14:55 Kelso

Saturday 1 March 2025

All13:1013:4514:2014:5515:3016:0416:39

bet365 Premier Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:55 | Winning time: 4m 21.86s

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Selected odds by:

Roadlesstravelled⁶⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 137

17/2

Cost a packet on the back of his point success in 2023 and won first 3 starts over hurdles, including a Haydock Grade 2 in November. Will appreciate the return to this level after finding Grade 1 company too much at Aintree on Boxing Day but he's up against some very promising novices here, too.

Form: P/1-111P

Captain Butler⁶²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Craig Nichol| T: Miss P Robson| C

25/1

Point winner who landed a Newcastle bumper on Rules debut in May 2023. Followed up on hurdles bow here (16.2f, good to soft) following a 20-month absence during the Christmas period and he's clearly a good prospect. However, this represents a significant rise in class.

Form: 221/1-1

Castle Carrock³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King

6/1

Bolted up when landing the odds on debut in a bumper at Ayr in November. Subsequently changed hands and created a terrific impression when outpointing the long odds-on Diva Luna starting out for new connections over hurdles in 2m Sandown novice. Hard to know where his limitations may lie.

Form: 11

Chart Topper³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins| D

5/4

Winless following 3 attempts in bumpers but has looked a different proposition since switched to hurdles, winning a Downpatrick maiden (17.7f, good) and Wetherby novice (2m, heavy) in good style. Represents top Irish yard and he has to enter calculations with further progress likely.

Form: 5-3311

Jet To Vegas^t⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 120

16/1

Easy winner sole outing in Irish points last spring and, having found just one too good on his first 3 starts under Rules, he deservedly got his head in front when landing a 2m Ayr novice last time. This is much tougher but he remains open to improvement and shouldn't be underestimated.

Form: 12221

Laganhill²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Stan Sheppard| T: H D Daly| OR: 126

13/2

Beat a dual subsequent winner when making a successful start in a 6-runner Haydock novice at the end of December. Further progress when following up at Bangor (16.7f, heavy) and the best is surely yet to come from this 7-y-o.

Form: 11

Putapoundinthejar^t1³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Sean Quinlan| T: A J Martin| OR: 118

33/1

Initially failed to build on the promise he showed in a Limerick bumper last spring but he got back on track when leading close home in a maiden at Down Royal (17.2f, soft) in January. This is a steep rise in class, though, and he needs to raise his game in a first-time tongue strap.

Form: 28-61

Vanderpoel²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Ben Jones| T: B Pauling| OR: 129

6/1

Off mark in Irish points at second attempt and the form of his Rules debut success in a Huntingdon maiden hurdle is strong. Duly made it 2-2 in this sphere when winning as a long odds-on shot should at Ludlow since and he merits serious respect for last year's winning yard.

Form: P-111

Listentoyourheart⁶¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 128| BF

12/1

Bumper winner who looked good in her first 3 starts over hurdles, landing the odds at Market Rasen in September before scoring twice at Newbury, latterly in a listed Mares' event (16.3f, good to soft). However, her winning run came to a halt at Taunton last time and she looks vulnerable here.

Form: 25-1114

Non-Runners

Dedicated Hero⁴²

Weight: 11-10| Age: 6

T: A M Thomson J: Ryan Mania

Forecasts

Chart Topper (5/4), Castle Carrock (6/1), Vanderpoel (6/1), Laganhill (13/2), Dedicated Hero (8/1), Roadlesstravelled (17/2), Listentoyourheart (12/1), Jet To Vegas (16/1), Captain Butler (25/1), Putapoundinthejar (33/1)

An intriguing renewal of this Grade 2, with several highly promising novices on show. CASTLE CARROCK claimed a notable scalp on his debut in this sphere at Sandown and, with the promise of much better to come from this 6-y-o, he could be the answer. Willie Mullins saddles Chart Topper, who is unbeaten in two starts over hurdles and he is feared most ahead of Dedicated Hero and Vanderpoel, while Laganhill is an unknown quantity and he merits respect, too.