14.25
Good To SoftHowden Long Walk Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race)
- Prize money: £71187.5
- 3m 0f 97y
- Class 1
- 10 runners
Runners: 10 runners
Type: Hurdle Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Scattered showers
9/1 (Won)
- Win: £10.00
- Place: £2.30
Form: 13198- CD
Last run: 252 days
W: 11st 7lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 156
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
7th 3 |
1st May 2025 Yielding 2m 7f 110y |
11st 10lb |
prominent, soon went second, outpaced after 2 out |
9/1 |
|
7th 3 |
1st May 2025 Yielding 2m 7f 110y |
11st 10lb |
prominent, soon went second, outpaced after 2 out |
9/1 |
15/2
- Place: £2.10
Form: 9/F13- D
Last run: 252 days
W: 11st 7lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 152
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 4 |
7th May 2026 Good To Yielding 2m 7f 0y |
11st 12lb |
Classy hurdler rated (154) some way superior to these, career highlight when winning 3m Grade 1 Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree just over a year ago; only fifth when attempting repeat win there last month but looks a class apart from these rivals if anyway fluent in his jumping (wasn't that on sole previous chase start back in December 2023); interesting jockey booking. |
8/11 |
|
5th 4 |
11th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 3m 0f 149y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Well beaten at Punchestown last May and at Navan in February on sole start since; however, this race has brought out the best in him in the last two seasons, as he finished third in 2024 (good to soft) and first last year (good); could bounce back and play another leading role. |
6/1 |
33/1
- Place: £3.80
Form: 2P1P-1 C
Last run: 28 days
W: 11st 7lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 148
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
20 |
11th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 4m 2f 74y Class 1 |
10st 11lb |
Took well to these fences in last year's renewal but subsided rapidly after three out, which might have been surprising for one who'd won a 4m2f Midlands National (March 2024) but he seemed to race a bit too zestfully in the front rank; 3lb lower today, having run respectably on reappearance but moderately in two hurdle races since (wind surgery before latest); now tongue tied first time; a bit to prove. |
100/1 |
|
4th 3 |
14th Feb 2026 Good To Soft 3m 0f 58y Class 1 |
11st 2lb |
10yo who was pulled up in Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot in December and conditional Toby McCain-Mitchell is unable to claim today; however, he's had wind surgery since his latest outing, which might help, and he was second in this 12 months ago having finished third in the Long Walk the time before; it will be no surprise to see a bold bid from this prominent-racer. |
10/1 |
|
12th 12 |
5th Apr 2025 Good To Soft 4m 2f 74y Class 1 |
11st 1lb |
Jumped and hung badly right in the Midlands National at Uttoxeter (4m2f, heavy) last March but nevertheless battled back to win, the clear highlight among seven chases going this way round; scoring by 31l at Ascot (3m5f, good; 12lb higher today) was a good way to start this season and he's run with credit over hurdles since; going left-handed is a concern but there are lots of positives otherwise. |
22/1 |
4/1
Form: 091111 D
Last run: 56 days
W: 11st 7lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 152
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
15th 5 |
2nd Mar 2026 Soft To Heavy 2m 5f 120y |
11st 4lb |
High-class staying hurdler, rated 155; 0-5 so far chasing this term but much more encouraging run on latest when second to the classy Oscars Brother in Grade 2 Ten Up Novices' at Navan last month; jumping still requires attention but is 13lb lower than hurdles here in first handicap chase. |
9/1 |
|
2nd 4 |
8th Feb 2026 Heavy 3m 0f 0y |
11st 3lb |
High-class staying hurdler, rated 155; now has serious questions to answer after his first four chase starts; remote seventh in Leopardstown event won by Koktail Divin (previously beaten by Oscars Brother at Punchestown); needs to jump a lot better than in 2m4f Gowran event; longer trip should be a help at least. |
8/1 |
10/1
Form: 241-31
Last run: 26 days
W: 11st 0lb
7 yo Mare
OR: 144
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6th 14 |
11th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 2m 5f 0y Class 1 |
11st 0lb |
First two runs (November) were her best from this season and she didn't shine back in handicaps on last two outings; however, her 2m4f win in a big-field handicap at 2024 Aintree festival should not be forgotten and she also ran well in Graded/Listed contests for most of last term; needs a close look, particularly given Dan Skelton's fine record in handicap hurdles at this meeting. |
7/1 |
|
9th 1 |
14th Feb 2026 Soft 2m 3f 63y Class 2 |
12st 0lb |
Useful mare (dual Listed scorer) but last two efforts, latest back at handicap level, suggest she's unlikely to defy top weight in this warm field. |
25/1 |
|
8th 1 |
31st Jan 2026 Good To Soft 1m 7f 124y Class 2 |
12st 0lb |
There's a suspicion she's on a tough mark and that a longer trip is preferable; however, she won at Aintree's Grand National meeting in 2024 on the last occasion she tackled a handicap (2m4f, soft) and she's won two Listed races since; this classy mare is not ruled out. |
12/1 |
10/1
Form: 1154-2 C
Last run: 28 days
W: 11st 7lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: 150
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 1 |
9th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 2m 3f 200y Class 1 |
11st 7lb |
Useful 2m4f novice chaser but he won a substandard edition of the Rising Stars at Wincanton and his close second at Kempton (with cheekpieces fitted) last time was achieved in a handicap; faces a stiffer task at this level in the retained headgear. |
25/1 |
|
2nd 2 |
14th Mar 2026 Good 2m 4f 110y Class 2 |
11st 11lb |
Won two Grade 2 hurdles; still learning his trade over fences, safe enough apart from one blunder when winning at Wincanton (2m4f, good), albeit he made a meal of beating a lower-rated rival; out of depth in Grade 1 here since but he's 10lb lower than his hurdle mark now handicapping and still has potential; cheekpieces on; yard has won two of the last three runnings. |
9/2 |
|
2nd 5 |
18th Oct 2025 Good To Soft 2m 4f 216y Class 2 |
10st 10lb |
Smart staying hurdling who looked as good as ever when ending last season with Grade 2 win from the front at Sandown (2m5f, good); will be very hard to beat on these terms if he jumps adequately on his chasing debut. |
1/5 |
33/1
Form: 10-123
Last run: 35 days
W: 11st 6lb
4 yo Gelding
OR: 144
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6th 2 |
1st Jun 2026 Yielding 2m 3f 0y |
11st 6lb |
Excellent efforts in deep 3m handicap hurdles in recent weeks, with the new visor working well; still early days over fences and the form he showed in winning at Thurles suggests he could be as effective in this discipline. |
7/1 |
|
2nd 1 |
9th May 2026 Good 3m 0f 58y Class 2 |
12st 0lb |
Back hurdling (from chasing) in a first-time visor when an excellent second of 22 at Aintree (3m, good to soft) four weeks ago, always prominent; back up 2lb but a serious each-way player. |
13/2 |
|
2nd 3 |
11th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 3m 0f 149y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Dual hurdle winner; made a bright start to chasing career when winning a 2m6f beginners' chase at Thurles in November but hasn't built on that in his two runs since and is not obviously well treated now back hurdling in a first-time visor; probably stays 3m. |
40/1 |
50/1
Form: 61P5-0 D
Last run: 56 days
W: 11st 7lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 151
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6th 2 |
20th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 3m 0f 57y Class 3 |
11st 13lb |
10yo who's not the force of old; down the weights and this race is a drop in class, but he needs to improve on this season's form nevertheless. |
12/1 |
|
3rd 2 |
22nd Feb 2026 Soft 2m 3f 29y Class 1 |
11st 4lb |
2-2 here, including when gamely holding Brewin'upastorm in the 2022 edition of this race; also won Grade 2 Rendlesham at Haydock (about 3m, heavy) in February 2024 but hasn't matched that form subsequently and was tailed off in a Windsor handicap (3m, soft) last month. |
10/1 |
|
12th 1 |
18th Jan 2026 Soft 3m 0f 0y Class 2 |
12st 0lb |
Gained the last of his Grade 2 wins almost two years ago; generally below that form since, most recently returned to handicap level; doesn't look set to end the losing spell. |
14/1 |
11/2
Form: 281/51 D
Last run: 28 days
W: 11st 7lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 145
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
1st Feb 2025 Heavy 2m 7f 98y Class 1 |
12st 0lb |
Very lightly raced for his age and took his form to a new level when winning valuable handicap at Haydock (3m, soft; up 6lb today) in November under 5lb claimer; found an Ascot Grade 1 far too tough six weeks ago but could have more to offer for his shrewd Irish stable now he's back in a handicap. |
7/1 |
|
1 |
1st Feb 2025 Heavy 2m 7f 98y Class 1 |
12st 0lb |
Very lightly raced for his age and took his form to a new level when winning valuable handicap at Haydock (3m, soft; up 6lb today) in November under 5lb claimer; found an Ascot Grade 1 far too tough six weeks ago but could have more to offer for his shrewd Irish stable now he's back in a handicap. |
7/1 |
7/4
Form: 2431-1 D
Last run: 22 days
W: 11st 7lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 158
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
9 |
11th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 3m 0f 149y Class 1 |
11st 10lb |
Tailed off at Cheltenham in January but that's not his track and he's had a wind op since; prior to that he ran well when runner-up to Impose Toi at Newbury and Ascot, and his Aintree form figures read 1212 with his last two visits being in this race (good to soft/good); there can be considerable optimism that he'll be a key player back here; tongue-tie added. |
4/1 |
|
6th 3 |
24th Jan 2026 Soft 2m 7f 213y Class 1 |
11st 8lb |
Runner-up to Impose Toi on last two starts (3m, soft/good to soft), latest when beaten just over 1l off level weights (same today) in the Grade 1 Long Walk at Ascot; his record at Cheltenham is patchy but he ran well when third in this in 2024; on form he's the stand-out danger to Impose Toi. |
9/2 |
|
1st 1 |
1st Nov 2025 Good 3m 0f 26y Class 1 |
11st 8lb |
Reappeared with a win in the Grade 2 Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury (3m, soft) last November and finished second in the Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree (3m, good) in April, having won that same Grade 1 12 months earlier; leading claims despite conceding weight all round. |
7/4 |
+o+e Accumulators
| Payout | |
|---|---|
| Exacta | £57.30 |
| Straight Forecast | £71.05 |
| Tricast | £1000.47 |
| Trifecta | £615.70 |
Selections
SPOTLIGHT:
Strong LeaderThe Guardian:
The WallparkDaily Mail:
BeauportWEST COUNTRY:
Blueking d'OrouxThe Sun:
Strong LeaderThe Star:
Beauport