February 15 / 16.10 Ascot

16.10

Good To Soft

Betfair Racing Podcasts Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £13007.5
  • 2m 3f 58y
  • Class 2
  • 4 runners
SKY
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Betfair Racing Podcasts Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 4 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

Form: 15-122 D BF

Last run: 45 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
Good effort at Exeter last time took his hurdles form figures to 122; ready winner at Ffos Las (2m4f, good to soft) on sole attempt beyond 2m; solid claims, assuming he takes well to first-time headgear.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

10th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 210y

Class 1

14:20 Aintree

Crest Of Fortune

11st 7lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Anthony Honeyball

Third in the Grade 1 Sefton at this meeting last year but that wasn't the strongest renewal; promising second of 14 on chase debut at Cheltenham (2m4f, good) in October hasn't been built on and he bled when tailed off in Kempton Grade 1 over Christmas; didn't impress with his jumping in February when last seen and needs to get back on track.

40/1

3rd

2

14th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 185y

Class 1

13:50 Ascot

Crest Of Fortune

11st 2lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Anthony Honeyball

Perhaps best to forgive his heavy defeat, behind Thomas Mor, at Kempton last time (bled from nose); has largely progressive RPRs otherwise and has Graded form; first chase win is not implausible.

7/2

2nd

1

25th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 44y

Class 3

13:10 Cheltenham

Crest Of Fortune

11st 10lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Anthony Honeyball

Bumper and two-time novice hurdle winner (2m4f, good to soft/soft) who showed improved form in a first-time tongue-tie when third in Grade 1 Sefton Novices' Hurdle at Aintree (3m, good) in April; tongue-tie absent for chase/seasonal debut but he's one to consider for a yard among the winners.

7/1

Form: 317 CD

Last run: 49 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 126

Form & Verdict
Absent since heavy defeat in the Challow seven weeks ago; comfortably justified favouritism in C&D contest (good) the time before, adding to his point win; respected back at Ascot and back down in class.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

13

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 5f 201y

Class 2

17:20 Cheltenham

First Confession

11st 3lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Pulled up at 50-1 in last year's 3m Grade 1 novice hurdle here; ran well in three of his five chases this term, notably with his easy win in a 2m5f beginners' event at Carlisle (good to soft) last time, but Cheltenham in December was one of the exceptions and he didn't jump well that day, before falling at Exeter on his next start; work to do on a few counts.

25/1

1st

1

3rd Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 198y

Class 3

14:00 Carlisle

First Confession

11st 5lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

The only one of these with chasing experience; didn't jump well when soundly beaten at Cheltenham in December and fell at Exeter latest; however, before those he ran well to finish third over C&D (good to soft) and at Kempton (3m, good) in his first two chases; major player if he's on song.

6/4

Form: 8-16P

Last run: 48 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Has failed to match the form of his bumper success since switched to hurdles, folding tamely last time; had wind surgery since, which may help, but needs a big step forward on bare figures.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

12

6th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

19:18 Worcester

Groovy Blue

11st 4lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

Wind surgery seems to have done the trick, with him winning an ordinary Market Rasen maiden in fair style seven weeks ago; has improvement left in him as he goes handicapping off a workable mark.

7/1

5th

12

6th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

19:18 Worcester

Groovy Blue

11st 4lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

Wind surgery seems to have done the trick, with him winning an ordinary Market Rasen maiden in fair style seven weeks ago; has improvement left in him as he goes handicapping off a workable mark.

7/1

Form: 33

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Solid third in 2m novice hurdle at Newbury on rules debut; heavy ground possibly contributed to his lesser effort at Sandown since; may do better still but this doesn't look an easy task.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

3

21st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 1

14:25 Kempton

Old Cowboy

11st 2lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Just one win from six attempts over hurdles but already better over fences; ready winner of handicap at Newbury (2m, good) in December and might have followed up over this C&D but for falling two out when a narrow leader (bled from the nose); needs further improvement but he's going the right way.

12/1

Non-runners

Just A Rose, Kingston Pride

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Crest Of Fortune

LAMBOURN:

Kingston Pride

TOPSPEED:

Old Cowboy

SPOTLIGHT:

First Confession

POSTDATA:

Old Cowboy

The Times:

Old Cowboy

WEST COUNTRY:

Crest Of Fortune

Telegraph:

Crest Of Fortune

The Guardian:

Crest Of Fortune

Daily Mirror:

Crest Of Fortune

The Sun:

Crest Of Fortune

The Star:

Crest Of Fortune

Daily Mail:

Kingston Pride

D Express:

Kingston Pride

Daily Record:

Kingston Pride