13:15 Newbury

Saturday 21 March 2026

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:45

Castle Windows Newbury Anniversary Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

4YO plus | Class 3 | 2m 69y | 8 Runners | Turf

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Freddie Gordon| T: C Gordon| OR: 125

Made winning start over timber at Fontwell in November and has finished runner-up on last 3 outings, a particularly good effort when beaten 3 lengths by Klub de Reve in the Grade 2 Dovecote at Kempton (2m) 4 weeks ago. Sets the standard on that, though does have a tendency to jump right.

Form: 3-15222

Lisbane Park²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: H Cobden| T: J Tizzard| OR: 120| BF

5/2

Cost £110,000 after finishing second in an Irish point and went one better in 2m novice at Exeter in November. Has proved consistent in defeat since, doing little wrong when a close second back at that Devon venue last month, and he should be in the mix again.

Form: 2-1432

Gambino²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton

11/4

Gowran maiden winner on Flat debut for Noel Meade in April and he ran a cracker when runner-up in 1m4f Flat handicap there 4 months later. Since placed behind Constitution Hill at Southwell and rates an interesting prospect now going hurdling for top yard.

Form:

Giddyupadingdong⁹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Bradley Harris⁽³⁾| T: N P MulhollandWS

50/1

Made winning start in bumpers for Milton Harris in October 2023 but was then absent for 27 months and he shaped as if amiss when pulled up at Wincanton on hurdles bow in December.

Form: 1/P

King Berry¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: M Comley

250/1

Showed only modest form in a trio of bumpers (for Ed De Giles) and has finished well held both starts over hurdles for current yard.

Form: 58508

Noble Don¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: D J Jeffreys

250/1

Placed in points but offered little in a Sedgefield bumper on Rules debut in January 2024. Very keen on return/hurdles bow when pulled up at Haydock 16 days ago. Needs to leave that form well behind.

Form: 3F27/P

Padel Bandit⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Caoilin Quinn| T: G & J Moore

250/1

Well held in maiden hurdles at Wincanton and Fontwell.

Form: 00

Cecilia Star²²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-3| J: Tom Cannon| T: L Wadham| CD

11/2

Fair 10f Flat winner who looks the part for jumping and shaped well when considerately handled fifth in 16-runner mares' maiden at Kempton on debut last month. Confirmed that promise when landing a C&D juvenile hurdle here 3 weeks ago and she can improve again.

Form: 51

Forecasts

Kocktail Bleu (11/10), Lisbane Park (5/2), Gambino (10/3), Cecilia Star (13/2), Giddyupadingdong (33/1), King Berry (150/1), Noble Don (150/1), Padel Bandit (200/1)

KOCKTAIL BLEU was runner-up in a Grade 2 at Kempton last time and he'll be tough to beat with a replication of that form. Gambino proved himself above average in a light Flat career and shaped encouragingly behind Constitution Hill on debut for Dan Skelton last time, so is a highly respected hurdles newcomer, with Lisbane Park just preferred to Cecilia Star for third.