15.15
SoftBetfred Merry Christmas Handicap Hurdle (Challenger Stayers’ Hurdle Series Qualifier)
- Prize money: £6865.3
- 3m 0f 58y
- Class 3
- 9 runners
Runners: 9 runners
Type: Hurdle Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Showers
Form: 2222-3 BF
Last run: 70 days
W: 12st 0lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 127
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 2 |
11th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 3m 0f 149y Class 1 |
11st 11lb |
Provided yet another example of his yard's prowess in top handicaps when quite comfortably justifying strong market support in the Pertemps at Cheltenham (3m, good) last month, with seven of today's rivals in behind; raised 9lb but could be capable of even better. |
4/1 |
|
1st 7 |
12th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 2m 7f 213y Class 1 |
10st 11lb |
No ground issues; promising late gains when third of 17 on stable debut in the Cheltenham qualifier in October; not so hot since but those runs aren't hard to forgive (the latest was over just 2m4f) and he's now 2lb lower than on that eye-catching reappearance; trainer is a dab hand in these Festival handicaps and this 8yo has been favourite for this race for some time. |
3/1 |
|
3rd 4 |
25th Oct 2025 Good To Soft 2m 7f 208y Class 2 |
11st 3lb |
Won for the Newland-Insole stable at Haydock (3m, heavy) last December and signed off for them with a pretty good third at Warwick (3m1f, good) in April; sold for £24,000 since; remains on a career-high mark but had wind surgery during summer break and it will be interesting to see what Dan Skelton can do with him. |
16/1 |
14/1
Form: /111-P D
Last run: 28 days
W: 11st 12lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 125
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2 |
21st Dec 2024 Soft 3m 0f 58y Class 3 |
11st 12lb |
Made it a remarkable nine wins (heavy-good to soft) from his last ten starts when scoring at Chepstow (2m7f) last December; pulled up on his only outing since but that was a tough ask in a hot handicap here four weeks ago, after an absence of nearly a year, and he's not written off. |
14/1 |
|
2 |
21st Dec 2024 Soft 3m 0f 58y Class 3 |
11st 12lb |
Made it a remarkable nine wins (heavy-good to soft) from his last ten starts when scoring at Chepstow (2m7f) last December; pulled up on his only outing since but that was a tough ask in a hot handicap here four weeks ago, after an absence of nearly a year, and he's not written off. |
14/1 |
11/2
Form: 756-14
Last run: 28 days
W: 11st 12lb
9 yo Gelding
OR: 125
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 3 |
21st Dec 2024 Soft 3m 0f 58y Class 3 |
11st 12lb |
Snapped 12-race losing sequence with narrow win at Carlisle (2m4f, good to soft) last month; well beaten by the first three when fourth of 15 over C&D (soft) last time but that was a hot race and he drops back down in grade today; could have a part to play. |
11/2 |
|
3 |
21st Dec 2024 Soft 3m 0f 58y Class 3 |
11st 12lb |
Snapped 12-race losing sequence with narrow win at Carlisle (2m4f, good to soft) last month; well beaten by the first three when fourth of 15 over C&D (soft) last time but that was a hot race and he drops back down in grade today; could have a part to play. |
11/2 |
|
4th 12 |
23rd Nov 2024 Good 3m 0f 58y Class 1 |
10st 10lb |
9yo who snapped 12-race losing sequence when narrowly exploiting reduced mark on reappearance at Carlisle (2m4f, good to soft) three weeks ago; needs a bigger performance now back up in grade but he remains well treated on his old form and should be fine now back up in trip; not discounted. |
33/1 |
9/2
Form: 3512-3
Last run: 42 days
W: 11st 6lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: 119
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 2 |
28th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 2m 7f 70y Class 4 |
12st 1lb |
Runner-up off this mark at Newbury (3m, soft) last February but he's not hit the same level since and was beaten 19l back at Newbury (third of nine) last month; overall record is now 1-15 and others are more persuasive. |
7/1 |
|
3rd 5 |
27th Feb 2026 Good To Soft 3m 0f 57y Class 3 |
11st 6lb |
Consistent over hurdles last season, with best effort a C&D second (soft) just over a year ago; disappointing over fences this term (three attempts; blinkers tried last time) and this switch back to hurdling needs to rekindle his enthusiasm; usual cheekpieces back on today. |
20/1 |
|
3 |
2nd Feb 2026 Good To Soft 3m 0f 0y Class 4 |
11st 13lb |
Consistent over hurdles last season; ran well to a point on chasing debut at Bangor (3m, heavy) in November and may have found the good ground too lively when safely held at Doncaster in December; not out of this if change of headgear gives him a boost. |
10/1 |
20/1
Form: 6141FP D
Last run: 20 days
W: 11st 3lb
9 yo Gelding
OR: 116
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6th 5 |
14th May 2026 Good 2m 4f 35y Class 4 |
11st 8lb |
No win over hurdles since July 2021, and was a remote last of eight in this last year; solid record over fences here - four wins at 3m - which does at least offer some hope, even if he has struggled for form (P84) in his last three starts; might need this off a 232-day absence. |
33/1 |
|
4th 5 |
24th Sep 2025 Good To Soft 2m 7f 180y Class 2 |
10st 9lb |
Four-time C&D winner (good-heavy), including this race in 2023; has questions to answer after disappointing on last two appearances but was second on consecutive C&D starts in June/July and can't be ruled out. |
10/1 |
|
8th 1 |
8th Sep 2025 Good 2m 7f 180y Class 4 |
12st 0lb |
Very disappointing last time at Uttoxeter but was runner-up over C&D in his two previous starts and he's bidding for a hat-trick in this race; nothing wrong with his mark if back on song. |
11/4 |
12/1
Form: 122-4P D
Last run: 20 days
W: 11st 2lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 115
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
9th 1 |
21st Oct 2025 Good 2m 7f 207y Class 4 |
12st 0lb |
Placed off 1lb higher at Catterick (3m1f, soft) in January but the rest of last season's form was disappointing and this is first start since February; others have much stronger claims. |
33/1 |
|
7th 5 |
14th Feb 2025 Soft 2m 6f 151y Class 4 |
11st 8lb |
taken down early, in touch with leaders on inner |
10/1 |
|
3rd 6 |
31st Jan 2025 Soft 3m 1f 71y Class 4 |
11st 7lb |
led, headed and not fluent 2 out, lost second and no extra run-in |
16/1 |
14/1
Form: 6-504F D
Last run: 70 days
W: 11st 1lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 114
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
9 |
25th Aug 2025 Good 3m 1f 83y Class 2 |
10st 2lb |
Won twice here in 2023; respectable efforts this year but not as good as he was; 10lb out of the weights. |
16/1 |
|
10th 14 |
19th Jul 2025 Good To Soft 2m 6f 31y Class 3 |
10st 5lb |
Dual course winner in 2023; kept on for fourth over C&D (good to soft; also suited by soft/heavy) in May and subsequent Hexham second was also very respectable but he's no longer the force of old. |
14/1 |
|
4 |
7th Jun 2025 Good 2m 7f 63y Class 4 |
11st 1lb |
C&D winner in 2023; well below best form over the last year or so but at least took a step back in right direction when keeping-on fourth at Cartmel (2m6f, good to soft) ten days ago. |
12/1 |
11/1
Form: 2221-3 D
Last run: 41 days
W: 11st 0lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 113
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6 |
22nd Mar 2026 Good 2m 7f 25y Class 4 |
11st 7lb |
Won this race two years ago; as good as ever (after a wind operation) when scoring by over 9l over C&D in November (good) but hasn't offered a great deal since, beaten 22l in staying handicaps at Doncaster and Ascot; others preferred. |
14/1 |
|
11th 15 |
14th Feb 2026 Soft 2m 7f 123y Class 3 |
11st 2lb |
Showed the benefit of a wind op and looked as good as ever when scoring by over 9l on seasonal debut at Exeter (2m7f, good) in November; also suited by soft/heavy ground but disappointed when last in action and will probably find younger rivals better handicapped here. |
14/1 |
|
4th 3 |
15th Apr 2025 Good 3m 0f 60y Class 4 |
11st 12lb |
Weakened quickly and was pulled up on consecutive outings during the winter but looked back in much better nick when respectable sixth at Newbury (3m, good to soft) last month; another 2lb lower here; contender if able to build on that recent effort. |
8/1 |
9/1
Form: P4/U32
Last run: 20 days
W: 10st 6lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 105
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5 |
27th Jan 2026 Good To Soft 2m 7f 149y Class 5 |
11st 7lb |
He's well handicapped on last season's best efforts but this 10yo hasn't been able to threaten this term and has a poor 1-22 strike-rate. |
16/1 |
Non-runners
My Bobby Dazzler, Spike Jones
Selections
Daily Record:
Spike JonesTOPSPEED:
Stratton OakmontRP RATINGS:
My Bobby DazzlerThe Times:
Supremely WestDaily Mail:
Castle Rushen