15.30
SoftHillhouse Quarry Handicap Chase (GBB Race)
- Prize money: £25720
- 2m 4f 110y
- Class 2
- 9 runners
Runners: 9 runners
Type: Chase Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Light rain
15/2 (Won)
- Win: £7.00
- Place: £2.20
Form: -11UP2 D
Last run: 27 days
W: 12st 0lb
9 yo Gelding
OR: 148
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 1 |
17th Apr 2026 Soft 2m 4f 110y Class 2 |
12st 0lb |
Front-runner; won two in a row last autumn (2m3f/2m4f, good to soft) and back to form when second under Jay Tidball at Newbury (2m4f, good to soft) last month; effective on soft earlier in career; can make another bold bid. |
15/2 |
|
2nd 1 |
21st Mar 2026 Good To Soft 2m 3f 187y Class 2 |
12st 2lb |
Two wins from the front, including a defeat of Heltenham over C&D, and two non-completions comprise a mixed current campaign; hindered by being unable to dominate in the Greatwood Gold Cup last time; chance may depend on whether he gets an easy lead. |
13/2 |
|
1 |
28th Feb 2026 Good To Soft 2m 3f 187y Class 1 |
12st 0lb |
Front-running chaser who made a bad mistake and unseated rider mid-race when favourite for similar event at Cheltenham last time; successful in both completed starts this term, looking better than ever, including a C&D performance (good to soft; beat Heltenham by 10l) that suggests he's an ideal candidate for this prize; respected. |
4/1 |
5/2
- Place: £1.70
Form: 1-3221 D
Last run: 83 days
W: 11st 3lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 137
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 4 |
17th Apr 2026 Soft 2m 4f 110y Class 2 |
11st 3lb |
Can make mistakes but he was runner-up twice in a row prior to winning a quality handicap at Cheltenham (2m4f, soft) in January, when clear with subsequent Ultima runner-up Jagwar; a 5lb rise for that career-best performance isn't harsh and he's entitled to respect. |
5/2 |
|
1st 7 |
24th Jan 2026 Soft 2m 4f 127y Class 1 |
10st 8lb |
Hard to knock in terms of consistency and he again ran creditably when second of seven at Chepstow (2m3f, good to soft) on Welsh National day; however, he's prone to the odd mistake and may not get away with them on his first run over fences at Cheltenham. |
12/1 |
|
3rd 1 |
28th Oct 2025 Soft 2m 3f 83y Class 3 |
12st 0lb |
Struck form over fences at start of this year, winning over 2m3f on soft ground at Exeter and Chepstow; subsequent 261-day break may have checked his momentum but further progress is possible this season. |
4/1 |
14/1
- Place: £3.20
Form: 11-486 C
Last run: 48 days
W: 10st 4lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 124
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 9 |
17th Apr 2026 Soft 2m 4f 110y Class 2 |
10st 4lb |
Hasn't got competitive this term and beaten 18l when sixth of eight on stable debut at Kelso (2m1f, good to soft) in February; however, he shaped as though this step up in trip might be a good move and his three wins, including two over fences last January (2m, soft), have all come at Ayr. |
14/1 |
|
6th 3 |
28th Feb 2026 Good To Soft 2m 1f 14y Class 3 |
11st 11lb |
Made fine start to chasing career last term, winning twice at Ayr (2m, soft); won on good to soft over hurdles; faced tough task on reappearance in November but well beaten in C&D handicap (soft) subsequently on final run for Nick Alexander; can be in the mix on stable debut if rediscovering last season's promise; remains in same ownership. |
12/1 |
9/1
Form: P-3140 D
Last run: 38 days
W: 10st 12lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 132
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 6 |
17th Apr 2026 Soft 2m 4f 110y Class 2 |
10st 12lb |
Well beaten in the Plate last month but Cheltenham may not be his track; comfortably made all in small field at Leicester (2m6f, good to soft) in January and led into the straight at Ascot (3m, good to soft) in February, only to weaken; also effective on soft; could be involved. |
9/1 |
|
13th 16 |
10th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 2m 4f 44y Class 1 |
10st 7lb |
Four hurdle wins; made just a so-so stab at chasing in late 2023 but he was footsure when making all at Leicester (about 2m6f, good to soft) in January and perhaps the 3m trip counted against him when trying to justify an 8lb rise at Ascot since; should have more to come over fences at some stage but this looks a tough call; yard also runs Peaky Boy. |
14/1 |
16/1
Form: 2-4816 CD
Last run: 13 days
W: 10st 6lb
12 yo Gelding
OR: 126
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5th 8 |
17th Apr 2026 Soft 2m 4f 110y Class 2 |
10st 6lb |
Won over C&D (soft) in February before respectable sixth of 17 in veterans' final at Haydock (2m4f, good) a fortnight ago; 11 visits to Ayr have yielded five wins and this is his time of year; could go well. |
16/1 |
|
6th 14 |
4th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 2m 3f 203y Class 2 |
10st 11lb |
His last six wins have come in the months of February, March or April and he returned to form to win at Ayr (2m4f, soft) 40 days ago; runner-up in this race two years ago (soft) and won over C&D (good to soft) last February; that latest win reads well and a 4lb rise isn't harsh; possible player. |
12/1 |
|
1st 1 |
23rd Feb 2026 Soft 2m 4f 110y Class 4 |
12st 2lb |
12yo who hasn't been at the top of his game on either outing this term and was tailed off at Aintree most recently; however, this is the stage of the season when he tends to come good and he's 2lb lower than when scoring at Haydock last February; has won here four times, and on various ground. |
6/1 |
7/2
Form: P-3356
Last run: 55 days
W: 10st 10lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 130
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 3 |
13th May 2026 Good 3m 1f 170y Class 3 |
11st 2lb |
Ran really well in defeat in some strong Cheltenham handicaps (2m4f-3m1f) during the first half of last season and his Kempton effort in February wasn't too shoddy; what needs forgiving is his Ayr run after a wind operation as that was underwhelming; still looks dangerous. |
11/8 |
|
6th 7 |
17th Apr 2026 Soft 2m 4f 110y Class 2 |
10st 10lb |
He hasn't quite been at the top of his game on his last two starts; however, he's had wind surgery since and is certainly of interest on his two third-place finishes at Cheltenham in the autumn (3m1f/2m4f, good/soft); top trainer has won five of the last eight runnings of this race. |
7/2 |
|
6th 9 |
21st Feb 2026 Good To Soft 3m 0f 0y Class 1 |
10st 8lb |
Won twice as a novice chaser over 3m at Sandown (soft/good); has been running well in some strong Cheltenham handicaps this season without looking that well handicapped, but returning to a right-handed track might benefit him, as might the first-time cheekpieces; could also have this run to suit if he's held up as usual; effective from 2m4f to 3m1f, he's a big player. |
7/1 |
5/1
Form: -23514 D BF
Last run: 34 days
W: 11st 7lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 141
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
7th 2 |
17th Apr 2026 Soft 2m 4f 110y Class 2 |
11st 7lb |
Soundly beaten fourth at Kempton (2m4f, good) last month but mistakes didn't help; won there (2m4f, good to soft) two starts ago and he can be in the mix if cutting out the errors; probably okay on soft ground. |
5/1 |
|
4th 3 |
14th Mar 2026 Good 2m 4f 110y Class 2 |
11st 11lb |
Two hurdle wins, the latest in Listed company; has taken well to fences and he looked a good prospect when winning in pleasing style over C&D (good to soft; acts on most surfaces) last month; a 5lb higher mark should be within reach; solid claims. |
9/4 |
11/1
Form: 1-F4P0 D
Last run: 38 days
W: 11st 6lb
9 yo Gelding
OR: 140
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
8th 3 |
17th Apr 2026 Soft 2m 4f 110y Class 2 |
11st 6lb |
Prone to making a bad blunder and arrives with something to prove following heavy defeats on his last two starts; however, he hasn't been devoid of promise this season and he'll be a major player if tapping back into the promise shown when romping to victory at last season's Cheltenham Festival. |
11/1 |
|
13th 14 |
10th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 3m 1f 0y Class 1 |
10st 13lb |
Mistakes were costly on first two runs this term and he was pulled up at Haydock (extended 3m4f, good to soft) 24 days ago; not easy to fancy on the back of that but stamina may well have been an issue and he was hugely impressive when making all by 11l in this race last March (good to soft); might take plenty of catching, even now 15lb higher, if rediscovering that same dominant form. |
10/1 |
9/1
Form: -28720 D
Last run: 36 days
W: 11st 2lb
9 yo Gelding
OR: 136
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5 |
17th Apr 2026 Soft 2m 4f 110y Class 2 |
11st 2lb |
9yo who hasn't been at his best this season but there have been signs of spark and he failed to stay 3m2f when well beaten at the Cheltenham Festival last time; continues to drop down the weights and could be in the shake-up back down in trip and in grade. |
9/1 |
|
15th 6 |
12th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 3m 2f 70y Class 2 |
11st 7lb |
Two-time course winner (2m4f, soft/good) who, having dropped down the weights, returned to form when second here on New Year's Day (2m4f, good; albeit no match for the winner); however, he doesn't appear to be crying out for the step up in trip; faded over 3m in February 2024. |
25/1 |
|
3 |
12th Oct 2025 Good To Firm 2m 3f 98y Class 2 |
11st 7lb |
Cheltenham regular who looked as good as ever when winning Paddy Power Gold Cup there (2m4f, good) last November; only 1lb higher today but seemed in need of the run when reappearing in this event last season and perhaps this race will again tee him up for Cheltenham next month. |
3/1 |
+o+e Accumulators
| Payout | |
|---|---|
| Exacta | £35.50 |
| Straight Forecast | £31.12 |
| Tricast | £323.41 |
| Trifecta | £378.20 |
Selections
Daily Mail:
Hoe Joly SmokeDaily Mirror:
Il Ridoto