February 28 / 15.58 Newbury

15.58

Soft

Watch Weekend Winners Powered By BetVictor “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £5446
  • 2m 4f 118y
  • Class 3
  • 5 runners
SKY
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Watch Weekend Winners Powered By BetVictor “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Sunny

2/1 (Won)

  • Win: £1.84
  • Place: £1.20

Form: 1/11-1

Last run: 97 days

W: 11st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
All four starts on good to soft; unbeaten in bumpers, culminating in Grade 2 at Aintree in April, and he easily got the job done when 1-5 on hurdle debut at Huntingdon (2m) in November; could have lots more to offer over hurdles and the step up in trip may well be a positive.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

23rd Apr 2025

Good

2m 7f 207y

Class 1

14:48 Perth

Horaces Pearl

11st 2lb

J: Connor Brace

T: Fergal O’Brien

Performed below expectations in Aintree 2m4f Grade 1 last time but was unbeaten previously and remains of interest; good chance at this level, provided he stays the new trip.

6/1

3rd

6

23rd Apr 2025

Good

2m 7f 207y

Class 1

14:48 Perth

Horaces Pearl

11st 2lb

J: Connor Brace

T: Fergal O’Brien

towards rear

6/1

5th

6

5th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 1

13:55 Aintree

Horaces Pearl

11st 7lb

J: Connor Brace

T: Fergal O’Brien

Has won all five starts, including the Grade 2 bumper (good to soft) on this card last year; has made an excellent transition to hurdles, jumping confidently when not turning a hair at Newbury (2m4f, soft) on latest start; looks more than ready for a go in Graded company as a hurdler.

11/4

3/1

  • Place: £1.80

Form: 2-2321 D

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 6lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Ex-French; consistent 5yo who was on the scene in three hurdle races (soft or heavy) in Britain before asserting when 4-7 in a maiden at Wetherby (extended 2m3f, soft) four weeks ago; his jumping wasn't great there but he has the form to mix it with the other two hurdle winners in this field.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

5

14th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 58y

Class 1

14:05 Haydock

LudOr

11st 2lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Tom Symonds

Won easily on handicap debut at Bangor (2m3f, soft) in November and has continued in good form, finishing third of 15 at Windsor (3m, soft) latest; he has something to find if his opponents are at their best but that isn't guaranteed, and his current wellbeing and proven stamina are both positives.

10/1

3rd

3

18th Jan 2026

Soft

3m 0f 0y

Class 2

14:25 Windsor

LudOr

11st 9lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Tom Symonds

Has a solid overall record; fairly useful form switched to handicaps (at about 2m4f on soft) this term, winning by wide margin at Bangor then solid third at Newbury; remains open to further progress; major contender, provided he stays this new trip.

9/2

OUR TIP

Form: 31

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
6l winner of an Irish maiden point and sold for £200,000 later last March; came from off the pace to take third of nine on hurdling debut at Cheltenham (2m4f, soft) on New Year's Day and readily found what he needed on run-in when 2-9 in maiden at Lingfield (2m7f, soft) four weeks ago; has Cheltenham 3m Grade 1 novice entry.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

26th Feb 2026

Soft

3m 0f 45y

Class 4

14:25 Wetherby

Pierrot Jaguen

12st 0lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Point and maiden hurdle winner who ran well in fourth over C&D (soft) in December on second chase start, with disappointing efforts either side; however, he's had wind surgery since last time and is capable of being in the mix if he's at the top of his game.

5/1

3rd

2

24th Jan 2026

Soft

3m 2f 13y

Class 4

15:41 Uttoxeter

Pierrot Jaguen

12st 1lb

J: Robert Dunne

T: Olly Murphy

Lightly raced 7yo; pulled up in his first chase but did well to finish close up at Wetherby (3m, soft; new cheekpieces) given he didn't jump all that well; doesn't have a lot to find with Aboutdamntime and his jumping might well improve with experience.

7/1

3rd

3

28th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 4f 118y

Class 3

15:58 Newbury

Pierrot Jaguen

11st 6lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

6l winner of an Irish maiden point and sold for £200,000 later last March; came from off the pace to take third of nine on hurdling debut at Cheltenham (2m4f, soft) on New Year's Day and readily found what he needed on run-in when 2-9 in maiden at Lingfield (2m7f, soft) four weeks ago; has Cheltenham 3m Grade 1 novice entry.

15/8

Form: 5

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Second foal; dam runner-up in a point, out of bumper winner; 15-2 from 16-1 for maiden hurdle at Chepstow (extended 2m3f, soft) and although he was fighting a losing cause from a long way out, he stuck on well to be about 8l fifth of 14; should improve, which is needed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

5

6th May 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 170y

Class 4

14:45 Newton Abbot

Dyno Dave

11st 0lb

J: James Bowen

T: Nicky Henderson

Appreciated better ground when opening his chase account at the fourth attempt at Exeter (3m, good to soft) in March, but took a heavy fall back there the following month; still has more to offer in this sphere and he's respected if that latest effort hasn't dented his confidence.

9/4

1

7th Apr 2026

Good

3m 0f 54y

Class 4

16:40 Exeter

Dyno Dave

11st 7lb

J: James Bowen

T: Nicky Henderson

Didn't hang about over hurdles and seemed to appreciate getting away from slow ground when edging home in a C&D good-ground handicap three weeks ago, on only his fourth run over fences; up 5lb but probably improving.

5/4

1st

1

17th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 54y

Class 5

16:05 Exeter

Dyno Dave

12st 0lb

J: James Bowen

T: Nicky Henderson

Unseated rider on seasonal/chase/handicap debut in December and was safely held on next two outings (both on slow ground) but he'll appreciate this ease in grade and may yet come good for his top stable.

7/1

Form: 535-

Last run: 337 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Third of 15 at Kempton (soft) on second start was clearly the best of his three runs in bumpers last season; had wind surgery in September; dam was 2m hurdle winner.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

6

29th Aug 2025

Good

2m 5f 164y

Class 4

16:13 Fontwell

Lightning Maqueen

11st 2lb

J: Rob Hargreaves

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Well beaten on both hurdling starts last season but his two runs in the spring were much more encouraging; kept on for respectable third here (2m1f, good) on handicap debut on latter occasion and could quite plausibly improve again over today's longer trip; sports first-time tongue-tie; seemed to handle soft ground in a bumper.

5/1

6

10th Jun 2025

Good

2m 1f 162y

Class 4

19:20 Fontwell

Lightning Maqueen

11st 1lb

J: Rob Hargreaves

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Placed in big-field Kempton bumper in March 2024; launched hurdling career with two very disappointing runs this year but last month's keeping-on third here (2m3f, good) was much more encouraging and he could easily have further improvement to come in handicaps.

9/4

1

25th May 2025

Good

2m 3f 29y

Class 4

13:48 Fontwell

Lightning Maqueen

11st 4lb

J: Freddie Mitchell

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Placed in big-field Kempton bumper (good to soft) in March 2024 but both hurdle runs this year were very disappointing and he comes here with a lot to prove.

14/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £5.70
Straight Forecast £6.91
Trifecta £6.80

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Pierrot Jaguen

SPOTLIGHT:

Horaces Pearl

TOPSPEED:

Pierrot Jaguen

POSTDATA:

Pierrot Jaguen

The Times:

Pierrot Jaguen

The Guardian:

Pierrot Jaguen

D Express:

Pierrot Jaguen

Daily Mirror:

Pierrot Jaguen

The Star:

Pierrot Jaguen

WEST COUNTRY:

Horaces Pearl

Telegraph:

Horaces Pearl

Daily Mail:

Horaces Pearl

The Sun:

Horaces Pearl

Daily Record:

Horaces Pearl