January 31 / 12.20 Sandown

12.20

Heavy

Virgin Bet Supports Safe Gambling “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £7804.5
  • 1m 7f 216y
  • Class 3
  • 6 runners
RTV
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Virgin Bet Supports Safe Gambling “National Hunt” Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

OUR TIP

7/2 (Won)

  • Win: £2.63
  • Place: £1.50

Form: 510-15 C

Last run: 57 days

W: 11st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Record is 2-5, the wins in Sandown bumper (heavy) and Fontwell novice hurdle (good to soft); weakened into last of five in Grade 2 over 2m4f here most recently but is one of the main players back down in trip/class; tongue-tie fitted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

2nd May 2026

Good

2m 4f 15y

Class 3

18:15 Hexham

Crackerjacque

11st 1lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Anthony Honeyball

Has had less racing than his rivals and his record is 3-7; gained second win over hurdles at Sandown (2m, heavy) in January and ran just as well when second at Fontwell next time; bred for chasing; may encounter quicker ground than he's used to, but otherwise he has plenty in his favour.

11/4

2nd

1

22nd Feb 2026

Soft

2m 3f 29y

Class 4

14:20 Fontwell

Crackerjacque

12st 0lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Anthony Honeyball

Record is 3-6, the wins in a Sandown bumper (good form) and novice hurdles here (about 2m2f, good to soft) and at Sandown (2m, heavy; first-time tongue-tie) three weeks ago; has to contend with a 12lb penalty but this return to further is probably in his favour and he holds leading claims.

Evs

1st

1

31st Jan 2026

Heavy

1m 7f 216y

Class 3

12:20 Sandown

Crackerjacque

11st 6lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Anthony Honeyball

Record is 2-5, the wins in Sandown bumper (heavy) and Fontwell novice hurdle (good to soft); weakened into last of five in Grade 2 over 2m4f here most recently but is one of the main players back down in trip/class; tongue-tie fitted.

7/2

Form: U6313U D BF

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
Seemed beaten when unseating rider at the last flight in 2m3f event last time; sound performances over 1m7f otherwise for new yard, winning at Leicester (heavy) then third at Haydock; may have more to offer back down in distance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

25th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 48y

Class 4

15:11 Hexham

The Cistercian

12st 0lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Stuart Edmunds

Quick to get off the mark for his current yard at Leicester (2m) in December and he was still close up and running well when unseating rider two out on handicap debut at Haydock (2m4f) 20 days ago; firmly in the picture.

6/1

2

5th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 2f 191y

Class 4

15:15 Haydock

The Cistercian

12st 0lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Stuart Edmunds

Wide-margin win in Leicester maiden (heavy) in December was a good start for this yard and followed that with solid third behind a useful sort here (also about 2m, good) three weeks later; set to post a lesser effort when unseating over further next time but it was a step back in the right direction when third in heavy-ground 2m Sandown novice in January; the experiment over further looks worth another go and he's a player on handicap debut.

6/1

3rd

3

31st Jan 2026

Heavy

1m 7f 216y

Class 3

12:20 Sandown

The Cistercian

11st 6lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Stuart Edmunds

Seemed beaten when unseating rider at the last flight in 2m3f event last time; sound performances over 1m7f otherwise for new yard, winning at Leicester (heavy) then third at Haydock; may have more to offer back down in distance.

9/2

Form: 12-291 D

Last run: 16 days

W: 11st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Appears to handle any ground; below par kept to Listed grade in final bumper attempt but solid record otherwise and rebounded at Wincanton (1m7f, soft) on the switch to hurdles, turning over the favourite; this Turners entry is respected with further progress plausible.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

12th Apr 2026

Good

3m 0f 150y

Class 4

14:20 Wincanton

Sinchi Roca

11st 6lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Syd Hosie

Point winner on good ground over 2m4f; bumper winner on heavy and won his maiden here on soft (1m7f); nearly went in again in a Taunton novice last time but this is a huge hike in trip for only his second handicap, having never raced beyond 2m1f under rules.

7/4

2nd

1

24th Mar 2026

Good

2m 0f 104y

Class 4

14:15 Taunton

Sinchi Roca

11st 12lb

J: Paddy Hanlon

T: Syd Hosie

Something went wrong when favourite on handicap debut last time but previous bumper (including on good ground) and hurdles form makes him one of the leading candidates in this line-up.

Evs

5th

1

22nd Feb 2026

Soft

2m 1f 162y

Class 4

16:20 Fontwell

Sinchi Roca

11st 13lb

J: Paddy Hanlon

T: Syd Hosie

Useful bumper performer who won a Wincanton maiden (1m7f, soft) on last month's hurdle debut and was not discredited when fourth at Sandown (2m, heavy) three weeks ago; should have some improvement to come in handicaps; leading contender.

3/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
70,000euros foal, 100,000euros 3yo; half-brother to three winners, notably Roaring Bull (useful 2m-3m hurdle/chase); sole newcomer in the field and one of two runners for Nicky Henderson; heed the market signals.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

12th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

14:38 Ffos Las

Grand Teton

11st 6lb

J: James Bowen

T: Nicky Henderson

100,000euros 3yo; half-brother to three winners, two useful; 10-1 when 12l fifth of six in novice at Sandown (2m, heavy) ten weeks ago, which does not set the world alight in form terms but he was a detached last at halfway and made late headway; moves up in trip and might be a big improver but his powerful stable also runs an eye-catching newcomer in Into The Blue.

7/1

5th

4

31st Jan 2026

Heavy

1m 7f 216y

Class 3

12:20 Sandown

Grand Teton

11st 0lb

J: James Bowen

T: Nicky Henderson

70,000euros foal, 100,000euros 3yo; half-brother to three winners, notably Roaring Bull (useful 2m-3m hurdle/chase); sole newcomer in the field and one of two runners for Nicky Henderson; heed the market signals.

11/2

Form: F2

Last run: 69 days

W: 10st 2lb

4 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
Raced twice in juvenile hurdles for Denis Hogan, falling at Punchestown then 8l second at Cork; sold for £26,000 since; receives all the allowances and Harry Atkins takes off a bonus 7lb; interesting at the weights, with another step forward possible.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

1st Apr 2026

Good

2m 5f 82y

Class 4

14:50 Wincanton

Wispit Twob

10st 6lb

J: Harry Atkins

T: Martin Keighley

Juvenile hurdler who was runner-up in her final start in Ireland in November but she's struggled in both runs for current yard and latest was on handicap debut at Exeter (2m2f, good to soft); still early days but she needs a transformation at this new trip.

10/1

11th

4

6th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 2f 111y

Class 5

17:18 Exeter

Wispit Twob

11st 4lb

J: Freddie Keighley

T: Martin Keighley

Ex-Irish juvenile hurdler who lived up to market expectations (rank outsider) at Sandown on debut for new yard; had wind surgery since; seems to have a better chance in this first handicap attempt; shortlisted.

9/2

6th

6

31st Jan 2026

Heavy

1m 7f 216y

Class 3

12:20 Sandown

Wispit Twob

10st 2lb

J: Harry Atkins

T: Martin Keighley

Raced twice in juvenile hurdles for Denis Hogan, falling at Punchestown then 8l second at Cork; sold for £26,000 since; receives all the allowances and Harry Atkins takes off a bonus 7lb; interesting at the weights, with another step forward possible.

14/1

Form: 6

Last run: 36 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

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

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £12.40
Straight Forecast £11.82
Trifecta £36.90

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Sinchi Roca

RP RATINGS:

The Cistercian

Daily Mail:

Ionian

POSTDATA:

Crackerjacque

LAMBOURN:

Grand Teton

TOPSPEED:

The Cistercian

Daily Mirror:

The Cistercian

D Express:

Ionian

The Star:

Ionian

The Times:

Sinchi Roca

The Guardian:

Sinchi Roca

The Sun:

Sinchi Roca

Daily Record:

Sinchi Roca

Telegraph:

Crackerjacque