March 09 / 14.30 Carlisle

14.30

Good To Soft

Watch Racing TV Now Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £3812.2
  • 2m 1f 0y
  • Class 4
  • 10 runners
RTV
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Watch Racing TV Now Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 10 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly sunny

11/1 (Won)

  • Win: £32.20
  • Place: £3.40

Form: PU1-3P

Last run: 47 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Won heavy-ground chase (2m4f) in France just under a year ago but weakened into remote third in Kelso novice hurdle (2m6f, good to soft) on British debut in November and was pulled up in subsequent Ayr handicap (2m4f); had wind surgery last month and now drops back in trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14

1st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 2

15:40 Musselburgh

Bel Amigo

10st 2lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

Front-runner; won three novice hurdles at Carlisle (2m1f/2m3f, good to soft/good) last spring; placed in three of his five handicaps since but the last two instances were over just 2m1f and 2m, so this new trip asks a big question; he's also 5lb out of the handicap.

16/1

2

16th Oct 2025

Good

2m 1f 33y

Class 4

13:22 Carlisle

Bel Amigo

11st 13lb

J: Dominic Hislop

T: N W Alexander

Won three novice hurdles in a row here (2m1f-2m3f, good to soft/good) in the spring, including under Dominic Hislop, and he returned from a break to finish third in a handicap at Perth (2m4f, good to soft) three weeks ago; could build on that latest performance now back here; firmly in calculations.

9/4

3

24th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 35y

Class 4

15:08 Perth

Bel Amigo

11st 13lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

Showed the benefit of a wind op when winning three consecutive Carlisle novice hurdles (2m1f-2m3f, good/good to soft) towards end of last season; may yet have more improvement to come but managed only sixth of seven when back in a handicap here (2m) in May and has fitness to prove after break.

8/1

11/4

  • Place: £1.50

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Half-brother to high-class and prolific hurdler/chaser Tommy's Oscar; cost £50,000 after winning seven-runner Irish point (yielding ground) on debut in October and it will be very interesting to see what Lucinda Russell can do with him under rules.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

22nd Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 207y

Class 2

15:17 Carlisle

Spadestep

11st 8lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Point/novice hurdle winner; his second to Jordans Cross on chase debut at Aintree (2m, good) reads really well and mistakes haven't helped his cause in racking up another three seconds; has the ability to win off this mark.

9/2

2nd

1

21st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 75y

Class 4

14:10 Newcastle

Spadestep

12st 0lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Point/novice hurdle winner; his second to Jordans Cross on chase debut at Aintree (2m, good) reads really well and, although yet to build on that, he's delivered another couple of solid efforts (heavy ground perhaps not ideal latest when behind The Grafter); can surely win a race off this mark and stable has landed the past two renewals of this.

7/2

2nd

2

27th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 75y

Class 4

13:50 Newcastle

Spadestep

11st 13lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Point/novice hurdle winner; excellent chase debut when second to useful sort at Aintree in October (2m, good); not quite as good last time; interesting with cheekpieces now tried.

4/5

6/5

  • Place: £1.10

Form: 14

Last run: 36 days

W: 11st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
Slightly disappointing when upped to 3m for good-quality Musselburgh novice last month but kept on too strongly for recent Grade 2 winner Jet To Vegas on hurdling debut there (2m4f, good to soft) in December and will be a tough nut to crack if coping with today's drop in trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

7

15th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 3

18:20 Aintree

Smokeringinthedark

10st 13lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

Lightly raced and improving; beat Fingal's Hill by 2l at Newcastle (2m4f) before finding only one too good upped to Class 2 level at Haydock (3m, good); didn't fail for stamina that day but he'll be fine back in trip; player.

9/2

2nd

9

15th Apr 2026

Good

3m 0f 58y

Class 2

16:25 Haydock

Smokeringinthedark

10st 7lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

Maiden winner who opened his account in handicaps with a comfortable win at Newcastle (2m4f, good to soft) two weeks ago; a 3lb rise seems fair for all that it wasn't a strong race, and his yard can do little wrong right now.

3/1

1st

5

31st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 62y

Class 3

16:00 Newcastle

Smokeringinthedark

11st 2lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

Only win was in a four-runner Musselburgh maiden hurdle in December 2024 (2m4f, good to soft); best run this season when second over same C&D in January (good to soft); chance on that form.

7/2

Form: 6333

Last run: 42 days

W: 11st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Fair form when third on all three hurdling starts, most recently when dropped back to 2m1f for soft-ground Sedgefield maiden in January; held by Smokeringinthedark on Musselburgh form in December but has good each-way claims here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

23rd May 2026

Good

2m 4f 72y

Class 4

14:25 Bangor-on-Dee

Kadjar Des Mottes

11st 5lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Irish point winner whose best effort over fences was when second of four finishers at Doncaster (3m, soft) in February; unseated early on the following month and well beaten over hurdles since; first-time cheekpieces are now fitted; may need softer ground to be seen to advantage.

4/1

6th

7

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 58y

Class 4

16:30 Haydock

Kadjar Des Mottes

11st 3lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Signs of promise in novice hurdles (including on good to soft) and runner-up over fences in handicap at Doncaster (3m, soft) in February; reverts to hurdles having unseated over fences last month; not ruled out.

9/1

4

8th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 4f 198y

Class 4

15:50 Carlisle

Kadjar Des Mottes

11st 2lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

0-9 under rules but has made promising start to chasing career this season and posted good effort when second at Doncaster (3m, soft) last month; can cope with this drop back in trip and probably won't be far away.

9/2

Form: 486

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Showed minor promise before weakening into sixth over C&D (good to soft) on debut three weeks ago but is probably one for further down the line.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

4

5th Apr 2025

Good

2m 4f 62y

Class 4

13:30 Newcastle

Little Roger

11st 5lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Ann Hamilton

held up in rear, not fluent 3rd, struggling from 5th, reminders before 4 out

16/1

7th

4

5th Apr 2025

Good

2m 4f 62y

Class 4

13:30 Newcastle

Little Roger

11st 5lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Ann Hamilton

held up in rear, not fluent 3rd, struggling from 5th, reminders before 4 out, tailed off before 3 out

16/1

5th

6

9th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 1f 0y

Class 4

14:30 Carlisle

Little Roger

11st 5lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Ann Hamilton

Showed minor promise before weakening into sixth over C&D (good to soft) on debut three weeks ago but is probably one for further down the line.

25/1

Form: P

Last run: 42 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Won off a basement Flat mark for Ian Williams in 2023 but, following a long absence, refused to settle and was pulled up when 200-1 for stable/hurdle debut at Sedgefield (2m1f, soft) in January.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

(1)

9th Oct 2025

Standard

2m 0f 56y

Class 6

16:20 Newcastle (AW)

Team Endeavour

8st 11lb

J: David Egan

T: Barry Murtagh

1-24, the win coming by a nose at Wetherby (2m, good to firm) over two years ago; 28-1 when second of five over C&D (Quercus Robur last) three weeks ago but that was a messy event and he'll need a bit more today.

12/1

2nd

5

(6)

19th Sep 2025

Standard

2m 0f 56y

Class 6

17:08 Newcastle (AW)

Team Endeavour

9st 4lb

J: Tom Kiely-Marshall

T: Barry Murtagh

Signed off for Ian Williams with two runner-up spots at this trip on AW in 2023; all starts on turf since and was second of seven at Catterick three starts ago; beaten 16l at Ripon (2m, good to firm; Lillistar just denied) last time; not entirely ruled out back on this surface.

8/1

Form: 6-6

Last run: 99 days

W: 11st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Won a point bumper last February and was not disgraced when sixth on hurdling debut at Newcastle (2m, good) in November but this year's point form is underwhelming and he's not the most obvious answer today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

10

6th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 5

16:00 Kelso

Long Time Listener

10st 5lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Tim Easterby

Won a point bumper in February 2024 (2m, soft); has shown bits of fair form over hurdles, notably when 11.5l fourth in a Sedgefield novice handicap in March (2m4f, good); others have stronger claims.

12/1

7th

12

11th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 62y

Class 5

14:07 Newcastle

Long Time Listener

10st 5lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Tim Easterby

A point bumper winner in 2024; only poor form shown over hurdles but he posted his best run of the season (in first-time cheekpieces) when fourth of 11 in 2m4f Sedgefield handicap 23 days ago; needs to build on it in retained headgear.

16/1

4th

8

19th Mar 2026

Good

2m 3f 188y

Class 5

15:10 Sedgefield

Long Time Listener

10st 13lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Tim Easterby

Point-to-point bumper winner for whom the forecast good ground could be a positive; however, he's struggled in his first three handicaps and a major turnaround is necessary; wears first-time cheekpieces.

33/1

Form: 3

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 5lb

5 yo Colt

OR:

Form & Verdict
Fairly useful Flat racer who signed off for David O'Meara with 1m2f AW win in October; just a respectable third on last month's stable/hurdle debut at Musselburgh (1m7f, good to soft) but has plenty of scope to build on that performance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

9

(7)

1st May 2026

Standard

1m 2f 42y

Class 5

17:20 Newcastle (AW)

Natzor

9st 4lb

J: David Nolan

T: Lizzie Quinlan

Wins for David O'Meara both came over C&D, including a division of this race two years ago; not beaten far at 100-1 here two months ago but looked flattered in a messy affair and he's generally struggled for this yard.

16/1

10th

8

31st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 190y

Class 5

17:35 Newcastle

Natzor

11st 5lb

J: Harry Atkins

T: Lizzie Quinlan

While not the force of old, his close fourth on the Flat this month showed that he's still capable of fair form in that sphere; went the wrong way in his four-race hurdle career last February-May but needs a second look.

14/1

4th

6

(2)

5th Mar 2026

Standard

1m 2f 42y

Class 5

16:55 Newcastle (AW)

Natzor

9st 4lb

J: David Nolan

T: Lizzie Quinlan

Both wins for David O'Meara came over C&D in 2024, but has lost his way for this yard including three poor efforts back here.

33/1

OUR TIP

Form: 00-

Last run: 369 days

W: 11st 5lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Tailed off in two slow-ground bumpers in early part of 2024; makes hurdle debut after one-year absence.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

10

13th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 28y

Class 5

16:00 Hexham

Do Ye Wanna

10st 2lb

J: Edward Austin

T: George Bewley

Took a step forward when third on handicap debut at Carlisle (2m3f, soft) in February; only seventh of 14 over this C&D (soft) since but this lightly raced 8yo isn't written off in view of his penultimate effort.

16/1

7th

15

25th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 28y

Class 5

16:11 Hexham

Do Ye Wanna

10st 5lb

J: Edward Austin

T: George Bewley

Off nine months but recorded his best effort when third of nine in 2m3f handicap at Carlisle 37 days ago; in the mix eased 1lb here.

12/1

Form: 9

Last run: 34 days

W: 11st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Last of nine over C&D (soft) on debut five weeks ago; entitled to have learned from that experience but stable has much more obvious chance with Smokeringinthedark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

3rd Oct 2025

Good

2m 4f 28y

Class 5

14:45 Hexham

King Coconut

10st 11lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

Weakened quickly and was pulled up when upped to 3m for handicap debut in June but remains very unexposed and it would be reckless to write him off at this stage.

14/1

8

8th Jun 2025

Good

2m 7f 207y

Class 5

17:07 Perth

King Coconut

10st 10lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

Thrice-raced 5yo who is not a solid option on form but may be capable of improvement now handicapping; market support should be heeded.

8/1

5th

4

8th Apr 2025

Good

2m 3f 61y

Class 4

14:50 Carlisle

King Coconut

11st 7lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

in touch with leaders, outpaced when hit 2 out, soon weakened

25/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £194.40
Straight Forecast £101.68
Trifecta £339.40

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Smokeringinthedark

Telegraph:

Spadestep

RP RATINGS:

Smokeringinthedark

TOPSPEED:

Smokeringinthedark

POSTDATA:

Smokeringinthedark

The Times:

Smokeringinthedark

D Express:

Smokeringinthedark

Daily Mirror:

Smokeringinthedark

The Star:

Spadestep

Daily Record:

Spadestep