December 28 / 14.55 Newbury

14.55

Good To Soft

Coral Challow Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £56950
  • 2m 4f 118y
  • Class 1
  • 7 runners
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Coral Challow Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

6/4 (Won)

  • Win: £3.25
  • Place: £1.60

Form: 1-11 CD

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 136

Form & Verdict
Improving 5yo who has comfortably justified favouritism in all three starts, latest in Newbury contest (2m4f, good to soft) that was a stepping stone for the Challow winners in 2020 and 2021; brings excellent credentials and commands respect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

5

9th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 1

16:05 Aintree

The New Lion

11st 10lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Broadly progressive; has gone down the Champion Hurdle route this season and ran well in that race most recently, while leaving the impression he's ready for a return to further than 2m; leading novice hurdler at about 2m4f last term, winning the Challow and the Turners (both on good to soft ground); still unbeaten over this sort of distance and commands respect.

15/8

3rd

4

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 87y

Class 1

16:00 Cheltenham

The New Lion

11st 10lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Bids to emulate Istabraq, Hardy Eustace and Faugheen by winning the Champion Hurdle a year after landing the 2m5f Grade 1 novice hurdle at this meeting; held a 1l lead, still not under maximum pressure, when falling two out in the Fighting Fifth on reappearance; unbeaten otherwise and is better than the bare form he showed in a Grade 2 at Cheltenham (2m1f, soft) last time when the steady pace wasn't conducive to an ideal test; still has plenty of potential in open company and commands respect, especially with a stronger gallop seemingly on the cards.

11/4

1st

3

24th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 0f 179y

Class 1

15:00 Cheltenham

The New Lion

11st 7lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Has raced only on soft/good to soft; one of two notable fallers in the Fighting Fifth in sole start this term, holding a 1l lead and still not under maximum pressure when coming down two out; unbeaten (5-5) previously and was impressive in the Challow prior to following up at the Cheltenham Festival last season for a Grade 1 novice double (2m4f/2m5f); remains a very promising hurdler and still one with serious Champion Hurdle claims.

15/8

16/1

  • Place: £5.10

Form: 311-21 D

Last run: 51 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 127

Form & Verdict
Easily beat three rivals at Ludlow (2m5f, good; second hurdles attempt) last month, taking overall record to 4-8; productive and progressive but this is by far his toughest assignment yet.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

8

10th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 210y

Class 1

14:20 Aintree

Wendigo

11st 7lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Jamie Snowden

Just nabbed on his chase debut (good) in October but stayed on strongly to pick up Newbury Grade 2 (also 2m4f, good to soft; Regent's Stroll third, Crest Of Fortune fourth) the following month; outpaced throughout but never stopped trying when third in Kempton Grade 1 (3m, good; Salver fourth, Crest Of Fortune behind) over Christmas and that was also the case until he fell at the last when 6l down in the Brown Advisory (3m1f, good to soft; Salver third) last month; solid claims.

4/1

14

11th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 0y

Class 1

14:00 Cheltenham

Wendigo

11st 7lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

Fifth in last year's Albert Bartlett here and very smart form over fences, winning Grade 2 at Newbury (2m4f, good to soft) in November; easy winner of novice at Ayr (3m, soft) 41 days ago and looks the best of the British hopes, although he may find one or two too good unless he improves again.

8/1

Form: 110-11 D

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 136

Form & Verdict
Stayed on well for 5l success in Grade 2 contest at Sandown (2m4f, soft) three weeks ago, taking hurdles record to 2-2 and overall strike-rate to 5-6; one of the main contenders on form.
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

Form: 11-1 C

Last run: 29 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
From the family of Denman, who is one of six Challow winners for this yard; joined new owners for £660,000 prior to an easy win here (2m, soft; overcame a bad mistake two out) last month on hurdles debut, taking record to 3-3 and Newbury score to 2-2; very promising and one to follow.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

6

10th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 210y

Class 1

14:20 Aintree

Regents Stroll

11st 7lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Nephew of Denman; has been a constant work in progress and pretty much lost the plot without a hood when third to Wendigo at Newbury (good to soft) in November; won a match on soft the following month but couldn't contain Miami Magic when second at Cheltenham in January; highly creditable third in the Jack Richards at Cheltenham (also about 2m4f, good; Golden Dancer second, Jordans Cross eighth) last month, however, and now goes up in trip with something deeper possibly lurking inside him.

9/2

3rd

4

12th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 127y

Class 1

14:00 Cheltenham

Regents Stroll

11st 5lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Nephew of Denman; unraced on heavy, acts on any other ground; cost £660,000 at a dispersal sale at one point, proved a smart novice hurdler and has picked up C&D experience (latest start) en route to this prize, making him virtually a carbon copy of last year's winner Caldwell Potter for the same connections; has a broadly solid overall record to boot, including form figures of 312 since switched to fences, and likely remains capable of further progress; very strong credentials.

9/2

2nd

11

5th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 1

13:55 Aintree

Regents Stroll

11st 7lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Not the easiest to settle and although 2-4 in this sphere he was turned over in an Exeter Listed race (2m, good to soft) in February before finding a soft option at Wincanton; needs improvement for the fitting of a hood but that's not impossible.

5/1

Form: 20-213

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 127

Form & Verdict
Registered a game win at Fontwell (2m1f) then ran well behind The New Lion over C&D (good to soft) later in November; consistent sort but faces a stiffer task upped in class.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

3

12th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 213y

Class 1

16:40 Cheltenham

Electric Mason

11st 1lb

J: Freddie Gordon

T: Chris Gordon

Soundly beaten here in the Martin Pipe 12 months ago but second of 17 to today's Grade 1 Stayers' hopeful Ma Shantou back here (3m, good) in October; improved to win valuable race in another big field at Haydock (3m, good to soft) in November and should be raring to go today, with major chance.

10/1

2nd

12

25th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 208y

Class 2

14:55 Cheltenham

Electric Mason

10st 8lb

J: Freddie Gordon

T: Chris Gordon

Dual winner at Fontwell (2m1f/2m3f) as a novice hurdler last season; unable to land any sort of blow when making handicap debut at the Festival here (2m4f) in March and raced rather lazily when seventh (not beaten that far) at Sandown in April but this step up to 3m may unlock improvement; not ruled out.

20/1

7th

5

26th Apr 2025

Good

2m 3f 173y

Class 2

16:45 Sandown

Electric Mason

11st 6lb

J: Freddie Gordon

T: Chris Gordon

raced lazily, in touch with leaders

12/1

Form: 11 D

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
Irish point winner who has made all in both attempts under rules, latest at Market Rasen (2m4f, good to soft); plenty to find on bare form but remains unbeaten and unexposed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

22nd Apr 2026

Soft

2m 4f 20y

Class 3

14:10 Perth

Its Hard To Know

11st 8lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

Point (3m, soft to heavy) and two-time novice hurdle (2m3f/2m4f, good/good to soft) winner; he's run just once this season, when 14l fourth of six on chase debut at Aintree (2m4f, soft) in December; however, he remains very lightly raced and is certainly not written off today.

5/1

10th

8

8th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 173y

Class 1

13:50 Sandown

Its Hard To Know

11st 9lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

Absent since a heavy defeat in the Challow ten weeks ago, losing his unbeaten record; not particularly well treated on earlier form but represents last year's winning stable and could go well.

14/1

6th

4

28th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 118y

Class 1

14:55 Newbury

Its Hard To Know

11st 7lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

Irish point winner who has made all in both attempts under rules, latest at Market Rasen (2m4f, good to soft); plenty to find on bare form but remains unbeaten and unexposed.

14/1

OUR TIP

Form: 31

Last run: 36 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 126

Form & Verdict
Comfortably beat two rivals at Ascot (2m3f, good; second rules start) five weeks ago, adding to his Irish point win; has something to find on ratings but is open to further progress.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

13

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 5f 201y

Class 2

17:20 Cheltenham

First Confession

11st 3lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Pulled up at 50-1 in last year's 3m Grade 1 novice hurdle here; ran well in three of his five chases this term, notably with his easy win in a 2m5f beginners' event at Carlisle (good to soft) last time, but Cheltenham in December was one of the exceptions and he didn't jump well that day, before falling at Exeter on his next start; work to do on a few counts.

25/1

1st

1

3rd Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 198y

Class 3

14:00 Carlisle

First Confession

11st 5lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

The only one of these with chasing experience; didn't jump well when soundly beaten at Cheltenham in December and fell at Exeter latest; however, before those he ran well to finish third over C&D (good to soft) and at Kempton (3m, good) in his first two chases; major player if he's on song.

6/4

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £45.00
Straight Forecast £44.38
Trifecta £200.20

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Regent's Stroll

RP RATINGS:

Bill Joyce

POSTDATA:

The New Lion

LAMBOURN:

Wendigo

The Star:

The New Lion

WEST COUNTRY:

Regent's Stroll

The Times:

Regent's Stroll

Telegraph:

Regent's Stroll

The Guardian:

Regent's Stroll

Daily Mail:

Regent's Stroll

D Express:

Regent's Stroll

Daily Mirror:

Regent's Stroll

The Sun:

Regent's Stroll

TOPSPEED:

Bill Joyce

Daily Record:

Bill Joyce