14.05
SoftDr Romilly Rees Grand Farewell Handicap Hurdle
- Prize money: £3247.81
- 1m 7f 182y
- Class 5
- 11 runners
Runners: 11 runners
Type: Hurdle Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Showers
Abandoned
Form: 42
Last run: 23 days
W: 12st 0lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: 100
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5th 2 |
22nd Apr 2026 Good 2m 7f 198y Class 4 |
11st 12lb |
Chasing on last five starts has not really worked out; Taunton (2m3f) last February and Warwick (2m) last March saw him register a double over hurdles and he's back to his last winning mark for today's switch in codes but, after three non-completions at about 3m over fences, stamina also has to be proved. |
10/1 |
|
1 |
27th Mar 2026 Good 3m 0f 45y Class 4 |
12st 0lb |
Mixed results (5FP4) since switched to chasing but is now only 1lb above last winning hurdles mark and Edward Vaughan takes off a bonus 7lb; possibilities, provided he stays returned to 3m. |
7/1 |
|
4th 8 |
21st Feb 2026 Soft 2m 3f 98y Class 4 |
11st 10lb |
Just ahead of Gris Majeur when falling at third-last fence at Taunton (2m7f, good to firm) in November, his second chase, but struggled on next outing; others in this line-up look much less risky. |
10/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 3/333- D
Last run: 356 days
W: 11st 12lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 98
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 6 |
25th Feb 2026 Soft 2m 1f 77y Class 5 |
10st 8lb |
Placed lots of times over hurdles but won only once in 24 attempts; hasn't been close to his best this season and he's not bred for fences. |
16/1 |
|
4th 5 |
4th Feb 2026 Good To Soft 2m 3f 188y Class 5 |
10st 12lb |
Just 1-23 over hurdles, the win gained in 2023; out of form at around 2m this season but this longer trip might suit him better now and he has slipped to a very good mark; worth a glance in the betting. |
14/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 33-484 CD
Last run: 20 days
W: 11st 11lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 97
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
9th 3 |
4th Jun 2025 Good 2m 0f 167y Class 5 |
11st 13lb |
Four-time hurdle winner on slow ground, including over C&D (raced prominently in first-time visor) in April; below par at Ffos Las (2m, good) latest, after a 5lb rise; each-way claims if he can bounce back. |
11/2 |
|
9th 3 |
4th Jun 2025 Good 2m 0f 167y Class 5 |
11st 13lb |
Four-time hurdle winner on slow ground, including over C&D (raced prominently in first-time visor) in April; below par at Ffos Las (2m, good) latest, after a 5lb rise; each-way claims if he can bounce back. |
11/2 |
|
8th 2 |
6th May 2025 Good 1m 7f 182y Class 5 |
11st 10lb |
pressed leader, chased clear leader after 2nd |
7/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 7-3257
Last run: 20 days
W: 11st 11lb
4 yo Gelding
OR: 97
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
9th 6 (6) |
7th Mar 2025 Standard 2m 0f 56y Class 6 |
9st 7lb |
in touch with leaders, midfield after 6f |
20/1 |
|
5th 3 (4) |
21st Feb 2025 Standard 1m 4f 14y Class 5 |
9st 7lb |
Modest ability in bumpers and over hurdles; tailed off in two AW Flat starts over shorter than this since joining current stable; the longer trip may help but he probably isn't good enough. |
100/1 |
|
12th 8 (1) |
11th Feb 2025 Standard 1m 0f 142y Class 4 |
9st 4lb |
Maiden in bumpers and over hurdles for previous yard; completely tailed off at Southwell (1m) on the switch to this sphere; opposed. |
100/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 13471/ D
Last run: 590 days
W: 11st 10lb
9 yo Gelding
OR: 96
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5th 1 |
13th Feb 2025 Soft 1m 7f 201y Class 5 |
12st 0lb |
Ended most recent campaign with a fifth chase win, in April 2023; well held over hurdles since back from an absence but his recent Sedgefield chase second for Osian Radford was encouraging; has won both course starts, over hurdles (2m4f, heavy) and this race in 2023; solid player. |
8/1 |
|
2nd 4 |
5th Feb 2025 Good To Soft 2m 0f 77y Class 4 |
11st 5lb |
disputed lead, led after 2nd, faced challenge 2 out, headed just before last, bit short of room just after last, soon no extra |
13/2 |
|
2nd 4 |
5th Feb 2025 Good To Soft 2m 0f 77y Class 4 |
11st 5lb |
disputed lead, led after 2nd, faced challenge 2 out, headed just before last, bit short of room just after last, soon no extra |
13/2 |
Abandoned
Form: 220-
Last run: 309 days
W: 11st 9lb
4 yo Gelding
OR: 95
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5th 5 |
18th Jul 2026 Good 3m 1f 107y Class 5 |
10st 13lb |
Returned from long absence with two hurdling seconds this spring (visored) and filled same position behind Kingofthegame in C&D chase three weeks ago (good; first-time blinkers); not yet exposed over fences; shortlisted. |
7/2 |
|
2nd 7 |
28th Jun 2026 Good 3m 1f 107y Class 5 |
10st 10lb |
13-race maiden; pulled up on only chase start, in February 2025 (2m2f, soft); comes here having run fair races over hurdles with a visor on last two starts; a possible back chasing with blinkers now tried. |
6/1 |
|
2nd 9 |
5th May 2026 Good 2m 7f 191y Class 5 |
10st 5lb |
6yo maiden who ran well, one place in front of Les's Destiny Star, in first-time visor over C&D (good to soft) last month on debut for new stable and return from lengthy layoff; likely player provided that effort is backed up and the bounce is avoided. |
4/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 1-1232 D
Last run: 20 days
W: 11st 9lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 95
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 4 |
18th Apr 2026 Good 2m 7f 32y Class 4 |
11st 12lb |
Veteran who has won three of his last five starts and was as good as ever when scoring on the step up to 3m at Wincanton (good) last month; up 4lb but he should have more to offer over staying trips and he's an interesting contender. |
6/1 |
|
1st 2 |
23rd Mar 2026 Good 3m 0f 150y Class 4 |
11st 13lb |
In career-best form this season, winning here (2m4f, good) and at Taunton (2m3f, heavy); well beaten on latest outing, though, and remains on tough mark for first 3m attempt under rules. |
16/1 |
|
9th 3 |
27th Feb 2026 Good To Soft 2m 4f 118y Class 4 |
11st 13lb |
In-form 10yo who has won two of his last three; raised another 4lb since scoring under a good 7lb claimer at Taunton (2m3f, heavy) this month, though, and may find younger rivals better handicapped here. |
7/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 545-60
Last run: 22 days
W: 11st 4lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: 90
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 5 |
6th Apr 2025 Good To Soft 2m 0f 0y Class 4 |
10st 5lb |
Won two of his last three races over hurdles, last time keeping on well to score here (2m, good); these conditions suit and he's quite interesting on chase debut. |
11/4 |
|
1st 5 |
6th Apr 2025 Good To Soft 2m 0f 0y Class 4 |
10st 5lb |
Won two of his last three races over hurdles, last time keeping on well to score here (2m, good); these conditions suit and he's quite interesting on chase debut. |
11/4 |
|
1st 7 |
21st Mar 2025 Good 1m 7f 182y Class 4 |
10st 9lb |
in touch with leaders, headway 3 out, not fluent 2 out, soon ridden, pressed leaders last, led run-in, kept on well final 110yds, stayed on |
6/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 7823P4 CD
Last run: 44 days
W: 10st 13lb
9 yo Gelding
OR: 85
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
8 |
16th Apr 2025 Good 1m 7f 182y Class 5 |
11st 4lb |
Six hurdle wins (one over C&D) in his time and he might have just needed last month's run after his winter break; has a workable mark and is one to consider. |
10/1 |
|
8 |
16th Apr 2025 Good 1m 7f 182y Class 5 |
11st 4lb |
held up in rear, overjumped and fell 1st |
10/1 |
|
6th 9 |
21st Mar 2025 Good 1m 7f 182y Class 4 |
10st 3lb |
held up in rear |
13/2 |
Abandoned
Form: 52P7-7
Last run: 57 days
W: 10st 10lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 82
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 12 |
22nd Feb 2025 Soft 2m 3f 100y Class 5 |
10st 11lb |
Gave good account when fourth at Taunton (2m, good) in December, his second start for Tim Vaughan, but last month's Ffos Las run was a backward step and he's now 0-13 over hurdles; cheekpieces removed; tongue-tie added. |
16/1 |
|
8th 22 |
11th Jan 2025 Soft 2m 4f 0y Class 5 |
10st 5lb |
Maiden but has hit the frame and was beaten under 5l at Taunton last time (2m, good) when shaping as though a stiffer stamina test was needed. |
13/2 |
|
8th 22 |
11th Jan 2025 Soft 2m 4f 0y Class 5 |
10st 5lb |
Maiden but has hit the frame and was beaten under 5l at Taunton last time (2m, good) when shaping as though a stiffer stamina test was needed. |
13/2 |
Abandoned
Form: 26458/ D
Last run: 711 days
W: 10st 10lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 82
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
7th 3 (3) |
13th Jun 2026 Good To Soft 2m 1f 24y Class 6 |
9st 10lb |
Modest form in two minor handicap hurdles this year; not easily recommended back on the Flat. |
9/1 |
|
6th 12 |
5th May 2026 Good 2m 4f 0y Class 5 |
10st 2lb |
Hasn't won for ages but latest 9l defeat over C&D was after a lengthy break; each-way claims. |
10/1 |
|
4th 9 |
21st Apr 2026 Soft 2m 4f 0y Class 5 |
10st 3lb |
It's now 12 starts since his last success (2022) and he came in a below-par fifth of seven in 2m4f handicap at Leicester in November; others are preferred. |
12/1 |
Verdict
This looks an excellent opportunity for OUR DYLAN (nap) to return to winning ways. He has continued in good form since winning two in a row in the spring and this looks weak. Handicap newcomer Holeshot has shown promise on both hurdle starts and is second choice ahead of three-time C&D winner John Betjeman.[Ben Hutton]
Selections
Daily Mail:
John Betjeman