January 01 / 14.35 Fakenham

14.35

Good

Gamble Plant Norfolk Ltd Grand Prix Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £18210.5
  • 2m 4f 1y
  • Class 3
  • 8 runners
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Gamble Plant Norfolk Ltd Grand Prix Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Rain

10/1 (Won)

  • Win: £8.60
  • Place: £2.00

Form: 132-26 D

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 4lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Chase and dual hurdles winner at 2m3f-2m4f, on slow ground; returns to hurdling for the first time since March 2023 and could be competitive from this mark; visor goes on (has won in cheekpieces); not written off.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

19th Apr 2025

Good

2m 7f 129y

Class 4

16:14 Huntingdon

Pearly Island

11st 5lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Lucy Wadham

held up in last

9/2

1st

3

19th Apr 2025

Good

2m 7f 129y

Class 4

16:14 Huntingdon

Pearly Island

11st 5lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Lucy Wadham

held up in last

9/2

4th

3

1st Apr 2025

Good

2m 4f 1y

Class 3

16:20 Fakenham

Pearly Island

11st 6lb

J: Joshua Parker

T: Lucy Wadham

in touch with leaders, lost ground and detached before 4 out, weakening when mistake 2 out

12/1

7/1

  • Place: £2.90

Form: 74-431 D

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Triple hurdles winner at up to 2m5f, including when his jumping won it at Lingfield (2m3f, soft) latest, when the front pair were clear; up 5lb and should again be competitive.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

8th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 166y

Class 4

16:15 Fontwell

Godot

11st 3lb

J: Freddie Mitchell

T: Andy Irvine

Didn't run badly when fifth of seven here (2m5f, good to soft; usual headgear removed) 12 days ago and has become well handicapped but this season has been largely disappointing and he's not yet proven over this far.

16/1

5th

1

27th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 164y

Class 5

15:00 Fontwell

Godot

12st 0lb

J: Oscar Palmer

T: Andy Irvine

Three-time winner but arrives here in no sort of form and the new blinkers (replacing usual cheekpieces) did nothing for him two weeks ago; now goes in no headgear; risky.

12/1

5th

1

14th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 3f 29y

Class 5

14:00 Fontwell

Godot

12st 0lb

J: Rian Corcoran

T: Andy Irvine

Always tended to be all or nothing but has often run well on soft; risks involved now, having been pulled up on his last two starts, but he's capable of popping up, switched from cheekpieces to first-time blinkers under in-form Rian Corcoran.

8/1

7/2

  • Place: £1.90

Form: 62-711 C

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 10lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Broke his duck when racing prominently in a maiden hurdle here (2m, good to soft) in November; improved on that when defying a penalty in a Hereford novice event (2m3f, good to soft) last month, when the front pair were well clear; initial mark more challenging but he is much respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

6th Apr 2026

Good

2m 0f 219y

Class 2

14:35 Plumpton

Secret Des Dieux

11st 1lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: James Owen

Capitalised on the drop back in trip to win at Huntingdon (2m, heavy) in February and followed up at Kempton (2m2f, good); he's 7lb higher than last time and in a hotter race, but did it very nicely and this 6yo novice is now 3-6 over fences; could still have more to offer and he's respected.

2/1

1st

1

14th Mar 2026

Good

2m 2f 0y

Class 3

14:08 Kempton

Secret Des Dieux

11st 10lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: James Owen

Won on chase debut at Fakenham (2m, good to soft) in October; creditable efforts in defeats in strong novice handicaps on next three starts before resuming winning ways in a small field at Huntingdon (2m, heavy) last month; 7lb higher in a more competitive race now but further progress can't be ruled out with this yard.

3/1

1st

1

19th Feb 2026

2m 0f 104y

Class 4

15:26 Huntingdon

Secret Des Dieux

11st 11lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: James Owen

Won on chase debut at Fakenham (2m, good to soft) in October and has run well in defeat on his three starts since, most recently at Cheltenham when not seeing out the stiff, extended 2m4f on soft ground; solid claims now back down in trip.

5/6

Form: 88-640

Last run: 12 days

W: 11st 10lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Useful juvenile hurdler last season; has put up some respectable efforts in handicaps without winning one; slipping to a mark where he can get more competitive but may have to wait a little longer to win again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

31st May 2026

Good

2m 0f 3y

Class 4

16:07 Fakenham

An Bradan Feasa

12st 0lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Jack Jones

Won twice over hurdles (2m/2m4f, good) and twice on the Flat in 2025; looked as good as ever when second on the Flat this month, after a break, and is respected, albeit the nagging concern is that he ran poorly on his only previous visit to Fakenham.

9/4

2nd

3

(3)

12th May 2026

Standard

1m 7f 169y

Class 5

17:15 Lingfield (AW)

An Bradan Feasa

9st 12lb

J: Alice Bond

T: Jack Jones

Scored twice over hurdles last autumn and he notched another success in 2m Chelmsford handicap in November; off since but yard is going well so he can't be discounted.

2/1

Form: 11-404

Last run: 25 days

W: 12st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Useful performer who completed a hat-trick in juvenile races early last year on soft and good; picked up where he'd left off in another 4yo contest at Cheltenham last October; below that level subsequently in two good handicaps; takes a drop in grade and steps up in trip; remains of interest.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

4th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 1y

Class 2

17:13 Fakenham

Royal Way

11st 6lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Won comfortably off reduced mark at Ludlow (2m5f, good) in March and has also performed well on both outings since, more recently when fourth at Sandown (2m4f, good) nine days ago; ran poorly on only previous visit to Fakenham but still enters calculations.

12/1

4th

15

25th Apr 2026

Good

2m 3f 178y

Class 2

17:15 Sandown

Royal Way

10st 2lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Exploited reduced mark when winning quite comfortably at Ludlow last month and was one of two to pull clear of the others when second at Ascot (also 2m5f, good) ten days later; no surprise if he features.

10/1

2nd

7

29th Mar 2026

Good

2m 5f 146y

Class 3

17:25 Ascot

Royal Way

10st 13lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Won sole start here; two years without a win after that but, with tongue-tie removed and second-time cheekpieces, he then obliged comfortably at Ludlow (2m5f, good) ten days ago; back up 6lb but has returned to serious calculations.

4/1

Form: P42-25

Last run: 67 days

W: 11st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Heavy-ground juvenile hurdle winner at Chepstow last season; has often been competitive in handicaps since then but is looking more exposed than some in this field and needs improvement to successfully defy this mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

19th May 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 28y

Class 4

20:20 Hexham

Balboa

11st 13lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Seamus Mullins

Made the most of a reduced mark when justifying support and gaining a first win since 2023 when scoring at Ayr (2m4f, soft) last month; remains well treated on past form back up 6lb and likely to be in the mix again.

11/2

1st

8

17th Apr 2026

Soft

2m 4f 100y

Class 4

17:15 Ayr

Balboa

11st 0lb

J: Mr Jack Stenhouse

T: Seamus Mullins

Without a win since 2023 but he has dropped to a dangerous mark and ran surprisingly well over 3m last time at Wincanton when all his form is over shorter; goes on soft.

12/1

3rd

9

23rd Mar 2026

Good

3m 0f 150y

Class 4

14:45 Wincanton

Balboa

11st 9lb

J: Mr Paddy Barlow

T: Seamus Mullins

Remote when third at Newbury (2m4f, soft) last month and remains winless since 2023; however, the form of his keeping-on fourth at Taunton (2m3f, good) two starts ago has worked out well and he's too well handicapped to be ruled out on this first attempt at a staying trip.

12/1

Form: 10-611 C

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 9lb

6 yo Colt

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Dual course winner over 2m (good/soft); scored in a 0-130 event at Huntingdon (2m, soft) last time, taking record in cheekpieces to 2-2; up another 6lb; shapes as if he will get this trip; player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

8

2nd May 2026

Good

2m 3f 207y

Class 3

15:50 Uttoxeter

Bluegrass

11st 6lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Stuart Edmunds

All five wins over hurdles have been at 2m; hasn't won since his return to action in October and ran poorly when eighth of nine finishers at Chepstow (2m3f, good to soft) last month; handicapper is at last relenting but his best chance of success in the short-term may be back at 2m.

8/1

8th

1

2nd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 100y

Class 4

16:07 Chepstow

Bluegrass

12st 0lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Stuart Edmunds

Record of 5-23 over hurdles and placed a few times as well; a bit up and down this season but ran respectably in the new blinkers at Fakenham last time and now regular cheekpieces return over a longer trip that may suit him better.

10/1

Form: 4-20U4

Last run: 39 days

W: 11st 5lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
1m7f Flat winner who has scored three times at 2m/2m1f over hurdles; back on his last winning mark and could appreciate this return to hurdles after a couple of disappointing chase efforts.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

8

1st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 171y

Class 4

14:30 Musselburgh

Young Merlin

11st 9lb

J: Benjamin Macey

T: Rebecca Menzies

Has several pieces of placed form (Flat/hurdles) for current yard but his losing sequence is mounting up; not the percentage call in this competitive affair.

16/1

2nd

9

(5)

23rd Oct 2025

Soft

2m 1f 208y

Class 5

15:00 Nottingham

Young Merlin

8st 11lb

J: David Allan

T: Rebecca Menzies

Runner-up on stable debut at Musselburgh (2m, good) in July and he's fine on testing ground; however, this 9yo has failed to threaten on his last two outings and needs something extra today.

12/1

5th

6

(5)

30th Sep 2025

Soft

1m 7f 0y

Class 6

17:05 Ayr

Young Merlin

9st 10lb

J: Kaiya Fraser

T: Rebecca Menzies

Won three Flat races at up to 1m7f when trained in France (including on heavy) and has since won three times over hurdles for Amy Murphy; good second on stable debut at Musselburgh in July (2m, good) but lesser run last time (2m1f, good to soft); each-way chance.

11/2

Non-runners

Hecouldbetheone

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £106.60
Straight Forecast £93.00
Tricast £625.20
Trifecta £623.00

Selections

D Express:

Secret Des Dieux

The Times:

Bluegrass

RP RATINGS:

Hecouldbetheone

SPOTLIGHT:

Royal Way

Telegraph:

An Bradan Feasa

TOPSPEED:

Young Merlin

The Sun:

Secret Des Dieux

The Star:

Secret Des Dieux

Daily Mail:

Royal Way

Daily Mirror:

Bluegrass

Daily Record:

Bluegrass

POSTDATA:

Hecouldbetheone

The Guardian:

Hecouldbetheone