February 01 / 15.50 Wetherby

15.50

Soft

Watch Race Replays At racingtv.com Open Maiden National Hunt Flat Race (Cat 3 Elim’) (GBB) (Div I)

  • Prize money: £2639.97
  • 2m 0f 0y
  • Class 5
  • 9 runners
RTV
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Watch Race Replays At racingtv.com Open Maiden National Hunt Flat Race (Cat 3 Elim’) (GBB) (Div I)

Runners: 9 runners

Type: NH Flat

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

16/1 (Won)

  • Win: £24.90
  • Place: £4.20

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
26,000euros 3yo; second foal; half-sister to a fair Irish hurdler; dam 2m4f-2m5f hurdle winner, sister to useful staying hurdler Kris Spin; stable has some success in bumpers but this newcomer could be a longer-term prospect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

12

12th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 2

17:20 Ayr

Bay Empress

11st 0lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: Eloise Quayle

Trained by Micky Hammond when making winning start at Wetherby (soft; made all; 18-1) in February; this is a much deeper contest and she'll do well to follow up under a penalty.

25/1

12

12th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 2

17:20 Ayr

Bay Empress

11st 0lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: Eloise Quayle

Trained by Micky Hammond when making winning start at Wetherby (soft; made all; 18-1) in February; this is a much deeper contest and she'll do well to follow up under a penalty.

25/1

1st

9

1st Feb 2025

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

15:50 Wetherby

Bay Empress

11st 0lb

J: Henry Brooke

T: Micky Hammond

26,000euros 3yo; second foal; half-sister to a fair Irish hurdler; dam 2m4f-2m5f hurdle winner, sister to useful staying hurdler Kris Spin; stable has some success in bumpers but this newcomer could be a longer-term prospect.

16/1

15/8

  • Place: £1.10

Form: 3

Last run: 71 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Close fourth on debut in Irish maiden point (3m, soft) last March and bought for £46,000 in May; market drifter out to 7-1 on rules debut at Ascot (1m7f, good) in November but he finished well for a close third in that tactical race; sets the standard on that promising effort and he's a big player back from a short break.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

8

23rd Aug 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

14:38 Worcester

Little Ledgend

11st 1lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Beaten nine times over hurdles but runner-up in four of those, including last time here over 2m4f in this new headgear combination; 5lb rise sees him on a career-high mark but he should make a chaser.

9/2

2nd

3

22nd Jul 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

16:30 Worcester

Little Ledgend

11st 13lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

0-8 over hurdles but made the frame on all three starts since switched to handicaps, most recently at Market Rasen (extended 2m5f; just in front of Estacas) in June with a tongue-tie added; looked hard work there and cheekpieces are now tried, but Sean Bowen returns and he's a leading contender.

3/1

20/1

  • Place: £3.70

Form: 6

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
14,000euros half-brother to point/2m4f hurdle winner Sporting Mike; weak 14-1 shot and he finished a well-held sixth of 12 at Huntingdon (2m, good to soft) last month; should know more this time but he needs to leave that debut form well behind.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

18th Mar 2026

Good

3m 1f 10y

Class 5

14:15 Huntingdon

Castanea Breeze

11st 11lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Lucy Wadham

Upped to an extended 2m7f for his successful handicap debut at Market Rasen (good to soft) in December; good second since at Wetherby (3m1f, soft), Fakenham (3m, soft) and Huntingdon (3m2f, good to soft); looks a thorough stayer and he'd have much more to prove on good ground; blinkers replace the cheekpieces worn on those last four starts but he has to be shortlisted.

5/2

2nd

2

1st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 10y

Class 5

15:45 Huntingdon

Castanea Breeze

11st 8lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Lucy Wadham

Upped to an extended 2m7f for his successful handicap debut at Market Rasen (good to soft) in December; good second since at Wetherby (3m1f, soft) and Fakenham (3m, soft); major claims with this slog likely to suit him well.

9/4

2nd

1

13th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 95y

Class 5

16:00 Fakenham

Castanea Breeze

11st 12lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Lucy Wadham

Won when upped in trip on handicap debut at Market Rasen (2m7f, good to soft) in December and 3l second of 16 at Wetherby (3m, soft) subsequently; could continue to progress.

2/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
170,000euros 3yo; closely related to French 2m1f hurdle/2m4f cross-country chase winner Solingen, half-brother to winners Soir De Gala (2m-2m4f hurdle/chase) and Rebellio (French 2m hurdle); dam French 1m7f hurdle winner, half-sister to Solness; already had wind surgery but yard has been firing in winners recently and he's an interesting newcomer; tongue-tie applied.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

15

1st May 2026

Yielding

2m 2f 181y

19:40 Punchestown

Ned Hill

12st 0lb

J: Miss J Townend

T: W P Mullins

Ordinary form in two bumper runs for Fergal O'Brien, the latest at this meeting last year when beaten 82l; has joined a top yard but needs to leave those previous efforts well behind.

25/1

11th

13

1st May 2025

Yielding

2m 0f 94y

18:35 Punchestown

Ned Hill

11st 7lb

J: Mr Finian Maguire

T: Fergal O’Brien

Major improvement needed from an initial bumper outing at Wetherby in February.

50/1

11th

13

1st May 2025

Yielding

2m 0f 94y

18:35 Punchestown

Ned Hill

11st 7lb

J: Mr Finian Maguire

T: Fergal O’Brien

Major improvement needed from an initial bumper outing at Wetherby in February.

50/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Went close in the second of his two Irish points last spring before being sold for £25,000; yard is 2-34 in bumpers in recent seasons but this son of Mahler has a good Flat pedigree and he needs checking in market on rules debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

12

19th Aug 2026

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 5

20:08 Worcester

Barry Fife

11st 7lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Gary Hanmer

Almost a year off before this March; has not matched earlier promise in this year's five races, switched to handicapping for last three; appeared over C&D last two and made most when connections turned to blinkers last time but his third of ten that day was a well-beaten one; now tries a visor.

25/1

3rd

4

22nd Jul 2026

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 5

17:05 Worcester

Barry Fife

11st 13lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Gary Hanmer

Has struggled to recapture his earlier promise since returning from almost a year off in March and has made little impact in two handicap starts this summer, most recently when pulled up over C&D three weeks ago; may be capable of better but first-time blinkers need to prove a positive addition.

20/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 10st 9lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
9,000gns 3yo; first foal; dam French 1m2f-1m6f winner (including Listed; RPR 104), closely related to 2m hurdle winner Bellbird, half-sister to winners Sublimis (1m4f Listed) and L'Absolue (1m5f), out of Royal Oak winner Be Fabulous; rare bumper runner for the yard and market should guide.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

(2)

30th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

16:20 Goodwood

Senor Cortez

10st 0lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: John Butler

Clearly a stayer on the upgrade having brought up an AW hat-trick with a convincing defeat of Maxident, who had a target on his back up the straight at Kempton (2m AW); worthy of the 7lb rise but how he'll deal with rain-hit ground is the glaring concern.

7/2

1st

4

(10)

10th Aug 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 7f 218y

Class 4

17:00 Kempton (AW)

Senor Cortez

9st 12lb

J: Jack Callan

T: John Butler

Has turned things around with wins at Southwell (1m6f) and Lingfield (1m5f), latterly defying a penalty by one length; the 4lb rise could find him out in this higher grade and Jack Callan, who was aboard for those wins, no longer claims.

7/1

1st

1

(1)

13th Jul 2026

Standard

1m 5f 0y

Class 5

17:40 Lingfield (AW)

Senor Cortez

10st 0lb

J: Jack Callan

T: John Butler

Has a patchy record but he turned things around with an 5l win over 1m6f at Southwell (AW; 7-4 favourite) last Sunday; looks well treated under a penalty for that success and his penultimate win was at this track; strong contender.

9/4

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
£24,000 3yo; fourth foal; dam well held in bumpers, closely related to 1m2f-1m4f winner Island Odyssey, half-sister to winners Scruntinise (useful 1m2f/1m4f), Grumeti (smart 2m hurdle/chase) and Ellerslie Tom (useful 2m hurdle/chase); this looks a tough enough starting point and is best watched unless market is persuasive.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

3rd Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 149y

Class 4

15:35 Newcastle

Western Mount

11st 5lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

Gradual improvement over hurdles, his latest Catterick fourth to Noonetellsmenothin (2m4f novice; weakened, beaten approximately 10l) earning an RPR of 96; all set for handicap debut off a 77-day absence and worth tracking in the market.

10/1

7th

7

31st Oct 2025

Good

2m 3f 207y

Class 4

13:55 Uttoxeter

Western Mount

11st 0lb

J: Tom Midgley

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

Not beaten far when seventh of nine on bumper debut at Wetherby (soft) in February but absent since heavy defeat at Newcastle (good to soft) later that month.

50/1

7

31st Oct 2025

Good

2m 3f 207y

Class 4

13:55 Uttoxeter

Western Mount

11st 0lb

J: Tom Midgley

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

Not beaten far when seventh of nine on bumper debut at Wetherby (soft) in February but absent since heavy defeat at Newcastle (good to soft) later that month.

50/1

Form: 8

Last run: 263 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Tailed off at a big price on his Southwell debut (2m, good) last spring and can only be watched on return for new yard.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

19th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 88y

Class 4

14:15 Doncaster

Neptune House

11st 5lb

J: Micheal Nolan

T: Laura Horsfall

Not beaten far when eighth of nine in Wetherby bumper this month on his second start but his claims aren't compelling on his hurdle debut.

66/1

8th

6

1st Feb 2025

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

15:50 Wetherby

Neptune House

11st 7lb

J: Micheal Nolan

T: Laura Horsfall

Tailed off at a big price on his Southwell debut (2m, good) last spring and can only be watched on return for new yard.

100/1

OUR TIP

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Only third of six when odds-on for a point bumper in December and was sold for £4,500 later that month; hood is now added on rules debut and he needs plenty of improvement.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

15th Mar 2025

Good

2m 0f 190y

Class 5

16:57 Newcastle

Hes A Ripper

11st 2lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Paula Smith

in touch with leaders

33/1

9th

3

1st Feb 2025

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

15:50 Wetherby

Hes A Ripper

11st 7lb

J: Emma Smith-Chaston

T: Paula Smith

Only third of six when odds-on for a point bumper in December and was sold for £4,500 later that month; hood is now added on rules debut and he needs plenty of improvement.

25/1

Non-runners

Wandering Ego

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £62.10
Straight Forecast £37.91
Trifecta £600.00

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Little Ledgend

The Times:

Ned Hill

Daily Mirror:

Wandering Ego

RP RATINGS:

Little Ledgend

POSTDATA:

Little Ledgend

Telegraph:

Little Ledgend

The Guardian:

Little Ledgend

Daily Mail:

Little Ledgend

D Express:

Little Ledgend

The Sun:

Little Ledgend

The Star:

Little Ledgend

Daily Record:

Little Ledgend