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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
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 |
|
3 |
17th Jul 2025 Good 2m 4f 0y Class 5 |
11st 1lb |
Sole win came in Ireland nearly two years ago; delivered two good front-running shifts since the visor went on, both here at this trip; unlikely to be far away. |
4/1 |
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 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 |
|
6th 1 |
4th Apr 2026 Good 1m 7f 171y Class 4 |
11st 11lb |
Landed his second win over hurdles on his reappearance at Carlisle (2m1f, good) in October and ran well on his next three starts; pulled up at Haydock last month but was in the process of running a good race when falling two out at Sedgefield (2m1f, good) 16 days ago in first-time cheekpieces (retained); decent ground looks to be the key and he should run well. |
6/1 |
|
1 |
19th Mar 2026 Good 2m 0f 178y Class 4 |
12st 2lb |
Won on reappearance at Carlisle (2m1f, good) in October and ran well in defeat on next three starts (about 2m, good/good to soft); pulled up at Haydock only a fortnight ago, when more was amiss than just the 2m3f trip, but he's a player if bouncing back from that blip; cheekpieces go on. |
7/2 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
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 |
|
1st 3 (4) |
25th Mar 2026 Standard 1m 4f 0y Class 6 |
9st 9lb |
His sole win was over hurdles 14 months ago but he looked a bit unlucky when runner-up in that sphere at Huntingdon (2m) 24 days ago; now returns to the Flat but conditions should be fine and he needs a close look in the market. |
5/1 |
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