15:00 Newbury

Monday 29 December 2025

All12:0512:4013:1513:5014:2215:0015:35

Coral Challow Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 5m 0.52s

Etna Bianco³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 128

25/1

£140,000 purchase after winning Irish point last October and he produced a promising first effort in this sphere when third of 7 in 2m4f Cheltenham novice in October. Showed the benefit of that experience when justifying support at Ascot (21.7f) and he can leave bare form behind.

Form: 13-31

Kalkbrenner³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Ben Jones| T: B Pauling| OR: 134| BF

9/2

£120,000 buy after winning sole Irish point last December. Created a good impression when winning 12-runner maiden at Ffos Las (20f) on hurdling debut in October and better form in defeat when head second to re-opposing Klimt Madrik over C&D a month ago. 6 lb better off with that rival.

Form: 14-12

Klimt Madrik³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: K Brogan| T: T Lawes| OR: 129| CD

9/1

In the frame in a couple of points and confirmed the promise of his debut fourth to Kalkbrenner in maiden hurdle at Ffos Las when reversing the form with that rival over C&D a month ago, edging ahead close home. Sure to progress but 6 lb worse off with that rival this time.

Form: 34/41

Montemares²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Stan Sheppard| T: T Lacey| OR: 126| D

20/1

Made a winning start to his career in Hereford maiden last month and supplemented that under a penalty in a Market Rasen novice upped to this trip 3 weeks ago. Should have more to offer but this is a difficult ask.

Form: 11

No Drama This End²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 143| D

4/9

Point winner who scored impressively in a Warwick bumper a year ago. Acquitted himself well in Champion Bumper at Cheltenham next time, before creating a superb impression in landing brace of Grade 2s, namely Hyde Novices' Hurdle and Winter Novices' Hurdle. Will take some stopping.

Form: 1/19-11

Tiptoptim⁵³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 124| D

12/1

£70,000 Irish point recruit who built on debut bumper promise when easily landing the odds in similar company at Newcastle in March. Shaped well when second on hurdles debut at Uttoxeter and didn't need to even match that form to land the odds over (21.3f) at Ludlow since.

Form: 1/31-21

Non-Runners

Destination Dubai⁴⁵

Weight: 11-7| Age: 6

T: D Killahena & G McPherson J: Non Runner

Giantsgrave⁴¹

Weight: 11-7| Age: 5

T: D Skelton J: Harry Skelton

Starzand⁶²

Weight: 11-7| Age: 5

T: P Hobbs & J White J: Sean Houlihan

Forecasts

No Drama This End (4/9), Kalkbrenner (9/2), Starzand (15/2), Klimt Madrik (9/1), Tiptoptim (12/1), Montemares (20/1), Giantsgrave (20/1), Destination Dubai (20/1), Etna Bianco (25/1)

The Paul Nicholls stranglehold on this race ended 12 months ago but in NO DRAMA THIS END, he has the perfect candidate with a brace of ready Grade 2 wins this autumn marking him down as a top prospect. Kalkbrenner is expected to reverse C&D form with Klimt Madrik on these 6 lb better terms but a bigger threat to the selection may emerge in the form of Starzand.