Spotlight

Lightly raced; improved on previous efforts last season when winning over 2m5f at Wincanton last month (good; trainer said he seems to run better at this time of year); quite interesting back up in trip.

Comment

Improved on previous efforts last term with 2m5f win in April; chance back up in trip

Stable Tour

"He surprised us a bit with the way he won first time out as he's from a staying chasing family. He'll go over hurdles now and I couldn't have been more pleased with his racecourse debut. 04-10-23"

Medical History

Spotlight

Dual C&D winner; only win last season was a walkover in a chase; went back hurdling after that and took time to find his form, but sound placed efforts on last two starts, latest when third at Haydock in March (3m, good; first run after a wind op) when Super Survivor was well behind in eighth; chance.

Comment

Creditable runs last twice, latest a third at Haydock on first run after wind op; chance

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Medical History

Spotlight

Lightly raced 8yo; won his first handicap at Exeter in March when beating a shorter-priced, in-form stable companion by a short head (3m, good); now 4lb higher and could go well, but lacks consistency.

Comment

Lightly raced 8yo; short-head winner at Exeter in March; not particularly consistent

Stable Tour

"He was third in his only bumper at Exeter last season on quite heavy ground. I thought that run looked to be quite reasonable and as a big, strong, horse you'd expect him to improve for the step up to two and a half miles. He'd be a nice prospect. 23-11-23"

Spotlight

Won this race off this mark in 2025 (good; 2-1 favourite) having run poorly on his previous start; was rather disappointing later on last season and has a bit to prove at present.

Comment

Won this off the same mark in 2025; rather disappointing later in the season; bit to prove

Stable Tour

"A lovely horse who ran at the Cheltenham Festival last time [in the BetMGM Cup]. It was a bit underwhelming, but I don't think the track suits him. He went to Bangor last week to gallop after racing and he's been primed for Aintree again. He ran a super race there last year when second in the Grade 1 Sefton Novices' Hurdle and he'll go for the 3m½f handicap hurdle this time. It's been a stop-start season and the handicapper has had a say, but he wants quicker ground so we've been quite restricted. He's ready to go now. Aintree is his next target and we're toying with Galway after that. 08-04-26"

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Spotlight

Two wins last season, the first a four-runner Huntingdon handicap in May (3m1f, good), the second a six-runner handicap at Newbury (3m, good to soft) in March; far from disgraced in a competitive race at Aintree last time and not without a chance despite career-high mark.

Comment

Two wins last term and not disgraced in competitive h' cap last time; not without a chance

Stable Tour

"The change to waiting tactics and a step up in trip have been the key to him. He's won three races over hurdles for us this season. If the ground is decent he could go for the conditional jockeys' race at Aintree, a 0-130 hurdle over 3m on October 27. He should get the strong gallop he needs there and he's certainly capable of winning a better pot than he's been playing for. Now we know he stays, the 3m races at Musselburgh will be ideal for him when the ground goes soft elsewhere. 16-10-24"

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Medical History

Spotlight

Very useful staying hurdler who has won six of his 13 races, two of them last season, at Haydock in December (3m, good to soft) and at Warwick in March (3m2f, good to soft); not so good last time but these conditions suit and he could bounce back.

Comment

6-13 over hurdles, including two wins last season; below par last time; could bounce back

Stable Tour

"We ran him in the Welsh National a couple of years ago and he got a little bit lost. It took him a while to come back from that, but back over hurdles last season he won a couple of times. We might start him out over hurdles in December and then go chasing. 05-11-25"

"He wants a trip and testing ground so the plan is one prep run and then the Welsh Grand National. He's had only six runs under rules so he's inexperienced, but mentally I think he's ready for that type of race and, because he's lightly raced, he's extremely unexposed. 28-09-23"

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Spotlight

Veteran; mixes chasing with hurdling; sound run over hurdles when beaten a neck at Perth last time (3m2f, good); not out of it, but Sean Bowen rides stable companion Secret Trix.

Comment

Veteran; neck second over 3m2f at Perth last time; would have a chance on that form

Quotes

Medical History

Spotlight

Went up 41lb for his six wins in staying hurdles in 2024; was subsequently absent for 441 days and hasn't run anything like as well since.

Comment

Went up 41lb for six wins in 2024; subsequently off for 441 days and below par since

Stable Tour

"He's been a real revelation, winning his last six races. The latest win was at Newcastle last Saturday in the French Furze, which he won by nine and a half lengths. Since winning a low-grade, soft-ground handicap hurdle at Cartmel in August, the trajectory has been incredible. His jumping has been a joy - he jumps so quickly out of quick ground. He probably won't run now until the new year and he'll probably be targeted at the River Don at Doncaster on January 25. It's a 3m novice hurdle worth £75,000. If he's good enough to warrant his place in the field, the long-term ambition would be the Albert Bartlett at the Cheltenham Festival. I have to mention what a big help it is having Sean Quinlan on board. He's a huge part of the team in getting to know the horses, school them and then ride them. 05-12-24"

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