February 04 / 13.40 Market Rasen

13.40

Good To Soft

TrustATrader Apply Today EBF ‘National Hunt’ Novices’ Hurdle (Qualifier) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4224.8
  • 2m 4f 139y
  • Class 4
  • 5 runners
RTV
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TrustATrader Apply Today EBF ‘National Hunt’ Novices’ Hurdle (Qualifier) (GBB Race)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

6/4 (Won)

  • Win: £1.45

Form: 21

Last run: 46 days

W: 11st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
£255,000 buy after winning an Irish point; no match for top prospect The New Lion at Chepstow (2m3f, soft) but had a bit up his sleeve when justifying odds-on favouritism at Ascot (2m5f, good to soft); going the right way.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

6

8th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 173y

Class 1

13:50 Sandown

Belliano

11st 10lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Met his sole defeat behind a very classy rival, namely The New Lion who goes to next week's Cheltenham Festival with a big chance; comfortably beat Silver Thorn at Market Rasen (2m4f) most recently, doubling his hurdles tally; progressive sort who has strong claims.

4/1

1st

1

4th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 139y

Class 4

13:40 Market Rasen

Belliano

11st 8lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Paul Nicholls

disputed lead, pushed along and led clearly before 2 out, ridden out and went clear run-in, comfortably

6/4

1st

1

4th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 139y

Class 4

13:40 Market Rasen

Belliano

11st 8lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Paul Nicholls

disputed lead

6/4

Form: 42-153

Last run: 34 days

W: 11st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Hasn't found any striking improvement since winning his maiden at Stratford (2m6f, heavy), though his penultimate race was won by The New Lion; latest Southwell effort over 3m was a backward step.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

16

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 5f 201y

Class 2

17:20 Cheltenham

Silver Thorn

10st 8lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Emma Lavelle

Plenty to like about his wins in six-runner handicap chases (3m, good to soft) at Doncaster and Exeter; heavy ground might be the excuse when he was hammered by Holloway Queen at Newbury on latest start; has a competitive mark if back on song but going beyond 3m is something new.

33/1

4th

7

7th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 91y

Class 3

15:55 Newbury

Silver Thorn

10st 12lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Emma Lavelle

Jumped poorly when tailed off in his first chase but has won his last two and had a bit in hand both times; only four got round last time at Exeter (3m, good to soft; has won on heavy) but the handicapper didn't go overboard with a 4lb rise.

15/2

Form: 3-27

Last run: 74 days

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Twice placed in Warwick maidens (2m3f, good) and ran as though the race was needed in another at Chepstow 74 days ago (good to soft; 9-2); however, needs to step up if he's to trouble the previous winners.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

2nd Apr 2025

Good

2m 5f 137y

Class 4

15:25 Exeter

Espoir Des Forges

11st 12lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Mel Rowley

disputed lead, lost position before 3rd, dropped to last before 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 3 out

8/1

2

2nd Apr 2025

Good

2m 5f 137y

Class 4

15:25 Exeter

Espoir Des Forges

11st 12lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Mel Rowley

disputed lead, lost position before 3rd, dropped to last before 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 3 out

8/1

3rd

4

4th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 139y

Class 4

13:40 Market Rasen

Espoir Des Forges

11st 2lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Mel Rowley

held up in rear, outpaced 5 out, no impression from 4 out, tailed off

14/1

OUR TIP

Form: 639-21 D

Last run: 54 days

W: 11st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
Good bumper form and has already improved for hurdles, going down narrowly at Bangor (2m, good to soft) and then much the strongest in the closing stages at Warwick (2m5f, good to soft); penalised accordingly but a leading contender on form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

6

14th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 207y

Class 3

13:50 Uttoxeter

Im A Lumberjack

11st 6lb

J: Philip Armson

T: Alan King

Won twice over hurdles last term and has been placed in handicaps on his last two starts; is knocking on the door and has place claims at least.

10/1

3rd

2

5th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 88y

Class 3

14:25 Doncaster

Im A Lumberjack

11st 6lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Alan King

Maiden/novice hurdle winner (2m5f/2m3f, good to soft) who was runner-up at Newbury (2m4f, good) in December on his second handicap start; could continue to improve and he's one to consider.

7/4

1st

2

24th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 123y

Class 4

17:10 Bangor-on-Dee

Im A Lumberjack

11st 12lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Alan King

in touch with leaders, not fluent 6th, went second before 4 out, led before 2 out, shaken up and went clear approaching last, readily

9/4

Form: 2-3

Last run: 38 days

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Irish point winner on heavy; placed in an Ayr bumper and Catterick maiden (2m3f, good), form he needs to improve on to be troubling the best of these; tongue-tie added.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

26th Feb 2024

Heavy

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

17:20 Ayr

Frisby

11st 2lb

J: Mr Paddy Hanlon

T: Patrick Neville

Recorded an 8l success in heavy-ground Irish point two months ago, drawing clear after the final fence; subsequently sold for £40,000; dam placed in bumpers; one to consider.

9/2

Non-runners

Frisby

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £4.90
Straight Forecast £5.31
Trifecta £13.80

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Belliano

RP RATINGS:

I'm A Lumberjack

TOPSPEED:

Belliano

The Times:

Belliano

Daily Mail:

Belliano

Daily Mirror:

Belliano

The Sun:

Belliano

The Star:

Belliano

Daily Record:

Belliano

POSTDATA:

I'm A Lumberjack

Telegraph:

I'm A Lumberjack

The Guardian:

I'm A Lumberjack

D Express:

I'm A Lumberjack