October 26 / 13.45 Cheltenham

13.45

Good

William Hill Betting Done Properly Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £9505.8
  • 2m 7f 208y
  • Class 2
  • 5 runners
ITV
View Course
William Hill Betting Done Properly Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Scattered showers

9/4 (Won)

  • Win: £3.00
  • Place: £1.40

Form: -F2112

Last run: 15 days

W: 11st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
Made an inauspicious start over hurdles but coming good now and, having won over 2m6f (good), he did well to hold his own over an extended 2m3f in Chepstow's Grade 2 Persian War (soft) last time; clear claims for a stable with a fine record in this race.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

16th

12

12th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 127y

Class 1

14:00 Cheltenham

Intense Approach

10st 11lb

J: Alex Harvey

T: John C McConnell

Prevailed in a big field at Galway (2m6f, good) on chase debut but has failed to back up that form since and was particularly disappointing in October when bidding for a second win at the Cheltenham Showcase meeting; wears first-time headgear; less solid than others.

50/1

26

11th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 0y

Class 1

14:40 Cheltenham

Intense Approach

10st 10lb

T: John C McConnell

Reserve; won four times (once on good here) as a novice hurdler last season before pulling up at 14-1 in the 3m Grade 1 novice event here; won chase debut at the Galway festival (2m6f) last August but chase career has gone badly the wrong way since, latest start 11 days ago; returns to hurdling in first-time cheekpieces; next to no exposure in handicaps but low on the list.

50/1

5th

2

28th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 0f 0y

15:35 Navan

Intense Approach

11st 1lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: John C McConnell

Four-time hurdles winner with a liking for a sound surface and staying trips; had the going in his favour when making a winning chase debut over 2m6f at the Galway festival last August; disappointing when well fancied for a 3m1f contest at Cheltenham in October; unseated at the first at Musselburgh early this month.

33/1

16/1

  • Place: £4.00

Form: 14U-22

Last run: 32 days

W: 11st 0lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Dual chase winner early last year; made an encouraging return to hurdling when second in a 2m5f novice at Fontwell last month but this represents a far more challenging assignment.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

2nd Mar 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 84y

Class 3

15:40 Doncaster

Hauraki Gulf

11st 3lb

J: Ellis Collier

T: Deborah Cole

pressed leader, weakened after 2 out

4/1

9

1st Feb 2025

Heavy

2m 7f 98y

Class 1

15:07 Sandown

Hauraki Gulf

10st 5lb

J: Cameron Iles

T: Deborah Cole

Scored twice over fences early last year (once on heavy); 0-10 over hurdles but runner-up in eight of those, including at Warwick (3m2f, soft) on latest start when he blundered at the final flight but looked booked for second anyway; this race looks too tough.

16/1

9

1st Feb 2025

Heavy

2m 7f 98y

Class 1

15:07 Sandown

Hauraki Gulf

10st 5lb

J: Cameron Iles

T: Deborah Cole

Scored twice over fences early last year (once on heavy); 0-10 over hurdles but runner-up in eight of those, including at Warwick (3m2f, soft) on latest start when he blundered at the final flight but looked booked for second anyway; this race looks too tough.

16/1

OUR TIP

Form: 5-7113

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Won first two races in this headgear combination on good ground at Punchestown (2m3f maiden) and Galway (2m4f novice); soft ground perhaps not ideal when third in another novice last time, though he didn't run badly; there's sufficient stamina in his pedigree to believe 3m will be within range.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

2nd Oct 2025

Good

3m 0f 0y

17:00 Clonmel

Donnie Devito

11st 3lb

J: Donagh Meyler

T: Ross O’Sullivan

Dual hurdles winner last year at about 2m4f; appeared to be getting the hang of things over fences with a 1l third at the Galway festival (2m6f, good) where What's Up Darling was 1.5l behind off level weights; avoids a penalty and a repeat of his latest effort should see him in the mix.

5/1

2

1st Aug 2025

Good

2m 6f 111y

17:30 Galway

Donnie Devito

11st 12lb

J: Donagh Meyler

T: Ross O’Sullivan

Followed up Punchestown maiden hurdle win with a novice success here last year (2m4f, good); out of form since; modest improvement upon chase debut to finish a 9.75l fourth of six at Wexford last time (2m3f, good); the return to this track needs to spark something.

20/1

Form: 12 BF

Last run: 13 days

W: 11st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Winning pointer; hasn't looked a natural over hurdles but was only ridden out to win a 2m4f maiden at Bellewstown before pushing an unexposed stablemate of Fine Margin close over 3m at Cork (again good ground); saw that latest race out well and there's more to come from him.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

25th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 15y

Class 2

16:40 Sandown

Millforce

11st 7lb

J: Lee Edwards

T: Henry Oliver

Signed off for Gavin Cromwell in Ireland with hard-fought win at Galway (2m6f, yielding) in the autumn but was pulled up when reappearing for new stable at Haydock (3m1f, good to soft) ten days ago and needs to turn things around quickly.

16/1

6

15th Apr 2026

Good

3m 1f 125y

Class 2

17:00 Haydock

Millforce

10st 12lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Henry Oliver

Absent since October when he signed off for Gavin Cromwell with a 2m6f win at Galway (yielding); stays 3m and should get this far, but would need to see some confidence behind him.

10/1

1st

2

26th Oct 2025

Yielding

2m 6f 111y

14:35 Galway

Millforce

11st 1lb

J: Eoin Staples

T: Gavin Cromwell

Won two of his six starts over hurdles; latest second at Fairyhouse his most encouraging run yet over fences but only four ran and his jumping was a bit scruffy; will need to be sharper all round in his first handicap but the ability is there.

6/1

Form: 0-111P

Last run: 29 days

W: 11st 8lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
Good and bad in strong handicaps last season; made hay with his sights lowered in British novices at about 2m4f (all on good ground) and his Worcester demise (back in a handicap) last time can be attributed to soft ground; stays 3m and persuasive form claims if bringing his 'A' game.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

29th Aug 2025

Yielding

2m 3f 100y

18:35 Wexford

Fine Margin

11st 9lb

J: Brian Hayes

T: W P Mullins

A 126-rated hurdler; narrowly made a winning start as a chaser over C&D before struggling in a Grade 3 at Galway when 25-1; finished well behind Intellotto that day.

7/1

9th

2

31st Jul 2025

Good

2m 2f 54y

14:10 Galway

Fine Margin

11st 1lb

J: Brian Hayes

T: W P Mullins

Won three hurdle races in a row in Britain last summer on good ground; back from winter break for winning chasing debut in 2m4f Wexford beginners early this month, fresh but jumping well to beat two race-fit market principals on favoured good ground; looks like making a better chaser than hurdler and not one to dismiss despite jump in class.

12/1

3

4th Jul 2025

Good

2m 3f 110y

15:50 Wexford

Fine Margin

11st 12lb

J: Brian Hayes

T: W P Mullins

Won three hurdle races in a row in Britain last summer at around 2m4f on good ground; pulled up in a better quality race next time at Worcester on soft ground (2m4f); 50l behind in a novice hurdle at Cheltenham last October; tries fences now but needs to bounce back.

7/2

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £23.90
Straight Forecast £22.65
Trifecta £60.60

Selections

The Times:

Millforce

SPOTLIGHT:

Intense Approach

RP RATINGS:

Fine Margin

Telegraph:

Millforce

The Guardian:

Millforce

D Express:

Millforce

The Sun:

Millforce

The Star:

Millforce

Daily Record:

Millforce

TOPSPEED:

Intense Approach

Daily Mirror:

Intense Approach

POSTDATA:

Fine Margin

Daily Mail:

Fine Margin