15.10
SoftDragonBet The Roar Before Cheltenham Awaits Veterans’ Handicap Chase
- Prize money: £5281
- 3m 1f 44y
- Class 4
- 7 runners
Runners: 7 runners
Type: Chase Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Light rain
9/2 (Won)
- Win: £4.10
- Place: £2.20
Form: 0U84P3 D
Last run: 32 days
W: 11st 1lb
11 yo Gelding
OR: 107
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 5 |
25th May 2026 Good 3m 5f 80y Class 3 |
10st 13lb |
Ended last season in good form, winning at Hereford (3m1f, soft) before good second at Haydock (3m1f, good); ran well (over hurdles) on only previous visit to Cartmel and has possibilities if this new trip suits; refused to line up and withdrawn at Aintree recently (8-1 at the time). |
7/2 |
|
9 |
15th May 2026 Good 3m 0f 210y Class 3 |
10st 13lb |
Went up 5lb for winning a Class 4 at Hereford (3m1f, soft) and raised another 1lb for his second in a better race at Haydock (3m1f, good), finishing just ahead of Jacks Parrot; this 11yo is thriving and entitled to play a part in the finish. |
5/1 |
|
2nd 12 |
4th Apr 2026 Good To Soft 3m 1f 125y Class 3 |
11st 1lb |
Put everything together when winning at Hereford (3m1f, soft) six weeks ago under a positive ride from Toby McCain-Mitchell; not discounted but he's up 5lb and this is a stronger race. |
12/1 |
8/1
- Place: £2.60
Form: 562F44
Last run: 143 days
W: 11st 12lb
11 yo Gelding
OR: 118
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 3 |
4th Jun 2026 Good 2m 7f 70y Class 4 |
11st 10lb |
Four good efforts from as many starts for current connections, though once again wasn't quite able to convert a winning opportunity at Huntingdon latest (3m1f, good to firm); fair claims off an unchanged mark, and ought to cope with any rain. |
11/4 |
|
3rd 6 |
19th May 2026 Good To Firm 3m 1f 10y Class 3 |
11st 5lb |
Without a win since summer 2024 and not getting any younger but runner-up three consecutive times (2m7f-3m1f; once over fences) for new stable towards end of last season; probably won't be far away. |
15/2 |
7/2
Form: 82-2P2 C
Last run: 9 days
W: 11st 1lb
10 yo Gelding
OR: 107
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 5 |
22nd Feb 2026 Soft 3m 1f 44y Class 4 |
11st 1lb |
No win since November 2023, but conditions suit and he comes into the reckoning following his good second at Chepstow nine days ago (2m7f, soft). |
7/2 |
|
2nd 11 |
13th Feb 2026 Soft 2m 7f 136y Class 4 |
11st 4lb |
Well handicapped on old form and will be suited by today's trip/ground but was pulled up at Ffos Las (3m, heavy) last month, after a layoff, and needs to have taken significant benefit from that outing. |
14/1 |
|
2nd 2 |
10th May 2025 Good 3m 0f 41y Class 4 |
11st 13lb |
Three-time chase winner who should be well handicapped and ran his best race for a while when second at Carlisle in February (3m, good to soft); has handled good ground in the past and should go well as his Herefordshire yard's only runner on the card. |
3/1 |
7/2
Form: /P-R62 CD
Last run: 31 days
W: 10st 12lb
12 yo Mare
OR: 104
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 7 |
22nd Feb 2026 Soft 3m 1f 44y Class 4 |
10st 12lb |
C&D winner whose last win came at Ffos Las in January 2023; lightly raced since, one of her best runs when second in a mares' handicap at Huntingdon last time (2m7f, soft); stable in better form now; good chance. |
7/2 |
|
2nd 3 |
22nd Jan 2026 Soft 2m 7f 129y Class 4 |
11st 3lb |
Dual soft-ground winner either side of Christmas 2022-23 (3m1f, 3m2f); limited form in just three starts in the past three years, though might just have gone closer but for losing a shoe latest. |
7/2 |
|
3 |
5th Dec 2024 Good To Soft 3m 1f 30y Class 4 |
11st 9lb |
took keen hold, pressed leaders, led 5th, hit 10th, headed after 4 out, soon weakened, pulled up before 2 out |
9/2 |
11/4
Form: P-4441 C
Last run: 21 days
W: 12st 0lb
10 yo Gelding
OR: 120
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
4th Jun 2026 Good 2m 4f 189y Class 4 |
12st 0lb |
2m4f winner here over hurdles and fences with a little give underfoot, and possible excuses on both starts since his most recent success elsewhere (holding ground, pace battle); remains above any winning mark. |
7/1 |
|
4th 2 |
1st Apr 2026 Good 3m 0f 60y Class 4 |
11st 13lb |
Five-time hurdle winner who has raced exclusively over fences since joining Deborah Cole in the middle of 2024, scoring a further four times, including over 2m4f here last season; off the mark for the current campaign when shading a close finish at Market Rasen (3m, soft) in February but pulled up when favourite at Hereford since and now back over timber. |
9/1 |
|
1 |
22nd Feb 2026 Soft 3m 1f 44y Class 4 |
12st 0lb |
Three wins last term; got off the mark for the season when winning by a head at Market Rasen last time (3m, soft; first two clear); up 3lb; chance. |
11/4 |
9/1
Form: PP-46P
Last run: 57 days
W: 11st 11lb
11 yo Gelding
OR: 117
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3 |
22nd Feb 2026 Soft 3m 1f 44y Class 4 |
11st 11lb |
Very useful chaser at his peak (last win was in 2021); not the force he was, but handicapped accordingly; fair fourth at Ffos Las in October (3m1f, soft; cheekpieces on for first time); not so good since (pulled up in Welsh National last time); blinkers now tried. |
9/1 |
|
4th 1 |
28th Oct 2025 Soft 3m 1f 60y Class 4 |
12st 2lb |
Very useful in his prime and has conditions to suit here but returned from long absence with three disappointing runs (albeit in good-quality races) towards end of last season; eased in grade and sports first-time cheekpieces for this reappearance run; revival needed. |
20/1 |
16/1
Form: 0000P4 D
Last run: 26 days
W: 10st 12lb
13 yo Gelding
OR: 104
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
6th 7 |
6th Apr 2026 Good 3m 1f 119y Class 4 |
10st 13lb |
Veteran whose last win under rules was in 2020 (won a point early in 2024); fourth of 16 at Chepstow in January may look the only positive result in his nine races this season but he was beaten 35l, so that does not persuade; not even with his 37lb fall in the weights this term. |
20/1 |
|
1 |
17th Mar 2026 Good To Soft 2m 7f 25y Class 5 |
12st 0lb |
In poor form over hurdles and fences for new stable this season and getting very long in the tooth now but has plummeted down the weights and may yet stage some sort of a revival; watch the betting. |
33/1 |
|
6 |
22nd Feb 2026 Soft 3m 1f 44y Class 4 |
10st 12lb |
One-time smart hurdler/chaser but very much on the decline these days and is best watched after some ordinary efforts this season. |
16/1 |
+o+e Accumulators
| Payout | |
|---|---|
| Exacta | £23.70 |
| Straight Forecast | £23.53 |
| Trifecta | £94.50 |