December 07 / 11.07 Wetherby

11.07

Good To Soft

racingtv.com Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race) (Div II)

  • Prize money: £3539.9
  • 2m 0f 0y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
RTV
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racingtv.com Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race) (Div II)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Rain and snow

OUR TIP

15/8 (Won)

  • Win: £5.50
  • Place: £1.40

Form: 3

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Off for 666 days after winning maiden point in Ireland in January 2023; fair hurdles/stable debut when third at Carlisle last month (2m1f, good); should improve for that run; chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

22nd Feb 2025

Soft

2m 3f 98y

Class 4

14:00 Chepstow

Barrabooka

11st 3lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Very lightly raced 7yo who comfortably won Wetherby novice hurdle (2m, soft) in December; just a respectable fourth of six on recent chase/handicap debut at Carlisle (2m, soft) but today's longer trip is likely to suit him and he probably still has potential.

7/1

4th

5

3rd Feb 2025

Soft

1m 7f 207y

Class 3

13:50 Carlisle

Barrabooka

10st 5lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Donald McCain

towards rear but went clear with winner on outer, headway 3 out, no extra after 2 out

7/1

4th

5

3rd Feb 2025

Soft

1m 7f 207y

Class 3

13:50 Carlisle

Barrabooka

10st 5lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Donald McCain

towards rear but in touch with leaders on outer, headway 3 out, no extra after 2 out

7/1

8/1

  • Place: £1.40

Form: 4-75

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Two fair runs over hurdles, last time doing his best work late on when nearly 10l fifth of eight in a Sandown maiden (2m, good to soft); this is easier and he has a chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

18th Apr 2026

Good

3m 0f 30y

Class 5

13:52 Bangor-on-Dee

Sandscape

11st 9lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Henry Daly

This is a workable mark on the best of his hurdle form (maiden) and, although disappointing on his chase debut, he did go off favourite; respected in the new cheekpieces.

8/1

4th

3

26th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 171y

Class 5

15:17 Ludlow

Sandscape

11st 11lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Henry Daly

0-10 over hurdles, having ended 2025 with 38l defeat at Uttoxeter; makes chasing debut from a workable mark but has more to prove than some of these; visor (worn for last two races) is removed.

8/1

50/1

  • Place: £11.00

Form: 98-P60

Last run: 186 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Ordinary form in bumpers and over hurdles and hard to fancy.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 133y

Class 2

14:40 Kelso

Glen Road

11st 10lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

Completed hurdle double when winning here (2m6f, soft) in December and tapped back into that promise when runner-up at Sandown (2m4f, soft) a fortnight ago on his third run over fences; won on good to soft going over hurdles; that latest form reads well and he's high on the list this afternoon.

11/2

2nd

7

7th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 15y

Class 3

16:10 Sandown

Glen Road

10st 9lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

Highly progressive over hurdles in 2025, winning four times (2m4f-2m7f, good to soft/soft), but he's performed below that level switched to fences in recent months; still early days in this sphere but difficult to make a case for him here.

25/1

4th

1

19th Feb 2026

2m 0f 77y

Class 4

13:58 Sedgefield

Glen Road

11st 8lb

J: Callum Bewley

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

Highly progressive over hurdles last year, winning four times (2m4f-2m7f, good to soft/soft); weakened quickly when soundly beaten sixth on last month's chase debut at Newcastle (2m4f, good to soft) but that's unlikely to be the limit of his ability over fences; no surprise to see a bold show.

4/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Bought for £160,000 in February having won a maiden point in Ireland a week earlier (3m, soft to heavy; second has run well over hurdles); interesting on stable/hurdles debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

7

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 110y

Class 4

13:13 Carlisle

Big Zouk

10st 10lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Nicky Richards

Winning pointer on soft/heavy; off the mark on chase debut at Ayr in January (3m, heavy) but pulled up at Kelso last time; could go well but drier ground a slight concern.

11/2

2

13th Feb 2026

Soft

3m 2f 39y

Class 4

16:10 Kelso

Big Zouk

11st 6lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Nicky Richards

Point winner who improved upon his hurdle form to win by nearly 3l on last month's chase debut at Ayr (3m, heavy); this lightly raced 7yo could have plenty more to offer over fences and is firmly in calculations up 6lb.

13/8

2

21st Jan 2025

Soft

3m 0f 70y

Class 4

13:00 Ayr

Big Zouk

11st 6lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: James Ewart

Won an Irish point last February (3m, soft to heavy) and subsequently bought for £160,000; send off favourite when fourth at Wetherby on hurdles debut (2m, soft); should improve for this marked step up in trip.

16/1

Form: 73-

Last run: 240 days

W: 11st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Ex-Irish; modest third in a maiden hurdle at Limerick in April (2m5f, heavy) before being sold for 20,000euros; stable debut; best watched for now.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13

27th Mar 2026

Good

3m 0f 26y

Class 5

16:50 Wetherby

King Casey

10st 10lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Joanne Foster

No wins in 11 but was close up over C&D (soft) in January and 3m3f perhaps stretched him next time; possible.

8/1

5th

7

4th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 3f 9y

Class 5

15:52 Sedgefield

King Casey

11st 1lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Joanne Foster

0-10 but he achieved his closest finish yet when third at Wetherby (3m, soft) recently; wears first-time cheekpieces and might not be far away.

11/2

3rd

9

22nd Jan 2026

Soft

3m 0f 26y

Class 5

15:40 Wetherby

King Casey

10st 10lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Joanne Foster

Well held in two starts since a break but he is beginning to slip to a more workable mark now; if handling softer ground than of late, he may be able to get more competitive.

14/1

Form: 97

Last run: 34 days

W: 11st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Third of four finishers in a UK point in April (2m4f, good to soft); bought for £30,000 in May; well beaten on both starts over hurdles; others stronger.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

6th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 137y

Class 5

12:40 Huntingdon

Rocket Rufus

11st 10lb

J: Toby Wynne

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Showed nothing more than minor promise in three novice hurdles in the autumn (2m-2m4f) and seems rather harshly treated for today's handicap debut, but he's very unexposed; dangerous to ignore.

5/1

5th

3

6th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 137y

Class 5

12:40 Huntingdon

Rocket Rufus

11st 10lb

J: Toby Wynne

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Showed nothing more than minor promise in three novice hurdles in the autumn (2m-2m4f) and seems rather harshly treated for today's handicap debut, but he's very unexposed; dangerous to ignore.

5/1

6th

9

7th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

11:07 Wetherby

Rocket Rufus

11st 0lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

towards rear

40/1

Form: 3-6

Last run: 56 days

W: 11st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Fair third in a bumper here in March (2m, soft); not so good at Hexham on reappearance; a bit to prove now hurdling.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

27th Mar 2026

Good

3m 0f 26y

Class 5

16:50 Wetherby

Farmer Jimmy

11st 8lb

J: Mr Paddy Barlow

T: Mark Walford

Runner-up over C&D in November on soft (effective on good) but hasn't kicked on from there and not sure the latest Sedgefield run (3m3f) was that much of a step back in the right direction.

14/1

6th

7

18th Feb 2026

2m 4f 88y

Class 5

16:25 Southwell

Farmer Jimmy

11st 9lb

J: Mr Paddy Barlow

T: Mark Walford

Runner-up at Wetherby (3m, soft) in November and ran pretty well when fourth of 12 at Catterick (3m1f, good to soft) next time; of interest on those performances but two lacklustre efforts have followed.

12/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Won a maiden point in Ireland in April (3m, yielding); bought for £13,000 in May; probably best watched on hurdles/stable debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

13th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

15:30 Hexham

Jamesieconn

12st 0lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

Front-runner who has won his last three starts (2m7f-3m2f, good to soft/good), the latest at Carlisle nine days ago; clearly thriving and could be tough to beat for a stable that is in fantastic form.

15/8

1st

4

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 110y

Class 5

15:27 Carlisle

Jamesieconn

11st 9lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

Held on gamely to make all in four-runner Doncaster chase (3m2f, good to soft) last month and is now 2-4 for current stable; has more on his plate here and needs to prove himself on a right-handed track but still respected in current form.

11/4

1st

3

13th Mar 2026

Good

3m 2f 1y

Class 5

15:39 Doncaster

Jamesieconn

11st 8lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

Won a C&D chase for Sam England in February 2025 (good); doubled his tally in this sphere when scoring at Newcastle ten days ago (good to soft); penalised 7lb; major contender.

11/8

Non-runners

Bells Of Ufford, Broderick

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £22.90
Straight Forecast £20.70
Trifecta £1293.70

Selections

The Times:

Big Zouk

SPOTLIGHT:

Barrabooka

Daily Mail:

Sandscape

The Guardian:

Broderick

Daily Mirror:

Sandscape

The Sun:

Broderick

Telegraph:

Big Zouk

D Express:

Big Zouk

The Star:

Big Zouk

POSTDATA:

Barrabooka

Daily Record:

Barrabooka