15.23
HeavyCheltenham Festival Preview Evening March 10th Handicap Hurdle
- Prize money: £5650.67
- 2m 3f 207y
- Class 3
- 6 runners
Runners: 6 runners
Type: Hurdle Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Cloudy
Abandoned
Form: 13-111 C
Last run: 63 days
W: 12st 0lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 124
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
13th 18 |
10th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 2m 5f 19y Class 1 |
10st 7lb |
Held by Madara and Will The Wise but running well when falling at final fence in the Plate at Cheltenham (2m4f, good to soft) last month; two wins during a progressive 2025 (2m4f/2m6f, soft/good to soft); each-way shout. |
16/1 |
|
10 |
10th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 2m 4f 44y Class 1 |
11st 0lb |
Has a useful jumps strike-rate and a Newbury chase win (about 2m6f, good to soft) in November showed he was still improving; a 9lb rise appeared beyond him on the New course since but he travelled strongly for a long way and may yet show he hasn't exhausted the handicapping options. |
14/1 |
|
5th 4 |
24th Jan 2026 Soft 2m 4f 127y Class 1 |
11st 3lb |
Tends to finish strongly from off the pace and posted another personal best when winning at Newbury (2m6f, good to soft) at the end of November; a 9lb rise means he'll need another leap forward but he keeps progressing and it's certainly possible. |
7/2 |
Abandoned
Form: 4-5344 D
Last run: 39 days
W: 11st 11lb
9 yo Gelding
OR: 121
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
8th 9 |
22nd Mar 2026 Good To Soft 2m 3f 61y Class 4 |
11st 4lb |
Defied much higher marks twice, including over C&D, a couple of years ago; has failed to repeat the form since and ran particularly poorly last time. |
16/1 |
|
10th 4 |
27th Feb 2026 Good To Soft 2m 3f 88y Class 5 |
11st 13lb |
Five-time hurdle winner who continues to drop down the weights; however, it's a long time since this 11yo has been competitive. |
33/1 |
|
7th 8 |
3rd Feb 2026 Good To Soft 2m 1f 0y Class 4 |
11st 2lb |
Five-time winner, including over 2m3f here; hasn't been at his best in two runs this season and probably best watched in what looks a competitive event. |
50/1 |
Abandoned
Form: P9-264
Last run: 18 days
W: 11st 8lb
10 yo Gelding
OR: 118
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
7th 8 |
24th Apr 2024 Heavy 2m 3f 207y Class 4 |
11st 2lb |
led, not fluent and briefly headed 2nd, not fluent and headed 7th, lost position 3 out |
10/1 |
|
7th 8 |
24th Apr 2024 Heavy 2m 3f 207y Class 4 |
11st 2lb |
led, not fluent and briefly headed 2nd, not fluent and headed 7th, lost position 3 out, weakened 2 out |
10/1 |
|
3rd 3 |
31st Mar 2024 Heavy 1m 7f 182y Class 4 |
11st 10lb |
Smart chaser in his prime; on the downgrade now and has rather mixed record over hurdles this season but lurks on a very tempting mark and ought to handle today's ground well; will be very dangerous if perked up by first-time blinkers. |
7/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 357-53 D
Last run: 46 days
W: 11st 6lb
10 yo Gelding
OR: 116
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 3 |
26th Dec 2023 Soft 3m 1f 166y Class 4 |
11st 11lb |
Bumper and 2m7f hurdle winner (good to soft); has been unable to kick on over fences; returned to hurdles for reappearance at Cheltenham (2m5f, good to soft) latest, when creditable fifth; more needed. |
6/1 |
|
5th 15 |
17th Nov 2023 Soft 2m 5f 0y Class 3 |
11st 4lb |
Useful form as a novice hurdler but lost his way last season, predominantly over fences; now has to prove he can turn the tide. |
25/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 23/3-5 BF
Last run: 54 days
W: 11st 0lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 110
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 7 |
25th Apr 2026 Good 3m 4f 146y Class 1 |
10st 13lb |
3m6f for the NH Chase at Cheltenham last March was his only attempt beyond 3m and he was below form; that was also his last run for Venetia Williams (bought for £220,000 in October at the David Maxwell dispersal) and he's been a good third this winter in 3m handicaps here and at Ascot; needs to build on that, as he's edging up the weights, but he's not fully exposed. |
5/1 |
|
3rd 4 |
17th Jan 2026 Good To Soft 2m 7f 185y Class 3 |
11st 11lb |
Bought for £220,000 at the David Maxwell dispersal prior to running well, only 2l behind Welcom To Cartries, at Sandown (3m, good to soft) on debut for new connections; this second-season chaser likely has further progress in him; sole attempt at Ascot resulted in a success in this race 12 months ago (good ground); big player back here. |
4/1 |
|
6th 7 |
11th Mar 2025 Good To Soft 3m 5f 201y Class 2 |
11st 3lb |
Ridden by his owner; major progress when switched to chasing this winter for small-field handicap wins over 3m at Taunton (good to soft) and Ascot (good); found his revised mark at Sandown (3m, heavy) a bit too much in hat-trick bid but again ran well and staying beyond 3m may be possible. |
33/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 140-76
Last run: 46 days
W: 10st 12lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 108
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 9 |
23rd May 2026 Good 2m 3f 123y Class 4 |
11st 4lb |
Won a C&D handicap (good to soft) last April but he's not come close to that form in four subsequent runs and latest was back here in March; has some questions to answer and he's still 3lb higher than for his last win. |
16/1 |
|
4th 3 |
21st Mar 2026 Good To Soft 2m 3f 123y Class 5 |
11st 11lb |
Bang out of form in his last three races but only four starts back last April he won as he liked around here (good to soft) off 5lb higher; couldn't put a line through him. |
20/1 |
Verdict
Today’s drop back in trip will suit Rafferty’s Return who, from a workable mark, can give this a good shot from the front but unbeaten novice BOOSTER BOB finished well in a tactical 2m Listed race on his latest outing, and the increased emphasis on stamina here can show him in an even better light. Handicap debutant In D’Or is the dark horse.[Chris Wilson]