April 07 / 13.45 Kelso

13.45

Good

Join Racing TV Now Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4356.8
  • 2m 2f 25y
  • Class 4
  • 9 runners
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Join Racing TV Now Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

Form: 137 D

Last run: 173 days

W: 11st 12lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Won an average Stratford novice for another yard last summer (2m2f, good) and bettered that form when third here in September; didn't look on a good mark for his handicap debut the following month and duly struggled; looks up against it with a penalty.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

19th Jul 2025

Good To Soft

2m 6f 31y

Class 3

15:22 Cartmel

Go Go Chicago

11st 5lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Ruth Jefferson

Low-mileage 8yo who battled gamely to make winning handicap debut a Perth (2m4f, good) in May and lost out only narrowly when clear second over C&D (good to soft) in June; untested on soft ground but still shortlisted.

5/1

2nd

4

29th Jun 2025

Soft

2m 6f 31y

Class 4

14:40 Cartmel

Go Go Chicago

11st 9lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Ruth Jefferson

Very lightly raced 8yo who battled on gamely to make winning handicap debut a Perth (2m4f, good) last month; could easily have more to offer if suited by the forecast slower ground; respected.

100/30

Form: 3-1P

Last run: 135 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Won with a lot in hand at Ayr (2m, good to soft) and didn't appear to give his true running in a Grade 2 last time (soft); remains promising.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

9th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 28y

Class 3

17:42 Hexham

Saracen Beau

11st 12lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

Lightly raced; second hurdles win at Doncaster in March (second run at 2m5f, good to soft); stiffer task on this 7lb higher mark but a chance.

7/2

1st

1

13th Mar 2026

Good

2m 4f 181y

Class 4

16:20 Doncaster

Saracen Beau

12st 0lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

Won an Ayr novice in November 2024 (2m, good to soft); subsequently finished runner-up in a 2m4f handicap chase; fair third back over hurdles at Newcastle last time (2m1f, good to soft) and could go well back up to 2m4f.

7/2

OUR TIP

Form: 342225 D

Last run: 29 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
Maiden winner in Ireland; below her best in a Grade 3 last time but was runner-up in a Grade 2 in January and then bumped into Tripoli Flyer at Musselburgh; faces her easiest task for a while.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

12

29th Apr 2026

Yielding

2m 3f 58y

14:30 Punchestown

Cloonainra

11st 9lb

J: Dylan Kidd

T: John C McConnell

Has done most of her racing over fences since a creditable fifth behind Thanksforthehelp in this race last season; led at the last then, faded in the closing stages; chase form disappointing since Listowel festival win.

20/1

4th

6

17th Mar 2026

Yielding

2m 4f 86y

16:13 Down Royal

Cloonainra

11st 1lb

J: Dylan Kidd

T: John C McConnell

117 rated hurdler has achieved the same rating over fences; 1-3 in this sphere, the win coming over 19.5f (yielding) at Listowel in a mares' novice; heavy defeats thrice since (two over fences); cheekpieces now tried.

14/1

Form: 360

Last run: 99 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Just minor promise in two bumpers and was 100-1 when tailed off in a maiden here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

13th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 5

16:55 Perth

Gonnino

11st 7lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Gary Rutherford

Maiden (0-12); runner-up three times, including when chasing home Belvedere Bhoy at Carlisle (2m4f, good to soft) early last month; took a sharp backward step at Kelso subsequently, so it's tough to have confidence; added cheekpieces may eke out a fraction more.

13/2

4th

5

20th Apr 2026

Good

2m 2f 25y

Class 5

16:00 Kelso

Gonnino

11st 4lb

J: Callum Bewley

T: Gary Rutherford

0-8 over hurdles and has rather mixed record this season but ran big race in defeat at Carlisle (2m3f, good to soft) 16 days ago and has obvious claims if in the right mood again here.

9/2

2nd

3

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 61y

Class 5

14:23 Carlisle

Gonnino

11st 10lb

J: Callum Bewley

T: Gary Rutherford

Lacked fluency on last month's chasing debut and now quickly reverts to hurdling; has claims if judged on his second off today's mark at Musselburgh (1m7f, soft) in December but his record is rather mixed.

12/1

Form: 777P

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Few positives to take from any of his runs and very opposable once again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

10

14th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 5

20:30 Perth

King Gold Boy

10st 2lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Jean McGregor

Lightly raced 5yo who makes handicap debut in first-time cheekpieces off a basement mark; however, he's shown very little thus far.

50/1

7th

10

14th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 5

20:30 Perth

King Gold Boy

10st 2lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Jean McGregor

Lightly raced 5yo who makes handicap debut in first-time cheekpieces off a basement mark; however, he's shown very little thus far.

50/1

5

7th Apr 2025

Good

2m 2f 25y

Class 4

13:45 Kelso

King Gold Boy

11st 5lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: Jean McGregor

towards rear, not fluent 3rd, soon dropped to last and reminder, reminder and struggling after 5th, pulled up before 4 out

150/1

Form: P-P5P

Last run: 210 days

W: 11st 5lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 71

Form & Verdict
13-race maiden with a basement mark over hurdles and makes no appeal.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

22nd Apr 2025

Good

2m 0f 51y

Class 4

14:30 Kelso

Thunder Gap

11st 3lb

J: Charlie Price

T: Maurice Barnes

took keen hold, in touch with leaders, hit 3 out, weakened after 2 out

66/1

Form: 67

Last run: 52 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Finished last in his two bumpers (hooded for both) and brings limited appeal for now.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

20th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 28y

Class 4

19:58 Hexham

Wild Reiver

11st 2lb

J: Conor Rabbitt

T: Iain Jardine

Beaten by 56l and 57l in two novice hurdles at Kelso (2m2f-2m5f); no reason to anticipate a sharp upturn in fortunes.

33/1

2

20th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 28y

Class 4

19:58 Hexham

Wild Reiver

11st 2lb

J: Conor Rabbitt

T: Iain Jardine

Beaten by 56l and 57l in two novice hurdles at Kelso (2m2f-2m5f); no reason to anticipate a sharp upturn in fortunes.

33/1

5th

5

7th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 4

14:55 Kelso

Wild Reiver

11st 1lb

J: Conor Rabbitt

T: Iain Jardine

Failed to beat a rival in two bumpers and was tailed off at 150-1 on hurdling debut here (2m2f, good) last month.

25/1

Form: 14

Last run: 43 days

W: 11st 4lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Both runs on heavy; the odds-on favourite flopped when he won his maiden at Fairyhouse and was then last to complete in a Grade 3 at Naas; in top hands and remains unexposed, especially under these conditions.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 149y

Class 1

13:20 Aintree

Good To Be Alive

11st 0lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Olly Murphy

Notched a first win for current yard when asserting late on at Plumpton (2m4f, soft) in January and backed that up when second of eight at Kelso (2m5f, good) six weeks ago; Sean Bowen prefers Hold The Serve but this 5yo brings unexposed potential now he's stepping up in trip under Jack Kennedy.

16/1

2nd

3

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 189y

Class 2

15:30 Kelso

Good To Be Alive

11st 11lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Lightly raced 5yo; notched a first win for current yard when asserting late on at Plumpton (2m4f, soft) five weeks ago; still unexposed and a 4lb higher mark does not look insurmountable.

3/1

1st

2

26th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 4f 116y

Class 3

14:50 Plumpton

Good To Be Alive

11st 13lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Won 2m heavy-ground maiden on debut for Gordon Elliott over a year ago and has finished runner-up in both runs for this stable since switching to handicaps this season, most recently at Hereford (2m3.5f, soft) last month; likely to be in the thick of it again.

9/4

Form:

Last run:

W: 10st 11lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Placed once (1m4f) in nine races for Sir Mark Prescott and ended up in classified company; wouldn't be the obvious answer on this hurdling debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

9

(11)

2nd Jun 2026

Standard

1m 2f 42y

Class 6

18:15 Newcastle (AW)

Top Flight Century

9st 9lb

J: Rhys Elliott

T: David Thompson

Still a maiden on the Flat but a winner over hurdles at Sedgefield for his present yard over the winter so can't be dismissed back in this sphere.

12/1

4th

5

8th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 139y

Class 5

16:52 Market Rasen

Top Flight Century

11st 7lb

J: Jack Power

T: David Thompson

Scored on stable debut at Sedgefield (2m4f, good to soft) on Boxing Day but two lesser efforts have followed this year, the latter back at Sedgefield last month; now has a point to prove.

10/1

6th

5

1st Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 188y

Class 5

16:40 Sedgefield

Top Flight Century

11st 6lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: David Thompson

Made a winning yard debut over C&D in December but he was pulled up in 2m4f handicap at Newcastle only run since; he has a bit to prove now.

11/1

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Cloonainra

Telegraph:

Good To Be Alive

TOPSPEED:

Saracen Beau

Daily Mail:

Good To Be Alive

The Star:

Good To Be Alive

RP RATINGS:

Cloonainra

POSTDATA:

Cloonainra

The Times:

Cloonainra

The Guardian:

Cloonainra

D Express:

Cloonainra

Daily Mirror:

Cloonainra

The Sun:

Cloonainra

Daily Record:

Cloonainra