October 28 / 15.54 Kelso

15.54

Good To Soft

Just Add Tonic Events “National Hunt” Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race) (Div II)

  • Prize money: £4901.4
  • 2m 0f 51y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
RTV
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Just Add Tonic Events “National Hunt” Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race) (Div II)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

5/1 (Won)

  • Win: £4.34
  • Place: £1.30

Form: 652-

Last run: 183 days

W: 11st 3lb

4 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Best effort in bumpers when 6l second to promising stablemate El Elefante (won on hurdle debut last month) at Perth (2m, soft) in April; others in this field achieved more in bumpers but the yard has plenty of promising young hurdlers to compare this one to so market confidence would look significant.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

25th May 2026

Good

2m 5f 34y

Class 3

17:11 Cartmel

Old Gregorian

11st 5lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Finished alone in a match race on chase debut in October; not beaten far when last of four at Kelso (2m5f, good to soft) in February but ran poorly over that C&D last month and needs a boost from the new cheekpieces.

8/1

6th

1

20th Apr 2026

Good

2m 5f 133y

Class 4

15:00 Kelso

Old Gregorian

12st 2lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Dual course winner over hurdles; finished alone in a match race on seasonal/chase debut in October then wasn't beaten far when last of four over C&D (good to soft) in February; eased in grade today and could still have potential over fences.

5/1

OUR TIP

7/2

  • Place: £1.80

Form: 1/3/ D BF

Last run: 572 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Seemingly difficult to train but has shown plenty of promise when making the track, comfortably winning a Carlisle bumper (soft) on debut in March 2021 then second under a penalty here (good to soft) just over a year later; evidently capable when fresh and it'll be very interesting to see how strong the market vibes are now hurdling after a further 19 months off.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 1f 14y

Class 3

13:10 Kelso

Doyen Du Bar

12st 1lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

Three wins last season (2m, various ground) and ran well to be placed towards the end of last year on first two starts for this yard; faded when upped to 2m5f last month and firmly in calculations now back down in trip.

7/2

3rd

6

16th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 89y

Class 2

14:05 Market Rasen

Doyen Du Bar

11st 1lb

J: Callum Bewley

T: Nicky Richards

Won three small-field chases for Pauline Robson last season and was placed on first two starts for Nicky Richards this term, more recently when second at Wetherby (1m7f, soft) just after Christmas; untested beyond an extended 2m1f but is a major player if this new trip suits.

5/2

1st

1

24th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 0f 110y

Class 3

15:25 Ayr

Doyen Du Bar

11st 10lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Pauline Robson

made all, went clear going easily after 3 out, nudged out run-in, comfortably

4/5

8/1

  • Place: £1.50

Form: 5935-3 BF

Last run: 163 days

W: 10st 11lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
Third in handicap and maiden hurdles around 2m (soft/good) in the first half of the year but the form is only modest and suspicion she'll prove vulnerable to the bumper/point winners in this line-up.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

4

14th Jan 2024

Soft

2m 0f 51y

Class 5

12:50 Kelso

Lacila Blue

11st 9lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

Consistent in her five runs last February-November, all over about 2m and second of five in a handicap at Hexham (heavy; acts on good) last time; needs extra to win but has place claims again.

7/2

2nd

3

22nd Nov 2023

Heavy

2m 0f 48y

Class 5

15:05 Hexham

Lacila Blue

11st 7lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

Placed in three of her last four hurdles starts (all around 2m); has shown enough to suggest she can be competitive from this mark, now returning to handicap company.

2/1

3rd

10

28th Oct 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 51y

Class 4

15:54 Kelso

Lacila Blue

10st 11lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: N W Alexander

took keen hold, held up in rear, headway after 3 out, went third last, kept on

8/1

Form: 17- D

Last run: 187 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Strong in the betting when making a winning debut in a bumper at Carlisle (2m1f, heavy) in March; could only manage seventh of 15 under a penalty at Hexham the following month, but it was a good race for the track; decent hurdle prospect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

8

2nd May 2026

Good

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

19:45 Hexham

Rob Roy Macgregor

10st 13lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Sandy Thomson

Bumper winner on debut (2m1f, heavy); four fair runs with cheekpieces at up to 4m this year, all with give in the ground; worth considering.

6/1

3rd

10

25th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 7f 199y

Class 4

15:41 Hexham

Rob Roy Macgregor

10st 2lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Sandy Thomson

0-16 since winning on debut in March 2023 and he's 5lb out of the handicap today; however, he's been hinting in chases at about 3m this year that today's extra test of stamina may be right up his street; interesting for stable that had an excellent weekend.

8/1

Form: 0-

Last run: 374 days

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
11-1 when well beaten in a Worcester bumper for Philip Hobbs just over a year ago; in the same colours now hurdling for a new yard but best watched unless the betting signals are notably strong.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

22nd Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 190y

Class 5

17:05 Newcastle

Skiddaw

11st 0lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

Only his second completion in a handicap when beaten 8l into fifth at Musselburgh (good to soft); that was three months ago and he'll need a bit more here you would think.

10/1

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Son of Mount Nelson who cost 14,000eurso as a 3yo; dam half-sister to jumps winners at up to 3m; perhaps more one for the longer term unless the betting hints otherwise.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

14

21st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 62y

Class 5

13:35 Newcastle

Wainwright

10st 8lb

J: Callum Bewley

T: Nicky Richards

Low-mileage 8yo; bled from the nose when pulled up on chasing debut in December (did go off favourite) but suffered the same fate on his return to hurdling, again on heavy; has shown he can run well off this mark and less testing ground here could suit; tries cheekpieces.

16/1

8

27th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 149y

Class 5

14:25 Newcastle

Wainwright

10st 12lb

J: Callum Bewley

T: Nicky Richards

Lightly raced 8yo who showed hints of promise over hurdles and was sent off the 11-4 favourite for last month's handicap and chase debut at Ayr; he bled from the nose and was pulled up but he reverts to hurdling today and it will be interesting to see if his backers return.

6/1

6th

8

11th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 4f 100y

Class 5

13:40 Ayr

Wainwright

10st 10lb

J: Conor Rabbitt

T: Nicky Richards

prominent, lost ground but in touch with leaders after 3rd

3/1

Form: U509P-

Last run: 205 days

W: 11st 3lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 71

Form & Verdict
No worthwhile form last season, including pulled up on handicap debut when last seen in April; big outsider.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

9

23rd May 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 107y

Class 5

16:30 Cartmel

Halfway House Lad

10st 10lb

J: Charlotte Jones

T: James Moffatt

5lb out of the weights when romping home on recent stable debut at Hexham (3m, good); now 8lb higher and all wins have been gained at Newcastle or Hexham so still has some convincing to do around a sharp track.

15/8

1st

13

2nd May 2026

Good

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

19:45 Hexham

Halfway House Lad

10st 2lb

J: Charlotte Jones

T: James Moffatt

Three chase wins for Maurice Barnes including over C&D in March 2025 (good to soft); well beaten last three starts; 5lb out of the handicap for stable debut.

16/1

6th

10

14th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 91y

Class 5

16:35 Newcastle

Halfway House Lad

10st 7lb

J: Charlie Price

T: Maurice Barnes

Won this race off a 4lb lower mark last season (Hawkseye View third); mixed form this season, but the drier ground will suit and has an each-way chance.

16/1

33/1

Form: /73P/0

Last run: 17 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Made a promising start over hurdles for Andrew Slattery when third in 2m1f Sligo maiden in July 2021 but pulled up at Cork the following month and not seen again until well beaten at Sedgefield (2m1f) 17 days ago; tongue-tie added now; lots to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

4

28th Oct 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 51y

Class 4

15:54 Kelso

Ruleout

11st 4lb

J: Tom Midgley

T: Chris Grant

led, mistake and headed 3 out, soon outpaced, weakened before 2 out

33/1

10th

4

11th Oct 2023

Good

2m 0f 178y

Class 4

14:20 Sedgefield

Ruleout

11st 4lb

J: Tom Midgley

T: Chris Grant

prominent, outpaced after 3 out, weakened quickly before 2 out

10/1

Non-runners

Iorangi De L'Isle, The Foreman

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £21.90
Straight Forecast £23.86
Trifecta £79.30

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Iorangi De L'Isle

TOPSPEED:

Lacila Blue

Daily Mail:

Old Gregorian

The Star:

Doyen Du Bar

Daily Record:

Old Gregorian

The Times:

Iorangi De L'Isle

Telegraph:

Iorangi De L'Isle

D Express:

Iorangi De L'Isle

Daily Mirror:

Iorangi De L'Isle

POSTDATA:

Lacila Blue

The Guardian:

Lacila Blue