January 26 / 16.20 Plumpton

16.20

Soft

Backing Bentswood Hub Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £3828.72
  • 1m 7f 195y
  • Class 5
  • 7 runners
SKY
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Backing Bentswood Hub Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

OUR TIP

13/2 (Won)

  • Win: £6.50
  • Place: £2.20

Form: 561-6 D

Last run: 49 days

W: 11st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Off the mark over hurdles in juvenile maiden at Warwick (2m, good to soft; 50-1) in December 2024; well held on handicap debut at Fontwell (2m1f, heavy) last month; needs to have come on for that; cheekpieces return.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

5

14th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 3f 29y

Class 5

14:00 Fontwell

Our Papa Smurf

11st 5lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Best on the Flat at around 1m2f and his two wins over hurdles came over 2m round undemanding courses; stamina would be a concern then for a yard also responsible for Aggagio and Galactic Jack.

6/1

5th

7

9th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 4f 116y

Class 4

15:45 Plumpton

Our Papa Smurf

11st 2lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Dictated a modest pace when just holding on over 2m here (soft) a fortnight ago, for which he's gone up only 3lb; it remains to be seen whether he'll get this far as he's bred for the Flat.

7/2

1st

2

26th Jan 2026

Soft

1m 7f 195y

Class 5

16:20 Plumpton

Our Papa Smurf

11st 12lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Off the mark over hurdles in juvenile maiden at Warwick (2m, good to soft; 50-1) in December 2024; well held on handicap debut at Fontwell (2m1f, heavy) last month; needs to have come on for that; cheekpieces return.

13/2

25/1

  • Place: £10.20

Form: -333P6

Last run: 42 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 96

Form & Verdict
Seven-race maiden who left Ben Pauling after flopping over 2m5f in June; changed hands for £9,000 in August but has run moderately in two runs for current yard; has it all to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

5th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 8y

Class 5

20:17 Hereford

Kill The Groove

11st 9lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Karen Jewell

0-7 over hurdles though reaching the frame on three starts at Plumpton this year, all over 2m; made an underwhelming switch to fences last month at Fontwell (2m3f, good to soft) trailing in last of the five finishers; needs to raise her game.

20/1

5th

2

8th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 104y

Class 5

16:47 Fontwell

Kill The Groove

11st 10lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Karen Jewell

0-7 over hurdles but made the frame on all three outings this year (all over 2m at Plumpton); moves back up in trip for this chasing debut with cheekpieces (worn once) removed; seems versatile regarding ground; can feature if he gets into a good jumping rhythm.

9/1

Form: 04-870

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Won twice for Johnny Murtagh over 1m2f on the Flat in 2024; modest over hurdles so far and has not beaten a rival on his last two starts in handicaps; hood worn last time is discarded.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

6

26th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

15:00 Wetherby

Master Dunraven

11st 1lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Neil Mulholland

Two-time Flat winner who is 0-7 over hurdles; had been struggling to get competitive in this code prior to his third of seven at Plumpton (2m, soft) last month; firmly in the mix if backing up that latest effort.

2/1

Form: 714-8P CD

Last run: 65 days

W: 11st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Off the mark when landing a novice over C&D (soft) last January; well held and pulled up in two handicaps last autumn but has dropped another 3lb and cannot dismiss.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

8

(3)

20th May 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 3f 219y

Class 6

21:00 Kempton (AW)

Dotties Star

9st 1lb

J: James Glennon

T: Pat Phelan

Better known as a hurdler these days, but he made a successful return to the Flat when narrowly landing a classified event at Lingfield (1m4f, Polytrack) in March; never involved in a C&D handicap last time but that was against a pace bias and he has claims if things go more to plan this time.

6/1

7th

11

(9)

8th Apr 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 3f 219y

Class 6

20:30 Kempton (AW)

Dotties Star

8st 10lb

J: Sean D Bowen

T: Pat Phelan

Better known as a hurdler these days, but he made a successful return to the Flat when narrowly landing a 0-50 classified event at Lingfield (1m4f, Polytrack) a fortnight ago; this will be harder, but he remains unexposed on the AW.

8/1

1st

3

(4)

25th Mar 2026

Standard

1m 4f 0y

Class 6

16:22 Lingfield (AW)

Dotties Star

9st 9lb

J: Sean D Bowen

T: Pat Phelan

His sole win was over hurdles 14 months ago but he looked a bit unlucky when runner-up in that sphere at Huntingdon (2m) 24 days ago; now returns to the Flat but conditions should be fine and he needs a close look in the market.

5/1

Form: 07F-37

Last run: 56 days

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
0-5 under rules; distant third over C&D (good) in November but below that form on this track last month; may do better now that she steps into handicaps.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

26th Jan 2026

Soft

1m 7f 195y

Class 5

16:20 Plumpton

Suzy Wood

11st 2lb

J: Freddie Mitchell

T: Andy Irvine

0-5 under rules; distant third over C&D (good) in November but below that form on this track last month; may do better now that she steps into handicaps.

7/1

7/1

Form: 575

Last run: 15 days

W: 11st 3lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Placed at a lowly level on the Flat for David Menuisier; huge odds and has shown nothing so far over hurdles but might fare better now handicapping.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

4th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 1y

Class 5

14:18 Fakenham

Ephyra

11st 1lb

J: Freddie Mitchell

T: Andy Irvine

Ran no race at Plumpton last month and needs to put that performance behind her but she bumped into a revitalised opponent when second there (2m4f, good to soft; third has won since) two starts ago and has claims if first-time cheekpieces enable her to replicate that form.

7/1

6

5th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 116y

Class 5

17:10 Plumpton

Ephyra

10st 11lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Andy Irvine

Placed on Flat (2m AW) for David Menuisier; lightly raced over hurdles and hasn't been far away in 2m/2m4f handicaps here on last two outings; latest conqueror was very well backed; considered.

7/1

2nd

7

16th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 116y

Class 5

16:45 Plumpton

Ephyra

10st 10lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Andy Irvine

Placed on Flat (2m AW) for David Menuisier but failed to figure on first three attempts over hurdles; better, only weakening from the last, when sixth of seven on handicap debut here (2m, soft; 10-1) seven weeks ago; stamina questionable over 2m4f.

16/1

Form: 34

Last run: 16 days

W: 11st 5lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Consistent on AW for previous stable; weakened into modest third at Catterick on hurdle debut, having done too much up front; never involved when fourth of six finishers at Kempton (2m, good; first-time hood, retained) 16 days ago; makes handicap debut for in-form yard; one to keep an eye on.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

27th May 2026

Good

2m 1f 46y

Class 5

18:38 Cartmel

Frank Stamper

11st 7lb

J: James Bowen

T: Warren Greatrex

Relegated into a seller and he has form claims, having finished runner-up on two occasions this year; however, he did run desperately only ten days ago.

5/1

6th

3

17th May 2026

Good To Firm

2m 0f 70y

Class 5

16:35 Stratford

Frank Stamper

11st 9lb

J: James Bowen

T: Warren Greatrex

0-6 over hurdles but ran well when close second at Fontwell (2m1f, good to soft) last month and is probably still on a workable mark after 1lb nudge; good chance.

7/4

2nd

5

8th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 1f 162y

Class 5

17:17 Fontwell

Frank Stamper

11st 4lb

J: James Bowen

T: Warren Greatrex

Beaten favourite when only seventh at Wincanton (1m7f, good to soft) last month and now 0-5 over hurdles but stayed on from poor position for second at Plumpton (2m, soft) two starts ago and may still have potential.

3/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £93.20
Straight Forecast £100.79
Trifecta £438.40

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Frank Stamper

Daily Mail:

Our Papa Smurf

The Star:

Dotties Star

RP RATINGS:

Frank Stamper

POSTDATA:

Frank Stamper

LAMBOURN:

Frank Stamper

The Times:

Frank Stamper

Telegraph:

Frank Stamper

The Guardian:

Frank Stamper

D Express:

Frank Stamper

Daily Mirror:

Frank Stamper

The Sun:

Frank Stamper

Daily Record:

Frank Stamper