15.30
Good To Softstarsports.bet Handicap Hurdle (Challenger Two Mile Hurdle Series Qualifier)
- Prize money: £5650.67
- 2m 0f 53y
- Class 3
- 11 runners
Runners: 11 runners
Type: Hurdle Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Showers
Abandoned
Form: 5-340P D
Last run: 26 days
W: 12st 0lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 127
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2 |
13th May 2026 Good 2m 4f 216y Class 4 |
11st 5lb |
Three-time hurdle winner who made it 0-5 over fences with another disappointing show at Bangor in late March, despite returning to good ground; clearly needs to raise his game in the new blinkers (replacing cheekpieces). |
7/1 |
|
6th 3 |
31st Mar 2026 Good 2m 4f 72y Class 4 |
11st 13lb |
Three-time hurdle winner who is 0-4 over fences, with only effort of note in discipline when beaten in a match at Warwick in October (2m4f); does seem happier on good ground than soft, so last two efforts could be excused; cheekpieces return after going without them last time. |
8/1 |
|
7th 4 |
9th Mar 2026 Soft 2m 0f 70y Class 3 |
11st 11lb |
3-20 hurdles, his latest win at Newcastle (2m1f Class 3; from 2lb higher) 11 months ago; a switch to fences hasn't suited (0-4, including being beaten in a match) but it's possible he'll strip fitter since his latest start; reverting to the smaller obstacles is helpful. |
12/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 2-12 D
Last run: 50 days
W: 11st 12lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 125
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
18th 20 (6) |
20th Jun 2025 Good To Firm 1m 3f 211y Class 2 |
9st 3lb |
8yo whose last turf Flat run was in May 2024 (tailed off) with some fair hurdles form since; three seconds and two fourths from his five visits to Ascot, most notably when beaten a neck in this race two years ago off the same mark as today; that followed a 1m6f win and he's not entirely dismissed even though the 1m6f Copper Horse on Tuesday (first reserve) was seemingly his preferred engagement this week; usually wore headgear in 2021 and 2022, now tries a first-time visor. |
50/1 |
|
17 (8) |
17th Jun 2025 Good 1m 6f 34y Class 2 |
9st 3lb |
Reserve; has a good record here and went close at this meeting in 2023 (1m4f, good to firm); stays 1m6f; some good runs over hurdles since last November but it remains to be seen if this 8yo is the same force as two years ago; wears a first-time visor. |
40/1 |
|
11th 4 |
26th Apr 2025 Good 1m 7f 216y Class 2 |
11st 8lb |
Useful on Flat and has a solid record (2122) over hurdles; penultimate effort in this sphere is a strong piece of form; however, rather lacks room for significant progress, having raced 41 times in total. |
12/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 321-1P D
Last run: 191 days
W: 11st 8lb
5 yo Colt
OR: 121
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2 |
18th Oct 2025 Good To Soft 2m 0f 167y Class 3 |
11st 11lb |
Never really got competitive at Aintree festival in April but his front-running win at Newbury (2m, good to soft) two starts ago makes him of interest here and, after only nine hurdle runs, he's not yet fully exposed. |
3/1 |
|
9th 10 |
4th Apr 2025 Good To Soft 2m 0f 103y Class 2 |
10st 7lb |
didn't always jump with fluency, towards rear |
12/1 |
|
9th 10 |
4th Apr 2025 Good To Soft 2m 0f 103y Class 2 |
10st 7lb |
didn't always jump with fluency, towards rear |
12/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 7-4064 D
Last run: 26 days
W: 11st 8lb
9 yo Gelding
OR: 121
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 8 |
15th May 2026 Good 2m 4f 0y Class 3 |
10st 12lb |
Won at Exeter and then a close fourth at Sandown (2m4f, good); could put a line through his subsequent races on account of heavy ground and a trip too far; respected. |
14/1 |
|
4th 7 |
20th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 3m 0f 57y Class 3 |
11st 1lb |
Won at Exeter (2m2f) in November and creditable fourth at Sandown (2m4f) next time, before heavy ground might excuse his latest start; this, however, is his first foray beyond 2m6f, after 37 races and at the age of ten. |
16/1 |
|
4th 4 |
7th Feb 2026 Soft 2m 5f 5y Class 3 |
11st 3lb |
November's Exeter win looked unlikely but he stayed on much the best over 2m2f on good to soft; not beaten far off this 6lb higher mark at Sandown (2m4f, good) when close up behind Henri The Second who won easily back there last weekend; thoroughly exposed but enters the equation for sure; has won on heavy. |
15/2 |
Abandoned
Form: 1P-328 CD
Last run: 37 days
W: 11st 7lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 120
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 2 |
16th May 2026 Good 2m 4f 0y Class 3 |
11st 6lb |
Triple hurdle winner who made it fourth-time lucky over fences when beating two rivals at Chepstow (2m, soft) in March; fell at the 12th at Hereford (2m5f, good) last month but he's was still travelling well at the time and he should have more to offer as a chaser; respected. |
5/2 |
|
4 |
16th Apr 2026 Good 2m 4f 194y Class 3 |
10st 13lb |
3-13 over hurdles; only his fourth start as a chaser when too strong for two rivals over 2m at Chepstow a month ago (soft; 3lb lower); this quicker ground won't bother him at all and neither might the longer trip; good claims. |
7/4 |
|
1st 1 |
15th Mar 2026 Soft 2m 0f 16y Class 4 |
12st 0lb |
Second of four on chase debut at Stratford (2m1f, good to firm) last July and returned to form when third of six at Kempton (2m2f, good) in October last time; won on heavy ground on the Flat in 2023 but best jumps form has come on good to soft or quicker; in with a chance if conditions suit. |
9/2 |
Abandoned
Form: /5-110 CD
Last run: 191 days
W: 11st 7lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 120
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
12th Feb 2025 Good To Soft 2m 3f 147y Class 4 |
12st 0lb |
Won two in a row last June (2m) and he's much better than he showed in the Summer Hurdle at Market Rasen (2m) in July last time; unraced on worse than good to soft and unproven beyond 2m1f, having pulled hard when tailed off in 2022 on one attempt at an extended 2m2f. |
10/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 2-4153 D
Last run: 31 days
W: 11st 6lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: 119
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
No Results Found |
Abandoned
Form: -04620 D
Last run: 44 days
W: 11st 5lb
8 yo Mare
OR: 118
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
No Results Found |
Abandoned
Form: 212R-3 D
Last run: 37 days
W: 11st 4lb
5 yo Colt
OR: 117
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
7th 5 (4) |
12th Jun 2026 Soft 1m 6f 0y Class 4 |
9st 5lb |
Only beaten a neck at Brighton (1m4f, good to firm) a fortnight ago (has won on soft); 2lb higher and has to prove his stamina over this far on the Flat. |
3/1 |
|
2nd 3 (5) |
29th May 2026 Good To Firm 1m 3f 198y Class 5 |
9st 8lb |
Regressed over hurdles last year but there was some encouragement with a hood deployed when fourth of seven at Wolverhampton (1m4f, AW) on his Flat return last month; blinkers (retained) were back on when a pace bias and wide draw did for him at Chester three weeks ago; not entirely ruled out. |
14/1 |
|
12th 7 (12) |
8th May 2026 Good 1m 4f 63y Class 4 |
9st 10lb |
Lost his way over hurdles last year and made only a mildly encouraging return to the Flat when keeping-on fourth of seven at Wolverhampton (1m4f, AW; first-time hood) last month; not the most obvious answer. |
40/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 1/526-
Last run: 364 days
W: 10st 13lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 112
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 3 (8) |
11th May 2026 Good 1m 7f 189y Class 6 |
9st 9lb |
Won over hurdles at Newcastle last November and when back on the Flat at Wolverhampton (2m, AW) in March; badly hampered and unseated over hurdles next time; still has mileage in his mark judged on old Flat form; respected. |
5/1 |
|
16 |
21st Mar 2026 Good To Soft 2m 4f 189y Class 2 |
10st 9lb |
Won easily at Newcastle (2m4f, good to soft) in November and runner-up to progressive winner at Catterick (2m3f, good) in December; soundly beaten behind Judicial Deference at Haydock (2m5f, good to soft) in January but he's probably better than that and he won on the AW last week; not ruled out. |
16/1 |
|
1st 4 (3) |
10th Mar 2026 Standard 2m 0f 120y Class 5 |
9st 5lb |
Better known as a hurdler but was having only his second start on the AW when second of six at Southwell (16.5f, Tapeta) in September; now 1lb lower and could go well. |
7/2 |
Abandoned
Form: 155 D
Last run: 78 days
W: 10st 11lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 110
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 1 |
3rd Feb 2026 Heavy 2m 0f 104y Class 4 |
12st 0lb |
Came good for Olly Murphy with two wins (both on good to soft) towards end of last season; finished last on last month's reappearance outing, having dropped out tamely in the straight, but might have needed that run and further progress remains possible if he copes with the ground here. |
11/2 |
|
1st 7 |
24th Apr 2025 Good To Soft 2m 0f 47y Class 4 |
11st 10lb |
prominent |
9/1 |
|
1st 7 |
24th Apr 2025 Good To Soft 2m 0f 47y Class 4 |
11st 10lb |
Debut hurdles winner over C&D for Lucinda Russell but he's proved rather hit and miss since for his current yard, scoring at Huntingdon in February before being pulled up at Exeter last month; others are preferred. |
9/1 |
Verdict
Back down in class and returned to Hereford, BLACK HAWK EAGLE is taken to follow up last year’s success in this contest. Handicap hurdle debutants HMS President (second choice) and Imaginarium look favourably treated judged on their Flat form, while the consistent novice Clap Of Thunder holds solid claims. The market signals may be helpful with regard to the runners who have been absent for six months or more.[Steve Boow]
Selections
The Times:
HMS PresidentWEST COUNTRY:
Clap Of ThunderSPOTLIGHT:
Black Hawk EagleRP RATINGS:
Luttrell LadThe Guardian:
ImaginariumTOPSPEED:
AnyharminaskingDaily Mirror:
Clap Of ThunderThe Sun:
Clap Of ThunderDaily Mail:
Black Hawk EagleThe Star:
Black Hawk EaglePOSTDATA:
Luttrell LadTelegraph:
HMS PresidentD Express:
HMS PresidentDaily Record:
HMS President