February 09 / 14.30 Exeter

14.30

Good To Soft

trustatrader.com Novices’ Hurdle (Listed Race) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £23776
  • 2m 0f 161y
  • Class 1
  • 6 runners
RTV
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trustatrader.com Novices’ Hurdle (Listed Race) (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

OUR TIP

8/1 (Won)

  • Win: £8.00
  • Place: £2.40

Form: 21/11 D

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 5lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
Won a bumper in late 2022 and returned from long absence to win twice over hurdles this winter (2m/2m2f, soft/good to soft); had to work hard at Market Rasen last time and this drop back in trip isn't an obvious plus, but he came clear with a likeable prospect and is open to further improvement.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

21th

4

10th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 1

13:45 Aintree

Fingle Bridge

11st 11lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Olly Murphy

Has failed to maintain an unbeaten hurdles record since returned this sphere, sweating and well beaten in the Imperial Cup (2m) last time; penultimate effort (2m5f) wasn't bad but this is a stiffer task.

25/1

14th

1

7th Mar 2026

Soft

1m 7f 216y

Class 2

14:27 Sandown

Fingle Bridge

12st 0lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Olly Murphy

3-3 over hurdles last season, including a Listed novice win at Exeter (2m, good to soft), and following a stint over fences he reverted to this sphere with a promising second at Warwick (2m5f, heavy) four weeks ago; travelled strongly on that latest start and not ruled out now back down in trip.

20/1

2nd

2

7th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 5f 5y

Class 3

16:10 Warwick

Fingle Bridge

12st 0lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Olly Murphy

Chasing this season; eyecatching behind Lulamba first time out before finishing alone after Phantomofthepoints had come down at Uttoxeter; wasn't overly fluent that day, nor when third at Ayr, and now defends an unbeaten record over hurdles (3-3); his novice form has worked out well and potentially on a good mark for this handicap debut; unraced over this far but should stay.

7/4

Evs

  • Place: £1.10

Form: 11-14 D BF

Last run: 43 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 134

Form & Verdict
2-2 in bumpers (good/good to soft) and won easily when odds-on for his hurdle debut at Newbury (2m, soft) in November; only fourth when 5-4 favourite for the Grade 1 Challow Novices' Hurdle at Newbury (2m4f, good to soft) in December and could do with settling better, but that form still reads well in today's company and is unlikely to be the limit of his ability.
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: 22-211 D

Last run: 44 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
French bumper winner who scored by 5l over hurdles at Plumpton (2m4f, good to soft) in December on his second British start and followed up by 2l at Chepstow (2m, soft); he needs another step forward now up in grade but that's possible; not ruled out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

7

4th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 149y

Class 1

16:40 Aintree

Julius Des Pictons

11st 8lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

Ended 2024 with two wins (2m4f/2m) and was a creditable third when upped to Listed level at Exeter (2m, good to soft) in February but today's much longer trip needs to enable considerable improvement.

25/1

1st

7

4th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 149y

Class 1

16:40 Aintree

Julius Des Pictons

11st 8lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

Ended 2024 with two wins (2m4f/2m) and was a creditable third when upped to Listed level at Exeter (2m, good to soft) in February but today's much longer trip needs to enable considerable improvement.

25/1

3rd

4

9th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 161y

Class 1

14:30 Exeter

Julius Des Pictons

11st 5lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

prominent, ridden after 3 out, no extra final 110yds

12/1

Form: 11 D

Last run: 59 days

W: 11st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 132

Form & Verdict
Four-time German Flat winner (including on good to soft) who has posted easy wins on his two hurdle starts (2m3f/2m, good to firm/good); today is a much tougher test of his credentials but it remains to be seen where his limitations lie and his stable has won this with some classy sorts in the past.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

9th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 1

16:05 Aintree

Alexei

11st 10lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Acts on any ground; good strike-rate includes wins in the Greatwood and Kingwell this season; ties in with Brighterdaysahead and The New Lion on Champion Hurdle running where a late blunder cost him ground when challenging for the places; has form at up to 2m3f; remains a progressive sort.

8/1

4th

1

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 87y

Class 1

16:00 Cheltenham

Alexei

11st 10lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Acts on any ground; impressive in major handicap over C&D in November; made harder work of justifying favouritism in the Kingwell (1m7f Grade 2) at Wincanton most recently, wandering under pressure to boot, and this is a stiffer assignment, but he's a broadly progressive contender who is 5-9 over hurdles and may rate higher still; possibilities in a year where some big names have dropped out.

16/1

1st

2

14th Feb 2026

Heavy

1m 7f 50y

Class 1

13:35 Wincanton

Alexei

11st 8lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Upwardly mobile 6yo who completed a double in the Greatwood at Cheltenham (2m, soft) in November and was creditable third under topweight in another valuable handicap at Ascot (1m7f, good to soft) in December; now steps up into a Grade 2 event but he sets the standard on his latest form and is open to more progress; leading contender.

4/6

Form: 3-13 C

Last run: 65 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Won on hurdle debut here (2m2f, good to soft) in October and faded when upped to 2m4f on soft ground in a Grade 2 at Sandown in December; retains potential now back down in trip and his top trainer won this in 2021 and 2022, but others have far greater substance to their form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

28th Jun 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 3

13:47 Uttoxeter

Pony Soprano

10st 8lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Has taken his form to a new level since wearing tongue-tie and cheekpieces, comfortably opening his chase account in Uttoxeter event then creditable second at Cartmel, both over 2m5f on good ground; may still have more to offer in the retained headgear; remains of interest.

11/8

2nd

2

25th May 2026

Good

2m 5f 34y

Class 3

17:11 Cartmel

Pony Soprano

11st 8lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Off the mark over fences at fifth attempt, with fairly comfortable success in first-time tongue-tie/cheekpieces at Uttoxeter (2m5f, good) this month; back up 7lb for that but probably still has more to offer; makes obvious appeal.

8/13

1st

1

2nd May 2026

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 4

16:50 Uttoxeter

Pony Soprano

11st 10lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Has shown solid form in at least three of his four races over fences without winning; the handicapper has given him a chance on this return from a three-month break; both first-time tongue-tie and cheekpieces go on and any improvement should see him go close.

6/1

Form: 221123 D

Last run: 71 days

W: 11st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 135

Form & Verdict
Made it two wins in a row when scoring on handicap debut at Chepstow (2m, good to soft) in October and improved form in defeat the next twice, most recently third in 4yo Grade 3 at Fairyhouse (2m, yielding) in November; others may have greater potential but he might not be far away.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

9th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 161y

Class 1

14:30 Exeter

Dodger Long

11st 5lb

J: Bradley Harris

T: Harriet Dickin

Made it two wins in a row when scoring on handicap debut at Chepstow (2m, good to soft) in October and improved form in defeat the next twice, most recently third in 4yo Grade 3 at Fairyhouse (2m, yielding) in November; others may have greater potential but he might not be far away.

13/2

2

9th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 161y

Class 1

14:30 Exeter

Dodger Long

11st 5lb

J: Bradley Harris

T: Harriet Dickin

held up in last but in touch with leaders, going okay when stumbled badly and lost action 3 out, soon pulled up

13/2

3rd

4

30th Nov 2024

Yielding

2m 0f 0y

13:55 Fairyhouse

Dodger Long

11st 3lb

J: Bradley Harris

T: Harriet Dickin

Drew nicely clear to make winning handicap debut at Chepstow (2m, good to soft) last month; took a giant leap forward when splitting Givemefive and Bottler'secret at Cheltenham; had the fitness edge that day but is worth his place in the field.

15/2

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £14.60
Straight Forecast £12.95
Trifecta £68.00

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Regent's Stroll

SPOTLIGHT:

Alexei

LAMBOURN:

Julius Des Pictons

The Times:

Fingle Bridge

Telegraph:

Alexei

D Express:

Alexei

Daily Record:

Alexei

TOPSPEED:

Regent's Stroll

POSTDATA:

Regent's Stroll

WEST COUNTRY:

Regent's Stroll

Daily Mirror:

Regent's Stroll

The Sun:

Regent's Stroll

The Star:

Regent's Stroll