The first Grade 2 of the new jumps season is here.
The DragonBet Persian War Novices' Hurdle is the first Grade 2 of the new jumps season taking place on opening day of the Welsh Racing Festival at 3.43pm. Eleven runners will go over 2m 3f 100y on ground described as good to soft, good in places. That is the biggest field for the race in at least ten years. Chris Gordon's course winner Cosmic Connection has been backed into 6/4 favourite. Lord Byron, the highest rated runner after his Grade 1 placings last spring, has eased to 3/1.
Persian War Novices' Hurdle Winners, Trends & Stats
- Every winner in the last ten years started at 10/1 or shorter, and 9 of the 10 were 15/2 or shorter.
- Favourites have won 4 of the last 10 runnings.
- Five year olds have the best record, with 6 winners from 38 runners. Four year olds are 0 from 6, and mares are 1 from 6.
- Half of the last ten winners had been off for 160 days or more, so a summer break is no barrier.
- No Irish trained horse has won in the last ten years, and Chepstow says there has been only one Irish winner this century.
- Fergal O'Brien has won the race twice from seven runners. Dan Skelton is 0 from 7 and Jamie Snowden 0 from 6.
- Paul Nicholls (4 from 9) and Philip Hobbs (2 from 7) have the best records, but neither has a runner this year.
Persian War Novices' Hurdle 2026 Odds
Persian War Novices' Hurdle 2026 Runners Guide
1. Chicker
Fergal O'Brien's five year old is a dual bumper winner. He won a novice hurdle at Uttoxeter over about 2m 4f in May and was beaten a length and a quarter at Perth last month after a mistake two out. Fern O'Brien rides. This is a big step up in class.
2. Cosmic Connection
A point to point winner, he has won three of his four hurdle starts. Those were at Warwick, over course and distance here, and the Sandown Novices' Championship Final under 12st. He is rated 138 and is the Racing Post nap and Timeform's pick. This is his first try beyond about two miles and his first run in graded company, after 167 days off. His stable has had no winners from five runners in the last fortnight.
3. Handmedownastar
Nick Scholfield's six year old is a point to point winner. He won a novice at Fontwell and a two runner race at Kelso. Sean Bowen rides, but he has plenty to find on ratings.
4. Hopeful Hero
Tom Hogan's Irish raider won a novice handicap at Clonmel off 113 just eight days ago, having won a maiden at Bellewstown before that. Jonathan Burke rides. Coming back so quickly is a concern.
5. Le Moulin Rouge
Paul Nolan's five year old improved with each run last spring and won a maiden over 2m 4f at Wexford at evens in April. Chepstow say he goes well fresh. Sean Flanagan rides.
6. Lock Stock
Stuart Edmunds's six year old goes for a hat trick after winning a maiden at Worcester and then a 15 runner Class 2 novice handicap over 2m 4f at the same track. He is fit, proven at the trip and from a yard in form.
7. West Hill Verde
Seamus Mullins's six year old is still a maiden after nine runs, although he was third in the Grade 2 at Kelso, a place ahead of Lord Byron. Timeform expect him to need this first run back.
8. Lord Byron
Faye Bramley's four year old is the highest rated horse in the race on 147, 9lb clear of Cosmic Connection, and he also gets 2lb for age. He is still a maiden over hurdles, but his form is the best on offer. He finished fifth in the Triumph Hurdle and fourth in a Grade 1 at Aintree, then was beaten a head in the Grade 1 Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown over 2m 4f. That proves he stays the trip. He has had a run on the Flat since and Harry Cobden rides.
9. North Shore
Dan Skelton's new recruit makes his stable debut after leaving Gavin Cromwell. He was placed in Grade 2 and Grade 1 juvenile hurdles at Leopardstown and won a maiden at Killarney. He has drifted from 7/2 overnight to 7/1, which is a worry.
10. La Cote Fleurie
Henry de Bromhead's mare has won three of her four starts under Rules, most recently a novice hurdle at Kilbeggan. She gets the 7lb mares' allowance and has been backed from 16/1 overnight to 15/2. Darragh O'Keeffe rides.
11. Obsessedwithyou
Jamie Snowden's seven year old mare won a novice hurdle at Hexham and has been second three times this year. She wears blinkers for the first time but looks outclassed.
Persian War Novices' Hurdle 2026 Trainer To Watch
Faye Bramley has two winners from eleven runners in the last fortnight, both over jumps. Lord Byron is the best horse she has sent to Chepstow this weekend. He came within a head of Grade 1 success in the spring, and this looks a good chance to break his maiden.
Persian War Novices' Hurdle Betting Tips
Cosmic Connection is a smart, progressive horse and a worthy favourite, but 6/4 asks a lot. He steps up in trip, has never run in graded company and comes from a stable short of winners. On official ratings he also has 11lb to find with Lord Byron.
Lord Byron remains a maiden over hurdles but has the strongest form on offer, having finished second in a Grade 1 at Punchestown behind King Rasko Grey. He has consistently mixed it with the best novices from last season and is clear on ratings, while a recent run on the Flat should leave him fit for his hurdles return. Faye Bramley's stable and jockey Harry Cobden have both been in excellent form over the last fortnight. Four-year-olds have a poor record in this race, but the drift from 2/1 to 3/1 makes him an appealing value bet to finally get his head in front.
For each way backers, La Cote Fleurie is the one to consider. She is unexposed, has won three of her four starts and gets the mares' allowance. Sky Bet's four places make her particularly appealing.
