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
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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

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

4th

6

27th Mar 2026

Good

3m 0f 26y

Class 3

16:20 Wetherby

Escapologist

10st 11lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: James Owen

Seems badly in under a penalty for recent 2m7f success at Market Rasen, with future mark 3lb lower; however, remains unexposed at this sort of distance and may show the progress that's needed to follow up.

11/4

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

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

3rd

5

5th May 2026

Good

2m 5f 110y

Class 5

17:22 Ffos Las

Jacks Jury

11st 9lb

J: James Bowen

T: Barry John Murphy

Stable debut when winning a 2m4f hurdle here in March (soft) but hasn't built on that, albeit after going up 7lb; remains to be seen what he'll make of fences.

14/1

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

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

1st

5

18th Mar 2026

Good

2m 0f 104y

Class 5

16:45 Huntingdon

Walk The Plank

10st 9lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Clare Hobson

Some promise switched to fences here in December but was well held and then pulled up at Market Rasen; others safer.

14/1

7

16th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 1f 43y

Class 5

15:10 Market Rasen

Walk The Plank

10st 5lb

J: Ben Poste

T: Clare Hobson

Six-race maiden; shaped with a bit of promise switched to fences at Huntingdon (2m) most recently but ended up a modest fifth and needs to improve plenty on the bare form.

20/1

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