16.05
SoftGuy Fawkes Handicap Hurdle (Challenger Two Mile Hurdle Series Qualifier)
- Prize money: £10510.78
- 1m 7f 216y
- Class 3
- 11 runners
Runners: 11 runners
Type: Hurdle Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Rain
Abandoned
Form: 5F/8-1 D
Last run: 172 days
W: 12st 0lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 130
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 6 |
24th Apr 2023 Good 2m 5f 0y Class 3 |
11st 10lb |
Campaigned at about 2m in Britain, winning at Warwick (good) last May; no progress in two runs since but may be ready for a crack at this longer distance; French win came over 2m3f; not dismissed. |
6/1 |
|
6th 2 |
4th Mar 2023 Good 2m 0f 69y Class 3 |
11st 13lb |
Looked good from the front in small field at Warwick (2m, good; 5lb higher today) last May in his second handicap; ran as though the race would bring him on when fair fifth at Ascot in November; off another 106 days but lightly raced and could be capable of better. |
4/1 |
|
5 |
9th Feb 2023 Good 2m 3f 137y Class 2 |
11st 1lb |
Remains lightly raced; looked good at Warwick in May (2m, good) and ran as though the race would bring him on when fifth on his Ascot return; that was in mid-November and off since, but hard to rule out. |
8/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 1222-5 D
Last run: 28 days
W: 11st 10lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: 126
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5th 4 |
4th Apr 2026 Good 2m 4f 216y Class 3 |
11st 10lb |
Won over hurdles in November and has done well on his belated return to fences, following a near-miss at Carlisle with a creditable third at Newbury (2m, good to soft) in February; still looks feasibly treated and he was a dual chase winner (2m/2m4f) in his youth; dangerous back up in trip. |
15/2 |
|
3rd 2 |
27th Feb 2026 Good To Soft 2m 0f 92y Class 3 |
11st 11lb |
Won over hurdles in November and has done well on his belated return to fences, following his fourth at Haydock with a near miss at Carlisle (2m, good to soft); Isabelle Ryder again claims her 5lb and this 9yo is up 3lb in future. |
9/2 |
|
2nd 4 |
16th Feb 2026 Good To Soft 1m 7f 207y Class 3 |
11st 11lb |
Won over hurdles at Windsor (2m, good to soft) in November and respectable fourth at Haydock (2m, good to soft) last month on first chase start since March 2024; has run well on both visits here; might not be far away. |
7/2 |
Abandoned
Form: 12645- D
Last run: 231 days
W: 11st 9lb
5 yo Mare
OR: 125
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
11th 8 |
11th Nov 2023 Soft 2m 4f 35y Class 3 |
11st 3lb |
Three-time hurdle winner; not an instant success over fences last season but seemed to be getting her act together when close/clear second to a course specialist at Ludlow (2m4f, good to soft) in April and has possibilities here if fully tuned up. |
7/1 |
|
2nd 3 |
3rd Apr 2023 Soft 2m 4f 11y Class 4 |
11st 7lb |
Well handicapped on best hurdles form, including a win off 6lb higher; however, finished behind a few of these rivals here last month (third chase attempt) and still has something to prove over fences. |
12/1 |
|
5th 2 |
2nd Mar 2023 Good 2m 4f 11y Class 4 |
11st 9lb |
Three-time hurdle winner; behind Fortunes Melody when modest fourth on chasing debut at Wincanton (2m4f, good to soft) on Boxing Day and was pulled up at Hereford in January; comes here with a point to prove. |
8/1 |
Abandoned
Form: /61P1- CD
Last run: 202 days
W: 11st 9lb
4 yo Gelding
OR: 125
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3 |
5th Mar 2026 Soft To Heavy 2m 5f 110y |
11st 12lb |
Two wins over hurdles in Britain; uneven form in three chase starts, best display when second in a small-field Newbury handicap; off for over a year; good claimer booked for his Irish debut. |
16/1 |
|
5th 3 |
7th Feb 2025 Good To Soft 3m 0f 0y Class 4 |
11st 8lb |
in touch with leaders, not fluent 4th, bad mistake 4 out |
3/1 |
|
5th 3 |
7th Feb 2025 Good To Soft 3m 0f 0y Class 4 |
11st 8lb |
in touch with leaders, not fluent 4th, bad mistake 4 out |
3/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 66118- CD
Last run: 239 days
W: 11st 4lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: 120
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 6 |
3rd May 2025 Good 2m 3f 207y Class 3 |
10st 10lb |
prominent, pressed leaders briefly 3 out, kept on from 2 out |
5/2 |
|
3rd 6 |
3rd May 2025 Good 2m 3f 207y Class 3 |
10st 10lb |
Finally exploited his much reduced mark when coming clear at Ffos Las a month ago (2m4f, good to soft), where he reportedly appreciated the drying ground; a 5lb rise might not prevent him from following up. |
5/2 |
|
1st 3 |
6th Apr 2025 Good To Soft 2m 4f 0y Class 4 |
11st 10lb |
All three wins in 2022; twice second in the mud at Uttoxeter (2m4f) last spring but well beaten all five starts from November onwards, even when the cheekpieces returned back at Uttoxeter on latest; another career-low mark. |
7/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 44130- D
Last run: 234 days
W: 11st 1lb
5 yo Mare
OR: 117
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5 |
7th May 2025 Good 2m 4f 216y Class 2 |
10st 3lb |
1-10 over fences; gave very good account of herself when keeping on for never-dangerous fourth in Grade 2 mares' chase at Cheltenham Festival (2m4f, good to soft) in March but she was put up 7lb for that run and may not be ideally suited by the forecast faster ground here. |
12/1 |
|
5 |
7th May 2025 Good 2m 4f 216y Class 2 |
10st 3lb |
1-10 over fences; gave very good account of herself when keeping on for never-dangerous fourth in Grade 2 mares' chase at Cheltenham Festival (2m4f, good to soft) in March but she was put up 7lb for that run and may not be ideally suited by the forecast faster ground here. |
12/1 |
|
4th 7 |
14th Mar 2025 Good To Soft 2m 4f 127y Class 1 |
11st 2lb |
held up in rear |
100/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 3231-2 D BF
Last run: 183 days
W: 11st 0lb
4 yo Gelding
OR: 116
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5th 5 |
11th Apr 2025 Good To Soft 2m 5f 91y Class 2 |
11st 6lb |
prominent behind clear leader |
8/1 |
|
5th 5 |
11th Apr 2025 Good To Soft 2m 5f 91y Class 2 |
11st 6lb |
prominent behind clear leader |
8/1 |
|
4th 4 |
15th Mar 2025 Good 2m 5f 0y Class 2 |
11st 11lb |
pressed leader |
7/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 1-3222 D
Last run: 29 days
W: 11st 0lb
4 yo Gelding
OR: 116
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 4 |
30th Mar 2023 Good To Soft 2m 0f 0y Class 4 |
11st 8lb |
Just a respectable third in tactical race at Fontwell (2m3f, soft) this month but today's forecast better ground ought to be in his favour and he's now back on the same mark as when second in good-quality 4yo handicap at Chepstow (2m, good) in the autumn; might be the answer. |
9/4 |
|
3rd 4 |
8th Mar 2023 Good 2m 3f 49y Class 3 |
11st 8lb |
towards rear |
10/1 |
|
11th 7 (12) |
1st Feb 2023 Standard To Slow 1m 3f 219y Class 6 |
9st 7lb |
Modest maiden on the Flat when trained in Ireland but he has since developed into a fair hurdler and returns to this discipline at a realistic level; one to take seriously. |
5/2 |
Abandoned
Form: 41332- D BF
Last run: 238 days
W: 11st 0lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 116
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
24th Apr 2025 Good To Soft 2m 3f 123y Class 5 |
12st 0lb |
prominent, lost ground after 2nd, towards rear when fell 7th |
25/1 |
|
1 |
24th Apr 2025 Good To Soft 2m 3f 123y Class 5 |
12st 0lb |
prominent, lost ground after 2nd, towards rear when fell 7th |
25/1 |
|
11 |
29th Mar 2025 Good 2m 7f 70y Class 4 |
10st 11lb |
mistake 8th |
16/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 1-
Last run: 358 days
W: 10st 12lb
4 yo Gelding
OR: 114
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
1st Nov 2025 Good 3m 0f 45y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Well beaten in Grade 1s on final two starts last season; however, he impressed with two Grade 2 wins earlier in the campaign, namely the Peterborough at Huntingdon (2m4f, soft) and the Denman at Newbury (extended 2m7f, soft), and he has a very positive reappearance record; respected under 6lb penalty. |
9/4 |
|
1 |
1st Nov 2025 Good 3m 0f 45y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Well beaten in Grade 1s on final two starts last season; however, he impressed with two Grade 2 wins earlier in the campaign, namely the Peterborough at Huntingdon (2m4f, soft) and the Denman at Newbury (extended 2m7f, soft), and he has a very positive reappearance record; respected under 6lb penalty. |
9/4 |
|
6th 2 |
3rd Apr 2025 Good To Soft 3m 0f 210y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Always behind and well beaten in the Ryanair but may benefit from this step back up in distance, having been well suited by 2m7f in the Denman Chase at Newbury (one of two soft-ground Grade 2 wins this term) the time before; largely progressive prior to latest start and unexposed over staying trips. |
20/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 54P-85
Last run: 20 days
W: 10st 3lb
4 yo Gelding
OR: 105
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
14 |
26th Dec 2022 Soft 1m 7f 50y Class 4 |
11st 3lb |
Never really fired for his previous British yard and joined this one for £5,000; well held in his two runs since but he was a winner in France and these softer conditions could make a difference; respected. |
20/1 |
|
5th 8 |
13th Nov 2022 Good To Soft 2m 1f 162y Class 3 |
10st 3lb |
took keen hold, in rear, not fluent 1st, headway after 3 out, pushed along and in touch with leaders when mistake 2 out, beaten when not fluent last |
20/1 |
Non-runners
Gipsy De Choisel, Irish Hill
Verdict
There is a fair amount to be taken on trust with DJELO given that a year has passed since his only race and this is his first appearance in Britain, but he left a positive impression with that win in France, enough to fetch 140,000 euros soon afterwards, and should prove better than this mark. Nicky Henderson fields Gipsy De Choisel and Paul Nicholls Irish Hill but there should be plenty of potential among the rest too, with Mayhem Mya perhaps the chief danger. Moulins Clermont and Monviel also need a mention in a fascinating line-up.[Richard Austen]
Selections
Daily Mirror:
Gipsy De ChoiselThe Sun:
Gipsy De Choisel