15.00
Good To SoftFollow @AtTheRaces On Twitter Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)
- Prize money: £13615
- 2m 0f 0y
- Class 2
- 9 runners
Runners: 9 runners
Type: Hurdle Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Showers
Abandoned
Form: 44-1U4 D
Last run: 24 days
W: 12st 2lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 147
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
0 1 |
4th Nov 2023 Soft 1m 7f 152y Class 2 |
12st 0lb |
Close third of 26 in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham (2m5f, soft) in March, 3l ahead when not fluent at the final flight; 4lb higher today but chief concern is that the Coral Cup is the only time he really fired last season. |
20/1 |
|
15th 3 |
14th Apr 2023 Good To Soft 2m 4f 0y Class 1 |
11st 11lb |
Returned to form with close third of 26 in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham (2m5f, soft) last month, where he was 3l ahead when not fluent at the final flight; close second of 22 at this meeting in 2021 (2m, good to soft) and he's a strong contender despite a 5lb rise since last time. |
11/2 |
|
3rd 18 |
15th Mar 2023 Soft 2m 5f 0y Class 1 |
11st 1lb |
Fourth in two major handicaps here last term, including this race when soft ground might not have been ideal; won well in a good handicap at Punchestown (2m3f, yielding) next time; failed to shine this winter, chasing initially, but he is 2lb lower than this time last year; headed the recent betting. |
9/1 |
Abandoned
Form: /P417- CD BF
Last run: 289 days
W: 11st 13lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 144
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3 |
17th Jan 2026 Good To Soft 2m 3f 63y Class 2 |
11st 4lb |
Has been a money-spinner for connections over the years but recent efforts (Flat and jumps) have been subdued and he faded into a well-held fourth at Sandown (28-1) in December; well handicapped on old form but needs first-time cheekpieces to have a positive effect. |
22/1 |
|
8th 1 (4) |
29th Mar 2025 Standard To Slow 1m 7f 218y Class 2 |
10st 0lb |
Easily best known for his exploits on soft/heavy ground, on the Flat winning 2022 November Handicap and 2023 Chester Cup; the latter was off same mark as today but he did not fire on all cylinders last March-July and he's run only once on AW, when finishing last over C&D in 2023; enough doubts. |
12/1 |
|
8th 1 (9) |
29th Jul 2024 Soft 2m 0f 179y |
12st 2lb |
Merit's respect on last year's Chester Cup win; unplaced in a staying handicap at Newbury in April; takes a big drop in class now after contesting Group 3 Henry II Stakes at Sandown. |
14/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 353-23 D
Last run: 40 days
W: 11st 7lb
12 yo Gelding
OR: 138
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 1 |
28th May 2023 Good 2m 3f 49y Class 3 |
12st 1lb |
Still capable of fine efforts, as he showed when narrowly beaten at Ayr last month; remains on a fair mark, despite top weight, but could again prove vulnerable for win purposes. |
11/2 |
|
2nd 2 |
22nd Apr 2023 Good To Soft 2m 5f 91y Class 2 |
11st 10lb |
Old-timer who was still capable of useful form last season, finishing third of four in this race; however, age may now be catching up with him and he hasn't found much under pressure on his last two outings; opposable. |
7/1 |
|
6th 1 |
4th Mar 2023 Good 3m 0f 84y Class 2 |
12st 0lb |
In career-best form last season despite his advancing years but he's not fired as he can in his last two starts some 92 days apart; worth taking on. |
14/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 4131-2 D
Last run: 51 days
W: 11st 6lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: 137
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4 |
11th Feb 2023 Good 2m 0f 69y Class 1 |
11st 8lb |
Held on for neck win under regular rider Angus Cheleda at Cheltenham (2m1f, soft) two weeks ago, building on his Ascot reappearance effort (behind Highway One O Two) and taking record to 5-11; appears to handle good ground; progressive sort who enters calculations under 5lb penalty. |
|
|
1st 6 |
28th Jan 2023 Soft 2m 0f 179y Class 2 |
10st 11lb |
Ended last season with some very good efforts under Angus Cheleda, including one win on heavy and another in 16-runner handicap at Aintree festival (2m, good to soft) in April; good second to an easy winner at Ascot in October on return and may well be able to build on that; player. |
9/2 |
Abandoned
Form: 3523P- D
Last run: 254 days
W: 10st 12lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 129
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4 |
14th May 2023 Good 2m 4f 114y Class 3 |
11st 10lb |
Well beaten in two of three starts for this yard but not beaten far in the other, when fourth at Ffos Las in January; hasn't won since December 2019 but has often faced tough tasks; facing a few questions but not impossible off this mark; can make the running. |
9/1 |
|
3 |
10th Apr 2023 Good 2m 4f 1y Class 4 |
12st 1lb |
His last win was in a Grade 2 event but that was over 1m7f in December 2019 and he's struggled in two of his three runs for current yard, including at Sandown (2m4f, soft) last time; on much-reduced mark but he comes with risks attached. |
6/1 |
|
8th 8 |
7th Mar 2023 Good 2m 3f 173y Class 3 |
11st 5lb |
in touch with leaders |
12/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 20-213 BF
Last run: 23 days
W: 10st 11lb
4 yo Gelding
OR: 128
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 1 |
25th Apr 2026 Good 2m 6f 164y Class 1 |
11st 6lb |
Has registered a couple of useful handicap wins this season, including at Kempton (2m4f, good) on penultimate start; faces a stiffer task conceding weight all round in this grade, with 4lb penalty incurred. |
25/1 |
|
23 |
10th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 2m 5f 19y Class 1 |
10st 3lb |
Can be difficult to settle and he was reluctant to line up at Kempton (2m4f, good) four weeks ago, but that didn't stop him winning; had just a neck to spare but the first two were clear and this 8yo is now 4-10 over fences; further progress is possible and he's not ruled out up just 3lb. |
40/1 |
|
1st 5 |
14th Mar 2026 Good 2m 4f 110y Class 2 |
11st 2lb |
All three chase wins (good to soft and good) in 2025, including at 2m2f here; creditable shows in his first 2m4f chases on last two starts and perhaps this sharper test than at Newbury recently will suit; not far away. |
12/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 214-78 D
Last run: 202 days
W: 10st 10lb
9 yo Gelding
OR: 127
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 7 |
30th Jan 2023 Good To Soft 1m 7f 171y Class 3 |
11st 5lb |
Mostly campaigned as a chaser in recent seasons, winning in these colours at Ludlow (2m, good to soft) last winter when trained by Tom George; beaten 20l in a 2m Kempton handicap hurdle last month on his debut for this stable. |
25/1 |
|
6th 6 |
27th Dec 2022 Soft 2m 0f 0y Class 3 |
11st 1lb |
The veteran in this line-up; mostly campaigned as a chaser in recent seasons, winning at Ludlow (2m, good to soft) last winter; having final outing for Tom George when down the field over hurdles at Compiegne in May; given a chance by the handicapper but needs to be revived by a change of stable. |
25/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 2118-2 D
Last run: 22 days
W: 10st 4lb
4 yo Gelding
OR: 121
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
11th 14 |
9th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 1m 7f 176y Class 1 |
10st 2lb |
Runs off a mark 10lb lower than when fifth of 14 in this last year, beaten just over 13l; he's run a couple of reasonable races this season but hasn't shown enough to suggest he's the one to be on today. |
33/1 |
|
3rd 5 |
21st Feb 2026 Soft 2m 0f 16y Class 2 |
10st 9lb |
Led close home to win this race off 5lb higher a year ago (soft ground) and was seemingly perked up by cheekpieces when third on both outings last month; made up considerable ground from the rear at Sandown (1m7f, soft) on latter occasion and has strong claims here if the headgear continues to aid him. |
15/8 |
|
3rd 9 |
31st Jan 2026 Soft 1m 7f 99y Class 2 |
10st 3lb |
Acts on any ground; half-length second off 4lb higher in this contest 12 months ago; out of sorts this term until posting a resurgent effort, behind solid rivals, in first-time cheekpieces at Windsor most recently; enters calculations in the retained headgear. |
11/2 |
Abandoned
Form: 30F-37 D
Last run: 30 days
W: 10st 4lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 121
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 2 |
3rd Jun 2026 Good 2m 0f 167y Class 5 |
12st 0lb |
Has been struggling for form since reappearing in October and offered little encouragement on April's return from just over two months off; has come a long way down in the weights and drops into a Class 5, but that's for good reason and he needs to turn things around. |
12/1 |
|
6th 9 |
11th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 2m 0f 16y Class 3 |
10st 7lb |
All three hurdle wins have come over C&D but he failed to beat a rival here in December and was tailed off again at Ffos Las in January; overall record is now 4-48 and others are preferred. |
16/1 |
|
6th 4 |
30th Jan 2026 Heavy 1m 7f 182y Class 4 |
11st 11lb |
Veteran who is normally suited by Chepstow but failed to beat a rival back there last time; not particularly solid on his form this season. |
20/1 |
Verdict
Teddy Blue kicked off his handicap career with a creditable third in a higher grade at Newbury and he’s respected for a yard that won this last year. Hacker Des Places has form figures of 1312 in his last four handicaps and he’s open to more progress, while five-time hurdle winner Camprond looks interesting on his switch back to this sphere. However, the vote goes to C&D winner METIER (nap), who has a record of 4-8 over hurdles and returned to the Flat with a brave win in the November Handicap seven weeks ago.[David Moon]
Selections
The Times:
Hacker Des PlacesThe Guardian:
Hacker Des PlacesDaily Mail:
Hacker Des PlacesDaily Record:
Hacker Des Places