February 16 / 14.55 Kelso

14.55

Soft

Church House Investment Management Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £7921.5
  • 2m 0f 51y
  • Class 3
  • 7 runners
RTV
View Course
Church House Investment Management Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

9/2 (Won)

  • Win: £3.75
  • Place: £1.70

Form: -14122 D

Last run: 33 days

W: 10st 11lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Won a 2m Hexham novice in November (heavy) and has improved on his two runs since, last time finishing second to Ginger Mail (4lb worse off) over C&D (soft); major player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

15

13th Mar 2026

Good

2m 0f 179y

Class 1

14:00 Cheltenham

Cracking Rhapsody

10st 8lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Ewan Whillans

Flagbearer for the yard, winning two Morebattles at Kelso and a Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr; however, he's failed to find his best form this season, including only sixth in the latest running of the Morebattle 13 days ago; respectable seventh in this last year; others are more obvious.

33/1

6th

2

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 51y

Class 2

14:55 Kelso

Cracking Rhapsody

11st 13lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Ewan Whillans

Not at his best this season but Haydock last month was a step back in the right direction, after a wind op; has won here four times, including the last two runnings of this race (good to soft), and he's 1lb lower than when winning the Scottish Champion Hurdle last April; major player.

6/1

6th

1

17th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 144y

Class 3

12:50 Haydock

Cracking Rhapsody

12st 2lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Ewan Whillans

Below par on both runs this season but has had wind surgery since and he's back down to the same mark as for his win in the Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr (2m, good to soft); not ruled out on this drop in grade.

13/2

11/2

  • Place: £3.00

Form: 2219-P D

Last run: 90 days

W: 12st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 132

Form & Verdict
Has won five of his nine races over hurdles; not disgraced in a strong handicap at Aintree on final start last season having won a 2m3f handicap at Bangor on previous start; pulled up over fences at Wetherby on only start this term; has since had wind surgery; chance back over hurdles.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

14th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 128y

Class 2

15:15 Doncaster

Jungle Jack

11st 13lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

made all

13/2

2

14th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 128y

Class 2

15:15 Doncaster

Jungle Jack

11st 13lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

Twice finished runner-up at Kelso in the first half of this year (2m, soft/good to soft) and he returned from a break with an encouraging fourth at Bangor (2m3f, good to soft) last month; shaped as though he may improve for that latest run and he represents last year's winning yard; contender.

13/2

4th

4

13th Nov 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 123y

Class 2

15:35 Bangor-on-Dee

Jungle Jack

11st 7lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

Has pretty good 5-13 hurdling strike-rate that includes two course wins (2m/2m3f); not seen since his keeping-on second at Kelso (2m, good to soft) in first-time blinkers in May but remains on the same, workable mark; usual cheekpieces back on today.

6/1

OUR TIP

Form: 2P-201 CD

Last run: 33 days

W: 11st 6lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
Not at his best when tried in a visor at Cheltenham in December but sound efforts with today's headgear either side of that, last time winning four-runner event over C&D (soft, Cracking Rhapsody second, third just beaten at Catterick on Tuesday); a possible.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

17th Apr 2026

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

13:45 Ayr

Ginger Mail

11st 4lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

Exposed 10yo whose powers would appear to be on the wane judged on this season's performances; opposable.

33/1

11th

6

20th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 1f 87y

Class 2

15:22 Musselburgh

Ginger Mail

11st 5lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

10yo whose mark continues to fall and he took a step back in the right direction when third of seven at Ayr a fortnight ago; it's possible he'll be able to build on that latest run but he was beaten just over 7l and certainly needs a bigger performance this afternoon.

14/1

3rd

3

7th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

15:20 Ayr

Ginger Mail

11st 8lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

Boasts two wins around here, one over this distance, but has been below his best this term and was pulled up at Kelso (2m, heavy) last month in race won by Triple Crown Ted; hard to fancy.

16/1

Form: 531321 D

Last run: 17 days

W: 11st 3lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
Has won two mares' handicaps this season, last time landing a four-runner event by 14l at Newcastle (2m1f, heavy); up 6lb in a stronger race; has an each-way chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

24th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 51y

Class 4

17:22 Kelso

Ip Up

12st 0lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jedd O’Keeffe

On a long losing sequence but she arrives in good nick, ridden aggressively when fifth in 2m Warwick handicap in March; she can make her presence felt after a break.

11/2

5th

1

26th Mar 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

15:58 Warwick

Ip Up

12st 2lb

J: Philip Armson

T: Jedd O’Keeffe

Her losing sequence goes back 15 races to January 2024 but she's been running consistently well this season; versatile ground-wise and can be thereabouts once more.

5/2

2nd

4

15th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 169y

Class 4

14:52 Ludlow

Ip Up

11st 7lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Jedd O’Keeffe

3-18 over hurdles; continues to run consistently well and has reached the frame on all three starts this season, but she probably needs to find that little bit more to add to her score.

5/1

Form: 6-2146 CD

Last run: 46 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Won a C&D novice in October (good to soft) and fair form on both runs since, last time finishing sixth after pulling hard in a Musselburgh handicap when wearing a tongue-tie for the first time (retained); hood now tried; considered each-way.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

8

4th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 103y

Class 2

17:15 Aintree

Slugger

10st 10lb

J: Mr Finian Maguire

T: Harry Derham

midfield, smooth headway 4 out, joined leader going easily just after 2 out, not fluent but led narrowly last, soon ridden, headed and no extra final 110yds

25/1

2nd

8

4th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 103y

Class 2

17:15 Aintree

Slugger

10st 10lb

J: Mr Finian Maguire

T: Harry Derham

midfield, smooth headway 4 out, joined leader going easily just after 2 out, not fluent but led narrowly last, soon ridden, headed and no extra final 110yds

25/1

4th

9

1st Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 51y

Class 2

15:30 Kelso

Slugger

11st 4lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

Prominent-racer who is unbeaten in three starts for Harry Derham (1m7f-2m1f, good-soft), most recently beating five rivals at Musselburgh in January; today is a much tougher test of his credentials but this 6yo C&D winner is clearly thriving and could continue to improve for his up-and-coming yard.

14/1

Form: 413-35 D

Last run: 61 days

W: 11st 8lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 126

Form & Verdict
Has won over 2m and 2m3f and was a creditable third in a 3m Perth novice in April; decent fifth in a 2m3f Listed handicap at Navan on latest start; each-way chance but this sharp 2m may not be ideal.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

10

2nd May 2026

Yielding

2m 0f 0y

18:35 Punchestown

Carnfunnock

12st 0lb

J: Sophie Connor

T: S R B Crawford

Two-time hurdles winner, rated 126 over fences, 3m his best trip, this too sharp.

10/1

10th

2

13th Mar 2026

Good

3m 2f 70y

Class 2

16:40 Cheltenham

Carnfunnock

12st 0lb

J: Mr S Connor

T: S R B Crawford

Ran well for a 100-1 shot in this last year (sixth), doing best work late on; that was also the case when only 6l off Its On The Line at Down Royal over Christmas and, like last year, he arrives here after winning a point; cheekpieces offered nothing when tried once before (hurdles); place squeak.

33/1

2

2nd May 2025

Yielding

3m 0f 160y

16:15 Punchestown

Carnfunnock

12st 0lb

J: Mr S Connor

T: S R B Crawford

midfield

10/1

Form: 3-1364 CD

Last run: 33 days

W: 11st 1lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
C&D winner in October (good to soft) but has finished last on soft/heavy on two most recent starts (behind Ginger Mail latest); today's conditions may not be ideal.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

23rd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 35y

Class 4

14:10 Perth

Bois Guillbert

11st 9lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Three-time hurdle winner who has dropped to a mark 5lb lower than when winning on his chase debut last February; he may stage a revival at some stage but has struggled over fences/hurdles on his three runs this season.

50/1

10th

5

1st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 171y

Class 4

14:30 Musselburgh

Bois Guillbert

11st 12lb

J: Stephen Mulqueen

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Returns to hurdles off a workable mark but, judged on his chase efforts this term, has a doubt over current form.

25/1

3

23rd Apr 2025

Good

2m 4f 20y

Class 3

14:18 Perth

Bois Guillbert

11st 2lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell

Jumped okay when winning at Newcastle (chase debut) but lacked fluency when disappointing at Wetherby since; not sure what to expect.

10/1

Non-runners

Ilanz

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £21.10
Straight Forecast £21.62
Tricast £66.89
Trifecta £95.40

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Cracking Rhapsody

RP RATINGS:

Ginger Mail

D Express:

Ilanz

Telegraph:

Ip Up

TOPSPEED:

Cracking Rhapsody

POSTDATA:

Cracking Rhapsody

The Guardian:

Cracking Rhapsody

Daily Mirror:

Ilanz

The Sun:

Ilanz

Daily Record:

Ip Up

The Times:

Ginger Mail

Daily Mail:

Ginger Mail

The Star:

Ginger Mail