January 18 / 16.02 Ascot

16.02

Good To Soft

BetMGM EBF ‘National Hunt’ Novices’ Hurdle (Qualifier) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £8713.65
  • 2m 5f 141y
  • Class 3
  • 6 runners
SKY
View Course
BetMGM EBF ‘National Hunt’ Novices’ Hurdle (Qualifier) (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

OUR TIP

5/1 (Won)

Form: 023-71

Last run: 35 days

W: 11st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Placed in two of his bumpers; tailed off on hurdle/seasonal debut in November but he had wind surgery soon afterwards and showed the benefit with a 10l win from the front at Doncaster (extended 2m3f, good to soft) five weeks ago, making all and moving clear with apparent ease; that's not the best form in this field but he made a very positive impression.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

9th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 200y

Class 1

14:20 Aintree

Jax Junior

11st 7lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Lucy Wadham

Finished 18l behind Lulamba in the Arkle but may fare better in this rematch, with the return to further a likely plus; readily bagged Grade 2 honours at Kempton (2m4f, good to soft) the time before, enhancing his good strike-rate when racing beyond 2m.

9/1

4th

2

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 199y

Class 1

14:00 Cheltenham

Jax Junior

11st 7lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Lucy Wadham

Bled from nose when well held behind Steel Ally at Ascot just before Christmas but otherwise he's made a fine start to his chasing career, winning a handicap at Sandown (1m7f, soft) and Grade 2 novice at Kempton (2m4f, good to soft) on last two starts; needs a chunk of improvement to trouble the principals but he's straightforward, tactically versatile and a sound jumper.

20/1

1st

2

21st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 1

14:25 Kempton

Jax Junior

11st 2lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Lucy Wadham

Bled from the nose at Ascot just before Christmas but otherwise he's made a fine start to his chasing career, winning handicap at Sandown (1m7f, soft) three weeks ago in clearcut style; just as effective at 2m4f and sets the standard for the others to aim at.

4/6

Form: -B232F

Last run: 29 days

W: 11st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
Irish maiden point winner who is 0-7 under rules; he has the form for a leading role today, however, having been a close second at Cheltenham (2m, good) on penultimate start; travelling strongly just behind the leaders when he fell two out in a C&D maiden (good to soft) on latest; major player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

22nd May 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

17:32 Worcester

Country Park

11st 12lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Point winner who is 0-13 under rules; has some useful hurdles form to his name, with his best effort coming on good ground and over a similar trip to this; on a handy mark for this chase debut if better for a recent hurdles start; check the market for clues.

15/2

4th

1

2nd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 131y

Class 4

14:00 Chepstow

Country Park

11st 8lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Now 0-12 under rules and beginning to look exposed; however, he brings the best form to this maiden and was going easily when falling three out at Sedgefield last time (2m1f maiden); unraced beyond 2m5f under rules but this winning pointer should stay.

6/4

2

14th Oct 2025

Good

2m 4f 139y

Class 4

14:21 Market Rasen

Country Park

11st 0lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

0-8 over hurdles but three times runner-up and ran well for fourth on handicap debut at Ascot (2m3f, good) before slipping up early at Aintree in April; the cheekpieces worn the last twice are left at home but he's a major player back in a novice.

11/10

Form: 456-71

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Fourth and fifth here last season in two of his bumpers; sent novice hurdling for both starts this term and made the breakthrough with a dominant performance at Taunton (2m3f, good to soft) 19 days ago, always close up and surging clear in the closing stages; he's therefore well worth a go at this trip and looks capable of better, which is needed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

9th Mar 2026

Good

2m 7f 3y

Class 3

15:40 Taunton

U Cant Be Serious

11st 10lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Joe Tizzard

Made an excellent start over fences when landing a pair of 2m3f handicap chases at Exeter before Christmas but his form has really dipped, only seventh at Newbury (2m7f) last month; cheekpieces are reached for now.

8/1

7th

3

7th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 91y

Class 3

15:55 Newbury

U Cant Be Serious

11st 3lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Joe Tizzard

Showed a willing attitude to kick off his chasing career with two 2m3f handicap wins at Exeter (good to soft) and his Kempton run off this mark on Boxing Day looked too bad to be true; however, even if back on song, others may have his measure.

9/1

3rd

1

1st Mar 2025

Heavy

2m 0f 69y

Class 4

13:55 Newbury

U Cant Be Serious

12st 2lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Joe Tizzard

Handicap debutant; seemingly outstayed over 2m5f last time but may not be crying out for this drop back to 2m, having gained his Taunton win over 2m3f; testing ground would be a possible help, however.

11/4

Form: 1-221

Last run: 41 days

W: 11st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
Finished first or second in his maiden point, a bumper and three runs over hurdles; 2m2f is the furthest he's been and he was beaten at Fontwell that day (penultimate start) but he stuck to his task well and there's a good chance he will get this trip; improvement is needed in this field, though.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

5

18th Jan 2026

Soft

3m 0f 60y

Class 1

13:20 Windsor

Laurens Bay

11st 4lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

Winner of the EBF Final on last hurdles attempt and followed up, easily beating sole opponent, at Uttoxeter (3m, good) switched to chasing; subsequent effort, behind Salver and Doyen Quest at Sandown, leaves him with something to find.

14/1

1st

2

17th Oct 2025

Good

3m 0f 10y

Class 3

13:47 Uttoxeter

Laurens Bay

11st 6lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

2-5 over hurdles last season, the latter success gained from a long way off the pace on handicap debut in valuable EBF Final at Sandown (2m4f, good to soft) in March; moves up in trip for this seasonal/chase debut; looks a very good prospect.

1/2

1st

9

8th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 173y

Class 1

13:50 Sandown

Laurens Bay

11st 8lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

Solid record at up to 2m1f on sharp/flat tracks under rules; unplaced favourite over 2m5f at stiff Ascot last time, leaving him with something to prove in this similar scenario.

20/1

Form: 74

Last run: 56 days

W: 11st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Bought for £55,000 after his Irish point win last March; made a low-key start over hurdles at Newton Abbot (2m1f, heavy; 25-1) and over C&D (good; 100-1) in the autumn, in demanding company in the latter but it does not look like he will be winning again just yet.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

5

6th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

16:40 Ffos Las

Copper Jack

11st 5lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Anthony Charlton

Point winner; made his handicap debut at Chepstow (extended 2m3f, good) 17 days ago, following wind surgery and with tongue tied, and he raised his game dramatically to justify favouritism in nine-runner race by 8l under Callum Pritchard; up 9lb but good chance to score again.

3/1

3rd

5

6th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

16:40 Ffos Las

Copper Jack

11st 5lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Anthony Charlton

Point winner; made his handicap debut at Chepstow (extended 2m3f, good) 17 days ago, following wind surgery and with tongue tied, and he raised his game dramatically to justify favouritism in nine-runner race by 8l under Callum Pritchard; up 9lb but good chance to score again.

3/1

1st

3

20th Mar 2025

Good

2m 3f 100y

Class 5

16:40 Chepstow

Copper Jack

11st 11lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Anthony Charlton

Won a 3m point on heavy; yet to be that competitive under rules but has been running behind some useful horses and this is his handicap debut; had wind surgery and now tries a tongue-tie; possible improver.

10/1

Form: 4

Last run: 33 days

W: 11st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
After his two Irish points and a 2m5f Plumpton maiden hurdle, it looks as if he will be a big outsider in this field.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

9th Mar 2026

Good

3m 1f 157y

Class 5

16:00 Plumpton

Minella Kaiser

11st 4lb

J: Freddie Gordon

T: Chris Gordon

Low-mileage 7yo who launched chasing career with two good efforts, latterly when second to Felton Bellevue over C&D (soft) in February; ran in snatches and was disappointing over hurdles here a fortnight ago but might travel better in first-time cheekpieces today and could still have potential over fences.

11/4

5th

3

23rd Feb 2026

Soft

3m 0f 217y

Class 5

15:45 Plumpton

Minella Kaiser

11st 6lb

J: Freddie Gordon

T: Chris Gordon

Lightly raced maiden over hurdles who has showed improved form since switched to fences on last two starts; not yet fully exposed and reverts to hurdles off what may prove to be a workable mark.

11/4

Non-runners

Im A Lumberjack, The Bluesman

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Straight Forecast £26.59

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Country Park

The Guardian:

I'm A Lumberjack

LAMBOURN:

Laurens Bay

Daily Mirror:

U Cant Be Serious

SPOTLIGHT:

Jax Junior

TOPSPEED:

Country Park

POSTDATA:

Country Park

WEST COUNTRY:

Country Park

Daily Mail:

Country Park

The Star:

U Cant Be Serious

The Times:

Laurens Bay

Telegraph:

Laurens Bay

D Express:

I'm A Lumberjack

The Sun:

I'm A Lumberjack

Daily Record:

I'm A Lumberjack