12:15 Cheltenham

Thursday 1 January 2026

All12:1512:5013:2514:0014:3515:1015:40

Enquire About The Cheltenham Bloodstock Club Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 12:15 | Winning time: 5m 0.7s

Handin Manypockets⁶⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Rex Dingle| T: S Hosie

33/1

Changed hands for £55,000 after finishing third on debut in a maiden point in November, but he faces a stiff task starting out under Rules in a very warm-looking maiden.

Form: 3

Just Golden³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 120| BF

5/4

Successful on second of 2 starts in bumpers and has shaped well both starts switched to hurdles, latterly finishing third of 8 upped to 2¾m at Newcastle (good to soft). The winner of that novice looks very useful and, with improvement likely, this 6-y-o is a big player.

Form: 21-23

Kiwi Rush^t³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Harry Derham

7/2

Winner of the second of his 3 starts in bumpers and showed plenty of promise on hurdling debut after 8 months off at Newbury (20.5f, good to soft) in November. Sure to come on for that and he's of strong interest for his in-form, up-and-coming yard.

Form: 52/612-4

Minella Mission³¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: D J Jeffreys

80/1

Brother to useful hurdle/chase winner Look To The West and winning hurdler Bembridge. Off the mark in Irish points when last seen in February and should have a future under Rules, but this is a tough starting point.

Form: F/21-

Neon Dream³⁰⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: A King

13/2

Cost £105,000 after decisively winning his sole completed start in Irish points and, as a half-brother to smart hurdler Shoot First (2½m-3m winner), he's certainly bred for this game. One to monitor closely in the betting.

Form: P/1-

Step Ahead^t²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: C Gethings| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls

3/1

Found just one too good first time out in a Haydock bumper in May 2024 and again placed sole start last season in a listed event at Ascot. It was also a positive start over hurdles for new connections (sold for £145,000) when second at Warwick (21f, soft) 3 weeks ago and he's open to improvement.

Form: 23-2

Walk Tall¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: H Cobden| T: J Tizzard

25/1

Purchased for £120,000 after making a winning point debut in December 2024 and shaped well when runner-up in Exeter bumper on Rules debut last February. Hasn't shown a great deal in 2 starts over hurdles this season, though, and it's likely he'll be seen in a better light over fences in due course.

Form: 12-87

Non-Runners

Can't Resist It²⁰

Weight: 11-7| Age: 7

T: F O'Brien J: Fern O'Brien

Forecasts

Just Golden (5/4), Step Ahead (3/1), Kiwi Rush (7/2), Neon Dream (13/2), Walk Tall (25/1), Handin Manypockets (33/1), Can't Resist It (50/1), Minella Mission (80/1)

Several of these should be winning races before long and STEP AHEAD could be the first of them to deliver. He pulled nicely clear of the rest when chasing home one who had race-fitness/hurdling experience on his side at Warwick on what was his first run in this sphere following almost a year off. Next on the list is Just Golden, who has shown plenty in his two starts over hurdles and remains open to improvement. Kiwi Rush and point winner Neon Dream are others to consider.