19.30
Soft To HeavyCastlerea Handicap
- Prize money: £5482.3
- 1m 4f 10y
- 8 runners
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Runners: 8 runners
Type: Flat Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Light rain
Abandoned
Form: 98731
Last run: 8 days
W: 9st 12lb
3 yo Gelding
OR: 69
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 1 (4) |
22nd May 2023 Good To Yielding 1m 4f 10y |
9st 13lb |
travelled strongly, in touch with leaders, headway going easily over 2f out, challenging when ridden under 2f out, led 1f out, kept on well |
3/1 |
|
1st 6 (5) |
16th May 2023 Yielding 1m 2f 94y |
9st 6lb |
held up in midfield |
2/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 888-
Last run: 189 days
W: 9st 9lb
3 yo Filly
OR: 66
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 2 |
25th May 2026 Good 3m 1f 83y Class 2 |
11st 10lb |
5-14 over hurdles, the latest win gained at Taunton (3m, good; wore cheekpieces) last month; posted another career-best performance when finishing well from the rear for close third in valuable Haydock handicap (3m, good; first-time visor) 16 days ago and commands respect here. |
5/1 |
|
3rd 11 |
9th May 2026 Good 3m 0f 58y Class 2 |
10st 5lb |
First four hurdle wins came in the month of May, before he took a four-runner race at Taunton (3m, good) last month; 5lb higher in today's much more competitive affair but that was his first attempt over this far and he might have more to offer as a stayer; first visor replaces cheekpieces. |
14/1 |
|
1st 3 |
9th Apr 2026 Good 2m 7f 198y Class 3 |
11st 3lb |
All four wins over hurdles have came in the month of May; returned from her winter break when last of four at Plumpton (2m2f, good to soft) last month; should be sharper and steps up in trip but is 10lb above her last winning mark. |
6/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 045-90
Last run: 17 days
W: 9st 7lb
3 yo Gelding
OR: 64
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 4 (4) |
26th May 2026 Standard 1m 4f 0y |
9st 12lb |
Both wins came at Chester in 2024; it's been a washout so far this season and remains best watched. |
16/1 |
|
14th 2 (16) |
18th May 2026 Good 1m 4f 17y |
10st 1lb |
Back-to-back wins at Chester in 2024, but has never won on home soil; moderate form last year and same story in two recent outings; 1m7f too far latest. |
10/1 |
|
4th 3 (2) |
5th May 2026 Good To Firm 1m 7f 0y Class 5 |
9st 3lb |
Irish raider; won twice over 1m4f at Chester in July 2024 (good/good to soft); mixed efforts since, mainly at 1m2f/1m4f as he didn't seem to stay when tried at 2m. |
4/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 668
Last run: 16 days
W: 9st 7lb
3 yo Filly
OR: 64
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 5 |
28th May 2026 Good 2m 4f 139y Class 5 |
10st 11lb |
2-5 for new stable this year; gained the wins on heavy and good to soft ground but coped perfectly well with good ground when close third at Kelso (2m5f; first-time tongue-tie) last month; hood (worn for three of her last four races) is discarded; likely contender again. |
9/4 |
|
3rd 8 |
2nd Apr 2026 Good To Soft 2m 4f 189y Class 5 |
10st 12lb |
Won when the hood went back on at Newcastle (2m4f, heavy) in January and followed up at Southwell (2m4f, good to soft); disappointing at Carlisle (2m3f, soft) last time but she was missing the hood, which returns today along with a first-time tongue-tie; could have a part to play. |
9/2 |
Abandoned
Form: 879-52
Last run: 8 days
W: 9st 6lb
3 yo Gelding
OR: 63
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 2 (11) |
13th Sep 2023 Good 1m 4f 0y |
10st 2lb |
towards rear of midfield, pushed along and headway under 2f out, challenging on outer inside final furlong, led final 110yds, soon clear, comfortably |
5/1 |
|
4th 4 (10) |
4th Sep 2023 Soft 1m 3f 140y |
10st 0lb |
held up in rear, headway when hung right over 2f out, went fourth 1f out, wandered around and kept on inside final furlong, not reach leaders |
5/1 |
|
4th 6 (7) |
9th Aug 2023 Good 1m 5f 42y |
9st 8lb |
Maiden has run well in handicaps several times this term, going closest over this trip at Down Royal; raised 2lb but should make another bold bid; ground versatile. |
9/4 |
Abandoned
Form: 067-
Last run: 189 days
W: 9st 2lb
3 yo Filly
OR: 59
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6 |
13th May 2026 Good 2m 7f 180y Class 5 |
11st 5lb |
Won twice over hurdles, including from a mark of 77 at Plumpton (2m4f, good) last September; low-key in points since joining Tom Fife, failing to beat a single rival at Hornby Castle and Witton Castle; most unlikely candidate. |
40/1 |
|
7th 8 |
14th Oct 2025 Good 2m 7f 16y Class 5 |
11st 0lb |
Stayed on best for a successful stable debut at Plumpton (2m4f, good) with this headgear combination back on; raised a fair 5lb and gives the impression that he'll stay this far. |
2/1 |
|
9 |
21st Sep 2025 Good To Firm 2m 4f 116y Class 5 |
10st 5lb |
Flat maiden who is 1-12 over hurdles and was third off 3lb higher on her final jumps run in June (2m4f, good); could go well on first run for Fergal O'Brien with a tongue-tie/cheekpieces reapplied. |
11/2 |
Abandoned
Form: 09-034
Last run: 24 days
W: 8st 9lb
3 yo Filly
OR: 52
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 9 (6) |
14th Apr 2023 Standard 1m 4f 0y |
8st 10lb |
Stoutly-bred filly showed a glimmer of promise in 1m maiden here on her 3yo debut and creditable third in handicap over 1m2f at Navan last time; beaten a long way there but winner was well-in and the ground conditions were extreme; every chance if she comes forward from that. |
3/1 |
|
3rd 9 (10) |
29th Mar 2023 Soft To Heavy 1m 2f 0y |
8st 11lb |
Stoutly-bred filly has shown little so far in maidens but potential improver now stepped up in trip for handicap debut. |
8/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 00-09
Last run: 80 days
W: 8st 7lb
3 yo Gelding
OR: 50
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
12th 13 (2) |
4th Sep 2023 Soft 1m 3f 140y |
8st 12lb |
midfield |
33/1 |
|
12th 11 (5) |
9th Aug 2023 Good 1m 2f 103y |
9st 1lb |
Last of nine at Dundalk in February on only handicap start; tried with cheekpieces now, best watched. |
50/1 |
Verdict
Although 8lb higher than at Sligo, WHISKY ON THE HILL won that in the style of an improver, and he was backed to do so. Runner-up Notturno is entitled to make a race of it armed with an 8lb pull. Watch out for any confidence behind the handicap debutants.[Alistair Jones]
Selections
SPOTLIGHT:
Whisky On The HillRP RATINGS (IRE):
Unchained MelodyThe Irish Sun:
Whisky On The HillPOSTDATA:
Unchained Melody