February 19 / 14.15 Doncaster

14.15

Good To Soft

Virgin Bet Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4066.37
  • 2m 3f 88y
  • Class 4
  • 6 runners
SKY
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Virgin Bet Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

Form: -73921

Last run: 34 days

W: 11st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Off the mark over hurdles at the fourth attempt at Newcastle (2m1f, good to soft) last month, capitalising on the odds-on favourite's fall three out; his pedigree provides hope he'll stay this far and his yard continues in excellent form, but further improvement is needed to defy a 7lb penalty.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

24th Mar 2026

Good

3m 0f 60y

Class 5

15:30 Southwell

Broderick

12st 0lb

J: William Shanahan

T: Jennie Candlish

He was lucky to win his maiden 14 months ago and is now 0-5 in handicaps after pulling up at Newcastle (2m7f, good to soft); others have more going for them.

6/1

3

3rd Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 149y

Class 4

15:35 Newcastle

Broderick

11st 7lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jennie Candlish

Fortunate winner (left in the lead three out) of a 2m1f maiden here in January 2025; fared slightly better than at Haydock previously when fourth at Ludlow (2m5f, soft; beaten 12l) a fortnight ago; steadily easing mark isn't enough to tempt.

10/1

4th

8

18th Feb 2026

2m 5f 55y

Class 4

17:05 Ludlow

Broderick

11st 1lb

J: William Shanahan

T: Jennie Candlish

Had a solid spell at maiden/novice level last winter but form dipped in the spring and he was well beaten last month after an eight-month break; stamina not proven and ground worse than good to soft looks a problem.

20/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 5lb

5 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Hurdling newcomer; useful at his best on the Flat and returned to form with 40-1 win at Wolverhampton (1m6f, AW) in December on his third stable start; however, this looks a warm race and he may be best watched.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

7

19th May 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 28y

Class 4

20:20 Hexham

Banderas

11st 11lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Sam England

Won a Southwell maiden hurdle (2m4f, good; first-time tongue-tie) and a Carlisle Flat handicap (2m1f, soft) last summer, but handicap hurdle debut in September was too bad to be true; however, he made a promising return here over 2m 17 days ago when shaping as though he'd improve for the outing; interesting back up in trip.

16/1

5th

4

2nd May 2026

Good

2m 0f 48y

Class 3

18:45 Hexham

Banderas

11st 2lb

J: Jonathan England

T: Sam England

Won a Southwell maiden hurdle (2m4f, good; first-time tongue-tie) and a Carlisle Flat handicap (2m1f, soft) last summer; off since September; likely to be better for the run.

10/1

7

26th Sep 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 2

14:42 Worcester

Banderas

11st 4lb

J: Jonathan England

T: Sam England

Came good over hurdles at third attempt, with clearcut success at Southwell (2m4f, good; first-time tongue-tie) in June, and added a Flat win one month later; could still have untapped potential over jumps; one to consider.

8/1

OUR TIP

Form: 22

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Runner-up on debut at Taunton (2m, good to soft) in November and filled the same position over C&D (good to soft) last month on first hurdle start; open to improvement for top yard and he's a key player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

15th May 2026

Good

3m 0f 210y

Class 3

18:55 Aintree

Calimystic

12st 0lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

Didn't hang about over hurdles and now 2-2 over fences, the latter win gained at Sandown (3m, soft) in March; withdrawn three times since then with good ground deemed unsuitable but his first two wins (one over hurdles) were gained on good; probably still has more improvement to come; must be considered.

11/4

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
£10,000 3yo; seventh foal; brother to bumper winner Getagin (RPR 103), closely related to useful bumper/2m hurdle winner Crooks Peak, half-brother to 2m hurdle winner I'm So Busy (125); could have a future but will need to be useful to make a winning debut in this good race.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

1st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 139y

Class 5

12:47 Market Rasen

Kit The Christian

10st 9lb

J: Murray Dodd

T: Nick Kent

Showed no significant promise when a big-priced outsider for three novice/maiden hurdles (2m-2m3f, good/good to soft) last year; needs help from the first-time cheekpieces on this handicap debut.

14/1

9th

5

28th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

14:00 Wetherby

Kit The Christian

11st 6lb

J: Charlie Todd

T: Nick Kent

There's potential in his pedigree but he was tailed off at 100-1 on last month's debut at Doncaster and is probably best watched for now.

100/1

4

19th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 88y

Class 4

14:15 Doncaster

Kit The Christian

11st 5lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Nick Kent

£10,000 3yo; seventh foal; brother to bumper winner Getagin (RPR 103), closely related to useful bumper/2m hurdle winner Crooks Peak, half-brother to 2m hurdle winner I'm So Busy (125); could have a future but will need to be useful to make a winning debut in this good race.

33/1

Form: 88

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Not beaten far when eighth of nine in Wetherby bumper this month on his second start but his claims aren't compelling on his hurdle debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

19th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 88y

Class 4

14:15 Doncaster

Neptune House

11st 5lb

J: Micheal Nolan

T: Laura Horsfall

Not beaten far when eighth of nine in Wetherby bumper this month on his second start but his claims aren't compelling on his hurdle debut.

66/1

8th

6

1st Feb 2025

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

15:50 Wetherby

Neptune House

11st 7lb

J: Micheal Nolan

T: Laura Horsfall

Tailed off at a big price on his Southwell debut (2m, good) last spring and can only be watched on return for new yard.

100/1

Form: 1

Last run: 34 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Won Irish mares' maiden point (3m, good to yielding) last April and made it 2-2 when winning easily over hurdles at Newcastle (2m1f, good to soft) last month; she could have lots more to offer for her leading yard, especially now up in trip; strong claims despite 7lb penalty.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

4th Jun 2026

Good

3m 0f 10y

Class 4

15:30 Uttoxeter

Queens Wish

10st 6lb

J: Robert Dunne

T: Charles & Adam Pogson

1-10 for current stable over the last year, the win gained off today's mark at Southwell (3m, good to soft) in November; needs to bounce back from a disappointing effort over that C&D last month but ran quite well in a valuable series final two starts ago and is of interest here.

100/30

4th

1

11th May 2026

Good

3m 0f 60y

Class 5

14:42 Southwell

Queens Wish

12st 0lb

J: Charlie Todd

T: Charles & Adam Pogson

Ex-Skelton mare who is 1-9 for current yard; not disgraced in a better race at Warwick (3m1f, good) last time and could have a part to play.

7/1

3rd

11

23rd Apr 2026

Good

3m 1f 100y

Class 2

15:00 Warwick

Queens Wish

10st 2lb

J: Lee Edwards

T: Charles & Adam Pogson

Ex-Skelton mare who is 1-8 for current yard and she's been plying her trade at a lower level; 2lb out of the weights; others much preferred.

25/1

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Queens Wish

POSTDATA:

Calimystic

LAMBOURN:

Calimystic

Telegraph:

Calimystic

Daily Mail:

Calimystic

D Express:

Calimystic

The Star:

Calimystic

RP RATINGS:

Queens Wish

TOPSPEED:

Queens Wish

The Times:

Queens Wish

The Guardian:

Queens Wish

Daily Mirror:

Queens Wish

The Sun:

Queens Wish

Daily Record:

Queens Wish