16:00 Cheltenham

Friday 14 November 2025

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

Valda Energy Novices' Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 16:03 | Winning time: 4m 16.73s

1^st

French Emperor

511-3

5/1

T: Nicky MartinJ: James Bowen

Midfield, ridden and headway to chase leaders approaching last where not fluent, soon led, kept on well op 13/2 tchd 5/1

2^nd

1 ¼

Jack Hyde

711-12

11/4

T: F O'BrienJ: Tom Broughton (5)

Prominent, disputed lead before 3 out, ridden and every chance approaching last, soon headed and disputed second, chased winner but always held near finish op 7/2

3^rd

1 ¾

Frontier Prince

411-8

10/1

T: F O'BrienJ: J J Burke

Midfield, headway to dispute lead 2 out, ridden and every chance approaching last where not fluent, headed and dropped to third near finish op 11/1 tchd 9/1

4^th

Aeroplane Blonde

510-11

28/1

T: S DrinkwaterJ: Kielan Woods

Wore hood to post, held up in rear, headway before 3 out where mistake, ridden and chased leaders before last, kept on same pace op 25/1 tchd 20/1

5^th

1 ¾

Sage Green

511-2

80/1

T: S HosieJ: James Best

Midfield, in touch with leaders 2 out, soon pushed along, faded close home tchd 66/1 and tchd 100/1

6^th

Alphonse Le Grande

610-2

5/2f

T: A J MartinJ: Daniel King

Midfield, in touch with leaders 2 out, ridden and kept on one pace before last op 9/4

7^th

Pure Gold

511-0

28/1

T: Miss L HarrisonJ: Peter Kavanagh

Held up in rear, ridden and minor headway before last, kept on same pace op 25/1 tchd 33/1

8^th

6 ½

Lucky Bere

410-13

18/1

T: K WoollacottJ: Jack Tudor

Midfield, in touch with leaders 2 out, soon ridden and weakened op 14/1

9^th

2 ¼

Bobby's Fortune

610-3

28/1

T: Evan WilliamsJ: Isabel Williams

Held up in rear, not fluent 4th, mistake 3 out, ridden and no impression before last op 33/1 tchd 28/1 and tchd 40/1

10^th

6 ½

The Expensive One

511-1

20/1

T: N & W Twiston-DaviesJ: Sam Twiston-Davies

Prominent, disputed lead 5th, awkward and headed 3 out, driven and weakened before last op 16/1 tchd 14/1

11^th

Quint Major

711-3

50/1

T: M A MolloyJ: Keith Donoghue

Midfield, ridden and no impression before last op 40/1

12^th

1 ¾

Katakana

510-13

14/1

T: H De BromheadJ: Darragh O'Keeffe

Midfield, ridden and weakened before last op 16/1 tchd 18/1

13^th

Shade Of Winter

511-4

6/1

T: Evan WilliamsJ: H Cobden

Led, joined 5th, not fluent 3 out, soon headed, mistake 2 out, soon weakened tchd 13/2

Also Ran

Bruant

410-12

22/1

T: A J MartinJ: S Bowen

Took keen hold, midfield, weakened before 2 out, soon pulled up op 12/1 tchd 25/1

Farhh Echo

410-3

125/1

T: D J JeffreysJ: Finn Lambert (3)

Midfield, ridden and weakened before 3 out, soon tailed off, pulled up before last tchd 150/1

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Non-Runners

Fortune De Mer²¹

Weight: 12-0| Age: 5

T: D Skelton J: Harry Skelton

Doctor Glide⁷

Weight: 11-8| Age: 7

T: Tim Vaughan J: Lorcan Williams

Amancio²²

Weight: 11-8| Age: 4

T: Faye Bramley J: Isabelle Ryder

Betting Breakdown

Tote Win:£7.70Pl:£2.50, £1.50, £3.30EX:£23.20Trifecta:£152.70Tricast:£144.23SF:£19.72Swingers:£4.90, £6.20, £6.00

Forecasts

Alphonse Le Grande (5/2), Jack Hyde (11/4), Fortune De Mer (9/2), French Emperor (5/1), Shade Of Winter (6/1), Frontier Prince (10/1), Katakana (14/1), Lucky Bere (18/1), The Expensive One (20/1), Bruant (22/1), Amancio (25/1), Aeroplane Blonde (28/1), Pure Gold (28/1), Bobby's Fortune (28/1), Quint Major (50/1), Sage Green (80/1), Doctor Glide (100/1), Farhh Echo (125/1)

This could go the way of FORTUNE DE MER, who showed the benefit of his hurdling debut when winning a Grade 2 novice at this C&D last month, travelling strongly with a hood applied. He can progress further in handicaps and is preferred to Alphonse le Grande, who has developed into a useful stayer on the Flat since last seen over hurdles. Jack Hyde and The Expensive One complete the shortlist.

FORTUNE DE MER (IRE)
ALPHONSE LE GRANDE (IRE)
JACK HYDE (IRE)

Previous Winners

2024

Wreckless Eric

Weight: 11-10 |Age: 4

J: Kielan Woods | T: J & A O'Neill

11/2

Prize Money

1st: £10,892.002nd: £5,018.003rd: £2,508.004th: £1,256.00