November 19 / 15.05 Fakenham

15.05

Good

Anglia Car Auctions Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4084.5
  • 2m 0f 3y
  • Class 4
  • 6 runners
RTV
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Anglia Car Auctions Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Rain

5/4 (Won)

  • Win: £1.62
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 562-7

Last run: 194 days

W: 11st 4lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Showed some fair form in his bumpers but made an underwhelming start to his hurdle career when finishing a 38l seventh of 14 at Uttoxeter (good) in May, when appearing not to stay the 2m4f; better seems likely back at 2m for his in-form stable and he's a leading player in this line-up.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

6th Apr 2026

Good

2m 0f 219y

Class 2

14:35 Plumpton

Secret Des Dieux

11st 1lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: James Owen

Capitalised on the drop back in trip to win at Huntingdon (2m, heavy) in February and followed up at Kempton (2m2f, good); he's 7lb higher than last time and in a hotter race, but did it very nicely and this 6yo novice is now 3-6 over fences; could still have more to offer and he's respected.

2/1

1st

1

14th Mar 2026

Good

2m 2f 0y

Class 3

14:08 Kempton

Secret Des Dieux

11st 10lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: James Owen

Won on chase debut at Fakenham (2m, good to soft) in October; creditable efforts in defeats in strong novice handicaps on next three starts before resuming winning ways in a small field at Huntingdon (2m, heavy) last month; 7lb higher in a more competitive race now but further progress can't be ruled out with this yard.

3/1

1st

1

19th Feb 2026

2m 0f 104y

Class 4

15:26 Huntingdon

Secret Des Dieux

11st 11lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: James Owen

Won on chase debut at Fakenham (2m, good to soft) in October and has run well in defeat on his three starts since, most recently at Cheltenham when not seeing out the stiff, extended 2m4f on soft ground; solid claims now back down in trip.

5/6

6/4

  • Place: £1.30

Form: 6U

Last run: 32 days

W: 11st 4lb

4 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
In good form on the Flat this summer, winning 1m4f handicaps at Pontefract and Epsom but some way below that level on hurdle debut at Worcester in September and got no further than the first over C&D last month; nonetheless it'll be surprising should he not make an impact in this discipline given his Flat ability.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

7

(1)

9th May 2026

Good

1m 3f 211y

Class 3

14:55 Ascot

Gordon Grey

9st 4lb

J: Neil Callan

T: George Baker

In the form of his life when winning four in a row for Ben Brookhouse last summer, namely a maiden hurdle followed by three Flat handicaps over 1m2f and 1m4f (twice) on good/good to firm; better effort in Bahrain for George Baker this year when third of seven over 1m2f (good to firm) five weeks ago; returns to Britain on a career-high mark and may prove vulnerable to less-exposed sorts.

20/1

2

(1)

25th Aug 2025

Good

1m 4f 6y

Class 4

15:20 Epsom

Gordon Grey

11st 8lb

J: Mr Paul Hainey

T: B F Brookhouse

Won the 2024 Ladies' Derby at Epsom and repeated the trick when romping away with this year's edition (1m4f, good to firm) in June; completed a hat-trick (first leg was over hurdles) when defying penalty under Paul Hainey at Newbury (1m2f, good to firm) last month and a 4lb rise for that success looks fair; usually sets the pace and he's a big player again in his bid to make it 3-4 over C&D; cheekpieces added.

5/2

1st

1

(5)

24th Jul 2025

Good To Soft

1m 2f 0y

Class 5

17:50 Newbury

Gordon Grey

11st 7lb

J: Mr Paul Hainey

T: B F Brookhouse

Won the 2024 Ladies' Derby at Epsom and repeated the trick when romping away with this year's edition (1m4f, good to firm) one week ago; 2-3 under amateur riders and he's run respectably here before; 2lb well in under the penalty and rider Paul Hainey has already impressed this season.

6/4

Form: 0-

Last run: 335 days

W: 10st 11lb

4 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Soundly beaten in a soft-ground Newbury bumper in December for Tom Lacey and, although placed in one of her two points, that form doesn't amount to much; makes hurdle debut for new stable back from a 205-day break.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

7

14th Feb 2025

Good

2m 0f 3y

Class 5

14:38 Fakenham

Order Of Progress

10st 10lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Louise Allan

Still unexposed over hurdles and has the services of Sean Bowen today but was beaten about 21l when fourth of seven over C&D (good) on last month's handicap debut; needs to find something extra.

12/1

3rd

3

(4)

25th Jan 2025

Standard

1m 1f 104y

Class 5

17:20 Wolverhampton (AW)

Order Of Progress

9st 3lb

J: Ben Sanderson

T: Louise Allan

took keen hold, prominent, weakened final furlong

33/1

3

(4)

25th Jan 2025

Standard

1m 1f 104y

Class 5

17:20 Wolverhampton (AW)

Order Of Progress

9st 3lb

J: Ben Sanderson

T: Louise Allan

Well beaten in a bumper and four starts over hurdles; has more of a Flat pedigree, though.

33/1

OUR TIP

Form: 48

Last run: 16 days

W: 11st 4lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Disappointing maiden on the Flat at up to 1m and has failed to get competitive at three-digit odds in two starts over hurdles; others have more obvious claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

21st Jul 2025

Good

2m 1f 46y

Class 5

13:42 Cartmel

Malinheadsearovers

10st 10lb

J: David Noonan

T: Tom Gretton

Disappointing Flat maiden who was well beaten when 66-1 for last month's handicap hurdle debut at Market Rasen (2m, good), where he raced too freely and jumped left throughout; blinkers added here; too risky.

40/1

8th

5

2nd Jun 2025

Good

2m 0f 125y

Class 5

16:35 Market Rasen

Malinheadsearovers

11st 1lb

J: David Noonan

T: Tom Gretton

17-race maiden who became disappointing on the Flat and hasn't exactly hit the ground running over hurdles, going down by between 17l and 24l in his qualifying races; clearly entitled to do better now handicapping but he's unconvincing.

10/1

8th

5

2nd Jun 2025

Good

2m 0f 125y

Class 5

16:35 Market Rasen

Malinheadsearovers

11st 1lb

J: David Noonan

T: Tom Gretton

17-race maiden who became disappointing on the Flat and hasn't exactly hit the ground running over hurdles, going down by between 17l and 24l in his qualifying races; clearly entitled to do better now handicapping but he's unconvincing.

10/1

Form: 40-5

Last run: 192 days

W: 11st 4lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Some promise in two of his three bumpers for Tom Weston; left that stable for £4,000 in May and makes hurdle/stable debut back from a 192-day break.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

5th Apr 2026

Good

3m 1f 157y

Class 5

14:20 Plumpton

Milan Milos

10st 6lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Tom Gretton

Maiden hurdler who was never that threatening in handicaps but his breeding offers plenty of hope that he'll do better over fences and over this longer distance; tongue-tie added; hard to dismiss.

8/1

3rd

5

13th Mar 2026

Good

2m 4f 1y

Class 5

14:54 Fakenham

Milan Milos

10st 2lb

J: Jack Hogan

T: Tom Gretton

Mark is assuming more realistic proportions nowadays; closest finish to date when under 7l fourth at Warwick latest (2m3f, good to soft), but no obvious excuses there and likely a bit more is needed today.

13/2

Form: 07

Last run: 47 days

W: 11st 4lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Well beaten on debut in bumper at Worcester (good) in June but took a small step forward when fitted with a tongue-tie (retained) at Warwick (2m, good) last month, albeit beaten just over 16l; more needed on hurdle debut and will likely need further in time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

31st Aug 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

15:40 Worcester

Wingmann

11st 4lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Ben Case

Tailed off/pulled up on his three outings over hurdles and a transformation is needed following wind surgery; cheekpieces go on.

100/1

11

25th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

1m 7f 168y

Class 4

13:22 Uttoxeter

Wingmann

11st 8lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: Ben Case

prominent, jumped right 2nd, weakened after 4 out, soon dropped to rear, tailed off when pulled up before 3 out

200/1

11

25th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

1m 7f 168y

Class 4

13:22 Uttoxeter

Wingmann

11st 8lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: Ben Case

Looks modest and was 200-1 when pulled up in a Fakenham maiden only last week; blinkers added.

200/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £2.80
Straight Forecast £2.67
Trifecta £34.80

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Secret Des Dieux

POSTDATA:

Malinheadsearovers

Daily Mirror:

Gordon Grey

The Times:

Secret Des Dieux

Telegraph:

Secret Des Dieux

The Guardian:

Secret Des Dieux

D Express:

Secret Des Dieux

The Sun:

Secret Des Dieux

The Star:

Secret Des Dieux

Daily Record:

Secret Des Dieux

Daily Mail:

Malinheadsearovers