was pulled up in pretty thin novice hurdle at Newton Abbot three weeks ago and is difficult to enthuse over after that performance.

20/1

6

5th Jun 2024

Good

2m 5f 122y

Class 4

14:40 Newton Abbot

Go Johnny Go

10st 10lb

J: Ben Godfrey

T: Kayley Woollacott

Won a point bumper in March and was an 8l third in a 2m4f point last month; stable won this 12 months ago and he could prove the main threat to Huelgoat.

10/1

5th

7

7th Apr 2024

Heavy

2m 0f 161y

Class 5

17:18 Exeter

Go Johnny Go

11st 4lb

J: Mr Joshua Newman

T: J Newman

always behind

11/4

Form:

Last run:

W: 10st 6lb

4 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Half-sister to fair hurdler Knowwhentoholdem; seemingly in process of making promising Irish point debut before falling at third-last fence in May; market may guide ahead of today's rules debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

9

8th Sep 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 29y

Class 4

14:30 Fontwell

Be My Design

10st 8lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Christian Williams

held up in rear, not fluent 4th

40/1

11

26th Jun 2024

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

17:05 Worcester

Be My Design

10st 6lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: Christian Williams

Half-sister to fair hurdler Knowwhentoholdem; seemingly in process of making promising Irish point debut before falling at third-last fence in May; market may guide ahead of today's rules debut.

25/1

Non-runners

Barleythorpe, Kintaro

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £2.50
Straight Forecast £2.45
Trifecta £23.90

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Nowmelad

POSTDATA:

Brave Knight

RP RATINGS:

Nowmelad

Telegraph:

Nowmelad

The Guardian:

Nowmelad

Daily Mail:

Nowmelad

The Sun:

Nowmelad

Daily Record:

Nowmelad

WEST COUNTRY:

Brave Knight

The Times:

Brave Knight

D Express:

Brave Knight

Daily Mirror:

Brave Knight

The Star:

Brave Knight