15.20
SoftLou Years Day Birthday Stakes Handicap Chase
- Prize money: £4488.85
- 2m 3f 48y
- Class 5
- 11 runners
Runners: 11 runners
Type: Chase Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Cloudy
6/1 (Won)
- Win: £3.50
- Place: £1.50
Form: 213-84 D
Last run: 187 days
W: 11st 11lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 102
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 4 |
1st Mar 2026 Heavy 2m 4f 0y Class 5 |
11st 8lb |
Generally very disappointing since returning from long absence in the autumn but took step back in right direction when respectable fourth (just behind Onehundredneighty) at Chepstow (2m3f, soft) last month and remains very well handicapped. |
11/2 |
|
4th 2 |
13th Feb 2026 Soft 2m 3f 100y Class 5 |
11st 13lb |
Dual 2m3f chase winner at start of 2024 (heavy/good to soft) but out of sorts since returning from long layoff this season; reverts to hurdling on tempting mark but needs a revival. |
20/1 |
|
7th 11 |
27th Jan 2026 Soft 2m 7f 136y Class 4 |
11st 4lb |
Began 2024 with two 2m3f Exeter wins and was subsequently placed over C&D; very well handicapped on those heroics but returned from long layoff with three disappointing runs this season and needs a revival; swaps usual cheekpieces for blinkers. |
25/1 |
3/1
- Place: £1.70
Form: 57/552 BF
Last run: 19 days
W: 10st 3lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 80
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 9 |
31st Oct 2025 Good 2m 4f 0y Class 5 |
11st 8lb |
Lightly raced 8yo who build upon promising debut when winning by over 8l at Taunton (2m2f, good) in February 2024; not seen again since, though, and entitled to benefit from today's outing. |
10/1 |
9/4
- Place: £1.50
Form: 3-3351 CD
Last run: 11 days
W: 10st 11lb
9 yo Gelding
OR: 88
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 2 |
27th May 2026 Good 3m 1f 170y Class 3 |
11st 13lb |
Admirable veteran who recorded his ninth chase win when making all to score from 2lb out of the weights at Fakenham (3m, good) this month; this is tougher off 4lb higher but he seems as good as ever as an 11yo and three of his wins have come at this track; key player. |
9/4 |
|
1st 7 |
4th May 2026 Good 3m 0f 38y Class 2 |
10st 2lb |
Eight-time chase winner who often makes the running and is very well suited by good or faster ground; went close off his lower hurdle mark last month; on career-high mark from just out of the weights here and usually runs over slightly shorter trips but still features prominently in calculations. |
7/2 |
|
2nd 6 |
12th Apr 2026 Good 2m 5f 82y Class 3 |
10st 9lb |
Most wins and best form are over fences and he ran pretty well at Exeter last month; the time before, in October, he won a small-field handicap hurdle at Exeter off his much lower hurdle mark (now 3lb higher); could have some part to play. |
9/2 |
13/2
Form: 612-45 C
Last run: 42 days
W: 12st 0lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 105
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 4 |
19th Dec 2024 Good To Soft 2m 3f 48y Class 5 |
11st 10lb |
in touch with leaders |
10/1 |
|
1st 4 |
19th Dec 2024 Good To Soft 2m 3f 48y Class 5 |
11st 10lb |
in touch with leaders |
10/1 |
|
3rd 3 |
28th Nov 2024 Good To Soft 2m 2f 40y Class 5 |
11st 12lb |
All three chase wins have been over further, the last two here at 2m7f; below his best when last seen in June. |
20/1 |
8/1
Form: 13U1P- CD BF
Last run: 289 days
W: 11st 3lb
9 yo Gelding
OR: 94
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5 |
14th Apr 2026 Good 3m 2f 105y Class 5 |
11st 2lb |
Has more wins over fences, most recently at Exeter (3m, good to soft) last month under Ciaran O'Shea; failed to fire 20 days later but he's effective in this sphere as shown when a close second at Chepstow in February; yet to win from a mark this high but should be firmly in the mix. |
9/2 |
|
5th 6 |
26th Mar 2026 Good 3m 6f 136y Class 4 |
10st 10lb |
Often front-runner; ridden by Ciaran O'Shea on last four starts; 7-22 in chases (one of his hurdles wins was this track) and those wins include his last two completed starts in this sphere, the latest at Exeter (3m, good to soft) three weeks ago; this trip is unknown territory but he ran well over an extended 3m4f at Stratford in 2024; has to be in serious calculations. |
9/2 |
|
1st 3 |
6th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 3m 0f 54y Class 5 |
11st 1lb |
Back to form to win a Wincanton chase (3m1f, soft) in December and nearly went in again back over hurdles at Chepstow in a race he won the previous year; nothing wrong with this mark and stable goes well. |
3/1 |
16/1
Form: 23-765 D
Last run: 32 days
W: 11st 5lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 96
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6 |
14th Apr 2026 Good 3m 2f 105y Class 5 |
10st 2lb |
Has had just the one win, gained in a French chase back in 2022, and there's little in recent hurdle form to suggest he's about to add to that; 6lb out of the handicap. |
20/1 |
|
9th 17 |
17th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 2m 7f 25y Class 5 |
10st 2lb |
Gained only win (from 43 starts) in a French chase in 2022 and recent hurdling form does not suggest he's poised to add to his tally. |
50/1 |
|
5th 11 |
24th Jun 2025 Good 3m 2f 105y Class 4 |
10st 2lb |
Ended a run of non-completions when finishing fifth of seven over C&D last time (Presenting Yeats behind); although that was an improved effort, it did appear to stretch his stamina; much more required again from out of the weights. |
50/1 |
16/1
Form: 3-144P
Last run: 12 days
W: 11st 11lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 102
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 7 |
23rd Feb 2025 Good To Soft 3m 1f 44y Class 5 |
10st 10lb |
Won off a career-low chase mark at Fontwell (3m2f, good; refitted cheekpieces) in November and slower ground wouldn't have been ideal the last twice; none too reliable these days at the best of times. |
12/1 |
|
5th 5 |
31st Jan 2025 Soft 2m 4f 0y Class 5 |
11st 1lb |
Very inconsistent this season and his win at Fontwell (good ground; 5lb higher today) on penultimate start was over 3m2f; his soft-ground form was two years ago and he pulled up on his only appearance on heavy. |
12/1 |
33/1
Form: /60-86 CD
Last run: 11 days
W: 11st 1lb
11 yo Gelding
OR: 92
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
12th 11 |
31st Jan 2024 Good To Soft 2m 3f 48y Class 4 |
10st 10lb |
C&D winner in 2019 but he hasn't been in much form since returning from two years off last March. |
66/1 |
|
6 |
1st Jan 2024 Soft 2m 3f 48y Class 5 |
11st 1lb |
Has not seen much action in recent years and he returned from another absence with two heavy defeats here (hurdle/chase) last month; mark is tumbling but he's well into the veteran stage now and has plenty to prove. |
33/1 |
|
6th 1 |
21st Dec 2023 Soft 2m 3f 48y Class 5 |
12st 0lb |
Had two long layoffs in recent years and there's hardly been an echo of his old form; way down the weights but his last win was in 2019 and he has plenty to prove on this return to chasing. |
25/1 |
9/1
Form: 7442-5
Last run: 225 days
W: 10st 7lb
9 yo Gelding
OR: 84
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 7 |
28th May 2025 Good 2m 4f 216y Class 5 |
10st 11lb |
Winning hurdler; no wins in 11 over fences and hard to make a compelling case; finished last of the four to complete here three weeks ago. |
10/1 |
|
4th 7 |
28th May 2025 Good 2m 4f 216y Class 5 |
10st 11lb |
Winning hurdler; no wins in 11 over fences and hard to make a compelling case; finished last of the four to complete here three weeks ago. |
10/1 |
|
4th 5 |
7th May 2025 Good 2m 0f 75y Class 5 |
10st 5lb |
prominent, outpaced before 2 out, weakened last |
10/1 |
14/1
Form: PP1-29
Last run: 16 days
W: 10st 3lb
9 yo Gelding
OR: 80
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
7 |
9th May 2026 Good 3m 0f 0y Class 5 |
10st 9lb |
Two more chase wins in 2025, the latest at Windsor (3m, good to soft; suited by good) in November; often battled with unsuitable ground over the winter but 4lb lower than at Windsor so has a weights chance. |
10/1 |
|
3rd 7 |
9th Apr 2026 Good 2m 7f 3y Class 5 |
10st 8lb |
Has five wins over fences including one over C&D; below form on his last two starts but may show improvement on this better ground. |
12/1 |
|
5 |
16th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 3m 1f 157y Class 5 |
10st 10lb |
2lb below his Windsor success in November but he's not matched that level since, latest when well held at Taunton (2m7f, heavy) last month; needs the return to better ground to spark a revival. |
25/1 |
66/1
Form: /6U9P-
Last run: 305 days
W: 10st 2lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 69
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
0 8 |
22nd Jan 2024 Good 2m 0f 214y Class 5 |
10st 2lb |
held up in rear, not fluent 3rd, reminder before 4th, pulled up after 7th |
66/1 |
|
0 11 |
12th Jan 2024 Soft 2m 4f 35y Class 5 |
10st 2lb |
held up in rear, slow jump 1st |
50/1 |
Non-runners
Saintemilion
+o+e Accumulators
| Payout | |
|---|---|
| Exacta | £14.20 |
| Straight Forecast | £13.92 |
| Tricast | £31.55 |
| Trifecta | £43.60 |