13:10 Stratford

Monday 9 November 2026

All12:4013:1013:4014:1514:5015:2515:55

Stratford Extra Raceday 'National Hunt' Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:16 | Winning time: 4m 6.90s

Blackswan D'oroux³⁰⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Lorcan Williams| T: D Skelton

12/1

€155,000 3-y-o. Well-related Tunis gelding was sent off 5/2 for his debut but came in a well-held eighth of 11 in bumper at Exeter 10 months ago for Ben Pauling. Since joined Dan Skelton and commands plenty of respect on hurdling bow, though Harry Skelton partners Eastern Fire.

Form: 8-

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Chase The Status^t1⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Miss Clara Brewitt⁽⁷⁾| T: M Young

250/1

Third in a point bumper but has offered little in a pair of bumpers and when last of 7 on his hurdling bow in novice at Plumpton (21f, good to soft) a week ago. Tongue strap is fitted for the first time.

Form: 53-647

Eastern Fire^t1²⁵

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

8/15

Poet's Word gelding. Landed Fakenham bumper in January and making a promising hurdling debut (upsides winner) when fell last in novice at Perth (2½m, soft) 25 days ago. Tongue strap now fitted for first time. Choice of Harry Skelton from yard's quartet and the one to beat.

Form: 21-F

Emerald Tir¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Toby McCain-Mitchell⁽³⁾| T: Ryan Hatch

12/1

Promise shown when fourth in Worcester bumper and third on hurdling debut in 2m novice there this summer. Failed to build on it with fifth of 9 in novice over C&D (soft) 11 days ago but remains likely to do better in handicaps.

Form: 435

Mags Ocean^h¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Liam Harrison| T: D Skelton

66/1

Shaped well when third in Uttoxeter bumper last October. Too free when pulled up on hurdling debut at Worcester on return and always behind in a first-time hood when eighth of 11 in novice at Market Rasen (17f, good to soft) 15 days ago. May still do better once qualified for handicaps.

Form: 3-P8

Myfavourite Friend⁴²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Calum Hogan⁽⁵⁾| T: L Horsfall

80/1

Showed a bit when fifth in 2m novice at Ballinrobe but only thirteenth of 16 in similar company at Galway (17f) later last summer for Eric McNamara. Back from 14 months off for new yard with his fitness to prove.

Form: 750-

Oykel Bridge²⁰⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: A King| BF

7/2

Zoffany colt. Improved on debut when third in bumper at Haydock (flashed tail) in March and run best ignored (badly hampered over 2f out) when eighth in Hereford bumper in April. Not ruled out on his hurdles debut.

Form: 338-

Thunder Thief¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-5| J: C J Todd| T: D Skelton

80/1

Ocovango gelding. Sent off 33/1 and pulled up in novice at Ffos Las (2m, soft) on his debut 18 days ago. One of Skelton quartet and he could still do better but he's likely one for handicaps.

Form: P

Wallquatari⁶²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Theo Gillard| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 102

5/1

Waldpark gelding. Runner-up in juvenile hurdles at Doncaster (2m) and Market Rasen (17f) in 2024/25. Off 20 months but can't be totally dismissed, especially if the market vibes are positive.

Form: F22/

Bath Taverness¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Lee Edwards| T: P D Evans

40/1

Landed Newton Abbot bumper in July but failed to complete on first 2 runs over hurdles before a well-held fifth of 12 in novice at Hereford (2m, good) on hurdling bow 2 weeks ago.

Form: 05-1UP5

Crescendo Lady^t1¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: K Brogan| T: L Horsfall

250/1

Last in a Fakenham bumper in April and pulled up in novice at Ffos Las (2½m, soft) on hurdles bow 18 days ago. Tongue strap is fitted for the first time here.

Form: 5-P

Fountains Gala¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Jack Stenhouse⁽⁷⁾| T: Claire Hitch

250/1

Passing Glance mare who has yet to show any ability in a trio of runs over hurdles, pulled up in novice here (2¾m, soft) 11 days ago.

Form: 90U-P

Non-Runners

Elmsford²⁴

Weight: 11-5| Age: 4

T: B Pauling J: Elliott England

Forecasts

Eastern Fire (8/15), Oykel Bridge (7/2), Wallquatari (5/1), Emerald Tir (12/1), Blackswan D'oroux (12/1), Elmsford (25/1), Bath Taverness (40/1), Mags Ocean (66/1), Myfavourite Friend (80/1), Thunder Thief (80/1), Crescendo Lady (250/1), Fountains Gala (250/1), Chase The Status (250/1)

EASTERN FIRE looks the clear pick of the Dan Skelton-trained quartet here and gets a confident vote to make amends for his last-flight fall at Perth (upsides winner) on his recent hurdling bow and add to his earlier bumper success. Stablemate Blackswan d'Oroux could emerge as the one to chase him home ahead of fellow hurdling debutant Oykel Bridge and the returning Wallquatari.