February 23 / 15.00 Fontwell

15.00

Soft

Star Sports National Spirit Hurdle (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £45560
  • 2m 3f 29y
  • Class 1
  • 5 runners
SKY
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Star Sports National Spirit Hurdle (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

13/8 (Won)

  • Win: £3.00
  • Place: £1.30

Form: 67-211 D

Last run: 37 days

W: 11st 10lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 151

Form & Verdict
Won Grade 2 Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton (1m7f, heavy) last February and has been suited by this sort of trip with wins on his last two outings, latest at Windsor (2m4f, soft); the half-length runner-up Salver is 3lb better off today but this highly admirable 8yo will be a tough nut to crack.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

24th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 0f 179y

Class 1

15:00 Cheltenham

Nemean Lion

11st 10lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Kerry Lee

Seemed to run well in a dramatic Fighting Fifth but was only fourth of five, admittedly not entirely disgraced, last week when favourite for a Windsor contest he'd won 12 months earlier; triple Grade 2 scorer but faces a difficult task against two exciting types in this field.

33/1

4th

1

16th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 2

15:00 Windsor

Nemean Lion

11st 8lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Kerry Lee

Middle leg of a hat-trick when winning this last year (soft); finished close-up when last of the three finishers on reappearance in Grade 1 Fighting Fifth at Newcastle (2m1f, good to soft) in November, which was a positive performance; leading claims despite a 8lb penalty.

7/4

12

13th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 213y

Class 1

16:00 Cheltenham

Nemean Lion

11st 10lb

J: Richard Patrick

T: Kerry Lee

Completed a hat-trick (2m3f/2m4f, good to soft/soft) when getting up close home in Grade 2 National Spirit at Fontwell last month; goes up in trip and back up in grade today, with something to find, but he stayed well on the Flat early in his career and has shaped this season as though today's extra distance could prompt further improvement; clearly thriving; interesting.

25/1

8/1

  • Place: £2.30

Form: 23-21P D

Last run: 64 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 142

Form & Verdict
Goes up in grade today and he was pulled up in a handicap at Ascot (1m7f, good to soft) in December when last seen; however, prior to that he looked progressive when making all in a very competitive handicap at Haydock (2m3f, soft) and is unexposed at today's trip; not ruled out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 199y

Class 1

14:00 Cheltenham

Steel Ally

11st 7lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Sam Thomas

Pulled up on two of his last three goes over hurdles but the transition to chasing has been smooth and he's 3-3; showed further improvement when easily beating two rivals (Mambonumberfive well held in third) in Grade 2 Kingmaker Novices' at Warwick (2m, heavy; handles good) last month; faces his sternest assignment and will need another personal best.

12/1

1st

1

7th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 0f 54y

Class 1

13:50 Warwick

Steel Ally

11st 7lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Sam Thomas

Very useful hurdler with 2-2 strike-rate over fences this season, the latter win gained by 9l in Grade 2 novice at Ascot (2m3f, soft) in December; should be fine back at 2m and ought to be a very tough nut to crack.

4/5

3

4th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 1

14:20 Aintree

Steel Ally

11st 13lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Sam Thomas

in touch with leaders

10/1

Form: 13-4F2

Last run: 37 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 148

Form & Verdict
Third in last season's Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham and he was keeping on when falling at the final flight in the Grade 2 Relkeel Hurdle there last month on his first crack at 2m4f; half-length second to Nemean Lion at Windsor (2m4f, soft) since and he's 3lb better off with the winner here; key player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

7

10th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 210y

Class 1

14:20 Aintree

Salver

11st 7lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Can take a while to warm up but he impressed when slamming Doyen Quest in December Grade 2 at Sandown (good to soft) and again dispatched that rival at Windsor (also about 3m, soft; first-time cheekpieces) the following month; 25-1 but ran a scorcher, despite little going right, when flying from the rear to grab third in the Grade 1 Brown Advisory (3m1f) at Cheltenham last month; there's potential for a good gallop here, which will suit, and he holds leading claims.

4/1

3rd

12

11th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 0y

Class 1

14:00 Cheltenham

Salver

11st 7lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Dual Grade 2 winner at about 3m over fences, at Sandown (good to soft) and Windsor (soft) in December/January; jumping again not fluent last time, despite added cheekpieces (retained), and he has his work cut out in this.

40/1

1st

1

18th Jan 2026

Soft

3m 0f 60y

Class 1

13:20 Windsor

Salver

11st 9lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Very useful over hurdles and comfortably bagged Grade 2 honours at Sandown (3m, good to soft) on second attempt over fences; ran creditably, despite the ground possibly being faster than ideal, in Grade 1 at Kempton since; leading player, provided he takes to first-time headgear.

7/4

OUR TIP

Form: 54-263 D

Last run: 37 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 150

Form & Verdict
Has work to do having finished behind Nemean Lion and Salver at Windsor (2m4f, soft) last time but he's better than that; reappeared with 1l second in Grade 2 Ascot Hurdle (good; won same race last season) before creditable sixth there in Grade 1 Long Walk (3m, good to soft); respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

9th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 200y

Class 1

14:20 Aintree

Blueking DOroux

11st 7lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Useful 2m4f novice chaser but he won a substandard edition of the Rising Stars at Wincanton and his close second at Kempton (with cheekpieces fitted) last time was achieved in a handicap; faces a stiffer task at this level in the retained headgear.

25/1

2nd

2

14th Mar 2026

Good

2m 4f 110y

Class 2

15:18 Kempton

Blueking DOroux

11st 11lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Won two Grade 2 hurdles; still learning his trade over fences, safe enough apart from one blunder when winning at Wincanton (2m4f, good), albeit he made a meal of beating a lower-rated rival; out of depth in Grade 1 here since but he's 10lb lower than his hurdle mark now handicapping and still has potential; cheekpieces on; yard has won two of the last three runnings.

9/2

2nd

5

18th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 216y

Class 2

16:55 Newton Abbot

Blueking DOroux

10st 10lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Smart staying hurdling who looked as good as ever when ending last season with Grade 2 win from the front at Sandown (2m5f, good); will be very hard to beat on these terms if he jumps adequately on his chasing debut.

1/5

Form: 01-353 D BF

Last run: 36 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 134

Form & Verdict
Talented handicapper who was a good third on two of his last three outings for Dan Skelton (2m4f/3m, good to soft/soft); however, considerable improvement is needed now up in grade on debut for new connections.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

15th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 150y

Class 3

15:02 Wincanton

Punta Del Este

11st 8lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

Well handicapped on form shown for Dan Skelton and ran his best race since joining David Pipe when a rallying third at Ascot (2m5f, soft); this return to further is worth exploring.

8/1

1

29th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 122y

Class 3

14:53 Newton Abbot

Punta Del Este

12st 0lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

Triple hurdle winner who has claims on his best form for Dan Skelton but he's failed to beat a rival in two runs for current yard; has had wind surgery but he needs a major revival after another break.

14/1

1

29th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 122y

Class 3

14:53 Newton Abbot

Punta Del Este

12st 0lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

Triple hurdle winner who has claims on his best form for Dan Skelton but he's failed to beat a rival in two runs for current yard; has had wind surgery but he needs a major revival after another break.

14/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £10.30
Straight Forecast £11.62
Trifecta £20.80

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Salver

SPOTLIGHT:

Nemean Lion

TOPSPEED:

Steel Ally

POSTDATA:

Salver

The Times:

Salver

D Express:

Salver

Daily Mirror:

Salver

The Sun:

Salver

Daily Record:

Salver

Telegraph:

Nemean Lion

The Guardian:

Nemean Lion

Daily Mail:

Nemean Lion

The Star:

Nemean Lion