14:00 Hereford

Monday 12 January 2026

All13:0013:3014:0014:3015:0015:3016:00

Blackmore Building Contractors Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race) (Div 2)

Off time: 14:01 | Winning time: 4m 5.17s

Vol Royale³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: H Cobden| T: K Woollacott| OR: 118| CD

1/1

Point winner who showed ability when fourth both bumper starts last spring and is going the right way over hurdles, comfortably landing a 2m maiden at C&D last month. A penalty demands more but he looks capable of better.

Form: 144-B51

Aguellid^h1⁵⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Sean Houlihan| T: P Hobbs & J White

11/10

Ran to a fairly useful level on hurdle bow when 3½ lengths fourth in newcomers race at Auteuil and very much caught the eye when third on UK debut at Exeter 56 days ago, finishing with plenty of running left despite pulling hard. Type to improve considerably.

Form: 4-3

Cooler Than Me¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Tom Broughton⁽⁵⁾| T: F O'Brien

33/1

Ran to a fair level when runner-up in an Exeter bumper in March 2023 but has already changed hands twice since and recent return from 18-month was discouraging. Hard to fancy.

Form: 21/PBP-8

Cote D'ange⁷⁴

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

80/1

Yard going well at present but soundly beaten both starts over hurdles so far.

Form: 9-0

Could Be You¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Harry Kimber| T: R Potter

150/1

Placed both starts in Irish points in early 2025 but didn't achieve much in a pair of novice hurdles at Lingfield and Chepstow last month. Others make more appeal.

Form: 23-3P

Harbour Light³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Toby McCain-Mitchell⁽⁵⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies

12/1

Comfortably held in 2 bumpers and a C&D maiden hurdle. Looks more one for the longer term.

Form: 8-77

Kenobi⁶⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Conor Ring| T: Evan Williams

150/1

Out of a half-sister to useful hurdler/smart staying chaser Ramses de Teillee. Not given a hard time when mid-field in a Chepstow bumper and market may prove best guide now hurdling.

Form: 6

Lord Virginia⁴⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Beau Morgan⁽⁵⁾| T: M Keighley

22/1

Only modest form in 3 bumpers so would be a bit of a surprise winner on hurdle debut.

Form: 4-94

Lovis De Sceaux³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Shane Fenelon⁽⁵⁾| T: S-J Davies

300/1

Runner-up in a bumper but achieved nothing in 3 starts over hurdles so far.

Form: 82-6U58

Peter's Last Deal⁷⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Benjamin Poste| T: T Symonds

17/2

Better effort in bumpers when third here on debut and again showed something when third of 8 in novice hurdle at this course (19.7f, good) on hurdles bow 70 days ago. Looked short of pace there, though, so drop in trip not certain to suit.

Form: 35-3

Raging Al^h²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: James Davies| T: Tim Vaughan

100/1

Fair maiden on the Flat has proved headstrong when down the field both completed starts over hurdles, including over C&D last time.

Form: U70

Daring To Dream^h²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: James Best| T: H Dickin

80/1

Zoustar filly who has hinted at ability in 2 bumpers and a novice hurdle but seems unlikely to be of interest until handicapping.

Form: 2-68

Non-Runners

Lyric²⁵⁴

Weight: 11-3| Age: 5

T: J & A O'Neill J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.

Both Of Us⁸¹

Weight: 10-4| Age: 4

T: Kerry Lee J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Vol Royale (1/1), Aguellid (11/10), Lyric (6/1), Peter's Last Deal (17/2), Harbour Light (12/1), Lord Virginia (22/1), Both Of Us (25/1), Cooler Than Me (33/1), Daring To Dream (80/1), Cote D'ange (80/1), Raging Al (100/1), Could Be You (150/1), Kenobi (150/1), Lovis De Sceaux (300/1)

AGUELLID produced a most promising effort on British debut and should prove capable of much better, so is taken to get the better of the penalised C&D winner Vol Royale. Completing the shortlist is Lyric, who was above average at his best on the Flat and rates as an interesting newcomer to hurdling.