Key Points
- He was poor last time but it was his first run after a break and wind surgery
- He has some nice novice hurdling form in the book and could be well treated
- He steps up in trip which should suit based on his pedigree and form to date
It’s Friday and if that is not enough of a win in itself, we also have National Hunt racing to get stuck into today at Down Royal, Wetherby and Uttoxeter. However, it is the latter where I’ve found one I’m sweet on.
If you are just reading my articles for the first time, I’m RacingGav and I’m the resident horse racing tipster here at Betting.co.uk. I produce four to five articles per week and these vary across different types of content. I do daily betting tips mostly, with a weekly antepost pick in the mix. I also cover big race trends and educational guides, so there should really be something here for everyone.
If the antepost betting mentioned there caught your attention, be sure to check out my existing articles on this front. As I type this today, I have selections live on Betting.co.uk for
the King George VI Chase, the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase and Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at the 2026 Cheltenham Festival and and the 2026 Grand National.
Betting advice
- 14:30 Uttoxeter -
John Barbour
@ 13/2 (3 places) -
1pt each way
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John Barbour will be like poetry in motion today!
I assume John Barbour is named after the famous Scottish Poet but I have spent my time digging into his form and pedigree rather than the meaning behind his name! I like what I have seen an awful lot and I think he can run a huge race today at a lovely each way price. In this article, I’ll break down why I think today is his time to shine.
John Barbour was poor last time out but it was his first run after a break and wind surgery
This horse would have disappointed plenty last time out when he could only finish fourth, beaten 27 lengths after being sent off 5/6F at Newton Abbot in a Novices’ Hurdle at Newton Abbot. However, I actually believe that performance is quite easy to forgive.
First of all, that was his first run after a break of 156 days, so there is every chance that he needed that first run back fitness wise. In addition to that, it was his first run after wind surgery and as a general rule, horses tend to improve significantly for that first run back. It is not a guarantee by any stretch but it is very often the case that the second time after a wind operation is the time to catch a horse and that is what we have today.
If you actually look at the form of that Newton Abbot race as well, it looks considerably better in hindsight now. Jaminska won the race and franked the form when finishing a very close third (beaten less than a length) in Grade 2 company at Cheltenham last weekend. In addition to that, the second at Newton Abbot - At The Oche, then went and won on his next start at Ffos Las earlier this month. Therefore, the form has a very strong look to it.
John Barbour also has some other nice novice hurdling form in the book. His win at Newbury was in great style, winning by 7.5 lengths and the second that day - Amancio, has won his next two starts (one hurdling and one flat). That performance produced a RPR figure of 117. Likewise, he ran a very solid race in defeat behind his stablemate Serious Challenge who was rated far more superior to him than the 8lb he received that day. That performance generated a RPR figure of 120.
Judged on all of this form, he could be well handicapped in here off a handicap mark of 113, which has come down 3lb from 116 after his last two starts. If he could run to 120+ here, he would have 7lb+ in hand and that should see him tough to beat in here.
As above, I already feel the case is pretty solid for John Barbour. However, the part I really like about his chances tomorrow is the step up in trip to an immediate distance of 2m4f. In many of his races, he has shaped like a step up in trip would bring out improvement from him. So I’m excited to see that finally come to fruition now.
John Barbour was sired by Yeats, who was an exceptional stayer on the Flat, and won the Ascot Gold Cup four times. Which strongly suggests that this step up in trip should bring about improvement. His dam was a Bumper winner over 2m 1f at Cheltenham, and also won a Maiden Hurdle over 2m,5f at Warwick.
Furthermore, she was sired by Presenting who was a top-class 12f three-year-old and has gone on to be a multiple champion Jumps sire. His progeny include Gold Cup winners Denman and War Of Attrition, plus Grand National winner, Ballabriggs! I think John Barbour will thrive on this step up in trip and could look a completely different horse today.
Can John Barbour bounce back to winning ways?
As you can see from the case made above, the positives are rather overwhelming for John Barbour. He comes here for the second run after a break and after wind surgery, so he should be in great shape here. He has some nice novice hurdling form in the book, which has worked out well and he could be well treated here off a mark of 113. His pedigree also strongly suggests that he will be much stronger over this longer trip than he has been over the minimum distance. When you combine it altogether and throw in the stable being in good form, he looks to have a fantastic chance.
In terms of negatives, you obviously have his latest run. However, whilst that was poor and he may fail to bounce back from it, I feel he has very logical excuses for it. Therefore, I’m willing to draw a line straight through that run. Other than that, I’m really struggling to find much in the way of negatives about his chances today.
With a strong case to be made and little in the way of negatives, I think he fully warrants a strong bet today, so it’s the full 1pt Each Way stake. I was tempted to stake even higher but given he does need to bounce back from a poor seasonal reappearance and prove his wellbeing after the break and wind surgery, I’m just going to keep the stake at this level.
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