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
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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

3rd

3

6th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 137y

Class 1

13:45 Huntingdon

Jax Junior

11st 5lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Lucy Wadham

led

11/8

3rd

3

6th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 137y

Class 1

13:45 Huntingdon

Jax Junior

11st 5lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Lucy Wadham

led

11/8

1st

2

18th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 141y

Class 3

16:02 Ascot

Jax Junior

11st 9lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Lucy Wadham

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.

5/1

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

2nd

7

18th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 141y

Class 3

16:02 Ascot

Country Park

11st 3lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

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.

9/4

2nd

7

18th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 141y

Class 3

16:02 Ascot

Country Park

11st 3lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

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.

9/4

5

20th Dec 2024

Good

2m 5f 141y

Class 3

13:20 Ascot

Country Park

11st 4lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

held up in midfield, smooth headway before 2 out

6/1

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

3rd

5

18th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 141y

Class 3

16:02 Ascot

U Cant Be Serious

11st 9lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Joe Tizzard

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.

5/1

3rd

5

18th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 141y

Class 3

16:02 Ascot

U Cant Be Serious

11st 9lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Joe Tizzard

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.

5/1

1st

8

30th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 1y

Class 4

12:45 Taunton

U Cant Be Serious

11st 0lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Joe Tizzard

Held his own in some good-quality bumpers last season and has claims here if judged on those exploits but his hurdling debut at Exeter (2m, soft) this month was disappointing.

20/1

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

4th

3

18th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 141y

Class 3

16:02 Ascot

Laurens Bay

11st 9lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

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.

6/1

4th

3

18th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 141y

Class 3

16:02 Ascot

Laurens Bay

11st 9lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

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.

6/1

1st

5

8th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

1m 7f 171y

Class 4

13:15 Huntingdon

Laurens Bay

11st 2lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

Solid record (2122) thus far and his form has substance; has switched to hurdles since his bumper win, clear second at Fontwell (2m) last time in a race that's working out nicely; looks set to go one better.

11/4

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

5th

4

30th Jan 2025

Heavy

1m 7f 50y

Class 3

13:55 Wincanton

Copper Jack

11st 2lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Anthony Charlton

pressed leader, briefly led after 1st, led 3 out

25/1

5th

4

30th Jan 2025

Heavy

1m 7f 50y

Class 3

13:55 Wincanton

Copper Jack

11st 2lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Anthony Charlton

pressed leader, briefly led after 1st, outpaced and lost position before 2 out

25/1

5th

6

18th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 141y

Class 3

16:02 Ascot

Copper Jack

11st 3lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Anthony Charlton

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.

20/1

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

7th

7

7th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 0y

Class 4

13:50 Kempton

Minella Kaiser

11st 5lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Chris Gordon

in touch with leaders, pushed along from 4th, weakened after 7th, tailed off

100/1

7th

7

7th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 0y

Class 4

13:50 Kempton

Minella Kaiser

11st 5lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Chris Gordon

in touch with leaders, pushed along from 4th, weakened after 7th, tailed off

100/1

6th

8

18th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 141y

Class 3

16:02 Ascot

Minella Kaiser

11st 3lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Chris Gordon

After his two Irish points and a 2m5f Plumpton maiden hurdle, it looks as if he will be a big outsider in this field.

66/1

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