15.17
GoodDragonBet ‘Welsh Champion’ Hurdle (A Limited Handicap) (GBB Race)
- Prize money: £26015
- 2m 0f 11y
- Class 2
- 9 runners
Runners: 9 runners
Type: Hurdle Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Mostly cloudy
15/8
Form: 11433- D BF
Last run: 191 days
W: 11st 12lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 137
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
12th Oct 2025 Good 2m 0f 11y Class 2 |
11st 12lb |
A very useful novice hurdler last season and ran big race when third of 17 on handicap debut at Aintree festival (2m, good) in April, having been badly hampered in early stages and made up considerable ground from the rear; 5lb higher here but still has more to offer. |
15/8 |
|
3rd 4 |
4th Apr 2025 Good To Soft 2m 0f 103y Class 2 |
10st 13lb |
in rear, badly hampered on turn before 1st, towards rear after 3rd, good headway after 4 out, challenging 3 out, led narrowly 2 out, soon ridden, headed last, no extra final 110yds |
15/2 |
|
3rd 4 |
4th Apr 2025 Good To Soft 2m 0f 103y Class 2 |
10st 13lb |
in rear, badly hampered on turn before 1st, towards rear after 3rd, good headway after 4 out, challenging 3 out, led narrowly 2 out, soon ridden, headed last, no extra final 110yds |
15/2 |
11/2
Form: 84P1-2 D
Last run: 166 days
W: 11st 9lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 134
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 4 |
1st May 2026 Yielding 2m 0f 45y |
11st 12lb |
Progressive 7yo won a competitive Ascot handicap in December (15.5f, good to soft) and was second in a valuable Windsor handicap next time (2m, soft); posted career-best effort in the County Hurdle last time, keeping on well to win by three lengths (2m1f, soft); has course form after filling the second spot in a festival handicap here last season; enters Grade 1 company now and will need a good fist of improvement again, but he's clearly thriving. |
11/1 |
|
1st 6 |
13th Mar 2026 Good 2m 0f 179y Class 1 |
11st 2lb |
Progressive 7yo who made it 5-11 over hurdles when making all in competitive handicap at Ascot (1m7f, good to soft) in December; backed that up when second of 14 in another valuable handicap at Windsor (2m, soft) in January; likeable but he will need more again. |
14/1 |
|
2nd 1 |
16th Jan 2026 Soft 2m 0f 0y Class 2 |
12st 0lb |
Progressive 7yo who made it 5-11 over hurdles when making all in competitive handicap at Ascot (1m7f, good to soft) four weeks ago; had nearly 3l to spare over the runner-up Hot Fuss and he's respected up 7lb. |
15/2 |
7/2
Form: /1261- D
Last run: 189 days
W: 11st 7lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: 132
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
18th Apr 2026 Soft 2m 0f 0y Class 1 |
11st 12lb |
Won at Newbury (2m, soft) last November on second handicap start and easily followed up there in the prestigious William Hill Hurdle in February (2m, heavy); reluctant to line up and couldn't adopt usual prominent pitch when down the field in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham last month; returns to a handicap today and could bounce back with a bold bid. |
9/4 |
|
8th 5 |
10th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 2m 0f 87y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Never-dangerous sixth in the Supreme on this card 12 months ago but ran well on bare figures despite a big change in tactics (normally leads or races prominently); took his strike-rate to 4-9 with wins in notable handicaps at Newbury (2m, soft/heavy) in November and February, last time defying top weight and proving thoroughly dominant in the race that fellow front-runner Make A Stand won in 1997 before following up in the Champion Hurdle; improving hurdler who is worth a crack at this prize in a reasonably open year and has been duly supplemented at a cost of £18,000 |
20/1 |
|
1st 1 |
7th Feb 2026 Soft 2m 0f 69y Class 1 |
12st 0lb |
Acts on soft ground; progressive sort whose two attempts over C&D comprise a good effort, as a novice hurdler, on this card 12 months ago and clearcut success in notable handicap on last appearance (runner-up has franked the form since); an ideal type for this prize and warrants major respect despite carrying a big weight. |
7/1 |
16/1
Form: 1148- D
Last run: 204 days
W: 11st 2lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: 127
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 1 |
9th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 2m 4f 0y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Acts on any ground; good strike-rate includes wins in the Greatwood and Kingwell this season; ties in with Brighterdaysahead and The New Lion on Champion Hurdle running where a late blunder cost him ground when challenging for the places; has form at up to 2m3f; remains a progressive sort. |
8/1 |
|
4th 1 |
10th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 2m 0f 87y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Acts on any ground; impressive in major handicap over C&D in November; made harder work of justifying favouritism in the Kingwell (1m7f Grade 2) at Wincanton most recently, wandering under pressure to boot, and this is a stiffer assignment, but he's a broadly progressive contender who is 5-9 over hurdles and may rate higher still; possibilities in a year where some big names have dropped out. |
16/1 |
|
1st 2 |
14th Feb 2026 Heavy 1m 7f 50y Class 1 |
11st 8lb |
Upwardly mobile 6yo who completed a double in the Greatwood at Cheltenham (2m, soft) in November and was creditable third under topweight in another valuable handicap at Ascot (1m7f, good to soft) in December; now steps up into a Grade 2 event but he sets the standard on his latest form and is open to more progress; leading contender. |
4/6 |
13/2
Form: 11440- D
Last run: 191 days
W: 11st 1lb
6 yo Filly
OR: 126
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
9th 4 |
25th Apr 2026 Good 2m 3f 178y Class 2 |
10st 13lb |
Just held on to land big prize at Windsor (2m4f, good) on New Year's Day but wasn't in quite the same form on next two outings (2m3f/3m) and probably needs to find hidden reserves. |
13/2 |
|
3rd 2 |
21st Mar 2026 Good To Soft 3m 0f 100y Class 1 |
11st 2lb |
Game when winning 2m4f handicap at Windsor (good) on New Year's Day, shaping as though she would be worth a crack at a staying trip; soundly beaten at Ascot (2m3f, good to soft) since, and in view of this longer distance it's a concern she failed to settle that day, but she's not ruled out. |
5/1 |
|
7th 7 |
14th Feb 2026 Soft 2m 3f 63y Class 2 |
10st 13lb |
Has bits of form on soft, campaigned mostly on faster ground; steadily back to form this term and landed a valuable handicap, holding on by a neck, at Windsor (2m4f) most recently; should remain competitive. |
6/1 |
10/1
Form: 3P906- D
Last run: 179 days
W: 10st 12lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 123
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
7th 4 |
20th May 2026 Good 2m 5f 5y Class 4 |
11st 8lb |
Has had three wins over hurdles but yet to convince on his suitability for this distance, latest when seventh of eight finishers at Haydock (2m5f, good) last month in first-time cheekpieces (retained). |
10/1 |
|
7th 12 |
15th Apr 2026 Good 2m 5f 50y Class 2 |
10st 5lb |
All five wins have been at about 2m or 2m1f; wasn't that strong through the line over Bangor's extended 2m3f last time (good) and has further to go here; tries cheekpieces. |
10/1 |
|
3rd 6 |
21st Mar 2026 Good To Soft 2m 3f 123y Class 2 |
10st 8lb |
Hasn't fired as he can this season but he's well handicapped on form that wasn't that long ago; back from a break and hasn't had many chances over this sort of trip. |
6/1 |
12/1
Form: /3202- D
Last run: 216 days
W: 10st 11lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 122
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
9 |
12th Oct 2025 Good 2m 0f 11y Class 2 |
10st 11lb |
Did well for new stable in 2024, winning twice, and runner-up in valuable Southwell handicap (2m, good) on New Year's Day; reverts to hurdling after a pipe-opener on the Flat last month; probably needs to squeeze out even more improvement to land this prize. |
12/1 |
|
7th 6 (5) |
11th Sep 2025 Good 1m 4f 6y Class 4 |
11st 1lb |
Progressive since joining this yard and switched to hurdles, mainly under Paul O'Brien, while his sole Flat run for Harry Derham was a respectable third of 11 at Newbury (1m4f, heavy) last October; market may help on this first start since March but stable's horses don't tend to lack for fitness; should go well. |
9/2 |
|
2nd 1 |
10th Mar 2025 Good To Soft 2m 0f 70y Class 3 |
12st 0lb |
led, not fluent 3rd, headed just before last, weakened run-in |
4/1 |
25/1
Form: 19198- D
Last run: 204 days
W: 10st 8lb
6 yo Filly
OR: 119
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
8th 4 |
23rd May 2026 Good To Soft 2m 1f 46y Class 3 |
11st 7lb |
Resumed winning ways at Ludlow (2m) in December and in good form until finishing last of ten in 2m4f Sandown handicap four weeks ago; the sort who might bounce back though. |
11/1 |
|
10th 16 |
25th Apr 2026 Good 2m 3f 178y Class 2 |
10st 2lb |
Gained all six hurdle wins at around 2m but ran quite well when fourth at Chepstow (2m3f, soft) last month; current mark is workable (even from 1lb out of the weights) and Sean Bowen takes over today; could have a say. |
16/1 |
|
4th 5 |
15th Mar 2026 Soft 2m 3f 100y Class 3 |
11st 6lb |
Campaigned mostly at about 2m; record is 6-21, the most recent win at Ludlow in December; placed twice since, including at Newbury when ahead of Rula Bula; gives the impression this return to further is worth exploring. |
6/1 |
16/1
Form: 142122 D BF
Last run: 37 days
W: 10st 6lb
5 yo Colt
OR: 112
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6th 3 |
28th May 2026 Good 2m 0f 0y Class 4 |
11st 13lb |
Won twice here last summer and some sign of a return to form when fourth at Warwick last week; this mark isn't a gift but has each-way claims. |
4/1 |
|
4th 8 |
20th May 2026 Good 2m 0f 0y Class 3 |
11st 5lb |
Won twice at Worcester last summer but below his best on his last two starts and needs to come down a few pounds. |
20/1 |
|
6th 6 |
15th Apr 2026 Good 1m 7f 144y Class 3 |
11st 7lb |
5lb out of the weights and 50-1 when well beaten in the Welsh Champion Hurdle on final run in October; his earlier races were more realistic than that and he ran well; solid chance if fitness doesn't hold him back. |
13/2 |
Non-runners
No Ordinary Joe, Titan Discovery
+o+e Accumulators
| Payout | |
|---|---|
| Exacta | £19.00 |
| Straight Forecast | £17.53 |
| Tricast | £98.86 |
| Trifecta | £125.20 |
Selections
POSTDATA:
ListentoyourheartThe Times:
Tutti QuantiDaily Record:
Tutti QuantiTelegraph:
Celtic DinoDaily Mail:
Celtic DinoThe Sun:
Celtic DinoD Express:
Norman FletcherDaily Mirror:
Norman FletcherThe Star:
Norman FletcherLAMBOURN:
Balhambar