November 20 / 13.35 Warwick

13.35

Good

The Denis O’Connell Memorial Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £3539.9
  • 2m 5f 0y
  • Class 4
  • 5 runners
RTV
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The Denis O’Connell Memorial Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

11/8 (Won)

  • Win: £1.80
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 310-2

Last run: 34 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Won a Huntingdon bumper on his rules debut (2m, soft) in March and he was sent off at just 7-1 for the Grade 2 bumper at the Grand National meeting, only to stop quickly and then be allowed to coast home; no match for the odds-on favourite at Wincanton on his hurdle debut five weeks ago (1m7f, good) but it was still a fair start and today's trip should suit better.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

10

12th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 213y

Class 1

15:20 Cheltenham

Ma Shantou

11st 10lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Emma Lavelle

Two handicap wins here this season (3m, good) and he took the rise in grade in his stride to win the Grade 2 Cleeve Hurdle over C&D (soft) in January; the 7l runner-up Impose Toi was giving him 6lb and perhaps wasn't at his best, but this highly progressive 7yo was impressive nevertheless; his profile is not dissimilar to that of Paisley Park, who won the Cleeve for this yard in 2019 before landing this race; very much one to be interested in.

6/1

1st

6

24th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 7f 213y

Class 1

15:35 Cheltenham

Ma Shantou

11st 2lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Emma Lavelle

Won big-field handicap here (3m, good) in October and bounced back from lesser run at Haydock to win handicap over this C&D (good) on New Year's Day; won a bumper on soft ground; further improvement needed now up in grade but trainer enjoyed lots of success in this race with Paisley Park and this progressive 7yo is an each-way possible at a track he obviously relishes.

5/1

OUR TIP

13/8

  • Place: £1.10

Form: 31-1

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Bumper winner on soft ground in March; showed a quicker surface held no terrors when making a winning hurdle debut at Carlisle four weeks ago (2m4f, good to soft); took a while to pick up there but he was strong at the finish and remains capable of better; likely it will be needed to defy a penalty here though.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

22nd Apr 2026

Soft

2m 4f 20y

Class 3

14:10 Perth

Barlovento

11st 10lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Soundly beaten on last two starts but those were Class 2 contests at Cheltenham and Kempton and this is a drop back in grade; this lightly raced 7yo had previously made a promising start to his chasing career, including a 2m4f win at Kempton, and he remains one to be interested in.

3/1

3rd

7

14th Mar 2026

Good

2m 4f 110y

Class 2

15:18 Kempton

Barlovento

10st 9lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Encouraging chase debut at Exeter then a convincing if narrow C&D win (good; has won on soft) in November, sealing the race between the last two; much lesser run at Cheltenham since (well behind Califet En Vol); may do much better back here.

8/1

8th

6

24th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 4f 127y

Class 2

12:05 Cheltenham

Barlovento

11st 2lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Ridden out to win the novice handicap chase at Kempton (2m4f, good) on Boxing Day, building on his promising reappearance effort; appears to handle soft ground; this low-mileage 7yo looks likely to improve further over fences; enters calculations.

11/4

Form: 5

Last run: 25 days

W: 10st 13lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Won an Irish point in April (3m, good/yielding); fifth, beaten under 8l, in a Cheltenham bumper on his stable debut last month, looking a stayer in the making; interesting now upped in trip on this switch to hurdles.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

2nd May 2026

Good

2m 4f 15y

Class 3

18:15 Hexham

Rubber Ball

11st 5lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: Neil King

Not at his best in competitive handicap hurdles at Sandown in March and Aintree in April, but he'd previously won well at Newbury (2m, good to soft; probably stays 2m4f); began his career in points (1-1) and has a jumps pedigree so there's a reasonable chance he'll make a chaser; respected in first-time headgear.

3/1

14th

5

10th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 103y

Class 2

17:15 Aintree

Rubber Ball

11st 7lb

J: Miss Gina Andrews

T: Neil King

Returned to form with a bang when seeing off the reopposing Melon at Newbury (2m, good to soft) in February; has a quick turnaround as an excuse for a lesser effort in the Imperial Cup at Sandown (2m, soft) one week later, while his trainer reported to the stewards that he'll be suited by a flatter track and a quicker surface, both of which he should get today; not dismissed.

12/1

8th

7

7th Mar 2026

Soft

1m 7f 216y

Class 2

14:27 Sandown

Rubber Ball

11st 3lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: Neil King

Returned to form with a bang when dropped back in trip and a well-backed winner at Newbury (2m, good to soft) last Saturday; now 8lb higher in a much hotter race but he's unexposed at this sort of distance and his stable is in tremendous form; has also won on soft ground; not ruled out.

9/1

Form: 45-0P

Last run: 4 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Point winner who also showed promise on his bumper debut; poor form in two quick hurdle runs, including when pulled up at Uttoxeter on Saturday; handicaps beckon.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

8

15th Apr 2025

Good

3m 0f 60y

Class 5

17:00 Southwell

Jumble Jury

10st 8lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Neil King

No threat to front pair when keeping on for modest third here (2m4f, good) on recent handicap debut but some positives can be drawn from that performance and he might be seen in a better light over today's longer trip.

7/1

4th

8

15th Apr 2025

Good

3m 0f 60y

Class 5

17:00 Southwell

Jumble Jury

10st 8lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Neil King

midfield, headway after 4th, soon prominent

7/1

3rd

8

27th Mar 2025

Good

2m 4f 88y

Class 5

17:40 Southwell

Jumble Jury

10st 7lb

J: James Davies

T: Neil King

Point winner who goes handicapping off a lowly mark and shouldn't be written off, but he's shown very little on his three hurdle starts and improvement is necessary.

14/1

Form: 3-0

Last run: 174 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Second of three in Irish point; off for 698 days before heavy defeats over hurdles at Newbury (2m4f, heavy) in March and here (2m3f, good) in May; promising conditional booked but not easily recommended.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

20th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

16:35 Lingfield

Amarillobymorning

10st 6lb

J: Liam Harrison

T: Ben Pauling

Tailed off in his three hurdle runs and he bled from the nose when a well-held seventh on handicap/chase debut at Market Rasen (2m1f, good to soft; first run since wind surgery) last month; in good hands and still very lightly raced but he needs a transformation with hood added.

8/1

7th

8

17th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 1f 43y

Class 5

12:50 Market Rasen

Amarillobymorning

10st 5lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Ben Pauling

led

13/2

7th

8

17th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 1f 43y

Class 5

12:50 Market Rasen

Amarillobymorning

10st 5lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Ben Pauling

led

13/2

Non-runners

Doctor Midas

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £2.40
Straight Forecast £2.58
Trifecta £4.10

Selections

POSTDATA:

Barlovento

RP RATINGS:

Ma Shantou

SPOTLIGHT:

Rubber Ball

WEST COUNTRY:

Amarillobymorning

TOPSPEED:

Ma Shantou

D Express:

Ma Shantou

The Sun:

Ma Shantou

The Star:

Ma Shantou

The Times:

Barlovento

Telegraph:

Barlovento

The Guardian:

Barlovento

Daily Mail:

Barlovento

Daily Mirror:

Barlovento

Daily Record:

Barlovento