August 18 / 14.57 Stratford

14.57

Good To Firm

Racing TV Club Day Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4356.8
  • 2m 6f 7y
  • Class 4
  • 4 runners
RTV
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Racing TV Club Day Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 4 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

Form: 72-213 BF

Last run: 50 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

25th Feb 2024

Heavy

2m 0f 53y

Class 4

14:40 Hereford

Don Virginia

11st 0lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo O’Neill

£32,000 2yo; dam French 2m1f hurdle winner, half-sister to several winners notably Viking Blond (useful 2m7f-3m hurdle/chase); major yard; interesting newcomer.

8/1

Form: U73-14 D

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Useful on the Flat in his prime but has modest 2-41 strike-rate under all codes, and last month's small-field hurdle win came in an uncompetitive race (main market rival disappointed); will find this easier than his latest assignment, though, and has the ability to feature.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

3rd Jun 2026

Good

3m 1f 170y

Class 5

15:30 Newton Abbot

Isle Of Sark

11st 9lb

J: Alice Stevens

T: Micky Hammond

Flat/hurdles winner; ran encouragingly on his return to chasing but has failed to back up that effort in two starts since, taking record in this sphere to 0-8; admittedly well treated on best form.

10/1

5th

1

23rd May 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 107y

Class 5

16:30 Cartmel

Isle Of Sark

12st 0lb

J: Alice Stevens

T: Micky Hammond

Posted best effort for these connections when third at Sedgefield in April (2m5f, good), before appearing to find it harder work last time; mixed record over stayers' trips, and would appreciate the ground drying out.

10/1

5th

2

8th May 2026

Good

2m 5f 89y

Class 5

15:15 Market Rasen

Isle Of Sark

11st 12lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Micky Hammond

Both hurdles wins (one at today's trip) came on sound surfaces last year, and April's staying-on Sedgefield chase third (2m5f, good) is his best effort to date for current connections; coming to the boil again.

4/1

OUR TIP

Form: 122

Last run: 47 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Dual Flat winner who scored on hurdling debut at Huntingdon (2m4f, good) in May and came second on both subsequent hurdling starts (2m5f/2m; form well advertised by the two winners since); not at best when back on the Flat last month but a major player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

26th Sep 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 2

14:42 Worcester

Knights Affair

11st 2lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

Fair Flat racer who battled well to pip Don Virginia in small field at Stratford (2m6f, good to firm) last month and is now 2-4 over hurdles; ought to run his race again but others have more compelling form.

12/1

3

18th Aug 2025

Good To Firm

2m 6f 7y

Class 4

14:57 Stratford

Knights Affair

11st 7lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

Dual Flat winner who scored on hurdling debut at Huntingdon (2m4f, good) in May and came second on both subsequent hurdling starts (2m5f/2m; form well advertised by the two winners since); not at best when back on the Flat last month but a major player.

6/4

6

(5)

18th Jul 2025

Good

1m 6f 0y

Class 4

16:25 Haydock

Knights Affair

9st 3lb

J: Callum Rodriguez

T: Jamie Snowden

Won two handicaps (1m6f/2m) on the Flat last season and he's done well switched to hurdling for new yard since May including a win at Huntingdon (2m4f, good); still has potential as a stayer on the Flat and he's in the mix back in this sphere.

11/2

Form: 38

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Out of a half-sister to high-class Irish jumper Sharjah; made quite promising debut when third of five in good-ground Market Rasen bumper in June but suffered a heavy defeat last month (stopped quickly) and is probably best watched on this hurdling debut; hooded for first time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

18th Aug 2025

Good To Firm

2m 6f 7y

Class 4

14:57 Stratford

Dontcontradictme

11st 0lb

J: James Bowen

T: Mickey Bowen

Out of a half-sister to high-class Irish jumper Sharjah; made quite promising debut when third of five in good-ground Market Rasen bumper in June but suffered a heavy defeat last month (stopped quickly) and is probably best watched on this hurdling debut; hooded for first time.

12/1

8th

1

24th Jul 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

14:20 Worcester

Dontcontradictme

11st 2lb

J: Shane Fenelon

T: Mickey Bowen

First foal; dam unplaced on the Flat but half-sister to high-class Irish jumper Sharjah and smart French Flat-racer Sahawar; kept on for very respectable third behind two previous winners at Market Rasen (good) last month; might be the answer.

7/2

3rd

2

20th Jun 2025

Good

2m 0f 125y

Class 5

17:45 Market Rasen

Dontcontradictme

11st 2lb

J: Shane Fenelon

T: Mickey Bowen

First foal; dam unplaced on the Flat but half-sister to high-class Irish jumper Sharjah and smart French Flat-racer Sahawar; market reference recommended.

6/1

Non-runners

Bettys Tiara

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £2.90
Straight Forecast £3.66
Trifecta £4.40

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Knights Affair

POSTDATA:

Don Virginia

The Guardian:

Betty's Tiara

Telegraph:

Don Virginia

Daily Mirror:

Don Virginia

The Sun:

Don Virginia

The Star:

Don Virginia

TOPSPEED:

Knights Affair

LAMBOURN:

Knights Affair

The Times:

Knights Affair

Daily Mail:

Knights Affair

D Express:

Knights Affair

Daily Record:

Knights Affair