May 28 / 15.35 Kelso

15.35

Good To Firm

Elliot Henderson Group Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £10406
  • 2m 0f 51y
  • Class 2
  • 5 runners
RTV
View Course
Elliot Henderson Group Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

9/4 (Won)

  • Win: £4.00
  • Place: £1.60

Form: 24452- D

Last run: 50 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Losing run goes back 13 races to June 2021 but runner-up five times in the meantime, most recently at Haydock (1m7f, good to soft) last month; also effective on fast ground and every chance he'll be bang there.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

7

27th Sep 2025

Good

2m 0f 125y

Class 2

17:45 Market Rasen

Castel Gandolfo

11st 0lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Fergal O’Brien

Won small-field C&D event in June and was not beaten far in Summer Hurdle (a race he won in 2024) here in July; needs to up his game after two lesser efforts elsewhere but the return to this track is sure to suit.

33/1

1

5th Sep 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

18:30 Worcester

Castel Gandolfo

12st 0lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Fergal O’Brien

Had a win and two placings from three starts here (2m) in his younger days; won four-runner Market Rasen handicap (2m, good) off reduced mark in June and was not disgraced in competitive Summer Hurdle over that C&D in July; form took a dip at Cartmel last time, though, and he's untried at this trip.

10/1

1

23rd Aug 2025

Good

2m 1f 46y

Class 3

16:30 Cartmel

Castel Gandolfo

12st 0lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Fergal O’Brien

Won four-runner Market Rasen handicap (2m, good) off reduced mark in June and was not disgraced in competitive Summer Hurdle over that C&D last month; ran quite well on only previous visit to Cartmel (in 2023); could have a say.

12/1

OUR TIP

3/1

  • Place: £1.60

Form: 12613- D

Last run: 119 days

W: 11st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Two wins (good/soft) from first four hurdle starts and solid third of seven on handicap debut at Sedgefield (2m1f, good to soft) in January; returned from a break with a win on the Flat (soft) three weeks ago and he's won on fast ground in that code; can give another good account back over hurdles.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

16th Oct 2025

Good

1m 7f 207y

Class 3

13:57 Carlisle

Matchless

11st 5lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jennie Candlish

Three consecutive wins over hurdles in May/June (2m-2m7f, good/good to soft) and he was running okay in that sphere last month; however, he has something to find in today's company and he didn't improve for the switch to fences when soundly beaten in January on his sole previous chase start.

12/1

4th

1

26th Sep 2025

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 4

15:52 Worcester

Matchless

12st 0lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jennie Candlish

Came up rather short in higher grade last time; solid record (1112) in Class 4 otherwise this term, albeit has shot up the weights as a result; may be in the assessor's grip now.

13/2

3

5th Sep 2025

Good

2m 7f 32y

Class 3

16:45 Bangor-on-Dee

Matchless

11st 6lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jennie Candlish

It took a return to selling level to regain the winning thread in May but has since gone 112 in 2m4f/2m7f handicaps; getting high in the weights (nudged up another 1lb) but he's pretty solid.

7/2

Form: 1114-3 D

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 1lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Five wins (three over hurdles, two on the Flat) between last December and this March, and he was a good third at Hexham (2m, good to soft) three weeks ago; has run well on fast ground on the Flat and he's a player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

4th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 156y

Class 4

14:10 Catterick

Russian Virtue

11st 7lb

J: Joshua Thompson

T: David Thompson

8-59, although his last win came in a two-runner affair at Carlisle (2m1f; 2-5 favourite; all out) in December 2023; latest Carlisle sixth (beaten 15l; 50-1) not overly inspiring; others more obvious.

10/1

6th

7

16th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 1f 0y

Class 4

15:40 Carlisle

Russian Virtue

11st 7lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: David Thompson

Has won six times over hurdles, the latest a two-runner affair over C&D (good to soft) in December 2023; a couple of fair runs for this yard last year but pulled up when last seen out in January (reportedly never travelling); others appeal more.

20/1

4

25th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 178y

Class 4

15:10 Sedgefield

Russian Virtue

11st 5lb

J: Nathan Moscrop

T: David Thompson

On a long losing spell and form figures of 246 this term reflect that a turnaround of sorts is required; admittedly appears well treated if that resurgence materialises, being 7lb below last winning mark.

16/1

Form: 3U622- D

Last run: 37 days

W: 11st 13lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Irish challenger who has been runner-up on both starts this spring, at Wexford (2m, good to yielding) and Ayr (2m, good to soft; big field); has run well on good going (unraced on faster); could again be thereabouts.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

4th Oct 2026

Good

2m 1f 0y

15:55 Killarney

Bythesametoken

11st 12lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Ross O’Sullivan

Lightly raced in recent years; returned from over a year off to win at Listowel last year; has not scaled the same heights since although stayed on from a good bit back to be fourth in a handicap chase at the Galway festival; only got to the first fence at Listowel two weeks ago.

8/1

12

20th Sep 2026

Good

2m 1f 150y

16:48 Listowel

Bythesametoken

10st 4lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Ross O’Sullivan

Second runner for yard; three wins apiece over hurdles and fences, with last win coming in this a year ago off 2lb lower; posted a good run at Galway last time from out of the weights; was behind Coming Up Easy then but it should be closer today.

7/1

4th

12

2nd Aug 2026

Good

2m 2f 54y

15:30 Galway

Bythesametoken

10st 0lb

J: Conor Stone-Walsh

T: Ross O’Sullivan

Owned by Galway people but hasn't clicked here yet, although has run well over hurdles at this venue; last win was over similar trip at last year's Listowel festival, but 8lb higher now because he's well out of the handicap.

18/1

Form: 5508-5 C

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 1lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Second in this last year (good to firm) when 7lb higher and took a step back in the right direction when fifth of ten here (2m6f) last time; however, he hasn't been at his very best this year and needs something extra.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 189y

Class 2

13:30 Kelso

The Navigator

10st 10lb

J: Peter Kavanagh

T: Dianne Sayer

11yo who was tailed off over C&D (good to soft) in November and pulled up at 100-1 at Ayr (2m4f, soft) last month on his sole start since; however, the drying conditions are a positive, with his last five wins coming on good ground, and he won two in a row over C&D last autumn to take his winning tally at Kelso to four; no surprise if he bounces back with a bold show.

50/1

5

23rd Feb 2026

Soft

2m 4f 100y

Class 4

16:00 Ayr

The Navigator

11st 8lb

J: Peter Kavanagh

T: Dianne Sayer

11yo who won three times last August-October (2m1f/2m5f, good); however, tailed off at Kelso (2m5f, good to soft) in November when last seen and there's a suspicion he may not want testing ground nowadays.

16/1

8

17th Sep 2025

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 2

16:25 Kelso

The Navigator

10st 2lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Dianne Sayer

Back to winning ways at Cartmel (2m1f) in August and followed it up with a good third of nine in 2m4f handicap at Sedgefield 13 days ago; this C&D scorer can't be discounted.

10/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £10.00
Straight Forecast £8.56
Trifecta £33.40

Selections

The Times:

Bythesametoken

SPOTLIGHT:

Castel Gandolfo

RP RATINGS:

The Navigator

The Star:

Russian Virtue

POSTDATA:

Castel Gandolfo

WEST COUNTRY:

Castel Gandolfo

The Sun:

Castel Gandolfo

Telegraph:

Bythesametoken

The Guardian:

Bythesametoken

D Express:

Bythesametoken

Daily Record:

Bythesametoken

TOPSPEED:

The Navigator

Daily Mirror:

The Navigator