16:00 Cheltenham

Friday 13 November 2026

All13:1013:4514:2014:5515:3016:00

Valda Energy Novices' Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 16:05 | Winning time: 3m 52.67s

King's Scholar^t³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Tom Hutsby⁽¹⁰⁾| T: O Murphy| OR: 122| D

25/1

Bordering useful on Flat. No match for subsequent Welsh Champion Hurdle winner Pioneer Pete on hat-trick bid at Stratford. Ground perhaps not ideal when well-held fourth at Chepstow latest. Could be worth a chance to resume progress on handicap bow, for all Sean Bowen prefers his stablemate.

Form: 4-1124

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

First Ascent^p,t²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-13| J: Josh Williamson⁽³⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 121| D

66/1

Made all at a good pace when routing a weak field at Kilbeggan (2m) in September. Clearly wasn't 100% on handicap bow later that month before posing little threat in a spin on the Flat last time. Inflated British mark makes life tough, even if getting back on the up under good-value claimer.

Form: 542310

Crooked Path²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-12| J: J J Burke| T: James Owen| OR: 120| D

5/1

Consistent sort. Career best when convincing winner at Fontwell (19f). Still at top of his game when 3½ lengths third in a good-quality 2½m handicap here last time. Appeals back off proper mark on just fourth hurdle start for outstanding yard. Return to 2m likely in his favour, too.

Form: 331-313

Eben Zaabeel^h,t³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Daniel King| T: A J Martin| OR: 117| BF

10/3

Fairly useful on the Flat. Off the mark with fair bit in hand at Downpatrick before again catching the eye when a smooth-travelling second at Fontwell. Last month's spin on the Flat likely a means to an end. Scope to improve further now handicapping, especially as he's in very shrewd hands.

Form: 0-12

Way Of Stars^t³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe| OR: 115| D

9/2

Useful on Flat. Opened his hurdles account at Taunton in March (solid form). In front a tad soon when collared close home in first-time tongue strap at Chepstow (2m, soft) on return. Race again likely to set up perfectly for his smooth-travelling style and yard renowned for targeting this meeting.

Form: 3210-2

Lexington Wood^h³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 113| BF

7/2

Expensive Irish bumper recruit (chased home Ballyfad). Tall order on hurdling bow before runner-up in a fair maiden at Perth. Better than he could show when well backed in first-time hood on return at Worcester. This'll suit much better, and he's interesting making a quick switch to handicaps.

Form: 7/428-24

Mystic Rose⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-5| J: Sean Flanagan| T: P Magee| OR: 113

40/1

Modest Flat handicapper who is progressing over hurdles. Readily justified support to get off the mark at Sligo before length second in a solid-looking novice at Wexford last time. Needs another chunk of improvement to defy her British mark on handicap debut.

Form: 0-6412

Babyken^t²⁴⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 112| BF| DWS

33/1

Fair winner on Flat in France. Improved when only ¾-length behind Way Of Stars at Taunton (16.5f, soft) in February. Presumably wasn't 100% (since had breathing operation) when well behind same rival the following month. Handicap debutant is still unexposed and cannot be discounted if back on song.

Form: P234-

Tuppence^h⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr Lucas Murphy⁽⁷⁾| T: L Russell & M Scudamore| OR: 112| D

13/2

Backed at long odds when comprehensive winner of 15-runner handicap at Ayr (2m, soft) in April. Followed up with something to spare when making it 2-2 under this very capable amateur on return at Kelso. Entitled to come on for that, too, and she ought to go well back in a handicap on hat-trick bid.

Form: 08/241-1

Baymount¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Donagh Meyler| T: A Mullins| OR: 108| BF

33/1

Exuberant sort. Improved on her previous efforts when making all in mares maiden at Tramore last month. Some mitigation for her disappointment at Wexford (2½m) subsequently. Return to 2m/less testing conditions should suit and certainly respected now sent handicapping by astute Irish stable.

Form: P34214

Final Surprise¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: C Gethings| T: A Ralph| OR: 108| D

28/1

Lightly-raced 5-y-o. Ran well both starts since winning on hurdling debut at Uttoxeter in May. Finished 5 lengths fourth of 8 on handicap bow/reappearance (following a breathing operation) at Huntingdon last time. Likely has a handicap in him, though probably in calmer waters.

Form: 755-134

Likewhatyousee²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-13| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 107

28/1

Progressive on Flat. Set to get back on the up in this sphere when falling on handicap bow (probably booked for third) in a novice final at Worcester (2½m). Possibly not fully over that when below form at Stratford latest. Still merits a second look with her Worcester form working out well.

Form: 2126F4

Whermyrosemarygoes^p1⁷⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Harry Cobden| T: Faye Bramley| OR: 107| D

20/1

Placed in Irish points before overcoming a big market drift to make a successful hurdling debut in an ordinary Uttoxeter (2m) novice. Headgear now added having flashed her tail more markedly when length second at Cartmel in August. Needs a fair bit more again to defy her opening mark.

Form: 452-312

Ocean Of Dreams²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Mr O McGill⁽⁵⁾| T: Gary McGill| OR: 106

16/1

Once-useful Flat performer. Didn't need to be anywhere near that level when comfortably off the mark in a Sligo handicap (2¼m, soft) last time. A 13 lb higher mark doesn't look insurmountable in the context of his Flat form. Respected, especially if market again speaks in his favour.

Form: 0068-61

Kilt^h³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Ross Sugrue⁽⁷⁾| T: P J Rothwell| OR: 106| D

50/1

Free-going sort (hood back on here) who was once useful on the Flat. Saw off a couple of next-time-out winners to resume progress/winning ways in taking style at Listowel in September. This'll suit much better than at Fairyhouse last time, and he could outrun his odds for yard that won 2021 renewal.

Form: 454618

Ade Boy^p,t²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: B S Hughes| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 105| D

14/1

Decisive winner of a Navan bumper on debut. Improved on the pick of his maiden form when 3 lengths third on handicap debut at Uttoxeter (2m). Bigger field/stronger pace sure to suit on that evidence and looks on a workable mark for stable among the winners this month.

Form: 1634-23

Non-Runners

Sytadel²²

Weight: 11-10| Age: 4

T: D Skelton J: Harry Skelton

Shallow Bowles²⁷⁶

Weight: 11-0| Age: 6

T: Nick Scholfield J: Mr Daniel Williams

Forecasts

Eben Zaabeel (10/3), Lexington Wood (7/2), Way Of Stars (9/2), Crooked Path (5/1), Sytadel (6/1), Tuppence (13/2), Ade Boy (14/1), Ocean Of Dreams (16/1), Whermyrosemarygoes (20/1), King's Scholar (25/1), Final Surprise (28/1), Likewhatyousee (28/1), Baymount (33/1), Babyken (33/1), Shallow Bowles (33/1), Mystic Rose (40/1), Kilt (50/1), First Ascent (66/1)

WAY OF STARS looks to have plenty in his favour in a stacked renewal, and he may well gain compensation for his Chepstow near miss. The main danger could be handicap debutant Lexington Wood, who has plenty of untapped potential, while Dan Skelton's Sytadel is another who is probably well treated. Eben Zaabeel is potentially most interesting of a healthy Irish contingent, his shrewd connections landing a touch in this corresponding race back in 2013.