January 01 / 15.15 Cheltenham

15.15

Soft

Dornan Engineering Relkeel Hurdle (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £39865
  • 2m 4f 56y
  • Class 1
  • 4 runners
ITV
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Dornan Engineering Relkeel Hurdle (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

Runners: 4 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

OUR TIP

11/8 (Won)

  • Win: £2.50

Form: P253-1 C

Last run: 44 days

W: 11st 6lb

9 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Has never fulfilled the promise of his brilliant win in the 2021 Ballymore Novices' Hurdle at the Festival (2m5f, good to soft) but has still won four of his subsequent eight starts, most recently the Grade 2 Lismullen Hurdle at Navan (2m4f, soft to heavy) in November on his reappearance; he beat some quality performers last time and is entitled to considerable respect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

30th Apr 2026

Yielding

2m 7f 110y

18:05 Punchestown

Bob Olinger

11st 10lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: Henry De Bromhead

Ended a sequence of seconds when beating Teahupoo in the 2025 Stayers' Hurdle; no match for Teahupoo at Leopardstown on seasonal debut; had that below-par rival behind when a fine third behind Home By The Lee in the Stayers'; continues to prosper despite his veteran status; can go close.

3/1

3rd

2

12th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 213y

Class 1

15:20 Cheltenham

Bob Olinger

11st 10lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: Henry De Bromhead

Now 11 but he was as good as ever last March when winning this race by nearly 2l from Teahupoo (good to soft; also effective on soft); respectable second to that rival at Leopardstown in December on sole run this season and his excellent record at Cheltenham means he has to be in calculations.

7/1

Form: 1172-4 CD BF

Last run: 31 days

W: 10st 13lb

9 yo Mare

OR: 152

Form & Verdict
Below-par favourite on reappearance at Newbury last month but her jockey reported she was "buzzy" and that run may have got the freshness out of her; won this last year (soft) and fine second in Grade 1 Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree (3m, good to soft) in April; leading claims if back to her best.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

6

(6)

10th Oct 2024

Soft

1m 6f 0y

Class 1

15:10 Bath

Maries Rock

9st 6lb

J: Jim Crowley

T: Nicky Henderson

awkward start, in touch with leaders, headway and prominent over 3f out, led over 2f out, faced challenge over 1f out, headed inside final 110yds, just held

6/1

5th

4

(4)

25th May 2024

Good To Soft

1m 5f 188y

Class 1

15:20 York

Maries Rock

9st 2lb

J: Jim Crowley

T: Nicky Henderson

dwelt start, towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong

12/1

5th

4

(4)

25th May 2024

Good To Soft

1m 5f 188y

Class 1

15:20 York

Maries Rock

9st 2lb

J: Jim Crowley

T: Nicky Henderson

dwelt start, towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong

12/1

Form: 2518-2 D

Last run: 51 days

W: 11st 6lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 147

Form & Verdict
Bang there when falling at the final flight in this race in 2022 (soft), but soundly beaten fifth of nine behind Marie's Rock 12 months ago (soft); won the Grade 2 National Spirit at Fontwell (2m3f, good) in February and he may have needed November's reappearance run at Aintree, but this 11yo has a patchy profile nowadays and could be vulnerable once more.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

15th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 3

18:20 Aintree

Brewinupastorm

12st 0lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Veteran who finds winning hard these days but on last two starts he held his own in Grade 2s at Fontwell and Fairyhouse, races he had won previously; retains plenty of enthusiasm and can go well back in a handicap.

11/2

4th

6

6th Apr 2026

Yielding To Soft

2m 3f 180y

15:50 Fairyhouse

Brewinupastorm

11st 3lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Won this race two years ago and returns on the back of finishing second in the Grade 2 National Spirit at Fontwell, a race he'd won twice before; however, he's well into the veteran stage and looks vulnerable.

25/1

2nd

3

22nd Feb 2026

Soft

2m 3f 29y

Class 1

14:50 Fontwell

Brewinupastorm

11st 4lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

13yo who has a fine record in this race, his three appearances yielding two wins (2021 and 2023) and a head second to Botox Has in 2022; also bagged a Fairyhouse Grade 2 (2m4f, soft to heavy) in the spring of 2024; not so good these days, however, and he was beaten 13l in a Taunton handicap (2m3f, good to soft) last month.

16/1

Form: 192-02

Last run: 37 days

W: 11st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 147

Form & Verdict
Fair ninth in Supreme Novices' here (2m, soft) in March and second in Grade 1 Top Novices' Hurdle at Aintree (2m, good to soft) next time; back to form when second in Grade 2 Ascot Hurdle (2m3f, good) in November and this lightly raced 7yo is a possible improver, but it's needed in this field.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 149y

Class 1

15:05 Aintree

Strong Leader

11st 10lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Tailed off at Cheltenham in January but that's not his track and he's had a wind op since; prior to that he ran well when runner-up to Impose Toi at Newbury and Ascot, and his Aintree form figures read 1212 with his last two visits being in this race (good to soft/good); there can be considerable optimism that he'll be a key player back here; tongue-tie added.

4/1

6th

3

24th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 7f 213y

Class 1

15:35 Cheltenham

Strong Leader

11st 8lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Runner-up to Impose Toi on last two starts (3m, soft/good to soft), latest when beaten just over 1l off level weights (same today) in the Grade 1 Long Walk at Ascot; his record at Cheltenham is patchy but he ran well when third in this in 2024; on form he's the stand-out danger to Impose Toi.

9/2

1st

1

1st Nov 2025

Good

3m 0f 26y

Class 1

14:22 Wetherby

Strong Leader

11st 8lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Reappeared with a win in the Grade 2 Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury (3m, soft) last November and finished second in the Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree (3m, good) in April, having won that same Grade 1 12 months earlier; leading claims despite conceding weight all round.

7/4

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £3.50
Straight Forecast £4.40
Trifecta £11.60

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Marie's Rock

The Guardian:

Bob Olinger

The Times:

Strong Leader

The Star:

Brewin'upastorm

Daily Mail:

Bob Olinger

D Express:

Bob Olinger

Daily Mirror:

Bob Olinger

Daily Record:

Bob Olinger

RP RATINGS:

Marie's Rock

TOPSPEED:

Marie's Rock

POSTDATA:

Marie's Rock

LAMBOURN:

Marie's Rock

Telegraph:

Marie's Rock

The Sun:

Marie's Rock