October 24 / 16.10 Cheltenham

16.10

Good

Champions: Full Gallop Streaming On ITVX Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £10892
  • 2m 3f 200y
  • Class 2
  • 7 runners
RTV
View Course
Champions: Full Gallop Streaming On ITVX Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly sunny

Form: -21321 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 128

Form & Verdict
Headed to Worcester four weeks ago with a record of 1-10 over hurdles but in first-time cheekpieces he showed much improved form to make all for a 17l success (2m4f, good; placed on soft); if new mark (after a 19lb hike) is a fair reflection of his ability then he should be up to this level.
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

OUR TIP

Form: F-2423

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
Posted some useful RPRs, as when only 4l behind the highly touted Davy Crockett at Listowel last month; didn't run so well in a 2m Grade 3 at Tipperary last time but has proved his stamina for this far and his peak form is right up there.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

(11)

14th Jul 2026

Good

1m 6f 55y

20:10 Killarney

Arch Empire

11st 12lb

J: Mr H C Swan

T: Gordon Elliott

Recent efforts over hurdles a little underwhelming but earned a mark of 84 after three good runs in Flat maidens last year, including when third in this race; major player if able to run up to that form.

7/2

8th

3

14th Jun 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 1f 165y

15:20 Downpatrick

Arch Empire

11st 6lb

J: Ricky Doyle

T: Gordon Elliott

Ballinrobe maiden hurdle winner last August; shaped with promise at big odds in hot handicap at Punchestown on penultimate and 4lb lower now but needs to bounce back from poor novice hurdle effort at Wexford 18 days ago.

14/1

6th

3

27th May 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 1f 0y

17:12 Wexford

Arch Empire

11st 7lb

J: Josh Williamson

T: Gordon Elliott

Winning hurdler; fair maiden on the Flat; useful form in small-field hurdle races in the first half of last season; should improve from a run in a handicap at the Punchestown festival; was one of the outsiders then, and made some late headway, plenty of horses behind him.

5/1

Form: 4-3421

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Had useful form in Ireland in a bumper and maiden hurdles; beaten at evens on British debut (2m7f) but under a positive ride back over 2m at Uttoxeter he made a lot of the running for a hard-fought win; faces a much stiffer examination here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

12

14th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 3f 63y

Class 2

14:25 Ascot

De Temps En Temps

10st 9lb

J: Freddie Keighley

T: Martin Keighley

Novice hurdler who has failed to sustain his progress in two handicap attempts; physical tweak (wind surgery since last run) needs to make a difference.

16/1

4

24th Oct 2025

Good

2m 3f 200y

Class 2

16:10 Cheltenham

De Temps En Temps

11st 5lb

J: Freddie Keighley

T: Martin Keighley

Had useful form in Ireland in a bumper and maiden hurdles; beaten at evens on British debut (2m7f) but under a positive ride back over 2m at Uttoxeter he made a lot of the running for a hard-fought win; faces a much stiffer examination here.

20/1

Form: 11 D

Last run: 16 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Running well at a useful level on the Flat before winning comfortably on hurdling debut at Uttoxeter (2m4f, good), after which he enjoyed a walkover at Ludlow; given Flat ability and having shown he can jump, he's one to consider.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

3

18th Jul 2026

Good

2m 1f 46y

Class 3

15:10 Cartmel

Percy Shelley

11st 11lb

J: Lilly Pinchin

T: James Owen

Runner-up (albeit no match for winner) off today's mark at Uttoxeter (2m4f, good) in May and didn't run badly on the Flat (1m6f) last month; could yet have a bigger effort in him over jumps but this drop back in trip may not be in his favour.

8/1

6th

3

(9)

13th Jun 2026

Good

1m 6f 0y

Class 4

17:07 Sandown

Percy Shelley

9st 8lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: James Owen

Three Flat wins in France in 2022 (1m1f-1m3f); two hurdle wins last year (one a walkover) and he didn't run badly when fourth of seven, beaten 2l, at Goodwood last month on his return to the Flat (2m, good; 5-2 joint favourite); Oisin Murphy booked; contender.

100/30

2nd

7

24th May 2026

Good

2m 3f 207y

Class 2

15:28 Uttoxeter

Percy Shelley

11st 6lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: James Owen

Three Flat wins and he's 2-5 over hurdles; competitive in both disciplines since returning from a break and this scenario is ideal for him.

10/1

Form: 110-

Last run: 226 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Winning pointer who justified a shade of odds-on in his first two bumpers, at Ayr (good to soft; by 9l) and Aintree (soft; by 2l); rejected by Harry Skelton and was 66-1 when down the field in the Champion Bumper here; nice prospect for hurdling.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

2

10th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 149y

Class 1

16:40 Aintree

Dalston Lad

11st 8lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

He's gone 3-3 since the cheekpieces went on and it was pretty straightforward from the front in a Grade 2 at Haydock the last time (3m, good to soft) when 4l too good for the strong-finishing Ubatuba who ran a respectable seventh in the Albert Bartlett; arrives here fresher than some; respected.

8/1

1st

2

14th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 58y

Class 1

14:40 Haydock

Dalston Lad

11st 2lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Made it 2-2 in these cheekpieces when upped in trip on handicap debut over C&D (good to soft) four weeks ago; won a bumper on soft ground; open to further improvement for his top yard and is firmly in calculations.

3/1

1st

7

17th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 58y

Class 3

14:35 Haydock

Dalston Lad

10st 13lb

J: Tristan Durrell

T: Dan Skelton

3m point and two-time bumper winner who has improved with each of his three hurdle starts, winning easily at 4-9 at Sedgefield (2m4f, good to soft) last time in first-time cheekpieces (retained); bred to be suited by this step up in trip on handicap debut (half-brother to leading Peter Marsh contender Myretown, among others) and could have lots more to offer for top yard.

3/1

Form: 3- BF

Last run: 259 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Irish point winner who joined new connections for £140,000; beaten favourite in a Kempton bumper (soft) but could have done with a truer pace; presumably showing the right signs at home to be sent here for hurdling debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

14th Mar 2026

Good

2m 5f 0y

Class 4

15:53 Kempton

Etna Bianco

11st 7lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Joe Tizzard

Justified favouritism in novice at Ascot (2m5f, good) in November but hasn't managed to build on that in his two outings since, albeit it was the Grade 1 Challow on the first occasion; will need to resume his progression to take this.

5/2

4th

1

14th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 3f 63y

Class 2

13:15 Ascot

Etna Bianco

11st 10lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Joe Tizzard

Justified favouritism at Ascot (2m5f, good) in November, building on reappearance effort; came up short in the Challow since but enters calculations back down in class, even with 8lb penalty; tongue-tie fitted.

7/2

7

24th Oct 2025

Good

2m 3f 200y

Class 2

16:10 Cheltenham

Etna Bianco

11st 0lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Irish point winner who joined new connections for £140,000; beaten favourite in a Kempton bumper (soft) but could have done with a truer pace; presumably showing the right signs at home to be sent here for hurdling debut.

10/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 10st 12lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Finished a clear second in his Irish point and was bought for £160,000 soon after; a 4yo who receives weight off all his rivals and the stable won this last year with Potters Charm.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

6

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 88y

Class 3

15:05 Doncaster

Leader Crik

11st 7lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Bought for £160,000 soon after finishing a close second to a subsequent hurdle winner in an Irish point last May; well beaten in a Cheltenham novice hurdle (2m4f, good to soft; 10-1) in October but had wind surgery since then and no doubt capable of a lot better; the market could be instructive.

7/2

Non-runners

Sporting Glance

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £130.30
Straight Forecast £134.02
Trifecta £675.20

Selections

POSTDATA:

Don Virginia

Daily Mail:

Leader Crik

SPOTLIGHT:

Arch Empire

The Times:

Percy Shelley

WEST COUNTRY:

Etna Bianco

TOPSPEED:

De Temps En Temps

D Express:

Leader Crik

The Star:

Leader Crik

The Guardian:

Don Virginia

Daily Mirror:

Don Virginia

The Sun:

Don Virginia

RP RATINGS:

Arch Empire

Telegraph:

Arch Empire

Daily Record:

Percy Shelley