12:57 Fontwell

Sunday 16 November 2025

All12:2712:5713:3214:0514:4215:1715:52

BetGoodwin Download The App Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 12:57 | Winning time: 4m 33.82s

Alfa Charlie^t1³⁰⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Dylan Johnston⁽³⁾| T: S Thomas

25/1

Plenty of quality in his pedigree but finished well held on sole bumper start for Gordon Elliott. Wears first-time tongue tie on hurdle debut for very capable yard and market should guide expectations.

Form: 9-

Crackerjacque²²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Rex Dingle| T: A J Honeyball

4/6

From a family this yard know well and left behind his debut form when winning a strong Sandown bumper in testing conditions in February. Well held in a Grade 2 bumper at Aintree (good) but that race has produced multiple winners and he could be the one to beat back on easier ground on hurdles bow.

Form: 510-

Dragons And Demons

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Kimber| T: R Walford

66/1

Dragon Dancer gelding. Dam unraced sister to fairly useful hurdler (15f winner) Itwasfate and half-sister to winning hurdler/smart chaser around 2m Gunsight Ridge. Newcomer makes some appeal on paper but hard to be confident unless market speaks in his favour.

Form:

Escort'kheops²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: K Brogan| T: L Horsfall

16/1

Made the frame all 3 completed starts in Irish points and still looked in need of the experience on second start in a bumper when seventh of 11 at Cheltenham (16.4f, good to soft) 22 days ago. Entitled to take a step forward on hurdle debut.

Form: U4425-7

Herbygoesbananas¹⁹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Miss H C Knight

16/1

Flat-bred gelding overcame inexperience to make a winning bumper debut at Huntingdon last November, beating a fair sort. Offered little on Flat debut at Chelmsford 5 months later and has since left Chris Gordon. Not dismissed if recapturing previous form on first start for new yard.

Form: 1-

Just Forty^h1¹⁴⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Bannister| T: W Greatrex| OR: 117

9/2

Fair maiden hurdler in France, improving to show fairly useful form over fences, runner-up in a 6-runner 4-y-o conditions event at Lyon Parilly last time. Left M. Seror for €20,000 in July. Previously worn hood replaces tongue tie on stable debut and one to note for support back over hurdles.

Form: 325-42

Phineas Bunce²⁵⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Tristan Durrell⁽³⁾| T: D Skelton

7/2

Form of his debut fourth has worked out well and he took a step forward when second of 12 in a bumper at Doncaster (16.6f, good) in March. In excellent hands and should have more to offer on first start over hurdles.

Form: 42-

Walkinthepresent¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: C O'Farrell| T: N P Mulholland

125/1

Placed in an Irish point in the spring but offered little on Rules/hurdle debut at long odds last month. Likely one for the longer-term.

Form: 73-0

Forecasts

Crackerjacque (4/6), Phineas Bunce (7/2), Just Forty (9/2), Escort'kheops (16/1), Herbygoesbananas (16/1), Alfa Charlie (25/1), Dragons And Demons (66/1), Walkinthepresent (125/1)

CRACKERJACQUE appeals most given his strong form in bumpers and he can make a winning hurdle debut returned to more suitable ground. Phineas Bunce merits plenty of respect starting out over hurdles for a top yard, while the market should guide expectations for interesting French recruit Just Forty.