May 28 / 15.35 Kelso

15.35

Good To Firm

Elliot Henderson Group Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £10406
  • 2m 0f 51y
  • Class 2
  • 5 runners
RTV
View Course
Elliot Henderson Group Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

9/4 (Won)

  • Win: £4.00
  • Place: £1.60

Form: 24452- D

Last run: 50 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Losing run goes back 13 races to June 2021 but runner-up five times in the meantime, most recently at Haydock (1m7f, good to soft) last month; also effective on fast ground and every chance he'll be bang there.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

7

27th Sep 2025

Good

2m 0f 125y

Class 2

17:45 Market Rasen

Castel Gandolfo

11st 0lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Fergal O’Brien

Won small-field C&D event in June and was not beaten far in Summer Hurdle (a race he won in 2024) here in July; needs to up his game after two lesser efforts elsewhere but the return to this track is sure to suit.

33/1

1

5th Sep 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

18:30 Worcester

Castel Gandolfo

12st 0lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Fergal O’Brien

Had a win and two placings from three starts here (2m) in his younger days; won four-runner Market Rasen handicap (2m, good) off reduced mark in June and was not disgraced in competitive Summer Hurdle over that C&D in July; form took a dip at Cartmel last time, though, and he's untried at this trip.

10/1

1

23rd Aug 2025

Good

2m 1f 46y

Class 3

16:30 Cartmel

Castel Gandolfo

12st 0lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Fergal O’Brien

Won four-runner Market Rasen handicap (2m, good) off reduced mark in June and was not disgraced in competitive Summer Hurdle over that C&D last month; ran quite well on only previous visit to Cartmel (in 2023); could have a say.

12/1

OUR TIP

3/1

  • Place: £1.60

Form: 12613- D

Last run: 119 days

W: 11st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Two wins (good/soft) from first four hurdle starts and solid third of seven on handicap debut at Sedgefield (2m1f, good to soft) in January; returned from a break with a win on the Flat (soft) three weeks ago and he's won on fast ground in that code; can give another good account back over hurdles.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

16th Oct 2025

Good

1m 7f 207y

Class 3

13:57 Carlisle

Matchless

11st 5lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jennie Candlish

Three consecutive wins over hurdles in May/June (2m-2m7f, good/good to soft) and he was running okay in that sphere last month; however, he has something to find in today's company and he didn't improve for the switch to fences when soundly beaten in January on his sole previous chase start.

12/1

4th

1

26th Sep 2025

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 4

15:52 Worcester

Matchless

12st 0lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jennie Candlish

Came up rather short in higher grade last time; solid record (1112) in Class 4 otherwise this term, albeit has shot up the weights as a result; may be in the assessor's grip now.

13/2

3

5th Sep 2025

Good

2m 7f 32y

Class 3

16:45 Bangor-on-Dee

Matchless

11st 6lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jennie Candlish

It took a return to selling level to regain the winning thread in May but has since gone 112 in 2m4f/2m7f handicaps; getting high in the weights (nudged up another 1lb) but he's pretty solid.

7/2

Form: 1114-3 D

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 1lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Five wins (three over hurdles, two on the Flat) between last December and this March, and he was a good third at Hexham (2m, good to soft) three weeks ago; has run well on fast ground on the Flat and he's a player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

4th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 156y

Class 4

14:10 Catterick

Russian Virtue

11st 7lb

J: Joshua Thompson

T: David Thompson

8-59, although his last win came in a two-runner affair at Carlisle (2m1f; 2-5 favourite; all out) in December 2023; latest Carlisle sixth (beaten 15l; 50-1) not overly inspiring; others more obvious.

10/1

6th

7

16th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 1f 0y

Class 4

15:40 Carlisle

Russian Virtue

11st 7lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: David Thompson

Has won six times over hurdles, the latest a two-runner affair over C&D (good to soft) in December 2023; a couple of fair runs for this yard last year but pulled up when last seen out in January (reportedly never travelling); others appeal more.

20/1

4

25th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 178y

Class 4

15:10 Sedgefield

Russian Virtue

11st 5lb

J: Nathan Moscrop

T: David Thompson

On a long losing spell and form figures of 246 this term reflect that a turnaround of sorts is required; admittedly appears well treated if that resurgence materialises, being 7lb below last winning mark.

16/1

Form: 3U622- D

Last run: 37 days

W: 11st 13lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Irish challenger who has been runner-up on both starts this spring, at Wexford (2m, good to yielding) and Ayr (2m, good to soft; big field); has run well on good going (unraced on faster); could again be thereabouts.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

10

10th Apr 2026

Good To Yielding

2m 3f 100y

18:38 Wexford

Bythesametoken

10st 4lb

J: John Shinnick

T: Ross O’Sullivan

Winner here over hurdles and third chase win came in 2m2f Listowel handicap chase last September (off 116) after more than a year's absence; another good comeback run at Haydock in February, not so good at Kelso a fortnight later over shorter trip; this probably the limit of his stamina.

10/1

5th

4

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 1f 14y

Class 3

13:10 Kelso

Bythesametoken

11st 10lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Ross O’Sullivan

12yo who has returned to his best this season, defying an absence to win at Listowel (2m1f, yielding to soft) in September before solid third at Haydock (2m4f, soft) a fortnight ago; the drop back in trip may well be a positive and he could be thereabouts.

7/1

3rd

4

14th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 203y

Class 3

13:28 Haydock

Bythesametoken

11st 6lb

J: Donagh Meyler

T: Ross O’Sullivan

Made light of a 13-month absence when landing 2m1f handicap chase at Listowel in September; 11lb higher today but that form worked out well so this Irish challenger can't be totally dismissed after another layoff.

5/1

Form: 5508-5 C

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 1lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Second in this last year (good to firm) when 7lb higher and took a step back in the right direction when fifth of ten here (2m6f) last time; however, he hasn't been at his very best this year and needs something extra.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 189y

Class 2

13:30 Kelso

The Navigator

10st 10lb

J: Peter Kavanagh

T: Dianne Sayer

11yo who was tailed off over C&D (good to soft) in November and pulled up at 100-1 at Ayr (2m4f, soft) last month on his sole start since; however, the drying conditions are a positive, with his last five wins coming on good ground, and he won two in a row over C&D last autumn to take his winning tally at Kelso to four; no surprise if he bounces back with a bold show.

50/1

5

23rd Feb 2026

Soft

2m 4f 100y

Class 4

16:00 Ayr

The Navigator

11st 8lb

J: Peter Kavanagh

T: Dianne Sayer

11yo who won three times last August-October (2m1f/2m5f, good); however, tailed off at Kelso (2m5f, good to soft) in November when last seen and there's a suspicion he may not want testing ground nowadays.

16/1

8

17th Sep 2025

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 2

16:25 Kelso

The Navigator

10st 2lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Dianne Sayer

Back to winning ways at Cartmel (2m1f) in August and followed it up with a good third of nine in 2m4f handicap at Sedgefield 13 days ago; this C&D scorer can't be discounted.

10/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £10.00
Straight Forecast £8.56
Trifecta £33.40

Selections

The Times:

Bythesametoken

SPOTLIGHT:

Castel Gandolfo

RP RATINGS:

The Navigator

The Star:

Russian Virtue

POSTDATA:

Castel Gandolfo

WEST COUNTRY:

Castel Gandolfo

The Sun:

Castel Gandolfo

Telegraph:

Bythesametoken

The Guardian:

Bythesametoken

D Express:

Bythesametoken

Daily Record:

Bythesametoken

TOPSPEED:

The Navigator

Daily Mirror:

The Navigator