Grade Two Premier Novices’ Hurdle Guide 2023

Joe Glayshier | @joeglayshier

Kelso - March 04 2023
Kelso 14:25
1
Paddy Brennan

Accidental Rebel

J: Paddy Brennan
T: Fergal O'Brien
N/A
Age: 9
Weight: 11-10
OR: 132
Days: 148

Returns after a 148-day lay-off but usually goes well fresh and has won four of his five starts for Fergal O’Brien at Ludlow, Worcester, Uttoxeter and Chepstow.

That Chepstow victory was in the Grade Two Persian War Novices’ Hurdle when priced at 10/1, beating Outlaw Peter by a length.

He deserves respect on recent form, albeit being a while ago but with ability to perform well fresh he must not be taken lightly.

Kelso - March 04 2023
Kelso 14:25
9
Richard Patrick

Nemean Lion

J: Richard Patrick
T: Kerry Lee
N/A
Age: 6
Weight: 11-5
OR: 131
Days: 56

The joint favourite is worth siding with after some good runs on the flat in France before being sent hurdling in the UK, winning on hurdling debut at Hereford in November last year.

He followed that with second at Haydock later that month before coming third in the Tolworth at Sandown in January, where Tahmuras held off L’astroboy by two and a half lengths.

He’s a key player at this level and probably the one to back.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
19/11/23CHL16.5Sft12-05
15/10/23FFO16GS11-41
04/03/23KEL18GS11-51
07/01/23SAN16Sft11-83
30/11/22HAY15.5Sft11-72
Kelso - March 04 2023
Kelso 14:25
4
Gavin Sheehan

Colonel Harry

J: Gavin Sheehan
T: Jamie Snowden
N/A
Age: 6
Weight: 11-5
OR: 128
Days: 32

Good start to life over hurdles with second at Uttoxeter, first at Sandown before fourth in the Tolworth behind Nemean Lion and then winning a class four novice at Newcastle last time out at 1/4fav.

He can make his presence felt over this trip after a solid start to his hurdling career.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
08/11/23CHP16Hy11-31
04/03/23KEL18GS11-52
31/01/23NCS17Sft11-121
07/01/23SAN16Sft11-84
06/11/22SAN16Hy11-41
Kelso - March 04 2023
Kelso 14:25
11
Henry Brooke

The Wounded Knee

J: Henry Brooke
T: Patrick Neville
N/A
Age: 6
Weight: 11-5
OR: 132
Days: 35

Good start over hurdles with back-to-back wins at Perth after finishing third at the same course on debut in novice hurdle contest in July last year.

He was second in the Ballymore Novice at Cheltenham in October last year before eighth of ten in a grade two at Doncaster in January.

Best to put that last run behind him and he is open to improvement here if continuing good run of form before his last.

Kelso - March 04 2023
Kelso 14:25
3
Ryan Mania

Carcaci Castle

J: Ryan Mania
T: Sandy Thomson
N/A
Age: 7
Weight: 11-5
OR: 123
Days: 65

Seven-year-old gelding for Sandy Thomson who has much more to offer after winning his last two hurdle races at this course, over two miles. Both have come in class four contests but won in good style.

He goes off a mark of 123 here and should be firmly in the race for victory for Thomson with Ryan Mania booked to ride.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
05/11/23CRL20Sft11-1PU
04/03/23KEL18GS11-5PU
29/12/22KEL16Hy11-71
04/12/22KEL16GS11-41
25/08/21BEL17Gd11-91
Kelso - March 04 2023
Kelso 14:25
8
Jack Quinlan

Lookaway

J: Jack Quinlan
T: Neil King
N/A
Age: 6
Weight: 11-5
OR: 115
Days: 94

Two-time bumper winner at Newbury and then grade two at Aintree last April before third on hurdle debut at Warwick in November.

Fourth in a class two at Haydock followed and we haven’t seen him since that run 94 days ago. Others make more appeal after he wasn’t able to build on that victory at Warwick. Neil King will be hoping he can bounce back, however.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
27/10/23CHL16.5Gd11-21
20/05/23UTT20Gd11-101
06/05/23UTT16GS11-61
04/03/23KEL18GS11-56
30/11/22HAY15.5Sft11-24
Kelso - March 04 2023
Kelso 14:25
6
Sean Quinlan

General Officer

J: Sean Quinlan
T: Donald McCain
N/A
Age: 6
Weight: 11-5
OR: 124
Days: 27

Dual novice winner at Musselburgh in November and December last year before second at Catterick and Musselburgh again in Scottish Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, losing out by four and three quarters of a length to Dancila.

Stepping up again in class here and looks a bit vulnerable against some of the other runners here.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
29/10/23AIN16GS10-102
06/10/23HEX15.5Sft12-12
04/03/23KEL18GS11-57
05/02/23MUS15.5Gd11-102
12/01/23CAT19.5Hy11-122
Kelso - March 04 2023
Kelso 14:25
10
Derek Fox

Snake Roll

J: Derek Fox
T: Lucinda Russell
N/A
Age: 6
Weight: 11-5
OR: 125
Days: 49

Winner of a maiden hurdle contest at this course on debut and a winner of a novice hurdle at Newcastle in December last year but was disappointing in a grade two at Warwick in January, making a mistake at the seventh before weakening towards the end to finish fifth of seven.

This is another tough test and he will have to improve massively on that last run if in with any chance of winning.

Kelso - March 04 2023
Kelso 14:25
2
Kieren Buckley

Banjaxed

J: Kieren Buckley
T: Mrs Lorna Fowler
N/A
Age: 6
Weight: 11-5
OR: N/A
Days: 20

Six-year-old gelding who finished second and fifth in NHFlat races at Fairyhouse before hurdling debut second at Navan last month, finishing four lengths behind the Willie Mullins and Paul Townend partnership on Ho My Lord.

He remains open to improvement on his second run over hurdles but others are fancied more here.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
18/11/23NAV16Sft/Hy11-716
17/05/23PER20GS11-11
09/04/23FAI20.5Y11-3PU
04/03/23KEL18GS11-55
12/02/23NAV16Gd/Y11-92
Kelso - March 04 2023
Kelso 14:25
7
Harry Skelton

Hoe Joly Smoke

J: Harry Skelton
T: Dan Skelton
N/A
Age: 5
Weight: 11-5
OR: 120
Days: 29

Second and third finishes have come for the five-year-old since debut at Chepstow in October and that third came in a class four novice won by Doyen Star last month.

He’s almost certain to be winning races for the top Skelton yard but this requires a step up for the gelding. You wouldn’t put it past the Skelton’s to pull it off but it is a tougher test.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
31/10/23CHP19.5GS11-43
04/03/23KEL18GS11-5PU
03/02/23CHP16GS11-23
25/10/22CHP19.5GS11-22
Kelso - March 04 2023
Kelso 14:25
5
Donagh Meyler

Feronily

J: Donagh Meyler
T: Emmet Mullins
N/A
Age: 6
Weight: 11-5
OR: N/A
Days: 28

Couple of decent runs in Leopardstown bumpers, second on debut and then third in a grade two last month, behind Fact To File and A Dream To Share.

Bidding for a winning hurdles debut at grade two level is bold but Emmet Mullins will be full of hope after his first two runs and he is currently joint favourite for this contest but others at least boast runs over hurdles.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
03/10/23GAL23Sft/Hy11-62
20/05/23AUT25.5VSft10-105
25/04/23PUN24.5Y/Sft11-101
09/04/23COR24Y10-102
26/03/23LIM19Sft/Hy11-121