January 27 / 13.20 Newcastle

13.20

Good To Soft

Virgin Bet A Good Bet Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £5446
  • 2m 4f 62y
  • Class 4
  • 9 runners
SKY
View Course
Virgin Bet A Good Bet Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Snow showers

6/5 (Won)

  • Win: £2.20
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 2-21 C

Last run: 59 days

W: 11st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Runner-up in two bumpers before getting off the mark on hurdles debut here in November (2m1f, good to soft; second has won since); this longer trip should suit (from a staying family) and he is respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

15th Apr 2026

Good

2m 5f 50y

Class 2

13:30 Haydock

Le Beau Madrik

11st 10lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Posted a very eyecatching RPR when making it 2-2 over hurdles at Newcastle in January (2m4f, soft; fine on good) and reportedly ran flat when only 7-2 for a Grade 2 at Kelso the following month; granted a break since then and he returns with his yard firing in winners left, right and centre.

100/30

1

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 2f 25y

Class 1

14:15 Kelso

Le Beau Madrik

11st 8lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Two-time bumper runner-up who won on hurdle debut at Newcastle (2m1f, good to soft) in November and followed up there (2m4f, soft) last month, readily beating solid yardsticks; leading claims despite 3lb penalty.

3/1

1st

3

27th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 62y

Class 4

13:20 Newcastle

Le Beau Madrik

11st 12lb

J: Tristan Durrell

T: Dan Skelton

Runner-up in two bumpers before getting off the mark on hurdles debut here in November (2m1f, good to soft; second has won since); this longer trip should suit (from a staying family) and he is respected.

6/5

OUR TIP

Form: 122-21 D

Last run: 70 days

W: 11st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Wetherby bumper winner in December 2024; off the mark on fourth start over hurdles in a four-runner Kelso maiden in November (2m5f, soft); likely improver.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

17th Apr 2026

Soft

2m 5f 91y

Class 2

16:05 Ayr

Eagles Reprieve

10st 13lb

J: Jack Power

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Bumper winner who got off the mark over hurdles at the fourth attempt at Kelso (2m5f, soft) in November and was back on the scoresheet in a novice there (2m5f, good to soft) four weeks ago; did it easily last time and has potential off his opening mark.

9/1

1st

1

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 189y

Class 4

15:48 Kelso

Eagles Reprieve

11st 9lb

J: Jack Power

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Solid record comprises two wins, including over C&D on penultimate start, and four second-place finishes; beat all bar the market leader at Newcastle (2m4f) most recently; major contender.

7/4

2nd

2

27th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 62y

Class 4

13:20 Newcastle

Eagles Reprieve

11st 12lb

J: Jack Power

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Wetherby bumper winner in December 2024; off the mark on fourth start over hurdles in a four-runner Kelso maiden in November (2m5f, soft); likely improver.

9/4

Form: 1 D

Last run: 53 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

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

Form: 842

Last run: 12 days

W: 11st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 115

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

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 5lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

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

Form: 3

Last run: 36 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

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

Form: 56-75

Last run: 74 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Home-bred; fair fifth over C&D on second run over hurdles (good to soft; 66-1); improvement likely.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

5

21st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 62y

Class 5

13:35 Newcastle

Sparky Tom

11st 11lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: Paul Robson

Making handicap debut but hasn't offered enough in his qualifying races; only of interest if backed.

40/1

8

27th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 62y

Class 4

13:20 Newcastle

Sparky Tom

11st 5lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: Paul Robson

Home-bred; fair fifth over C&D on second run over hurdles (good to soft; 66-1); improvement likely.

66/1

7th

10

25th Oct 2025

Good

2m 0f 51y

Class 4

13:35 Kelso

Sparky Tom

11st 4lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: Paul Robson

Didn't show enough in two Hexham bumpers in the spring to warrant serious consideration on this hurdling debut.

100/1

Form: 9-U50

Last run: 52 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Closely related to smart chaser Into Overdrive; hasn't shown a great deal in a bumper and three novice hurdles; best watched for now.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

11

11th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 62y

Class 5

14:07 Newcastle

The Final Brig

10st 7lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Mark Walford

Yet to offer much in his four runs over hurdles, pulled up in C&D novice in January; cheekpieces go on for his handicap debut after a break.

25/1

9

27th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 62y

Class 4

13:20 Newcastle

The Final Brig

11st 5lb

J: Tom Midgley

T: Mark Walford

Closely related to smart chaser Into Overdrive; hasn't shown a great deal in a bumper and three novice hurdles; best watched for now.

100/1

9th

20

27th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

15:20 Wetherby

The Final Brig

11st 2lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Mark Walford

visibility reduced by fog, midfield

20/1

Form: 6-P6

Last run: 32 days

W: 10st 12lb

7 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Modest form so far and marked improvement needed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

3

3rd Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 62y

Class 5

14:05 Newcastle

Moonlight Trail

11st 7lb

J: Lilly Pinchin

T: Paul Robson

Pulled up in two of her three hurdle starts, including in a C&D novice (150-1) five weeks ago; whether she's capable of better switched to handicap company (debut) remains to be seen; far safer to focus elsewhere.

40/1

10

27th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 62y

Class 4

13:20 Newcastle

Moonlight Trail

10st 12lb

J: Callum Bewley

T: Paul Robson

Modest form so far and marked improvement needed.

100/1

6th

7

25th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 48y

Class 4

17:25 Hexham

Moonlight Trail

10st 12lb

J: Edward Austin

T: Paul Robson

led early, soon prominent, lost ground quickly 7f out, soon dropped to last, outpaced 5f out

25/1

Non-runners

Ivans Legacy, Nordic Gift

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £5.60
Straight Forecast £4.88
Trifecta £11.30

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Le Beau Madrik

Daily Mirror:

Buddah Castle

The Star:

Eagles Reprieve

RP RATINGS:

Le Beau Madrik

TOPSPEED:

Le Beau Madrik

POSTDATA:

Le Beau Madrik

The Times:

Le Beau Madrik

Telegraph:

Le Beau Madrik

The Guardian:

Le Beau Madrik

Daily Mail:

Le Beau Madrik

D Express:

Le Beau Madrik

The Sun:

Le Beau Madrik

Daily Record:

Le Beau Madrik