13.25
SoftClose Brothers Rated Novice Hurdle
- Prize money: £7831.86
- 2m 3f 165y
- 11 runners
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Runners: 11 runners
Type: Hurdle Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Showers
4/1 (Won)
- Win: £4.90
- Place: £1.60
Form: 7-1
Last run: 35 days
W: 11st 4lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
8th 11 |
12th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 3m 2f 70y Class 2 |
11st 6lb |
Runner-up in the Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle here (2m4f, heavy) in March 2024; 0-6 over fences but he returned to form when third in a big-field handicap at Leopardstown (extended 2m5f, soft) last month, when shaping as though this first crack at a staying trip could be right up his street. |
4/1 |
|
3rd 17 |
1st Feb 2026 Soft To Heavy 2m 5f 107y |
10st 4lb |
Dual hurdle winner has shown ability in some of his five chase starts but was poor at Fairyhouse last time when favourite; may do better back left-handed and not dismissed. |
16/1 |
|
10 |
25th Oct 2025 Yielding 2m 2f 54y |
11st 5lb |
135-rated hurdler whose two wins include here; limited first season chasing last term, good second on Navan debut but then dropped out tamely in Grade 1 Limerick novice at Christmas; not seen until staying on fourth (having been hampered) behind a stablemate in 2m2f Listowel novice last month; entitled to improve for that and major player. |
5/2 |
9/2
- Place: £2.00
Form: 3-81
Last run: 41 days
W: 12st 0lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
11th 27 |
11th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 4m 2f 74y Class 1 |
10st 8lb |
Faded into sixth at Punchestown (3m7f) last May on his only attempt at a marathon trip; worth another go, having rallied so well to win a major 3m handicap at Navan in November, but it's a little hard to ignore that clearly his best five ratings have been registered on soft or heavy going, as have all his four wins. |
66/1 |
|
4th 4 |
21st Feb 2026 Heavy 3m 2f 0y |
11st 0lb |
Off the mark over fences at the third attempt off 130 at Naas last January (2m4f, soft); failed to make an impact at Cheltenham and faded from two out at Punchestown in a 3m7f handicap; produced in fine shape to win the Troytown on reappearance (3m, heavy); showed up well for a long way before fading from two out in the Theyestes last time (3m1f, heavy); can get involved |
8/1 |
|
4th 4 |
22nd Jan 2026 Heavy 3m 1f 0y |
11st 10lb |
Got off the mark over fences at the third attempt off 130 at Naas last January (2m4f, soft); failed to make an impact in the Jack Richards at Cheltenham; faded from two out in Punchestown festival handicap over a near-4m trip; produced in fine shape to win the Troytown on reappearance, beating Yeah Man and earning a 9lb hike in the ratings; can remain competitive. |
13/2 |
16/1
- Place: £6.10
Form: 441-U2
Last run: 78 days
W: 11st 5lb
4 yo Gelding
OR: 116
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
8 |
19th Oct 2025 Good 2m 3f 50y |
10st 11lb |
Flat and dual hurdle winner got off the mark over fences at Clonmel in February and was a solid second in a Tramore novice last time; has a chance but questions about his attitude after refusing to race at Cork last time. |
11/1 |
20/1
Form: /05P/7 D
Last run: 21 days
W: 11st 4lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 112
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6th 6 |
20th Jan 2026 Yielding To Soft 3m 0f 0y |
11st 1lb |
Two chase wins in 2021 included a Navan novice handicap on heavy; declining mark lately has failed to spark a revival in fortunes; pulled up in 3m Navan handicap last month. |
14/1 |
|
7th 2 |
26th Oct 2025 Yielding 2m 6f 111y |
12st 0lb |
Two chase win in 2021; never found his form last season and ran poorly over hurdles at Gowran on his return. |
25/1 |
|
10 |
3rd Oct 2025 Yielding 2m 4f 40y |
10st 13lb |
Two-time chase winner in 2021 is winless from 14 over hurdles; out of form over fences this year and fell when last seen in a Punchestown festival handicap chase; others preferred. |
40/1 |
9/1
Form: 3-3U1
Last run: 21 days
W: 12st 0lb
4 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 9 |
28th Apr 2026 Yielding 3m 0f 213y |
11st 10lb |
Progressive in the first half of the season; won the Galway Plate, beat subsequent Savills Chase winner Affordale Fury at Gowran in October; second to Kaid d'Authie in an unsatisfactory four-runner DRF event; faded from three out in Brown Advisory; badly hampered and unseated two out in Fairyhouse Grade 1 won by Fleur In The Park. |
12/1 |
|
8 |
5th Apr 2026 Yielding To Soft 2m 4f 0y |
11st 10lb |
Progressive last summer, winning the Galway Plate (extended 2m6f, good), and a defeat of subsequent Savills Chase winner Affordale Fury at Gowran Park (2m4f, yielding to soft) in October; second to Kaid d'Authie in an unsatisfactory four-runner DRF event; faded from three out in Brown Advisory |
10/1 |
|
10th 15 |
11th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 3m 1f 0y Class 1 |
11st 7lb |
Progressive last summer, winning the Galway Plate (extended 2m6f, good), and he beat subsequent Savills Chase winner Affordale Fury at Gowran Park (2m4f, yielding to soft) in October; good second to Kaid d'Authie at Dublin Racing Festival last time and enters each-way calculations. |
12/1 |
13/2
Form: 1 C
Last run: 61 days
W: 12st 0lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
9 |
5th Jul 2025 Good 3m 0f 116y |
11st 4lb |
Regressive since a maiden hurdle win in 2023 and isn't easy to fancy on his form in the last year; poor on the Flat last time. |
40/1 |
|
13th 7 (9) |
19th Jun 2025 Yielding 1m 7f 0y |
11st 7lb |
Beat the smart King Of Kingsfield in a maiden hurdle in 2023; failed to progress for Gavin Cromwell; a change of stable has not sparked a return to form in three handicap hurdle outings in recent months. |
33/1 |
|
12 |
16th May 2025 Good 3m 0f 50y |
10st 6lb |
Beat the now 143-rated King Of Kingsfield in a maiden hurdle in 2023; didn't progress for Gavin Cromwell; change of stable has not sparked a return to form in two runs thus far; tongue-tie now goes on. |
33/1 |
13/2
Form: 584-10 BF
Last run: 120 days
W: 11st 7lb
4 yo Colt
OR: 118
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5th 2 |
27th Dec 2024 Yielding To Soft 2m 4f 0y |
12st 0lb |
Flat winner for Aidan O'Brien and fourth in the Boodles at Cheltenham two seasons ago when tried in cheekpieces (absent since); second after a break at Punchestown (2m7f, good) and could bounce back from his Navan defeat with the cheekpieces returning. |
9/2 |
|
5th 2 |
27th Dec 2024 Yielding To Soft 2m 4f 0y |
12st 0lb |
Flat winner for Aidan O'Brien and fourth in the Boodles at Cheltenham two seasons ago when tried in cheekpieces (absent since); second after a break at Punchestown (2m7f, good) and could bounce back from his Navan defeat with the cheekpieces returning. |
9/2 |
|
10th 11 |
17th Nov 2024 Good To Yielding 2m 6f 100y |
11st 0lb |
in touch with leaders |
10/1 |
7/1
Form: 1
Last run: 35 days
W: 12st 0lb
4 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
8 |
30th Apr 2026 Yielding 2m 0f 75y |
11st 6lb |
Second-season chaser who showed improved form when runner-up at Wexford and Leopardstown on his first two starts this season; Grand Annual fourth confirmed a level of form that makes him interesting in this company; good 5lb claimer. |
5/1 |
|
4th 20 |
11th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 1m 7f 199y Class 1 |
10st 9lb |
Second-season chaser who has shown improved form when runner-up on both starts this term, most recently second of 20 to Addragoole at Leopardstown (2m1f, yielding) in December; this unexposed 7yo could have even more to offer and might have a part to play; wears a first-time hood. |
9/1 |
|
2 |
26th Oct 2025 Good To Yielding 2m 3f 130y |
11st 7lb |
Lightly-raced six-year-old who won Galway maiden hurdle on debut and looked good when winning a novice chase at Limerick last December (2m1f, yielding to soft); questions to answer on seasonal return following disappointing runs at Punchestown in February and Fairyhouse in April. |
10/1 |
8/1
Form: 242-61
Last run: 23 days
W: 12st 0lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
1st Jul 2025 Good To Yielding 2m 0f 120y |
11st 12lb |
Dual hurdle winner has been below form in that sphere on recent starts; needs to get back to his best on belated chasing debut. |
12/1 |
|
7th 2 |
28th May 2025 Good To Firm 2m 1f 0y |
11st 10lb |
Two hurdle wins include 2m5f rated hurdle at Fairyhouse last season (good); safely held in handicaps of late (well-backed favourite at Killarney last time when hampered) but don't rule out. |
8/1 |
|
7th 2 |
28th May 2025 Good To Firm 2m 1f 0y |
11st 10lb |
Two hurdle wins include 2m5f rated hurdle at Fairyhouse last season (good); safely held in handicaps of late (well-backed favourite at Killarney last time when hampered) but don't rule out. |
8/1 |
16/1
Form: 14 D
Last run: 64 days
W: 11st 7lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: 118
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5th 3 |
18th Sep 2024 Good 2m 6f 180y |
11st 12lb |
held up in rear, not fluent 12th |
13/2 |
|
4th 4 |
2nd Jun 2024 Good 2m 4f 80y |
11st 12lb |
held up in rear, hit 4 out, headway approaching last, stayed on run-in, went fourth final strides, never dangerous |
8/1 |
12/1
Form: 51 D
Last run: 15 days
W: 12st 0lb
4 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3 |
21st Feb 2026 Heavy 2m 4f 50y |
11st 4lb |
Exploited lower hurdles mark at Galway (2m6f, yielding) in October; struggled in the Troytown Chase when last seen but remains 8lb below his chase mark so can't be dismissed on ground he handles. |
6/1 |
|
1st 8 |
25th Oct 2025 Yielding 2m 5f 200y |
10st 10lb |
2m4f maiden hurdle winner got off the mark over fences when easily winning a beginners' chase at this meeting last year; following month well held in Grade 2 novice at Punchestown and has been absent since; potentially interesting back hurdling off 15lb lower mark. |
6/1 |
+o+e Accumulators
| Payout | |
|---|---|
| Exacta | €29.60 |
| Straight Forecast | €24.17 |
| Trifecta | €797.90 |
Selections
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