March 09 / 15.50 Stratford

15.50

Soft

DragonBet The Roar Before Cheltenham Dragonboosts Novices’ Limited Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £3247.81
  • 2m 6f 7y
  • Class 5
  • 9 runners
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DragonBet The Roar Before Cheltenham Dragonboosts Novices’ Limited Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

OUR TIP

7/2 (Won)

  • Win: £4.34
  • Place: £1.60

Form: -77792

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 9lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
Modest in maiden/novice events (1m7f-2m) but better when stepping up in trip for handicap debut at Chepstow recently (2m4f, soft; runner-up, beaten nearly 10l); there's still time to brush up his jumping technique and, on pedigree, he should handle this extra yardage; chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

28th Mar 2026

Good

2m 6f 7y

Class 5

15:57 Stratford

Harbour Light

12st 0lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Better when upped in trip for his two handicaps, winning by 7l over C&D (soft) last time; up 8lb but plenty to like after that smooth win.

5/6

1st

2

9th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 6f 7y

Class 5

15:50 Stratford

Harbour Light

11st 9lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Modest in maiden/novice events (1m7f-2m) but better when stepping up in trip for handicap debut at Chepstow recently (2m4f, soft; runner-up, beaten nearly 10l); there's still time to brush up his jumping technique and, on pedigree, he should handle this extra yardage; chance.

7/2

2nd

3

13th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 3f 100y

Class 5

16:20 Chepstow

Harbour Light

11st 11lb

J: Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Showed only minor promise in three maiden/novice hurdles (1m7f-2m) in December/January but moves up in trip for this handicap debut and has plenty of scope for improvement.

5/1

20/1

  • Place: £1.90

Form: P-69

Last run: 60 days

W: 10st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Pulled up on debut here (2m2f) a year ago, and sent off at a whopping 300-1 in a 2m4f Ffos Las maiden (beaten 66l) latest; trainer is having an uncharacteristically quiet season; lowly rated handicap debutant, stablemate of Lily Grace.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

13

21st Apr 2026

Soft

2m 7f 191y

Class 5

17:12 Ffos Las

Eaststone Bucks

10st 2lb

J: Ned Fox

T: Venetia Williams

Well beaten in his three qualifying races (1m7f-2m4f) but fared better when keeping-on second (no match for winner) on handicap debut at Stratford (2m6f, soft) six weeks ago; 2lb wrong here but remains unexposed.

8/1

2nd

7

9th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 6f 7y

Class 5

15:50 Stratford

Eaststone Bucks

10st 8lb

J: Ned Fox

T: Venetia Williams

Pulled up on debut here (2m2f) a year ago, and sent off at a whopping 300-1 in a 2m4f Ffos Las maiden (beaten 66l) latest; trainer is having an uncharacteristically quiet season; lowly rated handicap debutant, stablemate of Lily Grace.

20/1

4

10th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 2f 148y

Class 3

13:50 Stratford

Eaststone Bucks

11st 0lb

J: Ned Fox

T: Venetia Williams

First foal; dam runner-up in 2m hurdle, out of 2m hurdle winning half-sister to useful winners Argento Luna (2m-2m5f hurdle) and Lyes Green (2m3f-3m1f hurdle/chase); something to like on pedigree and is with a major stable; market informative.

10/1

Form: -84123 BF

Last run: 97 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Filly

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Made the breakthrough in a newly applied tongue-tie at Worcester (2m4f, good; from 12l lower) last August; narrowly beaten back there next time and placed at Southwell (6-4 favourite) when last seen over three months ago; stays 2m6f, and the forecast drying conditions promise to suit; key player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

25th May 2026

Good To Firm

2m 3f 189y

Class 5

14:00 Huntingdon

Ballyhiho

11st 6lb

J: Jack Hogan

T: D J Jeffreys

Fairly treated on hurdle form and seems to need good ground, on which she was well beaten on chase debut two months ago; could be wiser for that experience but she was a remote last.

9/4

5th

6

28th Mar 2026

Good

2m 3f 98y

Class 4

16:33 Stratford

Ballyhiho

10st 12lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: D J Jeffreys

Got off the mark over hurdles at Worcester (2m4f) in August and not discredited after three months off when a fading fourth of nine in 2m6f handicap here 19 days ago; much respected on her chase debut.

13/2

Form: 680/05

Last run: 15 days

W: 10st 5lb

8 yo Mare

OR: 74

Form & Verdict
Nothing positive so far, beaten 58l when earning a 'peak' RPR of 53 at Warwick (2m3f mares' novice; 250-1) in January; tailed off on handicap debut at Hereford (2m5f) just over a fortnight ago.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

10

12th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

14:03 Ffos Las

Lily Grace

10st 5lb

J: Ned Fox

T: Venetia Williams

Closest finish was a 30l defeat at Stratford (2m7f, soft; 33-1) last time in her second handicap; no recognisable claims yet.

40/1

5th

9

9th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 6f 7y

Class 5

15:50 Stratford

Lily Grace

10st 5lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Nothing positive so far, beaten 58l when earning a 'peak' RPR of 53 at Warwick (2m3f mares' novice; 250-1) in January; tailed off on handicap debut at Hereford (2m5f) just over a fortnight ago.

12/1

5th

7

22nd Feb 2026

Soft

2m 5f 163y

Class 5

16:10 Hereford

Lily Grace

10st 2lb

J: Murray Dodd

T: Venetia Williams

Has shown little in her four starts, latest when tailed off at Warwick (2m3f, good to soft) last month on her first start for 1,001 days; may do better now she goes handicapping but big improvement required.

8/1

Form: 2-066P

Last run: 56 days

W: 11st 3lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Runner-up on debut in a Cheltenham bumper (2m1f, good; beaten a neck, 14-1) last April; hasn't kicked on positively over hurdles (0-4), pulling up on handicap debut at Hereford (2m4f; soft) two months ago; now sits 3lb lower.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

2

(9)

27th May 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 2f 219y

Class 3

19:30 Kempton (AW)

Noble Grace

9st 4lb

J: Edward Greatrex

T: Warren Greatrex

Went close in sole bumper start at Cheltenham last April but failed to build on that in half a dozen hurdle starts since; last month's Flat debut at Wolverhampton wasn't bad (she made late headway into fourth of eight over 1m4f) but better opportunities await, probably over 1m6f+.

25/1

4th

1

(7)

27th Apr 2026

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 3

18:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Noble Grace

10st 2lb

J: Edward Greatrex

T: Warren Greatrex

Beaten a neck in a bumper on her racecourse debut but a disappointing maiden over hurdles; tall order on her belated Flat debut.

20/1

9th

6

7th Apr 2026

Good

2m 5f 137y

Class 5

14:10 Exeter

Noble Grace

11st 4lb

J: James Bowen

T: Warren Greatrex

Very disappointing over hurdles given she ran so well in a Cheltenham bumper on debut; has performed below market expectations in two handicaps but both were on soft ground so she may run better under these conditions with cheekpieces added.

6/1

Form: 589

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 1lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 84

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

Form: P60

Last run: 39 days

W: 10st 9lb

5 yo Mare

OR: 78

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

Form: 59U5

Last run: 17 days

W: 10st 5lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 74

Form & Verdict
In the process of outrunning odds when unseating her rider at the third-last at Wincanton (2m5f mares' novice; 250-1) on penultimate start; tailed off on heavy ground at Exeter (2m) subsequently; makes handicap debut at a suitable level; isn't a forlorn hope.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

8

24th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 166y

Class 5

18:50 Fontwell

Miss Jaffa Cake

10st 2lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Polly Gundry

Not the biggest and her form figures are uninspiring but there were hints of ability before unseating in Wincanton novice in January; subsequent efforts suggest that might have been a false dawn and she's out of the weights again.

40/1

16

12th Apr 2026

Good

2m 7f 191y

Class 5

17:20 Ffos Las

Miss Jaffa Cake

10st 2lb

J: Ben Poste

T: Polly Gundry

Soundly beaten in her first two handicaps (2m6f/3m2f) and competes from 5lb out of the weights here; needs to take a big step forward.

50/1

6th

7

26th Mar 2026

Good

3m 2f 0y

Class 5

14:58 Warwick

Miss Jaffa Cake

10st 11lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Polly Gundry

Signs of promise prior to unseating in Wincanton novice (2m5f, heavy) in January but tailed off/pulled up on both runs since, most recently when 40-1 for handicap debut at Stratford (2m6f, soft).

14/1

Form: /P0-96

Last run: 18 days

W: 10st 5lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 72

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

7th

6

24th Feb 2024

Heavy

2m 0f 11y

Class 5

16:53 Chepstow

Dont Cheddar Tear

11st 0lb

J: Tabitha Worsley

T: Georgie Howell

took keen hold, held up in rear, always behind

33/1

Non-runners

Cher Monsieur

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £25.70
Straight Forecast £19.18
Tricast £136.23
Trifecta £194.00

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Harbour Light

SPOTLIGHT:

Ballyhiho

Telegraph:

Cher Monsieur

POSTDATA:

Harbour Light

The Times:

Harbour Light

The Guardian:

Harbour Light

D Express:

Harbour Light

Daily Mail:

Ballyhiho

Daily Mirror:

Ballyhiho

The Sun:

Ballyhiho

The Star:

Cher Monsieur

Daily Record:

Cher Monsieur