April 15 / 15.15 Southwell

15.15

Good

Weekend Winners On Sky Sports Racing Novices’ Hurdle (Novices’ Championship Hdl Qualifier) (GBB)

  • Prize money: £4193.42
  • 1m 7f 182y
  • Class 4
  • 5 runners
SKY
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Weekend Winners On Sky Sports Racing Novices’ Hurdle (Novices’ Championship Hdl Qualifier) (GBB)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

OUR TIP

2/1 (Won)

  • Win: £6.00
  • Place: £1.90

Form: 511 D

Last run: 50 days

W: 12st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 128

Form & Verdict
Very useful on the Flat when based in Ireland and 2-3 over hurdles for Fergal O'Brien this year, having won at Plumpton (2m4f, soft) and Ayr (2m, heavy); might be seen to even better effect on the faster ground here and needs to be taken very seriously.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

5th Apr 2026

Good

1m 7f 195y

Class 2

16:05 Plumpton

Serious Challenge

12st 0lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Fergal O’Brien

Has improved for patient tactics, winning at Haydock (1m7f, good) before going close in the always-strong Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso (good to soft); raised 3lb for that but this former smart Flat performer should be seen to good effect around here.

6/1

2nd

5

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 51y

Class 2

14:55 Kelso

Serious Challenge

11st 9lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Fergal O’Brien

Made it four wins from his eight starts over hurdles (various ground) when returning to form to score at Haydock (1m7f, good) two months ago, when ridden more patiently; 5lb higher in a better race today and needs a career-best but he's unexposed under hold-up tactics and is not written off.

10/1

4th

2

26th Oct 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 2

15:30 Aintree

Serious Challenge

11st 3lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Fergal O’Brien

Talented Flat performer (stayed 1m6f) who won three novice hurdles this year (2m4f/2m, various ground) before finishing fourth of 14 in novice handicap final at Sandown (2m, good) in April; could have more to offer now back up in trip and trainer has won the last three runnings.

5/2

11/2

  • Place: £2.80

Form: 31421 D

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Good-ground bumper winner; clear second to very useful rival on hurdle debut at Ludlow (2m, good to soft) in February and did not need to improve to win a modest race very comfortably last month; has more on his plate today but probably still has potential.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

12th Apr 2026

Good

2m 5f 82y

Class 3

16:00 Wincanton

John Barbour

12st 0lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Fergal O’Brien

Has done well since raised to 2m4f and narrowly beaten at Ascot on his penultimate start by one who was well handicapped; beaten too far out at Uttoxeter last time to blame the longer trip (2m7f) but definite chance at this level if he's back on his game.

100/30

11

14th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 70y

Class 2

14:25 Uttoxeter

John Barbour

10st 10lb

J: Jack Hogan

T: Fergal O’Brien

Has a solid record (1212) since upped to about 2m4f, the wins at Uttoxeter (3-3 here overall); good effort at Ascot most recently; bred to stay this longer distance and may improve further; strong contender.

7/1

2nd

9

14th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 3f 63y

Class 2

14:25 Ascot

John Barbour

10st 10lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Fergal O’Brien

Second-season hurdler who has form figures of 121 since upped to 2m4f, both wins at Uttoxeter (good to soft); goes into deeper waters but may improve further at this sort of distance; respected.

8/1

Form: 112239 D

Last run: 38 days

W: 12st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Dual novice winner on good ground in the autumn (2m/1m7f) and consistent in defeat since; never looked dangerous when staying on from the rear for ninth in Imperial Cup at Sandown (2m, good to soft) last month but was beaten about only 5l in the end and has a big role to play in this easier race.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

9

26th Apr 2025

Good

1m 7f 216y

Class 2

13:20 Sandown

Sorceleur

11st 3lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Two novice wins in November and generally consistent otherwise; ties in with some of these rivals on Sandown (Imperial Cup) and Southwell form the last twice; solid contender who should give his running.

6/1

9th

9

26th Apr 2025

Good

1m 7f 216y

Class 2

13:20 Sandown

Sorceleur

11st 3lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Two novice wins in November and generally consistent otherwise; ties in with some of these rivals on Sandown (Imperial Cup) and Southwell form the last twice; solid contender who should give his running.

6/1

3rd

2

15th Apr 2025

Good

1m 7f 182y

Class 4

15:15 Southwell

Sorceleur

12st 0lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

prominent, lost ground when not fluent last, weakened and lost position run-in

7/2

Form: 211-13 D BF

Last run: 66 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
2-3 in French bumpers in early part of last year and created a pretty good impression when winning readily on hurdle debut at Kempton (2m, good) on Boxing Day; perhaps a shade disappointing when only third of five at Newbury (2m, soft; again raced freely) in February but remains of interest.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

20th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

2m 1f 61y

Class 3

16:12 Cartmel

Kientzheim

11st 1lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Ben Haslam

Slightly disappointing when weakening fifth on last month's chasing debut at Hexham but now 2lb lower than when close third over hurdles here in May and will be dangerous if able to transfer that form to fences.

11/4

5th

3

21st Jun 2026

Good

1m 7f 133y

Class 3

15:13 Hexham

Kientzheim

11st 10lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Ben Haslam

2-3 in French bumpers and 2-8 in British hurdles; ran big race from the front when third of ten at Cartmel (2m1f, good) last month and could take some catching if she gets into a good rhythm on this chasing debut.

100/30

3rd

2

23rd May 2026

Good To Soft

2m 1f 46y

Class 3

14:10 Cartmel

Kientzheim

11st 13lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Ben Haslam

Has made a positive start for her current yard, scoring at Market Rasen (2m4f) in November and backing it up with a good second of 11 at Carlisle (2m1f) in February; well in the mix after a break with few miles on the clock.

9/1

Form: 770

Last run: 47 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Well beaten at triple-digit odds in two soft-ground hurdles this year; may improve on the quicker surface here but still can't be recommended.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

26th Feb 2025

Soft

3m 0f 45y

Class 5

16:28 Wetherby

Monticello

10st 4lb

J: Edward Austin

T: Neil Mechie

held up in last, jumped right and lost ground 4th, mistake 9th, tailed off from 10th, pulled up before 12th

50/1

10th

12

(6)

19th Sep 2024

Good

2m 1f 27y

Class 5

16:05 Pontefract

Monticello

8st 11lb

J: Paula Muir

T: Neil Mechie

slowly away, always behind

66/1

13

22nd Jul 2024

Good

3m 1f 83y

Class 4

15:20 Cartmel

Monticello

10st 2lb

J: William Maggs

T: Neil Mechie

prominent, outpaced and lost position before 2 out, pulled up before last

100/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £21.20
Straight Forecast £42.62
Trifecta £47.00

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Kientzheim

Telegraph:

Serious Challenge

TOPSPEED:

Sorceleur

WEST COUNTRY:

John Barbour

RP RATINGS:

Kientzheim

The Times:

Kientzheim

The Guardian:

Kientzheim

Daily Mail:

Kientzheim

D Express:

Kientzheim

Daily Mirror:

Kientzheim

The Star:

Kientzheim

POSTDATA:

Sorceleur

Daily Record:

Serious Challenge