December 26 / 12.32 Fontwell

12.32

Soft

Stay Safe Players At BetMGM Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4193.42
  • 2m 1f 162y
  • Class 4
  • 11 runners
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Stay Safe Players At BetMGM Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 11 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

Form: 0-113 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 9lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Bumper winner who may not have achieved that much when justifying skinny odds from three rivals on hurdles debut at Southwell (2m, good) last month; could have jumped better when third of 13 under his penalty at Taunton (2m1f, good to soft) four weeks ago and may find a few too good again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

10

9th May 2026

Good

1m 7f 144y

Class 1

13:15 Haydock

Dance And Glance

10st 13lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Anthony Honeyball

5-14 strike-rate and steadily progressive form, gaining his latest success over this C&D (good ground; three of today's rivals behind) in convincing fashion; a 6lb rise does not look harsh, and with further improvement on the cards he has solid claims.

7/1

1st

5

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 144y

Class 2

14:12 Haydock

Dance And Glance

10st 12lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Anthony Honeyball

6yo who has shown improved form this season, winning at Ascot (1m7f, soft) in December then runner-up at Sandown (2m, good); well-beaten fifth in the gruelling William Hill Hurdle at Newbury (2m, heavy) in February; has had a break since and could play a leading role if back to his best.

4/1

5th

16

7th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 0f 69y

Class 1

15:20 Newbury

Dance And Glance

10st 11lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Anthony Honeyball

Just held on from strong-finishing All In You at Ascot (1m7f, soft) and was unable to confirm the placings, albeit far from discredited, at Sandown (2m, good); that rival has the upper hand with further progress plausible; however, this consistent sort should go well.

16/1

Form: 4-12 D

Last run: 221 days

W: 11st 9lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
1-3 over hurdles in France, the win coming over 2m1f on very soft ground in May; interesting to see what the market says on stable debut after 221 days off.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

5

26th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 0f 8y

Class 4

15:00 Hereford

Hors Jeu

11st 2lb

J: Richard Patrick

T: Clive Boultbee-Brooks

French hurdle winner in spring 2024; untidy round of jumping when fourth of six on chasing debut at Wetherby (1m7f, soft) in November and unseated four out at Lingfield (2m, good to soft) last month; needs to polish up his jumping.

5/1

OUR TIP

Form: 121 D

Last run: 40 days

W: 11st 9lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
Irish bumper winner who followed up a promising stable/hurdles debut at Ludlow in October with victory at Wetherby (2m, good) last month; the slightly longer trip should suit and he seems sure to go well.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

14th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 123y

Class 3

16:10 Ascot

Kalium

12st 0lb

J: Mr Edward Vaughan

T: Tim Vaughan

3-5 as a novice hurdler last season; absent since encouraging third of seven on reappearance outing at Doncaster (2m3f, soft) in November but could quite plausibly have untapped potential over this new trip.

12/1

1st

6

22nd Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 2f 183y

Class 3

14:05 Newbury

Kalium

11st 4lb

J: Alan Johns

T: Tim Vaughan

Won bumper in sole Irish start; steady progress in his first three hurdle races brought two wins, making all at Fontwell (2m2f, soft) on last occasion, but he made a disappointing handicap debut at Carlisle (2m1f, soft) on latest outing.

16/1

Form: 13-U BF

Last run: 10 days

W: 11st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Noteworthy bumper form at the start of the year, winning at Kempton and finishing third of 20 under a penalty in a valuable race at Newbury (good to soft); got no further than the first on his recent hurdles debut at Plumpton but he remains an interesting prospect; stable won this in 2017 and 2018, including with the smart Highway One O One.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

18

13th Mar 2026

Good

2m 4f 56y

Class 2

17:20 Cheltenham

Andashan

11st 4lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Chris Gordon

Record of 321 switched to handicaps this term and the form has substance; ran well behind a notable rival on penultimate start (2m3f, good to soft) and subsequent Newbury performance (2m4f, good) took his strike-rate to 3-9; improving and remains particularly unexposed beyond 2m.

14/1

5th

4

22nd Feb 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:00 Kempton

Andashan

11st 5lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Chris Gordon

Both wins have been here, on bumper debut (soft) and last time dominating from the front for a wide-margin maiden success; that represented a major spike in his form and he's hard to rule out.

8/1

1st

2

7th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

13:20 Kempton

Andashan

11st 7lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Chris Gordon

took keen hold, made all

7/2

Form: 7-0

Last run: 10 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
1-1 in Irish points but well beaten in a bumper and a hurdle race; best watched for now.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

11

11th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 88y

Class 4

17:47 Southwell

Ballela Blaze

10st 5lb

J: David Noonan

T: Thomas Gallagher

Runner-up in his last two races but those were at about 3m and over a year ago now; fully entitled to need this.

10/1

10

15th Apr 2025

Good

3m 0f 60y

Class 4

16:25 Southwell

Ballela Blaze

10st 7lb

J: David Noonan

T: Thomas Gallagher

0-6 over hurdles; evidently well suited by step up in trip when keeping on well for close second at Plumpton (3m1f, good) 12 days ago but that modest race was won in a slow time and others in this line-up have much more compelling form.

8/1

2nd

10

15th Apr 2025

Good

3m 0f 60y

Class 4

16:25 Southwell

Ballela Blaze

10st 7lb

J: David Noonan

T: Thomas Gallagher

0-6 over hurdles; evidently well suited by step up in trip when keeping on well for close second at Plumpton (3m1f, good) 12 days ago but that modest race was won in a slow time and others in this line-up have much more compelling form.

8/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Dual winning sprinter on the Flat, though he ran well over 1m3f on the AW eight days ago; this still looks a stiff task on hurdles debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

(4)

25th Aug 2025

Good

1m 4f 6y

Class 4

15:20 Epsom

Beauld As Brass

11st 10lb

J: Mr P W Mullins

T: George Baker

Habitual slow starter who has had major blips in two of his last three runs, but he's also won five times (1m2f-1m6f) this season including at Haydock (good) on his penultimate run; still looks feasibly treated on that form and has claims if he can bounce back again with Patrick Mullins booked; tongue-tie added.

6/1

8th

7

1st Aug 2025

Good

2m 4f 97y

Class 2

13:20 Goodwood

Beauld As Brass

8st 7lb

J: Jim Crowley

T: George Baker

Habitual slow starter; badly overdid it on penultimate outing (tailed off) but otherwise having a cracking season; that's despite another markedly slow start when upped to 1m6f at Haydock (good; not proven on softer) on latest outing, in which he got up by a neck in a slowly run race; raised another 3lb but it's the extra 6f which gives him far more to prove.

16/1

2

(3)

18th Jul 2025

Good

1m 6f 0y

Class 4

16:25 Haydock

Beauld As Brass

9st 8lb

J: Pat Cosgrave

T: George Baker

Blew the start and was tailed off at Epsom last month; has done well over middle distances otherwise this season, completing four-timer prior to a good effort at Newbury in May; still has scope for further progress but has bit to prove after that last run and this is a new trip.

13/2

Form: 3

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 2lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Runner-up behind a nice prospect in an Irish point in May and showed ability when third of six on hurdles debut at Leicester (2m, heavy) three weeks ago; this slightly longer trip should suit and he makes the shortlist.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

17

8th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 173y

Class 1

13:50 Sandown

Malinificent

10st 13lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Warren Greatrex

One of several runners who are still seeking a first win; however, has shown ability at about 2m under rules and pedigree suggests this new trip is a likely source of improvement; could prove best of the maidens and is one for the shortlist.

25/1

2nd

6

7th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 0f 145y

Class 3

14:42 Bangor-on-Dee

Malinificent

11st 2lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Warren Greatrex

Second of 13 in an Irish point; promising 5l third at Leicester (heavy) was followed by a heavier defeat at Ffos Las but should be capable having having some say in a race of this nature, especially as two of his rivals are penalised.

10/1

2nd

6

7th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 0f 145y

Class 3

14:42 Bangor-on-Dee

Malinificent

11st 2lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Warren Greatrex

Second of 13 in an Irish point; promising 5l third at Leicester (heavy) was followed by a heavier defeat at Ffos Las but should be capable having having some say in a race of this nature, especially as two of his rivals are penalised.

10/1

Form: 3-

Last run: 273 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Some promise when third of six in a bumper here (1m6f, heavy; 22-1) in March and the first two have since won over hurdles; this looks a warm contest on hurdles debut but the stable won three consecutive runnings of this race between 2019 and 2022 (no race in 2020).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form: 232213 BF

Last run: 37 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Has plenty of experience over hurdles (1-12) but he should have done better in a Fakenham handicap last time and looks vulnerable to less exposed rivals.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

5th Apr 2026

Good

2m 3f 166y

Class 4

16:40 Plumpton

Sanitiser

11st 2lb

J: Freddie Mitchell

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Doing surprisingly well over fences as he's not bred for them; he might just be a shade high in the weights now after his hat-trick bid came up shy in a three-runner race but he must still have some sort of chance on ground he handles.

3/1

2nd

4

23rd Mar 2026

Good

1m 7f 149y

Class 4

15:47 Wincanton

Sanitiser

11st 2lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Not bred for fences but has collected small-field chase wins on soft ground at Plumpton (2m1f) and Fontwell (2m2f) in recent weeks, and may be even better suited by the forecast good ground on this hat-trick attempt.

4/5

1st

3

14th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 1f 165y

Class 4

16:20 Fontwell

Sanitiser

11st 4lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Plenty of short-priced defeats to go with his sole win over hurdles; ended a losing run when winning over fences at Plumpton (2m1f, soft) last time, off a 4lb lower mark, but needs to build on that against a couple of progressive rivals.

3/1

Form: 6400

Last run: 35 days

W: 10st 9lb

4 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Some ability in both her bumpers but poor at huge odds in two starts over hurdles; best to look elsewhere.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

18th Aug 2025

Good To Firm

2m 6f 7y

Class 5

15:27 Stratford

Polly Pi

10st 11lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: Evan Williams

Well beaten in first three handicaps, most recently when never on terms at Newton Abbot (2m2f, good) last month, but tries a new trip here and connections are persisting with her; worth a glance in the betting.

20/1

8th

8

20th Jul 2025

Good

2m 2f 110y

Class 5

16:07 Newton Abbot

Polly Pi

10st 13lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: Evan Williams

50-1 and 33-1 when well beaten in her first two handicaps (2m4f/2m3f); could be considered only if much stronger in the betting on this first start for 134 days.

25/1

Form: /1214/ D

Last run: 844 days

W: 10st 9lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Dual winner over fences in France in the summer of 2022 but 0-4 over hurdles; market should indicate what is expected on stable debut after 844 days off.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Betting Forcast

11/2 Dance And Glance, 7/1 Hors Jeu, 100/30 Kalium, 9/4 Andashan, 100/1 Ballela Blaze, 25/1 Beauld As Brass, 9/2 Malinificent, 20/1 Pearls Pirate, 10/1 Sanitiser, 100/1 Polly Pi, 20/1 Xyle Enki

Selections

TOPSPEED:

Kalium

SPOTLIGHT:

Andashan

RP RATINGS:

Malinificent

The Guardian:

Hors Jeu

The Times:

Kalium

Telegraph:

Kalium

The Sun:

Kalium

Daily Record:

Kalium

D Express:

Hors Jeu

POSTDATA:

Malinificent

LAMBOURN:

Malinificent

Daily Mail:

Andashan

Daily Mirror:

Andashan

The Star:

Andashan