The Big Stage: Why This Race Matters
It doesn't get much bigger on the early-autumn novice hurdle circuit than this. The CopyBet Fixed Brush Hurdle Series Final Novices' Handicap Hurdle at Wolverhampton is one of those rare races that feels genuinely significant — a £70,000 prize pot that attracts serious talent from serious yards, run over a stout 2m 4f on Good ground (SMM 52%) that will sort the men from the boys long before the final flight.
Sixteen runners have been declared for the 14:40 on Friday, 25 September 2026, and the Wolverhampton racecard is absolutely stacked. This is the kind of race where trainers arrive with intent — and with Olly Murphy saddling two of the leading fancies, the plot thickens before a hoof has even hit the turf.
Strap in. This one's going to be electric.
Key Contenders: Who Can Win the Fixed Brush Final?
1. Road To Wembley (Olly Murphy / Sean Bowen)
Rating: 124 | Weight: 12-0 | Headgear: Tongue Tie
If you're looking for the horse that screams meant to win this, it's Road To Wembley. A course and distance winner — that's the golden combination at Wolverhampton — and he arrives here with Sean Bowen in the saddle, one of the most in-form and tactically astute jump jockeys in the country right now. He carries the big weight of 12-0, but Olly Murphy's horses don't turn up to these finals to make up the numbers. The tongue tie is already fitted and familiar. This is a horse that knows every inch of this track, every undulation, every hurdle. The handicapper has him at the top of the pile on 124, but Murphy clearly believes he can defy it. He's the one to beat.
2. Trouville (Olly Murphy / Mr Troy Walsh)
Rating: 120 | Weight: 11-10 | No Headgear
Murphy's second string, but don't let that fool you — Trouville is a course winner in his own right and arrives 4lb better off at the weights than his stablemate. Mr Troy Walsh takes the ride, and while he may not carry the same household-name recognition as Bowen, he's a sharp amateur who knows how to deliver on the big occasion. If Road To Wembley hits any trouble in running or finds the weight telling late on, Trouville is perfectly placed to swoop. The Murphy double-handed assault is a serious tactical weapon.
3. Regarde (Jamie Snowden / Gavin Sheehan)
Rating: 117 | Weight: 11-7 | Headgear: Blinkers & Tongue Tie
Here's your each-way shout with real substance behind it. Regarde is a nine-year-old — yes, nine — but age is just a number when you've got course and distance form in the bank. Jamie Snowden has fitted both blinkers and a tongue tie, which tells you the team are pulling every lever to get a peak performance. Gavin Sheehan is a beautifully smooth jockey over hurdles, and on Good ground over 2m 4f at a track this horse clearly loves, don't be surprised if Regarde outfoxes the younger generation. Veteran class can be lethal in these finals.
4. Square d'Alboni (Dan Skelton / Harry Atkins)
Rating: 119 | Weight: 11-6 | No Headgear
Dan Skelton sending a four-year-old to a Class 2 final is never accidental. Square d'Alboni is a course winner already at just four, which is a remarkable stat, and Harry Atkins gets the leg up — a jockey Skelton trusts implicitly in big-field handicaps. The weight of 11-6 is fair for his rating of 119, and the Good ground should suit a horse that's been progressive all season. Watch the market — if Skelton money arrives, this could be the biggest danger to the Murphy pair.
5. Whinney Hill (Dave Roberts / Lee Edwards)
Rating: 117 | Weight: 11-7 | No Headgear
The wildcard of the race. Whinney Hill arrives without the course form flags of the principals, but Dave Roberts is a trainer who picks his spots carefully, and Lee Edwards is a jockey who thrives when given a horse with a clear role to play. At 11-7 and a rating of 117, the weights are workable. If the pace is genuine and this horse gets a good tow into the race, he could outrun his odds significantly. Keep him on your radar for a place at minimum.
6. Down To Business (Dan Skelton / Harry Skelton)
Rating: 114 | Weight: 11-1 | No Headgear
Skelton's second runner, and this one gets the boss's son in the saddle — Harry Skelton. A course winner at just four years old, Down To Business is unexposed and potentially well handicapped on 114. Harry Skelton's course craft is elite, and if this youngster has been saved for this moment, the Skelton yard could pull off a remarkable one-two. Don't dismiss him lightly.
Going & Track Conditions: Good Ground at Wolverhampton
The Good going (SMM 52%) is as fair as it gets for a race of this nature. It's not too quick to inconvenience the bigger-framed horses, and not soft enough to turn it into a stamina slog that would favour only the most grinding stayers. Two miles and four furlongs on Good ground at Wolverhampton is a real test of class and jumping ability — the horse that travels well and jumps fluently will have a huge advantage.
Wolverhampton's hurdle track has its own unique character — a tight, turning track that rewards horses who are handy and athletic over their hurdles. Course form is massively significant here, which is why Road To Wembley, Trouville, Regarde, Square d'Alboni, Lock Stock, and Down To Business all carry such appeal. If you haven't won around here before, you're already at a disadvantage.
Value Picks & Each-Way Angles
In a 16-runner field with a competitive Class 2 rating band, there's genuine each-way value to be found beyond the obvious market leaders. Here's where we'd look:
- Regarde — veteran course and distance form, peak headgear combination, Sheehan at his best. Each-way value at likely double-figure odds.
- Down To Business — Harry Skelton up, course winner, unexposed at four. Could be well ahead of his mark.
- Miss Kingston — the only mare in the field, Ciaran Gethings is a classy pilot, and mares can surprise in these open handicaps when the market overlooks them.
- Yellow Card — James Bowen rides for his father Mickey Bowen, a combination that always punches above its weight. At 10-13 on a rating of 112, there's a case to be made at big prices.
Our Selection: Road To Wembley
When the dust settles and the analysis is done, we keep coming back to one horse: Road To Wembley.
Course winner. Distance winner. Olly Murphy at his sharpest. Sean Bowen in the saddle — a jockey who has been phenomenal this season and who thrives in exactly this kind of high-pressure, big-field handicap. The tongue tie is already part of the routine. The 12-0 weight is the only real concern, but Murphy doesn't saddle horses in £70,000 finals without believing they can carry the burden.
This race has Road To Wembley written all over it. Back him each-way to cover yourself, but don't be surprised if he wins it going away.
Each-way alternative: Regarde at double-figure odds for the place money at minimum.
Who is the favourite for the CopyBet Fixed Brush Hurdle Series Final Novices' Handicap Hurdle Race?
At time of writing, Road To Wembley is expected to head the market as the top-rated runner on 124, with the backing of Sean Bowen and the powerful Olly Murphy yard. His stablemate Trouville and the Skelton-trained Square d'Alboni are likely to be next in the betting. Always check the latest odds before placing — big-field handicaps can move dramatically in the hours before the off.
Is Wolverhampton a Good Track for Novice Hurdlers?
Wolverhampton is a tight, turning track that suits nimble, athletic jumpers who can travel smoothly through a big field. It rewards course experience significantly — as evidenced by the number of course winners declared in this very race. For novice hurdlers stepping up in class, it's a genuine test, but those with proven form around the track have a clear edge.
What Distance is the Fixed Brush Hurdle Series Final Run Over?
The CopyBet Fixed Brush Hurdle Series Final is run over 2 miles and 4 furlongs — a proper staying test that will expose any horse lacking in stamina or jumping fluency. On Good ground, it's a race that truly rewards the complete package: class, jumping ability, and the will to grind it out up the Wolverhampton straight. Check the full Wolverhampton racecard for all the day's action.
