November 17 / 13.10 Cheltenham

13.10

Good

Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice Maiden Hurdle (Novices’ Championship Hurdle Qualifier) (GBB)

  • Prize money: £10075.1
  • 2m 0f 87y
  • Class 2
  • 4 runners
RTV
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Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice Maiden Hurdle (Novices’ Championship Hurdle Qualifier) (GBB)

Runners: 4 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

OUR TIP

Form: 521-42 D

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Only fourth when odds-on for his hurdle debut but beaten just a short head at Exeter (2m2f, good to soft) next time and this good-ground bumper winner is in excellent hands to continue to progress; could have a big say.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

6

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 149y

Class 1

13:20 Aintree

Ace Of Spades

11st 6lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Dan Skelton

Successful over 2m4f on reappearance here (good to soft) in October and has shown better form at around 3m since, including a win at Huntingdon (good to soft) in January; only midfield behind reopposing stablemate Supremely West in the Pertemps at Cheltenham, though.

20/1

13th

4

12th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 213y

Class 1

16:40 Cheltenham

Ace Of Spades

11st 1lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Dan Skelton

Won two of his four starts this term and stayed on well for second to today's Grade 1 Stayers' candidate Ma Shantou here (3m, good) on New Year's Day on penultimate start; latest was a Huntingdon win (3m1f, soft) and he's now 5lb higher but this progressive 7yo has to be taken seriously.

11/1

1st

1

22nd Jan 2026

Soft

3m 1f 10y

Class 2

15:15 Huntingdon

Ace Of Spades

12st 0lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Progressive handicapper who stayed on well for second in a Class 2 at Cheltenham three weeks ago (3m, good; effective on good to soft; unraced on slower) and the winner is due to run in this weekend's Grade 2 Cleeve Hurdle; every chance despite the 4lb rise.

5/4

Form: 89-B23

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Point winner who is 0-5 under rules and could do with jumping better than at Carlisle last time; however, he has shown promise over hurdles, finishing second at Uttoxeter (2m, good) in June, and could be involved.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

25th Sep 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 2

14:05 Worcester

Country Park

11st 7lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Won his second chase start at Bangor (2m4f, good) off this very mark but not that threatening since and the new blinkers (on for cheekpieces) are a grey area; 1-17 overall and looking hard to win with.

8/1

4th

1

8th Sep 2026

Good

2m 4f 72y

Class 4

16:38 Bangor-on-Dee

Country Park

12st 0lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Maiden hurdler but quick to make his mark over fences with C&D success in June and set too much to do when third of ten in 2m4f Uttoxeter handicap chase following month; very much one to consider off an unchanged mark.

11/4

3rd

2

26th Jul 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

16:42 Uttoxeter

Country Park

11st 12lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Failed to win in 11 runs over hurdles (had placed form) but off the mark over fences on just his second attempt, flooring the favourite in a small field at Bangor (extended 2m4f, good; cheekpieces returned); that could prove a springboard to better things; only 1lb higher.

7/2

Form: —

Last run: —

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Colt

OR: —

Form & Verdict
Below par this autumn on final two Flat runs for Charlie Hills but showed some very useful form in that code earlier in the year; versatile ground-wise and entitled to respect on today's hurdle and stable debut given his Flat ability; changed hands for 38,000gns recently.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

1

15th Sep 2026

Good

2m 3f 207y

Class 4

15:30 Uttoxeter

Maghlaak

12st 1lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Mark Walford

Won over fences on stable debut at Southwell last November (2m4f, soft); fair fourth next time (2m4f, good to soft); slightly disappointing last four runs, two on the Flat, two over hurdles (first over C&D); bit to prove.

12/1

5th

4

24th Jul 2026

Good

2m 3f 207y

Class 4

16:25 Uttoxeter

Maghlaak

11st 11lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Mark Walford

Made a winning start for current yard over fences at Southwell (2m4f) in November but only eighth back hurdling in 2m7f handicap here 17 days ago; visor and tongue-tie are retried now.

50/1

8th

8

7th Jul 2026

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 3

15:00 Uttoxeter

Maghlaak

11st 2lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Mark Walford

Made a winning start for this yard in a novice handicap chase last November but pulled up in his final chase and has finished last in two subsequent Flat starts; capable hurdler but hardly returns to this discipline at the top of his game.

25/1

Form: 2722-2

Last run: 21 days

W: 10st 11lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
0-7 over hurdles and runner-up five times; however, she knows how to win on the Flat (handles a variety of ground) and holds leading form claims on hurdle form such as her close second at Galway (2m, yielding) three weeks ago.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

5

(7)

4th Oct 2026

Good To Yielding

1m 4f 0y

16:50 Curragh

Whimsy

11st 2lb

J: Ms A M Connolly

T: Anthony McCann

Three-time Flat winner in Britain (including on soft) and also winning hurdler; never sighted on recent comeback run, but more expected of here.

9/1

14th

3

(17)

2nd Sep 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

17:08 Navan

Whimsy

11st 13lb

J: Miss A B O’Connor

T: Anthony McCann

Useful Flat performer, winning three times and placing on a further nine occasions from 17 turf starts; took third at Gowran in April (1m4f, soft) and went one place better when beaten a neck at Musselburgh next time (2m, good); has often been frustrating, as shown by hurdles record 1-20; second eight times.

12/1

Non-runners

Unleash The Beast

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Whimsy

Telegraph:

Ace Of Spades

WEST COUNTRY:

Country Park

D Express:

Ace Of Spades

RP RATINGS:

Whimsy

TOPSPEED:

Whimsy

POSTDATA:

Whimsy

The Times:

Whimsy

Daily Mirror:

Whimsy

The Sun:

Whimsy

The Star:

Whimsy

Daily Record:

Whimsy