October 17 / 15.15 Fakenham

15.15

Good

Axe The Racing Tax Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £3539.9
  • 2m 0f 3y
  • Class 4
  • 6 runners
RTV
View Course
Axe The Racing Tax Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

5/1 (Won)

  • Win: £4.00
  • Place: £1.60

Form: 15 D

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
All-the-way Market Rasen hurdling debut winner in August, and 2l ahead of Currumbin when fifth at Warwick latest (2m, good); that form sets the standard here, and the second and fourth each won (over fences) next time; obvious player if settling better; gains tongue-tie.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

15th Aug 2026

Good

2m 0f 47y

Class 2

16:05 Perth

Squeezebox

11st 4lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Tom Lacey

Fair Flat racer who won three of his first four hurdling starts and was creditable third in Summer Hurdle at Market Rasen (2m, good) on latest outing four weeks ago; not yet fully exposed over jumps; must be considered.

11/2

3rd

10

18th Jul 2026

Good

2m 0f 125y

Class 2

14:10 Market Rasen

Squeezebox

11st 0lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Tom Lacey

1m4f winner who has gone 3-4 over hurdles for Tom Lacey and easily won on handicap debut last time at Southwell (good; second run in this headgear combination), albeit against only four rivals; up 8lb but has momentum behind him.

7/1

1st

1

2nd Jun 2026

Good

1m 7f 182y

Class 4

17:00 Southwell

Squeezebox

11st 7lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Tom Lacey

A fair 1m4f Flat scorer who has made a bright start over hurdles, going 2-3 in 2m Fakenham novice when last seen out in October; goes handicapping after an absence now and can't be ruled out.

7/4

OUR TIP

9/1

  • Place: £2.60

Form: 4212-8

Last run: 12 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Drier ground maybe as much the issue as a refusal to settle when beaten at 8-11 on April's C&D hurdles debut, and things weren't any more in his favour in that regard last week; one for handicaps in the mud after this.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

14th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

16:45 Uttoxeter

Kelijoe

11st 5lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Stuart Edmunds

Doesn't always settle but his recent hurdles form features a comfortable win at Doncaster (2m3f, good to soft); ran creditably at Catterick last time; possibilities, provided he takes well to fences.

7/2

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Mostly hard to keep out of the frame in 1m2f-1m4f Class 5-6 Flat handicaps this past year, and only headed close home at Kempton latest; no jumping prowess in immediate pedigree, but won't mind the ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

7

(6)

30th Aug 2026

Good

1m 2f 23y

Class 5

15:25 Yarmouth

Solanna

9st 5lb

J: Daniel Muscutt

T: John Butler

Scored off 2lb lower at Ffos Las (1m2f, good) in June and has claims if judged on that performance but ought to have been suited by return to Polytrack when unplaced favourite at Kempton (1m4f) 18 days ago, and the forecast rain may not aid his cause here.

5/1

6th

1

(9)

12th Aug 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 3f 219y

Class 5

21:00 Kempton (AW)

Solanna

10st 2lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: John Butler

Five-time course winner (1m-1m3f) who gained his third success on turf when winning under Billy Loughnane at Ffos Las (1m2f, good) in June; can't be dismissed back on the AW off this 2lb higher mark.

9/4

1st

2

(7)

23rd Jun 2026

Soft

1m 2f 0y

Class 5

17:10 Ffos Las

Solanna

9st 7lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: John Butler

7-32 on the AW and 2-19 on turf, but he has performed well on grass in his last two starts, latterly over 1m2f at Yarmouth where he didn't get the clearest of runs; respected.

11/4

15/8

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Not at his best either side of a Goodwood nose second (1m6f, good) since joining James Owen, though heavy ground and/or Class 2 company have offered excuses sometimes; not huge encouragement for hurdling on the damside pedigree, but starts at a most realistic level.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

(4)

22nd Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 6f 0y

Class 3

16:29 Newmarket (July)

Sixpack

9st 8lb

J: George Wood

T: James Owen

Three wins this season (1m4f-1m6f); bounced back from poor AW run when close second to Arqoob here (1m4f, good to firm) three weeks ago and might still have a bigger performance in him over this longer trip; respected.

7/2

2nd

3

(3)

1st Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 4f 0y

Class 3

15:58 Newmarket (July)

Sixpack

9st 9lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: James Owen

Has done well over 1m4f-1m6f on turf this term, winning three times from six starts; latest win came easily at this track (1m6f, good to firm) in June and he's 7lb higher today; tailing off so badly at Southwell four weeks ago may be offputting but he came last in 2025 in his only other AW race, so perhaps can spring back to life with today's return to turf.

6/1

4th

1

(2)

5th Jul 2026

Standard

2m 0f 102y

Class 3

17:55 Southwell (AW)

Sixpack

9st 9lb

J: Oisin Orr

T: James Owen

Has done well over 1m4f-1m6f on turf this term, winning three times from five starts; scored easily at Newmarket latest; better than ever and may improve further in his current form; respected assuming he's as effective back at 2m and returned to AW.

7/4

Form: 16 D

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 8lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
2l and a place behind Squeezebox at Warwick latest, though that sixth still represented stronger form than that of June's Worcester hurdling debut win (2m, good); liable to remain vulnerable under his penalty on that evidence, but this doesn't look as deep a contest as last time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

(5)

27th Aug 2026

Standard

1m 6f 21y

Class 6

21:00 Southwell (AW)

Currumbin

9st 13lb

J: Clifford Lee

T: Michael Keady

Back to form when second of eight in 1m handicap at Newmarket 13 days ago; this C&D winner take a big step back up in trip now and must enter calculations off a reduced mark.

7/2

2nd

7

(4)

14th Aug 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

18:27 Newmarket (July)

Currumbin

8st 11lb

J: Harry Davies

T: Michael Keady

His two Flat wins have been over 1m6f and 2m on AW; won over hurdles at Worcester last summer but he's been generally disappointing since, including in three Flat runs this season; continues to drop down the weights but he was sixth of seven over C&D last time and others are preferred.

20/1

6th

5

(6)

31st Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 0f 0y

Class 5

20:32 Newmarket (July)

Currumbin

9st 7lb

J: Kyle McHugh

T: Michael Keady

His two Flat wins have been over 1m6f and 2m on AW; won over hurdles at Worcester last summer but he's been generally disappointing since, including in two Flat runs (1m2f/11.4f) this season; has plenty to prove and his tactical speed will be tested back at this trip.

25/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Turf winner over a testing 1m2f in 2023, but more commonly seen over 6f-7f these days; remains to be seen whether he'll make a jumper, for all that he's a sibling of dual Perth Gold Cup scorer Statuario.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

8

(8)

11th Feb 2026

Standard To Slow

0m 7f 0y

Class 6

20:10 Kempton (AW)

Portoro

9st 5lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Martin Dunne

C&D winner; in good order this winter, including when midfield over C&D last week (met trouble on a few occasions); Rossa Ryan retains the ride and he should be in the thick of it once again.

7/2

5th

2

(9)

4th Feb 2026

Standard To Slow

0m 7f 0y

Class 6

14:35 Kempton (AW)

Portoro

9st 8lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Martin Dunne

Generally consistent; close second, finishing strongly from difficult position, in amateur riders' event at Kempton (6f) last week; respected off same mark back up in distance.

3/1

2nd

2

(7)

28th Jan 2026

Standard To Slow

0m 6f 0y

Class 6

17:30 Kempton (AW)

Portoro

11st 1lb

J: Miss Leah Banham

T: Martin Dunne

Generally consistent, including over 6f (raced mainly at further); has made the frame at Southwell in three starts since returned to AW; won his last Kempton attempt (in late 2024); solid.

7/2

Non-runners

Zafaan

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £16.40
Straight Forecast £23.39
Trifecta £81.40

Selections

NEWMARKET:

Sixpack

RP RATINGS:

Zafaan

SPOTLIGHT:

Squeezebox

Daily Mirror:

Currumbin

Telegraph:

Solanna

The Times:

Sixpack

Daily Mail:

Sixpack

D Express:

Sixpack

The Star:

Sixpack

Daily Record:

Sixpack

TOPSPEED:

Zafaan

The Guardian:

Zafaan

The Sun:

Zafaan

POSTDATA:

Squeezebox