18.05
YieldingAlanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle (Grade 1)
- Prize money: £60950.41
- 2m 4f 140y
- 8 runners
Runners: 8 runners
Type: Hurdle Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Partly cloudy
7/4 (Won)
- Win: £2.75
- Place: £1.02
Form: 113 D BF
Last run: 51 days
W: 11st 12lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 152
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 2 |
11th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 3m 1f 0y Class 1 |
11st 7lb |
Sole defeat over hurdles came at this meeting last year (third to The New Lion in the Turners) and lost his undefeated record over fences when just over 12l third to Kaid d'Authie in Grade 1 at the Dublin Racing Festival (extended 2m5f, soft); previous wins were impressive and he's a big player on form but that defeat and the addition of a tongue-tie are concerns. |
6/1 |
|
3rd 1 |
1st Feb 2026 Soft To Heavy 2m 5f 107y |
11st 10lb |
Won his sole point start; scored in three of his four hurdle starts last season, including twice in Grade 1 company, notably at this meeting last year; has made a perfect start to chasing, winning a beginners' easily at Navan before a comfortable Grade 1 success at Limerick over Christmas (Jimmy Du Seuil well beaten), both over similar trips to today; handles testing ground fine and is the one to beat. |
1/2 |
8/1
- Place: £2.00
Form: 7-11 D
Last run: 83 days
W: 11st 12lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 4 |
28th Feb 2026 Heavy 2m 0f 0y |
11st 1lb |
Has kept top company since last season's maiden hurdle win at Naas; chased home Final Demand in a 2m4f Grade 1 hurdle at the Punchestown festival; ran as well as could have been expected against Kopek Des Bordes on his chasing debut here; left to take a remote second behind talented mare Kargese after the fatal fall of James Gate at Leopardstown. |
7/2 |
|
2nd 5 |
2nd May 2025 Yielding 2m 4f 140y |
11st 12lb |
Improved with every run, landing an early season Wexford bumper before defying an absence in a Naas maiden hurdle in February; that form has worked out nicely but this is a major step up in grade. |
8/1 |
20/1
- Place: £2.80
Form: -21116 BF
Last run: 28 days
W: 11st 12lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 1 (12) |
27th May 2026 Standard To Slow 1m 2f 219y Class 3 |
9st 9lb |
Bagged a bumper and three hurdles, including Grade 2 Dovecote last February; acquitted himself well in two big spring festivals of late; should have a future on the Flat but will likely get a mark after this third start; no headgear. |
10/1 |
|
3rd 5 |
2nd May 2026 Yielding 2m 4f 118y |
11st 4lb |
Fruitful novice campaign included a Grade 2 win at Kempton (2m, gd-sft); best run this season a 2.75l second in an Ascot handicap (19.5f, soft) in cheekpieces which return now; not a bad effort when a keeping on 7l seventh in the County Hurdle (2m1f, soft); modest run on the Flat latest; not discounted back up in trip over timber. |
18/1 |
|
4th 2 (5) |
8th Apr 2026 Good 1m 2f 50y Class 3 |
10st 2lb |
Smart bumper/novice hurdle form; recorded an RPR of 141 when eighth in the County Hurdle four weeks ago; no match for Constitution Hill on his Flat debut but he should do better in this sphere at some point, probably when handicapping. |
12/1 |
8/1
Form: 2-193
Last run: 27 days
W: 11st 12lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: 141
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 2 |
1st May 2026 Yielding 2m 4f 55y |
11st 11lb |
The fact Townend picks him from the stable's eight runners is a very big positive; maiden hurdle winner placed in Grade 1 novice company at Aintree last term (2m4f, good); beaten favourite in opening two chase runs before making the breakthrough at Cork (2m1f, yielding) last time, when defeating Wingmen by 0.75l; big player with further improvement plausible. |
11/2 |
|
1st 1 |
5th Apr 2026 Good To Yielding 2m 1f 45y |
11st 12lb |
Classy hurdler won a Clonmel 2m1f maiden before a close third in an Aintree Grade 1 novice over 2m4f last season; was an unlucky loser on second chase start at Gowran last time behind a stablemate; down in trip and a big player. |
Evs |
|
2nd 3 |
22nd Jan 2026 Heavy 2m 4f 0y |
11st 12lb |
One of three for stable; highly tried after an easy Clonmel maiden hurdle win and emerged with much credit when third in the Grade 1 Mersey Novices' Hurdle at Aintree; only third when odds-on at Naas on chasing debut; finished 2l behind longer-priced stablemate King Alexander; Paul Townend keeps faith. |
2/1 |
20/1
Form: 12-11 D
Last run: 42 days
W: 11st 12lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 1 |
16th May 2026 Good 2m 4f 0y Class 3 |
11st 10lb |
2-4 over hurdles but mixed form in five runs over fences, with his best effort a second of five at Windsor (3m, soft) in January; had wind surgery after disappointing run at Kelso (jumped right) in February and he had a walkover at Hereford on Tuesday; not easy to weigh up at present but both hurdle wins came over similar trips and he has claims if back near best. |
9/1 |
|
1st 1 |
12th May 2026 Good 3m 1f 44y Class 3 |
11st 10lb |
Well beaten at Kelso in February last time to make it 0-4 over fences but that was on heavy going and he's had a wind op since, while the return to a right-handed track is a likely plus; good second at Windsor (3m, soft) in January and he seems fine on good ground; solid claims if back on song. |
4/6 |
|
6th 1 |
13th Feb 2026 Soft 2m 5f 133y Class 3 |
11st 10lb |
Lightly raced 7yo who ran well when upped in trip at Windsor (3m, soft) last month, finishing second of five; there can be optimism he'll still be seen to good effect now back down in distance and he's one to consider. |
3/1 |
33/1
Form: 1583 C
Last run: 26 days
W: 11st 12lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
26th May 2025 Good 2m 2f 72y |
11st 8lb |
Useful Flat performer, six wins, including two Listed and the Copper Horse Handicap at Royal Ascot, rated 108 at his peak; maiden hurdle winner 12 months ago, best effort when third behind subsequent Grade 1 winner Irancy in a 2m Grade 2 novice hurdle at Fairyhouse at Easter; struggled over a longer tip in a Punchestown Grade 1. |
15/8 |
|
1 |
26th May 2025 Good 2m 2f 72y |
11st 8lb |
Useful Flat performer, six wins, including two Listed and the Copper Horse Handicap at Royal Ascot, rated 108 at his peak; maiden hurdle winner 12 months ago, best effort when third behind subsequent Grade 1 winner Irancy in a 2m Grade 2 novice hurdle at Fairyhouse at Easter; struggled over a longer tip in a Punchestown Grade 1. |
15/8 |
|
6th 1 |
2nd May 2025 Yielding 2m 4f 140y |
11st 12lb |
Useful Flat performer who got his act together over hurdles when third (beaten roughly 2l) in the Grade 2 novice hurdle at Fairyhouse last month, form that received a timely form boost on Tuesday with Grade 1 success for Irancy; quite possibly more to come at this trip (half-brother's best form at 2m4f) and not one to put a line through. |
33/1 |
50/1
Form: 223U15
Last run: 26 days
W: 11st 12lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: 132
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2 (24) |
29th Jun 2025 Good 2m 0f 0y |
9st 11lb |
Has kept good company over hurdles since his last Flat run almost a year ago; that was in the Group 2 Curragh Cup; this is more realistic but he has plenty of weight. |
16/1 |
|
7th 2 |
2nd May 2025 Yielding 2m 4f 140y |
11st 12lb |
Has outrun his odds in graded company on a couple of occasions including this meeting last year when 3l behind Kargese; however, well held in Grade 2 at Fairyhouse last month and this is even tougher. |
50/1 |
|
7th 2 |
2nd May 2025 Yielding 2m 4f 140y |
11st 12lb |
Has outrun his odds in graded company on a couple of occasions including this meeting last year when 3l behind Kargese; however, well held in Grade 2 at Fairyhouse last month and this is even tougher. |
50/1 |
11/8
Form: -11112 D
Last run: 51 days
W: 11st 12lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 155
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5th 1 |
6th Apr 2026 Yielding To Soft 2m 3f 180y |
11st 12lb |
High class novice last season who was second to The New Lion in the 2m5f Grade 1 at Cheltenham; later suffered a heavy fall at Punchestown; this campaign hasn't really got off the ground and departed too far out (three from home) in the 2m5f handicap at the Festival (Storm Heart third) to know how he would have fared, though was going well enough at the time; wouldn't be a surprise to see him get his career back on track. |
5/1 |
|
1 |
11th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 2m 5f 0y Class 1 |
12st 0lb |
Four-timer as a novice last season culminated in 2m4f Grade 1 at Naas, which he followed with second over 2m5f at this meeting (gave The New Lion plenty to think about); took a heavy fall at Punchestown in May, beaten at 8-15 in November (fair second) and failed to shine in Grade 1 at Christmas (notwithstanding the near 3m trip) so he's on a recovery mission, but last season can't be forgotten yet; cheekpieces go on for this handicap debut. |
8/1 |
Non-runners
Mr Percy
+o+e Accumulators
| Payout | |
|---|---|
| Exacta | €23.70 |
| Straight Forecast | €21.51 |
| Tricast | €208.65 |
| Trifecta | €172.00 |
Selections
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