14:02 Kempton

Monday 2 February 2026

All12:5213:2714:0214:3515:0715:4216:17

CopyBet Acca Boost Up to 100% Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:02 | Winning time: 5m 19.88s

Religous Cross³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: C O'Farrell| T: N P Mulholland

5/2

Winner of sole start in maiden points. Promising second on bumper debut and still showed signs of inexperience when an impressive winner on hurdle debut at Taunton (19f, good to soft) at the end of last year. Better to come over this longer trip.

Form: 1-21

Step Ahead^t³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: C Gethings| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 124

9/4

Fairly useful bumper performer who has made a very positive start over hurdles for new connections (purchased for £145,000) splitting a pair of subsequent winners at Warwick (21f, soft) and improved when game winner of 2½m Cheltenham novice (good) last time. Further progress expected.

Form: 23-21

Sunset Boulevard²⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams

50/1

Shaped like a stayer in bumpers and relished the step up in trip when making a successful hurdle debut for Willie Mullins at Tramore (21.8f, good to soft) in May. Has since switched yards but is bred to be useful and should keep on improving.

Form: 85-1

Betgoodwin¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Freddie Gordon| T: C Gordon

300/1

Castle du Berlais gelding who has shown little in a pair of starts over hurdles, looking hard work at Ascot last time. Difficult to make a case for this side of handicaps.

Form: P7

Coumeenoole¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 117

11/1

Point winner showed fair form to place in multiple maiden hurdles between 2½-3m for Paul Nolan but looked unsuited by the drop in trip when trailing the field on first start for Dan Skelton at Haydock (15.7f, 12/1) last month. One to note in the market now significantly back up in distance.

Form: F2F37-8

Hillwalk³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Dylan Johnston| T: N P Mulholland

18/1

Placed twice in bumpers and has offered something to work on with in-frame finishes both starts over hurdles, ridden with an eye to the future when well held fourth over 2m at Chepstow latest. Capable of better, probably in handicaps (yard also saddle Religious Cross).

Form: F/23-34

Jaja Jimmy^t⁷⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: G Sheehan| T: Miss J S DavisWS

150/1

Standout effort when placed in heavy ground bumper at Exeter at end of 2024 but looks to be being brought along gradually over hurdles. One for another day.

Form: 635-U5

Kiss Gold^p1³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Sean Houlihan| T: P Hobbs & J White

150/1

Well held on bumper debut and still looked in need of the experience when 38 lengths eighth of 13 to Religious Cross in novice hurdle at Taunton (19f) on hurdles bow, going with little fluency. Longer trip/headgear should help but he may need more time.

Form: 5-8

Monansunu²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Caoilin Quinn| T: A Irvine

300/1

Pether's Moon gelding who merely hinted at ability in a trio of bumpers and went with little short-term promise on hurdles debut at Fontwell last month.

Form: 83-60

Neon Dream³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: A King

4/1

Well-related sort cost £105,000 after decisively winning his sole completed start in Irish points and he showed plenty to work on when 3¾ lengths third behind more experienced Step Ahead at Cheltenham on New Year's Day. Likely improver who looks interesting with a 7 lb pull at the weights.

Form: P/1-3

Padre Arthur⁴⁷

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

22/1

Makes plenty of pedigree appeal and needed the experience when midfield on Newbury bumper debut. Given a sympathetic introduction to hurdling over 2½m there (12/1) in December and will do better at some stage for top yard.

Form: 66

Pop's Folly¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Finn Lambert⁽³⁾| T: G Nicholls

150/1

Little impact in bumpers/hurdles to date but did show a bit more when well-beaten fifth in strong 6-runner novice hurdle at Windsor (24f, soft, 200/1) 17 days ago. Likely one for handicaps.

Form: 85-75

Reckless Spending⁵¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson

11/4

Cost 200,000 gns after finishing runner-up in sole Irish point. Showed ability amidst inexperience when third on bumper/hurdle debut but jumped poorly pitched into a 3m Grade 2 novice at Cheltenham last time. Isn't one to discount with sights lowered (stable also saddle Padre Arthur).

Form: 2-337

Tom Desjy²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Harry Bannister| T: W Greatrex

250/1

Runner-up sole outing in Irish points but well held both starts over hurdles. One for the longer-term.

Form: 2/90

What A Dragon¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Harry Kimber| T: R Walford

300/1

Shown little in pair of 2m maidens and will need to improve markedly for the significant step up in distance.

Form: P8

Non-Runners

Fury Lad⁴⁵

Weight: 11-5| Age: 7

T: R Rowe J: Tom Cannon

Peter's Last Deal²¹

Weight: 11-5| Age: 5

T: T Symonds J: Ned Fox

Forecasts

Step Ahead (9/4), Religous Cross (5/2), Reckless Spending (11/4), Neon Dream (4/1), Coumeenoole (11/1), Peter's Last Deal (12/1), Hillwalk (18/1), Padre Arthur (22/1), Sunset Boulevard (50/1), Pop's Folly (150/1), Jaja Jimmy (150/1), Kiss Gold (150/1), Fury Lad (150/1), Tom Desjy (250/1), Betgoodwin (300/1), Monansunu (300/1), What A Dragon (300/1)

Plenty of interesting types in an opening-looking novice. 6-figure point purchase NEON DREAM showed plenty when third on hurdle debut behind a more experienced Step Ahead and may be able to reverse that Cheltenham form on 7 lb better terms. Religous Cross carries a penalty for his impressive Taunton win but can improve again over this longer trip, while any support for the Henderson and Skelton runners should be noted.