13.15
SoftIan Meadows 65th Year Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)
- Prize money: £4356.8
- 2m 5f 55y
- Class 4
- 10 runners
Runners: 10 runners
Type: Hurdle Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Partly cloudy
Abandoned
Form: 432
Last run: 35 days
W: 11st 10lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 115
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 5 |
2nd Feb 2026 Good To Soft 3m 0f 0y Class 4 |
11st 10lb |
Bettered low-key seasonal/chase debut when close second at Newbury (2m4f, good to soft) in December and was very respectable third at Windsor (2m6f, soft) last month; up in trip again here; can make bold bid from the front. |
9/2 |
|
3rd 7 |
16th Jan 2026 Soft 2m 6f 50y Class 3 |
11st 1lb |
2m4f novice hurdle winner (good) who kept on well for a close second at Newbury (2m4f, good to soft) four weeks ago on his second chase start; today's extra yardage could prove to be a positive and he's a possible player provided he handles the ground (all starts on good/good to soft). |
5/1 |
Abandoned
Form: —
Last run: —
W: 11st 10lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5th 3 |
18th Apr 2026 Good 2m 7f 32y Class 4 |
11st 13lb |
Record of 1-9 over hurdles but he found more improvement with a near-miss in a Hereford handicap (3m2f, good) last month; nudged up 2lb but he's building up a solid profile in staying handicaps and is a key player. |
5/2 |
|
2nd 1 |
18th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 3m 1f 119y Class 4 |
11st 11lb |
No match for an in-form winner last time at Sedgefield (3m3f, soft; second run in cheekpieces) but he's consistent and won't mind this drier surface; considered for his in-form stable. |
9/4 |
|
2nd 2 |
19th Feb 2026 3m 3f 9y Class 4 |
11st 12lb |
British point winner in 2023 (2m5f, good); won Fontwell maiden hurdle last March (2m3f, good); fair form in handicaps this term, last time finishing third at Warwick (3m1f, good to soft; first-time cheekpieces, second has won since); cheekpieces retained and a contender, although unproven on soft ground. |
13/2 |
Abandoned
Form: 6-6P6
Last run: 29 days
W: 11st 10lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5 |
17th Jun 2025 Good 2m 2f 148y Class 5 |
11st 2lb |
Chased home short-odds favourite in Ludlow novice (2m, good to soft) in February but safely held in both subsequent handicaps (2m3f/2m); needs a boost from the new cheekpieces here. |
12/1 |
|
6th 4 |
10th Apr 2025 Good 2m 0f 53y Class 5 |
11st 6lb |
Best of the rest behind a long odds-on winner in Ludlow novice (2m, good to soft) in February; disappointing second favourite on handicap debut at Taunton (2m3f, good) one month ago but the trip might have stretched him. |
6/1 |
|
6th 4 |
10th Apr 2025 Good 2m 0f 53y Class 5 |
11st 6lb |
Best of the rest behind a long odds-on winner in Ludlow novice (2m, good to soft) in February; disappointing second favourite on handicap debut at Taunton (2m3f, good) one month ago but the trip might have stretched him. |
6/1 |
Abandoned
Form: —
Last run: —
W: 11st 10lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4 |
20th May 2026 Good 2m 7f 177y Class 4 |
11st 0lb |
1-13 over hurdles; didn't go unbacked on chase debut when beaten under 4l by Loki's Mischief over 2m5f here recently and he's 7lb better off with the winner; clear claims. |
3/1 |
|
3rd 5 |
5th May 2026 Good 2m 5f 110y Class 5 |
11st 9lb |
Stable debut when winning a 2m4f hurdle here in March (soft) but hasn't built on that, albeit after going up 7lb; remains to be seen what he'll make of fences. |
14/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 261-6
Last run: 58 days
W: 11st 10lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
7 |
15th Oct 2025 Good 2m 7f 0y Class 4 |
11st 0lb |
Won soft-ground bumper for Ben Pauling in February 2024; failed to complete on his last two runs over hurdles last term so it will be like starting over again on this first run back; still has potential and cannot dismiss. |
11/2 |
|
5 |
20th Apr 2025 Good 2m 4f 139y Class 4 |
11st 6lb |
prominent, went second before 6th |
Evs |
|
5 |
20th Apr 2025 Good 2m 4f 139y Class 4 |
11st 6lb |
prominent, went second before 6th |
Evs |
Abandoned
Form: 22-28
Last run: 36 days
W: 11st 10lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 3 |
25th Feb 2024 Heavy 2m 0f 53y Class 4 |
10st 4lb |
22,000euros 2yo; seventh foal; half-brother to very smart chaser Sizing Pottsie and a French hurdle/chase winner; dam French Listed chase winner; stable 4-37 in bumpers during last five seasons; a possible. |
8/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 6-56
Last run: 43 days
W: 11st 3lb
5 yo Filly
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6 |
19th Nov 2025 Soft 2m 5f 192y Class 5 |
10st 2lb |
Soundly beaten in her first two handicaps (2m6f/2m7f) and competes from 3lb out the weights here; needs combination of first-time cheekpieces and switch to slow ground to enable huge improvement. |
14/1 |
|
8th 10 |
14th Oct 2025 Good 2m 7f 16y Class 5 |
10st 11lb |
Glimmers of promise in novices (2m-2m3f) and reportedly resented the fast ground when tailed off on handicap debut (2m6f); only 11-1 for that and could be given another chance. |
16/1 |
|
4 |
18th Aug 2025 Good To Firm 2m 6f 7y Class 5 |
11st 1lb |
Unexposed 5yo; showed only minor promise in her three qualifying runs but combination of new trip and first-time tongue-tie may enable improvement on this handicap debut. |
9/1 |
Abandoned
Form: —
Last run: —
W: 11st 3lb
6 yo Mare
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3 |
26th May 2025 Good 2m 4f 145y Class 5 |
11st 11lb |
Well beaten on first two hurdling starts (2m/2m3f) but improved to cause 50-1 shock in Hereford maiden (2m3f, good) in March; that form has been well advertised by the runner-up since and this mare could quite plausibly have more improvement to come in handicaps. |
11/4 |
|
3 |
26th May 2025 Good 2m 4f 145y Class 5 |
11st 11lb |
Well beaten on first two hurdling starts (2m/2m3f) but improved to cause 50-1 shock in Hereford maiden (2m3f, good) in March; that form has been well advertised by the runner-up since and this mare could quite plausibly have more improvement to come in handicaps. |
11/4 |
|
1st 4 |
26th Mar 2025 Good 2m 3f 147y Class 4 |
11st 4lb |
Placed in two point bumpers in early 2023 but hasn't yet shown any worthwhile form under rules. |
50/1 |
Abandoned
Form: U800/P
Last run: 195 days
W: 11st 3lb
9 yo Mare
OR: 74
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4 |
16th Mar 2025 Good To Soft 2m 7f 131y Class 4 |
10st 13lb |
Ten-race maiden with a basement handicap mark and she's outclassed back in a maiden. |
100/1 |
|
7th 8 |
8th Mar 2025 Good 2m 0f 53y Class 5 |
10st 2lb |
Nine-race maiden who was pulled up when upped to 3m2f and fitted with cheekpieces (now removed) for latest run a fortnight ago; drops back to 2m here; can't be recommended. |
33/1 |
|
11 |
21st Feb 2025 Soft 3m 2f 0y Class 5 |
10st 2lb |
always behind, hit 3rd, tailed off when pulled up after 8th |
40/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 68
Last run: 36 days
W: 11st 3lb
5 yo Filly
OR: —
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6th 9 |
17th Mar 2025 Good 2m 4f 88y Class 5 |
10st 9lb |
never better than midfield |
16/1 |
|
10 |
19th Feb 2025 Good To Soft 1m 7f 169y Class 4 |
10st 9lb |
Tailed off in a bumper and in two runs over hurdles, latterly going off at 400-1. |
100/1 |
|
10th 12 |
24th Jan 2025 Good To Soft 2m 3f 88y Class 3 |
11st 3lb |
prominent |
100/1 |
Non-runners
Libre De Choeur
Verdict
Bumper winner MONTY BODKIN ran well for a long way before fading on his hurdle and seasonal debut at Carlisle in November, and he may have been helped by subsequent wind surgery. He is the pick ahead of Aviation, who has shown promise when placed on his two hurdle starts. Warwick third Libre De Choeur is another to consider, while rules newcomer Jack’s Jury is not ruled out for Nicky Henderson.[Ben Hutton]
Selections
The Times:
Libre De ChoeurThe Guardian:
Libre De ChoeurDaily Mirror:
Libre De ChoeurDaily Record:
Libre De Choeur