Laafi
Laafi finished only 12th in the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham on Sunday, but he ran much better than his finishing position suggests. Weak in the market beforehand, he travelled well in midfield for Philip Byrnes through the early stages of the race, even if he was probably a little keener than ideal. He made good ground on the run down the hill, wide and still a little keen, he moved nicely just behind the leaders at the third last flight. He wasn't great at the second last, however, he landed a little awkwardly, and he came under a ride after that. He faded from the home turn then, as lack of a recent run and his early exertions probably took their toll.
It was still a really encouraging run by Bill Durkan's horse. A good handicapper on the flat for William Haggas, he won a 10-furlong handicap on heavy ground at the back-end of the 2023 flat season, and he won another 10-furlong handicap at Doncaster at the back-end of the 2024 season on soft ground off a mark of 90, after which he was given a flat mark of 95. He was impressive too in winning his maiden hurdle at Limerick's Christmas Festival last year, when he beat two talented individuals in Kainsburg and Auto Portrait, now rated in the 130s and in the 120s respectively.
This was his first run since he finished third of three behind Anzadam in a Grade 3 race at Navan in January, and he should be able to build on this. He is only five and this was just his third run over hurdles, so he has bags of potential for progression. He is at his best on soft or heavy ground, so he will be of interest in the good two-mile handicap hurdles as we move into the winter.
Cheltenham, 16th November 2025
Back