March 09 / 16.30 Plumpton

16.30

Good To Soft

John Ellis Memorial Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £5281
  • 2m 4f 116y
  • Class 4
  • 6 runners
SKY
View Course
John Ellis Memorial Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

OUR TIP

6/1 (Won)

  • Win: £3.25
  • Place: £1.70

Form: 341-P4

Last run: 53 days

W: 11st 11lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
Pulled up on seasonal debut but fared better when fourth (albeit tired and well held in the end) at Wincanton (2m4f, soft) in January and is now only 1lb higher than for last spring's Fontwell win (2m5f, good); contender if aided by new tongue-tie.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

24th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 164y

Class 4

18:20 Fontwell

Valadon

11st 3lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Harry Fry

Scored with a tongue-tie added at Plumpton (2m4f, good to soft) last month and he ran to a similar level when a 2l third at Wincanton (2m4f, good) last time; has been as good as ever in those last two runs and he won this race last year; respected.

7/2

3rd

8

23rd Mar 2026

Good

2m 3f 179y

Class 3

16:57 Wincanton

Valadon

10st 13lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Harry Fry

Back in prime form when scoring in first-time tongue-tie at Plumpton (2m4f, good to soft; front pair clear) a fortnight ago and now 4-10 over hurdles; recent 4lb rise does not look excessive and he should be fine on the faster ground here; likely contender.

4/1

1st

2

9th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 116y

Class 4

16:30 Plumpton

Valadon

11st 11lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Harry Fry

Pulled up on seasonal debut but fared better when fourth (albeit tired and well held in the end) at Wincanton (2m4f, soft) in January and is now only 1lb higher than for last spring's Fontwell win (2m5f, good); contender if aided by new tongue-tie.

6/1

4/1

  • Place: £1.90

Form: -26136

Last run: 58 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Scored in first-time tongue tie at Taunton (2m3f, good to firm) in November, his second handicap, and also ran well when placed at Wincanton (1m7f, soft) on next outing; found 0-130 company slightly too hot at Kempton last time but remains unexposed over this sort of trip and may still have more to offer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

7

19th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 116y

Class 4

17:12 Plumpton

Oakleys Way

10st 13lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Anthony Honeyball

Solid record in 2m3f-2m5f attempts comprises an account-opening success at Taunton (good to firm) in November and second-place finishes, including at Plumpton, in last two starts; may do better still at this sort of distance; solid claims.

9/2

2nd

1

30th Mar 2026

Good

2m 5f 55y

Class 5

15:27 Ludlow

Oakleys Way

12st 0lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Anthony Honeyball

2m3f winner at Taunton in November (good to firm) and possibly better again when beaten by his market rival with the pair clear at Plumpton (2m4f, good to soft) this month; up 3lb but looks a strong candidate today.

3/1

2nd

7

9th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 116y

Class 4

16:30 Plumpton

Oakleys Way

11st 2lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Anthony Honeyball

Scored in first-time tongue tie at Taunton (2m3f, good to firm) in November, his second handicap, and also ran well when placed at Wincanton (1m7f, soft) on next outing; found 0-130 company slightly too hot at Kempton last time but remains unexposed over this sort of trip and may still have more to offer.

4/1

Form: 43P-7P D

Last run: 78 days

W: 11st 8lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Useful in his prime but left Henry Daly after a poor run over fences in February 2025 and was soundly beaten in two chases for this stable towards end of last year; needs combination of new headgear and return to hurdling to rekindle his enthusiasm.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

1st Apr 2026

Good

3m 0f 60y

Class 4

16:30 Southwell

Moon Hunter

11st 0lb

J: Jamie Gambin

T: Sarah Humphrey

Useful in his prime for Henry Daly but left that yard on a low note; soundly beaten in chases on his first two starts for this stable but took a step back in the right direction returned to hurdles in first-time blinkers when rallying third of eight over the extended 2m4f at Plumpton (good to soft) 23 days ago; needs to prove he can build on that with the blinkers left off in favour of refitted cheekpieces.

25/1

3rd

5

9th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 116y

Class 4

16:30 Plumpton

Moon Hunter

11st 8lb

J: Jamie Gambin

T: Sarah Humphrey

Useful in his prime but left Henry Daly after a poor run over fences in February 2025 and was soundly beaten in two chases for this stable towards end of last year; needs combination of new headgear and return to hurdling to rekindle his enthusiasm.

16/1

6

18th Nov 2025

Good

2m 6f 10y

Class 4

14:45 Lingfield

Moon Hunter

11st 9lb

J: James Best

T: Sarah Humphrey

Ex-Henry Daly; quite a useful novice hurdler but didn't progress; sound run on chase debut in October 2023 but rather disappointing since; bit to prove after a break on stable debut.

20/1

Form: -P7494

Last run: 15 days

W: 11st 11lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
Lurks on a dangerous mark and his defeat on heavy ground a fortnight ago is not viewed harshly but he's largely been disappointing this season and has stamina to prove over this new trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

2

(4)

8th May 2026

Good

1m 7f 209y

Class 4

17:10 Ascot

Galactic Charm

9st 12lb

J: Jude Fernandes

T: Gary & Josh Moore

In decent form when last seen on the Flat for Michael Bell but has been hurdling since December 2024 for this yard; did well as a juvenile in that sphere but last season didn't go well; mark fine if this return to the Flat perks him up.

20/1

6th

1

8th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 29y

Class 4

15:05 Fontwell

Galactic Charm

12st 0lb

J: Freddie Mitchell

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Well handicapped on some of last season's form but looked unenthusiastic when never-dangerous fourth at Plumpton (2m4f, good to soft) last month and has become disappointing; needs change of headgear to perk him up.

8/1

4th

3

9th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 116y

Class 4

16:30 Plumpton

Galactic Charm

11st 11lb

J: Jude Fernandes

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Lurks on a dangerous mark and his defeat on heavy ground a fortnight ago is not viewed harshly but he's largely been disappointing this season and has stamina to prove over this new trip.

4/1

Form: F-362P D

Last run: 119 days

W: 11st 9lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
1-9 over hurdles; absent since a poor performance in November but the form of his second off today's mark at Stratford (2m6f, good; handles good to soft) two starts ago has been well advertised by the winner in the meantime; can feature if fully tuned up.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

3rd Jun 2026

Good To Firm

3m 2f 0y

Class 5

18:55 Warwick

Baltray

12st 0lb

J: Liam Harrison

T: Emma Lavelle

Yet to add to his maiden hurdle win in 2023 but fairly lightly raced in the meantime and ran quite well when third at Newton Abbot (3m2f, good) last month; still unexposed over this sort of trip; raced mainly on good ground; could have a say.

6/1

3rd

2

6th May 2026

Good To Soft

3m 2f 105y

Class 4

16:20 Newton Abbot

Baltray

11st 11lb

J: Liam Harrison

T: Emma Lavelle

Runner-up off 3lb higher at Stratford (2m6f, good) in October but he's struggled in both subsequent runs; hurdling record is now 1-10 and he has stamina to prove at this new trip after another break; down the list.

14/1

5th

4

9th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 116y

Class 4

16:30 Plumpton

Baltray

11st 9lb

J: Liam Harrison

T: Emma Lavelle

1-9 over hurdles; absent since a poor performance in November but the form of his second off today's mark at Stratford (2m6f, good; handles good to soft) two starts ago has been well advertised by the winner in the meantime; can feature if fully tuned up.

7/1

Form: 233

Last run: 34 days

W: 11st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Non-runners

Balboa

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £9.60
Straight Forecast £8.43
Trifecta £172.20

Selections

LAMBOURN:

Lasko Des Obeaux

SPOTLIGHT:

Oakley's Way

D Express:

Valadon

Telegraph:

Lasko Des Obeaux

The Guardian:

Lasko Des Obeaux

Daily Mirror:

Lasko Des Obeaux

The Sun:

Lasko Des Obeaux

The Star:

Lasko Des Obeaux

Daily Record:

Lasko Des Obeaux

RP RATINGS:

Oakley's Way

TOPSPEED:

Oakley's Way

POSTDATA:

Oakley's Way

The Times:

Oakley's Way

Daily Mail:

Oakley's Way