November 08 / 12.40 Exeter

12.40

Good

Southwest Rail Solutions Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £8169
  • 2m 5f 137y
  • Class 3
  • 5 runners
RTV
View Course
Southwest Rail Solutions Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

100/30 (Won)

  • Win: £2.63
  • Place: £1.20

Form: 321111

Last run: 8 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Has come a long way in a short space of time, as it was a low-grade Cartmel 3m1f handicap he won in late August (heavy) and yet he now bids for a five-timer after bolting up in three further handicaps at about 3m on good ground; penalised accordingly now in novice company but will surely have an edge in fitness and he'll be ridden positively as usual.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

16th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 2

18:50 Uttoxeter

Skyjack Hijack

11st 6lb

J: William Shanahan

T: Jennie Candlish

Went up 41lb for his six wins in staying hurdles in 2024; was subsequently absent for 441 days and hasn't run anything like as well since.

16/1

6th

1

24th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 3

15:47 Perth

Skyjack Hijack

12st 2lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jennie Candlish

On a roll in the second half of 2024, rattling off six straight wins (2m5f-3m1f), but pulled up on belated return at Kelso at the end of February; entitled to strip fitter but can still only watch.

20/1

2

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 189y

Class 2

15:30 Kelso

Skyjack Hijack

12st 0lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jennie Candlish

On a roll in the second half of 2024, rattling off six straight wins (2m5f-3m1f) before coming unstuck when favourite for Grade 2 novice at Cheltenham; it's possible he's still to reach his ceiling but he'll need to be firing on all cylinders after 441 days off.

14/1

2/1

  • Place: £1.40

Form: 103- BF

Last run: 237 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Easy winner of an Irish point (good) and again of a Chepstow bumper (good to soft); reportedly troubled by sore shins when disappointing in his last two races; trainer reckons he's needed time to mature and, given his reputation, it will be disappointing should he not go close to winning this even if in need of the run; had wind operation.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

20th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 6f 93y

Class 3

14:30 Newbury

Captain Bellamy

11st 10lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Runner-up in the opening novice hurdle on this card 12 months ago; looked unlucky not to win over C&D at Christmas when failing only narrowly to get up (on good); quite likely that he was unsuited by the heavy ground when a beaten favourite on his return visit and a physical issue also came to light; with this drying ground in his favour, he's right in the mix with cheekpieces added.

15/8

6th

9

7th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 91y

Class 3

15:55 Newbury

Captain Bellamy

10st 8lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Point/bumper winner who didn't hang about over hurdles; disappointing chase debut here in November but looked unlucky not to win over 2m6f here (good; effective on soft) over Christmas when a late rally narrowly failed; the winner of that race is unexposed; big player off just 3lb higher.

9/2

Form: 1/4- BF

Last run: 304 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Bought for £75,000 after winning an Irish point; it wasn't a strong bumper in which he edged home at Warwick (good) and he ended up well held on his switch to hurdling in January (2m4f); would appear to lack the star potential of some of these.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

11

15th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 7f 136y

Class 4

15:20 Chepstow

Check The Score

11st 6lb

J: Jack Hogan

T: Fergal O’Brien

No match for the winner at Southwell but that was over hurdles and after 363 days off; won his only previous chase by 3l at Market Rasen 13 months ago (3m, good to soft) when in first-time cheekpieces; he does have something to prove on soft ground.

8/1

2nd

3

2nd Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 60y

Class 5

16:27 Southwell

Check The Score

11st 11lb

J: Jack Hogan

T: Fergal O’Brien

Point/bumper winner who won on chase debut at Market Rasen last February (3m, good to soft; cheekpieces on for first time); hasn't run since; harshly treated for that win as now 11lb higher over fences and 6lb higher over hurdles.; bit to prove as a hurdler.

5/2

4

4th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 191y

Class 5

14:10 Market Rasen

Check The Score

11st 5lb

J: Jack Hogan

T: Fergal O’Brien

No surprise to see him sent chasing as he offered little in three runs over hurdles and, not only does he have a pointing background, but there are chasers in the family; commands respect on this handicap debut with cheekpieces added.

13/2

Form: 333-

Last run: 272 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Has shown clear promise in two bumpers and a novice hurdle that were won by smart horses and he smacks of a likely improver now going beyond 2m for the first time; stable's winner of this last year was making his reappearance; hard to dismiss.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

14th Feb 2026

Heavy

1m 7f 149y

Class 4

14:50 Wincanton

Jack Black

11st 11lb

J: Charlie Todd

T: Dan Skelton

0-7 but he ran his best race so far when front-running second in a chase handicap at Taunton (2m, good to soft; cheekpieces added) last month; that was only his second run over fences and he's a big player if he can build on that.

5/2

2nd

4

17th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 12y

Class 4

14:43 Taunton

Jack Black

11st 11lb

J: Charlie Todd

T: Dan Skelton

Lightly raced 6yo who has had two races since returning from a year out and his handicap/chase debut at Bangor last time was forgettable; now in cheekpieces and others look safer.

10/1

Form: 46- BF

Last run: 197 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Beaten about 5l in his two bumpers, on soft at Taunton and good at Warwick; neither piece of form is anything to shout about but he should improve for going further over hurdles.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

2nd Apr 2025

Good

2m 5f 137y

Class 4

15:25 Exeter

Super Saint

11st 7lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

pressed leader, lost ground when not fluent 6th, outpaced before 3 out, weakening when not fluent 2 out

7/4

4th

4

2nd Apr 2025

Good

2m 5f 137y

Class 4

15:25 Exeter

Super Saint

11st 7lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

pressed leader, lost ground when not fluent 6th, outpaced before 3 out, weakening when not fluent 2 out

7/4

1st

1

11th Mar 2025

Good

2m 3f 188y

Class 5

15:38 Sedgefield

Super Saint

12st 0lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Paul Nicholls

prominent, carried right 1st

6/4

Non-runners

A Moments Madness

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £5.10
Straight Forecast £4.94
Trifecta £14.90

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Skyjack Hijack

WEST COUNTRY:

Captain Bellamy

SPOTLIGHT:

Jack Black

The Times:

Jack Black

TOPSPEED:

Skyjack Hijack

POSTDATA:

Skyjack Hijack

Telegraph:

Skyjack Hijack

The Guardian:

Skyjack Hijack

Daily Mail:

Skyjack Hijack

D Express:

Skyjack Hijack

Daily Mirror:

Skyjack Hijack

The Sun:

Skyjack Hijack

The Star:

Captain Bellamy

Daily Record:

Captain Bellamy