14:40 Taunton

Monday 9 March 2026

All14:1014:4015:1015:4016:1016:4017:10

DragonBet The Roar Before BOG At Cheltenham Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:40 | Winning time: 4m 3.87s

American Trio^p1²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Jack Hogan| T: F O'Brien

100/1

No great shakes between the flags (0-8 in that sphere) and while he's joined a respected yard, this 5-y-o is probably best watched starting out under Rules.

Form: P65-4UP

Bamber⁵⁴

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

28/1

Has shown promise both starts since switched to hurdles, latterly finishing a creditable sixth of 11 in a Newbury novice, despite refusing to settle. Likely to be seen in a better light when handicapping in due course.

Form: 65-66

Famous Shoes³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Harriet Tucker⁽⁷⁾| T: N P Mulholland

150/1

Signs of ability on the Flat for Karl Burke but there have been very few positives to take from his efforts in this sphere so far.

Form: 9FP

Gnomon⁷³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: K Brogan| T: T Lawes| OR: 118

5/2

Bumper winner for Ralph Beckett and progressed well on the Flat for the same trainer last year, scoring twice. Has found just one too good on each of his 2 starts since tackling hurdles and he's high on the shortlist.

Form: 168-22

Governors Island¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: C P O'Shea⁽⁷⁾| T: H Fry

150/1

No impact in bumper and similar story on recent Wincanton hurdles debut. Another for whom handicaps may prove more fruitful further down the line.

Form: 070

King Berry¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Tom Broughton⁽⁵⁾| T: M Comley

66/1

Showed only modest form in a trio of bumpers (for Ed De Giles) and it was a very low-key start in this sphere for new connections at Wincanton 12 days ago.

Form: 5850

Follow The Plan¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Rian Corcoran⁽⁷⁾| T: D Pipe

125/1

Dartmouth mare who came in third in an Irish point in December but hasn't shown much in a couple of runs under Rules. Way of Stars is clearly the stable first-string.

Form: 93

Gilded Glance²³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: C Gethings| T: Mrs J Williams

200/1

Passing Glance mare who will need to step up on what she's shown in a couple of maiden hurdles in order to play a leading role in this contest.

Form: 07

Great Dance⁹²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Lorcan Williams| T: Chester Williams

8/1

Debut bumper winner at Newton Abbot in October and soft ground may have been against her when ninth in listed event at Huntingdon next time. Conditions will be more suitable now switched to hurdles and she's one to consider.

Form: 19

Babyken^t²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 112| D

11/8

Fair winner on Flat in France who shaped as if amiss when pulled up in juvenile at Fontwell on hurdling debut in October, folding tamely. Much better efforts with a tongue strap added over this C&D the last twice and he needs considering.

Form: P23

Way Of Stars^h²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe| OR: 113

2/1

Useful on Flat for Andrew Balding and, having changed hands for 68,000 gns, he has shaped well both starts in maiden hurdles, latterly benefiting from the first-time hood with a near-miss over this C&D (Babyken close up in third). Remains open to improvement.

Form: 32

Cantalice^b,t²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-3| J: Miss Megan Bevan⁽⁷⁾| T: Ella Pickard

250/1

ell beaten in 4 starts on the Flat for Marco Botti during first half of last year and no promise in a couple of mares' maiden hurdles.

Form: 4P

Forecasts

Babyken (11/8), Way Of Stars (2/1), Gnomon (5/2), Great Dance (8/1), Bamber (28/1), King Berry (66/1), American Trio (100/1), Follow The Plan (125/1), Governors Island (150/1), Famous Shoes (150/1), Gilded Glance (200/1), Cantalice (250/1)

The pick of several appealing candidates is WAY OF STARS, who bettered his hurdles debut display when just missing out in a first-time hood over C&D last month, splitting a pair from the Paul Nicholls yard, including the re-opposing Babyken, who was a close-up third. Gnomon has shown plenty in his two starts in this sphere and he is feared most ahead of Babyken, while bumper winner Great Dance also enters calculations.