May 28 / 16.05 Kelso

16.05

Good To Firm

Five Star Taxis Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £4752.9
  • 3m 1f 170y
  • Class 4
  • 7 runners
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Five Star Taxis Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

OUR TIP

9/4 (Won)

  • Win: £2.25
  • Place: £1.40

Form: /452-4

Last run: 12 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Good runs in defeat off this mark the last twice, when second here (2m2f, good) then a close fourth at Newcastle (2m7f, good); stayed on well last time and today's extra yardage could be a positive; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

28th May 2023

Good To Firm

3m 1f 170y

Class 4

16:05 Kelso

Rae Des Champs

12st 0lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Rose Dobbin

in touch with leaders

9/4

4

17th May 2023

Soft

2m 7f 207y

Class 4

19:30 Perth

Rae Des Champs

11st 1lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Rose Dobbin

4th

4

16th May 2023

Good

2m 7f 149y

Class 4

16:00 Newcastle

Rae Des Champs

11st 11lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Rose Dobbin

Yet to make any significant further progress since her winning handicap debut in March 2022 but ran well in defeat at Kelso (2m2f, good) last month, after a break, and is still quite lightly raced; tries a new trip here; good chance.

7/2

4/1

  • Place: £2.30

Form: P363-2

Last run: 11 days

W: 10st 10lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
In good form over fences this spring, finishing second at Perth (3m, good) last Wednesday; this is his first hurdles start since December 2021 but he's a winner in this discipline and runs off the same mark as last time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

10

31st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 19y

Class 5

16:30 Newcastle

Sputnik

10st 2lb

J: Peter Kavanagh

T: Lizzie Quinlan

Won a couple of 2m4f chases for Jackie Stephen; sound run when 2l second at Catterick in November (3m1f, good) but disappointing since; plenty to prove now.

33/1

13

21st Jan 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 54y

Class 5

14:50 Catterick

Sputnik

10st 2lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Lizzie Quinlan

33-1 runner-up to I See The Sea over C&D in November; however, two lesser performances have followed and this 11yo needs to get back on track.

33/1

10

3rd Jul 2025

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 5

16:20 Perth

Sputnik

10st 2lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Lizzie Quinlan

Well beaten on both starts for this stable in the autumn (2m4f/2m5f) and not seen again since; back up in trip with cheekpieces refitted today; 3lb wrong; needs to prove some ability remains.

20/1

Form: 4U635-

Last run: 79 days

W: 10st 11lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
0-14 but fair efforts the last twice, most recently fifth of 11 at Ayr (3m, good; finished lame); 2lb lower here and might not be far away.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

11

13th May 2026

Good

3m 2f 127y

Class 4

15:08 Perth

Maura Jeanne

11st 1lb

J: Callum Bewley

T: Ian Duncan

Thorough stayer whose last win was at Ayr in February 2025 (3m, soft); several good runs since, including when second at Carlisle last month; each-way chance.

12/1

6th

5

22nd Apr 2026

Soft

2m 7f 207y

Class 5

17:12 Perth

Maura Jeanne

11st 6lb

J: Mr S Connor

T: Ian Duncan

Strike-rate of 2-30; has a chance on her second at Carlisle last time (3m1f, good to soft) having also finished runner-up at Ayr in January (3m, heavy); each-way chance.

9/2

2nd

10

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 0y

Class 4

13:48 Carlisle

Maura Jeanne

10st 2lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Ian Duncan

Won twice over 3m-plus last season, the first time over 3m2f on good to soft at Kelso; has run a couple of fair races this term and has a chance on her best form with a visor replacing cheekpieces.

20/1

Form: 30116- C

Last run: 41 days

W: 11st 8lb

9 yo Mare

OR: 101

Form & Verdict
Won two in a row at Hexham (2m7f, heavy) in March and she's a three-time winner here (including on good ground); not discounted but needs to bounce back from below-par run here (2m6f, good) last time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

13th May 2026

Good

3m 0f 0y

19:50 Punchestown

Lissen To The Lady

11st 3lb

J: Miss J Walton

T: Patrick Cronin

Seven-time hurdles winner made a satisfactory return from a long absence at Naas when sixth; didn't build on that at Clonmel last time; others preferred.

15/1

9th

5

26th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 2f 188y

17:12 Clonmel

Lissen To The Lady

11st 3lb

J: Miss J Walton

T: Patrick Cronin

Six-time winner in Britain and gained her first Irish win in game fashion over 2m4f at this venue in January 2024 on her third and final start for Marie Harding; at the veteran stage now but made a promising reappearance under Joanna Walton (aboard for all seven wins) over 2m at Naas recently; each-way prospects.

8/1

Form: P2F6-U

Last run: 11 days

W: 10st 10lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
Reverts to hurdles having fallen/unseated in chases on two of his last three starts, most recently at the first fence on recent stable debut at Perth; has run just three times in this sphere (early 2021) and didn't achieve much, but he's on a handy mark on his best chase form and isn't written off.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

30th Jul 2023

Good To Soft

3m 0f 0y

Class 5

16:20 Uttoxeter

Sir Apollo

11st 6lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Harriet Graham & Gary Rutherford

Both wins for previous yard came over 3m3f at Sedgefield; yet to find top form for current stable; doesn't look the percentage call.

9/1

5th

7

6th Jul 2023

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 5

16:18 Perth

Sir Apollo

10st 13lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Harriet Graham & Gary Rutherford

Best efforts have been at Sedgefield and he was well behind over C&D last month, finishing adrift of Castletown.

20/1

5th

8

11th Jun 2023

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 4

15:00 Perth

Sir Apollo

10st 8lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Harriet Graham & Gary Rutherford

took keen hold, disputed lead, led from 3rd, headed but raced in second before 11th, led again 14th

20/1

Form: 8PP51-

Last run: 94 days

W: 11st 0lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
Won at Sedgefield (3m3f, good) in February last time out and the clear runner-up has won twice since; all three wins have come at that track and he's failed to shine on his two runs here, but he is capable of running well away from Sedgefield and he's not ruled out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

9th Jun 2024

Good

2m 7f 207y

Class 5

16:52 Perth

The Blame Game

11st 3lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: James Ewart

always behind

16/1

7th

6

8th May 2024

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 5

15:10 Kelso

The Blame Game

11st 6lb

J: William Maggs

T: James Ewart

held up in rear, no impression from 3 out

20/1

7th

6

8th May 2024

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 5

15:10 Kelso

The Blame Game

11st 6lb

J: William Maggs

T: James Ewart

held up in rear, no impression from 3 out

20/1

Form: 8/6-38 C

Last run: 10 days

W: 10st 2lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
Has won here but that was back in 2018 and he's 0-27 since that July; hard to fancy from 5lb out of the handicap; cheekpieces go on.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

9

2nd Aug 2023

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 5

15:20 Perth

Placedela Concorde

10st 2lb

J: Conor Rabbitt

T: Maurice Barnes

Hasn't won since 2018; well-beaten third of three from 13lb out of the handicap on return to fences at Hexham in June (2m4f, good); 2lb wrong here; others appeal more.

40/1

3rd

3

17th Jun 2023

Good

2m 4f 15y

Class 4

14:25 Hexham

Placedela Concorde

10st 2lb

J: Conor Rabbitt

T: Maurice Barnes

raced in last, awkward jump 6th, lost touch from 7th

16/1

7

28th May 2023

Good To Firm

3m 1f 170y

Class 4

16:05 Kelso

Placedela Concorde

10st 2lb

J: Conor Rabbitt

T: Maurice Barnes

led at steady pace, not fluent 3rd, headed before 9th

33/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £8.20
Straight Forecast £7.88
Trifecta £33.80

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Rae Des Champs

THE NORTH:

Sputnik

Daily Mirror:

Maura Jeanne

POSTDATA:

Placedela Concorde

RP RATINGS:

Rae Des Champs

TOPSPEED:

Rae Des Champs

The Times:

Rae Des Champs

D Express:

Rae Des Champs

The Sun:

Rae Des Champs

Telegraph:

Sputnik

The Star:

Sputnik

Daily Record:

Sputnik