mallardjewellers.com Maiden Hurdle (Novices' Championship Hurdle Series Qualifier) (GBB Race)

Cheltenham

13:15

Date 2025-11-16

Distance 2m87y

Class Class 2

Going Soft

Type Hurdle

Surface Turf

Age Band 4yo+

Prize £10,892

Runners (17)

EW Terms: 4 places, ¼ odds (standard bookmaker terms — may vary)

#	Horse	Jockey / Trainer	Wt	Gear	Form	OR	RPR	TS	Last	Crs	Dst	Val	Scr	EW	Odds
7	Hold The Serve Grey J:Sean Bowen T:Olly Murphy	J:Sean Bowen T:Olly Murphy	158	—	1-	-	-	-	—	—	—	-8	18	0.56/1	9/4 31%
Irish point winner; siblings include a dual hurdles winner for his new yard; interesting
6	Gaelic Pride Bay J:James Bowen T:Warren Greatrex	J:James Bowen T:Warren Greatrex	158	—	4118-2	-	128	100	21d	—	—	-13	13	0.56/1	9/4 31%
Ran encouragingly, behind useful rival, at Fontwell on hurdles debut; strong contender
14	Touch The Moon Bay J:Philip Byrnes T:William Durkan	J:Philip Byrnes T:William Durkan	158	—	23	-	121	111	29d	—	—	-2	9.8	1.50/1	6/1 14%
Beaten favourite last time but Flat form suggests he should still do better in this sphere
2	Ambiente Friendly Bay J:Sam Twiston-Davies T:James Owen	J:Sam Twiston-Davies T:James Owen	158	h	—	-	-	-	—	—	—	-9	3.6	1.50/1	6/1 14%
Best Flat form when placed in the Derby and Irish Derby last year; has schooled well
11	Soldier Reeves Bay J:Harry Skelton T:Dan Skelton	J:Harry Skelton T:Dan Skelton	158	t	2-3	-	-	-	18d	—	—	0	9.2	2.25/1	9/1 10%
Has shown promise in Irish point and Newton Abbot bumper; open to improvement
3	Bespoke Tailor Bay J:Gavin Sheehan T:Oliver Signy	J:Gavin Sheehan T:Oliver Signy	158	—	2/21-3	-	115	81	21d	—	—	+2	6.9	4.50/1	18/1 5%
Modest third, behind Gaelic Pride, at Fontwell on stable/hurdles debut
4	Bras d'Or Bay J:Jack Tudor T:David Pipe	J:Jack Tudor T:David Pipe	158	—	P22-	-	-	-	255d	—	—	+4	9.1	4.50/1	18/1 5%
Showed promise, behind subsequent scorers, in last two appearances (point/bumper)
9	Khafre Bay J:Harry Cobden T:Syd Hosie	J:Harry Cobden T:Syd Hosie	158	—	21-	-	-	-	—	—	—	+11	14.5	8.25/1	33/1 3%
Irish point winner; joined new yard for £60,000; heed the market signals
15	Astelia Chestnut J:Jonathan Burke T:Peter Fahey	J:Jonathan Burke T:Peter Fahey	151	—	22227	113	128	116	53d	—	—	+22	25	16.50/1	66/1 1%
Consistent over hurdles until form dipped sharply last time; quite exposed
12	Stay In The Game Bay J:Paddy Hanlon T:John Joseph Hanlon	J:Paddy Hanlon T:John Joseph Hanlon	158	—	44	-	114	90	44d	—	—	-1	0.4	31.25/1	125/1 1%
Couple of fourth-place finishes over hurdles; needs improvement
17	Portetta Grey J:Ben Jones T:John Joseph Hanlon	J:Ben Jones T:John Joseph Hanlon	151	—	63-253	103	111	95	124d	—	—	+12	13.6	37.50/1	150/1 1%
Irish filly who faces a stiff task on form
8	Keno Black Black J:Richie McLernon T:Neil Mulholland	J:Richie McLernon T:Neil Mulholland	158	—	6F3-6	-	-	-	24d	—	—	-1	0.3	75.00/1	300/1 0%
Suffered a heavy defeat on rules debut
5	Directly Bay J:Mr Sam Burton T:Samuel Drinkwater	J:Mr Sam Burton T:Samuel Drinkwater	158	—	45-5	-	104	40	15d	—	—	-1	0.2	125.00/1	500/1 0%
Comfortably held in two attempts over hurdles
10	Ribba Hill Bay J:Miss Megan Bevan T:Syd Hosie	J:Miss Megan Bevan T:Syd Hosie	158	—	—	-	-	-	—	—	—	-1	0.2	125.00/1	500/1 0%
Only fair form at best on Flat for previous yard; best watched
NR	Act Of Innocence Bay J:Nico de Boinville T:Nicky Henderson	J:Nico de Boinville T:Nicky Henderson	158	—	341-	-	-	-	236d	—	—	—	11.5	—	—
Solid bumper record; received a positive review from new trainer in Stable Tour last month
NR	The Egyptian Ginge Chestnut J:NON-RUNNER T:Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies	J:NON-RUNNER T:Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies	158	h	942-5	-	128	57	22d	—	—	—	0	—	—
Last of five over C&D on reappearance; opposed in this competitive field
NR	Gower Spirit Bay J:NON-RUNNER T:Matt Sheppard	J:NON-RUNNER T:Matt Sheppard	151	—	93-P41	-	97	-	1d	—	—	—	0	—	—
Poor chance on form

Horse	bet365	Coral	Virgin Bet
Hold The Serve	2/1	9/4	2/1
Gaelic Pride	9/4	9/4	9/4
Touch The Moon	6/1	6/1	6/1
Ambiente Friendly	5/1	6/1	5/1
Soldier Reeves	9/1	17/2	8/1
Bespoke Tailor	18/1	16/1	16/1
Bras d'Or	18/1	14/1	16/1
Khafre	33/1	25/1	28/1
Astelia	66/1	40/1	40/1
Stay In The Game	125/1	80/1	100/1
Portetta	150/1	100/1	100/1
Keno Black	300/1	200/1	200/1
Directly	500/1	250/1	300/1
Ribba Hill	500/1	200/1	300/1
Act Of Innocence	-	-	-
The Egyptian Ginge	-	-	-
Gower Spirit	-	-	-

Predictor

Scored on Official Rating (max 30), Recent Form (max 25), and Market Odds (max 20). Max score: 75.

1st

Astelia

OR: 15.8 Form: 8.5 Odds: 0.8

66/1

2nd

Hold The Serve

OR: 0 Form: 10 Odds: 8

9/4

3rd

Khafre

14.5

OR: 0 Form: 13.5 Odds: 1

33/1

Portetta

13.6

OR: 13.3 Form: 0 Odds: 0.4

150/1

Gaelic Pride

OR: 0 Form: 5 Odds: 8

9/4

Act Of Innocence

11.5

OR: 0 Form: 11.5 Odds: 0

—

Touch The Moon

9.8

OR: 0 Form: 6.5 Odds: 3.3

6/1

Soldier Reeves

9.2

OR: 0 Form: 6.5 Odds: 2.7

9/1

Bras d'Or

9.1

OR: 0 Form: 7.8 Odds: 1.4

18/1

Bespoke Tailor

6.9

OR: 0 Form: 5.5 Odds: 1.4

18/1

Ambiente Friendly

3.6

OR: 0 Form: 0 Odds: 3.6

6/1

Stay In The Game

0.4

OR: 0 Form: 0 Odds: 0.4

125/1

Keno Black

0.3

OR: 0 Form: 0 Odds: 0.3

300/1

Directly

0.2

OR: 0 Form: 0 Odds: 0.2

500/1

Ribba Hill

0.2

OR: 0 Form: 0 Odds: 0.2

500/1

The Egyptian Ginge

OR: 0 Form: 0 Odds: 0

—

Gower Spirit

OR: 0 Form: 0 Odds: 0

—

Ratings

Horse	OR	RPR	TS
Astelia	113	128	116
Portetta	103	111	95
Hold The Serve	—	—	—
Gaelic Pride	—	128	100
Touch The Moon	—	121	111
Ambiente Friendly	—	—	—
Soldier Reeves	—	—	—
Bespoke Tailor	—	115	81
Bras d'Or	—	—	—
Khafre	—	—	—
Stay In The Game	—	114	90
Keno Black	—	—	—
Directly	—	104	40
Ribba Hill	—	—	—
Act Of Innocence	—	—	—
The Egyptian Ginge	—	128	57
Gower Spirit	—	97	—

Last Run

Horse	Last Run	Status
Gower Spirit	1d ago	Quick return
Directly	15d ago	Fit
Soldier Reeves	18d ago	Fit
Gaelic Pride	21d ago	Fit
Bespoke Tailor	21d ago	Fit
The Egyptian Ginge	22d ago	Fit
Keno Black	24d ago	Fit
Touch The Moon	29d ago	Fit
Stay In The Game	44d ago	Fit
Astelia	53d ago	Fresh
Portetta	124d ago	Long break
Act Of Innocence	236d ago	Long break
Bras d'Or	255d ago	Long break
Hold The Serve	—	—
Ambiente Friendly	—	—
Khafre	—	—
Ribba Hill	—	—