May 07 / 14.55 Kelso

14.55

Good

Strawmax Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4901.4
  • 2m 4f 189y
  • Class 4
  • 6 runners
RTV
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Strawmax Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

4/1 (Won)

  • Win: £3.00
  • Place: £1.40

Form: 867P-

Last run: 47 days

W: 11st 1lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Placed in an Irish point in November but has form figures of 867P under rules and that pulled-up effort was on his stable debut at Musselburgh (2m1f, good to soft) in March; still early days over hurdles and now goes up in trip but others are more convincing.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

8

25th Apr 2026

Good

2m 3f 178y

Class 2

17:15 Sandown

Lucky Manifest

10st 7lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Tom Lacey

Started off for new stable in excellent form in the autumn, winning at Kelso (2m6f, good) before big-field second at Cheltenham (2m5f, soft), but his progress has stalled a bit since; needs combination of last month's wind op and first-time tongue-tie to have positive effect.

20/1

10th

11

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 51y

Class 2

14:55 Kelso

Lucky Manifest

11st 0lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Tom Lacey

Made it 2-2 here on stable debut in October (2m6f, good) and close second of 18 at Cheltenham (2m5f, soft) next time; hasn't run badly on either starts since and this lightly raced 6yo could benefit from the return to Kelso, but a career-best is needed and the drop to 2m isn't an obvious plus.

20/1

3rd

3

26th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 4f 116y

Class 3

14:50 Plumpton

Lucky Manifest

11st 10lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Tom Lacey

Dual hurdle winner at Kelso, most recently in October (2m6.5f, good) on yard debut; followed that with a 1l defeat at Cheltenham (soft) in November before finishing a perfectly acceptable eighth of ten in a Class 2 there last month (3m); now back in trip but should give another good account.

2/1

5/4

  • Place: £1.30

Form: 50/34-

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 1lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Half-brother to 3m2f chase winner Belle Jour; struggled in two bumpers but he's shown promise with his two frame efforts over hurdles at Hexham (2m, good to soft/good) this spring; has leading claims on his latest form and he's open to more progress on this step up in trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

14th Jun 2025

Good

2m 0f 48y

Class 5

16:20 Hexham

Just Oot

11st 12lb

J: Conor Rabbitt

T: Susan Corbett

Lightly raced hurdler comes here on the back of a good second of six in 2m5f Kelso novice 38 days ago; very much one to consider now going handicapping reverted in trip.

9/2

2nd

3

7th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 4

14:55 Kelso

Just Oot

11st 1lb

J: Henry Brooke

T: Susan Corbett

Half-brother to 3m2f chase winner Belle Jour; struggled in two bumpers but he's shown promise with his two frame efforts over hurdles at Hexham (2m, good to soft/good) this spring; has leading claims on his latest form and he's open to more progress on this step up in trip.

5/4

2nd

3

7th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 4

14:55 Kelso

Just Oot

11st 1lb

J: Henry Brooke

T: Susan Corbett

Half-brother to 3m2f chase winner Belle Jour; struggled in two bumpers but he's shown promise with his two frame efforts over hurdles at Hexham (2m, good to soft/good) this spring; has leading claims on his latest form and he's open to more progress on this step up in trip.

5/4

Form: 32163- D

Last run: 45 days

W: 11st 1lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 96

Form & Verdict
Won handicap chase at Worcester (2m4f, good) on final run for Martin Keighley; held back over hurdles in two runs for current yard but his latest third at Carlisle (2m1f) was after a break and that was behind a 1-4 shot; should benefit from that run and he's not ruled out back up in trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

6

18th Jul 2026

Good

2m 1f 61y

Class 5

16:57 Cartmel

Blazing Court

10st 11lb

J: Mr John Dixon

T: John Dixon

Won off 16lb higher at Worcester (2m4f, good) in August 2024 but he's lost his way and has failed to complete in his last three runs; has lots to prove and he needs a major revival on this big drop back in trip.

33/1

6

28th Jun 2026

Good

3m 1f 107y

Class 5

16:55 Cartmel

Blazing Court

10st 11lb

J: Mr John Dixon

T: John Dixon

Won a Worcester handicap chase for Martin Keighley in August 2024 (2m4f, good) but has a bit to prove having been out of form on most starts for this yard (unseated rider last twice).

33/1

Form: P87-

Last run: 15 days

W: 10st 7lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
Showed very little on the Flat for Anthony Carson and has struggled in three hurdle runs for Maurice Barnes.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

14th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 190y

Class 4

13:40 Newcastle

Delayed Charm

11st 5lb

J: Nathan Moscrop

T: Maurice Barnes

Modest performer on the Flat; has run one promising race over hurdles, but will find better opportunities in handicaps.

66/1

10th

2

3rd Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 1f 0y

Class 4

13:30 Carlisle

Delayed Charm

11st 5lb

J: Ross Chapman

T: Maurice Barnes

Modest performer on the Flat; has run one promising race over hurdles, but will find better opportunities in handicaps.

66/1

6

25th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 178y

Class 5

14:40 Sedgefield

Delayed Charm

10st 9lb

J: Ross Chapman

T: Maurice Barnes

Handicap debutant who is far from solid on form and may be a quirky sort, having decided to run out approaching the final flight in Carlisle event when last seen (detached at the time).

33/1

Form: 678-

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 1lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

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

OUR TIP

Form: 89416- D

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Unplaced in bumpers but off the mark immediately over hurdles at Market Rasen (2m4f, good; 20-1) in March, making all under Brian Hughes; that was an emphatic success but he flopped under a penalty at Carlisle last month and needs to bounce back after that heavy defeat.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

21st Jul 2025

Good

2m 1f 61y

Class 3

15:45 Cartmel

Hes A Diamond

10st 5lb

J: Harry Reed

T: L J Morgan

Won modest maiden hurdle in March but struggled on recent stable/chase debut at Uttoxeter (race contested by Anyharminasking and Willie Shake Hands) and is effectively 1lb higher from further out of the weights here; swaps hood for first-time cheekpieces.

40/1

4

14th Jun 2025

Good

1m 7f 214y

Class 3

19:40 Uttoxeter

Hes A Diamond

10st 5lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: L J Morgan

Made all to cause 20-1 surprise in modest maiden hurdle at Market Rasen (2m4f, good) for Micky Hammond in March but was sold for £5,000 after two subsequent heavy defeats (2m3f/2m5f) and is 3lb out of the weights for this stable/chase/handicap debut; drops back in trip and is fitted with first-time hood/tongue-tie; too risky.

16/1

6th

1

7th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 4

14:55 Kelso

Hes A Diamond

11st 8lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Micky Hammond

Unplaced in bumpers but off the mark immediately over hurdles at Market Rasen (2m4f, good; 20-1) in March, making all under Brian Hughes; that was an emphatic success but he flopped under a penalty at Carlisle last month and needs to bounce back after that heavy defeat.

4/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £5.20
Straight Forecast £5.49
Trifecta £10.50

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Just Oot

POSTDATA:

He's A Diamond

Daily Mirror:

Blazing Court

The Sun:

He's A Diamond

RP RATINGS:

Just Oot

The Times:

Just Oot

Telegraph:

Just Oot

The Guardian:

Just Oot

Daily Mail:

Just Oot

D Express:

Just Oot

The Star:

Just Oot

Daily Record:

Blazing Court