15.10
SoftDenis O’Connell Memorial Handicap Hurdle (Challenger Stayers Hurdle Series Qualifier)
- Prize money: £4752.9
- 3m 1f 5y
- Class 4
- 9 runners
Runners: 9 runners
Type: Hurdle Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Partly cloudy
20/1
Form: 7518-9 CD
Last run: 22 days
W: 12st 0lb
9 yo Gelding
OR: 117
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
7 |
22nd Mar 2026 Good 3m 6f 153y Class 3 |
10st 8lb |
Reportedly appreciated the heavy ground when rallying to lead close home at Huntingdon (2m7f) last month; will be suited by the longer trip here but the ground will be much quicker this time and he's very unreliable now. |
8/1 |
|
13 |
19th Jan 2026 Soft 3m 4f 178y Class 3 |
10st 8lb |
Returned to form with narrow win in this race a year ago (heavy) and is now 1lb below that mark but well beaten all four starts since (three this season) and needs to bounce back again; headgear (worn for last two races) removed. |
16/1 |
5/2
Form: 6433-1
Last run: 190 days
W: 12st 0lb
9 yo Gelding
OR: 117
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6th 5 |
8th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 2m 5f 5y Class 4 |
11st 7lb |
Returned to form with creditable second at Southwell (2m4f) last time but looks unlikely to go one better; the 10yo faces a difficult task against several younger rivals who are open to further improvement. |
14/1 |
|
2nd 4 |
2nd Feb 2026 Good To Soft 2m 4f 88y Class 4 |
11st 9lb |
All wins have been on good ground, latest at Worcester in May (2m7f); below-par two runs since and bit to prove at present. |
11/1 |
|
2 |
19th Nov 2025 Soft 3m 1f 5y Class 4 |
12st 0lb |
Burst back to life with 15l win at Worcester (2m7f, good) in May; absent since and up 11lb, which puts him on clear career-high mark at the age of nine; also has a slight query on this forecast soft ground but Harry Skelton retains the ride; should be in the mix if ready to go. |
5/2 |
16/1
Form: 157738 CD
Last run: 12 days
W: 11st 9lb
12 yo Gelding
OR: 112
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 4 |
22nd May 2026 Good 2m 7f 0y Class 4 |
12st 0lb |
Grand veteran with eight wins over hurdles, including two over C&D last summer; down to his last winning mark and should be sharper for his fifth at Hereford last month following a five-month layoff, but you have to think that one of his younger rivals should have his measure. |
12/1 |
|
5th 4 |
16th Apr 2026 Good 3m 1f 119y Class 4 |
11st 6lb |
Registered a four-timer last April-June (3m1f/2m7f, good/good to soft); very in and out since and he's now a 13yo but he finished on the heels of the principals off today's mark at Warwick in November when last seen; more to prove after the break. |
4/1 |
|
3 |
19th Nov 2025 Soft 3m 1f 5y Class 4 |
11st 9lb |
Secured the second leg of a four-timer with wide-margin win over C&D (good) in May; now just 2lb above his last winning mark but generally well beaten since (the exception in a four-runner race) and he was tailed off last time; others look more likely. |
16/1 |
8/1
Form: -85313 D
Last run: 23 days
W: 11st 8lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 111
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
5 |
14th Jan 2026 Good 3m 0f 57y Class 4 |
11st 10lb |
Hurdles record of 5-32 includes wins over 3m on good ground at Wetherby in October and Haydock latest start; holding his form well and is better than ever; may remain competitive. |
12/1 |
|
4 |
19th Nov 2025 Soft 3m 1f 5y Class 4 |
11st 8lb |
Running well at present and he followed a Wetherby win (3m) in October with a solid third at Bangor (2m7f, also good), despite giving Joe Anderson a workout, 12 days later; has form on soft and is one to consider. |
8/1 |
|
6 |
27th Oct 2025 Good 2m 7f 32y Class 4 |
11st 6lb |
Arguably posted career-best performance when winning at Warwick (3m, good) 12 days ago, but is 6lb higher in a stronger race and not always one to rely upon; others appeal more. |
11/2 |
4/1
Form: /5P41-
Last run: 283 days
W: 11st 7lb
7 yo Mare
OR: 110
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
7th 11 |
28th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 2m 7f 70y Class 4 |
11st 2lb |
Won at Chepstow (2m7f, good to soft) last winter and she returned after nine months off with a near-miss at Warwick (3m1f, soft) in November; looks interesting on that form but she's not matched it in two runs since and needs to rediscover her spark. |
16/1 |
|
5th 1 |
26th Jan 2026 Soft 3m 0f 217y Class 4 |
11st 11lb |
Solid contender on the form of a Chepstow win (2m7f) last February and when narrowly failing to give weight to a subsequent winner at Warwick (3m1f, also on soft) in November; lacked the pace to play a part on good to soft there since but today's surface and lower grade will help. |
100/30 |
Form: /447-7
Last run: 40 days
W: 11st 5lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 108
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6 |
19th Nov 2025 Soft 3m 1f 5y Class 4 |
11st 5lb |
Promise in two Chepstow maiden hurdles (about 2m4f, soft and good to soft) around this time last year but only mid-division in two subsequent handicaps; wasn't beaten far in the latest of them on last month's reappearance, however, and has untapped potential at this trip; hood goes on. |
7/2 |
|
6 |
10th Oct 2025 Good To Soft 2m 3f 100y Class 4 |
11st 10lb |
Shaped with promise in two C&D maidens last autumn and wasn't beaten far when upped to 3m for handicap debut in March; back from another break today but remains unexposed. |
14/1 |
|
7th 8 |
21st Mar 2025 Good To Soft 3m 0f 52y Class 4 |
11st 10lb |
Plenty of promise in his bumper and a pair of 2m3f maiden hurdles (from soft to good); very interesting now raised in distance on his handicap debut as there's lots of stamina in the pedigree; absent since November so market support would be welcomed. |
8/1 |
7/1
Form: 51P-35
Last run: 75 days
W: 11st 4lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: 107
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
7th 9 |
25th May 2026 Good 3m 1f 83y Class 2 |
11st 0lb |
Won twice over today's trip at Warwick for Dan Skelton last season (soft/good to soft); started off for Christian Williams with two pretty good efforts on good ground towards the end of that campaign but may find others in this line-up better handicapped. |
12/1 |
|
4th 11 |
24th Apr 2026 Good 3m 2f 127y Class 3 |
11st 0lb |
Won races for Dan Skelton (2m1f/2m3f) and Olly Murphy (3m1f); now on a career-high mark, off which he was no match for the front two on stable debut at Bangor (2m7f). |
9/1 |
|
3rd 6 |
21st Mar 2026 Good To Soft 2m 7f 32y Class 3 |
11st 7lb |
Won twice over hurdles for Dan Skelton last season (2m1f/2m3f) and twice for Olly Murphy this term (3m1f); ran poorly on latest outing five weeks ago, though, and remains on career-high mark for this stable debut. |
7/2 |
9/1
Form: 8141F-
Last run: 275 days
W: 11st 3lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 106
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
17 |
14th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 4m 2f 8y Class 1 |
10st 3lb |
Record of 2-8 over fences; his narrow defeat by Aworkinprogress at Lingfield (3m5f, soft) puts him in the mix and there were excuses last time at Exeter where he was kicked at the start, made the odd mistake and lost a shoe; can put a line through that; hard to rule out. |
16/1 |
|
5 |
20th Feb 2026 Heavy 3m 6f 153y Class 3 |
10st 7lb |
Fifth in the Borders National at Kelso (4m, soft; unraced on heavy) in December was up with his best at the time; suffered an early mishap next time but raised his game when rallying strongly for a close second in the Surrey National at Lingfield (3m5f, soft; jumped to his right) on latest start, which puts him firmly in the mix despite this 5lb higher mark and going this way round could help; he should have a big shout. |
7/2 |
|
2nd 14 |
19th Jan 2026 Soft 3m 4f 178y Class 3 |
10st 2lb |
Very close third over hurdles on seasonal debut in November and not beaten far from out of the weights in Borders National at Kelso (4m, soft) when back over fences last month; suffered early mishap last time and is 1lb wrong today but, after only six chase runs, he's not fully exposed. |
12/1 |
14/1
Form: 43-P13 D
Last run: 16 days
W: 10st 4lb
4 yo Gelding
OR: 95
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
9 |
19th Nov 2025 Soft 3m 1f 5y Class 4 |
10st 4lb |
First run over this sort of trip when springing a 50-1 surprise at Hereford in October; proved it was no fluke when third at that track (also 3m2f, good) a fortnight ago; latter form looks solid and he's unexposed as a stayer; player despite potential ground query. |
14/1 |
|
1st 6 |
13th Oct 2025 Good 3m 1f 119y Class 5 |
11st 5lb |
Placed for the first time when third at Wincanton (2m4f, good) in March on handicap debut but Fontwell was disappointing after a break. |
14/1 |
|
5 |
22nd Sep 2025 Good To Soft 2m 5f 164y Class 4 |
10st 9lb |
0-6 but placed for the first time when third at Wincanton (2m4f, good) in March on handicap debut; still early days and may find improvement. |
7/1 |
+o+e Accumulators
| Payout | |
|---|---|
| Exacta | £23.60 |
| Straight Forecast | £25.84 |
| Tricast | £143.45 |
| Trifecta | £197.50 |
Selections
TOPSPEED:
Murphy's MilanThe Guardian:
ThankyourluckystarRP RATINGS:
Kiss My FaceSPOTLIGHT:
Catch CatchfirePOSTDATA:
Murphy's MilanThe Times:
Murphy's MilanTelegraph:
Murphy's MilanD Express:
Murphy's MilanThe Star:
Murphy's MilanDaily Mail:
ThankyourluckystarDaily Mirror:
ThankyourluckystarDaily Record:
ThankyourluckystarThe Sun:
Kiss My Face