15.30

6/1

Form: 0/06-4 D

Last run: 39 days

W: 10st 13lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict

Two wins in the 2023-24 campaign (2m3f/2m5f, good to soft) and he's below his last winning mark; returned in April from a year off and hasn't threatened on his three runs this year, but it's possible he'll improve for last month's reappearance at Kelso and he is not written off.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
4	24th Apr 2026 Good 2m 4f 35y Class 3	15:47 Perth Serious Operator 11st 10lb J: Patrick Wadge T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore	9yo who was tailed off at Kelso in February last time but that was the competitive Morebattle Hurdle over 2m; in good form over 2m4f prior to that, winning at Newcastle then second at Aintree (both good to soft); likely to be in the mix back up in trip.	7/1
13th 9	28th Feb 2026 Good To Soft 2m 0f 51y Class 2	14:55 Kelso Serious Operator 11st 4lb J: Patrick Wadge T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore	Won at Newcastle (2m4f, good to soft) in November and second to progressive winner at Aintree (2m4f, good to soft) in December; unraced over a trip this short and there's a suspicion this 9yo will be vulnerable in a race this competitive, but he's 2-3 at Kelso and is not ruled out each-way.	33/1

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

4

24th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 3

15:47 Perth

Serious Operator

11st 10lb

J: Patrick Wadge

9yo who was tailed off at Kelso in February last time but that was the competitive Morebattle Hurdle over 2m; in good form over 2m4f prior to that, winning at Newcastle then second at Aintree (both good to soft); likely to be in the mix back up in trip.

7/1

13th

9

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 51y

Class 2

14:55 Kelso

Serious Operator

11st 4lb

J: Patrick Wadge

Won at Newcastle (2m4f, good to soft) in November and second to progressive winner at Aintree (2m4f, good to soft) in December; unraced over a trip this short and there's a suspicion this 9yo will be vulnerable in a race this competitive, but he's 2-3 at Kelso and is not ruled out each-way.

33/1

OUR TIP

4th

2

Serious Challenge

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Fergal O’Brien

5/2

Form: 51114- D

Last run: 183 days

W: 11st 3lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 128

Form & Verdict

Talented Flat performer (stayed 1m6f) who won three novice hurdles this year (2m4f/2m, various ground) before finishing fourth of 14 in novice handicap final at Sandown (2m, good) in April; could have more to offer now back up in trip and trainer has won the last three runnings.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
3rd 1	5th Apr 2026 Good 1m 7f 195y Class 2	16:05 Plumpton Serious Challenge 12st 0lb J: Jonathan Burke T: Fergal O’Brien	Has improved for patient tactics, winning at Haydock (1m7f, good) before going close in the always-strong Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso (good to soft); raised 3lb for that but this former smart Flat performer should be seen to good effect around here.	6/1
2nd 5	28th Feb 2026 Good To Soft 2m 0f 51y Class 2	14:55 Kelso Serious Challenge 11st 9lb J: Jonathan Burke T: Fergal O’Brien	Made it four wins from his eight starts over hurdles (various ground) when returning to form to score at Haydock (1m7f, good) two months ago, when ridden more patiently; 5lb higher in a better race today and needs a career-best but he's unexposed under hold-up tactics and is not written off.	10/1
4th 2	26th Oct 2025 Good 2m 4f 0y Class 2	15:30 Aintree Serious Challenge 11st 3lb J: Jonathan Burke T: Fergal O’Brien	Talented Flat performer (stayed 1m6f) who won three novice hurdles this year (2m4f/2m, various ground) before finishing fourth of 14 in novice handicap final at Sandown (2m, good) in April; could have more to offer now back up in trip and trainer has won the last three runnings.	5/2

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

3rd

1

5th Apr 2026

Good

1m 7f 195y

Class 2

12st 0lb

Has improved for patient tactics, winning at Haydock (1m7f, good) before going close in the always-strong Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso (good to soft); raised 3lb for that but this former smart Flat performer should be seen to good effect around here.

6/1

2nd

5

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 51y

Class 2

11st 9lb

Made it four wins from his eight starts over hurdles (various ground) when returning to form to score at Haydock (1m7f, good) two months ago, when ridden more patiently; 5lb higher in a better race today and needs a career-best but he's unexposed under hold-up tactics and is not written off.

10/1

4th

2

26th Oct 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 2

11st 3lb

Talented Flat performer (stayed 1m6f) who won three novice hurdles this year (2m4f/2m, various ground) before finishing fourth of 14 in novice handicap final at Sandown (2m, good) in April; could have more to offer now back up in trip and trainer has won the last three runnings.

5/2

4th

7

The Gray Ghost

J: Liam Harrison

T: Robbie Llewellyn

9/1

Form: 0127-6 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 10st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict

Below par the last time the hood was left off and he was soundly beaten on this month's reappearance at Kelso; however, he may have needed that run and his saddle slipped; clear second on handicap debut at Musselburgh (2m4f, good to soft) and this lightly raced 6yo retains potential.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
4th 2	17th Apr 2026 Soft 2m 0f 0y Class 3	13:45 Ayr The Gray Ghost 12st 0lb J: Callum Pritchard T: Robbie Llewellyn	Versatile trip-wise as his recent run of solid form has been from 1m7f to 3m; should give his running but does look vulnerable off this high a mark in this strong a race.	10/1
4th 11	14th Mar 2026 Good 2m 5f 0y Class 2	14:40 Kempton The Gray Ghost 10st 8lb J: Liam Harrison T: Robbie Llewellyn	Has won at about this trip but he was well beaten in this race last year and, despite a 2m1f win at Newcastle last time out, he could have his work cut out at this competitive level.	9/1
1st 3	21st Feb 2026 Good To Soft 2m 0f 190y Class 3	15:20 Newcastle The Gray Ghost 11st 11lb J: Liam Harrison T: Robbie Llewellyn	Won his maiden here over 2m4f; a number of good runs in handicaps and 3m looked a stretch in a Class 2 at Musselburgh last time; something to prove over quite this sharp a trip but definite chance if he copes with it.	11/2

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

4th

2

17th Apr 2026

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

12st 0lb

Versatile trip-wise as his recent run of solid form has been from 1m7f to 3m; should give his running but does look vulnerable off this high a mark in this strong a race.

10/1

4th

11

14th Mar 2026

Good

2m 5f 0y

Class 2

10st 8lb

Has won at about this trip but he was well beaten in this race last year and, despite a 2m1f win at Newcastle last time out, he could have his work cut out at this competitive level.

9/1

1st

3

21st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 190y

Class 3

11st 11lb

Won his maiden here over 2m4f; a number of good runs in handicaps and 3m looked a stretch in a Class 2 at Musselburgh last time; something to prove over quite this sharp a trip but definite chance if he copes with it.

11/2

6th

3

8/1

Form: 31315- D

Last run: 185 days

W: 11st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 127

Form & Verdict

Three wins last season (2m-2m5f, soft/good to soft); below best at Perth (2m4f, good to soft) in April when last seen but this lightly raced 8yo is open to further improvement this term; not discounted.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
5th 2	12th Jul 2026 Good 2m 4f 35y Class 4	15:16 Perth Bold Light 11st 9lb J: Alan Doyle T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore	Should be well handicapped but has been below par for a good while now and more new headgear is tried after flirting with a tongue-tie last time; capable but risky.	6/1
3rd 1	14th May 2026 Good 2m 4f 35y Class 4	15:08 Perth Bold Light 12st 1lb J: Alan Doyle T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore	Won a Class 2 at Kelso (2m5f, good to soft; from 7lb higher) in March 2025, but has failed to match that level of form since (0-9); wasn't beaten too far over C&D (Class 3; fourth of seven) three weeks ago, and a similar effort would give him a shout in this added tongue-tie; 2-10 for Alan Doyle.	4/1
4th 9	24th Apr 2026 Good 2m 4f 35y Class 3	15:47 Perth Bold Light 11st 0lb J: Alan Doyle T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore	Three wins last season; hasn't scaled the same heights this time round, although latest third of six at Newcastle was a bit more encouraging and he's well handicapped if staging a full-scale revival.	12/1

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

5th

2

12th Jul 2026

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 4

15:16 Perth

11st 9lb

Should be well handicapped but has been below par for a good while now and more new headgear is tried after flirting with a tongue-tie last time; capable but risky.

6/1

3rd

1

14th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 4

15:08 Perth

12st 1lb

Won a Class 2 at Kelso (2m5f, good to soft; from 7lb higher) in March 2025, but has failed to match that level of form since (0-9); wasn't beaten too far over C&D (Class 3; fourth of seven) three weeks ago, and a similar effort would give him a shout in this added tongue-tie; 2-10 for Alan Doyle.

4/1

4th

9

24th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 3

15:47 Perth

11st 0lb