13.45
SoftJack de Bromhead Christmas Hurdle (Grade 1)
- Prize money: £74369.75
- 3m 0f 0y
- 11 runners
Runners: 11 runners
Type: Hurdle Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Light rain
7/1 (Won)
- Win: £8.40
- Place: £1.60
Form: 226-O1
Last run: 45 days
W: 11st 10lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 157
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 5 |
11th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 3m 0f 149y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
11yo who was running in the Stayers' Hurdle for the fifth time when making the breakthrough in that Cheltenham Grade 1 last month (3m, good); pulled up in this race on both visits to Aintree and 33-1 when winning at the Festival, but it was certainly no fluke judged on the pick of his career exploits and he's the one to beat if repeating that latest form. |
7/1 |
|
1st 6 |
12th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 2m 7f 213y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Two-time Grade 1 winner, latterly in 2024, who landed the Grade 2 Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran Park in January, showing he retains considerable spark at the age of 11; he's run well in this race previously but has found Grade 1 races tough over the last 12 months; could have same problem today. |
33/1 |
12/1
- Place: £3.20
Form: 232-34
Last run: 24 days
W: 11st 10lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 151
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
11 |
30th Jul 2025 Good 2m 6f 111y |
11st 4lb |
Former Grade 2-winning hurdler and came good in second stint chasing last summer with wins at Kilbeggan (beating Thecompanysergeant) and a Grade 3 novice event at this venue; warmed up with fourth behind Gaelic Arc at Kilbeggan; other younger rivals are preferred. |
20/1 |
|
1 |
16th Jun 2025 Good To Yielding 2m 4f 51y |
11st 12lb |
10yo a former Grade 2-winning hurdler and came good in second stint chasing last summer with wins in C&D beginners' and in Grade 3 Galway novice; stiffer task on return in February, none too fluent and soon beaten in Grade 2 Kempton novice; cheekpieces worn the last twice now discarded for handicap debut and may just need this. |
10/1 |
|
5th 1 |
22nd Feb 2025 Good 2m 4f 110y Class 1 |
11st 7lb |
10yo who returns from a break and possibly isn't the force of old (3m Grade 1 hurdle runner-up in December 2022) but he's won when back over fences for his last two starts, most recently a Grade 3 novice at Galway (2m2f, good) last August; not ruled out in view of his back-class. |
5/1 |
50/1
- Place: £9.00
Form: 3123-0 C BF
Last run: 46 days
W: 11st 10lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 142
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 6 |
30th Apr 2026 Yielding 2m 7f 110y |
11st 10lb |
Has been chasing since pulled up in this race last year; 66-1 chance then; an unenviable task again; first-time cheekpieces. |
66/1 |
|
2nd 3 |
12th Apr 2026 Good 2m 4f 88y |
11st 12lb |
No wins since December 2024 and three chase efforts to date have not been super encouraging; beaten 23l in a Thurles handicap last time (2m5f, yielding); nonetheless, he's the second highest rated of the field here and possibilities if putting his best foot forward. |
9/4 |
13/8
Form: F212-4 CD
Last run: 45 days
W: 11st 10lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 164
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 3 |
24th Jan 2026 Soft 3m 1f 56y Class 1 |
11st 4lb |
Dual Stayers' Hurdle winner; has not reached quite the same level in five starts over fences but he still won the Kerry National at Listowel (3m, soft) when last seen in September 2024, making all and barely coming off the bridle; hard to weigh up after a long absence but conditions should suit and he'd be no forlorn hope if ready to roll. |
12/1 |
|
3 |
25th Sep 2024 Good 2m 7f 180y |
11st 4lb |
Dual Stayers' Hurdle winner and fine second in latest renewal in March; had three runs over fences last season, all over 3m; won at Cheltenham, jumped poorly when not enjoying going right-handed at Punchestown, and then fair third in Leopardstown Grade 1; found 2m1f much too sharp at Killarney in July on handicap debut; trip will suit. |
8/1 |
|
5th 2 |
19th Jul 2024 Good 2m 1f 0y |
11st 11lb |
raced in last, soon outpaced and detached, some headway when mistake 3 out, weakened 2 out |
9/4 |
7/2
Form: 111P-2 BF
Last run: 45 days
W: 11st 10lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 159
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 1 |
30th Apr 2026 Yielding 2m 7f 110y |
11st 10lb |
Ended a sequence of seconds when beating Teahupoo in the 2025 Stayers' Hurdle; no match for Teahupoo at Leopardstown on seasonal debut; had that below-par rival behind when a fine third behind Home By The Lee in the Stayers'; continues to prosper despite his veteran status; can go close. |
3/1 |
|
3rd 2 |
12th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 2m 7f 213y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Now 11 but he was as good as ever last March when winning this race by nearly 2l from Teahupoo (good to soft; also effective on soft); respectable second to that rival at Leopardstown in December on sole run this season and his excellent record at Cheltenham means he has to be in calculations. |
7/1 |
25/1
Form: 5P6-36
Last run: 24 days
W: 11st 10lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 158
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 2 |
20th Jun 2023 Good 2m 3f 170y |
11st 8lb |
Smart 155-rated hurdler, often highly tried; made a promising start to chasing when impressing with his jumping for odds-on win at Thurles in February; pulled up in Grade 3 contest at Naas in March; involved in controversial Killarney race last time, confirmed winner on the day, predictably lost race on appeal; needs to jump a bit better but sets a decent standard. |
11/10 |
|
1st 2 |
14th May 2023 Good To Yielding 2m 7f 0y |
11st 10lb |
prominent, mistake and lost ground 4th, soon in rear |
Evs |
|
6 |
12th Mar 2023 Soft 2m 4f 0y |
11st 0lb |
Classy sort was a Grade 1 winner over hurdles and was a solid third to State Man in the Morgiana Hurdle in November; jumped well when winning on chasing debut at Thurles recently and should have improved from that; deteriorating ground not in his favour. |
3/1 |
33/1
Form: P831-6 C
Last run: 45 days
W: 11st 10lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 156
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
7th 4 |
28th Dec 2022 Soft 3m 0f 0y |
11st 10lb |
raced in second |
33/1 |
|
6th 6 |
13th Nov 2022 Yielding 2m 4f 0y |
11st 3lb |
held up in rear, pushed along when minor headway before 3 out, ridden and kept on after 2 out, switched right run-in, made no telling impression |
14/1 |
66/1
Form: 71/6P- C
Last run: 335 days
W: 11st 10lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 148
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4 |
10th Aug 2024 Good 3m 1f 0y |
11st 0lb |
Grade 1 winner at four and won valuable handicaps over hurdles and on the level at five; has obviously been terribly hard to keep sound and has only had four outings in five years, showing very little; better for a spin on the Flat at Galway and blinds are back on but very hard to know if the engine is still there. |
7/1 |
|
15th 16 (15) |
31st Jul 2024 Good 2m 0f 110y |
9st 11lb |
towards rear |
10/1 |
16/1
Form: F27P-5
Last run: 53 days
W: 11st 10lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 155
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5 |
12th Feb 2026 Heavy 2m 7f 3y Class 5 |
11st 12lb |
Best known as a very talented hurdler, also landing a Grade 1 novice chase in 2021; had jumping issues over fences subsequently and this is his first chase start since 2022; returned from some time off with a point win last month (3m, soft); it remains to be seen how much ability this 12yo retains but he's entitled to considerable respect on his hunter chase debut. |
13/8 |
|
1st 1 |
28th May 2025 Good To Firm 2m 1f 0y |
12st 0lb |
Winner of nine races; 7-34 record over hurdles, including a four-runner Grade 2 event over 3m at Wetherby last October; ran creditably when seventh in the 26-runner Coral Cup at Cheltenham; down the field at Aintree subsequently; trip is short of his best but he won a stronger race than this over 2m2f at Ballinrobe a year ago; amateur rider, 2-11 over hurdles. |
11/8 |
|
1 |
28th May 2025 Good To Firm 2m 1f 0y |
12st 0lb |
Winner of nine races; 7-34 record over hurdles, including a four-runner Grade 2 event over 3m at Wetherby last October; ran creditably when seventh in the 26-runner Coral Cup at Cheltenham; down the field at Aintree subsequently; trip is short of his best but he won a stronger race than this over 2m2f at Ballinrobe a year ago; amateur rider, 2-11 over hurdles. |
11/8 |
20/1
Form: 014-55 D
Last run: 24 days
W: 11st 10lb
10 yo Gelding
OR: 150
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
7 |
2nd May 2024 Yielding 2m 7f 110y |
11st 10lb |
Enjoyed the season of his life last year, winning at Cheltenham and Aintree before finishing a close third in this race; only seen out twice this season and stayed on well to finish a decent fifth in the Stayers Hurdle; comes here fresher than most and no surprise should he play a big hand. |
10/1 |
|
7 |
2nd May 2024 Yielding 2m 7f 110y |
11st 10lb |
Enjoyed the season of his life last year, winning at Cheltenham and Aintree before finishing a close third in this race; only seen out twice this season and stayed on well to finish a decent fifth in the Stayers Hurdle; comes here fresher than most and no surprise should he play a big hand. |
10/1 |
11/2
Form: 223F-7 C
Last run: 45 days
W: 11st 10lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: 159
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 4 (3) |
8th Apr 2026 Soft To Heavy 1m 5f 180y |
10st 1lb |
Fine dual-purpose sort has 10 wins under all codes including a Bellewstown Flat handicap last August beating a below par Light Up The Dark; won the American Grand National when last seen; handles all ground; a big player. |
5/2 |
|
7 (7) |
26th Aug 2025 Yielding 2m 1f 110y |
11st 9lb |
Useful dual-purpose sort ran a solid fourth on the Flat at Killarney in May; won over fences at Galway last time after being unplaced in the Plate earlier in the week; should run well. |
2/1 |
|
3 |
3rd Aug 2025 Good 2m 6f 111y |
11st 3lb |
High-class hurdler; has won only one of his nine starts over fences, a Thurles beginners' event the season before last; fell at the fourth in the Ultima at Cheltenham on his final start last season; had a Flat run in May; third to Pinkerton in last year's Galway Plate; beaten almost 20l in seventh behind stablemate Western Fold in Wednesday's 2025 edition. |
11/8 |
+o+e Accumulators
| Payout | |
|---|---|
| Exacta | €89.20 |
| Straight Forecast | €84.36 |
| Trifecta | €2839.00 |
Selections
RP Ratings (IRE):
Flooring PorterSPOTLIGHT:
Bob OlingerTOPSPEED:
ZanahiyrPOSTDATA:
Home By The LeeThe Irish Sun:
Flooring Porter