June 28 / 16.28 Worcester

16.28

Good

Stepway Veterans Charity Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £10033.9
  • 2m 4f 0y
  • Class 2
  • 11 runners
SKY
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Stepway Veterans Charity Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 11 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

4/1 (Won)

  • Win: £4.00
  • Place: £1.50

Form: 551-31 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 126

Form & Verdict
Two out of three in novice hurdles since wind surgery with the only defeat coming over C&D when the ground was softer than the official description; going up 6lb for latest Warwick success looks harsh on handicap debut but he's progressive and in good form, which counts for plenty.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

26th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 116y

Class 4

18:09 Plumpton

Everyonesgame

11st 4lb

J: Chad Bament

T: Andy Irvine

His form during the opening half of last season included a Kempton win (on good) and a pretty good effort at Cheltenham, both over 3m; this year's two runs were nothing like so good but the ability is there.

7/1

5th

6

23rd Apr 2026

Good

3m 1f 5y

Class 3

14:30 Warwick

Everyonesgame

10st 11lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Andy Irvine

Below par last time at Ascot but Kempton win in November was off only 4lb lower and then ran fairly well at Cheltenham; if back to that level of form then he wouldn't be far away.

25/1

6th

9

29th Mar 2026

Good

2m 5f 146y

Class 3

17:25 Ascot

Everyonesgame

10st 10lb

J: Freddie Mitchell

T: Andy Irvine

4-17 over hurdles, the latest win when 80-1 under Freddie Mitchell at Kempton (3m, good) in November on second start for this stable; respectable seventh of ten when 40-1 at Cheltenham (3m) in December last time but his old, markedly better form may now be out of reach.

20/1

11/2

  • Place: £1.60

Form: 46B-41

Last run: 31 days

W: 10st 13lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Last month's Uttoxeter win came in much weaker company but was notable in that he didn't pull as much as he often has and he also found more under pressure than has sometimes been the case; this will be a sterner test and he'll need to jump better while this trip is unknown territory.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

30th Oct 2025

Good To Firm

2m 7f 149y

Class 4

15:08 Newcastle

Galata Bridge

12st 0lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole

Four-time winner over hurdles but inconsistency has crept in, with his solid third in new cheekpieces at Market Rasen (2m7f, good) flanked by lesser efforts; others safer.

15/2

2

30th Oct 2025

Good To Firm

2m 7f 149y

Class 4

15:08 Newcastle

Galata Bridge

12st 0lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole

Four-time winner over hurdles but inconsistency has crept in, with his solid third in new cheekpieces at Market Rasen (2m7f, good) flanked by lesser efforts; others safer.

15/2

5

16th Sep 2025

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 4

14:10 Uttoxeter

Galata Bridge

11st 11lb

J: Luke Scott

T: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole

4-20 over hurdles, with all the wins on good ground; close third in first-time cheekpieces at Market Rasen (2m7f, good; several flights omitted) last month and still unexposed over staying trips but forecast rain dents his appeal.

7/1

33/1

  • Place: £15.80

Form: FP46P- D

Last run: 312 days

W: 11st 7lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 128

Form & Verdict
Chase winner in May 2022, on final start for Paul Nicholls; ran well until falling on stable debut but nothing in four subsequent outings; back from ten months off and best watched.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

8

22nd Aug 2023

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 2

18:00 Worcester

Eritage

10st 11lb

J: James Best

T: Syd Hosie

0-8 for current stable; 312 days off before rediscovering some form this summer with two placed efforts over hurdles; not so good on latest outing; well treated judged on peak chase efforts but failed to complete last May/June on last two attempts in this sphere; below form sole run over this far.

20/1

5th

1

31st Jul 2023

Good

2m 5f 122y

Class 2

16:30 Newton Abbot

Eritage

12st 0lb

J: Nick Scholfield

T: Syd Hosie

in touch with leaders

6/1

2nd

1

17th Jul 2023

Good To Soft

2m 5f 122y

Class 3

15:25 Newton Abbot

Eritage

12st 0lb

J: Beau Morgan

T: Syd Hosie

Generally very disappointing since switching to current stable last spring but returned from layoff with respectable third at Worcester (2m4f, good) last month and has possibilities here if able to build on that performance; suited by good/good to soft ground.

11/2

Form: 0P85-4 C

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 5lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 126

Form & Verdict
Four starts for Tom Lacey and ran very well at Cheltenham in March (now 7lb lower); hasn't matched that since and didn't appear to be crying out for this trip when well held in fourth at Market Rasen 19 days ago.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

8

15th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 3

18:20 Aintree

Luttrell Lad

10st 12lb

J: Alice Stevens

T: Tom Lacey

Won at Exeter and then a close fourth at Sandown (2m4f, good); could put a line through his subsequent races on account of heavy ground and a trip too far; respected.

14/1

4th

7

20th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 57y

Class 3

15:32 Newbury

Luttrell Lad

11st 1lb

J: Alice Stevens

T: Tom Lacey

Won at Exeter (2m2f) in November and creditable fourth at Sandown (2m4f) next time, before heavy ground might excuse his latest start; this, however, is his first foray beyond 2m6f, after 37 races and at the age of ten.

16/1

4th

4

7th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 5f 5y

Class 3

16:10 Warwick

Luttrell Lad

11st 3lb

J: Cameron Iles

T: Tom Lacey

November's Exeter win looked unlikely but he stayed on much the best over 2m2f on good to soft; not beaten far off this 6lb higher mark at Sandown (2m4f, good) when close up behind Henri The Second who won easily back there last weekend; thoroughly exposed but enters the equation for sure; has won on heavy.

15/2

OUR TIP

Form: 1116-P C

Last run: 14 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 135

Form & Verdict
Seven wins last year (five in chases) but soon in trouble on recent return from eight months off; reverts to hurdles and cheekpieces return but probably best watched until showing a deal more.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

23rd Oct 2024

Good

1m 7f 182y

Class 4

17:00 Southwell

Clear The Runway

11st 5lb

J: Benjamin Macey

T: L J Morgan

took keen hold, prominent, led but not fluent 5th, headed and weakened quickly home turn, lost touch 2 out

14/1

11th

6

23rd Sep 2024

Good

2m 3f 188y

Class 4

16:15 Sedgefield

Clear The Runway

11st 8lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: L J Morgan

Prolific in 2022 over hurdles and fences but quiet this year over the smaller obstacles; reservations for now.

6/1

7th

9

19th Jun 2024

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

15:55 Worcester

Clear The Runway

11st 3lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: L J Morgan

in touch with leaders, jumped badly left 1st

16/1

Form: 11218- CD

Last run: 116 days

W: 11st 11lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 132

Form & Verdict
Won four of first five starts after joining Fergal O'Brien and ground an issue when tailed off when last seen in March; beaten off 13lb lower in a C&D handicap last August which gives an idea of his task here but he may have improved in the meantime.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

6

17th Aug 2024

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 4

17:35 Perth

Accidental Rebel

11st 5lb

J: Ben Smith

T: Leonard Kerr

towards rear

50/1

7th

2

14th Jul 2024

Good

2m 7f 207y

Class 4

16:15 Perth

Accidental Rebel

11st 7lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: Leonard Kerr

in touch with leaders

50/1

12th

3

30th Jun 2024

Good

2m 6f 31y

Class 4

14:00 Cartmel

Accidental Rebel

11st 12lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Leonard Kerr

Four hurdles wins on good in 2022 for Fergal O'Brien; back for new yard in April after 418 days off and latest start was a step back in the right direction; unraced beyond 2m5f but 7lb below his last winning mark.

25/1

Form: /1123- CD

Last run: 240 days

W: 11st 9lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
Finished last on the Flat at Newmarket on return from seven months off; that might set him up nicely for this, having won twice over C&D a year ago (made all each time); they were small fields so much more of a test of his mettle in this line-up.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

25th Sep 2023

Good

2m 5f 0y

Class 4

15:40 Warwick

Solo Saxophone

12st 0lb

J: Harriet Tucker

T: Alex Hales

Multiple Flat and hurdle winner but badly out of form under all codes this year; sports refitted tongue-tie and swaps visor for cheekpieces today; leap of faith required to support him.

14/1

0

2

24th Aug 2023

Good

2m 5f 164y

Class 3

19:50 Fontwell

Solo Saxophone

12st 0lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Alex Hales

pressed leader, led before 2nd

25/1

0

3

30th Jul 2023

Good To Soft

2m 4f 189y

Class 3

14:35 Uttoxeter

Solo Saxophone

11st 5lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Alex Hales

didn't jump well, always behind

16/1

Form: 21112- CD

Last run: 214 days

W: 11st 7lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 128

Form & Verdict
Four wins in the second half of last year, in these aids, and including one over C&D; well held off this mark when last seen seven months ago and could have opposition if wanting to adopt usual front-running role.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

25th Jul 2025

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 4

15:47 Uttoxeter

Finisk River

11st 13lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

Veteran with seven hurdling wins on his CV; returned from layoff with fairly encouraging 2m3f run three weeks ago and may be better suited by this sort of trip nowadays but younger rivals appeal more.

20/1

4th

4

4th Jul 2025

Good

2m 3f 123y

Class 3

19:40 Bangor-on-Dee

Finisk River

11st 5lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Veteran who held on narrowly to capitalise upon some help from the handicapper here (2m7f, good) last summer, his seventh hurdling success; back down to the same mark now but had gone off the boil again when last seen in the autumn.

14/1

6th

5

26th Nov 2024

Good

2m 3f 188y

Class 4

14:30 Sedgefield

Finisk River

11st 6lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Donald McCain

Just held on to win off a reduced mark at Bangor (2m7f, good) in September and is only 1lb higher here but he's getting long in the tooth now and wasn't quite in the same form on his last two appearances.

10/1

Form: 11/12- D

Last run: 382 days

W: 11st 3lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
Unbeaten in four races between May 2021-May 2022 but winning run came to an end with a narrow Hexham defeat, off this mark, a year ago; absence a concern but she has won after a similar break; makes the running but isn't the only in this field to do that; one of two runners for yard.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

7

31st Jul 2023

Good

2m 5f 122y

Class 2

16:30 Newton Abbot

Merry Berry

11st 9lb

J: Mr Tom Broughton

T: Fergal O’Brien

in touch with leaders, headway before 5th

7/1

8

28th Jun 2023

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 2

16:28 Worcester

Merry Berry

11st 3lb

J: Liam Harrison

T: Fergal O’Brien

Unbeaten in four races between May 2021-May 2022 but winning run came to an end with a narrow Hexham defeat, off this mark, a year ago; absence a concern but she has won after a similar break; makes the running but isn't the only in this field to do that; one of two runners for yard.

7/1

Form: P68-77

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 3lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
Two wins last year in Ireland for Joseph O'Brien but unplaced in five starts for current trainer; not beaten far in the second of them, at Wetherby in February, but heavy defeats at big odds since.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

22nd Nov 2023

Heavy

2m 4f 28y

Class 4

14:30 Hexham

Celestial Horizon

12st 1lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Ben Haslam

Dual Flat (at up to 1m6f) and dual hurdles winner (at up to 2m1f) when trained in Ireland; well beaten in all nine starts for this trainer and plummeting in the handicap; new headgear now tried (has won in blinkers); watching brief advised unless market vibes strong.

9/1

8th

6

22nd Oct 2023

Good To Soft

2m 3f 188y

Class 3

17:00 Sedgefield

Celestial Horizon

10st 12lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Ben Haslam

His mark continues to tumble and he's worth a market check, but he was pulled up in summer 2022 on his final three runs for Joseph O'Brien and his struggles have continued for this yard.

16/1

Form: 151-0V C

Last run: 8 days

W: 11st 0lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
Two wins here and last month's Haydock outing should have put him right; latest event at Stratford voided after a mile; all wins (apart from one in Jersey) at up to 2m1f so stamina to prove at this trip; chances if staying.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

5

16th Jul 2023

Good

2m 0f 70y

Class 3

16:00 Stratford

Jamacho

11st 3lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Charlie Longsdon

in touch with leaders on outer

8/1

10

28th Jun 2023

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 2

16:28 Worcester

Jamacho

11st 0lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Charlie Longsdon

Two wins here and last month's Haydock outing should have put him right; latest event at Stratford voided after a mile; all wins (apart from one in Jersey) at up to 2m1f so stamina to prove at this trip; chances if staying.

7/1

5

20th Jun 2023

Good

2m 0f 70y

Class 3

16:30 Stratford

Jamacho

11st 6lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Charlie Longsdon

midfield, pulled up before 4th, race voided

7/1

Non-runners

Accidental Rebel

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £16.00
Straight Forecast £15.41
Tricast £778.23
Trifecta £643.40

Selections

TOPSPEED:

Merry Berry

WEST COUNTRY:

Accidental Rebel

SPOTLIGHT:

Everyonesgame

RP RATINGS:

Luttrell Lad

POSTDATA:

Finisk River

The Sun:

Clear The Runway

Daily Mail:

Solo Saxophone

Telegraph:

Everyonesgame

D Express:

Luttrell Lad

The Times:

Merry Berry

The Guardian:

Merry Berry

Daily Mirror:

Accidental Rebel

Daily Record:

Accidental Rebel

The Star:

Finisk River