12:50 Wetherby

Thursday 22 January 2026

All12:2012:5013:2013:5514:3015:0515:40

Bowel Cancer Screening Programme Saves Lives EBF 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 12:51 | Winning time: 4m 16.74s

Kaka's Cousin²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: K Brogan| T: J & A O'Neill

16/5

6-figure buy after finishing second in an Irish point who justified short odds starting out under Rules when impressively landing 6-runner maiden hurdle at Catterick (19.3f) 25 days ago, running green before asserting before last. Looks sure to progress and definite claims under a penalty.

Form: F2-1

Starmount²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Ben Jones| T: B Pauling| OR: 123| CD

1/7

Successful on completed start in points and perfect start under Rules when landing a C&D novice under hands and heels riding at the start of last month. Serious error did him no favours when fourth in Aintree Grade 1 on Boxing Day and expected to play a lead role back in calmer waters.

Form: F1-14

Bogha Baiste⁶²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Sean Quinlan| T: Lizzie Quinlan

200/1

Getaway gelding who has looked a work in progress in a couple of bumpers 5 months apart, still showing greenness starting out for new yard when seventh of 12 in bumper at Catterick (15.7f, good, 66/1) 62 days ago. Likely best watched now hurdling.

Form: D7

Hourman¹⁰³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: D R Fox| T: L Russell & M Scudamore

28/1

Masked Marvel gelding who finished a close fourth of 5 in a Hexham bumper (16.2f) on debut back in October, held only late on in a race run at a crawl. Certainly bred to have a future in this sphere but he may have to settle for a minor role on this occasion.

Form: 4

Je Mr Dawson^t1³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Ross Chapman| T: R Menzies

80/1

Has merely hinted at ability in bumper/pair of novice hurdle runs to date and low-grade handicaps promise to be more his thing moving forward. Tongue strap on 1st time.

Form: 6-76

Johnny Two Jets²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Toby Wynne| T: R M Smith

200/1

Beat just one rival home starting out in a bumper here last month and he fared no better when eleventh of 13 in novice hurdle at Ayr (16f, soft) on hurdles bow 20 days ago. Can only be watched.

Form: 70

Jungle Jet³¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Danny McMenamin| T: J Parkinson & S SmithWS

80/1

Placed in Irish point but he looked a likely longer-term project under Rules when tailed-off sixth of 7 in a Hexham maiden (16.2f) 10 months ago. Undergone wind surgery ahead of return and this promises to reveal more.

Form: PP533/6-

Knockeranna Rose²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Conor Rabbitt⁽³⁾| T: S Corbett

66/1

Shaped like a stayer in bumpers and similar story in 2 hurdle runs, unsuited by the drop in trip when sixth of 11 in a Kelso maiden (16.2f) 24 days ago. Another likely type for handicaps on the back of this.

Form: 5-4266

Largy Meadow^h1,t²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Ben Smith⁽⁷⁾| T: R M Smith

80/1

Out of a 2m-3m hurdle winner and didn't shape at all badly when chasing home a useful-looking type on debut/sole start for Stuart Crawford in a Ballinrobe bumper last summer. Too free when down the field on yard/hurdles bow at Ayr (2m) 3 weeks ago, though. Hood on 1st time.

Form: 2-8

Laristote⁵⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| BF

22/1

Held every chance when falling at the last in an Irish point early last year and whilst he couldn't justify cramped odds, there was definite promise to glean from his third behind William Yeats on bumper debut at Sedgefield (16.8f) in November. Interesting hurdles debutant.

Form: F-3

William Yeats²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Theo Gillard| T: R Menzies

50/1

Easily landed a 5-runner bumper at Sedgefield (16.8f, soft) in November but seemingly being brought along gradually in this sphere, not unduly punished when sixth of 10 in a Kelso maiden (16.2f) 24 days ago. Likely improver further down the line.

Form: 2-2156

Big Love⁵⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-3| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: M & D Easterby

80/1

Showed ability only start in bumpers and did the same before finding himself derailed by an error when fourth of 6 in juvenile hurdle at Doncaster (16.6f, good to soft) on hurdles bow 55 days ago. In receipt of plenty of weight all round but he's possibly one for handicaps.

Form: 44

Forecasts

Starmount (1/7), Kaka's Cousin (16/5), Laristote (22/1), Hourman (28/1), William Yeats (50/1), Knockeranna Rose (66/1), Largy Meadow (80/1), Je Mr Dawson (80/1), Big Love (80/1), Jungle Jet (80/1), Johnny Two Jets (200/1), Bogha Baiste (200/1)

Having made the perfect start when landing a C&D novice under hands and heels riding in December, STARMOUNT ultimately found a bad mistake doing him no favours when fourth in Grade 1 company at Aintree on Boxing Day. Remaining with potential, he can make amends back in calmer waters. Fellow penalised runner Kaka's Cousin was a good winner at Catterick over Christmas and rates the lead threat. Hurdle debutants Hourman and Laristote are others worthy of a second look.