December 06 / 13.58 Sandown

13.58

Soft

Betfair Winter Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £28475
  • 2m 3f 173y
  • Class 1
  • 6 runners
RTV
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Betfair Winter Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

11/4 (Won)

  • Win: £5.00
  • Place: £1.90

Form: 110-1 D

Last run: 33 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Point winner who changed hands for £225,000 and was 2-2 in bumpers prior to finishing down the field in the big one at Cheltenham (sent off at just 7-1); bounced back with eased-down win on hurdle debut at Carlisle (2m4f, good to soft) and has bundles of potential; firmly in calculations.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

8th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 2f 0y

Class 3

16:13 Warwick

Bill Joyce

12st 1lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Bled from the nose when pulled up on chase debut in December; smart novice hurdler around 2m4f last season and no doubting his ability to be very competitive off this mark if he's back on song.

5/1

14th

9

1st May 2025

Yielding

2m 7f 110y

16:15 Punchestown

Bill Joyce

11st 4lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Won well at Carlisle and Sandown (Grade 2 on soft) in first two starts over hurdles and then third in the Grade 1 Challow at Newbury and a Grade 2 at Cheltenham (both extended 2m4f); only 6-1 for his handicap debut over 3m at Aintree and departed too early to tell what might have happened; the first-time tongue-tie fitted there is retained; of interest.

10/1

14th

9

1st May 2025

Yielding

2m 7f 110y

16:15 Punchestown

Bill Joyce

11st 4lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Won well at Carlisle and Sandown (Grade 2 on soft) in first two starts over hurdles and then third in the Grade 1 Challow at Newbury and a Grade 2 at Cheltenham (both extended 2m4f); only 6-1 for his handicap debut over 3m at Aintree and departed too early to tell what might have happened; the first-time tongue-tie fitted there is retained; of interest.

10/1

9/4

  • Place: £1.80

Form: 10-1 D

Last run: 38 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Went for £320,000 after finishing second in a point and won a bumper at Exeter (2m, soft) last December before heavy defeat at the Cheltenham Festival; back on song with easy all-the-way win on hurdle debut at Chepstow (2m3f, soft) in October; top yard has won two of the last five runnings; player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

18th Apr 2026

Soft

3m 7f 176y

Class 1

15:35 Ayr

Quebecois

11st 13lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

0-5 in this first chase campaign but pipped at Cheltenham (2m4f, soft) in January and a close third of 22 in the Ultima at the Festival there (3m1f, good to soft) on latest outing; raised 5lb for this first attempt at a marathon trip but he's relatively unexposed and kept on stoutly in that bold show last time.

11/1

3rd

16

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 0y

Class 1

15:20 Cheltenham

Quebecois

10st 10lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Mixed form during this novice chase campaign but he went very close in handicap here (2m4f, soft) in January and 2m was against him back in novice company at Newbury latest; best performance over hurdles came when winning at 3m at Ayr (good to soft) last April; possible improver now back up in trip.

9/1

2nd

4

17th Feb 2026

2m 0f 92y

Class 3

14:15 Newbury

Quebecois

11st 2lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Tongue-tie has been retained since he won a 3m handicap hurdle at last season's big April meeting at Ayr; runner-up in two of his three chases and jumped well when nosed out by the likeable Jordans Cross at Cheltenham last month (2m4f, soft); surprising to see him back at 2m but at least the ground will be testing, and he'd be giving weight to all his rivals in a handicap.

4/7

Form: 3-1

Last run: 45 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
135,000euros purchase back in 2022; third on debut in bumper here (2m, good to soft) in February and won at Exeter (2m2f, good to soft) in October on first hurdle start, ahead of a runner-up who won his next two; he could have lots more to offer for his top trainer, who won this last year.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

25th May 2026

Good

2m 5f 34y

Class 3

17:11 Cartmel

Pony Soprano

11st 8lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Off the mark over fences at fifth attempt, with fairly comfortable success in first-time tongue-tie/cheekpieces at Uttoxeter (2m5f, good) this month; back up 7lb for that but probably still has more to offer; makes obvious appeal.

8/13

1st

1

2nd May 2026

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 4

16:50 Uttoxeter

Pony Soprano

11st 10lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Has shown solid form in at least three of his four races over fences without winning; the handicapper has given him a chance on this return from a three-month break; both first-time tongue-tie and cheekpieces go on and any improvement should see him go close.

6/1

3rd

1

27th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 75y

Class 4

13:50 Newcastle

Pony Soprano

12st 0lb

J: Tristan Durrell

T: Dan Skelton

Won an Exeter maiden hurdle in October 2024 (2m2f, good to soft); best of three runs over fences when 10.5l third at Haydock last time (2m, soft; second and fourth have won since); down in grade; the one to beat.

7/2

Form: 21

Last run: 16 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Fetched £130,000 after winning a 3m point and, after being beaten on his bumper/stable debut in October, he made all in good style in a maiden hurdle at Ffos Las (2m, soft) a fortnight ago; open to further improvement now up in trip and could have a part to play.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

18th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 72y

Class 4

16:10 Bangor-on-Dee

Admiral Stewart

11st 10lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

Some lengthy breaks in his lightly raced profile but it was a positive first run back from wind surgery when beaten 3.5l at Uttoxter three weeks ago (2m4f, good to soft); the burning question is whether he'll be as good again.

100/30

4th

6

28th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 3

15:08 Uttoxeter

Admiral Stewart

10st 11lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Jamie Snowden

Promising as a novice hurdler last season but, following a walkover in November, he's been disappointing in last three runs over fences; had wind surgery last month but this is highly competitive and he needs a transformation after a short break; cheekpieces added.

10/1

3rd

4

24th Jan 2026

Soft

1m 7f 214y

Class 3

13:57 Uttoxeter

Admiral Stewart

11st 3lb

J: Joe Anderson

T: Jamie Snowden

Promising as a novice hurdler last season but, following a walkover in November, his last two chase runs were very disappointing; still has plenty of time to get career back on track but arrives with a point to prove.

6/1

OUR TIP

Form: /47211 D

Last run: 34 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Won at Huntingdon (2m3f, good) in October on second hurdle/stable start and readily followed up in a handicap at Ascot (2m3f, good); this is a much tougher test of his credentials and he's unproven on slow ground, but his stable is flying and it remains to be seen where his limitations lie.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

8th Jul 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

18:30 Uttoxeter

Ballytechno

12st 0lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: James Owen

Useful form in handicap hurdles at about 2m4f and time might show he had a tough task trying to give plenty of weight to the first two on chase debut at Worcester (2m4f, good) in June; major player off the same mark.

11/4

3rd

1

18th Jun 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 3

15:15 Worcester

Ballytechno

11st 10lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: James Owen

2-6 over hurdles; returned from a break with creditable fourth of 14 in competitive Cheltenham handicap (2m4f, good) in April; will be a tough nut to crack in this lower grade if he takes to fences at the first attempt.

5/2

4th

13

16th Apr 2025

Good

2m 4f 56y

Class 2

14:05 Cheltenham

Ballytechno

11st 1lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: James Owen

Perhaps unsuited by soft ground when pulled up in a Grade 2 in December but it's been a progressive campaign otherwise and was a closing third over 2m6f at Kelso (handicap on good to soft) when last sighted later that month; unlikely that a lack of recent match practice will hold him back here and could be interesting.

10/1

Form: 21-1 D

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Recruited for 200,000euros after winning a point on debut in April 2023; won at Exeter (2m, good) this April on second bumper start and followed up on hurdle debut at Uttoxeter (2m4f, good) three weeks ago; had plenty in hand last time and he's a highly likeable prospect for his top yard.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

21st Oct 2025

Good

2m 4f 20y

Class 3

15:00 Perth

Kingston Pride

11st 5lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Irish point winner who looked useful during three-race novice hurdle campaign for Nicky Henderson last season, signing off with small-field win at Kempton (2m5f, good) in March; probably still has potential, and new trainer Olly Murphy is evidently very keen to switch him to fences.

11/4

1st

1

15th Mar 2025

Good

2m 5f 0y

Class 4

15:57 Kempton

Kingston Pride

11st 7lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

raced in second, pushed along after 3 out, led just after 2 out, ridden run-in, stayed on

10/11

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £13.00
Straight Forecast £14.44
Trifecta £70.50

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Bill Joyce

RP RATINGS:

Kingston Pride

The Times:

Quebecois

POSTDATA:

Admiral Stewart

TOPSPEED:

Ballytechno

LAMBOURN:

Kingston Pride

Daily Mirror:

Kingston Pride

The Sun:

Kingston Pride

Daily Record:

Quebecois

WEST COUNTRY:

Bill Joyce

Telegraph:

Bill Joyce

Daily Mail:

Bill Joyce

D Express:

Bill Joyce

The Star:

Bill Joyce