Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Taunton

1:41

Date 2026-02-26

Distance 2m3f1y

Class Class 4

Going Good To Soft

Type Hurdle

Surface Turf

Age Band 4yo+

Prize £5,446

Weather Mainly Clear

Temp 10.7°C

Wind 7mph SW

Rain 0%

Runners (7)

#	Horse	Jockey / Trainer	Wt	Gear	Form	OR	RPR	TS	Last	Crs	Dst	Val	Scr	Odds
2	Calvino b J:Harry Cobden T:Paul Nicholls	J:Harry Cobden T:Paul Nicholls	163	—	61-2P1	115	122	113	49d	—	—	-10	28.8	5/4 44%
Won here last month, form that has recently been franked by the runner-up; respected
5	Khafre b J:Paddy Hanlon(5) T:Syd Hosie	J:Paddy Hanlon(5) T:Syd Hosie	156	—	21-74	-	125	106	72d	—	—	-18	8	9/4 31%
Irish point winner; began hurdling career with two promising runs in the autumn; a player
1	Fountains Blenhein b J:Chad Bament(7) T:Anthony Honeyball	J:Chad Bament(7) T:Anthony Honeyball	168	—	0-131P	124	122	84	33d	—	—	0	26.5	9/4 31%
Pulled up in 3m Grade 2 last time but this dual hurdle winner is a likely contender here
6	Sailing By b J:Brendan Powell T:Joe Tizzard	J:Brendan Powell T:Joe Tizzard	156	—	3774	-	105	73	14d	—	—	-3	2.2	20/1 5%
Placed in Chepstow bumper in November but safely held on both hurdling starts
4	Georges Street b J:Ben Godfrey T:Claire Hitch	J:Ben Godfrey T:Claire Hitch	156	—	P-3PP5	-	96	64	14d	—	—	-1	0.3	150/1 1%
Showed only minor promise over C&D on recent rules debut
3	Crest Of Valour b J:Rex Dingle T:Anthony Honeyball	J:Rex Dingle T:Anthony Honeyball	156	—	6P8	-	54	20	42d	—	—	-1	0.4	150/1 1%
Showed some ability in sole bumper but pulled up/tailed off on first two hurdle starts
7	Don't Call Me Sue ch J:Bradley Harris(3) T:Neil Mulholland	J:Bradley Harris(3) T:Neil Mulholland	149	h	09	-	-	-	45d	—	—	-1	0.3	200/1 0%
Well down the field in two bumpers; can only be watched on this hurdle debut

Horse	bet365	William Hill	Boyle Sports	Ladbrokes	Unibet
Calvino	6/5	6/5	6/5	11/10	5/4
Khafre	9/4	9/4	9/4	9/4	9/4
Fountains Blenhein	9/4	9/4	9/4	9/4	9/4
Sailing By	20/1	18/1	20/1	20/1	18/1
Georges Street	150/1	125/1	150/1	150/1	150/1
Crest Of Valour	150/1	125/1	125/1	125/1	125/1
Don't Call Me Sue	200/1	150/1	150/1	150/1	150/1

Predictor

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

1st

Calvino

28.8

OR: 16.3 Form: 0 Odds: 12.5

5/4

2nd

Fountains Blenhein

26.5

OR: 18.5 Form: 0 Odds: 8

9/4

3rd

Khafre

OR: 0 Form: 0 Odds: 8

9/4

Sailing By

2.2

OR: 0 Form: 0.9 Odds: 1.3

20/1

Crest Of Valour

0.4

OR: 0 Form: 0 Odds: 0.4

150/1

Georges Street

0.3

OR: 0 Form: 0 Odds: 0.3

150/1

Don't Call Me Sue

0.3

OR: 0 Form: 0 Odds: 0.3

200/1

Ratings

Horse	OR	RPR	TS
Fountains Blenhein Top Rated	124	122	84
Calvino	115	122	113
Khafre	—	125	106
Sailing By	—	105	73
Georges Street	—	96	64
Crest Of Valour	—	54	20
Don't Call Me Sue	—	—	—

Last Run

Horse	Last Run	Status
Sailing By	14d ago	Fit
Georges Street	14d ago	Fit
Fountains Blenhein	33d ago	Fit
Crest Of Valour	42d ago	Fit
Don't Call Me Sue	45d ago	Fit
Calvino	49d ago	Fresh
Khafre	72d ago	Fresh