15.43
Good To SoftDragonbet Persian War Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) (GBB Race)
- Prize money: £45560
- 2m 3f 100y
- Class 1
- 8 runners
Runners: 8 runners
Type: Hurdle Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Mostly cloudy
5/1
Form: -82121 D
Last run: 73 days
W: 11st 5lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: 135
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 14 |
13th Mar 2026 Good 2m 0f 179y Class 1 |
10st 10lb |
Good start for Olly Murphy when showing a smart turn of foot to win Grade 2 Persian War (novice) at Chepstow (2m3f, good; hooded) in October; hasn't reproduced that in his two subsequent starts, latest when well beaten behind Wilful on Ascot handicap debut, but given a break (had wind surgery) and returns with a tongue-tie added. |
33/1 |
|
1 |
10th Oct 2025 Good To Soft 2m 3f 100y Class 1 |
11st 5lb |
Never that dangerous in three Irish bumpers but has improved for hurdles, doubling his tally in a 2m Listed race on good ground at Galway's feature summer fixture; posted an eyecatching RPR and has since joined Olly Murphy who fits a hood; respected. |
5/1 |
|
4 |
29th Jul 2025 Good 2m 0f 110y |
11st 6lb |
Stepped up in trip to win 2m4f Listowel maiden in May (good) and better form week later in 2m1f Punchestown novice when staying-on second to Timeless Treaty, having been slowly away; probably wants a stiffer test so a strong pace would suit. |
12/1 |
10/1
Form: 3331- D
Last run: 173 days
W: 11st 3lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: 130
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 2 |
20th Jul 2026 Good To Firm 2m 1f 61y Class 3 |
11st 1lb |
Signed off for Twiston-Davies stable with creditable second behind a next-time-out winner over hurdles in May, having made the running in first-time cheekpieces; last throughout on stable debut without headgear in four-runner Newton Abbot chase this month but the cheekpieces are back on here and it will be interesting to see whether connections revert to more positive tactics. |
11/4 |
|
4th 2 |
3rd Jul 2026 Good 2m 0f 75y Class 3 |
11st 12lb |
Recently sold out of the Twiston-Davies yard for £27,000 and has since had a wind operation; failed to fire in two previous chases but ran well in his final race over hurdles, beating all bar a talented and revitalised winner; he's of obvious interest. |
7/4 |
|
2nd 2 |
16th May 2026 Good 2m 0f 145y Class 4 |
11st 13lb |
Made winning handicap debut in Ireland in April 2025 but had disappointing campaign for new stable last season; drops back in trip and sports first-time cheekpieces here; needs to turn a corner. |
12/1 |
13/2
Form: 3114-1 D
Last run: 31 days
W: 11st 0lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 123
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 3 |
24th Apr 2026 Good 2m 4f 35y Class 3 |
11st 12lb |
Didn't feature in the Imperial Cup (Go Dante two places ahead of him) but back on track with his sights lowered when shading a tight finish in 2m Ludlow handicap (good) 25 days ago, taking his hurdles record to 4-12; has won over this trip; should remain very competitive off 6lb higher. |
9/2 |
|
1st 1 |
30th Mar 2026 Good 1m 7f 169y Class 4 |
12st 2lb |
Three-time novice winner on good to soft who has performed admirably in Graded and handicap company; didn't run much of a race in the Imperial Cup but he was single-figure odds and this wouldn't be as demanding as that Sandown race; tongue-tie removed; respected. |
7/2 |
|
9th 13 |
7th Mar 2026 Soft 1m 7f 216y Class 2 |
10st 13lb |
Three novice hurdle wins last year (2m-2m4f, good to soft) and second of 15 at Cheltenham (2m, soft) in November when back in a handicap; also runner-up at Taunton last month (2m, heavy; would have been closer granted a clear run) when back from a three-month break (and wind op); each-way player. |
14/1 |
8/1
Form: 43-141 D
Last run: 13 days
W: 11st 0lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: 132
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4 |
6th Jun 2026 Good To Yielding 3m 0f 157y |
11st 12lb |
2-2 in French bumpers; 2-10 and rated 130 over hurdles; fine second in Grade 2 novice hurdle at Chepstow (19.5f, good) in October; tailed off in rated hurdle when last seen at Fairyhouse in November; that was too bad to be true and his dam won over fences so could improve for switch to chasing but stamina to prove for this trip. |
9/2 |
|
4th 3 |
4th Nov 2025 Soft 2m 4f 110y |
11st 5lb |
Grade 3 AQPS winner in France in 2023; took a while to deliver over hurdles last season; odds-on when opening his hurdles account in a 2m Tramore maiden at the sixth attempt; below-par at Roscommon in July before beating the useful Strong Link over this trip at Listowel; underlined improvement when second in last month's Persian War at Chepstow. |
2/1 |
|
4th 3 |
4th Nov 2025 Soft 2m 4f 110y |
11st 5lb |
Grade 3 AQPS winner in France in 2023; took a while to deliver over hurdles last season; odds-on when opening his hurdles account in a 2m Tramore maiden at the sixth attempt; below-par at Roscommon in July before beating the useful Strong Link over this trip at Listowel; underlined improvement when second in last month's Persian War at Chepstow. |
2/1 |
12/1
Form: 16-3
Last run: 162 days
W: 11st 0lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 6 |
15th Apr 2026 Good 3m 0f 58y Class 2 |
10st 11lb |
Smart in bumpers and getting there over hurdles after digging deep for a successful handicap debut under Jack Stenhouse at Newbury (2m4f, good to soft); 7lb rise seems harsh enough but he'll probably improve again for going 3m. |
5/2 |
|
1st 6 |
28th Feb 2026 Good To Soft 2m 4f 118y Class 3 |
11st 5lb |
Unraced on soft/heavy; handicap debutant who looks particularly well treated on his strong bumper form; has gradually found his feet since switched to hurdles and latest effort, namely solid second over 2m3f at Taunton, has received a couple of boosts; interesting contender. |
15/8 |
|
2nd 9 |
17th Jan 2026 Good To Soft 2m 3f 1y Class 4 |
11st 6lb |
Irish bumper winner on Boxing Day 2024; ran well in hot bumpers at Aintree and Punchestown festivals for new stable last spring but disappointed (albeit in a Grade 2) on hurdle debut in October and was just a respectable fourth at Exeter (2m, good to soft) last month; still has potential but needs to take a good step forward here. |
4/1 |
11/2
Form: 122- C BF
Last run: 230 days
W: 11st 0lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
8th 13 |
13th Mar 2026 Good 2m 7f 213y Class 1 |
11st 7lb |
Point/bumper winner with course form having finished fifth to No Drama This End in a Grade 2 in November (behind King's Bucks); had wind surgery before he beat a good horse at Warwick (2m5f, good to soft) and put another in its place at Windsor when proving his stamina for 3m (soft); won't be fazed by the nature of this race and needs a second look. |
11/1 |
|
1st 1 |
16th Jan 2026 Soft 3m 0f 0y Class 2 |
11st 5lb |
Point (3m) and bumper winner who showed promise in Grade 2s on first two hurdle starts (including on soft ground) before winning a maiden by 7l at Warwick (2m5f, good to soft) last month; there's stamina in his useful pedigree and he's a leading contender for his top yard. |
9/4 |
|
6 |
10th Oct 2025 Good To Soft 2m 3f 100y Class 1 |
11st 0lb |
Won the bumper at this meeting 12 months ago and went on to finish second at Ascot (beaten 14l in a Listed) and Kempton (again good to soft) where he narrowly missed out to one who could turn out very good; interesting that his top trainer aims this high on hurdling debut. |
11/2 |
13/8
Form: /211-5 C
Last run: 161 days
W: 11st 0lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 131
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 7 |
18th Jul 2026 Good 2m 5f 89y Class 1 |
10st 12lb |
1-7 over fences; gifted a walkover before finishing second in a four-runner handicap at Uttoxeter where he failed to fire when favourite for their Summer Cup 20 days ago; he's better than that and further progress is possible with cheekpieces added. |
6/1 |
|
8th 8 |
28th Jun 2026 Good 3m 0f 10y Class 2 |
10st 9lb |
Novice chaser whose form this term comprises a walkover at Hereford and close second at Uttoxeter (2m4f, good); bred to be suited by a test of stamina and he is still unexposed over 3m; interesting back up in distance, with progress still plausible. |
13/2 |
|
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 |
25/1
Form: -41111 D
Last run: 83 days
W: 10st 7lb
6 yo Mare
OR: 121
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 1 (3) |
4th Jul 2026 Good 2m 1f 47y Class 5 |
10st 9lb |
Four-time hurdle scorer and has collected three Flat wins this spring (1m6f-2m1f); turned over at very short odds at Yarmouth (1m6f, good to firm) 16 days ago but the emphasis in that three-runner race was more on speed than ideal for a mare who has won over just short of 3m over timber; can show she's still on a good mark back at 2m+. |
11/10 |
|
2nd 1 (2) |
18th Jun 2026 Good To Firm 1m 6f 17y Class 5 |
9st 13lb |
Unexposed on the Flat and she made it 3-3 in turf handicaps with an easy Pontefract (2m1f, good) win ten days ago; a slow start there meant she couldn't dominate as she had at Salisbury and Catterick beforehand; 4lb well in under a penalty; obvious chance. |
1/3 |
Selections
Daily Record:
SticktotheplanLAMBOURN:
Queensbury BoyThe Times:
Queensbury BoyThe Guardian:
Queensbury Boy