17.40
SoftDragonBet Backing Welsh Sport Open Maiden National Hunt Flat Race (Category 3 Elimination) (GBB)
- Prize money: £3921.12
- 1m 7f 182y
- Class 4
- 7 runners
Runners: 7 runners
Type: NH Flat
Surface: Turf
Weather: Cloudy
7/2 (Won)
- Win: £6.00
- Place: £2.60
Form: —
Last run: —
W: 11st 1lb
4 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 1 |
20th May 2026 Good 2m 4f 0y Class 4 |
12st 0lb |
Bumper winner who has shown significant improvement since fitted with a tongue-tie and cheekpieces in handicaps over fences, winning over C&D (good) 16 days ago; further progress looks nailed on and he should be hard to beat. |
5/6 |
|
1st 9 |
4th May 2026 Good 2m 4f 0y Class 4 |
11st 1lb |
Lightly raced; first run in this headgear combination when runner-up over C&D and late mistake didn't help; up 2lb but should run well. |
9/2 |
|
2nd 3 |
26th Mar 2026 Good 2m 4f 0y Class 5 |
11st 12lb |
Lightly raced since winning a bumper on debut in October 2024 and has struggled to get competitive on his three hurdle starts; sent straight over fences in first-time headgear for this handicap debut and a market check is advised, but others arrive with more compelling credentials. |
12/1 |
8/1
- Place: £3.10
Form: —
Last run: —
W: 11st 1lb
4 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5 |
7th May 2026 Good 2m 3f 189y Class 4 |
11st 7lb |
Low-mileage 6yo; three non-completions have followed last October's promising chase/handicap debut but he was running fairly well before penultimate-fence fall in 2m Chepstow race won by Pep Talking last month; moves up in trip with Sean Bowen enlisted here; still has plenty of time to get career back on track. |
7/1 |
|
2 |
11th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 2m 0f 16y Class 4 |
12st 0lb |
Low-mileage 6yo who had a solid record until pulled up in last two starts, effectively failing to back up the sound effort he posted at Uttoxeter (2m, good) on chase/seasonal debut; turnaround is required. |
11/2 |
|
2 |
27th Mar 2026 Good 1m 7f 36y Class 4 |
12st 0lb |
Lightly raced 6yo; solid record until let down by his jumping on last appearance (second chase attempt); had wind surgery (his third) since and now goes in tongue-tie; still open to further progress, provided he avoids errors. |
11/4 |
9/4
Form: 27-
Last run: 211 days
W: 11st 1lb
4 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3 |
14th Oct 2026 Good To Soft 2m 3f 83y Class 1 |
11st 5lb |
Maiden hurdler but has proved a different model since sent over fences, gaining a third success of the season in 3m Bangor handicap in September; posted another good effort when runner-up at Perth (2m4f) 20 days ago; this demands more but he's still very much one to consider. |
7/2 |
|
2nd 1 |
24th Sep 2026 Good 2m 4f 20y Class 3 |
11st 10lb |
Hit with another 9lb for winning by 4l at Bangor (3m, good; fine at 2m4f) but he's had a good summer and is clearly improving; strongly considered. |
11/8 |
5/1
Form: 2/4-
Last run: 238 days
W: 11st 2lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 2 |
2nd May 2026 Good 1m 7f 168y Class 5 |
11st 12lb |
No joy in four goes over fences and made a winning return on his handicap debut in this sphere at Plumpton (2m, good to soft) in March; bumped into an improver when second at Hereford (2m, good) last month and should be on the premises. |
6/1 |
|
2nd 6 |
6th Apr 2026 Good 2m 0f 53y Class 5 |
11st 10lb |
Hasn't taken to fences this season but came right back to form reverting to hurdles last time, gaining a hard-fought win at Plumpton (2m, good to soft), his first success of any kind; handles most ground and 3lb rise leaves him still well treated on the pick of last season's hurdling form; leading contender. |
4/1 |
6/1
Form: 38 BF
Last run: 104 days
W: 10st 8lb
4 yo Filly
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3 |
5th Oct 2026 Good To Firm 2m 6f 7y Class 4 |
11st 5lb |
Won C&D (good) novice in spring 2025 and was seemingly back in good form when fourth in Worcester handicap (2m4f, good) in June but looked out of sorts on last two outings (chase/hurdle) and has become hard to predict. |
4/1 |
|
10th 7 |
15th Sep 2026 Good 2m 3f 207y Class 4 |
11st 9lb |
Won a Stratford novice hurdle (2m6f, good) in May and a 3m handicap chase at Hexham (good to soft) in June last year; rather patchy form since (well beaten over fences last time); bit to prove now. |
20/1 |
|
5 |
23rd Aug 2026 Good 2m 7f 0y Class 4 |
11st 8lb |
Back-to-back wins in 2025 in a 2m6f novice hurdle (good) and 3m handicap chase (good to soft) but below that level since returning from a break (hurdling for last two races) and has a bit to prove at present. |
16/1 |
4/1
Form: —
Last run: —
W: 10st 9lb
5 yo Mare
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3 |
18th May 2025 Good 2m 3f 98y Class 5 |
11st 0lb |
Heavy-ground Irish point winner in spring 2024; did not show a great deal in three slow-ground maiden hurdles last season (2m-2m4f) but made quite promising chase/handicap debut when third of six at Taunton (2m, good) in March and ought to be suited by this move back up in trip. |
4/1 |
|
3 |
18th May 2025 Good 2m 3f 98y Class 5 |
11st 0lb |
Heavy-ground Irish point winner in spring 2024; did not show a great deal in three slow-ground maiden hurdles last season (2m-2m4f) but made quite promising chase/handicap debut when third of six at Taunton (2m, good) in March and ought to be suited by this move back up in trip. |
4/1 |
66/1
Form: —
Last run: —
W: 10st 9lb
5 yo Mare
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6th 7 |
21st Apr 2026 Soft 2m 4f 0y Class 5 |
10st 12lb |
Ended last season with a breakthrough win at Taunton (2m3f) but she's offered little this season, a well-held sixth back at Taunton (3m) last month; not easy to make a case for. |
25/1 |
|
6th 6 |
24th Mar 2026 Good 2m 7f 198y Class 5 |
11st 5lb |
Experienced pointer who won a Taunton hurdle race (2m3f, good) off 1lb higher last March; returned to form when fourth over that C&D (heavy) last month but pulled up (reportedly lame) on chase debut four weeks ago; unraced beyond 2m5f under rules. |
12/1 |
|
3 |
25th Feb 2026 Soft 2m 4f 35y Class 5 |
11st 1lb |
Experienced pointer who won a Taunton handicap hurdle (2m3f, good) off 1lb higher in March; returned to form when fourth over that C&D (heavy) three weeks ago; could be interesting on this chase debut under rules. |
6/1 |
+o+e Accumulators
| Payout | |
|---|---|
| Exacta | £39.30 |
| Straight Forecast | £36.68 |
| Trifecta | £101.90 |
Selections
SPOTLIGHT:
Tamarind BayWEST COUNTRY:
Full Force GaleTOPSPEED:
Desert HaloD Express:
Kate Of The Lodge