19:30 Southwell

Friday 20 February 2026

All16:2616:5817:3018:0018:3019:0019:3020:0020:30

SBK Road To Cheltenham Novice Stakes (GBBPlus Race)

Off time: 19:30 | Winning time: 2m 34.47s

(13)

Gambino¹⁹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 9-13| J: Hollie Doyle| T: D Skelton| OR: 83

12/1

Won 14-runner Gowran maiden on debut last April and ran a cracker on handicap debut (7/1) there 4 months later, staying on to take second dying strides. Absent since (has left Noel Meade) and must give weight all round, but open to further improvement.

Form: 12

(5)

Square Necker⁶⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 9-11| J: D Egan| T: K P De Foy| D

9/4

Close third in what turned out to be a strong Doncaster maiden on debut/sole start for Ralph Beckett, and had a bit in hand when landing a similar event at Dundalk when reappearing 9 months later. Will likely go on improving.

Form: 31-

(12)

Constitution Hill⁸³

Age: 9| Weight: 9-6| J: Oisin Murphy| T: N J Henderson| BF

6/4

Exceptional hurdler at best, winner of 8 consecutive Grade 1s, including Champion Hurdle in 2023, but has fallen on 3 of last 4 starts, most recently on comeback in November. Belated switch to the Flat looks a sensible move and could easily prove too good for these.

Form:

(1)

Daddy Long Legs²⁸⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: R L Moore| T: W P Mullins| BF

11/2

Better known as a smart hurdler, runner-up in Irish Champion Hurdle 12 months ago. Found to be lame post-race when failing to land the odds on first Flat start for almost 3 years at Ballinrobe last May and not seen since. Ryan Moore takes the mount (only ride on the card).

Form: 2/3-

(4)

Grazeon Sunshine⁵⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Jason Hart| T: J & S Quinn

100/1

Similar form (fair) all 3 starts in bumpers, winning at Sedgefield on second of them. Flat debut.

Form:

(3)

Mr Mcloughlan⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-6| J: Dylan Hogan| T: Jack Jones

50/1

Fairly useful form over hurdles. Has won 3 times in current season but was below form last time. Makes Flat debut.

Form:

(10)

Nardaran^t,p⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-6| J: Cieren Fallon| T: P F Nicholls| BF

33/1

Showed a bit when third in newcomers race at Saint-Cloud in 2024 on sole Flat start. Has since developed into a fairly useful hurdler for Paul Nicholls, though has been below par last 2 outings.

Form: 3/

(6)

Roadlesstravelled³⁵⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: P J McDonald| T: J & A O'Neill

33/1

Fairly useful form over hurdles, winning first 3 starts in 2024/25, including Grade 2 at Haydock. Pulled up both starts since (found to have been struck into when last seen last March). Makes Flat debut.

Form:

(8)

Star Artist⁶⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: Rob Hornby| T: H Morrison

200/1

Fair form in bumpers and similar (winning) form over hurdles, though has looked temperamental of late. Makes Flat debut.

Form:

(14)

Tripoli Flyer³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 9-6| J: Billy Loughnane| T: F O'Brien

5/1

Useful hurdler who arrives in top form after second in handicap hurdle at Ascot 5 weeks ago. Makes Flat debut.

Form:

(9)

Masked Mistress⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: Finley Marsh| T: J & S Best

300/1

Dual bumper winner who was fit from hurdling but went with little encouragement at Lingfield (80/1) on Flat debut last week.

Form: 4

(2)

Miracles Do Happen¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: L Morris| T: T Lacey

200/1

Modest form at best in bumpers/over hurdles.

Form:

(11)

Tres Bien⁴³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: Darragh Keenan| T: Hayley Burton

500/1

Little form in bumpers/over hurdles for Philip Kirby.

Form:

Non-Runners

(7)

Noble Way

Weight: 9-4| Age: 4

T: D O'Meara J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Constitution Hill (6/4), Square Necker (9/4), Tripoli Flyer (5/1), Daddy Long Legs (11/2), Gambino (12/1), Nardaran (33/1), Roadlesstravelled (33/1), Mr Mcloughlan (50/1), Noble Way (50/1), Grazeon Sunshine (100/1), Star Artist (200/1), Miracles Do Happen (200/1), Masked Mistress (300/1), Tres Bien (500/1)

All eyes will be on CONSTITUTION HILL who tries his hand on the Flat after his well-documented jumping problems. He's 9 now but could still prove too good for Square Necker, though that one already looks useful and is proven on the AW, and smart hurdler Daddy Long Legs.