April 16 / 13.30 Cheltenham

13.30

Good

Citipost Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £10892
  • 2m 4f 56y
  • Class 2
  • 7 runners
RTV
View Course
Citipost Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

OUR TIP

11/2 (Won)

  • Win: £3.00
  • Place: £1.50

Form: -7113P D

Last run: 33 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 135

Form & Verdict
Found last month's Grade 1 Albert Bartlett too hot but has been seen to very good effect when ridden positively from the front this season, most notably when winning by 17l at Ascot (2m5f, good) in January, and may not be easy to reel in; tongue-tie fitted for first time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

9th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 200y

Class 1

14:20 Aintree

Jax Junior

11st 7lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Lucy Wadham

Finished 18l behind Lulamba in the Arkle but may fare better in this rematch, with the return to further a likely plus; readily bagged Grade 2 honours at Kempton (2m4f, good to soft) the time before, enhancing his good strike-rate when racing beyond 2m.

9/1

4th

2

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 199y

Class 1

14:00 Cheltenham

Jax Junior

11st 7lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Lucy Wadham

Bled from nose when well held behind Steel Ally at Ascot just before Christmas but otherwise he's made a fine start to his chasing career, winning a handicap at Sandown (1m7f, soft) and Grade 2 novice at Kempton (2m4f, good to soft) on last two starts; needs a chunk of improvement to trouble the principals but he's straightforward, tactically versatile and a sound jumper.

20/1

1st

2

21st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 1

14:25 Kempton

Jax Junior

11st 2lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Lucy Wadham

Bled from the nose at Ascot just before Christmas but otherwise he's made a fine start to his chasing career, winning handicap at Sandown (1m7f, soft) three weeks ago in clearcut style; just as effective at 2m4f and sets the standard for the others to aim at.

4/6

6/4

  • Place: £1.70

Form: 243-21

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 135

Form & Verdict
Took seven attempts to get off the mark over hurdles but last month's success in a big-field Limerick maiden (2m3f, soft) was not his first piece of useful form; unraced on ground quicker than soft over hurdles but won a bumper on good; holds a Punchestown festival Grade 1 entry; can go well.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14th

19

12th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 127y

Class 1

14:00 Cheltenham

Dr Eggman

10st 6lb

J: John Shinnick

T: W P Mullins

Finished third behind shorter-priced stablemates in last two outings and is again facing stronger candidates from his own yard, before even considering the many other dangers; overall record of just 2-15 reflects that he hasn't progressed as well as expected; 2lb out of the handicap.

40/1

3rd

2

5th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 2f 0y

13:07 Thurles

Dr Eggman

11st 12lb

J: Danny Mullins

T: W P Mullins

Only 1-9 over hurdles and vastly inferior to stablemate Salvator Mundi in that discipline; his second run over fences was better than the first, beaten about 12l at Fairyhouse (2m1f, yielding); would have a chance if the yard's apparent main hope did fluff his lines.

7/2

3rd

1

14th Jan 2026

Yielding

2m 1f 30y

14:50 Fairyhouse

Dr Eggman

11st 12lb

J: Danny Mullins

T: W P Mullins

One of three for trainer; bumper winner; 1-9 over hurdles and rated 133; in rear at this venue on chasing debut; got loose at the start and was withdrawn here on New Year's Day; stable has stronger candidates.

14/1

Form: 117

Last run: 46 days

W: 11st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
Won soft-ground novice hurdles at Haydock (1m7f) and Bangor (2m) on first two starts; disappointed in 2m2f Grade 2 at Kelso (good to soft) last month and was withdrawn from a recent engagement with good ground deemed unsuitable but moves up in trip again here and remains a good prospect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 125y

Class 3

17:05 Haydock

Laganhill

12st 0lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Henry Daly

Dual soft-ground hurdle winner at around 2m; has looked a thorough stayer over fences, 4l second of four over 3m at Exeter (heavy; first-time cheekpieces) six weeks ago; in the mix again off an unchanged mark.

9/1

2nd

2

20th Feb 2026

Heavy

3m 0f 54y

Class 3

14:44 Exeter

Laganhill

11st 8lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Henry Daly

Dual soft-ground hurdle winner at around 2m last season; made a promising start over fences at Carlisle and stepped forward from that when a staying-on second, upped to 3m, at Bangor (heavy) next time; below that level at Ascot latest, but still early days in this sphere and he's not one to dismiss with cheekpieces added.

7/2

7th

8

17th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 185y

Class 3

13:00 Ascot

Laganhill

11st 3lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Henry Daly

Low-mileage 8yo who scored twice over hurdles last term; seemed to need reappearance effort behind The Jukebox Kid at Carlisle and duly fared better, staying-on second upped to 3m, at Bangor (heavy) later in November; interesting contender, with another step forward plausible.

7/1

Form: 2/21

Last run: 17 days

W: 11st 7lb

8 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Built upon his promising hurdle debut when drawing clear to win Downpatrick maiden (2m6f, good) by 10l last month; contests a much deeper race here but holds two Grade 1 entries at the forthcoming Punchestown festival and is evidently held in some regard.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

1st Jun 2025

Yielding

3m 1f 32y

14:47 Kilbeggan

Toad Hall

11st 10lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

Won a 2m6f Downpatrick maiden easily in March; keen and hung right when beaten 9.5l in Class 2 novice at Cheltenham on latest; top rated here at 129 and the return to a right-handed track a plus; stamina in pedigree so should stay this far; yard has won the last two renewals; leading claims.

Evs

2

1st Jun 2025

Yielding

3m 1f 32y

14:47 Kilbeggan

Toad Hall

11st 10lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

Won a 2m6f Downpatrick maiden easily in March; keen and hung right when beaten 9.5l in Class 2 novice at Cheltenham on latest; top rated here at 129 and the return to a right-handed track a plus; stamina in pedigree so should stay this far; yard has won the last two renewals; leading claims.

Evs

Form: 1246 C

Last run: 69 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Won good-ground course bumper on rules debut in October and was second in a Listed bumper here the following month but was just a respectable fourth on hurdling debut at Ascot (2m5f, good to soft) in December and ran poorly when upped to Listed level in February; cheekpieces added.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

16th Apr 2026

Good

3m 1f 119y

Class 4

18:30 Hereford

Block Rockin Beats

11st 8lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Oliver Signy

1-8 over hurdles, up in trip when winning at Lingfield (2m7f, soft) in December; with two major backward steps since, a lot seemingly depends on his subsequent wind surgery and today's first tongue-tie.

6/1

8th

9

26th Feb 2026

Soft

3m 0f 26y

Class 3

16:10 Wetherby

Block Rockin Beats

11st 5lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Oliver Signy

Listed bumper runner-up who was suited by the step up in trip when winning at Lingfield (2m7f, soft) in December on his third handicap start; merely mid-division at Newbury (3m, good to soft) since but not written off in view of the promise shown on his penultimate start.

8/1

9th

8

14th Jan 2026

Good

3m 0f 57y

Class 4

14:40 Newbury

Block Rockin Beats

11st 9lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Oliver Signy

Opened his hurdles account in similar event at Lingfield (2m7f, soft) last time; remains unexposed at this sort of distance and bumper form suggests he has the potential to do better still; shortlisted.

7/1

Form: 3263

Last run: 41 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Looked promising in all three bumpers but was left behind by the front pair when third on hurdling debut at Fontwell (2m1f, good to soft) six weeks ago and needs to take a big step forward over this longer trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

19th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

2m 3f 98y

Class 4

14:15 Stratford

The Long Walk

11st 8lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

1-9 over hurdles; makes chasing debut from a workable mark but has become very inconsistent and was well beaten in first-time cheekpieces last month (2m7f); drops back in trip with visor tried here; not easy to predict.

7/1

9th

3

6th Jun 2026

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 4

17:25 Worcester

The Long Walk

12st 1lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Mixed form last season; peak efforts included third at Market Rasen (2m2f) on Boxing Day and second off this mark at Hereford in April latest; not guaranteed to back that up but he's in the mix if repeating that effort with cheekpieces now added.

5/1

Form: F5

Last run: 74 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Winning pointer who shaped with significant promise on first two hurdling starts, more recently when fifth of 14 in Wetherby maiden (2m3f, soft) in February; worth keeping an eye on with the future in mind but seems an unlikely winner today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

8

16th Apr 2025

Good

2m 4f 56y

Class 2

13:30 Cheltenham

Jacques Clouseau

11st 2lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Mel Rowley

Winning pointer who shaped with significant promise on first two hurdling starts, more recently when fifth of 14 in Wetherby maiden (2m3f, soft) in February; worth keeping an eye on with the future in mind but seems an unlikely winner today.

66/1

7th

8

16th Apr 2025

Good

2m 4f 56y

Class 2

13:30 Cheltenham

Jacques Clouseau

11st 2lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Mel Rowley

Winning pointer who shaped with significant promise on first two hurdling starts, more recently when fifth of 14 in Wetherby maiden (2m3f, soft) in February; worth keeping an eye on with the future in mind but seems an unlikely winner today.

66/1

5th

7

1st Feb 2025

Soft

2m 3f 154y

Class 4

13:33 Wetherby

Jacques Clouseau

11st 4lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Mel Rowley

Bought for £72,000 after winning a British maiden point (2m4f, good to soft); on the retreat when taking a heavy late fall at Warwick when 28-1 for a 2m5f maiden (good to soft); tongue-tie now added; perhaps best watched.

16/1

Non-runners

Groovy Blue, Pleasington

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £8.50
Straight Forecast £8.50
Trifecta £25.50

Selections

The Times:

Toad Hall

SPOTLIGHT:

Jax Junior

POSTDATA:

Dr Eggman

WEST COUNTRY:

The Long Walk

LAMBOURN:

Block Rockin Beats

Daily Mail:

Pleasington

RP RATINGS:

Jax Junior

TOPSPEED:

Jax Junior

Telegraph:

Toad Hall

The Guardian:

Toad Hall

D Express:

Toad Hall

The Sun:

Toad Hall

The Star:

Toad Hall

Daily Mirror:

Dr Eggman

Daily Record:

Dr Eggman