February 14 / 13.38 Fakenham

13.38

Good

British EBF “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle (Qualifier) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £3539.9
  • 2m 4f 1y
  • Class 4
  • 5 runners
RTV
View Course
British EBF “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle (Qualifier) (GBB Race)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Sleet

Form: 33641 D

Last run: 34 days

W: 11st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Built upon fairly encouraging hurdle debut and beat a next-time-out winner when causing 40-1 surprise at Ffos Las (2m4f, soft) last month; should be fine on the faster ground here and has plenty of scope for further progress; leading contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

6th May 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 170y

Class 4

14:45 Newton Abbot

Elysian Knight

12st 0lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Neil Mulholland

0-4 over fences this term but far from disgraced on a couple of starts and ran respectably when fourth back over hurdles at Plumpton (3m1f, good) last month; yet to win in handicap company but drops in class returned to fences and warrants respect.

7/2

4th

8

19th Apr 2026

Good

3m 0f 217y

Class 2

15:27 Plumpton

Elysian Knight

10st 12lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Neil Mulholland

Record of 0-4 switched to fences this term, albeit far from disgraced on two occasions; 2-6 over hurdles and finished a creditable second at Plumpton (2m4f) last April in most recent attempt; each-way possibilities.

9/1

3rd

6

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 91y

Class 3

16:45 Newbury

Elysian Knight

11st 3lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Neil Mulholland

Younger than most of these and posted a career best when second at Musselburgh (2m4f, good to soft) in February; stiffer task in C&D non-handicap next time; unexposed over this trip and beyond, and drying ground may suit (last win came on good); definitely of interest in first-time headgear.

3/1

OUR TIP

Form: 7431 CD

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Made the frame in two bumpers for Joe Ponting in the autumn and was just too strong for Aviation when scoring over C&D (good) on last month's stable/hurdle debut; 7lb worse off with that rival today but still respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

28th Jun 2026

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 2

16:03 Uttoxeter

Escapologist

10st 10lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: Nick Scholfield

2m7f winner at Market Rasen in March for previous yard and not disgraced at Plumpton on stable debut last time; had wind surgery since and now goes in tongue-tie, with cheekpieces reapplied; interesting, with a bigger effort plausible.

8/1

3rd

2

26th May 2026

Good

3m 0f 217y

Class 4

19:39 Plumpton

Escapologist

11st 10lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Nick Scholfield

Dual hurdle winner for James Owen, most recently at Market Rasen (2m7f, good to soft) in March; backed that up with a solid effort next time but was beaten 22l when favourite back there 18 days ago, which leaves him with a bit to prove; makes stable debut with the booking of Sean Bowen catching the eye.

9/2

6th

7

8th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 16y

Class 3

16:20 Market Rasen

Escapologist

11st 9lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: James Owen

C&D scorer in March (good to soft) on his first realistic staying assignment, and 3lb badly in when not quite up to defying a penalty next time; of renewed interest after a break, and a winner on good also.

6/1

Form: 4322 BF

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Fair form when placed on all three hurdling starts, most recently when close second to Escapologist over C&D (2m4f, good) last month; 7lb better off with that rival today and ought to be a tough nut to crack.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

5

2nd Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 0y

Class 4

13:27 Kempton

Aviation

11st 10lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Lucy Wadham

Bettered low-key seasonal/chase debut when close second at Newbury (2m4f, good to soft) in December and was very respectable third at Windsor (2m6f, soft) last month; up in trip again here; can make bold bid from the front.

9/2

3rd

7

16th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 6f 50y

Class 3

16:05 Windsor

Aviation

11st 1lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Lucy Wadham

2m4f novice hurdle winner (good) who kept on well for a close second at Newbury (2m4f, good to soft) four weeks ago on his second chase start; today's extra yardage could prove to be a positive and he's a possible player provided he handles the ground (all starts on good/good to soft).

5/1

Form: 4

Last run: 9 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Unexposed 5yo who kept on well for very respectable fourth on recent rules debut at Sedgefield (2m4f, good to soft); likely to better that performance in due course but has quite a bit to find with the principals here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

12th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

3m 2f 105y

Class 5

17:50 Newton Abbot

Jacks Jury

11st 13lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Barry John Murphy

Got off the mark on his stable debut at Ffos Las (2m4f, soft) in March with the aid of first-time cheekpieces (retained since) off 4lb lower; back over hurdles after a couple of unsuccessful efforts over fences; holds claims if running to his best form.

5/1

4

20th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 177y

Class 4

16:20 Ffos Las

Jacks Jury

11st 0lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Barry John Murphy

1-13 over hurdles; didn't go unbacked on chase debut when beaten under 4l by Loki's Mischief over 2m5f here recently and he's 7lb better off with the winner; clear claims.

3/1

Form: 06

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Well beaten on both starts, more recently when 300-1 for C&D maiden won by Escapologist on last month's stable debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

9

7th Jul 2026

Good

1m 7f 214y

Class 5

16:00 Uttoxeter

Walk The Plank

10st 6lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Clare Hobson

Won his third chase start at Huntingdon (2m, good) in March, edging home by a short head; hasn't reached those heights since, last time finishing behind two of these at Southwell.

8/1

5th

7

9th Jun 2026

Good

1m 7f 182y

Class 5

15:00 Southwell

Walk The Plank

10st 6lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Clare Hobson

Battled well for narrow success at Huntingdon (2m, good) in March, his third chase start, and gave another good account before fading into fourth at Market Rasen (2m1f, good) 12 days ago; might collect a minor prize.

14/1

4th

5

28th May 2026

Good

2m 1f 43y

Class 5

20:07 Market Rasen

Walk The Plank

10st 5lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Clare Hobson

Battled well for narrow success at Huntingdon (2m, good) in March, his third start over fences; that form looks modest and he's 4lb higher here but further progress is possible.

4/1

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Aviation

D Express:

Elysian Knight

The Sun:

Escapologist

Daily Mirror:

Elysian Knight

RP RATINGS:

Aviation

TOPSPEED:

Aviation

POSTDATA:

Aviation

The Times:

Aviation

Telegraph:

Aviation

The Guardian:

Aviation

Daily Mail:

Aviation

The Star:

Aviation

Daily Record:

Aviation