January 02 / 15.00 Fakenham

15.00

Soft

Gamble Plant Norfolk Ltd Grand Prix Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £15843
  • 2m 4f 1y
  • Class 3
  • 5 runners
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Gamble Plant Norfolk Ltd Grand Prix Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

Form: -512P8 CD

Last run: 19 days

W: 12st 2lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 127

Form & Verdict
Gained three of his seven hurdling wins at this track and looked as good as ever when scoring at Southwell (2m, good) in September, after a break; today's trip-and-ground combination will also suit but he ended last year with two very disappointing runs and now has a point to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

6

(4)

11th Jan 2024

Standard

1m 6f 21y

Class 6

15:50 Southwell (AW)

Swaffham Bulbeck

9st 3lb

J: Cam Hardie

T: Stuart Edmunds

A pretty useful jumper, last successful in a 2m handicap hurdle here in September; rarely seen on the Flat in recent years but he has finished second in staying handicaps on AW on his last two runs in this sphere; should be involved.

11/4

8th

1

14th Dec 2023

Soft

2m 3f 1y

Class 3

14:40 Taunton

Swaffham Bulbeck

12st 0lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Stuart Edmunds

Outclassed in the Greatwood last time when pulled up at 100-1; usually consistent and went into that in form after competitive runs over 2m (good/heavy); however, he .does look on a tough mark and might be vulnerable.

9/1

OUR TIP

Abandoned

Form: 243-2P CD

Last run: 45 days

W: 11st 9lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Won this race in 2020 and was second to a good horse in it last year; ran as though something was amiss at Wetherby in November but his seasonal debut there a fortnight earlier was perfectly respectable and he's on a good mark now; handles soft ground well (not proven on heavy); can't be ignored.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

3

9th Jan 2024

Soft

2m 4f 139y

Class 4

15:10 Market Rasen

Haafapiece

12st 0lb

J: Alice Stevens

T: Pam Sly

Hasn't won for nearly two years but creditable second at Wetherby on reappearance (2m3f, soft); pulled up on heavy latest but he is on a good mark and no surprise if he were to run well.

11/2

0

6

18th Nov 2023

Soft

2m 3f 154y

Class 3

13:19 Wetherby

Haafapiece

11st 5lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Pam Sly

prominent on outer

13/2

Form: 1/6/P4

Last run: 42 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced in recent years but returned from long absence with very creditable Flat run (1m6f, soft) in May; both hurdle runs in the autumn were disappointing but market support will make him of interest here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

9th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 0f 70y

Class 3

15:20 Stratford

Casa Loupi

11st 4lb

J: Rob Hargreaves

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Didn't jump with fluency but took advantage of ease in grade to justify favouritism in a Leicester seller (2m4f, soft) on penultimate start; toiled back in a handicap (Class 4) at Lingfield latest; this is a tough task, even if returning to this shorter trip may suit.

25/1

12th

2

19th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 3f 110y

Class 4

14:20 Lingfield

Casa Loupi

12st 0lb

J: Ben Pollard

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Bounced back from disappointing seasonal debut with clear win in Leicester seller (2m4f, soft) three weeks ago but faces much tougher task on this handicap return and still has something to prove; cheekpieces refitted.

10/1

6th

2

25th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 164y

Class 4

18:17 Fontwell

Casa Loupi

11st 12lb

J: Rob Hargreaves

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Returned from layoff with two clearcut wins at Sandown (both 2m, soft) this year but his revival came to an end with a pulled-up effort at Warwick in February; bit to prove after that and he's untried over this far.

10/1

Form: 023111

Last run: 10 days

W: 10st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Resurgent 7yo who slipped to a lowly mark at the end of last season but has turned things around in recent months and now bids for his fourth win in a row; travelled sweetly before keeping on well to assert at Haydock (2m3f, heavy) ten days ago and commands respect in current mood.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form: -28523

Last run: 14 days

W: 10st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Runner-up on handicap debut at Ffos Las (2m, heavy) last month and his third at Wincanton (1m7f, soft) a week later was also a good effort; moves back up in trip here and probably still has potential; shortlisted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

12

27th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 3f 100y

Class 5

13:00 Chepstow

Out Of Focus

11st 2lb

J: Isabel Williams

T: Evan Williams

Has often run well in handicap hurdles, including over C&D on heavy, but below best this winter despite falling in the weights and he didn't put up much of a show last time out; first-time cheekpieces on.

16/1

3rd

9

20th May 2024

Soft

2m 4f 216y

Class 4

15:43 Newton Abbot

Out Of Focus

11st 4lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: Evan Williams

midfield

7/1

3rd

9

20th May 2024

Soft

2m 4f 216y

Class 4

15:43 Newton Abbot

Out Of Focus

11st 4lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: Evan Williams

midfield

7/1

Non-runners

Nordano

Verdict

There is no strong temptation to oppose EL JEFE (nap), who has been in superb form in recent weeks and can extend his winning spree. Out Of Focus has made a very solid start to his handicap career at about 2m and could still have untapped potential over 2m4f. The 2020 winner Haafapiece can also feature.[Chris Wilson]

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

El Jefe

The Times:

Out Of Focus

Daily Mirror:

Haafapiece

The Guardian:

Out Of Focus

RP RATINGS:

El Jefe

TOPSPEED:

El Jefe

POSTDATA:

El Jefe

Telegraph:

El Jefe

Daily Mail:

El Jefe

D Express:

El Jefe

The Sun:

El Jefe

The Star:

El Jefe

Daily Record:

El Jefe