January 29 / 16.20 Sedgefield

16.20

Good To Soft

Free Tips Daily On attheraces.com Handicap Hurdle (Go North Sea Pigeon Series Qualifier)

  • Prize money: £4330.42
  • 2m 0f 178y
  • Class 5
  • 12 runners
SKY
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Free Tips Daily On attheraces.com Handicap Hurdle (Go North Sea Pigeon Series Qualifier)

Runners: 12 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

3/1 (Won)

  • Win: £4.34
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 66P-11 D

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 101

Form & Verdict
Won when back over hurdles at Newcastle (2m, good to soft) last month and followed up at Musselburgh (1m7f, soft); his fine form continued with an AW win last Sunday and this thriving 6yo holds strong claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

4th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 156y

Class 4

14:10 Catterick

Russian Virtue

11st 7lb

J: Joshua Thompson

T: David Thompson

8-59, although his last win came in a two-runner affair at Carlisle (2m1f; 2-5 favourite; all out) in December 2023; latest Carlisle sixth (beaten 15l; 50-1) not overly inspiring; others more obvious.

10/1

6th

7

16th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 1f 0y

Class 4

15:40 Carlisle

Russian Virtue

11st 7lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: David Thompson

Has won six times over hurdles, the latest a two-runner affair over C&D (good to soft) in December 2023; a couple of fair runs for this yard last year but pulled up when last seen out in January (reportedly never travelling); others appeal more.

20/1

4

25th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 178y

Class 4

15:10 Sedgefield

Russian Virtue

11st 5lb

J: Nathan Moscrop

T: David Thompson

On a long losing spell and form figures of 246 this term reflect that a turnaround of sorts is required; admittedly appears well treated if that resurgence materialises, being 7lb below last winning mark.

16/1

4/1

  • Place: £1.80

Form: 252713

Last run: 34 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Had threatened a few times before getting off the mark at Leicester (1m7f, good to soft) in November, and he's since been a good third of 14 at Wetherby (2m, good to soft); consistent sort who is on the shortlist.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

8

28th Oct 2024

Good

2m 3f 110y

Class 5

14:55 Ayr

Bridge Road

11st 5lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jennie Candlish

Has modest 1-23 strike-rate over hurdles and is steadily on the downgrade but ran well when second of 14 behind progressive rival at Uttoxeter (2m, good to soft) ten days ago and will be fine over today's trip.

5/1

4th

8

28th Oct 2024

Good

2m 3f 110y

Class 5

14:55 Ayr

Bridge Road

11st 5lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jennie Candlish

Has modest 1-23 strike-rate over hurdles and is steadily on the downgrade but ran well when second of 14 behind progressive rival at Uttoxeter (2m, good to soft) ten days ago and will be fine over today's trip.

5/1

2nd

10

18th Oct 2024

Good To Soft

1m 7f 168y

Class 5

17:05 Uttoxeter

Bridge Road

10st 10lb

J: William Shanahan

T: Jennie Candlish

prominent early, in touch with leaders after 1st

12/1

5/1

  • Place: £3.30

Form: 52-801

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 7lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 98

Form & Verdict
Seven-time Flat winner who was sent over hurdles late in his career; left his handicap debut performances miles behind when winning at 28-1 at Catterick (1m7f, soft) on New Year's Day; player if repeating that form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

5

26th Dec 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 125y

Class 5

12:05 Market Rasen

Edgar Allan Poe

10st 4lb

J: Liam Harrison

T: Sue Smith

Won at Catterick off 5lb higher in January (1m7f, soft); poor efforts this term; stable going well but he has a bit to prove at present.

8/1

7th

3

14th Dec 2023

Heavy

2m 0f 190y

Class 5

14:50 Newcastle

Edgar Allan Poe

11st 9lb

J: Ross Chapman

T: Sue Smith

Has a patchy profile and he was pulled up on last month's reappearance at Sedgefield, but he may have needed the run and his stable is currently in flying form; he's 1lb below his last winning mark and could go well.

12/1

4

9th Nov 2023

Soft

2m 0f 178y

Class 5

12:25 Sedgefield

Edgar Allan Poe

11st 2lb

J: Tom Midgley

T: Sue Smith

Has dropped to a mark 1lb lower than when winning at Catterick (1m7f, soft) in January, and he's effective over C&D; watch the betting but there's a suspicion he'll need this first outing since April.

9/1

Form: 536745

Last run: 34 days

W: 10st 6lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
9yo who is very lightly raced for his age and didn't run badly when fifth of 18 at Newcastle (2m4f, good to soft) on Boxing Day; however, he was soundly beaten and others have more pressing claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

15

6th Oct 2024

Good To Soft

1m 7f 168y

Class 5

17:20 Uttoxeter

Bushmill Boy

10st 5lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

0-23 over hurdles but went very close on stable debut here (2m4f, soft) in July and also ran well when third (albeit well held) at Fontwell (2m5f, good) in August; drops back in trip with cheekpieces refitted here; no surprise if he comes good for Olly Murphy soon.

6/1

3rd

6

30th Aug 2024

Good

2m 5f 164y

Class 5

18:45 Fontwell

Bushmill Boy

10st 11lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

0-22 over hurdles but very nearly made a winning stable debut at Uttoxeter (2m4f, soft) six weeks ago and will be fine on the forecast faster ground here; one to consider.

4/1

2nd

13

17th Jul 2024

Good

2m 3f 207y

Class 5

17:45 Uttoxeter

Bushmill Boy

10st 3lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

0-23 but surely has a race in him, and did record a respectable C&D third (soft) last November; wind surgery since claimed for £6,000 from David Thompson and starts life for Olly Murphy back on a career-low mark.

7/2

Form: 9P8-P

Last run: 22 days

W: 10st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
French Flat winner who may have needed the run when back from an absence on recent handicap debut at Wincanton (pulled up); however, he's shown very little over hurdles and a big turnaround is needed now in a tongue-tie.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

1

(2)

24th Apr 2023

Good To Soft

1m 3f 99y

Class 5

16:20 Windsor

Agent Empire

9st 11lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Oliver Signy

prominent

16/1

7th

10

8th Apr 2023

Heavy

2m 0f 167y

Class 5

17:10 Newton Abbot

Agent Empire

10st 3lb

J: James Davies

T: Oliver Signy

towards rear on outer

11/2

5th

11

29th Jan 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 178y

Class 5

16:20 Sedgefield

Agent Empire

10st 2lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Oliver Signy

held up in rear

25/1

Form: 3-3265

Last run: 34 days

W: 12st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Ex-French maiden who displayed promise last September on his first two British starts; however, he's failed to threaten in handicaps the next twice and has to raise his game; the reapplied tongue-tie (worn in France) joins the hood adopted last time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

3rd Jun 2026

Good To Firm

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

21:00 Warwick

Bahtiyar

10st 2lb

J: Murray Dodd

T: Max Young

Only three completed when runner-up last week at Plumpton (2m4f, good) and that extended his losing sequence under rules to 36.

8/1

2nd

4

26th May 2026

Good

2m 3f 166y

Class 4

19:09 Plumpton

Bahtiyar

10st 3lb

J: Murray Dodd

T: Max Young

0-35, often placed; recent respectable efforts suggest he's on a tough mark but he's versatile regarding trip and Murray Dodd can claim his full allowance on this occasion, so he should still be competitive.

5/1

4th

6

9th May 2026

Good

3m 0f 0y

Class 5

17:35 Warwick

Bahtiyar

10st 13lb

J: Murray Dodd

T: Max Young

0-30 over hurdles and fences but in the frame on last five starts, two of them here (3m1f/2m4f); deserves to find a race and he should be involved again providing this doesn't come too soon after his run on Tuesday.

7/1

OUR TIP

Form: 7226-4

Last run: 16 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Runner-up in novice/maiden hurdles (including over C&D) towards the end of 2021 and he's of interest on that form; having missed all of last year he may have needed his recent comeback here, when soundly beaten, and he's not ruled out on this first handicap start.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

24th May 2025

Good

2m 5f 34y

Class 5

19:08 Cartmel

Fearless Action

11st 7lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Chris Grant

Produced good performance to win by 6l at Sedgefield (2m, good) in March but has not been in the same form again since, and he failed to convince stamina-wise on his three previous attempts at about 2m4f.

6/1

2

24th May 2025

Good

2m 5f 34y

Class 5

19:08 Cartmel

Fearless Action

11st 7lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Chris Grant

Produced good performance to win by 6l at Sedgefield (2m, good) in March but has not been in the same form again since, and he failed to convince stamina-wise on his three previous attempts at about 2m4f.

6/1

4th

4

13th May 2025

Good

2m 0f 77y

Class 5

18:40 Sedgefield

Fearless Action

11st 11lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Chris Grant

in touch with leaders early, towards rear after 2nd, hampered by faller 2 out, headway before last, no telling impression

6/1

Form: 354211 CD

Last run: 68 days

W: 10st 11lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Running really well over C&D under Emma Smith-Chaston in the autumn, going very close in September (good) before two soft-ground wins in November; bidding for a Sedgefield hat-trick and has to go on the shortlist.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

20th Feb 2023

Good To Soft

2m 1f 0y

Class 5

14:45 Carlisle

Silkstone

10st 11lb

J: Emma Smith-Chaston

T: Danny Brooke

Disappointing last month when bidding for a Sedgefield hat-trick, having been absent for nearly ten weeks since his two wins in November; not sure what to expect at this venue (first run here).

12/1

8th

7

29th Jan 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 178y

Class 5

16:20 Sedgefield

Silkstone

10st 11lb

J: Emma Smith-Chaston

T: Danny Brooke

held up in rear

4/1

1st

3

22nd Nov 2022

Soft

2m 0f 178y

Class 5

12:25 Sedgefield

Silkstone

10st 12lb

J: Emma Smith-Chaston

T: Danny Brooke

Successful under Emma Smith-Chaston in conditional jockeys' event over C&D (soft) last time, finally opening his hurdles account and comfortably beating a subsequent scorer; rider can now use her 5lb claim, which virtually offsets a 6lb rise in the weights; big player.

3/1

Form: 330

Last run: 33 days

W: 10st 10lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
4yo who was a fair third in November on his first two hurdle starts (soft/heavy, including C&D) and a case can be made on those performances now handicapping; not ruled out but he was tailed off at Wetherby (2m, soft) most recently in this headgear combination and he has to bounce back.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

8

29th Jan 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 178y

Class 5

16:20 Sedgefield

Wakey Wakey

10st 10lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Tim Easterby

midfield

14/1

10th

12

27th Dec 2022

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

14:15 Wetherby

Wakey Wakey

11st 0lb

J: Sam Coltherd

T: Tim Easterby

prominent

10/1

50/1

Form: 543P

Last run: 108 days

W: 10st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
No threat on first three hurdle starts and pulled up on handicap hurdle debut in October; well beaten back on the Flat since and hard to fancy.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

10

29th Jan 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 178y

Class 5

16:20 Sedgefield

Calculus

10st 3lb

J: Philip Armson

T: Sara Ender

took keen hold, midfield on inner

50/1

13

26th Jan 2023

Soft

2m 3f 154y

Class 5

14:00 Wetherby

Calculus

10st 12lb

J: Sam Coltherd

T: Sara Ender

Pulled up after racing too freely on handicap hurdle debut in October and finished last when back on the AW in refitted cheekpieces (retained here) last month; difficult to enthuse over.

33/1

9th

12

(7)

15th Dec 2022

Standard

2m 0f 102y

Class 6

15:33 Southwell (AW)

Calculus

8st 13lb

J: Rowan Scott

T: Sara Ender

Lost his maiden tag at Beverley (1m4f) in June but he was pulled up over hurdles at Carlisle when last seen out in October; he needs to bounce back.

16/1

Form: 2567-9 CD

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 96

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

Form: 6-788P

Last run: 34 days

W: 10st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 71

Form & Verdict
Tailed off/pulled up at big odds on his first three hurdle starts; now goes handicapping off a lowly mark but improvement is required.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

6

(1)

19th Nov 2023

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 6

15:14 Newcastle (AW)

Blame The Farrier

9st 6lb

J: Jonny Peate

T: David Thompson

Remains a maiden and he's not proved the easiest to catch right this term, only tenth over C&D 16 days ago; cheekpieces are reached for now.

16/1

10th

8

(10)

3rd Nov 2023

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 6

18:15 Newcastle (AW)

Blame The Farrier

9st 7lb

J: Ryan Sexton

T: David Thompson

Much better from the front over C&D last time, when having Angel Amadea just behind; that gave something to build on but this looks more competitive and he's exposed as ordinary under both codes.

8/1

2nd

1

(8)

29th Sep 2023

Standard

0m 7f 14y

Class 6

18:30 Newcastle (AW)

Blame The Farrier

9st 10lb

J: Sean Kirrane

T: David Thompson

Maiden (0-14 all codes, 0-7 Flat); has shown a modest level of form in each of his last three starts (6f-1m, turf), falling sharply in the weights as a result; tough to consider even though this is just his second AW appearance.

16/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £15.50
Straight Forecast £17.61
Tricast £107.97
Trifecta £103.00

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Russian Virtue

RP Ratings:

Fearless Action

POSTDATA:

Bridge Road

TOPSPEED:

El Jefe

The Sun:

Edgar Allan Poe

The Times:

Fearless Action

Daily Mirror:

Fearless Action

Telegraph:

Russian Virtue

D Express:

Russian Virtue

The Star:

Russian Virtue

Daily Record:

Russian Virtue