October 10 / 13.57 Chepstow

13.57

Good To Soft

Wasdell Group Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race) (Div II)

  • Prize money: £4901.4
  • 2m 0f 11y
  • Class 4
  • 15 runners
SKY
View Course
Wasdell Group Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race) (Div II)

Runners: 15 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

OUR TIP

Form: 8/

Last run: 710 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Beaten about a distance in a bumper here two years ago (good to soft) and his second run has been a long time coming.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

17

22nd Jan 2026

Soft

2m 4f 145y

Class 4

14:40 Huntingdon

Albie Littlewood

11st 1lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Half-brother to the stable's Grade 1 winner Roksana; won only narrowly on his handicap debut over slightly shorter here (good to soft) but was strong in the market and strong in the finish after travelling well; no doubt has more to give but has been withdrawn from races on account of soft ground on two occasions, which is a nagging concern.

5/2

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Fourth foal; half-brother to winners Kateson (useful bumper and 2m3f-2m4f hurdle) and Fair Kate (2m hurdle); dam bumper and useful 2m3f-3m2f hurdle/chase winner, half-sister to bumper and 2m3f-2m7f hurdle/chase winner Another Kate; bred to have a future but likely best watched on first start.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

10th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 11y

Class 4

13:57 Chepstow

Big Jim Silver

11st 0lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Matt Sheppard

Fourth foal; half-brother to winners Kateson (useful bumper and 2m3f-2m4f hurdle) and Fair Kate (2m hurdle); dam bumper and useful 2m3f-3m2f hurdle/chase winner, half-sister to bumper and 2m3f-2m7f hurdle/chase winner Another Kate; bred to have a future but likely best watched on first start.

33/1

Form: 134-

Last run: 225 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Twice came up short under penalties after winning a Carlisle bumper last October (soft) but showed more than enough to believe he'll do well over hurdles.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 58y

Class 2

14:46 Haydock

Blue Carpet

11st 1lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Made a solid start to hurdling career on good ground; second on handicap debut at Newbury in November and went one better next time in taking fashion at Wetherby (again about 3m on soft) in February; raised 7lb but it's easy to think he has significantly more to give.

11/4

1st

7

26th Feb 2026

Soft

3m 0f 26y

Class 3

16:10 Wetherby

Blue Carpet

11st 10lb

J: Tristan Durrell

T: Dan Skelton

Bumper winner who landed a maiden here (2m3f, good) in October on second hurdle start before good second on handicap debut at Newbury (3m, soft) in November; there can be optimism he'll continue to progress for his top trainer and he's high on the list.

7/2

1st

1

31st Oct 2025

Good

2m 3f 154y

Class 3

13:17 Wetherby

Blue Carpet

11st 4lb

J: Tristan Durrell

T: Dan Skelton

Ran well under penalties after winning his first bumper and has the benefit of hurdling experience after chasing home a well-touted horse (promising) at Chepstow (2m, good); faces nothing of that one's calibre here and very hard to oppose.

2/5

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Won a small-field Irish point 12 months ago (3m, good) and two of those he beat are now exposed as limited under rules.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

4th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

16:25 Warwick

Diligent Militia

11st 11lb

J: David Noonan

T: Tim Vaughan

Point winner; didn't hang about over hurdles and was running well when clouting two out on handicap/chase debut at Chepstow, where he was made favourite in this new headgear combination; has to be of interest.

6/1

4th

2

2nd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 16y

Class 4

15:00 Chepstow

Diligent Militia

11st 6lb

J: James Bowen

T: Tim Vaughan

Won small-field Irish point on debut in October 2024 (good ground) and also showed promise in two of his three novice/maiden hurdle runs last autumn; makes chase/handicap debut after a four-month break but sports new tongue-tie/cheekpieces and remains unexposed; market helpful.

5/2

4

10th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 11y

Class 4

13:57 Chepstow

Diligent Militia

11st 0lb

J: James Davies

T: Tim Vaughan

Won a small-field Irish point 12 months ago (3m, good) and two of those he beat are now exposed as limited under rules.

20/1

Form: 2-

Last run: 181 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Cost 240,000euros as a 3yo and changed hands again for 125,000euros after finishing second in a 2m1f bumper at Bellewstown in April; posted a useful RPR that day so one to consider.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

8

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 16y

Class 3

14:15 Chepstow

Doctors Hill

11st 2lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Won a C&D novice (soft) in November and was a good second in a Newbury handicap (2m, good to soft) in January; looks interesting on that form but he's taken backward steps on his last two starts and is now 1-8 over hurdles.

6/1

6th

7

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 2f 183y

Class 3

13:50 Newbury

Doctors Hill

11st 5lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Has seen much more action than most of this field and took a novice at Chepstow (2m, soft) in November; second in handicap here (2m, good to soft) was the clear best of his last three outings (seemingly stretched by 2m4f the time before) and this looks a competitive mark, but his hurdling score is 1-7 and he may well prove vulnerable to an improver.

8/1

6th

5

21st Feb 2026

Soft

2m 0f 16y

Class 3

16:13 Chepstow

Doctors Hill

11st 3lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Won soft-ground C&D novice event in November and returns here after good second in Newbury handicap (2m, good to soft) last month; likely to be right in the thick of things again.

4/1

Form: 4-

Last run: 176 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Took five goes to win an Irish point; reportedly hung up the straight when partnered by a 10lb claimer on rules debut at Ffos Las, where he was beaten 9l in a maiden hurdle; Tom Bellamy takes over here and can no doubt do better.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

7

27th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 3f 100y

Class 3

14:02 Chepstow

High Tea

11st 10lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls

Beat a dual subsequent winner when scoring by 4l over C&D (soft) on handicap debut in November and held every chance before penultimate-flight fall at Ludlow (2m5f, good to soft; race in which West To The Bridge finished second) last month; now 13b above his winning mark but must be considered.

7/2

2

30th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 70y

Class 3

14:17 Stratford

High Tea

11st 0lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls

Took five goes to win an Irish point; made an encouraging start over hurdles when fourth at Ffos Las (2m, good to soft) in April but he failed to build on that when a remote sixth at Chepstow last month; others preferred.

16/1

2

30th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 70y

Class 3

14:17 Stratford

High Tea

11st 0lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls

Took five goes to win an Irish point; made an encouraging start over hurdles when fourth at Ffos Las (2m, good to soft) in April but he failed to build on that when a remote sixth at Chepstow last month; others preferred.

16/1

Form: 0-

Last run: 176 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Comfortably held in a 3m Irish point and a 2m maiden hurdle at Ffos Las (good to soft); taken on.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

10

20th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

15:35 Warwick

Kenzoko

11st 7lb

J: Robert Dunne

T: Olly Murphy

Bumped into progressive winner when second on handicap debut at Uttoxeter (2m, good to soft) on New Year's Eve then went one better there (2m, soft) last month; could settle better now in a hood and he's in good hands to keep on improving; firmly in calculations.

9/2

1st

3

24th Jan 2026

Soft

1m 7f 168y

Class 5

12:47 Uttoxeter

Kenzoko

11st 9lb

J: Lewis Saunders

T: Olly Murphy

Low-mileage 6yo who bumped into a big improver when clear second over C&D (good to soft) on last month's handicap debut; gets another chance off the same mark today and his penultimate run suggests he'll cope pretty well with the slower ground; respected.

6/4

4

30th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 70y

Class 3

13:47 Stratford

Kenzoko

11st 0lb

J: Robert Dunne

T: Olly Murphy

Comfortably held in a 3m Irish point and a 2m maiden hurdle at Ffos Las (good to soft); looks to be stable's second string.

25/1

Form: 5-

Last run: 267 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
90,000euros 2yo; probably needed the experience when fifth in a Wincanton bumper (good to soft) in January and didn't appear to be unfancied at 100-30; now hooded; stable won a division of this 12 months ago.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

10th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 11y

Class 4

13:57 Chepstow

Kop Land

11st 0lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Sam Thomas

90,000euros 2yo; probably needed the experience when fifth in a Wincanton bumper (good to soft) in January and didn't appear to be unfancied at 100-30; now hooded; stable won a division of this 12 months ago.

6/1

5th

4

16th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

1m 7f 50y

Class 5

16:15 Wincanton

Kop Land

11st 8lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Sam Thomas

prominent

11/4

5th

4

16th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

1m 7f 50y

Class 5

16:15 Wincanton

Kop Land

11st 8lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Sam Thomas

prominent

11/4

Form: 063-0

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Couldn't take many positives after his three bumper runs and again on hurdling debut at Worcester, finishing tailed off.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

12

27th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 118y

Class 4

14:00 Newbury

Osterberg

11st 2lb

J: Harry Atkins

T: Martin Keighley

Displayed improvement to score on heavy ground at Ffos Las (2m6f) last month but raced too freely and was a disappointing favourite when well-held third at Lingfield (2m7f, heavy) three weeks ago; others appeal more.

14/1

3rd

1

5th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 0y

Class 5

15:55 Lingfield

Osterberg

12st 0lb

J: Freddie Keighley

T: Martin Keighley

Outpaced when 11l behind second-placed Getaway With You on handicap debut at Uttoxeter (2m4f, heavy) before devouring the near-2f longer distance at Ffos Las (heavy); sharper track than either of those isn't necessarily a plus, but this latest step up in trip is and a 6lb rise looks about right.

Evs

7

28th Oct 2025

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

13:28 Ffos Las

Osterberg

11st 4lb

J: James Best

T: Martin Keighley

Well beaten in two 2m hurdles this season; moves up in trip today; cannot be recommended.

100/1

Form: 5-

Last run: 246 days

W: 10st 13lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Ran green and was only midfield in a Huntingdon bumper earlier this year (good to soft; 16-1); best watched for now.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

28th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 70y

Class 4

14:00 Uttoxeter

Arcadian Star

11st 10lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Stuart Edmunds

Showed ability over an extended 2m4f in two Leicester novice hurdles, before pulled up over 3m on handicap debut at Wetherby one month ago; there's stamina in his pedigree and he had wind surgery soon after that latest start, but even his best form leaves him with a fair bit to find.

20/1

10

26th Feb 2026

Soft

3m 0f 26y

Class 3

16:10 Wetherby

Arcadian Star

10st 13lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Stuart Edmunds

He's shown ability at up to an extended 2m4f in novice hurdles; there's stamina in his pedigree and his trainer won this last year with a 5yo who was going up in trip on handicap debut; interesting.

13/2

10

10th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 11y

Class 4

13:57 Chepstow

Arcadian Star

10st 13lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Stuart Edmunds

Ran green and was only midfield in a Huntingdon bumper earlier this year (good to soft; 16-1); best watched for now.

25/1

Form: 68

Last run: 24 days

W: 10st 13lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Tailed off in a bumper and suffered the same fate when 200-1 for hurdling debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

10th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 11y

Class 4

13:57 Chepstow

Gigilou

10st 13lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Nigel Hawke

Tailed off in a bumper and suffered the same fate when 200-1 for hurdling debut.

100/1

8

16th Sep 2025

Good

2m 3f 207y

Class 4

14:40 Uttoxeter

Gigilou

11st 2lb

J: Lorcan Murtagh

T: Nigel Hawke

Tailed off in Newton Abbot bumper (good to soft) on debut in June; can only be watched on this hurdling debut.

100/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 10st 13lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Has ability as he wasn't far away in his first Irish point and was close up when falling three out in the second; one to note in the betting on hurdling debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

5

4th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 1y

Class 2

17:13 Fakenham

Grand Conqueror

11st 6lb

J: Bradley Harris

T: Neil Mulholland

Made rapid progress when switched to handicaps during the winter, winning twice (2m4f/2m1f), and returned from two-month break with creditable second at Plumpton (2m4f, good; first-time hood) last month; probably still has more improvement to come; good chance.

9/2

2nd

11

6th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 116y

Class 3

15:45 Plumpton

Grand Conqueror

11st 1lb

J: Bradley Harris

T: Neil Mulholland

Won on handicap debut over C&D (good to soft) in December and followed up at Fontwell (2m1f, good to soft) 11 days later, before clear second to well-handicapped winner at Kempton (2m5f, good to soft) in February; he's up 4lb for last time but the form reads very well and he could settle better in a first-time hood; lots to like.

9/2

2nd

5

2nd Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 0y

Class 4

15:42 Kempton

Grand Conqueror

11st 10lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Neil Mulholland

Kept a low profile in first three hurdle runs for new yard but there are some smart jumpers close up in his pedigree and he duly improved when quite a taking winner of his handicap debut at Plumpton (2m4f, good to soft); hardly turned a hair under a penalty at Fontwell after and although up a further 9lb he has scope for more off a still-modest mark.

100/30

Form:

Last run:

W: 10st 13lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Quickened up well to win his 3m Irish point on good to yielding ground at Stowlin; this course provides a very different test than that sharp track but he could be useful.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

5

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 1

13:55 Aintree

Masked Man

11st 7lb

J: J J Slevin

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

2-3 over hurdles, with those novice wins (2m/2m3f, good/good to soft) sandwiching a creditable Grade 2 second at Haydock (1m7f, good to soft) in November; this bright prospect is open to further improvement but others have more substance to their form; first run since December.

22/1

13

10th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 11y

Class 4

13:57 Chepstow

Masked Man

10st 13lb

J: J J Slevin

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Quickened up well to win his 3m Irish point on good to yielding ground at Stowlin; this course provides a very different test than that sharp track but he could be useful.

5/4

Form: 211- D

Last run: 302 days

W: 10st 13lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Ran in three juvenile hurdles, the first for a different yard; beat the same Skelton-trained horse for his two wins and he's now exposed as modest (beaten in a seller), as is the third last time who was 100-1; however, he did win comfortably at Taunton and brings potential into this higher grade.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 144y

Class 2

14:12 Haydock

Tashan

10st 6lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Emma Lavelle

Despite failing to settle he showed a good attitude to win a 4yo handicap at Exeter (2m, good to soft) in November; pulled up at Ascot in December but that was his first run on soft going and he bled from the nose; very lightly raced and could be suited by the big-field scenario; retains potential.

16/1

14

10th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 11y

Class 4

13:57 Chepstow

Tashan

10st 13lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Emma Lavelle

Ran in three juvenile hurdles, the first for a different yard; beat the same Skelton-trained horse for his two wins and he's now exposed as modest (beaten in a seller), as is the third last time who was 100-1; however, he did win comfortably at Taunton and brings potential into this higher grade.

100/30

1st

2

12th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 104y

Class 4

13:05 Taunton

Tashan

11st 7lb

J: Joe Anderson

T: Emma Lavelle

raced in second

13/8

Form: 5-4164 D

Last run: 9 days

W: 10st 13lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
This Worcester bumper winner has made a low-key start over hurdles and others are readily preferred.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

28th Aug 2026

Good

2m 3f 29y

Class 5

17:15 Fontwell

Uncle Remus

11st 10lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Henrietta C Knight

Placed on handicap debut at Uttoxeter (2m, good to soft) in October but has disappointed on all three starts this season, most recently when pulled up on stable debut at Newton Abbot (2m2f, good to firm) on Saturday; upped in trip again here; needs to get career back on track.

14/1

6

22nd Aug 2026

Good To Firm

2m 2f 110y

Class 5

15:40 Newton Abbot

Uncle Remus

11st 5lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Henrietta C Knight

Bumper winner in July 2025 but his efforts over hurdles have been underwhelming, including in three handicaps; needs to recapture his earlier promise for Robert Stephens but a change of scenery may help as he makes his debut for Henrietta Knight with Sean Bowen booked.

5/1

8th

7

1st Jul 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

15:55 Worcester

Uncle Remus

11st 7lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Robert Stephens

Fairly useful bumper scorer last July; yet to match that form in five runs over hurdles, going too freely after six months off when ninth of 12 in 2m Ffos Las handicap in May; should strip sharper here.

16/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £30.10
Straight Forecast £25.79
Trifecta £75.90

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Masked Man

POSTDATA:

Tashan

TOPSPEED:

High Tea

Daily Mail:

Kop Land

Telegraph:

Diligent Militia

WEST COUNTRY:

Masked Man

The Times:

Masked Man

Daily Mirror:

Masked Man

The Star:

Masked Man

Daily Record:

Masked Man

D Express:

Tashan

The Sun:

Tashan

The Guardian:

High Tea