16.30
SoftDragonbet The Bookmaker Of Wales Novices’ Handicap Hurdle
- Prize money: £3247.81
- 2m 7f 191y
- Class 5
- 5 runners
Runners: 5 runners
Type: Hurdle Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Light rain
Abandoned
Form: 6-8553
Last run: 18 days
W: 11st 11lb
6 yo Mare
OR: 94
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5th 5 |
27th Mar 2026 Good 3m 0f 26y Class 3 |
10st 11lb |
In-form staying mare whose wins in December/February flanked second-place finishes; made the frame at Newbury most recently; may no longer be a step ahead of the assessor but still holds reasonably solid claims. |
6/1 |
|
4th 7 |
27th Feb 2026 Good To Soft 3m 0f 57y Class 3 |
11st 3lb |
2-4 since returned to hurdling in the autumn, the latter win gained in four-runner mares' race at Chepstow (2m7f, soft) a fortnight ago; evidently in very good nick but has quite a bit more on her plate here. |
7/1 |
|
1st 3 |
13th Feb 2026 Soft 2m 7f 131y Class 3 |
11st 7lb |
Couldn't get much going over fences but form figures of 122 since returned to hurdling at Class 4 level; up a grade here off a career-high mark, but this assured stayer has plenty in her favour otherwise. |
11/4 |
Abandoned
Form: 3234P3
Last run: 12 days
W: 11st 10lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 93
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
7th 10 |
6th May 2026 Good 3m 1f 210y Class 5 |
10st 8lb |
Maiden hurdle winner; 0-11 over fences but placed a good few times and his backward step last time was over hurdles; cheekpieces return with a tongue-tie added. |
8/1 |
|
7th 9 |
1st Mar 2026 Heavy 2m 7f 191y Class 5 |
10st 3lb |
Won a maiden over hurdles but tailed off in his two handicaps and chasing is more his game these days; has been running well in that discipline, though, so couldn't put a line through him. |
9/1 |
|
3rd 4 |
1st Feb 2026 Soft 2m 7f 191y Class 5 |
11st 1lb |
0-10 over fences but returned from long absence with two good seconds in the autumn, the latter at Southwell (3m, good to soft; cheekpieces refitted); remains well handicapped on older form and today's slightly slower ground ought to suit; a possible. |
100/30 |
Abandoned
Form: 4-0136 D
Last run: 46 days
W: 11st 10lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 93
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
8th 7 |
17th Apr 2026 Good To Firm 2m 7f 25y Class 5 |
10st 6lb |
C&D (good to soft) and 3m chase winner (good) who is back on that last winning chase mark; has been better in this discipline and is on a handy mark but was unable to take advantage over C&D latest. |
5/1 |
|
4th 16 |
17th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 2m 7f 25y Class 5 |
10st 4lb |
Won over C&D in 2023 and was also successful over fences last spring but has not been firing on all cylinders this season and is inconsistent nowadays too. |
20/1 |
|
5th 6 |
14th Feb 2026 Heavy 2m 5f 82y Class 5 |
10st 4lb |
Record of 1-10 over hurdles and has the same strike-rate over fences; his last success was in a chase handicap at Warwick (3m, good) last April but he's not matched that form since and was tailed off at Exeter last time; comes with risks attached after a break and his last hurdle run was 12 months ago. |
10/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 3-1831
Last run: 4 days
W: 11st 9lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 85
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6 |
16th Oct 2025 Good 2m 7f 191y Class 4 |
11st 1lb |
Placed on final three outings last season, most recently when third of ten at Taunton (3m, good) in March; remains on career-high mark for this reappearance but won't be far away if fully tuned up. |
5/1 |
|
3rd 1 |
10th Mar 2025 Good To Soft 2m 7f 198y Class 5 |
12st 0lb |
Back on track with two good seconds this winter, the latter at Lingfield (2m7f, soft) last month, and ought to handle the faster ground here; can make his presence felt again. |
4/1 |
|
2nd 3 |
20th Feb 2025 Soft 2m 7f 0y Class 5 |
11st 10lb |
Dual hurdle winner who got back on track with a second at Hereford (3m2f, good to soft) in December and the first three pulled well clear in that race; looks interesting off unchanged mark and he's still unexposed as a stayer. |
7/2 |
Abandoned
Form: 36-496
Last run: 70 days
W: 11st 2lb
7 yo Mare
OR: 85
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
9th 5 |
19th May 2024 Good 3m 2f 83y Class 5 |
10st 11lb |
novicey jumping, held up in rear, no impression before 3 out |
7/1 |
|
9th 5 |
19th May 2024 Good 3m 2f 83y Class 5 |
10st 11lb |
novicey jumping, held up in rear, no impression before 3 out |
7/1 |
|
7th 6 |
4th May 2024 Good To Soft 2m 7f 70y Class 5 |
11st 1lb |
Had wind surgery prior to her good second at Stratford (2m6f, heavy) and was let down by her jumping at Chepstow (2m7f); could have some improvement lurking and Cobden takes over. |
8/1 |
Verdict
The chances are that WEAVER’S ANSWER was flattered to some extent by winning quite so easily on Monday but he’s still hard to resist with a penalty. Moonlight Artist should make a race of it now returned to a left-handed track and his penultimate third at Aintree was in a better race. Frankie Faulkner can be competitive.[Alistair Jones]