14.12
SoftLaunching: Alfriston Hotel, Restaurant And Spa Handicap Hurdle
- Prize money: £3828.72
- 1m 7f 195y
- Class 5
- 6 runners
Runners: 6 runners
Type: Hurdle Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Light rain
Abandoned
Form: 954360 D
Last run: 164 days
W: 12st 0lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 100
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
7 |
10th Jul 2026 Good 2m 4f 0y Class 5 |
10st 3lb |
Twice placed in 2m4f hurdle races here last summer (good) but ended last year's campaign on a low, achieving little on October's chasing debut; can't be certain he will hit the ground running in 2026. |
25/1 |
|
5 |
2nd Oct 2025 Good 2m 4f 88y Class 5 |
11st 5lb |
Flat-bred, but one half-brother has won three chases; trail has gone cold since the summer's pair of Worcester 2m4f handicap hurdle frame finishes (good), and moderate results last time cheekpieces were tried. |
16/1 |
|
7 |
6th Sep 2025 Good To Firm 2m 0f 70y Class 5 |
11st 2lb |
Seemingly boosted by change of headgear when making the frame in consecutive 2m4f handicaps at Worcester this summer but his run there last time was disappointing and it's now over two years since his only win; drops back in trip today; others have more pressing claims. |
14/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 16561 D
Last run: 8 days
W: 11st 11lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: 97
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 3 |
15th Jul 2026 Good 1m 7f 168y Class 4 |
11st 8lb |
Dual hurdle winner who landed a 2m1f chase in May; failed to repeat that form when well held the following month but back over hurdles off a 6lb lower mark and can play a part if back on song. |
10/1 |
|
4th 3 |
13th Jun 2026 Good 1m 7f 214y Class 3 |
10st 10lb |
Dual winner over hurdles and made a winning chase debut at Bangor (2m1f, good) four weeks ago; that race did fall apart with none of his rivals running their races and he has been whacked up 10lb as a result; that should still have given his confidence a boost. |
5/2 |
|
1st 7 |
16th May 2026 Good 2m 1f 77y Class 4 |
11st 2lb |
Productive autumn included a Carlisle hurdles win (2m1f, good) off 4lb lower; two flops either side of a late fall since March, however, and doesn't enter this chasing debut in the same good heart as some. |
12/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 765
Last run: 19 days
W: 11st 9lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 95
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 2 |
11th Mar 2026 Good 2m 3f 189y Class 5 |
11st 12lb |
A dual 2m hurdles winner last season; nowhere near that form sent chasing this season, a remote fourth of six in 2m handicap here 48 days ago; others appeal more. |
10/1 |
|
4th 3 |
22nd Jan 2026 Soft 2m 0f 104y Class 4 |
11st 10lb |
Won two handicap hurdles (2m, good to soft/good) towards end of last season but has not really convinced on his three chasing starts this term, with best run coming in race in which half the fences were omitted; the forecast ground here might be slower than ideal; others preferred. |
12/1 |
|
3 |
29th Sep 2025 Good 2m 0f 75y Class 3 |
10st 6lb |
Displayed significant improvement when switched to handicap hurdles towards end of last season, winning at Southwell (2m, good to soft) and by 10l at Plumpton (2m, good); makes chasing debut after 161-day absence and takes on two in-form rivals but could still have more to offer. |
4/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 63/714 CD
Last run: 13 days
W: 11st 8lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 94
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5th 5 (3) |
1st Jul 2026 Good 1m 4f 6y Class 6 |
9st 9lb |
Got up on the line to bag 1m4f AW classified event in March but he's made little impact in two subsequent handicaps and is 0-7 here. |
14/1 |
|
10th 8 (3) |
20th May 2026 Standard To Slow 1m 3f 219y Class 6 |
9st 1lb |
Better known as a hurdler these days, but he made a successful return to the Flat when narrowly landing a classified event at Lingfield (1m4f, Polytrack) in March; never involved in a C&D handicap last time but that was against a pace bias and he has claims if things go more to plan this time. |
6/1 |
|
7th 11 (9) |
8th Apr 2026 Standard To Slow 1m 3f 219y Class 6 |
8st 10lb |
Better known as a hurdler these days, but he made a successful return to the Flat when narrowly landing a 0-50 classified event at Lingfield (1m4f, Polytrack) a fortnight ago; this will be harder, but he remains unexposed on the AW. |
8/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 484350 D
Last run: 39 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
9th 3 |
4th Jun 2025 Good 2m 0f 167y Class 5 |
11st 13lb |
Four-time hurdle winner on slow ground, including over C&D (raced prominently in first-time visor) in April; below par at Ffos Las (2m, good) latest, after a 5lb rise; each-way claims if he can bounce back. |
11/2 |
|
9th 3 |
4th Jun 2025 Good 2m 0f 167y Class 5 |
11st 13lb |
Four-time hurdle winner on slow ground, including over C&D (raced prominently in first-time visor) in April; below par at Ffos Las (2m, good) latest, after a 5lb rise; each-way claims if he can bounce back. |
11/2 |
|
8th 2 |
6th May 2025 Good 1m 7f 182y Class 5 |
11st 10lb |
pressed leader, chased clear leader after 2nd |
7/1 |
Abandoned
Form: 343823 BF
Last run: 28 days
W: 10st 5lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 77
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 5 |
24th May 2026 Good To Soft 2m 3f 104y Class 5 |
10st 7lb |
Gave very good account when close second over C&D (good to soft) last month and subsequent fifth of 12 over C&D (good) was perfectly respectable but his overall strike-rate is just 1-35 and others appeal more. |
5/1 |
|
5th 9 |
24th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 2m 3f 104y Class 5 |
10st 11lb |
Just 1-34 under rules but the win came here (in 2023) and he went very close to a second course success 16 days ago, going down by only a head over this trip on good to soft; another who could be involved in the finish. |
5/1 |
|
2nd 7 |
8th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 2m 3f 104y Class 5 |
10st 5lb |
Just 1-33 under rules but the win came here (in 2023) and he gave a good account when second from out of the weights at Hereford (2m5f, good) last month, after a break; could have a say. |
6/1 |
Verdict
Gorcombe Moonshine ran well when third over C&D last time but he’s likely to play second fiddle to the unexposed KING ULANDA, who escapes a penalty for last week’s comfortable Musselburgh win. [Tim Mitchell]
Selections
Daily Mirror:
King UlandaThe Star:
King UlandaDaily Record:
King UlandaDaily Mail:
Gorcombe MoonshineD Express:
Gorcombe MoonshineThe Sun:
Gorcombe Moonshine