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Formscan  - WELSH CHARGER won this contest 12 months ago from a 1lb lower mark and was a respectable fifth in the Scottish Champion Hurdle on his next outing. The eight-year-old's fourth in the Greatwood in November is also decent form and he can bounce back from an underwhelming effort at Ascot last time. Afadil chased that rival home last year and won the 2024 renewal, so he has to be noted. Others to consider are Williethebuilder and Kateira.

1
-143
Head to Head

In the last 3 years Kateira (GB) has met

HorseNo. Of times
Welsh Charger (IRE)1
16th Mar 2024 Kempton(2m 5f , Hcap Hurdle, Good to Soft-Soft in places) Kateira (GB) 4th (15/2 11-8 Rated 136) N de Boinville 17.81L in front of Welsh Charger (IRE) 9th (20/1 10-9 Rated 123) David Noonan (11 ran)
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2
3211
Williethebuilder (IRE) 7,b g 11-7

Arcadio (GER)-Crippled Cougar(Robin Des Champs)

(21) d4 (Mrs Susan Carsberg)
Rated 138

Head to Head

In the last 3 years Williethebuilder (IRE) has met

HorseNo. Of times
Afadil (FR)1
22nd Nov 2024 Ascot(1m 7f 152yds, Hcap Hurdle, Good) Afadil (FR) 5th (9/1 11-1 Rated 125) Freddie Gingell Williethebuilder (IRE) pulled up (10/1 11-9 Rated 130) Harry Skelton (9 ran)
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3
-105
Gibbs Island (GB) 5,ch g 11-5

Iffraaj (GB)-Dream Book(Sea The Stars)

(55) d2 (Raceshare - Gibbs Island)
Rated 136

Head to Head

In the last 3 years Gibbs Island (GB) has met

HorseNo. Of times
Welsh Charger (IRE)1
16th Nov 2025 Cheltenham(2m 87yds, Hcap Hurdle, Soft) Welsh Charger (IRE) 4th (28/1 10-13 Rated 129) C Gethings 17.00L in front of Gibbs Island (GB) 11th (18/1 11-10 Rated 140) Stan Sheppard (18 ran)
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Static (FR)2
7th Dec 2025 Kelso(2m 51yds, Hcap Hurdle, Soft) Static (FR) 3rd (7/1 10-8 Rated 118) B Hughes 9.00L in front of Gibbs Island (GB) 5th (6/1 12-0 Rated 138) Stan Sheppard (6 ran)
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11th Oct 2025 Chepstow(2m 11yds, Hcap Hurdle, Good to Firm-Good in places) Gibbs Island (GB) 1st (9/2 11-12 Rated 132) Stan Sheppard Static (FR) fell (6/1 10-9 Rated 120) Charlie Maggs (13 ran)
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4
-046
Welsh Charger (IRE) 8,b g 10-10

Westerner (GB)-Answer Ur Phone(Flemensfirth)

(42) cd1 (Jones, Spiers & Hartwell)
Rated 127

Head to Head

In the last 3 years Welsh Charger (IRE) has met

HorseNo. Of times
Kateira (GB)1
16th Mar 2024 Kempton(2m 5f , Hcap Hurdle, Good to Soft-Soft in places) Kateira (GB) 4th (15/2 11-8 Rated 136) N de Boinville 17.81L in front of Welsh Charger (IRE) 9th (20/1 10-9 Rated 123) David Noonan (11 ran)
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Afadil (FR)1
1st Feb 2025 Musselburgh(1m 7f 124yds, Hcap Hurdle, Good to Soft) Welsh Charger (IRE) 1st (14/1 11-5 Rated 126) David Noonan 1.00L in front of Afadil (FR) 2nd (3/1Fav 10-10 Rated 120) Freddie Gingell (12 ran)
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Gibbs Island (GB)1
16th Nov 2025 Cheltenham(2m 87yds, Hcap Hurdle, Soft) Welsh Charger (IRE) 4th (28/1 10-13 Rated 129) C Gethings 17.00L in front of Gibbs Island (GB) 11th (18/1 11-10 Rated 140) Stan Sheppard (18 ran)
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5
12-6
Wise Eagle (IRE) 9,ch g 10-8

Free Eagle (IRE)-Best Be Careful(Exceed And Excel)

(15) cd1 (The Seahouses Syndicate)
Rated 125

6
1110
Saligo Bay (IRE) 8,b g 10-7

New Bay (GB)-Glorification(Champs Elysees)

(15) d6 (Lpd Demolition Ltd)
Rated 124

7
-734
Afadil (FR) 7,b g 10-2

Camelot (GB)-Afsheen(Invincible Spirit)

(30) cd2 (Mr P J Vogt)
Rated 119 Won When Rated 124-122

Head to Head

In the last 3 years Afadil (FR) has met

HorseNo. Of times
Welsh Charger (IRE)1
1st Feb 2025 Musselburgh(1m 7f 124yds, Hcap Hurdle, Good to Soft) Welsh Charger (IRE) 1st (14/1 11-5 Rated 126) David Noonan 1.00L in front of Afadil (FR) 2nd (3/1Fav 10-10 Rated 120) Freddie Gingell (12 ran)
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Williethebuilder (IRE)1
22nd Nov 2024 Ascot(1m 7f 152yds, Hcap Hurdle, Good) Afadil (FR) 5th (9/1 11-1 Rated 125) Freddie Gingell Williethebuilder (IRE) pulled up (10/1 11-9 Rated 130) Harry Skelton (9 ran)
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City Of Diamonds (IRE)1
1st Jan 2026 Musselburgh(1m 7f 124yds, Hcap Hurdle, Good to Soft (Good in places)) Afadil (FR) 4th (7/4Fav 11-5 Rated 119) Miss Olive Nicholls 3.50L in front of City Of Diamonds (IRE) 6th (7/2 11-8 Rated 117) B Hughes (9 ran)
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Star Of Guiting (IRE)1
1st Jan 2026 Musselburgh(1m 7f 124yds, Hcap Hurdle, Good to Soft (Good in places)) Star Of Guiting (IRE) 1st (15/2 11-0 Rated 109) Craig Nichol 5.25L in front of Afadil (FR) 4th (7/4Fav 11-5 Rated 119) Miss Olive Nicholls (9 ran)
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8
1216
City Of Diamonds (IRE) 6,b g 10-2

Diamond Boy (FR)-Honey Rosie(Byron)

(30) cd1 (Mr J Fyffe)
Rated 117

Head to Head

In the last 3 years City Of Diamonds (IRE) has met

HorseNo. Of times
Afadil (FR)1
1st Jan 2026 Musselburgh(1m 7f 124yds, Hcap Hurdle, Good to Soft (Good in places)) Afadil (FR) 4th (7/4Fav 11-5 Rated 119) Miss Olive Nicholls 3.50L in front of City Of Diamonds (IRE) 6th (7/2 11-8 Rated 117) B Hughes (9 ran)
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Star Of Guiting (IRE)2
1st Jan 2026 Musselburgh(1m 7f 124yds, Hcap Hurdle, Good to Soft (Good in places)) Star Of Guiting (IRE) 1st (15/2 11-0 Rated 109) Craig Nichol 8.75L in front of City Of Diamonds (IRE) 6th (7/2 11-8 Rated 117) B Hughes (9 ran)
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28th Nov 2025 Musselburgh(1m 7f 124yds, Hcap Hurdle, Good to Soft) City Of Diamonds (IRE) 1st (6/1 12-0 Rated 110) B Hughes 4.75L in front of Star Of Guiting (IRE) 2nd (25/1 11-12 Rated 108) Craig Nichol (9 ran)
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9
-F33
Static (FR) 5,b g 10-2

Clovis Du Berlais (FR)-Electrostatique(Charming Groom)

hd3(55) (Mr G E Fitzpatrick)
Rated 117

Head to Head

In the last 3 years Static (FR) has met

HorseNo. Of times
Gibbs Island (GB)2
7th Dec 2025 Kelso(2m 51yds, Hcap Hurdle, Soft) Static (FR) 3rd (7/1 10-8 Rated 118) B Hughes 9.00L in front of Gibbs Island (GB) 5th (6/1 12-0 Rated 138) Stan Sheppard (6 ran)
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11th Oct 2025 Chepstow(2m 11yds, Hcap Hurdle, Good to Firm-Good in places) Gibbs Island (GB) 1st (9/2 11-12 Rated 132) Stan Sheppard Static (FR) fell (6/1 10-9 Rated 120) Charlie Maggs (13 ran)
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10
3U21
Star Of Guiting (IRE) 5,br g 10-2

Vadamos (FR)-Innisfree Dawn(Yeats)

(30) cd1 (Racing On Together Club)
Rated 115

Head to Head

In the last 3 years Star Of Guiting (IRE) has met

HorseNo. Of times
Afadil (FR)1
1st Jan 2026 Musselburgh(1m 7f 124yds, Hcap Hurdle, Good to Soft (Good in places)) Star Of Guiting (IRE) 1st (15/2 11-0 Rated 109) Craig Nichol 5.25L in front of Afadil (FR) 4th (7/4Fav 11-5 Rated 119) Miss Olive Nicholls (9 ran)
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City Of Diamonds (IRE)2
1st Jan 2026 Musselburgh(1m 7f 124yds, Hcap Hurdle, Good to Soft (Good in places)) Star Of Guiting (IRE) 1st (15/2 11-0 Rated 109) Craig Nichol 8.75L in front of City Of Diamonds (IRE) 6th (7/2 11-8 Rated 117) B Hughes (9 ran)
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28th Nov 2025 Musselburgh(1m 7f 124yds, Hcap Hurdle, Good to Soft) City Of Diamonds (IRE) 1st (6/1 12-0 Rated 110) B Hughes 4.75L in front of Star Of Guiting (IRE) 2nd (25/1 11-12 Rated 108) Craig Nichol (9 ran)
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Probable SP 3/1 Williethebuilder, 7/2 Afadil, 9/2 Welsh Charger, 10/1 Kateira, Star Of Guiting, Wise Eagle, 12/1 Gibbs Island, Static, 14/1 City Of Diamonds, Saligo Bay.

Previous Years
2025 Welsh Charger 7 11-5 David Noonan 14/1 (A Ralph)
2024 Afadil 5 10-8 Freddie Gingell 10/3Fav (Paul Nicholls)
2023 Collingham 5 9-11 Charlie Maggs 11/2 (Donald McCain)
2022 Socialist Agenda 6 10-5 Adam Wedge 4/1 (L J Morgan)
2021 Christopher Wood 6 11-2 Angus Cheleda 11/4 (Paul Nicholls)
2020 Sebastopol 6 11-9 J J Burke 9/2 (Tom Lacey)

Symbols Explained

WS Wind Surgery ts2 Tongue Strap vs2 Visor hd2 Hood es2 Eye Shield ec2 Eye Cover cp2 Cheekpiece bl2 Blinkers tt2 Tongue Tie bo2 Blinkers one cowl e2 Ear Plugs p2 Pacifier pc2 Pacifier with cowls ps2 Pacifier one cowl sr2 Shadow Roll co2 Cheekpiece one side sb2 Sheepskin Browband cc2 Cornell Collar xb2 Crossed Nose Band cd2 Course and Distance Winner c2 Course Winner d2 Distance Winner bf Beaten Favourite on Last Run

The superscript number on headgear bl2 indicates number of times worn. A plus bl+ indicates more than 10 times where as red background bl1indicates first time.

Trainer/Jockey In Form last 21 days

Trainer/Jockey
Wins
Runs
%
D Skelton/Tristan Durrell
5
29
17

Tom Lacey/Stan Sheppard
2
11
18

S England/Jonathan England
1
9
11

Paul Nicholls/Freddie Keighley
1
3
33

Donald McCain/B Hughes
1
10
10

For Trainer/Jockeys in this race

Trainers In Form last 21 days

Trainer
Wins
Runs
%
D Skelton
16
90
17

Donald McCain
6
78
7

Paul Nicholls
5
42
11

Ewan Whillans
3
18
16

Tom Lacey
3
15
20

Christian Williams
1
9
11

S England
1
20
5

For Trainers in this race

Jockeys In Form last 21 days

Jockey
Wins
Runs
%
B Hughes
9
48
18

S W Quinlan
7
28
25

Charlie Maggs
5
28
17

Tristan Durrell
5
30
16

Stan Sheppard
4
22
18

C Gethings
4
23
17

Toby McCain-Mitchell
3
22
13

Freddie Keighley
2
15
13

Jonathan England
1
9
11

For Jockeys in this race

NH Trainer Stats for Musselburgh

Trainer
Wins
Runs
%
Donald McCain
96
460
21

Paul Nicholls
37
106
35

Ewan Whillans
7
55
13

A Ralph
7
12
58

Adam Nicol
4
38
11

Christian Williams
1
5
20

Tom Lacey
1
7
14

D Skelton
1
5
20

S England
0
13
0

For Trainers in this race

NH Trainer Stats for Musselburgh

Jockey
Wins
Runs
%
B Hughes
125
670
19

S W Quinlan
6
64
9

Charlie Maggs
3
37
8

C Gethings
2
9
22

Tristan Durrell
1
2
50

Jonathan England
1
24
4

Joshua Thompson
1
13
8

Freddie Keighley
1
3
33

Toby McCain-Mitchell
0
2
0

Stan Sheppard
0
2
0

For Jockeys in this race

Course Form for Musselburgh

Horse
Wins
Runs
Williethebuilder (IRE)
0
1
Welsh Charger (IRE)
2
2
Wise Eagle (IRE)
5
8
Afadil (FR)
2
5
City Of Diamonds (IRE)
1
2
Static (FR)
0
1
Star Of Guiting (IRE)
1
2