13.55
SoftTurners Mersey Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race)
- Prize money: £56270
- 2m 4f 0y
- Class 1
- 8 runners
Runners: 8 runners
Type: Hurdle Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Cloudy
10/11 (Won)
- Win: £2.20
- Place: £1.20
Form: 1-1112 BF
Last run: 30 days
W: 11st 0lb
5 yo Filly
OR: 143
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 6 |
9th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 2m 4f 0y Class 1 |
11st 3lb |
Has form on most types of ground; took her Cheltenham Festival record to 0-3 with a defeat in the latest Champion Hurdle but that was a respectable effort without managing to confirm placings with Lossiemouth, who had played second fiddle in the Irish equivalent; record of 2-3 at about 2m4f includes an easy success in the Mersey at this meeting two years ago; very smart mare who holds leading claims at the weights. |
2/1 |
|
2nd 7 |
10th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 2m 0f 87y Class 1 |
11st 3lb |
Has form on most types of ground; hasn't lived up to expectations at this meeting for the last two years, beaten by Golden Ace in the Grade 2 novice hurdle in 2024 and only fourth (weakening when hampered) in this contest in 2025; otherwise a very smart mare and produced one of her best performances in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown (2m, heavy) most recently, reversing December placings with Lossiemouth and registering a fourth Grade 1 success; leading contender, provided she transfers the form to this venue. |
9/2 |
|
1st 5 |
1st Feb 2026 Heavy 2m 0f 0y |
11st 5lb |
Beat State Man in last season's Morgiana and gave a stunning performance to win the December Hurdle here by a huge margin; nowhere near that level when a remote fourth in an incident-packed Champion Hurdle; failed to regain her best when raised in trip at Punchestown, well held in third behind two of Lossiemouth's stablemates; outpointed by Lossiemouth here at Christnas but finished close enough to suggest she can provide a powerful challenge. |
13/8 |
14/1
- Place: £3.20
Form: 3112 BF
Last run: 51 days
W: 11st 7lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6th 7 |
4th May 2026 Good 2m 3f 150y |
11st 12lb |
Quality sort reached his peak when winning a Navan Grade 2 hurdle over 2m6f in February; however, jumped badly right and was poor in the Pertemps Final last time; posted two decent chase runs in 2024 and should be difficult to beat if jumping soundly. |
2/5 |
|
1 |
12th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 2m 7f 213y Class 1 |
12st 0lb |
Never got seriously involved when ninth in the 2m5f handicap at last year's Festival; 2m6f-3m has proved just the ticket this winter with three wins (including the Punchestown qualifier) and a second, with last two outings in Grade 2; they were all in the mud but good to soft was fine earlier in career; tough customer and Gordon Elliott won this three times in a row not so long ago, twice with Sire Du Berlais among the topweights. |
16/1 |
|
1st 6 |
8th Feb 2026 Heavy 2m 5f 180y |
11st 3lb |
Suited by testing conditions; won Pertemps Qualifier over this trip at Punchestown before readily taking less competitive 2m6f Clonmel conditions event; better again in 3m Grade 2 Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran when clear second to a 159-rated rival. |
15/8 |
66/1
- Place: £3.90
Form: 113 D
Last run: 65 days
W: 11st 7lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 131
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3 |
13th Mar 2025 Good To Soft 2m 7f 213y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
12l third in Grade 1 novice hurdle at Aintree (2m4f) last April; back from chasing for 3m handicap hurdles on last two outings, always close up when second of 11 at Musselburgh (again good to soft) last time; up 2lb but, in this second season under rules, no shock if he has more to give. |
28/1 |
|
2nd 1 |
2nd Feb 2025 Good To Soft 2m 7f 180y Class 2 |
12st 0lb |
disputed lead, raced in second after 5th, ridden before 2 out, stayed on |
12/1 |
|
2nd 1 |
2nd Feb 2025 Good To Soft 2m 7f 180y Class 2 |
12st 0lb |
12l third in Grade 1 novice hurdle at Aintree (2m4f) last April; back from chasing when creditable third of six off this mark at Doncaster five weeks ago on his step up to 3m; closely matched with runner-up Pyffo on that result and he could have more to offer as a stayer. |
12/1 |
11/4
Form: 52-212
Last run: 31 days
W: 11st 7lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: 147
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 4 |
30th Apr 2026 Yielding 2m 7f 110y |
11st 10lb |
Ran only once last season, winning the Coral Cup at Cheltenham when returning from a long absence; four races over fences this season; jumping has let him down since starting with an emphatic Fairyhouse win; made a mistake two out in 2m4f Grade 1 at Fairyhouse. |
7/1 |
|
3rd 3 |
5th Apr 2026 Yielding To Soft 2m 4f 0y |
11st 10lb |
Ran only once last season, winning the Coral Cup at Cheltenham when returning from a long absence; made an impressive chasing debut over a longer trip here in November; flopped in Limerick Grade 1, dropping away since after a mistake three out; out of contention when falling at the last in Grade 1 at the DRF. |
12/1 |
4/1
Form: 22-123
Last run: 31 days
W: 11st 7lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 148
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 4 |
10th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 2m 5f 19y Class 1 |
11st 7lb |
His form/jumping have been in and out since his Grade 2 novice chase win at Naas last January, soundly beaten in a handicap at Leopardstown latest; however, two starts ago he followed Heart Wood home in a 2m7f Grade 3 at Tramore; could have a big say for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend. |
15/2 |
|
8th 2 |
1st Feb 2026 Soft To Heavy 2m 5f 107y |
11st 12lb |
Hurdle winner and won twice over fences last season, including a Grade 2 at Naas; however, his form then fell away and twice failed to complete; signs of a resurgence when second to Heart Wood at Tramore last time and can go well if building on that. |
9/1 |
|
4 |
29th Apr 2025 Yielding To Soft 3m 0f 213y |
11st 10lb |
held up in rear, mistake 3rd, slightly hampered 5th, fell 10th |
16/1 |
33/1
Form: 3-1552
Last run: 34 days
W: 11st 7lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 136
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6th 2 |
10th Apr 2026 Good To Yielding 2m 3f 100y |
11st 11lb |
Grade 3-placed hurdler nowhere near that level in four chase starts, okay effort in 2m4f Naas beginners'; absent since disappointing favourite on handicap debut over 2m at Tipperary last July, fading tamely from last after racing up with pace; trip more in his favour on comeback and still scope for improvement off 12lb lower chase mark. |
8/1 |
|
6 |
1st Jul 2025 Good To Yielding 2m 0f 120y |
11st 8lb |
Grade 3-placed hurdler hasn't been near that level in three chase starts, beaten 28l in a near 3m novice here last time; needs to do better dropping into handicaps but possible he could. |
9/1 |
|
6th 8 |
8th May 2025 Good To Yielding 2m 7f 110y |
11st 12lb |
Runner-up in Grade 3 over timber last season; tailed off behind Ile Atlantique on chase debut in December; slight improvement when fifth of 15 in Naas beginners' on latest but has a good bit to find with Western Fold on that effort. |
12/1 |
20/1
Form: -221P1 D
Last run: 39 days
W: 11st 7lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: 127
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 1 |
26th Feb 2026 Soft 3m 0f 26y Class 3 |
12st 0lb |
He's run with credit this season on two of his three starts since returning from a long absence, returning to form when third of seven at Kelso (2m6f, good to soft) in December; his novice hurdle wins came on heavy ground and he could have more to offer now back up in trip; on the shortlist. |
9/1 |
|
4th 4 |
1st Nov 2025 Soft 3m 0f 70y Class 3 |
11st 4lb |
4-10 under rules, posting a personal best when slamming four rivals in novice hurdle at Newcastle (2m4f, heavy) in March 2024; in much deeper when down the field in Grade 1 novice at Aintree the following month, and has not been seen since; retains potential and will probably stay 3m, so he's quite an interesting candidate despite a lengthy absence. |
9/2 |
50/1
Form: -11U54 CD
Last run: 20 days
W: 11st 7lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: 126
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
15 |
11th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 3m 0f 210y Class 1 |
11st 0lb |
Novice chaser who has several pieces of sound form at up to 2m4f this season, including a second at Aintree; however, below that level in major handicaps in two of his last three starts, seeming a non-stayer at Doncaster (soft) in the sole 3m attempt; stamina to prove back up in trip. |
16/1 |
|
7 |
28th Feb 2026 Good To Soft 2m 3f 187y Class 1 |
10st 12lb |
Fairly useful novice chaser who scored easily at Doncaster in November and has performed creditably off current mark twice since, albeit failed to justify favouritism when sent up to Newcastle (2m4f) last time; goes into deeper waters at this level. |
11/1 |
|
2nd 5 |
21st Feb 2026 Good To Soft 2m 4f 19y Class 3 |
11st 6lb |
Always ridden by Jamie Neild; walked over on his second chase assignment and easily made all in four-runner handicap at Doncaster (2m3f, soft) in November; another big run from the front when second of five at Aintree (2m4f) next time, before his first attempt at 3m did not work out in a Grade 3 handicap four weeks ago; he should be of renewed interest back at 2m4f. |
4/1 |
Non-runners
Caldwell Potter
+o+e Accumulators
| Payout | |
|---|---|
| Exacta | £21.10 |
| Straight Forecast | £25.66 |
| Tricast | £783.23 |
| Trifecta | £386.70 |
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