15:43 Chepstow

Friday 10 October 2025

All13:2213:5714:3215:1215:4316:1716:5517:30

DragonBet Persian War Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:46 | Winning time: 4m 46.93s

Sticktotheplan^h1⁷³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 135

15/2

Proven highly progressive in 2025 for Cormac Farrell, signing off with an emphatic victory in 2m Listed novice hurdle at Galway in July. Hooded for first time. Interesting prospect for his in-form new handler.

Form: 58-2121

Krak¹⁷³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 130| D

17/2

Lightly raced last term for Stuart Crawford and signed off with a career-best success in 15-runner handicap hurdle at Cork (19f, soft) in April. This demands more but still enters calculations for his new stable.

Form: 3331-

Jack Hyde³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: J J Burke| T: F O'Brien| OR: 123

5/1

Made into a fairly useful novice last season, scoring twice at Southwell, and he easily landed the odds in 2m novice at Newton Abbot on his return last month. One to consider.

Form: 43114-1

Kainsbourg^t,p¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: James Bowen| T: G Elliott| OR: 127

20/1

Irish raider advanced his form when making it 2-3 this season in 7-runner novice hurdle at Listowel (20f, good to soft) 13 days ago, always holding on. Much respected for leading yard.

Form: 243-141

Kilwaughter¹⁶²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White

12/1

£120,000 acquisition following success in a Down Royal bumper last December and ran to a similarly useful level in similar company at Aintree and Punchestown after. This is no easy introduction to hurdling but he brings plenty of potential.

Form: 163-

Moneygarrow²³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| BF| C

11/1

Won sole start in Irish points and powered clear in the manner of a useful prospect in bumper here last October. Similar form when second at Ascot and Kempton subsequently and he rates an exciting hurdling recruit for top stable.

Form: 1/122-

Queensbury Boy^t¹⁶¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Harry Derham| OR: 131| C| D

5/4

£130,000 purchase after Irish point victory. Showed smart winning form in bumpers and went 2-2 over hurdles at Newbury (20f) in March. Came in a well-beaten fifth in Champion Novices' Hurdle at Punchestown in May but remains with plenty of potential on his return.

Form: 112/115-

Laravie^v⁸³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: G Sheehan| T: James Owen| OR: 121

17/2

Ex-Irish recruit has thrived for her current yard and she completed a four-timer in 6-runner novice hurdle at Market Rasen (20.6f, good) in July, always holding on. Not dismissed despite the step up in grade.

Form: 2-41111

Forecasts

Queensbury Boy (5/4), Jack Hyde (5/1), Sticktotheplan (15/2), Krak (17/2), Laravie (17/2), Moneygarrow (11/1), Kilwaughter (12/1), Kainsbourg (20/1)

None of these can be ruled out in a fascinating Persian War but the vote goes to STICKTOTHEPLAN who improved a chunk with each of his four runs over hurdles in Ireland and can take another sizeable step forward here now with the in-form Olly Murphy team. Dan Skelton's exciting recruit Moneygarrow could emerge as the main danger, although Queensbury Boy, Jack Hyde and Kilwaughter all need factoring in too.