12:05 Cheltenham

Friday 12 December 2025

All12:0512:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:35

British EBF 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 12:05 | Winning time: 4m 0.15s

Glance At Midnight²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Shane Quinlan| T: Andrew Martin

11/1

Progressive form in bumpers and made a winning hurdling debut in emphatic style in 11-runner maiden at Huntingdon (15.8f, soft) 20 days ago, leading on bridle 2 out and quickening clear. Faces a stiffer task here but seems sure to progress.

Form: 051-1

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Lisbane Park³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-6| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| D

15/2

Cost £110,000 after finishing runner-up on his Irish point debut and looked potentially useful in going one better in 6-runner novice at Exeter (16.7f) 35 days ago, quickening clear having loomed up 2 out. Will improve and not one to underestimate.

Form: 2-1

Minella Marathon³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-6| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton

14/1

Fetched £200,000 after winning his sole start between the flags and made a successful hurdling debut with something to spare in 6-runner novice at Lingfield (19.5f, good) last month. The bare form is nothing flash, but he seems sure to progress.

Form: 1-1

Mullaghgloss²²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-6| J: Cian Quirke| T: A Slattery| OR: 117| D

14/1

Bumper winner at the third attempt who improved on hurdling debut form to win 16-runner maiden at Thurles (15.8f, good to soft) 22 days ago, kept up to work. More on his plate here but likely to progress further.

Form: 0-8121

Old Park Star¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson

5/2

Fair form when placed in 3 bumpers for Paul Nicholls last season and bettered that level when making the perfect transition to hurdling in 2m novice at Kempton 18 days ago, bit in hand. Sure to progress.

Form: 323-1

Our Boy Stan³³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-6| J: Ben Jones| T: B Pauling

6/1

Off the mark at the second attempt in bumpers and overcame inexperience to make a successful hurdling debut in 5-runner novice at Ffos Las (15.8f, soft) 33 days ago, rallying to lead final 50 yds. Seems sure to improve but will need to jump with more fluency in this stronger field.

Form: 21-1

Can't Resist It^t³⁹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Jack Hogan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 108

125/1

Fair form in bumpers in Ireland and ran to a similar level when placed in maiden hurdles at Huntingdon and Market Rasen for this yard. However, was well held on his handicap debut at this course when last seen 13 months ago.

Form: 4253/20-

Sherminator^t1²⁷⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Bryan Carver| T: H Fry| OR: 118WS

14/1

Built on bumper promise when winning 7-runner juvenile at Newbury (16.3f, good to soft, 11/4) on hurdles bow in January on final run for Emma Lavelle. Followed in ready fashion at Taunton in March and open to further improvement sporting a first-time tongue strap after 9 months off.

Form: 4211-

Kingston Queen³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe| D

2/1

Progressed well in bumpers, culminating with a third in the Grade 2 at Aintree, and looked a useful prospect when making a winning hurdling debut in 9-runner Chepstow maiden (19.4f) 37 days ago, comfortably. Down in trip here but there's undoubtedly better to come.

Form: 32113-1

Delta Blues Belle¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: Kielan Woods| T: D Skelton

300/1

£70,000 buy after winning on the last of her 3 starts in points, but handicaps are more likely to be her thing after this run.

Form: 331-505

Forecasts

Kingston Queen (2/1), Old Park Star (5/2), Our Boy Stan (6/1), Lisbane Park (15/2), Glance At Midnight (11/1), Minella Marathon (14/1), Mullaghgloss (14/1), Sherminator (14/1), Can't Resist It (125/1), Delta Blues Belle (300/1)

An interesting novice hurdle to kick off the card. KINGSTON QUEEN looked a useful prospect when scoring comfortably on her Chepstow hurdling debut last month and while her future probably lies back over further, it's hard ignore how well that form is working out, so she looks worth siding with to make it 2 from 2 in this sphere. Old Park Star bettered his bumper form when making a winning start over hurdles with a bit up his sleeve at Kempton and seems sure to improve, as does Lisbane Park.