January 02 / 15.30 Plumpton

15.30

Soft

Zoe Davison Memorial Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £6997.32
  • 1m 7f 195y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
SKY
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Zoe Davison Memorial Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

OUR TIP

5/1 (Won)

Form: 2432

Last run: 48 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Irish point winner who has shown promise in bumpers and over hurdles, including when runner-up in Lingfield novice (2m, soft) in November; needs to find more to defy this opening mark but he's still lightly raced and has a useful pedigree.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

3

20th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

2m 5f 34y

Class 5

16:47 Cartmel

El Muchacho

11st 10lb

J: William Maggs

T: Mike Sowersby

Placed three consecutive times in March-May (2m4f-2m5f, good/good to soft) and has claims if judged on that form but didn't fire when well-held third of four on latest outing and also disappointed on only previous visit to Cartmel; usually ridden patiently; others appeal more.

10/1

3rd

2

28th May 2026

Good

2m 5f 89y

Class 5

18:30 Market Rasen

El Muchacho

12st 0lb

J: William Maggs

T: Mike Sowersby

Won twice on good ground (2m5f/2m3f) for this new stable last season and has been placed on last three appearances, most recently when second over C&D (good) three weeks ago; 1lb lower today and seems very likely to be in the thick of things again.

7/4

2nd

3

8th May 2026

Good

2m 5f 89y

Class 5

15:15 Market Rasen

El Muchacho

11st 7lb

J: William Maggs

T: Mike Sowersby

Holding form well since January's Catterick success (2m3f, good), actually achieving more on RPRs when a close third at Newcastle latest; still well treated on his 2023-24 peak form, and no ground concerns.

9/2

Form: 3111O5 C

Last run: 51 days

W: 11st 5lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Transformed with Sheena West over hurdles, winning on good ground at Fontwell (twice) and Plumpton in September; looked a big threat before he was hampered and ran out in a Listed race at Wetherby (2m, good to soft) in October and it was a tough assignment in a Grade 2 at Cheltenham last time; back in calmer waters now and he's respected on his handicap hurdle debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

2

(10)

1st Jul 2026

Good

1m 4f 6y

Class 4

18:57 Epsom

Mr Freedom

10st 2lb

J: George Bass

T: Sheena West

Multiple Flat/hurdles winner who came back from an absence (after a nasty spill at Plumpton) with encouraging third at Salisbury (good; not clear run) in May; didn't build on that at Goodwood (also 1m6f) this month but he travelled well until soft ground likely got the better of him; drops in trip and he's not ruled out.

14/1

5th

1

(7)

12th Jun 2026

Soft

1m 6f 0y

Class 4

18:39 Goodwood

Mr Freedom

9st 11lb

J: George Bass

T: Sheena West

11-time winner under rules who made a fine return from 389 days off when third of nine at Salisbury (1m6f, good) last month, looking unfortunate not to go closer; good or faster ground may suit ideally, but he handles soft; respected in his bid to make it 4-5 in Class 4 handicaps on the Flat.

9/2

Form: 1212-1 D

Last run: 43 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Has form figures of 12121 since sent handicapping over hurdles and his latest win at Exeter (2m, good to soft) in November was after 252 days off; up another 4lb but he's open to more progress and all of his wins have come under Rex Dingle; big player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

6

26th Mar 2026

Good

3m 0f 0y

Class 2

16:30 Warwick

Pilsdon Pen

11st 0lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Jeremy Scott

Wincanton specialist who kept on for second there (2m4f, good to soft) three weeks ago in first-time cheekpieces (retained); he's run well here in the past but needs to prove his stamina, having faded over 3m1f at Wincanton in December.

7/1

2nd

5

5th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 35y

Class 4

16:15 Wincanton

Pilsdon Pen

11st 8lb

J: Lorcan Williams

T: Jeremy Scott

Gained all three chase wins over C&D, the latest off today's mark on seasonal debut in December (good to soft); has suffered a slump in form this winter, though, and has questions to answer now; tongue-tie added.

10/1

5th

1

14th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 4f 35y

Class 4

15:20 Wincanton

Pilsdon Pen

12st 2lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Jeremy Scott

Made it 3-7 over fences with narrow win on his C&D reappearance (good to soft) in December; only 1lb higher here but he's been disappointing since that last success and was pulled up at Exeter (first-time blinkers) last time; regular cheekpieces are now reapplied but he needs to get back in track.

10/1

Form: 21-221 CD

Last run: 55 days

W: 12st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Fit from the Flat when posting a good second in Fakenham handicap in October and he was awarded the race at Lingfield (2m, soft; bumped towards finish) the following month; up 4lb but he has a solid record over hurdles and may not have reached his ceiling yet; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

29th Aug 2026

Good

2m 1f 46y

Class 3

15:53 Cartmel

Saligo Bay

11st 10lb

J: Jonathan England

T: Sam England

Won five times over hurdles (once over C&D) and three times on the Flat last year; quite versatile regarding ground but has been safely held on both starts this summer (hurdle/Flat) and current mark probably demands a personal-best.

20/1

8th

3

(1)

2nd Aug 2026

Good

1m 2f 70y

Class 4

16:52 Chester

Saligo Bay

10st 0lb

J: Tom Eaves

T: Sam England

Progressive form under both codes last year included a 1m4f course win; quiet return to jumping at Cartmel two weeks ago but that was after a lengthy break and he's on better Flat mark than he is over hurdles.

4/1

8th

2

18th Jul 2026

Good

2m 1f 46y

Class 3

15:10 Cartmel

Saligo Bay

11st 12lb

J: Miss Heidi Palin

T: Sam England

Progressive on the Flat and over hurdles last year, collecting eight wins (one over C&D) in total; absent since respectable fifth in Scottish County Hurdle at Musselburgh (1m7f, good to soft) in January, though, and current mark demands another personal best.

14/1

Form: 696222 D

Last run: 27 days

W: 10st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Runner-up in last three starts and he was only just caught at Uttoxeter (2m, good to soft) last time; hard to rule out another good run but a rising mark makes things tougher and both his wins have come on good ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

26th May 2026

Good

2m 3f 166y

Class 4

19:09 Plumpton

Begin The Luck

12st 0lb

J: Beau Morgan

T: Daisy Hitchins

Largely reliable veteran and a three-time winner since December, latterly over C&D in April; touched off at Fontwell 20 days ago, with I Shut That d'Or about 5l back in third; nudged up 1lb but likely to make his presence felt again.

2/1

2nd

2

6th May 2026

Good

2m 3f 104y

Class 5

19:42 Fontwell

Begin The Luck

11st 13lb

J: Robbie David

T: Daisy Hitchins

Veteran who has won three times over fences since December including at Plumpton (2m4f, good) 17 days ago; that was in a small field and his main rival made a bad mistake at the last but he still looks feasibly treated and is versatile ground-wise; respected.

5/1

1st

2

19th Apr 2026

Good

2m 3f 166y

Class 5

14:17 Plumpton

Begin The Luck

11st 7lb

J: Robbie David

T: Daisy Hitchins

Reliable sort who scored at Leicester (2m4f) in March; not discredited when fifth in 2m5f handicap chase at Newton Abbot 15 days ago so ought to be in the shake-up eased 1lb.

3/1

Form: 4-25P3 CD

Last run: 13 days

W: 10st 9lb

8 yo Mare

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
C&D winner but her last success was 22 months ago and she was a well-held third of six back here last month; drops back in trip/grade but she's not easy to predict and others are more convincing; tongue-tie added.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

9

7th Jan 2024

Soft

2m 3f 164y

Class 4

15:25 Plumpton

Brown Bullet

10st 2lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Andy Irvine

Three-time hurdle winner who is rated lower over fences after struggling in her first two attempts in late 2021; however, she gave it a right go on returning to this discipline over C&D three weeks ago when conceding the lead only late on (Shaw's Cross runner-up); this is a higher grade but she is entitled to a second look.

13/2

3rd

4

18th Dec 2023

Good To Soft

2m 3f 164y

Class 5

15:10 Plumpton

Brown Bullet

11st 5lb

J: James Best

T: Andy Irvine

Struggled in two chases in late 2021 and has raced exclusively over hurdles since; scored off 5lb higher mark here (2m, soft) in March and might have needed last month's reappearance run but still looks risky on this switch back to fences; usual hood removed; cheekpieces remain.

10/1

8/1

Form: 43P-63

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 1lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
0-6 over hurdles but he's attracted support in last two runs and was a creditable third of 14 in Taunton handicap (2m, good; cheekpieces added) last month; travelled strongly for a long way in that race and he's respected off unchanged mark; had Flat form on soft/heavy in France last year.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

4

(1)

29th Mar 2023

Standard To Slow

1m 7f 218y

Class 4

20:00 Kempton (AW)

Vazir

9st 6lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Alan King

Sole win came on Polytrack at Deauville (12.5f) in August 2021; made the frame in three of his seven starts over hurdles after joining this yard, but he never figured here on Flat (1m3f/2m) on last two outings; wore cheekpieces on last four starts, now it's a visor.

25/1

8th

8

(8)

22nd Feb 2023

Standard To Slow

1m 7f 218y

Class 3

19:30 Kempton (AW)

Vazir

9st 2lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Alan King

hampered start, towards rear

25/1

6th

5

(7)

28th Jan 2023

Standard

1m 2f 219y

Class 2

19:30 Kempton (AW)

Vazir

8st 10lb

J: Kieran O’Neill

T: Alan King

Fairly useful form on the Flat in France in 2021, including a 1m4f Polytrack maiden; however, he disappointingly hasn't bettered modest form over hurdles in Britain since and can only be watched back on the Flat in a good race.

25/1

Form: P1-244 CD

Last run: 12 days

W: 10st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 97

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

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Straight Forecast £31.72
Tricast £76.06

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Pilsdon Pen

Daily Mail:

Saligo Bay

POSTDATA:

Tara Iti

D Express:

El Muchacho

Telegraph:

Vazir

Daily Mirror:

Begin The Luck

RP Ratings:

Brown Bullet

Daily Record:

Saligo Bay

The Times:

Tara Iti

TOPSPEED:

Pilsdon Pen

WEST COUNTRY:

Pilsdon Pen

The Guardian:

Pilsdon Pen

The Sun:

Pilsdon Pen

The Star:

Pilsdon Pen