13:13 Ludlow

Wednesday 4 February 2026

All13:1313:4814:2314:5815:3316:0716:42

Racing To School Juvenile Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:13 | Winning time: 4m 0.07s

Down To Business^t¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 113

11/2

Fair maiden on the (stays 1¼m) in Ireland for Andrew Oliver. Looks the part for hurdling and he did better with his hurdling debut under his belt with a tongue strap added when fourth of 10 in juvenile hurdle at Ascot (15.7f, soft) 18 days ago. Can do better again if brushing up his jumping.

Form: 34

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Gallivanted^t²⁶⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Harry DerhamWS

9/1

Fairly useful 1½m winner on Flat, value for extra when making a successful return from 8 months off in a 7-runner Kempton maiden (12f) in May. Acquired by upwardly-mobile jumps outfit for 70,000 gns in July and confidence behind him would look significant having been gelded/undergone wind surgery.

Form:

King Al²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: A King

2/1

Fairly useful Flat winner (stays 1¼m) who built on a promising hurdling debut display when second of 8 in juvenile hurdle at Kempton (16f, good) 25 days ago, the sounder surface likely to have shown him to advantage. Encounters forecast softer ground here but he has the form to play a part.

Form: 52

Lasswade^h1,t²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Benjamin Poste| T: E De Giles

500/1

No form in varied events on Flat and hard to envisage him playing a part on hurdles bow.

Form:

Madame De Labrunie^t³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: J J Burke| T: F O'Brien| OR: 112

16/1

Fair form over hurdles in France, including a 17.5f Auteuil claiming success in September. Low-key start for new yard at Newbury in November but more like it when third of 11 in a Taunton juvenile (16.5f) 5 weeks ago, outpaced before keeping on. Will need to step up again on that form, however.

Form: 5-7F193

Talakan¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: K Brogan| T: T Lawes

10/3

Fairly useful on Flat in France, won 14f maiden on final outing for Francis-Henri Graffard. Sold for €40,000 later in November and solid start debuting in this sphere when third of 10 in juvenile hurdle at Ascot (15.7f, soft) on NH debut 18 days ago. Can build on that effort now.

Form: 3

Wolf Rayet^t⁵³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: R T Dunne| T: S Drinkwater| OR: 120

5/2

Just modest form in 3 Flat outings for Donnacha O'Brien in 2024. Changed hands for 32,000 gns after and encouragement to glean from 2 hurdle runs this winter, equipped with a tongue tie when fourth in Triumph Trial at Cheltenham (16.8f) in December. Possibilities back in calmer waters.

Form: 24

Silvereen⁴⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: H D Daly

125/1

Silverwave filly who displayed poor form in finishing midfield in a couple of bumpers during second half of last year. Bred for longer trips and she's passed over now attentions switch to hurdling.

Form: 47

Forecasts

King Al (2/1), Wolf Rayet (5/2), Talakan (10/3), Down To Business (11/2), Gallivanted (9/1), Madame De Labrunie (16/1), Silvereen (125/1), Lasswade (500/1)

This looks a competitive opener but there was enough encouragement to glean from TALAKAN's hurdles debut third at Ascot to think he can play a lead role with his sights lowered, and he shades preference over Kempton runner-up King Al. Wolf Rayet also has the form to play a part, whilst market confidence behind hurdles newcomer Gallivanted would also look significant for the stable who landed this race 12 months ago.