January 26 / 14.50 Plumpton

14.50

Soft

Southern Cranes Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £12581.97
  • 2m 4f 116y
  • Class 3
  • 7 runners
SKY
View Course
Southern Cranes Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

OUR TIP

9/4 (Won)

  • Win: £3.00
  • Place: £1.60

Form: 145-22

Last run: 37 days

W: 11st 13lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 126

Form & Verdict
Won 2m heavy-ground maiden on debut for Gordon Elliott over a year ago and has finished runner-up in both runs for this stable since switching to handicaps this season, most recently at Hereford (2m3.5f, soft) last month; likely to be in the thick of it again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 149y

Class 1

13:20 Aintree

Good To Be Alive

11st 0lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Olly Murphy

Notched a first win for current yard when asserting late on at Plumpton (2m4f, soft) in January and backed that up when second of eight at Kelso (2m5f, good) six weeks ago; Sean Bowen prefers Hold The Serve but this 5yo brings unexposed potential now he's stepping up in trip under Jack Kennedy.

16/1

2nd

3

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 189y

Class 2

15:30 Kelso

Good To Be Alive

11st 11lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Lightly raced 5yo; notched a first win for current yard when asserting late on at Plumpton (2m4f, soft) five weeks ago; still unexposed and a 4lb higher mark does not look insurmountable.

3/1

1st

2

26th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 4f 116y

Class 3

14:50 Plumpton

Good To Be Alive

11st 13lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Won 2m heavy-ground maiden on debut for Gordon Elliott over a year ago and has finished runner-up in both runs for this stable since switching to handicaps this season, most recently at Hereford (2m3.5f, soft) last month; likely to be in the thick of it again.

9/4

16/1

  • Place: £4.70

Form: 1-7157

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 1lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Took hurdles score to four when winning at Leicester (1m7.5f, soft) in November and produced a solid effort in his follow-up bid off this mark at Ascot the following month; however, he has to be forgiven a below-par effort at Sandown since.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

3

24th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 164y

Class 4

18:20 Fontwell

Hes A Latchico

11st 4lb

J: Freddie Mitchell

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Four-time hurdle winner who has form figures of 11631 at Fontwell; has mixed record this season but he went close at Plumpton (2m4f, soft) on his penultimate run and was rallying in a close fifth when he unseated two out at Kempton (2m, good) last time; one of two runners for the yard and he's an interesting contender back at this track.

11/2

3

23rd Mar 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

16:40 Kempton

Hes A Latchico

11st 10lb

J: Rob Hargreaves

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Gained his spring/autumn wins last year at about 2m; ran well over 2m4f at Plumpton most recently; may remain competitive, back down in distance.

4/1

2nd

7

26th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 4f 116y

Class 3

14:50 Plumpton

Hes A Latchico

11st 1lb

J: Tom Queally

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Took hurdles score to four when winning at Leicester (1m7.5f, soft) in November and produced a solid effort in his follow-up bid off this mark at Ascot the following month; however, he has to be forgiven a below-par effort at Sandown since.

16/1

Form: P-1128 D BF

Last run: 45 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
Dual hurdle winner at Kelso, most recently in October (2m6.5f, good) on yard debut; followed that with a 1l defeat at Cheltenham (soft) in November before finishing a perfectly acceptable eighth of ten in a Class 2 there last month (3m); now back in trip but should give another good account.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

8

25th Apr 2026

Good

2m 3f 178y

Class 2

17:15 Sandown

Lucky Manifest

10st 7lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Tom Lacey

Started off for new stable in excellent form in the autumn, winning at Kelso (2m6f, good) before big-field second at Cheltenham (2m5f, soft), but his progress has stalled a bit since; needs combination of last month's wind op and first-time tongue-tie to have positive effect.

20/1

10th

11

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 51y

Class 2

14:55 Kelso

Lucky Manifest

11st 0lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Tom Lacey

Made it 2-2 here on stable debut in October (2m6f, good) and close second of 18 at Cheltenham (2m5f, soft) next time; hasn't run badly on either starts since and this lightly raced 6yo could benefit from the return to Kelso, but a career-best is needed and the drop to 2m isn't an obvious plus.

20/1

3rd

3

26th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 4f 116y

Class 3

14:50 Plumpton

Lucky Manifest

11st 10lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Tom Lacey

Dual hurdle winner at Kelso, most recently in October (2m6.5f, good) on yard debut; followed that with a 1l defeat at Cheltenham (soft) in November before finishing a perfectly acceptable eighth of ten in a Class 2 there last month (3m); now back in trip but should give another good account.

2/1

Form: P3-57P D

Last run: 8 days

W: 11st 3lb

7 yo Filly

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Rather hit and miss since her last win (2m4f, good to soft) in October 2024 and she was pulled up at Fakenham eight days ago; back on her last winning mark but has a bit to prove at present.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

23rd Apr 2026

Good

2m 5f 5y

Class 2

15:30 Warwick

Pretending

11st 4lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Lucy Wadham

Third to Greyval 12 months ago off the same mark; hadn't been at her best this season but came good at Market Rasen (2m4f, soft) and clearly capable of having some say in the outcome.

6/1

1st

6

17th Feb 2026

2m 4f 139y

Class 4

15:02 Market Rasen

Pretending

11st 8lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Lucy Wadham

Exposed mare who hasn't been quite at her best this season, but is on a good mark (3lb lower than for last win); has an each-way chance.

14/1

4th

5

26th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 4f 116y

Class 3

14:50 Plumpton

Pretending

11st 3lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Lucy Wadham

Rather hit and miss since her last win (2m4f, good to soft) in October 2024 and she was pulled up at Fakenham eight days ago; back on her last winning mark but has a bit to prove at present.

12/1

Form: -00606 D

Last run: 9 days

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Has had a disappointing season so far, beaten 26l+ on first four starts before a more encouraging front-running effort in first-time cheekpieces (retained) at Ascot (2m3.5f, soft) nine days ago; 6lb lower than latest win last March and eased in class so hard to dismiss completely.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14

17th Apr 2026

Soft

3m 0f 70y

Class 3

16:43 Ayr

Patriotik

11st 0lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Mrs C Williams

Very well handicapped on staying form as recent as last March and it's possible the step back up in trip will be a positive; however, unable to pose a threat across his six runs this season and has to raise his game.

25/1

5th

6

26th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 4f 116y

Class 3

14:50 Plumpton

Patriotik

11st 2lb

J: Isabel Williams

T: Evan Williams

Has had a disappointing season so far, beaten 26l+ on first four starts before a more encouraging front-running effort in first-time cheekpieces (retained) at Ascot (2m3.5f, soft) nine days ago; 6lb lower than latest win last March and eased in class so hard to dismiss completely.

8/1

6th

8

17th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 63y

Class 2

14:53 Ascot

Patriotik

10st 7lb

J: Isabel Williams

T: Evan Williams

In good form last spring but woeful in three runs this season, beaten at least 34l each time; perhaps cheekpieces will rekindle his enthusiasm but he's difficult to recommend unless strong in the market.

16/1

Form: -20526 D

Last run: 16 days

W: 12st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 127

Form & Verdict
Returned to form when runner-up at Wincanton (3m, good to soft) on Boxing Day and backed that up wth a solid sixth in the Lanzorote at Kempton (2m5f, good) 16 days ago off this mark; his losing run continues to mount up but recent efforts suggest he could break that sequence in this easier race.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

15th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 3

18:20 Aintree

Ike Sport

11st 4lb

J: Harry Atkins

T: Neil Mulholland

Ran quite well in the Pertemps Final and then runner-up in a big field handicap here in April (2m4f, good to soft; in this new headgear combination), improving on his fifth place the previous season; also ran second to Fingal's Hill in this 12 months ago; has nothing in hand off his mark but every chance of being involved.

11/4

2nd

21

10th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 1

13:45 Aintree

Ike Sport

11st 0lb

J: Harry Atkins

T: Neil Mulholland

Ran respectably in this race 12 months ago (fifth off 3lb higher) and Cheltenham Festival handicap (3m) latest start; otherwise an exposed 8yo who is on a two-year losing spell; unlikely to come out on top.

14/1

9th

24

12th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 213y

Class 1

16:40 Cheltenham

Ike Sport

10st 3lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Neil Mulholland

Last won in April 2024; well beaten in the 2m5f handicap here last March; second to Absolutely Doyen at Wincanton (3m, good to soft) at Christmas was best effort this term; ran creditably in the Lanzarote at Kempton (2m5f) next time, before a modest show at Plumpton latest; others look more solid.

50/1

Form: 1522-5

Last run: 37 days

W: 11st 8lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
Let down by his jumping over fences at times but still a capable performer in that sphere, although his reappearance last month was laboured; needs to be forgiven that effort but reverts to hurdles on a fair mark and is 2-7 in this discipline.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

26th Mar 2026

Good

3m 0f 0y

Class 2

16:30 Warwick

The Famous Five

11st 6lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Having dropped back down to his last winning mark he returned to form when third in first-time cheekpieces (retained) at Wincanton (3m1f, good to soft) three weeks ago; he's a contender if backing up that effort.

13/2

3rd

1

5th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 30y

Class 4

15:40 Wincanton

The Famous Five

12st 0lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Back on his last winning mark of Christmas 2024 but too little about either start this term suggests he'll capitalise, and not obviously crying out for this new trip of late either; cheekpieces added.

5/1

7th

4

26th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 4f 116y

Class 3

14:50 Plumpton

The Famous Five

11st 8lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Let down by his jumping over fences at times but still a capable performer in that sphere, although his reappearance last month was laboured; needs to be forgiven that effort but reverts to hurdles on a fair mark and is 2-7 in this discipline.

9/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £20.70
Straight Forecast £23.40
Trifecta £109.30

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Good To Be Alive

SPOTLIGHT:

Ike Sport

TOPSPEED:

Lucky Manifest

POSTDATA:

Good To Be Alive

The Times:

Good To Be Alive

Telegraph:

Good To Be Alive

The Guardian:

Good To Be Alive

Daily Mail:

Good To Be Alive

D Express:

Good To Be Alive

Daily Mirror:

Good To Be Alive

The Star:

Good To Be Alive

Daily Record:

Good To Be Alive

The Sun:

Ike Sport