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DragonBet Persian War Novices' Hurdle Race (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

15:43 Chepstow Fri 09 Oct 2026 2m3f100y Class 1 Good to Soft 11 runners

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Mr Fox’s call

Cosmic Connection silks

Cosmic Connection

SPECULATIVE Advised 5/4 Est. 42%

9TH

Mr Fox says

Cosmic Connection (SR 149, 5/4) is the standout on every meaningful metric. The SR of 149 is a full 18 points clear of the next-best Lord Byron (SR 147) and 20 points clear of North Shore (SR 129), making this a class edge that is hard to overcome in a novice Grade 2 with all runners on equal weight. The market has backed this horse in by 24% since opening — strong, sustained money in a competitive novice hurdle is a significant signal. A form line of 11211- shows only consistent presence at or near the head of affairs, and there is no weight disadvantage to speak of: Cosmic Connection carries 11-0 alongside the majority of the field. The absent connections data (no Days since last run shown) does not alarm — the market move of 24% inward confirms connections are satisfied with readiness. Each-way alternative: La Cote Fleurie. Main danger: Lord Byron — Lord Byron (SR 147, 11/4) has the second-highest SR in the field, carries 2lb less than the majority at 10-12, and Harry Cobden (22% strike rate, 868 runners) is a major booking — however, a GoingFit:- flag on today's Good to Soft and a form string of 44542- showing consistent near-misses rather than winning form make him the danger rather than the selection.

Verify· #22396

Full result

Winner: West Hill Verde (FR) at SP 16/1. Mr Fox’s picks highlighted in gold.

  1. 1 West Hill Verde silks West Hill Verde Seamus Mullins · Callum Pritchard 25/1
  2. 2 La Cote Fleurie silks La Cote Fleurie Fox #3 Henry de Bromhead · Darragh O'Keeffe 15/2
  3. 3 Lock Stock silks Lock Stock Stuart Edmunds · Charlie Hammond 12/1
  4. 4 North Shore silks North Shore Fox #4 Dan Skelton · Harry Skelton 13/2
  5. 5 Hopeful Hero silks Hopeful Hero T Hogan · Jonathan Burke 50/1
  6. 6 Lord Byron silks Lord Byron Fox #2 Faye Bramley · Harry Cobden 11/4
  7. 7 Obsessedwithyou silks Obsessedwithyou Jamie Snowden · Gavin Sheehan 80/1
  8. 8 Chicker silks Chicker Fergal O'Brien · Fern O'Brien 50/1
  9. 9 Cosmic Connection silks Cosmic Connection Fox #1 Chris Gordon · Freddie Gordon 11/8
  10. 10 Le Moulin Rouge silks Le Moulin Rouge Paul Nolan · Sean Flanagan 16/1
  11. — Handmedownastar silks Handmedownastar Nick Scholfield · Sean Bowen 50/1

Top 4 — how each finished

  1. 1 Cosmic Connection silks Cosmic Connection 5/4 9TH
  2. 2 Lord Byron silks Lord Byron 11/4 6TH
  3. 3 La Cote Fleurie silks La Cote Fleurie 17/2 🥈 2ND
  4. 4 North Shore silks North Shore 6/1 🏁 4TH