14.50
SoftWeatherbys Cheltenham Festival Guide Handicap Hurdle
- Prize money: £4224.8
- 2m 0f 145y
- Class 4
- 10 runners
Runners: 10 runners
Type: Hurdle Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Light rain
Abandoned
Form: 630011 D
Last run: 7 days
W: 12st 2lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 104
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2 |
13th Feb 2025 Soft 2m 4f 62y Class 4 |
12st 0lb |
Bought for £3,000 out of Tom Lacey's yard at Doncaster last May having won two Catterick handicaps over 1m7f earlier in the year; this ground fine and not disgraced when tried over 2m4f/3m; probably best watched on stable debut having been off since April. |
14/1 |
|
6th 10 |
23rd Apr 2024 Good To Soft 2m 4f 88y Class 4 |
11st 6lb |
Displayed sudden jolt of improvement to win twice at Catterick (1m7f, soft) in early part of this year and the form of his subsequent Newcaslte second (2m1f, heavy) reads well; unexposed over this sort of trip but needs to bounce back from a poor performance four weeks ago. |
10/1 |
|
6th 10 |
23rd Apr 2024 Good To Soft 2m 4f 88y Class 4 |
11st 6lb |
Displayed sudden jolt of improvement to win twice at Catterick (1m7f, soft) in early part of this year and the form of his subsequent Newcaslte second (2m1f, heavy) reads well; unexposed over this sort of trip but needs to bounce back from a poor performance four weeks ago. |
10/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 10-357 D
Last run: 59 days
W: 12st 0lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: 109
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6th 3 |
6th May 2026 Good To Soft 3m 2f 105y Class 4 |
11st 9lb |
Five-time hurdle winner who ended last year with a brave success at Hereford (3m2f, good to soft); well held there in both runs this spring but he got involved in a battle up front last time; a player if he can get back near his best. |
13/2 |
|
5th 3 |
6th Apr 2026 Good 3m 1f 119y Class 4 |
11st 10lb |
Steadily worked his way back to form this season, culminating in a narrow win over C&D (good to soft; 5lb higher today) in December under 7lb claimer; reverted to a lesser show 19 days ago but perhaps he needed that run after more than three months off. |
3/1 |
|
5th 4 |
18th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 3m 1f 119y Class 4 |
11st 6lb |
Had been struggling but has steadily got himself back on track and prevailed narrowly over C&D in December on latest appearance; 6lb higher for this and connections claimed another 7lb last time through Isabelle Ryder, but he had dropped to a fair mark anyway. |
2/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 324/33
Last run: 33 days
W: 11st 10lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 105
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
14th 3 |
9th May 2026 Good 1m 7f 144y Class 1 |
11st 8lb |
Front-runner who regularly gives his all and was beaten off only on the run-in when third to Dance And Glance over C&D (good) five weeks ago; should make another bold bid but several of these look less exposed. |
20/1 |
|
3rd 2 |
4th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 1m 7f 144y Class 2 |
11st 13lb |
Front-runner who was second over C&D (good) in December and bounced back from being pulled up in the William Hill Hurdle at Newbury (heavy) to make all in four-runner handicap at Newcastle (2m1f, good to soft); has a career-high mark in this hotter race but he did it comfortably last time; could make a bold bid. |
8/1 |
|
1st 2 |
14th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 2m 0f 190y Class 3 |
11st 13lb |
Poached a nice advantage but unable to hold off a progressive rival at Haydock (2m, good; in added cheekpieces) on penultimate start; pulled up in deep in a Premier Handicap at Newbury (50-1) latest; chance back in calmer waters. |
4/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 2-1221 D
Last run: 23 days
W: 11st 10lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 105
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
12th 1 |
21st Dec 2024 Good To Soft 2m 0f 53y Class 5 |
12st 0lb |
Won two selling hurdles for Olly Murphy last season but struggled (albeit on heavy ground) in two handicaps for new stable in February and returns from ten-month break with a lot to prove. |
20/1 |
|
12th 1 |
21st Dec 2024 Good To Soft 2m 0f 53y Class 5 |
12st 0lb |
Won two selling hurdles for Olly Murphy last season but struggled (albeit on heavy ground) in two handicaps for new stable in February and returns from ten-month break with a lot to prove. |
20/1 |
|
5th 1 |
22nd Feb 2024 Soft 2m 0f 0y Class 5 |
12st 0lb |
Competitive at plating level this winter for Olly Murphy, winning two sellers; heavy ground was no excuse last week when tailed off in a handicap on stable debut; blinkers return in place of cheekpieces but he's 3lb lower in future. |
12/1 |
Abandoned
Form: -35146 D
Last run: 13 days
W: 11st 9lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 104
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5th 2 |
5th Sep 2025 Good 2m 7f 0y Class 5 |
11st 10lb |
Two wins and a second from five starts since April but he's not the easiest to predict and there have also been a couple of heavy defeats, including when coming home 65l adrift at Uttoxeter (2m4f, good) last time; will need to be on a going day. |
8/1 |
|
10th 2 |
27th Jul 2025 Good 2m 3f 207y Class 5 |
11st 13lb |
Heavy-ground winner here in late 2023 and this year has added two Bangor handicaps on good to soft and good; only 4lb higher than for the latest (by a length) and the front two were clear. |
7/2 |
|
1st 3 |
4th Jul 2025 Good 2m 7f 32y Class 5 |
11st 9lb |
Scored over 2m3f here (good to soft) in April and was close second at Uttoxeter (2m4f, good) the following month; disappointed when last in action but, if back on song, could plausibly have untapped potential over today's longer trip. |
7/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 2554P5 D
Last run: 17 days
W: 11st 7lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 102
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 3 |
10th Mar 2024 Soft 2m 0f 0y Class 5 |
11st 8lb |
in touch with leaders |
12/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 27-206
Last run: 72 days
W: 11st 4lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 99
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 4 |
4th Nov 2025 Good 3m 1f 100y Class 5 |
11st 0lb |
Ended last season in poor form but made quite encouraging reappearance when fourth (about 9l behind Ballynaheer) at Hereford (3m1f, good) three weeks ago; on very good mark now and has cheekpieces refitted today; dangerous to ignore. |
4/1 |
|
2nd 4 |
4th Nov 2025 Good 3m 1f 100y Class 5 |
11st 0lb |
Ended last season in poor form but made quite encouraging reappearance when fourth (about 9l behind Ballynaheer) at Hereford (3m1f, good) three weeks ago; on very good mark now and has cheekpieces refitted today; dangerous to ignore. |
4/1 |
|
2nd 4 |
4th Nov 2025 Good 3m 1f 100y Class 5 |
11st 0lb |
Ended last season in poor form but made quite encouraging reappearance when fourth (about 9l behind Ballynaheer) at Hereford (3m1f, good) three weeks ago; on very good mark now and has cheekpieces refitted today; dangerous to ignore. |
4/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 0778
Last run: 32 days
W: 11st 1lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: 96
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 5 |
20th May 2026 Good 2m 5f 5y Class 4 |
11st 6lb |
Won three races in 2024; inconsistent since but ran well when second at Kempton (2m5f, good) on Boxing Day; two poor runs since but has undergone wind surgery and a first-time tongue-tie replaces cheekpieces; interesting if the market speaks favourably. |
11/1 |
|
15th 4 |
27th Mar 2026 Good 2m 5f 56y Class 4 |
11st 9lb |
Soft ground provides an excuse for two defeats of late; sole attempt in cheekpieces resulted in good second at Kempton (2m5f) on penultimate start; could go well in the reapplied headgear. |
12/1 |
|
9th 1 |
15th Jan 2026 Good To Soft 2m 3f 179y Class 4 |
11st 11lb |
Surprising to see the cheekpieces left off as they were on for the first time when pushing an improver close at Kempton (2m5f, good; all wins on good to soft); he was 12l clear of the third so a 4lb rise could have been worse; respected. |
7/2 |
Abandoned
Form: 89-587
Last run: 26 days
W: 11st 0lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 95
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
11th 10 |
29th May 2024 Good 2m 1f 46y Class 5 |
10st 8lb |
Yet to be placed after 13 starts, the last seven for this stable; only beaten about 10l when fourth in Hexham seller (2m, good to soft) this month but others have much more persuasive form. |
16/1 |
|
10th 14 |
21st May 2024 Good 2m 0f 48y Class 5 |
10st 8lb |
took keen hold, in touch with leaders |
16/1 |
|
10th 14 |
21st May 2024 Good 2m 0f 48y Class 5 |
10st 8lb |
took keen hold, in touch with leaders |
16/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 6-943
Last run: 29 days
W: 10st 7lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: 88
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
8 |
19th Apr 2025 Good 3m 1f 10y Class 5 |
10st 5lb |
pressed leader, lost position 8th, weakened 9th, pulled up before 3 out |
16/1 |
|
8 |
19th Apr 2025 Good 3m 1f 10y Class 5 |
10st 5lb |
pressed leader, lost position 8th, weakened 9th, pulled up before 3 out |
16/1 |
Verdict
Letthedustsettle (second choice) has gained his wins easily and could well defy another penalty but he is upped in grade from Class 5 and there are alternatives. Despereaux is one of those but dual Flat winner BUCEPHALUS has run quite well on his return to hurdling and, with Thomasina Eyston drafted in, he’s effectively 8lb lower here than for both those runs.[Alistair Jones]