15:00 Cheltenham

Friday 23 October 2026

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:45

Oddschecker Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2) (Registered As The Sharp Novices' Hurdle) (GBB Race)

  • 4YO plus  |   Class 1  |   2m 87y  |   Good to Soft  |   10 Runners  |   Turf  |   Weighed In
  • Off time: 15:01  |   Winning time: 3m 55.70s
1st
Horse silk
5
Kingofthefrontier
511-2
20/1
T: John DawsonJ: C O'Farrell
Held up towards rear, not fluent 4 out, headway after 2 out, challenged just after last, soon led and hung right, stayed on well op 40/1
2nd
Horse silk
2 ¼
9
Planters Punch
411-1
4/1
T: N J HendersonJ: N de Boinville
Chased leaders, not fluent 1st, challenged 2 out, led last, soon headed, kept on flat, no impression on winner and took second close home op 9/2
3rd
Horse silk
½
2
Cooltobecareless
511-2
13/8f
T: D SkeltonJ: Harry Skelton
Held up towards rear, headway before 3 out, challenging last, soon hung right, every chance flat, no extra and lost second close home op 5/6
4th
Horse silk
¾
7
Spanish Darling
511-2
20/1
T: A M HalesJ: Kielan Woods
Chased leaders, led before last, not fluent and headed at hurdle, held final 110 yards, kept on op 25/1
5th
Horse silk
1 ½
1
Bells Grove
511-2
9/2
T: E BuckleyJ: Kieren Buckley
Held up rear of mid-division, mistake 4 out, headway on outside 3 out, pressing leaders last, no extra towards finish op 13/2
6th
Horse silk
1 ½
3
Eternal Angel
611-2
12/1
T: T LaceyJ: Stan Sheppard
Held up in touch on inside, not fluent 4th, outpaced 3 out, no impression after tchd 11/1
7th
Horse silk
3 ¾
10
Scott's Legacy
411-1
12/1
T: N & W Twiston-DaviesJ: Sam Twiston-Davies
Held up in rear, outpaced 3 out, never dangerous op 14/1 and tchd 18/1
8th
Horse silk
2 ½
6
Sixpack
611-2
22/1
T: James OwenJ: J J Burke
Held up in mid-division on outside, headway 2 out, pressing leaders when blundered last, no extra op 20/1
9th
Horse silk
½
4
Governors Rock
511-2
22/1
T: W GreatrexJ: James Bowen
Jumped right at times, led after 1st, headed next, led before 3rd, headed before last, weakened flat op 33/1 tchd 20/1
10th
Horse silk
12
8
Matiwo
411-1
16/1
T: Mrs J WilliamsJ: C Gethings
Led until after 1st, led next, headed before 3rd, lost place after 2 out op 25/1 tchd 14/1
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Betting Breakdown

Tote Win:£23.00Pl:£4.70, £1.70, £1.30EX:£124.30Trifecta:£537.50Tricast:£205.46SF:£94.70Swingers:£13.00, £7.80, £2.40

Forecasts

Cooltobecareless (13/8), Planters Punch (4/1), Bells Grove (9/2), Eternal Angel (12/1), Scott's Legacy (12/1), Matiwo (16/1), Kingofthefrontier (20/1), Spanish Darling (20/1), Sixpack (22/1), Governors Rock (22/1)

Verdict

COOLTOBECARELESS burst clear in the manner of one ready for a higher-grade 2m novice on his recent hurdling debut at Chepstow and is taken to provide his top trainer with a third consecutive win in this race. Bells Grove was much improved when supplementing his Ballinrobe maiden success switched to a handicap at Navan last time and commands respect with the timefigure supporting the performance. Planters Punch went unbeaten in junior company last season and looks promising, too.

  1. COOLTOBECARELESS (IRE)
  2. BELLS GROVE (IRE)
  3. PLANTERS PUNCH

Previous Winners

2025
Fortune De Mer
Weight: 11-2  |Age: 5
J: Harry Skelton  |  T: D Skelton
14/1

Prize Money

1st: £47,552.002nd: £17,808.003rd: £8,896.004th: £4,440.00

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