Soft Ground expected from now until end of season.

As the first Cheltenham National Hunt fixture of 2026/27 begins on Friday it’s appropriate that the flat season looks like winding down under soft or heavy conditions.

One of the big disappointments of the Haggas season is the number of 3yo’s that have won Class 4,5,6 handicaps.

Only 11 Class 4,5,6 3yo handicaps have been won this turf season, compared to 35 last year. Three of the four runners on Thursday are 3yo’s tackling Class 4 or 5 handicaps and it signifies a Red Flag for punting purposes.

Along with the 4yo handicappers – It is the biggest reason why since Royal Ascot we have been treading water, in terms of profits. Since the 01 July only three 3yo’s Silver Lake, Venetian Lion and Pierian have won Class 4 handicaps from 44 runners. Last year from 49 runners there were 18 winners during the same 4 month period.

It all adds up to a fact that this year’s Somerville Lodge 3yo’s rated below 80 are not making the progress normally expected from the yard. In previous campaigns around a dozen would win in Class 4 and then progress to win more races off higher marks.

Thursday’s card at Newmarket will be hard work on soft ground and Brighton Beach is on something of a recovery mission following a disappointing run when beaten as the market leader in her first attempt in handicap company at Sandown.

It goes without saying that Brighton Beach in this ultra competitive 17 runner Newmarket handicap at 2.20 cannot be recommended for betting purposes.

It is a very similar story with Venetian Sky who has looked a filly that hasn’t always been willing to get going when things get tough.

She is unproven on Soft ground and as an 8 race maiden there is very little to recommend her for betting purposes in what is a competitive Class 5 handicap against colts and older horses over 1m at 15.30.

At Southwell Acclamique bred by the hugely successful Carisbrooke Stud makes a belated debut in a weak Southwell maiden over 6f at 7.30. She may well be good enough to win but it is guesswork and she is best watched.

Another of the disappointing 3yo’s Desert Treasure attempts to win for the first time this season after 6 previous attempts stepped up to 6f in the all age handicap at 8.00pm.

The step up in trip doesn’t look likely to suit her and she is another example of a 3yo Class 4 Somerville Lodge handicapper to avoid.