January 01 / 13.10 Musselburgh

13.10

Soft

tote.co.uk Hogmaneigh Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £15609
  • 2m 3f 171y
  • Class 2
  • 7 runners
ITV
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tote.co.uk Hogmaneigh Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

5/1 (Won)

Form: 11P-44 CD

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 13lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 136

Form & Verdict
Hasn't been at his best on either run this term but it wasn't a bad performance at Aintree (2m4f, heavy) last time and he impressed when easily making all in this 12 months ago (soft); major player if rediscovering that form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

1

25th Oct 2025

Good

2m 0f 51y

Class 4

15:20 Kelso

Benson

12st 1lb

J: William Maggs

T: Sandy Thomson

Last of his six wins over hurdles was off a 25lb higher mark at Musselburgh in January 2024 (2m4f, soft); mainly disappointing since then, including when tried over fences; best watched for now.

14/1

9

14th Jun 2025

Good

2m 4f 28y

Class 3

18:28 Hexham

Benson

10st 12lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Sandy Thomson

One-time very useful handicapper; nothing like as good these days and has finished last on last two starts, latest a four-runner C&D handicap last month; very well handicapped (dropped a further 4lb for his run last time so now 22lb below last winning mark); plenty to prove at present.

14/1

Form: 222-38 C

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 1lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
Tailed off at Aintree (2m4f, heavy) 23 days ago but may have needed that first run since May; he was progressive prior to his break, including a win here (1m7f, soft) and an 11l second to Benson in this race last year (soft), and he could bounce back to form with a big performance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

3rd Feb 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 68y

Class 3

13:40 Musselburgh

Holmes St Georges

10st 8lb

J: Ben Bromley

T: S R B Crawford

Just 1-9 over hurdles but bounced back quickly from a disappointing December run when close second in competitive handicap here (2m4f, soft) on New Year's Day and will pose a threat if able to transfer that form to fences at the first attempt; first-time tongue-tie.

10/1

2nd

6

1st Jan 2024

Soft

2m 3f 171y

Class 2

13:10 Musselburgh

Holmes St Georges

11st 1lb

J: Ben Bromley

T: S R B Crawford

in touch with leaders in centre of group

12/1

8th

4

9th Dec 2023

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 2

15:15 Aintree

Holmes St Georges

11st 2lb

J: Daryl Jacob

T: S R B Crawford

Won at Musselburgh (1m7f, soft) last November when back from a break and has run well in defeat on his four starts since, most recently at Down Royal (3m, yielding) in May; can go well fresh and could be a player.

8/1

Form: 21-7P3 C BF

Last run: 32 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
Won Listed 4yo hurdle here last February (1m7f, good; has also won on soft) and he returned to form with a fair third of six at Taunton (2m3f, good) in November; needs something extra today but he's only a 5yo and his top trainer has an excellent 34% strike-rate here; one to consider.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

3

4th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 1y

Class 2

17:13 Fakenham

Afadil

11st 7lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Paul Nicholls

Without a win since February 2024 but gave good account when sixth (promoted to fifth) at last month's Aintree festival; 2lb lower here and well worth another crack at 2m4f; considered.

14/1

6th

22

10th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 103y

Class 2

17:15 Aintree

Afadil

10st 13lb

J: Jay Tidball

T: Paul Nicholls

18 races and over two years since his last win, albeit still frequently competitive; below par over 2m5f at Ascot only 12 days ago but his peak form has come at around 2m (third in this in 2024).

22/1

7th

5

29th Mar 2026

Good

2m 5f 146y

Class 3

17:25 Ascot

Afadil

11st 2lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

17 races and over two years since his last win, albeit still frequently competitive; big majority of his career has been at about 2m (he last went over further in October 2024) and he's never been this far.

9/2

Form: /3P-65

Last run: 17 days

W: 10st 11lb

6 yo Horse

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Long absence after impressive win on British debut in November 2021; it's taken him a few runs to get back on track but he stayed on strongly for a close fifth at Cheltenham (2m1f, soft) last month and this step back up in trip could be just what he needs; lots to like.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

30th May 2026

Good To Firm

2m 0f 213y

Class 4

19:50 Stratford

In This World

12st 0lb

J: Robert Dunne

T: Rob Summers

Won twice for the Skeltons; showed his best form for his current yard when fifth of eight at Warwick (2m, good) 26 days ago; his mark continues to drop and he should find another opening at some point.

7/1

5th

5

4th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 54y

Class 4

15:15 Warwick

In This World

11st 7lb

J: Beau Morgan

T: Rob Summers

Won twice for Dan Skelton but opposable on what he's shown in last four races, all handicaps divided between hurdles and fences.

20/1

5th

2

9th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 0f 213y

Class 4

14:50 Stratford

In This World

11st 10lb

J: Beau Morgan

T: Rob Summers

Won twice for Dan Skelton but showed little for current yard in three starts last year; hard to fancy.

25/1

Form: 319-14 D

Last run: 16 days

W: 11st 5lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 128

Form & Verdict
Ran twice over 2m at Doncaster last month, with the home-straight hurdles omitted each time; powered clear on first occasion and leaders didn't come back to him when well-beaten fourth latest; has won at up to 2m4f in the past (and on soft) and this step back up in trip could be ideal.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

9th Nov 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 189y

Class 3

12:07 Kelso

Clear White Light

12st 0lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Ewan Whillans

in touch with leaders, not fluent 4th

16/1

4th

1

9th Nov 2024

Good To Soft

2m 4f 189y

Class 3

12:07 Kelso

Clear White Light

12st 0lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Ewan Whillans

in touch with leaders, not fluent 4th

16/1

7th

5

(1)

3rd Sep 2024

Standard To Slow

2m 0f 56y

Class 5

18:45 Newcastle (AW)

Clear White Light

9st 5lb

J: Rowan Scott

T: Ewan Whillans

First four wins came over hurdles but he proved he could do it on the Flat when successful at Catterick (1m4f, heavy) in April; finished last of seven (behind three of these) on stable debut over C&D last month and needs to do much better.

33/1

Form: 13-212 C BF

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 1lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
Won here (1m7f, good to soft) in November when back over hurdles from the Flat, and beaten just a nose at Doncaster (2m3f, good) last month; has won on soft and could have more to offer in this code; contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

16th Oct 2025

Good

1m 7f 207y

Class 3

13:57 Carlisle

Matchless

11st 5lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jennie Candlish

Three consecutive wins over hurdles in May/June (2m-2m7f, good/good to soft) and he was running okay in that sphere last month; however, he has something to find in today's company and he didn't improve for the switch to fences when soundly beaten in January on his sole previous chase start.

12/1

4th

1

26th Sep 2025

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 4

15:52 Worcester

Matchless

12st 0lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jennie Candlish

Came up rather short in higher grade last time; solid record (1112) in Class 4 otherwise this term, albeit has shot up the weights as a result; may be in the assessor's grip now.

13/2

3

5th Sep 2025

Good

2m 7f 32y

Class 3

16:45 Bangor-on-Dee

Matchless

11st 6lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jennie Candlish

It took a return to selling level to regain the winning thread in May but has since gone 112 in 2m4f/2m7f handicaps; getting high in the weights (nudged up another 1lb) but he's pretty solid.

7/2

OUR TIP

Form: 930-18

Last run: 37 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 137

Form & Verdict
Won at Ballinrobe (2m6f, good) last May and respectable run on the Flat in the Irish November Handicap (2m, soft) in October on final outing for Noel Meade; however, he was well beaten on his stable debut at Haydock (2m3f, good to soft) in November and has to leave that run well behind.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

1

(10)

18th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 68y

Class 6

14:50 Lingfield

Lunar Power

9st 9lb

J: William Carson

T: Laura Mongan

Won his share in Ireland but has been on the downgrade for a while and has had three different trainers in the past nine months; however, he showed enough on the AW here last time to suggest he has each-way claims back up in trip and down another 2lb.

12/1

6th

2

(4)

30th Apr 2026

Standard

1m 4f 0y

Class 6

18:10 Lingfield (AW)

Lunar Power

9st 8lb

J: Rhys Clutterbuck

T: Laura Mongan

Losing run stretches back to May 2023 (hurdles); ended 2025 with some modest efforts for James Owen and fared little better when fifth of seven on his stable debut 11 weeks ago (2m, Polytrack); enough to prove.

16/1

5th

2

(2)

11th Feb 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 7f 218y

Class 6

16:28 Kempton (AW)

Lunar Power

10st 2lb

J: Tyrese Cameron

T: Laura Mongan

Five wins (Flat and hurdles) when trained in Ireland; mixed bag for James Owen when last seen; not on a bad mark if a change of scenery piques his interest.

8/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Straight Forecast £18.91

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Afadil

TOPSPEED:

Holmes St Georges

Daily Mail:

Matchless

RP RATINGS:

Benson

The Star:

In This World

POSTDATA:

Afadil

Telegraph:

Afadil

The Guardian:

Afadil

D Express:

Afadil

Daily Record:

Afadil

The Times:

Holmes St Georges

Daily Mirror:

Matchless

The Sun:

Benson