January 01 / 15.15 Cheltenham

15.15

Soft

Dornan Engineering Relkeel Hurdle (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £39865
  • 2m 4f 56y
  • Class 1
  • 6 runners
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Dornan Engineering Relkeel Hurdle (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Rain

100/30 (Won)

  • Win: £4.00
  • Place: £1.90

Form: 1224-1 D

Last run: 39 days

W: 11st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 145

Form & Verdict
Steadily progressive record last season culminated in two big runs at Cheltenham, latterly when fourth of 21 in the Coral Cup (2m5f, soft) in March; battled his way to win a small-field Grade 2 at Ascot (extended 2m3f, good) in November, so has improved again and may well find more, which would normally be required on these terms but today's rivals are not bombproof.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

25th Apr 2026

Good

2m 5f 110y

Class 1

16:02 Sandown

Lucky Place

11st 10lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Nicky Henderson

Dual Grade 2 winner last term; finished third at the same level on penultimate start but was behind Kabral Du Mathan and stablemate Jingko Blue in that Cheltenham race; seems set for another bronze medal at best.

11/1

8/1

  • Place: £2.70

Form: 46-222 C

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 0lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 146

Form & Verdict
All last season and this have been spent at 2m7f-3m and he's been bang there in handicaps at Cheltenham on all three starts this term, never better than on latest; this drop back in trip is a concern but he has one of the better chances at these weights.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

21th

2

12th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 213y

Class 1

16:40 Cheltenham

Gowel Road

11st 10lb

J: Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Can front-run; Cheltenham regular, where he won a 3m Grade 2 last January; sixth in this in 2024 and ran creditably here on three of his first five starts this season, before a big run under Toby McCain-Mitchell at Chepstow 19 days ago; back up 2lb to his career-high mark but probably not far away.

28/1

2nd

1

21st Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 131y

Class 2

14:55 Chepstow

Gowel Road

12st 0lb

J: Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Cheltenham regular, where he won a 3m Grade 2 last January from Monmiral; ran creditably there on three of his latest four starts but he's only 2lb off his career-high mark; cheekpieces (worn on last three starts) are off; 5lb claimer is recruited.

6/1

4th

1

24th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 7f 213y

Class 1

15:35 Cheltenham

Gowel Road

11st 8lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Course regular who won this last year (soft); however, today's contest looks like it will take more winning, even before factoring in the 6lb penalty he carries this time around; looks vulnerable on this season's evidence.

12/1

Form: 1111-4 CD BF

Last run: 39 days

W: 10st 10lb

7 yo Filly

OR: 144

Form & Verdict
Won all four of her hurdles races last season, notably the mares' novice at the Cheltenham Festival (2m1f, soft); also scored over 2m3f/2m4f in that campaign and she resumed with creditable fourth to Lucky Place in 2m4f Grade 2 at Ascot, beaten 2l after leading between the last two flights; a slog over this trip might not be ideal but she's 6lb better off with Lucky Place today, so is weighted to turn the tables.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

6

1st May 2026

Yielding

2m 0f 45y

18:40 Punchestown

Golden Ace

11st 5lb

J: Lorcan Williams

T: Jeremy Scott

Fortuitous winner of the 2025 Champion Hurdle (same story in this season's Fighting Fifth); could only manage fifth when attempting to retain her crown (9.75l behind Lossiemouth); posted another solid effort in the Aintree Hurdle last time when fourth (2m4f, good to soft); return to 2m should suit, cheekpieces go on and she was second in this contest last year (good) but may need further luck to increase Grade 1 haul.

8/1

4th

7

9th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 1

16:05 Aintree

Golden Ace

11st 3lb

J: Lorcan Williams

T: Jeremy Scott

Fortuitous winner of the 2025 Champion Hurdle (same story in the Fighting Fifth) and finished only fifth, behind some of today's rivals, when attempting to retain her crown; largely consistent and has won over 2m4f but increasing her Grade 1 tally may require further luck.

12/1

5th

8

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 87y

Class 1

16:00 Cheltenham

Golden Ace

11st 3lb

J: Lorcan Williams

T: Jeremy Scott

Record of 3-4 at Cheltenham features two Festival wins, beating Brighterdaysahead in the Grade 2 novice hurdle in 2024 then admittedly fortuitous (left in lead when State Man took a late fall; odds-on Constitution Hill exited earlier) when 25-1 in this race last year; also had fortune on her side in this season's Fighting Fifth as the front two in the market, including The New Lion, failed to complete; ran creditably on Boxing Day when last seen; largely consistent and should go well but may require further luck to retain her crown.

8/1

Form: P21P-P D

Last run: 39 days

W: 11st 0lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 149

Form & Verdict
It's not been plain sailing over fences but his best last term (extended 2m7f, good to soft; acts on soft) was excellent and would make him the pick at today's weights; however, while final start last season might be forgiven, as it was a Grade 1, his poor reappearance over hurdles behind Lucky Place was disconcerting.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

16th

21

9th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 19y

Class 2

15:30 Aintree

Thunder Rock

12st 0lb

J: Mr James King

T: Olly Murphy

Very talented in his prime; this 10yo isn't the force of old and today's race is much tougher than the hunter chases he's won easily on his last two starts (2m4f, good to soft/good) but if he can tap further into his back-class he may well be in the mix; James King has won this twice.

16/1

1st

1

23rd Mar 2026

Good

2m 4f 110y

Class 5

17:15 Kempton

Thunder Rock

12st 6lb

J: Mr James King

T: Olly Murphy

Listed winner in his prime and has made a solid start to hunter chasing, namely a close second and easy success at Wincanton; should follow up.

1/10

1st

2

25th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 4f 35y

Class 5

16:20 Wincanton

Thunder Rock

12st 6lb

J: Mr James King

T: Olly Murphy

Powers were on the decline when confined to hurdling last season but he was a classy chaser back in the day and nearly won his first hunter chase over 3m1f here a month ago (heavy); may need that longer trip now but strong claims otherwise.

Evs

Form: 0132-3 C

Last run: 33 days

W: 11st 4lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 160

Form & Verdict
Back to life in the spring, winning a second Coral Cup here before hitting a new high with placed efforts in Aintree Grade 1 and Sandown Grade 2; hard to beat if showing that sort of form but, while 3m might be blamed for reappearance in November, recent campaigns also suggest that this stage of the season is not his time to shine.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

17th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 2

15:00 Windsor

Langer Dan

11st 4lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

held up in last, weakened after 3 out, detached when mistake 2 out

6/1

5th

5

17th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 2

15:00 Windsor

Langer Dan

11st 4lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

held up in last, weakened after 3 out, detached when mistake 2 out

6/1

OUR TIP

Form: 1113-4

Last run: 32 days

W: 11st 3lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 143

Form & Verdict
Useful juvenile hurdler last season, winning four times (including Grade 2) prior to finishing third here in the Triumph (heavy); good fourth of 13 in Grade 3 handicap at Newbury (2m, good to soft) on reappearance, never able to challenge and giving encouragement for this longer trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

7

10th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 210y

Class 1

14:20 Aintree

Salver

11st 7lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Can take a while to warm up but he impressed when slamming Doyen Quest in December Grade 2 at Sandown (good to soft) and again dispatched that rival at Windsor (also about 3m, soft; first-time cheekpieces) the following month; 25-1 but ran a scorcher, despite little going right, when flying from the rear to grab third in the Grade 1 Brown Advisory (3m1f) at Cheltenham last month; there's potential for a good gallop here, which will suit, and he holds leading claims.

4/1

3rd

12

11th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 0y

Class 1

14:00 Cheltenham

Salver

11st 7lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Dual Grade 2 winner at about 3m over fences, at Sandown (good to soft) and Windsor (soft) in December/January; jumping again not fluent last time, despite added cheekpieces (retained), and he has his work cut out in this.

40/1

1st

1

18th Jan 2026

Soft

3m 0f 60y

Class 1

13:20 Windsor

Salver

11st 9lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Very useful over hurdles and comfortably bagged Grade 2 honours at Sandown (3m, good to soft) on second attempt over fences; ran creditably, despite the ground possibly being faster than ideal, in Grade 1 at Kempton since; leading player, provided he takes to first-time headgear.

7/4

Non-runners

Twig

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £17.80
Straight Forecast £21.94
Trifecta £38.90

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Salver

WEST COUNTRY:

Golden Ace

LAMBOURN:

Lucky Place

RP RATINGS:

Langer Dan

Daily Mirror:

Gowel Road

TOPSPEED:

Salver

The Guardian:

Salver

D Express:

Salver

Daily Mail:

Lucky Place

The Star:

Lucky Place

Telegraph:

Golden Ace

The Sun:

Golden Ace

Daily Record:

Golden Ace

POSTDATA:

Langer Dan

The Times:

Langer Dan