13:40 Newbury

Thursday 6 November 2025

All12:3013:0513:4014:1514:5015:2516:00

Agetur UK 40th Anniversary In Business Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:40 | Winning time: 4m 9.3s

Aberfeldy¹⁶⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Rex Dingle| T: S Hosie

200/1

Runner-up both completed starts in Irish points, the latest in May. Probably best watched on Rules debut.

Form: PP2-U2

Alba Crus¹⁵⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: James Bowen| T: W Greatrex

40/1

Built on debut promise when landing a 6-runner Newton Abbot bumper (16.8f, good) in June. That form looks decent (the runner-up has placed twice again since and third has won both subsequent starts) and this 4-y-o appeals as the type to make his mark in this sphere.

Form: 51

Caballero Cliff²³⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: C Gethings| T: R Stephens

14/1

Related to three winners and showed plenty in 3 bumpers last season, culminating in a cracking fourth of 17 in the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival (16.4f, good to soft). Could have a big part to play if jumping fluenty now switched to hurdles.

Form: 244-

Captain Hugo¹⁷⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Sean Houlihan| T: P Hobbs & J White| D

7/2

Shaped well amidst inexperience when second on debut in a Hereford bumper in April. Went one better in fine style at Worcester (2m, good to soft) the following month and he's one to follow now tackling hurdles.

Form: 2-1

Joyau Allen⁶²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: H Cobden| T: P F NichollsWS

8/1

Runner-up sole start in Irish points before making a winning start under Rules in an Exeter bumper in January 2024. Chased home a subsequent Grade 2 hurdles winner at the same course a month later, but subsequent absence is a concern ahead of this hurdles debut. Has undergone wind surgery.

Form: 212/

Klub De Reve²²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Harry Derham

15/2

Winner of the second of his 2 starts between the flags prior to finishing mid-field in the Doncaster bumper won by Storming George. Improved on that when third of 11 over this C&D (good) on latest start in March and he should have a future over jumps.

Form: 2/173-

Sinnatra²⁹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| BF| D

9/2

Looked a good prospect when bagging 13-runner Chepstow bumper (2m, good) for Paul Nicholls last November. Didn't find a great deal when it came to the crunch at Windsor next time, but he's nevertheless interesting now sent hurdling for new connections.

Form: 14-

Storming George²¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: J M Quinlan| T: N B King

6/1

Sent off a big price but he quickened nicely to land 16-runner bumper at Doncaster on debut in January. Improved significantly on that form when fifth of 15 in Grade 2 bumper at Aintree in April (hampered late on) and is one to look forward to now switched to hurdles.

Form: 15-

This Sway¹³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Freddie Mitchell⁽⁵⁾| T: M Comley

300/1

Just minor promise in Worcester bumpers during the summer and faces a stiff task now making his hurdles debut in what looks a useful contest.

Form: 48

West Hill Verde²⁷¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: J W Mullins

50/1

Debut second in a Kempton bumper in February 2024 was encouraging, but well held both starts last season, albeit in listed company. Opposable now sent hurdling following a 9-month absence.

Form: 2/98-

Wilstar¹⁹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| D

9/4

Cost €250,000 and he's a half-brother to top-class hurdler/chaser Douvan and smart hurdler/top-class chaser Jonbon. Confirmed debut promise in some style when landing 13-runner bumper at Perth (16.2f, soft) in April, quickening from rear to lead over 1f out, and he looks a useful jumping prospect.

Form: 31-

Non-Runners

Bright Legend¹¹

Weight: 11-4| Age: 5

T: Faye Bramley J: R P McLernon

Forecasts

Wilstar (9/4), Captain Hugo (7/2), Sinnatra (9/2), Storming George (6/1), Klub De Reve (15/2), Joyau Allen (8/1), Caballero Cliff (14/1), Bright Legend (20/1), Alba Crus (40/1), West Hill Verde (50/1), Aberfeldy (200/1), This Sway (300/1)

Several potentially very useful types lock horns here, with WILSTAR shading preference ahead of the similarly promising Captain Hugo. They possess almost identical profiles and choosing between them isn't easy, but there's greater substance to Wilstar's form and he'll surely take plenty of stopping granted a clean round of jumping. Strong cases can also be made for Caballero Cliff and Storming George judged on their bumper exploits, while Sinnatra is another appealing candidate.