Worth a punt? Three horses who will love heavy ground at Punchestown on Monday
4 hours ago
HEREFORD
26 January 2026
Monday 26th January
Green Dragon Hotel Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 4) Racecard
- Channel:
- Distance: 2m 8y
- Going: Soft
- Runners
- 5
- Type
- Chase Turf
- Surface
- Turf
- Weather
- Rain and snow
Selection
Selection
Selected At
Royal Mer
Selected at:
13/8
Loves the mud, evident with five wins over fences on heavy ground in the 2023/24 season. Hasn’t won since but has been in good heart and looks set to go close.
Bookmaker
Offer
Best Odds
Bet Here
13/8
-
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50/1 Sir Gino To Win 3.00 At Cheltenham
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Racecard
No.(Draw)
Runner
Best Odds
D
3 x Distance Winner - Won 3 times before at this distance
Five-time chase winner who relishes testing ground; runner-up on both starts this term.
227-22
Age: 8
Weight: 11-13
OR: 114
Days: 17
| Date | Course | Race | Type | Weight | Pos | 1st/2nd | SP | OR | RPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Jan 26 | Exe Exeter | 17.5f GS | 4HcCh | 11-11 t | 2/11 | Bonza Boy (¾L) | 15/2 | 112 | 117 |
| 16 Dec 25 | Wcn Wincanton | 20f Sft | 4HcCh | 11-11 t | 2/7 | Noahsgreatrainbow (6L) | 13/2 | 112 | 114 |
| 28 Mar 25 | Fon Fontwell | 19.5f Gd | 2HcCh | 11-12 tp | 7/12 | Joe Cotton (19L) | 13/2 | 114 | 105 |
| 6 Mar 25 | Fon Fontwell | 19.5f Sft | 4HcCh | 11-8 tp | 2/6 | Diplomatic Ash (½L) | 7/2 | 113 | 119 |
| 11 Feb 25 | Lin Lingfield | 20f Hy | 4HcCh | 11-3 tp | 2/6 | Johnny Jump Up (10L) | 5/1 | 115 | 117 |
| 25 Jan 25 | Utt Uttoxeter | 20f GS | 4HcCh | 11-13 tp1 | 3/9 | Immortal Fame (17½L) | 22/1 | 118 | 114 |
Cold Recent Form Trainer - 1 wins from 27 in the last 14 days (4%)
Second on his return to fences last month; tailed off since but today's ground can help.
2U-626
Age: 6
Weight: 11-12
OR: 113
Days: 28
| Date | Course | Race | Type | Weight | Pos | 1st/2nd | SP | OR | RPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 Dec 25 | Nby Newbury | 16.5f Gd | 3HcCh | 11-1 | 6/6 | Old Cowboy (37L) | 5/1 | 115 | 86 |
| 5 Dec 25 | San Sandown | 15.5f GS | 3HcCh | 11-2 | 2/5 | Keep Running (18L) | 8/1 | 117 | 113 |
| 9 Nov 25 | San Sandown | 20f GS | 3HcH | 11-5 | 6/6 | Glynn Brae (55L) | 16/1 | 122 | 72 |
| 8 Dec 24 | Aut Auteuil | 22f Hy | 4yChG3 | 10-6 | UR/9 | Kolokico () | 13/1 | - | - |
| 24 Nov 24 | Aut Auteuil | 22f Hy | 4yCh | 10-10 | 2/9 | King Conti (12L) | 42/10 | - | 110 |
| 5 Nov 24 | Bou Bordeaux Le Bouscat | 19f Hy | 4yCh | 10-10 p | 2/6 | Chance De Ballon (¼L) | 4/1 | - | 102 |
D
2 x Distance Winner - Won 2 times before at this distance
Tailed off over hurdles here last month and back over fences at Exeter 17 days ago.
PF-488
Age: 9
Weight: 11-8
OR: 109
Days: 17
| Date | Course | Race | Type | Weight | Pos | 1st/2nd | SP | OR | RPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Jan 26 | Exe Exeter | 17.5f GS | 4HcCh | 11-13 | 8/11 | Bonza Boy (37L) | 100/1 | 114 | 83 |
| 20 Dec 25 | Her Hereford | 19.5f Sft | 3HcH | 10-6 | 8/8 | Came From Nowhere (53L) | 50/1 | 111 | 64 |
| 30 Nov 25 | Lei Leicester | 15.5f Sft | 4HcH | 12-0 | 4/8 | He's A Latchico (5¾L) | 16/1 | 113 | 111 |
| 18 Dec 24 | Lud Ludlow | 16f GS | 4HcCh | 11-9 | F/6 | Famoso () | 10/1 | 122 | - |
| 23 Nov 24 | Asc Ascot | 17f Gd | 2HcCh | 10-11 | PU/8 | Martator () | 40/1 | 123 | - |
| 30 Oct 24 | Nab Newton Abbot | 17f Hy | 4HcH | 11-2 | 2/6 | Major Fortune (2¾L) | 12/1 | 113 | 114 |
D
3 x Distance Winner - Won 3 times before at this distance
Only fifth at Exeter last time but runner-up on first three starts this term.
1-2225
Age: 9
Weight: 11-6
OR: 107
Days: 17
| Date | Course | Race | Type | Weight | Pos | 1st/2nd | SP | OR | RPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Jan 26 | Exe Exeter | 17.5f GS | 4HcCh | 11-7 | 5/11 | Bonza Boy (8¾L) | 5/1 | 108 | 106 |
| 27 Dec 25 | Chp Chepstow | 16f GS | 4HcCh | 10-11 | 2/5 | Jour d'Evasion (10L) | 11/4 | 108 | 109 |
| 29 Nov 25 | Ban Bangor-on-Dee | 17.5f Hy | 4HcCh | 11-5 | 2/7 | Jour d'Evasion (4¼L) | 15/2 | 108 | 115 |
| 15 Nov 25 | Utt Uttoxeter | 16f Hy | 4HcChM | 11-1 | 2/5 | Blacksamssenorita (½L) | 9/2 | 106 | 112 |
| 22 Feb 25 | Chp Chepstow | 19.5f Sft | 4NvHcCh | 10-10 | 1/5 | Royal Jewel (1½L) | 6/1 | 101 | 109 |
| 30 Jan 25 | Wcn Wincanton | 20f Hy | 4NvHcCh | 11-5 | PU/6 | Filanderer () | 9/2 | 101 | - |
Fourth on chasing debut at Wetherby and unseated four out at Lingfield last month.
P97-4U
Age: 6
Weight: 11-2
OR: 103
Days: 36
| Date | Course | Race | Type | Weight | Pos | 1st/2nd | SP | OR | RPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 Dec 25 | Lin Lingfield | 16f GS | 4HcCh | 11-3 ht | UR/6 | Jaipaletemps () | 5/1 | 103 | - |
| 26 Nov 25 | Wet Wetherby | 15f Sft | 4NvHcCh | 11-0 ht | 4/6 | Throatlash (11L) | 12/1 | 105 | 105 |
| 10 Mar 25 | Str Stratford | 18.5f GS | 4HcH | 11-13 t | 7/13 | Chicago Storm (16½L) | 10/1 | 109 | 92 |
| 19 Feb 25 | Lud Ludlow | 16f GS | 4HcH | 11-11 t | 9/9 | Continuance (17L) | 66/1 | 115 | 100 |
| 28 Jan 25 | Chp Chepstow | 19.5f Hy | 3HcH | 11-12 t | PU/11 | Boyles Hill () | 66/1 | 120 | - |
| 26 Dec 24 | Fon Fontwell | 17.5f Sft | 4NvH | 11-9 t | 4/9 | Kalium (30L) | 6/1 | - | 90 |
Verdict
The safest option here is five-time chase winner ROYAL MER who finished ahead of Passing Kate (second choice) last time.
Royal Mer
Betting Forecast:
13/8 Royal Mer,
9/4 Passing Kate,
7/2 Mon Champion,
5/1 Hors Jeu,
25/1 Wewillgowithplanb
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