A £100,000 bonus is on offer to the horse that wins this Saturday’s Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso if they can successfully follow up at the Cheltenham Festival.
Cracking Rhapsody romped to an emphatic victory in last season’s renewal, but did not run in the March mega meeting, and will attempt to retain the crown before a potential crack at the County Hurdle.
The Shunter was the last horse to land the double in 2021 and trainer Emmet Mullins will be hoping Dublin Racing Festival winner Vischio can follow in his hoofsteps.
Favour And Fortune carries top weight on his return to Scotland for the first time since landing last term’s Scottish Champion Hurdle and also holds an entry for the County Hurdle.
Tellherthename, fourth in this season’s Fighting Fifth, is also among the leading contenders for Saturday’s 15:30 to hold an entry for the County Hurdle.
The latest Morebattle Hurdle odds are on the Paddy Power website and Paddy Power app, otherwise Timeform’s guide to the runners as well as betting tips from the racing boffins can be found below.
Morebattle Hurdle 2025 verdict
Timeform: FAVOUR AND FORTUNE plundered a big prize in Scotland last spring and might be able to do so again on the back of a good run in a similarly hot race at Newbury last month. Alan King’s strong traveller should prove suited by the return to likely less testing conditions and is preferred to Irish-raider Vischio, whose trainer won this with The Shunter in 2021, and Alnilam. Petrol Head and Tellherthename are other interesting contenders.
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
Morebattle Hurdle 2025 runners and riders
The following horses have been declared for the Morebattle Hurdle 2025.
Favour And Fortune
Trainer: Alan King Jockey: Tom Cannon Age: 7 Weight: 12st 0lbs
Enjoyed a good first campaign over hurdles, culminating with a win in the Scottish Champion Hurdle (handicap) at Ayr (2m, good to soft) in April. Stepped up on reappearance when fourth of 17 in valuable event at Newbury (2m, soft) 3 weeks ago. Return to likely less testing ground here should suit.
*****
Tellherthename
Trainer: Jonjo & A.J. O’Neill Jockey: Kielan Woods Age: 6 Weight: 11st 11lbs
Useful novice hurdler for Ben Pauling last season. Pitched in at the deep end in Fighting Fifth at Newcastle on reappearance for new yard and ran well in fourth. Very interesting contender in his first handicap.
****
Alnilam
Trainer: Olly Murphy Jockey: Sean Quinlan Age: 6 Weight: 11st 7lbs
Course novice winner last season who has progressed in handicaps this time round, posting a pair of good runner-up efforts before resuming winning ways at Southwell (2m, heavy) on New Year’s Day. Still looks fairly treated after a 4 lb rise.
****
Vischio
Trainer: Emmet Mullins Jockey: Danny Mullins Age: 8 Weight: 11st 7lbs
Ended her time with Dick Donohoe with a win at Punchestown in November and followed up for new trainer Emmet Mullins in a valuable event at the Dublin Racing Festival last month, shooting clear. Much respected on hat-trick bid for a yard which has tasted success in this before.
****
Cracking Rhapsody
Trainer: Ewan Whillans Jockey: Craig Nichol Age: 6 Weight: 11st 6lbs
Won this last year and took his C&D record to 3-4 when seeing off 8 rivals on soft ground in December. Well held in a warm race at Windsor last month but his C&D record affords him respect.
***
Milldam
Trainer: Jamie Snowden Jockey: Ben Jones Age: 7 Weight: 11st 6lbs
Let down by his jumping when below-par fourth on reappearance but back on the up with a bang when landing a 2m Haydock handicap (heavy) just before Christmas, making it 4 wins in his last 6 starts. A 7 lb rise demands another career best, though.
***
Aucunrisque
Trainer: Chris Gordon Jockey: Freddie Gordon Age: 9 Weight: 11st 6lbs
First win since his 2023 success in this when landing a decent 2m Ascot handicap in November but needs to shrug 2 poor runs since.
**
Petrol Head
Trainer: Neil Mulholland Jockey: Conor O’Farrell Age: 9 Weight: 11st 4lbs
Back from an absence with a bang last summer, winning handicaps at Downpatrick and Bellewstown for Katy Brown. Off again since but evidently capable when fresh and could have been more to offer for new trainer Neil Mulholland.
****
Slugger
Trainer: Harry Derham Jockey: Paul O’Brien Age: 6 Weight: 11st 4lbs
Talented but quirky in time with Iain Jardine but has looked much more straightforward for new yard, completing a hat-trick at Musselburgh on New Year’s Day. Thriving but another 6 lb higher in a deeper race now.
***
Gentleman Bill
Trainer: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero Jockey: Charlie Todd Age: 7 Weight: 11st 1lbs
Winning pointer who has made a good start to his Rules career, winning 2m hurdles at Bangor (novice) and Doncaster (handicap) before Christmas. Another good run when second back in a novice at Catterick in January. Looks on a stiff mark back in a handicap, though.
**
Ginger Mail
Trainer: N. W. Alexander Jockey: Bruce Lynn Age: 9 Weight: 11st 0lbs
Derailed by a bad mistake 3 out when pulled up over C&D last time but consistent in the main and was second in this race last year off only 2 lb higher.
***
Florida Dreams
Trainer: Nicky Richards Jockey: Danny McMenamin Age: 7 Weight: 10st 13lbs
Grade 2 bumper winner who doubled his hurdles tally on return at Hexham (2m) in October. Respectable efforts in defeat since without suggesting he has enough in hand to win a strong handicap such as this.
**
Cormier
Trainer: Brian Ellison Jockey: William Maggs Age: 9 Weight: 10st 12lbs
Won this race in 2022 but off for 18 months prior to finishing well held at Wetherby 4 weeks ago. Will need to leave that well behind to play a prominent role in this race again. Wears first-time cheekpieces.
**
Here Comes Georgie
Trainer: Patrick Neville Jockey: Lee Edwards Age: 7 Weight: 10st 11lbs
Has had a productive season, scoring twice over hurdles and fences. A jump up to Grade 1 level over fences proved a step too far last time but not discounted back in a handicap with first-time cheekpieces added to his tongue tie.
***
Wilful
Trainer: Jonjo & A.J. O’Neill Jockey: Jonjo O’Neill Jr. Age: 6 Weight: 10st 10lbs
Progressive winner in bumpers and similar story over hurdles, completing hat-trick in a Worcester novice in August. His winning has ended in handicaps but he did impress with the way he travelled for a long way when fourth over 19f at Ascot last time and it’s possible this drop to 2m will suit.
***
Old Gregorian
Trainer: Lucinda Russell Jockey: Conner McCann Age: 6 Weight: 10st 9lbs
Back on track refitted with a tongue strap this autumn, supplementing his C&D success in clear-cut fashion at Wetherby (2m) in November. Another good effort over C&D when second in December and creditable sixth of 12 in Scottish County at Musselburgh since.
***
N’Golo
Trainer: Patrick Neville Jockey: Stan Sheppard Age: 10 Weight: 10st 9lbs
Winner of the 2022 Swinton here and he posted his best run since on the back of a wind op when a fair third of 6 in handicap hurdle at Wetherby (2m, good) in November. Pulled up at Haydock a week later and not seen since.
**
Rock House
Trainer: Dan Skelton Jockey: Harry Skelton Age: 7 Weight: 10st 8lbs
Creditable third in handicaps at Huntingdon and Southwell this winter. Won’t need to raise his game too much in refitted cheekpieces for a yard always feared in top handicap hurdles.
***
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