February 28 / 15.30 Kelso

15.30

Good To Soft

bet365 Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £15609
  • 2m 4f 189y
  • Class 2
  • 8 runners
ITV
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bet365 Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

10/1 (Won)

  • Win: £9.50
  • Place: £2.60

Form: 61-816 C

Last run: 42 days

W: 11st 5lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
Goes well here and won over the extended 2m6f (good to soft) just after Christmas; ridden less prominently when only sixth of ten at Haydock next time; may bounce back, although he remains on a career-high mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 189y

Class 2

15:30 Kelso

Both Barrels

11st 5lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Donald Whillans

Goes well here and won over the extended 2m6f (good to soft) just after Christmas; ridden less prominently when only sixth of ten at Haydock next time; may bounce back, although he remains on a career-high mark.

10/1

6th

4

17th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 58y

Class 3

14:35 Haydock

Both Barrels

11st 2lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Donald Whillans

His form can be in and out but he's been progressive among the blips and was back on song when winning at Kelso (extended 2m6f, good to soft) 19 days ago; this trip may be within range and has a chance for in-form yard.

13/2

OUR TIP

3/1

  • Place: £1.50

Form: 45-221 D

Last run: 33 days

W: 11st 11lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced 5yo; notched a first win for current yard when asserting late on at Plumpton (2m4f, soft) five weeks ago; still unexposed and a 4lb higher mark does not look insurmountable.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 149y

Class 1

13:20 Aintree

Good To Be Alive

11st 0lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Olly Murphy

Notched a first win for current yard when asserting late on at Plumpton (2m4f, soft) in January and backed that up when second of eight at Kelso (2m5f, good) six weeks ago; Sean Bowen prefers Hold The Serve but this 5yo brings unexposed potential now he's stepping up in trip under Jack Kennedy.

16/1

2nd

3

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 189y

Class 2

15:30 Kelso

Good To Be Alive

11st 11lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Lightly raced 5yo; notched a first win for current yard when asserting late on at Plumpton (2m4f, soft) five weeks ago; still unexposed and a 4lb higher mark does not look insurmountable.

3/1

1st

2

26th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 4f 116y

Class 3

14:50 Plumpton

Good To Be Alive

11st 13lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Won 2m heavy-ground maiden on debut for Gordon Elliott over a year ago and has finished runner-up in both runs for this stable since switching to handicaps this season, most recently at Hereford (2m3.5f, soft) last month; likely to be in the thick of it again.

9/4

13/2

  • Place: £1.90

Form: -21353 BF

Last run: 26 days

W: 10st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Holding his form pretty well, creditable third of ten at Kempton (2m, good to soft) four weeks ago, but he will need something extra off just 1lb lower and has stamina to prove over this much longer trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

16

9th May 2026

Good

1m 7f 144y

Class 1

13:15 Haydock

Frontier Prince

10st 3lb

J: Jack Hogan

T: Fergal O’Brien

Has proved a model of consistency in the last 12 months and he rallied for fourth behind Dance And Glance over C&D last time; however, that run underlined that the handicapper appears to have his measure for now; needs to be boosted by the fitting of cheekpieces.

20/1

4th

9

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 144y

Class 2

14:12 Haydock

Frontier Prince

10st 8lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Fergal O’Brien

He needs to find something extra on his last three performances but this novice hurdle winner (good to soft) is now 2lb lower than when third of 15 on handicap debut at Cheltenham (2m, soft) in November, and perhaps he'll be aided by the first-time tongue-tie.

14/1

3rd

8

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 189y

Class 2

15:30 Kelso

Frontier Prince

10st 12lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Fergal O’Brien

Holding his form pretty well, creditable third of ten at Kempton (2m, good to soft) four weeks ago, but he will need something extra off just 1lb lower and has stamina to prove over this much longer trip.

13/2

Form: -6484U CD

Last run: 13 days

W: 11st 1lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Hard to fancy on this season's form (last two runs over fences) but he's now 3lb lower than when winning this race 12 months ago (good to soft); unbeaten in two runs at Kelso and returning here could spark a revival.
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

Form: 12-112 D

Last run: 36 days

W: 12st 0lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 133

Form & Verdict
In fine form last spring and summer, and returned from seven months off with a good 2l second of four at Doncaster (2m3f, soft) in January; always gives his all but he'll need a career best to defy top weight.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

3

15th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 3

18:20 Aintree

Fingals Hill

11st 5lb

J: Callum Bewley

T: Peter Atkinson

5lb higher than when a 6l winner of this last year, beating Ike Sport; returns on the back of two solid efforts at Newcastle; chance.

6/1

2nd

1

31st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 62y

Class 3

16:00 Newcastle

Fingals Hill

12st 0lb

J: Callum Bewley

T: Peter Atkinson

This race was one of the three he won last season, all of them on good or good to soft at this trip; on his last winning mark and, after his running-on second over 2m1f here last time, should go well again.

2/1

2nd

1

14th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 190y

Class 3

16:00 Newcastle

Fingals Hill

12st 0lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Peter Atkinson

Won back to back at Aintree & Hexham (both 2m4f) last summer, rising to a career-high mark of 134; kicked off 2026 with a solid effort at Doncaster (2m4f, soft; runner-up) and he's capable of bouncing back from a lesser effort at Kelso since.

5/1

Form: -22336

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 4lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
Has won only one of his 13 handicaps but twice went very close at the start of the season and 3m possibly stretched his stamina at Musselburgh last time; back to a more suitable trip here and unlikely to be far away.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

(4)

25th Jun 2026

Good

1m 1f 35y

Class 4

20:00 Hamilton

Florida Dreams

10st 2lb

J: Mikey Sheehy

T: Sandy Thomson

Grade 2 bumper winner in 2023; useful hurdler subsequently; he's run okay recently over about 1m3f on his first two Flat starts but will be of greater interest when tackling further in handicaps.

7/1

3rd

1

(5)

10th Jun 2026

Good

1m 3f 15y

Class 3

19:30 Hamilton

Florida Dreams

10st 2lb

J: Kevin Stott

T: Sandy Thomson

Grade 2 bumper winner in April 2023, who also won twice over hurdles (2m) for Nicky Richards; 22-1, lacked the pace to challenge when fifth of nine on Flat debut at Haydock (11.5f, soft; Yafreh about 1l ahead in fourth) three weeks ago; likely to be seen in a better light once handicapping.

8/1

5th

3

(2)

21st May 2026

Soft

1m 3f 140y

Class 3

14:30 Haydock

Florida Dreams

10st 2lb

J: Kevin Stott

T: Sandy Thomson

Grade 2 bumper winner at Aintree in April 2023; well beaten over hurdles on last two starts (stable debut latest) but he's shown some useful form in that code and is an interesting contender on this Flat debut.

12/1

Form: -31124 BF

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 3lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Won five of his first six completed starts over hurdles (1m7f-2m2f) and has run well in defeat on his last two; now up in distance, which may well suit him, and he handles any ground; solid claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 144y

Class 2

14:12 Haydock

Smart Decision

10st 11lb

J: James Bowen

T: Tim Easterby

Won four of his five starts in 2025 and went close off 1lb higher than today over C&D (good to soft) in January; below par on last two starts but the 2m5f trip then soft ground are possible excuses; no surprise if he bounces back with a good performance in first-time cheekpieces.

14/1

5th

1

25th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 48y

Class 4

15:11 Hexham

Smart Decision

12st 1lb

J: Mr Thomas Easterby

T: Tim Easterby

A two-time winner (around 2m) either side of Christmas and he has continued in good nick, failing to stay when stepped up to 2m5f at Kelso last month; this C&D winner can bounce back.

8/1

7th

6

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 189y

Class 2

15:30 Kelso

Smart Decision

11st 3lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Tim Easterby

Won five of his first six completed starts over hurdles (1m7f-2m2f) and has run well in defeat on his last two; now up in distance, which may well suit him, and he handles any ground; solid claims.

7/1

Form: 11115- D BF

Last run: 441 days

W: 12st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 133

Form & Verdict
On a roll in the second half of 2024, rattling off six straight wins (2m5f-3m1f) before coming unstuck when favourite for Grade 2 novice at Cheltenham; it's possible he's still to reach his ceiling but he'll need to be firing on all cylinders after 441 days off.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

10th Jul 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 2

18:41 Worcester

Skyjack Hijack

10st 13lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jennie Candlish

Front-runner whose 2024 six-timer came over longer trips than today's; no evidence in three runs since a 14-month absence that he retains sufficient ability to figure here; gains cheekpieces and a tongue-tie.

20/1

3

16th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 2

18:50 Uttoxeter

Skyjack Hijack

11st 6lb

J: William Shanahan

T: Jennie Candlish

Went up 41lb for his six wins in staying hurdles in 2024; was subsequently absent for 441 days and hasn't run anything like as well since.

16/1

6th

1

24th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 3

15:47 Perth

Skyjack Hijack

12st 2lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jennie Candlish

On a roll in the second half of 2024, rattling off six straight wins (2m5f-3m1f), but pulled up on belated return at Kelso at the end of February; entitled to strip fitter but can still only watch.

20/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £40.00
Straight Forecast £29.58
Tricast £121.82
Trifecta £230.40

Selections

The Times:

Good To Be Alive

POSTDATA:

Bold Light

SPOTLIGHT:

Smart Decision

RP RATINGS:

Florida Dreams

TOPSPEED:

Fingal's Hill

D Express:

Good To Be Alive

Daily Mirror:

Good To Be Alive

The Sun:

Good To Be Alive

The Star:

Good To Be Alive

Daily Record:

Good To Be Alive

Telegraph:

Smart Decision

The Guardian:

Bold Light

Daily Mail:

Bold Light