15.35
Good To SoftJohn And Maryanne Birch Memorial Handicap Hurdle
- Prize money: £4683.56
- 2m 1f 162y
- Class 5
- 15 runners
Runners: 15 runners
Type: Hurdle Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Showers
8/1 (Won)
Form: 575-64 CD
Last run: 32 days
W: 11st 9lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: 100
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
10th 11 |
29th Aug 2025 Good 2m 1f 162y Class 5 |
10st 2lb |
Dual C&D winner (soft/good) but not since December 2022, and is very inconsistent nowadays; tailed off at Stratford on latest outing in early July; 1lb wrong today; others have more pressing claims. |
25/1 |
|
7th 9 |
1st Jul 2025 Good To Firm 2m 2f 148y Class 5 |
10st 2lb |
Placed over hurdles in February and there was nothing wrong with his sixth at Warwick (2m3f, good) in April; has undergone wind surgery since finishing a distant last of ten back on the Flat in May but others have more pressing claims. |
14/1 |
|
10th 5 |
4th May 2025 Good To Firm 1m 6f 44y Class 6 |
9st 3lb |
Placed over hurdles in February but three lesser performances since then; both Flat wins have come on the AW and a good while back now. |
16/1 |
16/1
Form: 70P-65
Last run: 12 days
W: 10st 2lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: 74
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 5 |
24th May 2026 Good To Soft 2m 3f 104y Class 5 |
10st 7lb |
Gave very good account when close second over C&D (good to soft) last month and subsequent fifth of 12 over C&D (good) was perfectly respectable but his overall strike-rate is just 1-35 and others appeal more. |
5/1 |
|
5th 9 |
24th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 2m 3f 104y Class 5 |
10st 11lb |
Just 1-34 under rules but the win came here (in 2023) and he went very close to a second course success 16 days ago, going down by only a head over this trip on good to soft; another who could be involved in the finish. |
5/1 |
|
2nd 7 |
8th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 2m 3f 104y Class 5 |
10st 5lb |
Just 1-33 under rules but the win came here (in 2023) and he gave a good account when second from out of the weights at Hereford (2m5f, good) last month, after a break; could have a say. |
6/1 |
20/1
Form: 4485-6
Last run: 22 days
W: 11st 9lb
10 yo Gelding
OR: 100
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5th 7 |
27th Feb 2023 Good 3m 0f 217y Class 5 |
11st 7lb |
held up in rear, shaken up early |
14/1 |
|
6th 4 |
14th Feb 2023 Good To Soft 2m 0f 0y Class 5 |
11st 10lb |
midfield, pushed along after 5th, ridden after 4 out, no impression before 3 out |
8/1 |
|
5th 2 |
2nd Jan 2023 Soft 2m 4f 114y Class 5 |
12st 0lb |
Won four times between January and March (twice on soft) in 2021 but 0-7 subsequently and Fontwell last time was a backward step from his third there the run before; looks vulnerable to younger legs. |
10/1 |
8/1
Form: 335/2-
Last run: 555 days
W: 11st 7lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: 98
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 2 (5) |
7th Oct 2025 Standard 1m 6f 21y Class 6 |
9st 13lb |
Absent since justifying favouritism off only 1lb lower at Wolverhampton (won going away; stable debut) in April 2024 to complete a 2m double; major player provided he returns in similar form; the market signals may offer further guidance. |
11/4 |
20/1
Form: 2333-5
Last run: 22 days
W: 10st 12lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 89
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
10 |
21st Sep 2025 Good To Firm 3m 0f 217y Class 5 |
10st 2lb |
Ended last season with a heavy defeat over hurdles and was pulled up in consecutive chases in June/July; difficult to enthuse over. |
33/1 |
|
12 |
25th Jul 2025 Good 3m 2f 13y Class 5 |
10st 2lb |
1-23 under rules and pulled up in both starts over fences, including here (3m, good) last month; hard to recommend from 5lb out of the weights. |
40/1 |
|
6 |
14th Jun 2025 Good 3m 0f 10y Class 5 |
10st 2lb |
Just 1-22 over hurdles and was pulled up in his only previous chase (in March 2024); will cope better than some of these if the ground deteriorates considerably but, otherwise, he makes very limited appeal. |
20/1 |
7/1
Form: 71-P43 D BF
Last run: 9 days
W: 12st 0lb
5 yo Mare
OR: 105
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3 |
5th Jun 2024 Good 3m 2f 105y Class 5 |
11st 9lb |
Has done her winning at about 2m, latest at Ffos Las in February; soundly beaten on last four starts, with moves back up to about 2m4f/3m for last three; her one piece of 3m form was back in January 2022 but she is back 4lb lower than her last winning mark. |
14/1 |
|
6th 6 |
15th May 2024 Good 2m 7f 191y Class 4 |
11st 8lb |
Placed over 3m early in career but has done her winning at about 2m, including twice at Ffos Las; modest fourth over 2m4f here most recently; bit to prove back up further in trip. |
14/1 |
|
6th 6 |
15th May 2024 Good 2m 7f 191y Class 4 |
11st 8lb |
Placed over 3m early in career but has done her winning at about 2m, including twice at Ffos Las; modest fourth over 2m4f here most recently; bit to prove back up further in trip. |
14/1 |
16/1
Form: 4234-8
Last run: 32 days
W: 10st 2lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 77
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 8 |
8th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 2m 1f 162y Class 5 |
10st 7lb |
Put in pretty good front-running shift when third over C&D (good to soft) 12 days ago but he's a lot more exposed than some of these, and his two hurdling wins were gained on heavy ground. |
7/1 |
|
3rd 8 |
27th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 2m 1f 162y Class 5 |
10st 3lb |
Tailed off last time but had appreciated the return to hurdles with a second here (beaten 16l) before a 3l success at Lingfield (2m, heavy); he's able on good to soft ground if he can shrug aside that poor last run. |
7/1 |
|
4th 6 |
22nd Feb 2026 Soft 2m 5f 164y Class 5 |
10st 10lb |
Badly out of form over fences last season but made all in a five-runner hurdle race at Lingfield (2m, heavy) this month, after a layoff, and remains on a good mark after 3lb rise; unexposed over this sort of trip; big player if able to build on that recent performance. |
13/2 |
8/1
Form: 939-20
Last run: 39 days
W: 11st 7lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 98
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
8th 13 |
30th Dec 2022 Good 2m 3f 1y Class 4 |
10st 13lb |
Runner-up at Newton Abbot (2m2f, good; hooded) in May off a similar mark but well beneath that form in two subsequent runs, with and without the hood; different headgear this time and that may help matters. |
20/1 |
|
8th 7 |
6th Dec 2022 Good To Soft 2m 1f 162y Class 5 |
11st 7lb |
Yet to win (0-6 hurdles) but he did manage to finish runner-up at Newton Abbot (2m2f, good) in May; found disappointingly little when 12th of 13 at Uttoxeter (2m4f) after 170 days off; risky. |
8/1 |
|
12th 5 |
28th Oct 2022 Good 2m 3f 207y Class 5 |
11st 9lb |
held up in rear, mistake 7th, headway when not fluent 3 out, soon ridden and found nothing, behind 2 out |
5/1 |
33/1
Form: /098-5 C
Last run: 48 days
W: 10st 2lb
10 yo Gelding
OR: 72
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
7th 13 |
6th Feb 2023 Good To Soft 2m 5f 164y Class 5 |
10st 2lb |
midfield on outer |
50/1 |
|
9th 15 |
6th Dec 2022 Good To Soft 2m 1f 162y Class 5 |
10st 2lb |
No win since March 2019 but it is worth highlighting his preference for Fontwell (two wins and five seconds); entitled to strip fitter for a recent comeback run - wore this same headgear combination - but clearly needs to from 7lb outside the handicap proper. |
33/1 |
|
5th 14 |
19th Oct 2022 Good 2m 5f 164y Class 5 |
10st 2lb |
took keen hold, in rear, headway and prominent from 3rd, not fluent 7th, pressed leader 2 out (usual 3 out), pushed along and lost position before omitted 2 out, soon weakened |
25/1 |
7/1
Form: 042F-F
Last run: 26 days
W: 11st 0lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 91
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
9th 11 (1) |
13th Aug 2023 Good 1m 3f 99y Class 6 |
10st 2lb |
Ex-Gary Moore; has struggled to get competitive for new stable this year (six runs) and last won in May 2019. |
66/1 |
|
11 (6) |
29th Jul 2023 Good To Soft 1m 0f 0y Class 6 |
10st 0lb |
Has struggled to get competitive for new stable this year (six runs) and remains without a win since May 2019; difficult to enthuse over. |
50/1 |
|
7th 7 (7) |
27th Jun 2023 Good To Firm 1m 3f 198y Class 6 |
10st 2lb |
took keen hold, disputed lead, lost position but raced in second soon after start |
50/1 |
25/1
Form: 32/10/ CD
Last run: 687 days
W: 11st 13lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 104
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6th 1 |
2nd Jan 2023 Soft 2m 4f 114y Class 5 |
12st 1lb |
Successful at the 20th attempt over Fontwell's 2m1f (good) in September 2020 but he was a long way behind when reappearing back there a month ago after a long absence; fine on soft ground but looks best watched for now. |
12/1 |
|
11th 3 |
6th Dec 2022 Good To Soft 2m 1f 162y Class 5 |
11st 13lb |
Broke his duck at the 20th attempt when scoring over C&D (good; 14-1; from a 4lb lower mark) in September 2020; absent since down the field in a jumpers' bumper at Lingfield in January 2021; fitness is taken on trust. |
25/1 |
14/1
Form: 3-2636 CD
Last run: 28 days
W: 11st 8lb
4 yo Gelding
OR: 99
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 6 |
21st May 2023 Good 2m 0f 213y Class 5 |
10st 9lb |
Became very disappointing over hurdles last season and, after running well to a point, faded out of contention on last month's chasing debut at Fontwell (2m3f, good; first-time blinkers; well backed); today's drop back in trip could be a good move but his overall profile is not convincing. |
4/1 |
|
5th 4 |
21st Apr 2023 Good To Soft 2m 3f 104y Class 5 |
10st 13lb |
Won a juvenile hurdle here (2m1f, good to soft) in October 2021 but he's failed to get competitive this season and has been beaten 34l or more in his last three starts; has dropped a long way in the weights but he needs a major revival on this switch to chasing; first-time blinkers. |
10/1 |
|
9th 11 |
6th Mar 2023 Good 3m 0f 26y Class 5 |
10st 13lb |
Won a juvenile hurdle at Fontwell in October 2021 and has dropped down the weights, but he's failed to get competitive in his seven runs this season, with and without cheekpieces, and it's hard to be confident today. |
12/1 |
16/1
Form: 90400-
Last run: 250 days
W: 11st 7lb
6 yo Mare
OR: 98
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
12 |
1st Jul 2024 Good 2m 4f 0y Class 5 |
10st 8lb |
Pulled up in consecutive chases in the autumn and again when reappearing over hurdles last month; now 0-19 under all codes and has a lot to prove but still worth a glance in the betting; cheekpieces refitted. |
16/1 |
|
11 |
1st Jun 2024 Good To Soft 2m 0f 70y Class 5 |
11st 0lb |
Placed in 3-11 hurdle starts on good or good to soft, all at around 2m4f; handy mark but hasn't looked as effective over this trip. |
25/1 |
9/4
Form: 371311 CD
Last run: 32 days
W: 12st 0lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: 105
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6th 3 |
4th Oct 2024 Good To Soft 2m 3f 29y Class 5 |
11st 13lb |
Seemingly boosted by addition of visor when clearcut C&D (good) winner in June but has not been in the same form again since, the last twice with usual cheekpieces refitted; visor back on today; needs to up his game. |
12/1 |
|
8 |
24th Sep 2024 Good 2m 1f 162y Class 4 |
10st 12lb |
Won over 2m3f here during the summer but pulled up a fortnight later (again visored) and he didn't run much of a race on the AW two weeks ago with the cheekpieces back on. |
12/1 |
|
8th 7 (9) |
11th Sep 2024 Standard 1m 4f 0y Class 6 |
9st 4lb |
Hurdle winner (2m3f) in June but pulled up a fortnight later; has run well over 2m here but soundly beaten in all three C&D attempts so needs a good deal more; cheekpieces return in place of a visor. |
14/1 |
Form: 05215- BF
Last run: 267 days
W: 10st 11lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 88
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 3 (3) |
28th Oct 2023 Standard 2m 0f 0y Class 6 |
9st 8lb |
dwelt start, in rear |
14/1 |
|
8th 7 (2) |
25th May 2023 Standard 2m 0f 120y Class 6 |
9st 2lb |
Made a successful return from 11 months off at Chelmsford (2m, Polytrack) in February and ran with credit in his next two starts at Lingfield (2m, Polytrack), but lesser efforts the last twice; needs to bounce back. |
20/1 |
|
6th 1 (8) |
2nd May 2023 Good 1m 3f 198y Class 6 |
9st 9lb |
dwelt start, in rear |
6/1 |
Non-runners
Beat The Heat, Global Wonder
+o+e Accumulators
| Payout | |
|---|---|
| Straight Forecast | £70.37 |
| Tricast | £684.73 |
Selections
Telegraph:
Vision ClearThe Guardian:
Vision Clear