January 01 / 14.49 Southwell

14.49

Good To Soft

Jordan Road Surfacing And Recycling Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £39022.5
  • 1m 7f 182y
  • Class 2
  • 8 runners
SKY
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Jordan Road Surfacing And Recycling Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Rain

OUR TIP

5/1 (Won)

Form: 71-922 D

Last run: 40 days

W: 11st 11lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 129

Form & Verdict
Dual novice hurdle winner in 2024, the latest on stable debut at Kelso (2m2f, soft) in April; only just beaten in both starts in handicaps after returning from a break with a hood fitted in November; up another 2lb but still a major player, especially if benefiting from the subsequent wind operation.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 176y

Class 1

12:45 Aintree

Alnilam

11st 7lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Front-runner who made it 2-2 over fences when winning at Cheltenham (2m, good to soft) in October; however, his limitations seem to have been exposed since and he finished well adrift of No Questions Asked and Be Aware at Windsor last time; has had wind surgery but still hard to recommend.

33/1

3rd

1

16th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 0f 37y

Class 1

13:50 Windsor

Alnilam

11st 5lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Front-runner who made it 2-2 over fences when winning at Cheltenham (2m, good to soft) in October; won on soft ground over hurdles; carries a 3lb penalty today and his progress has stalled on his last two starts, but he's made mistakes each time and could make a bold bid if cutting out the blunders.

9/1

Form: 3112-3 D

Last run: 47 days

W: 11st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
Won on soft ground at Ludlow (2m) and Bangor (2m1f) in April; had a spin on the Flat in October before finishing a fine third of 15 at Cheltenham (2m, good) the following month (clear of the fourth); another big run seems likely.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

12th Oct 2025

Good

2m 0f 11y

Class 2

15:17 Chepstow

Balhambar

10st 11lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

Did well for new stable in 2024, winning twice, and runner-up in valuable Southwell handicap (2m, good) on New Year's Day; reverts to hurdling after a pipe-opener on the Flat last month; probably needs to squeeze out even more improvement to land this prize.

12/1

7th

6

(5)

11th Sep 2025

Good

1m 4f 6y

Class 4

15:18 Epsom

Balhambar

11st 1lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

Progressive since joining this yard and switched to hurdles, mainly under Paul O'Brien, while his sole Flat run for Harry Derham was a respectable third of 11 at Newbury (1m4f, heavy) last October; market may help on this first start since March but stable's horses don't tend to lack for fitness; should go well.

9/2

2nd

1

10th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 70y

Class 3

15:20 Stratford

Balhambar

12st 0lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

led, not fluent 3rd, headed just before last, weakened run-in

4/1

Form: 3642-3 D

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Looked promising in 2023, finishing third in the Grade 2 Persian War, but he hasn't built on it in the meantime; ran with credit on his return from 251 days off when third of six at Huntingdon (2m, soft) last month (fourth has won since), but others look more solid.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

8th Jul 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

18:30 Uttoxeter

Rock House

11st 12lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Can jump right; two fair efforts over fences since the spring, including at 2m4f (good), with another one over hurdles in between; not obviously ahead of his mark but adding a tongue-tie could help.

7/1

4th

3

26th May 2025

Good

2m 0f 104y

Class 4

14:36 Huntingdon

Rock House

11st 6lb

J: Tristan Durrell

T: Dan Skelton

Only beaten about 1l when third of four on chasing debut at Ludlow (2m4f, good) in March, despite a tendency to jump right, and reverts to fences after perfectly respectable 2m hurdle run last month; still unexposed in this sphere and current mark is workable; must be considered.

11/4

4th

3

26th May 2025

Good

2m 0f 104y

Class 4

14:36 Huntingdon

Rock House

11st 6lb

J: Tristan Durrell

T: Dan Skelton

Only beaten about 1l when third of four on chasing debut at Ludlow (2m4f, good) in March, despite a tendency to jump right, and reverts to fences after perfectly respectable 2m hurdle run last month; still unexposed in this sphere and current mark is workable; must be considered.

11/4

Form: 37-406 D

Last run: 37 days

W: 11st 5lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
Back off his last winning mark and 5lb lower than when fourth of 17 in the Swinton Hurdle at Haydock (2m, good) in May, but he has failed to beat a rival in just two outings since (latest after five months off); enough to prove for now.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

8

15th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 3

18:20 Aintree

Luttrell Lad

10st 12lb

J: Alice Stevens

T: Tom Lacey

Won at Exeter and then a close fourth at Sandown (2m4f, good); could put a line through his subsequent races on account of heavy ground and a trip too far; respected.

14/1

4th

7

20th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 57y

Class 3

15:32 Newbury

Luttrell Lad

11st 1lb

J: Alice Stevens

T: Tom Lacey

Won at Exeter (2m2f) in November and creditable fourth at Sandown (2m4f) next time, before heavy ground might excuse his latest start; this, however, is his first foray beyond 2m6f, after 37 races and at the age of ten.

16/1

4th

4

7th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 5f 5y

Class 3

16:10 Warwick

Luttrell Lad

11st 3lb

J: Cameron Iles

T: Tom Lacey

November's Exeter win looked unlikely but he stayed on much the best over 2m2f on good to soft; not beaten far off this 6lb higher mark at Sandown (2m4f, good) when close up behind Henri The Second who won easily back there last weekend; thoroughly exposed but enters the equation for sure; has won on heavy.

15/2

Form: 21-158

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Filly

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Won at Cheltenham (2m4f, good) in April and, after a six-month absence, at Uttoxeter (2m4f, good to soft) in October; last two efforts have been disappointing, though, so he has a bit to prove now dropping in trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

23rd Apr 2026

Good

2m 5f 5y

Class 2

15:30 Warwick

Pretending

11st 4lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Lucy Wadham

Third to Greyval 12 months ago off the same mark; hadn't been at her best this season but came good at Market Rasen (2m4f, soft) and clearly capable of having some say in the outcome.

6/1

1st

6

17th Feb 2026

2m 4f 139y

Class 4

15:02 Market Rasen

Pretending

11st 8lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Lucy Wadham

Exposed mare who hasn't been quite at her best this season, but is on a good mark (3lb lower than for last win); has an each-way chance.

14/1

4th

5

26th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 4f 116y

Class 3

14:50 Plumpton

Pretending

11st 3lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Lucy Wadham

Rather hit and miss since her last win (2m4f, good to soft) in October 2024 and she was pulled up at Fakenham eight days ago; back on her last winning mark but has a bit to prove at present.

12/1

Form: 4-0845 D

Last run: 40 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
1lb lower than when last successful at Musselburgh (2m good to soft) in February, but he finished about 13l behind Alnilam when fifth of seven finishers at Ascot (2m, good) last time; does have a bit to find.
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: 45-340 D

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 12lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
Has run well a few times since winning twice at the start of 2022, albeit his latest performance at Cheltenham (2m1f, good to soft) last month wasn't one of them; still 3lb higher than when last successful and others are preferred.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

13th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 216y

Class 4

18:30 Newton Abbot

Anyharminasking

11st 5lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Three-time hurdle winner who made it 0-5 over fences with another disappointing show at Bangor in late March, despite returning to good ground; clearly needs to raise his game in the new blinkers (replacing cheekpieces).

7/1

6th

3

31st Mar 2026

Good

2m 4f 72y

Class 4

15:50 Bangor-on-Dee

Anyharminasking

11st 13lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Three-time hurdle winner who is 0-4 over fences, with only effort of note in discipline when beaten in a match at Warwick in October (2m4f); does seem happier on good ground than soft, so last two efforts could be excused; cheekpieces return after going without them last time.

8/1

7th

4

9th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 0f 70y

Class 3

15:20 Stratford

Anyharminasking

11st 11lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

3-20 hurdles, his latest win at Newcastle (2m1f Class 3; from 2lb higher) 11 months ago; a switch to fences hasn't suited (0-4, including being beaten in a match) but it's possible he'll strip fitter since his latest start; reverting to the smaller obstacles is helpful.

12/1

Form: 07-213 C

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 11lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 129

Form & Verdict
Has done well since going hurdling in the autumn of 2023, winning three times the latest of which was at Huntingdon (2m, good) in November; again ran well when third of eight off this mark at Doncaster (2m1f, good to soft) last month; shouldn't be far away.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

4

20th May 2026

Good

2m 5f 5y

Class 4

16:00 Warwick

Norman Fletcher

11st 8lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Has had three wins over hurdles but yet to convince on his suitability for this distance, latest when seventh of eight finishers at Haydock (2m5f, good) last month in first-time cheekpieces (retained).

10/1

7th

12

15th Apr 2026

Good

2m 5f 50y

Class 2

15:15 Haydock

Norman Fletcher

10st 5lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

All five wins have been at about 2m or 2m1f; wasn't that strong through the line over Bangor's extended 2m3f last time (good) and has further to go here; tries cheekpieces.

10/1

3rd

6

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 123y

Class 2

15:20 Bangor-on-Dee

Norman Fletcher

10st 8lb

J: James Turner

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Hasn't fired as he can this season but he's well handicapped on form that wasn't that long ago; back from a break and hasn't had many chances over this sort of trip.

6/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Straight Forecast £19.24
Tricast £64.19

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Alnilam

LAMBOURN:

Balhambar

The Sun:

Norman Fletcher

RP RATINGS:

Afadil

POSTDATA:

Pretending

Daily Mail:

Anyharminasking

Daily Record:

Norman Fletcher

The Times:

Afadil

TOPSPEED:

Alnilam

The Guardian:

Alnilam

D Express:

Alnilam

Daily Mirror:

Alnilam

Telegraph:

Balhambar

The Star:

Balhambar