13:57 Fontwell

Wednesday 21 October 2026

All13:5714:3215:0715:4216:1716:50

Betting.Bet Free Racing Tips Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:57 | Winning time: 4m 55.80s

Ben Cruachan³⁶³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Ben Jones| T: P Hobbs & J White

10/3

Offered something to work on when third of 8 in novice hurdle at this C&D (good to soft) on debut this time last year. The winner of that race developed into a useful sort and he's respected despite an absence with Ben Jones boasting a healthy strike rate when teaming up with this yard.

Form: 3-

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Eastern Rock²¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Adam Wedge| T: Miss E C Lavelle

15/2

Half-brother to fairly useful hurdler/very smart chaser Thunder Rock cost £70,000 after winning a point. Travelled well for a long way when second of 10 in bumper at Exeter (17f, good to soft) on Rules debut. Not ruled out making hurdles debut after 7 months off.

Form: P12-

Graeme The Grey¹⁹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Tabitha Worsley| T: N J Gifford

100/1

Placed on 2 of his 3 outings in bumpers but looks one for later on in this sphere judged on his opening efforts at this course in the spring.

Form: 24/346-

Lord Du Gouet²⁰⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: J J Burke| T: Jamie Snowden

3/1

Purchased for £70,000 after winning a thin-looking Irish point in November and made an encouraging start under Rules when third of 10 in bumper at Chepstow (2m, good, 13/8) on debut. Should prove more at home over this longer trip on hurdles debut.

Form: 13-

On The Bayou²²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Bryan Carver| T: H Fry| BF

5/1

£140,000 purchase after winning sole outing in points. Runner-up on his hurdling debut at Exeter but only fifth when odds on in another 2m maiden there in March. Reportedly struck into there and worth another chance after 7 months off.

Form: 1/525-

Tread Carefully¹⁹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 115| BF

2/1

Proved relatively expensive to follow when runner-up on 3 of his 6 starts over hurdles this season, though he bumped into an improver when second of 5 in novice hurdle at Market Rasen (21f, good to soft) in April and he still sets the standard after 6 months off.

Form: 7252U2-

Uncle Scrooge³³²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Freddie Gordon| T: C Gordon

10/1

£60,000 4-y-o, Soldier of Fortune gelding. Half-brother to fair hurdler Additional Time. Dam unraced half-sister to bumper winner/fairly useful hurdler (stayed 2½m) Ahorsewithnoname. Placed on 2 of 3 starts in Irish points in 2025.

Form: 3/P2-

Unknown Stranger⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: R P McLernon| T: J & S Best

500/1

€35,000 3-y-o, Maxios gelding. Some substance to the form of his consecutive fourth-place finishes in points but he lost touch some way out before pulling up in a C&D novice hurdle last week.

Form: P/44-P

Uptoyourselves⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: M Goldstein| T: Mrs L Richards| BF

100/1

£17,000 5-y-o, Walk In The Park mare. Successful on last of 4 starts in Irish points in April but failed to land the odds in a weak 5-runner at this course (2¼m, good, 1/2) last month. Makes hurdles debut.

Form: 6/7P1-3

Midnight Lexi¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: Tristan Durrell| T: D Skelton

200/1

Nathaniel filly who showed promise amidst signs of being headstrong when third of 9 in bumper at Worcester (2m, good) last month. Given a considerate introduction to hurdling when sixth of 7 in novice hurdle at Uttoxeter on hurdles bow 17 days ago. Up in trip.

Form: 36

My Lady D'ex^t¹³³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: Mr H Hunt⁽⁷⁾| T: R Hobson

500/1

Has a good pedigree but has offered little in a pair of bumpers or on hurdles debut at this C&D in June.

Form: 9-76

Non-Runners

Cool Customer²²⁰

Weight: 11-4| Age: 5

T: F O'Brien J: Fern O'Brien

La Trinite²

Weight: 10-9| Age: 4

T: N B King J: J M Quinlan

Forecasts

Tread Carefully (2/1), Lord Du Gouet (3/1), Ben Cruachan (10/3), On The Bayou (5/1), Cool Customer (5/1), Eastern Rock (15/2), Uncle Scrooge (10/1), La Trinite (25/1), Uptoyourselves (100/1), Graeme The Grey (100/1), Midnight Lexi (200/1), My Lady D'ex (500/1), Unknown Stranger (500/1)

TREAD CAREFULLY went 0-6 over hurdles last season but the form he showed in defeat on several occasions means he sets the standard. The form of On The Bayou's Exeter second means he remains of interest, whilst the pick of several intriguing hurdling debutants is perhaps Fergal O'Brien's Cool Customer.