The Notebook - 31 October 2026

Not every big performance results in a headline victory. Sometimes it is the subtle runs, the late headway, the eye-catching move through the field, or the effort despite unfavourable conditions, that signal a horse ready to strike next time. Here are four runners who caught the eye this week and may be worth adding to your tracker for future races...

Gentleman Bill

Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero enjoyed a fruitful Friday at Uttoxeter including a 1-2 in the 14:10 Class 4 Handicap Hurdle. The second, Gentlemen Bill, ran a fantastic race on his first run of the season and will likely improve a fair amount from this latest effort. He had some eye-catching form in the earlier stages of his career, winning at Newcastle, Bangor and Doncaster as a 6-year-old, however he lost his way last season and was coming into this latest race on a revival mission. Connections attempted chasing last campaign but his jumping didn’t hold up and he looks much happier over the smaller obstacles. A mark of 115 looks well within reach for him and he will likely record a victory in the coming weeks.

Majestic Moment

I would be surprised if Majestic Moment wasn’t better than a rating of 92 and he will surely cash in on this lenient mark at some point in the near future. He was a bit frustrating last season, having been well fancied for several races at Fontwell and Worcester yet he was disappointing on all occasions, without a clear reason for the underperformance. This latest effort at Huntingdon was much more encouraging and he jumped and travelled with the enthusiasm we saw in his juvenile days. He isn’t going to be a world-beater but I think he will win races off his current mark, albeit it may be next season as he loves good ground.

Hornica

Hornica came out of Tuesday's visit to Bangor with plenty of credit after running a very good race to finish second. She was a little keen early on and wasn't always travelling as comfortably as she might have liked, but settled into the race and gradually worked her way into contention. Beau Morgan gave her a positive ride, and she responded well when asked to close on the leaders. She really got involved in the finish, showing a good attitude and plenty of determination to keep finding under pressure. While she couldn't quite get to the winner, she stuck on well to finish just a length and three-quarters behind. She caught my eye at Ludlow last season when finishing third and I think she has potential to pick up races during the Winter months.

My Mate AJ

My Mate AJ put in a really encouraging performance at Newcastle, finishing second on his hurdling debut. Having shown plenty of ability in bumpers, this was always going to be a different test, but he handled himself well and showed there is plenty to look forward to. He travelled prominently throughout, although he wasn't always foot-perfect over his hurdles and there is clearly room for improvement in that department. Turning for home, he moved into contention and briefly looked to have every chance of getting his head in front. However, Wilde's Legacy proved too strong in the closing stages, pulling away after the final hurdle. AJ kept battling but couldn't quite match the winner's finishing speed. There was plenty to take from the performance. With valuable hurdling experience now under his belt, he should improve for the run. A promising start over obstacles and certainly one to keep an eye on!