13.55
SoftLadbrokes Christmas Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race)
- Prize money: £74035
- 2m 0f 0y
- Class 1
- 5 runners
Runners: 5 runners
Type: Hurdle Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Mostly sunny
1/7 (Won)
- Win: £1.15
- Place: £1.10
Form: 111-1 D
Last run: 30 days
W: 11st 10lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: 173
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 1 (4) |
25th Mar 2026 Standard To Slow 1m 3f 219y Class 3 |
9st 12lb |
Superstar hurdler on his day and one of the best-known horses in training; having developed serious jumping issues, he was switched to the Flat in Southwell contest (1m4f) last month and showed his class by producing an impressive performance that is backed up by the figures; sets a tall standard en route to Group targets. |
1/6 |
|
1st 3 (12) |
20th Feb 2026 Standard 1m 4f 14y Class 2 |
9st 6lb |
Last jumps campaign started well but ended badly, as he took back-to-back falls at Cheltenham/Aintree and then laboured when he did complete at Punchestown; suffered another tumble on his reappearance in the Fighting Fifth in November, which has prompted this switch to the Flat in the hope of restoring confidence levels ahead of a possible bid to regain the Champion Hurdle crown he won in 2023. |
7/4 |
|
5th 2 |
2nd May 2025 Yielding 2m 0f 45y |
11st 12lb |
towards rear, overjumped 1st, soon went fourth, headway after 4 out, went third going okay 3 out, nudged along when jumped left and lost ground 2 out, soon no extra |
11/10 |
7/1
- Place: £1.60
Form: 121-32 CD
Last run: 30 days
W: 11st 3lb
8 yo Mare
OR: 154
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 4 |
29th Apr 2023 Good To Yielding 2m 3f 30y |
11st 7lb |
in rear but in touch with leaders, some headway on inner 2 out, pushed along when bit short of room home turn, soon outpaced and lost position when ridden, went fourth before last, no extra run-in |
11/2 |
|
4th 6 |
13th Apr 2023 Good To Soft 2m 4f 0y Class 1 |
11st 3lb |
Didn't have to be at her best for Grade 2 mares' win at Doncaster in January and disappointing in the mares' hurdle at last month's Cheltenham Festival; however, she won this race last year (good to soft) and there's every chance she'll be best of the rest behind stablemate Constitution Hill, which was the case in the Fighting Fifth and the Christmas Hurdle this season. |
12/1 |
|
8th 3 |
14th Mar 2023 Soft 2m 3f 200y Class 1 |
11st 5lb |
Six-time Grade 1 winner over hurdles, including the 2020 Champion Hurdle; no match for superstar stablemate Constitution Hill in the Fighting Fifth or Christmas Hurdle at the end of 2022 but underlined what a class act she is among her own sex when hacking up in a 2m Grade 2 at Doncaster in January; has won a Grade 1 over this trip; major player. |
6/1 |
66/1
Form: 12P-21 CD
Last run: 58 days
W: 11st 10lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 143
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
9th 3 |
22nd Apr 2023 Good To Soft 2m 0f 0y Class 1 |
11st 5lb |
Won easily at Ascot (1m7f, good) earlier this season and showed that he can live with his new mark when faring best of those in here who contested the County Hurdle at Cheltenham (good to soft); did well to finish sixth after forcing the pace throughout (as is his way) and easy to see him going well. |
10/1 |
|
6th 11 |
17th Mar 2023 Soft 2m 0f 179y Class 1 |
11st 2lb |
Easily made all in Ascot handicap (1m7f, good) last October then ran as well as could be expected behind Constitution Hill in Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle (2m, soft); however, went up the weights for his Ascot win and was soundly beaten in the Betfair Hurdle last time; needs a career best today. |
40/1 |
|
7th 3 |
11th Feb 2023 Good 2m 0f 69y Class 1 |
11st 9lb |
Well-held third in the Christmas Hurdle on Boxing Day (stiff task); made all to comfortably beat Hacker Des Places, who admittedly lacked recent match practice, in Ascot handicap (1m7f, good) the time before; has an 8lb higher mark and deeper field to contend with. |
20/1 |
14/1
Form: 232-12 CD BF
Last run: 51 days
W: 11st 10lb
10 yo Gelding
OR: 156
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5th 6 |
26th Dec 2023 Good 2m 0f 0y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Multiple winner down the years; turns 12 imminently and his two results this season, including behind Rubaud when bidding for a third success in Kempton Listed event in October, suggest he's perhaps finally on the wane; well held in this contest in 2022. |
100/1 |
|
5th 2 |
25th Nov 2023 Good To Soft 2m 3f 58y Class 1 |
11st 4lb |
prominent, disputing third before 2 out, weakened approaching last |
11/2 |
|
4th 3 |
22nd Oct 2023 Good 2m 0f 0y Class 1 |
11st 6lb |
High-class hurdler/chaser who has been an excellent servant to connections over the years and is bidding to win this race for the third season running; seemed to race too freely in first-time cheekpieces (now removed) in Aintree Hurdle in April but faced a tough assignment there anyway and ought to be very hard to beat here. |
10/11 |
40/1
Form: /P417- D BF
Last run: 296 days
W: 11st 10lb
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 |
+o+e Accumulators
| Payout | |
|---|---|
| Exacta | £1.50 |
| Straight Forecast | £1.65 |
| Trifecta | £9.10 |
Selections
SPOTLIGHT:
Constitution HillWEST COUNTRY:
MetierRP Ratings:
Constitution HillTOPSPEED:
Constitution HillPOSTDATA:
Constitution HillLAMBOURN:
Constitution HillThe Times:
Constitution HillTelegraph:
Constitution HillThe Guardian:
Constitution HillDaily Mail:
Constitution HillD Express:
Constitution HillDaily Mirror:
Constitution Hill