December 08 / 12.25 Kelso

12.25

Good To Soft

Bring Out The Best By Belhaven Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £9241.75
  • 2m 0f 51y
  • Class 3
  • 9 runners
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Bring Out The Best By Belhaven Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

4/1 (Won)

  • Win: £3.00
  • Place: £1.20

Form: 113-40 CD

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 7lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 127

Form & Verdict
Last season went well, winning four times and third in a major handicap; made a likeable return at Hexham and it was always going to be tough in the Greatwood at Cheltenham (33-1); couldn't dismiss.
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

100/30

  • Place: £1.40

Form: 3P-611 CD

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 1lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
First two wins were at this track and it was a career best by some margin when surging clear last time at Wetherby (2m, good; fine on softer); raised 8lb for that but looks a 5yo on a sharp upward curve.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

25th May 2026

Good

2m 5f 34y

Class 3

17:11 Cartmel

Old Gregorian

11st 5lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Finished alone in a match race on chase debut in October; not beaten far when last of four at Kelso (2m5f, good to soft) in February but ran poorly over that C&D last month and needs a boost from the new cheekpieces.

8/1

6th

1

20th Apr 2026

Good

2m 5f 133y

Class 4

15:00 Kelso

Old Gregorian

12st 2lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Dual course winner over hurdles; finished alone in a match race on seasonal/chase debut in October then wasn't beaten far when last of four over C&D (good to soft) in February; eased in grade today and could still have potential over fences.

5/1

11/1

  • Place: £2.70

Form: 13-141 D

Last run: 36 days

W: 11st 0lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Respectable strike-rate of 7-30; has won three of his last five and was ultra-game at Ayr last time (2m, good); won't be fazed by this rise in class and he's been rated higher in the past.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

7th Jun 2025

Good

2m 0f 48y

Class 4

18:20 Hexham

Mack The Man

11st 3lb

J: Mr Kit Alexander

T: N W Alexander

Regressive and inconsistent veteran; seemingly perked up by change of headgear when close second in refitted visor at Perth (2m, good) last month and remains on a very good mark but it's not easy to predict whether he'll be in the right mood again here.

8/1

4

15th May 2025

Good

2m 0f 47y

Class 3

15:53 Perth

Mack The Man

11st 4lb

J: Mr Kit Alexander

T: N W Alexander

Exposed; goes well on testing ground but latest win (off 10lb higher) was on good ground at Ayr in November (2m) when returning from a break; beaten 20l when eighth over C&D last month (good to soft; blinkers replaced regular visor); visor back on today; well handicapped, but a bit to prove.

33/1

Form: 01320- CD

Last run: 232 days

W: 11st 6lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 126

Form & Verdict
Last season was a good one on the whole, including some memorable tussles with Cracking Rhapsody; returns on a competitive mark.
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: 20-544 D BF

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 126

Form & Verdict
Hasn't appeared to fancy fences this season but he was a good novice hurdler last campaign and a revival would come as no surprise now back in this discipline; cheekpieces may also assist.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

8th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 51y

Class 3

12:25 Kelso

Cannock Park

11st 6lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: Paul Robson

Hasn't appeared to fancy fences this season but he was a good novice hurdler last campaign and a revival would come as no surprise now back in this discipline; cheekpieces may also assist.

5/1

5th

3

8th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 51y

Class 3

12:25 Kelso

Cannock Park

11st 6lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: Paul Robson

Hasn't appeared to fancy fences this season but he was a good novice hurdler last campaign and a revival would come as no surprise now back in this discipline; cheekpieces may also assist.

5/1

4th

1

16th Nov 2024

Good

1m 7f 36y

Class 3

12:27 Wetherby

Cannock Park

11st 10lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Paul Robson

Useful novice hurdler last season; yet to threaten over fences but he ran respectably when fourth of six at Kelso (2m1f, good to soft) three weeks ago and could be a work in progress in this sphere; respected.

5/4

Form: 5F5-89

Last run: 166 days

W: 10st 2lb

5 yo Mare

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Record of 1-17 in France, winning over hurdles and having three runs over fences; 3lb out of the weights for British debut but warrants a check in the market.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

6

23rd May 2026

Good To Soft

2m 1f 46y

Class 3

14:10 Cartmel

Magnolia

11st 2lb

J: Joshua Thompson

T: Micky Hammond

A dual 2m hurdles winner at Kelso last winter and back in good nick of late, finishing third of six at Perth (2m) nine days ago; not out of things off a 2lb lower mark.

16/1

3rd

4

14th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 47y

Class 3

16:18 Perth

Magnolia

11st 6lb

J: Joshua Thompson

T: Micky Hammond

Both British wins have come at Kelso, comfortably seeing off Joltin And Jiving there (2m, soft; 13-8 favourite) last November; slowly edging back down the weights (2lb above last winning mark); second-best to another Olly Murphy-trained runner over C&D (25-1, beaten 11l) latest.

8/1

2nd

8

23rd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 47y

Class 4

16:10 Perth

Magnolia

11st 8lb

J: Joshua Thompson

T: Micky Hammond

Runner-up in the 2m4f mares' handicap here last April when rated 13lb lower; won twice over 2m at Kelso in the autumn (good/soft) but hasn't done as well since; bit to prove now.

33/1

Form: 2-3724 CD

Last run: 74 days

W: 10st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Ex-Flat horse who is thoroughly exposed; finds winning hard these days but capable of a bold show if refreshed from a break and the return of cheekpieces is no bad thing.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

10

16th Aug 2025

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 4

17:05 Perth

Cuban Cigar

10st 2lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Stuck in a bit of a rut right now and he's at his best with some give underfoot; others preferred from 2lb out of the weights.

12/1

5th

2

13th Jul 2025

Good

2m 0f 47y

Class 5

16:53 Perth

Cuban Cigar

11st 3lb

J: Conner McCann

T: Lucinda Russell

Regressive 7yo who never really got competitive when sixth over C&D (good) last month; far too well handicapped to rule out but needs to stage a revival.

5/1

10

8th Jun 2025

Good

2m 0f 47y

Class 4

14:47 Perth

Cuban Cigar

11st 2lb

J: Conner McCann

T: Lucinda Russell

Not really firing on all cylinders since the winter but has slipped to a very tempting mark and, with blinkers refitted, was not beaten far when fifth in recent C&D handicap fought out by Just Dottie and Mack The Man.

12/1

OUR TIP

Form: 2121-2 D

Last run: 218 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 134

Form & Verdict
A further 4lb rise elevates him to another career-high mark but it was strong form at Hexham last time (2m, good to soft; May) and he looked all over the winner until nailed late on; definite contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

21st Jul 2025

Good

2m 1f 61y

Class 3

15:45 Cartmel

Horn Cape

11st 10lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Ben Haslam

Very inconsistent nowadays and needs to bounce back from tame effort in valuable handicap hurdle here three weeks ago but ran well from the front when second in C&D (good) chase in May and has claims if judged on that.

5/1

2

29th Jun 2025

Soft

2m 1f 46y

Class 2

15:50 Cartmel

Horn Cape

11st 3lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Ben Haslam

Quickly switches back to hurdling after good second over fences here (2m1f, good) last month; does not have much margin for error off current mark but will cope a lot better than some of these if the ground ends up heavy.

8/1

1

24th May 2025

Good

2m 1f 61y

Class 3

18:08 Cartmel

Horn Cape

11st 10lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Ben Haslam

Six-time hurdle winner on soft/heavy ground; reverts to fences on a tempting mark but was well beaten in his only previous chase (in October 2023) and there may not be enough rain about for him today.

3/1

Form: 1620/6 D

Last run: 19 days

W: 10st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Strong stayer on the Flat; has won over hurdles but it was his first run in this discipline since early 2023 when shaping quite well at Carlisle (2m1f, soft) last month; this does look stronger, mind.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

7

11th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

13:30 Ayr

Bringbackmemories

10st 12lb

J: Conor Rabbitt

T: Iain Jardine

in rear

20/1

12th

7

11th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

13:30 Ayr

Bringbackmemories

10st 12lb

J: Conor Rabbitt

T: Iain Jardine

in rear

20/1

Non-runners

Freddy Robinson

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £8.40
Straight Forecast £7.75
Tricast £45.35
Trifecta £65.50

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Old Gregorian

RP RATINGS:

Cracking Rhapsody

The Times:

Horn Cape

Daily Record:

Freddy Robinson

TOPSPEED:

Cuban Cigar

Telegraph:

Cracking Rhapsody

POSTDATA:

Old Gregorian

Daily Mirror:

Old Gregorian

The Sun:

Old Gregorian

The Star:

Old Gregorian

D Express:

Horn Cape