16:00 Southwell

Wednesday 1 April 2026

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Country And Western Night 25th April Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

4YO plus | Class 4 | 1m 7f 182y | 8 Runners | Turf

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Callum Pritchard⁽³⁾| T: K Frost| D

Modest handicapper on the Flat (stays 16.5f) who went without a win last year. Tailed off on hurdling debut but showed more when staying-on third of 4 in novice at Doncaster 19 days ago. Task is now to build on latest effort.

Form: 73

Lou Des Bordes³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Tom Midgley⁽³⁾| T: N Kent

150/1

Down the field on bumper debut in December and was beaten even further when tenth of 12 at Huntingdon 10 weeks later, racing too freely. Needs to leave those efforts well behind as he goes hurdling.

Form: 00

Papillondelumiere^t1⁶⁷⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Miss Ellie Callwood⁽⁷⁾| T: J R Barlow

40/1

Califet gelding. Dam unraced half-sister to fairly useful hurdler (stayed 21f) Princelet and bumper winner/fairly useful hurdler (stayed 2¾m) Cockleshell Road. Maiden pointer, finished third on final outing back in May 2024. Wears tongue strap for Rules debut.

Promethean²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: J M Quinlan| T: S England

33/1

Fair 1½m maiden winner on the Flat last summer for David Menuisier. Has struggled for form since, though, and little impact in 2 starts over hurdles for current yard, always behind in novice at Carlisle 24 days ago.

Form: 78

Road To Wembley²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| D

8/13

Fairly useful staying handicapper on the Flat for Richard Hughes and made an encouraging stable/hurdling debut when second in 10-runner novice at Warwick 24 days ago, collared near the finish. The one to beat with improvement to come.

Form: 2

Top Coeur¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Kielan Woods| T: Christian Williams| OR: 116

13/2

In need of the experience on bumper debut before showing fair form in a pair of maiden hurdles for Gavin Patrick Cromwell. After 13 weeks off, well held sent handicapping at Hereford (2½m) for new yard, but he could fare better back in maiden company.

Form: 3-436

Novelista⁷⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-11| J: Harry Bannister| T: W Greatrex| D

9/4

Fairly useful winner on the Flat (stays 2¼m) who was a 165,000 gns purchase from the Charlie Johnston yard. After 4 months off, possibly needed the run when sixth of 10 in juvenile at Ascot on hurdles bow in January, so he remains with potential in this sphere.

Form: 6

Paragon²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-11| J: C J Todd| T: Mrs P Sly

28/1

Modest maiden on the level (stays 1¼m). Ran to a similar level when fourth of 6 in maiden at Huntingdon on hurdling debut in February and still in need of the experience when well held at the same course 3 weeks ago.

Form: 47

Forecasts

Road To Wembley (11/8), Top Coeur (9/4), Novelista (9/2), Corsican Caper (13/2), Paragon (20/1), Promethean (33/1), Papillondelumiere (33/1), Lou Des Bordes (66/1)

ROAD TO WEMBLEY shaped promisingly when second to a bright prospect at Warwick on his hurdling debut in March and, given his level of ability on the Flat, he can build on that effort to go one better. Novelista was also fairly useful on the level and is feared most, ahead of Top Coeur.