16.20
SoftFestival 2025 Group Tickets From 27 Euros Handicap Hurdle (Div I)
- Prize money: £4876.03
- 2m 4f 23y
- 19 runners
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Runners: 19 runners
Type: Hurdle Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Rain
Abandoned
Form: 6/741-
Last run: 498 days
W: 12st 0lb
9 yo Gelding
OR: 100
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
17th 15 |
1st May 2026 Yielding 2m 0f 45y |
11st 8lb |
Adoption of front-running tactics had transformative effect when seeing him score back-to-back wide-margin wins at Clonmel and Fairyhouse on heavy ground at start of the year; pulled up at Clonmel in February but bounced back when third at Clonmel last month (2m, soft); better ground is a concern. |
20/1 |
|
3rd 1 |
2nd Apr 2026 Soft 1m 7f 200y |
12st 3lb |
Adoption of front-running tactics have had a transformative effect; 23l all the way win off 91 here (2m1f, heavy) followed by another dominant win at Fairyhouse (2m, heavy) off 12lb higher; handicapper possibly caught up when pulled up at Fairyhouse (2m4f) but drop in trip should help. |
12/1 |
|
6 |
21st Feb 2026 Heavy 2m 4f 50y |
10st 8lb |
Adoption of front-running tactics have had a transformative effect; 23l all the way win off 91 at Clonmel (2m1f, heavy) followed by another dominant win here over 2m (heavy) off 12lb higher; raised another 13lb and steps up in trip and grade; clearly in fine fettle but may not get an easy lead here. |
15/8 |
Abandoned
Form: -24F12 D BF
Last run: 70 days
W: 11st 11lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 97
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
7th 11 |
30th May 2026 Good 2m 4f 80y |
10st 13lb |
Added a second hurdles win at Limerick (2m7f, heavy) in March off 6lb lower; couldn't back it up at Cork (3m, yielding) last time when a 16.5l eighth; others preferred. |
14/1 |
|
8th 10 |
5th Apr 2026 Good To Yielding 3m 0f 15y |
10st 11lb |
Course winner (2m4f, soft) in December 2024; got back to winning ways at Limerick (2m7f, heavy) last month; up 6lb and this is a deeper race but conditions fine so can't be discounted. |
7/2 |
|
1st 2 |
12th Mar 2026 Soft To Heavy 2m 6f 170y |
11st 13lb |
Fair hurdler last winter, notching a win and three seconds over around 2m4f; pulled up in two of his three chase starts; hard to be confident. |
14/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 896862
Last run: 36 days
W: 11st 10lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 96
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
7th 9 |
16th Jul 2026 Good 2m 4f 85y |
10st 4lb |
Got off the mark in a Kilbeggan handicap hurdle in May and a solid run in a Cartmel chase since; 5lb higher than for his win and is up in grade too, but can run well. |
12/1 |
|
2nd 6 |
28th Jun 2026 Good 2m 1f 61y Class 5 |
11st 6lb |
Irish raider who didn't fare too well in four attempts over fences previously, but got off the mark over hurdles at Kilbeggan (2m3f, good to yielding) last month at the 28th attempt under rules; not an obvious candidate to follow up, over fences. |
8/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 9-060
Last run: 67 days
W: 11st 10lb
6 yo Mare
OR: 96
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
10th 7 |
16th Dec 2024 Good To Yielding 2m 0f 51y |
11st 7lb |
No impact in a bumper and a pair of maiden hurdles for Colm Murphy; not seen since July and has moved yards; best watched. |
50/1 |
|
10th 7 |
16th Dec 2024 Good To Yielding 2m 0f 51y |
11st 7lb |
No impact in a bumper and a pair of maiden hurdles for Colm Murphy; not seen since July and has moved yards; best watched. |
50/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 799032 BF
Last run: 12 days
W: 11st 8lb
9 yo Gelding
OR: 94
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
7th 2 |
13th May 2026 Good 3m 0f 0y |
11st 9lb |
Good ground winning chaser is 0-19 over hurdles; ran well off this mark at Clonmel (2m4f, heavy) in January when a 0.5l runner-up; brought down at the third at Tramore in a first-time tongue tie (discarded) last time; others preferred. |
14/1 |
|
5 |
19th Apr 2026 Soft 2m 4f 110y |
11st 7lb |
Won Downpatrick beginners' chase for Gordon Elliott last May; off-putting 0-18 record over hurdles, mistake at the last proving costly when runner-up at Clonmel (2m4f, heavy), made respiratory noise when pulled up at Limerick last time; tongue-tie now tried. |
12/1 |
|
3 |
10th Feb 2026 Heavy 2m 5f 0y |
11st 10lb |
Point-to-point winner; won beginners' chase for Gordon Elliott last May; off-putting 0-17 record over hurdles, mistake at the last proved costly when runner-up to The Little Yank at Clonmel (2m4f, heavy); found 2m inadequate when fifth at Gowran last time. |
10/1 |
Abandoned
Form: /315-F CD
Last run: 47 days
W: 11st 6lb
8 yo Mare
OR: 92
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
7th 10 |
3rd Apr 2025 Good To Yielding 2m 7f 180y |
11st 6lb |
Won Punchestown handicap hurdle (19.5f, good to yielding) off 89 in May 2023; fell here over 2m4f on chasing debut off the back of a lengthy absence in January; shrewd yard and well treated if she can build on that. |
16/1 |
|
7th 10 |
3rd Apr 2025 Good To Yielding 2m 7f 180y |
11st 6lb |
Won Punchestown handicap hurdle (19.5f, good to yielding) off 89 in May 2023; fell here over 2m4f on chasing debut off the back of a lengthy absence in January; shrewd yard and well treated if she can build on that. |
16/1 |
Abandoned
Form: -00358
Last run: 146 days
W: 11st 6lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: 92
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 9 |
9th Jun 2026 Good 3m 1f 170y |
11st 10lb |
Won over C&D last year but has been hit and miss since (best run in that time was also here); has to be considered due to his record at this venue. |
14/1 |
|
13th 2 |
12th May 2026 Good 2m 4f 0y |
11st 13lb |
Scored over 3m2f here last May on good ground; placed again here over 25.5f in October off his revised mark; below best when last seen in January and this trip may be too sharp. |
7/1 |
|
2nd 4 |
24th Oct 2025 Good To Yielding 3m 1f 80y |
11st 2lb |
Got off the mark over C&D in May but has been well below that level twice since; had an excuse for the first occasion but has to improve plenty from last time. |
10/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 798822 D
Last run: 119 days
W: 11st 6lb
10 yo Gelding
OR: 92
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
9th 5 |
15th Jan 2026 Soft 2m 4f 0y |
11st 6lb |
Dual-purpose vetera; six wins on Flat, is 2-28 over hurdles, both wins at Sligo (latest in June 2023); minor placed form last May/June at Downpatrick and Perth; in rear in both races in recent months. |
14/1 |
|
17th 7 |
31st Oct 2025 Good To Yielding 3m 0f 30y |
11st 7lb |
Both hurdle wins in 2m4f Sligo handicaps but on a long losing run, Naas fourth over this trip last season standout effort; lacks a recent run. |
20/1 |
|
17th 7 |
31st Oct 2025 Good To Yielding 3m 0f 30y |
11st 7lb |
Both hurdle wins in 2m4f Sligo handicaps but on a long losing run, Naas fourth over this trip last season standout effort; lacks a recent run. |
20/1 |
Abandoned
Form: /P867-
Last run: 302 days
W: 11st 4lb
11 yo Gelding
OR: 90
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 2 |
15th Jun 2026 Yielding To Soft 3m 0f 100y |
11st 11lb |
Showed a good attitude to gain third success over hurdles when holding off Morell River by a neck at Punchestown (23.5f, gd) eight days ago; not an obvious type to follow up but he was 13lb out of the handicap that day so is effectively just 2lb higher here; chance of following up. |
9/2 |
|
1st 13 |
7th Jun 2026 Good To Yielding 2m 7f 116y |
10st 0lb |
Won a division of this last year off 92 and he's higher here as a result of being 13lb wrong; well beaten in recent starts. |
33/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 800F-0
Last run: 96 days
W: 11st 1lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 87
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
13 |
17th May 2025 Good 3m 1f 100y |
10st 0lb |
Lightly raced 8yo returned from over a year's absence when tailed off at Naas in November and after further breaks well beaten twice more over hurdles; 1lb wrong here on chase debut and hard to see him making an impact. |
16/1 |
|
13 |
17th May 2025 Good 3m 1f 100y |
10st 0lb |
Lightly raced 8yo returned from over a year's absence when tailed off at Naas in November and after further breaks well beaten twice more over hurdles; 1lb wrong here on chase debut and hard to see him making an impact. |
16/1 |
|
10th 11 |
10th May 2025 Good 3m 0f 80y |
10st 13lb |
towards rear |
20/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 080
Last run: 80 days
W: 11st 0lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 86
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 18 |
12th Apr 2026 Good 3m 0f 0y |
10st 7lb |
Consistent over fences recently; finished second at Naas in December (2m, heavy) and bounced back from a below par run with two runner-up finishes in his last two starts at Navan (3m, soft to heavy) and Fairyhouse (3m, heavy); makes stable debut back over hurdles off a 9lb lower mark, but may not be as effective over timber and ground also a question. |
11/2 |
|
2nd 14 |
21st Feb 2026 Heavy 2m 7f 165y |
10st 0lb |
Point-to-point runner-up posted a nice performance when upped to 3m for the first time at Navan last time (3m, soft to heavy); beaten 6l that day but was well clear of the third; good claimer takes off 5lb; big player. |
9/2 |
Abandoned
Form: 0-7000
Last run: 91 days
W: 11st 0lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 86
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
8 |
18th Oct 2025 Good 2m 5f 0y |
11st 5lb |
Is 0-10 over hurdles; hasn't really built on promising Tipperary fourth in May (3m1f, gd-yld); beaten 23l when fifth on latest in a Killarney handicap chase; needs more off this mark back over hurdles. |
14/1 |
|
5 |
25th Aug 2025 Good 2m 6f 61y |
11st 3lb |
Fell at Limerick in March with the race at his mercy; reported blowing hard last time when down the field at Wexford; one of the leading fancies then. |
12/1 |
|
8th 5 |
24th Jul 2025 Yielding 3m 0f 0y |
11st 6lb |
Set to win when falling at Limerick (22.5f, yielding) in March; fine run at Tipperary in May off 4lb higher; nudged up another 1lb but should go well again after a 71 day break. |
13/2 |
Abandoned
Form: 015000
Last run: 52 days
W: 10st 9lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 81
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 15 |
16th Jul 2026 Good 2m 4f 85y |
10st 0lb |
Won off 8lb higher at Galway in September 2024 but has shown virtually nothing since; tailed off at Sligo on latest and impossible to fancy on recent form. |
50/1 |
|
13th 16 |
9th Jun 2026 Good 2m 4f 162y |
10st 2lb |
Sole win came in a 2m6f handicap at Galway in 2024; basically regressive since and can't make a case for on recent form. |
66/1 |
|
16 |
21st May 2026 Good To Yielding 2m 1f 157y |
10st 0lb |
Galway win in September 2024 was a flash in the pan; unplaced in 33 of his 34 starts; pulled up in 3m handicap hurdle at Punchestown last week. |
66/1 |
Abandoned
Form: P35-7P
Last run: 57 days
W: 10st 6lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 78
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
No Results Found |
Abandoned
Form: 0/00P-
Last run: 509 days
W: 10st 3lb
7 yo Filly
OR: 75
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
20 |
3rd Apr 2025 Good To Yielding 2m 0f 0y |
10st 0lb |
Soon detached in February's comeback run after huge absence; didn't fare a lot better when last seen at Limerick; big drop in trip now; best watched. |
50/1 |
|
20 |
3rd Apr 2025 Good To Yielding 2m 0f 0y |
10st 0lb |
Soon detached in February's comeback run after huge absence; didn't fare a lot better when last seen at Limerick; big drop in trip now; best watched. |
50/1 |
|
10th 18 |
13th Mar 2025 Yielding 2m 6f 150y |
10st 0lb |
Soon detached on last month's comeback run after huge absence; best watched for now. |
25/1 |
Abandoned
Form: P09-7P
Last run: 177 days
W: 10st 2lb
11 yo Gelding
OR: 74
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
14 |
18th Nov 2025 Heavy 2m 0f 0y |
10st 1lb |
Last win came over C&D in March 2022; can't be fancied on recent form. |
66/1 |
|
12th 17 |
26th Sep 2025 Yielding 2m 0f 0y |
10st 0lb |
Without a win since March 2022 and recent runs have not suggested a return to winning ways is imminent; hard to fancy. |
66/1 |
|
12th 13 |
25th Jul 2025 Good 2m 2f 200y |
10st 0lb |
Poor strike-rate of 2-58 (2-36 over hurdles) and this 11yo has regressed. |
25/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 7-4406 BF
Last run: 37 days
W: 10st 6lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 78
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5th 9 |
4th Mar 2026 Heavy 2m 7f 180y |
11st 2lb |
One win from 20 starts over hurdles; that win came over 2m4f at Punchestown on heavy ground in February last year off 78; good effort when third of 24 at Fairyhouse on New Year's Day (2m4f, yielding) but way below that level at Navan; a little hard to trust. |
7/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 7-87
Last run: 36 days
W: 11st 4lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 90
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
11th 4 |
14th May 2025 Good To Yielding 2m 0f 190y |
11st 6lb |
Huge odds and ran accordingly in three maiden hurdles; could improve for switch to handicaps but may need the experience. |
12/1 |
|
11th 4 |
14th May 2025 Good To Yielding 2m 0f 190y |
11st 6lb |
Huge odds and ran accordingly in three maiden hurdles; could improve for switch to handicaps but may need the experience. |
12/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 396005
Last run: 29 days
W: 10st 10lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 82
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 3 |
7th May 2026 Good 3m 1f 10y Class 5 |
11st 12lb |
Back on song in refitted cheekpieces at Southwell (3m, good) in March, his third start for Caroline Fryer, and the form of his respectable fourth at Fakenham (2m7f, good) last month was well advertised by the winner there on Monday; not yet fully exposed as a stayer; probably won't be far away. |
4/1 |
|
4th 7 |
13th Apr 2026 Good 2m 7f 95y Class 4 |
11st 2lb |
Returned to peak form in refitted cheekpieces at Southwell (3m, good) three weeks ago, his third start for Caroline Fryer; recent 4lb rise does not look excessive and he also has a course win on his CV; respected. |
7/2 |
|
1st 4 |
24th Mar 2026 Good 3m 0f 60y Class 5 |
11st 9lb |
Two wins last year for Olly Murphy and those were on good ground; beaten 28l and 26l in two runs for current yard, though conditions were soft and good to soft; better can be expected here, though all his notable form is at about 2m4f. |
12/1 |
Verdict
Having had ten weeks to recover from good two Cork runs in quick succession in December ONE AND ONLY could be hard to beat. Blue Reed might need to be ridden with more restraint than at Fairyhouse but his second to an in-form rival still represents worthwhile form. Coffeys Forge was clear of the remainder when soundly beaten in second at Navan. True Destiny was in good form before a break and could go close if reproducing his October form. [Alan Sweetman]
Selections
The Irish Sun:
One And Only