January 05 / 15.50 Plumpton

15.50

Soft

Zoe Davison Memorial Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £8713.65
  • 1m 7f 195y
  • Class 4
  • 6 runners
SKY
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Zoe Davison Memorial Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

Form: 23-134 D BF

Last run: 29 days

W: 12st 1lb

6 yo Colt

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Soft-ground maiden hurdle winner who landed a handicap at Wetherby (2m, good to soft) on his reappearance in October; just 2lb higher today but hasn't been at his very best the last twice and needs to raise his game.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

25th Jul 2025

Good

1m 7f 214y

Class 4

16:58 Uttoxeter

Schmilsson

12st 2lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Flat bred but won his first two chases (2m, good), albeit with luck on his side the second time when left clear; latest run when last at Stratford just wasn't his true running; still looks competitively treated.

2/1

3

1st Jul 2025

Good To Firm

2m 0f 213y

Class 3

18:18 Stratford

Schmilsson

10st 5lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Not bred for chasing but is 2-2 since switched to fences in May; might have been fortunate at Perth last month (2m, good; leader fell at final fence) and is 2lb wrong here but still features prominently in calculations.

7/4

1st

2

8th Jun 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

15:22 Perth

Schmilsson

11st 4lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Flat/hurdles scorer; not totally fluent but easily beat Nathan Wells over C&D (good) last month on chase debut and looks open to further progress in this sphere; could well defy a 7lb rise.

11/10

OUR TIP

Form: 12-2F2 D

Last run: 9 days

W: 12st 1lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
He's improved since finishing third in this last year (soft) and was a highly creditable second of 14 under Harriet Tucker at Chepstow (2m, soft) nine days ago; a 2lb rise isn't harsh and he holds leading claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14th

3

9th May 2026

Good

1m 7f 144y

Class 1

13:15 Haydock

Bucephalus

11st 8lb

J: Harriet Tucker

T: Neil Mulholland

Front-runner who regularly gives his all and was beaten off only on the run-in when third to Dance And Glance over C&D (good) five weeks ago; should make another bold bid but several of these look less exposed.

20/1

3rd

2

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 144y

Class 2

14:12 Haydock

Bucephalus

11st 13lb

J: Harriet Tucker

T: Neil Mulholland

Front-runner who was second over C&D (good) in December and bounced back from being pulled up in the William Hill Hurdle at Newbury (heavy) to make all in four-runner handicap at Newcastle (2m1f, good to soft); has a career-high mark in this hotter race but he did it comfortably last time; could make a bold bid.

8/1

1st

2

14th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 190y

Class 3

16:00 Newcastle

Bucephalus

11st 13lb

J: Harriet Tucker

T: Neil Mulholland

Poached a nice advantage but unable to hold off a progressive rival at Haydock (2m, good; in added cheekpieces) on penultimate start; pulled up in deep in a Premier Handicap at Newbury (50-1) latest; chance back in calmer waters.

4/1

Form: 2F-765 D

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 8lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Six-time Flat and four-time hurdle winner who continues to drop down the weights; last month's fifth at Lingfield was a step back in the right direction but he needs to take another if he's to be a serious force today.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

(3)

2nd May 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

14:45 Goodwood

Aggagio

9st 9lb

J: Jude Fernandes

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Well held over hurdles in last three runs but he's won plenty under both codes including three over C&D; still 3lb higher than for his win here last June but he needs watching in market back on the Flat; effective on good/good to firm but most of his wins have come on slow ground.

8/1

3rd

4

14th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 3f 29y

Class 5

14:00 Fontwell

Aggagio

11st 9lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Won plenty under both codes, including over C&D, and has slid to an attractive mark; this is less competitive than the races he's been contesting of late and he's one of the likelier winners back up in trip.

3/1

7th

8

20th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

15:35 Warwick

Aggagio

11st 7lb

J: Ben Pollard

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Five-time hurdle winner who returned to form with clear second at Leicester (1m7f, heavy) in December; only seventh of 12 at Wincanton (1m7f, good to soft) but didn't run badly and he's not discounted.

10/1

Form: 0-7623 CD

Last run: 34 days

W: 11st 5lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Three-time course winner (2m/2m1f, good-soft) who returned from a break with a fair second of six over C&D (good) in November and faded entering the straight when third of 11 here (2m4f, good to soft) last month; the drop back in trip may well be the right move and he's one to consider.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

8

24th Apr 2026

Good

3m 2f 127y

Class 3

14:40 Perth

Inferno Sacree

11st 2lb

J: Murray Dodd

T: Nigel Hawke

Front-runner; having his 40th career start but a first over 3m when successful at Taunton and he followed up at Plumpton (3m1f; again good to soft); subsequent defeat, again under Murray Dodd, suggests others in here might be better treated.

10/1

2nd

4

9th Apr 2026

Good

2m 7f 198y

Class 3

16:50 Taunton

Inferno Sacree

11st 2lb

J: Murray Dodd

T: Nigel Hawke

Showed improved form when stepping up to 3m to land his sixth success over hurdles, over C&D (good to soft) in February and followed up at Plumpton (3m1f, good to soft) last month; remains unexposed as a stayer and holds strong claims to land a three-timer.

4/5

1st

2

9th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 217y

Class 4

15:30 Plumpton

Inferno Sacree

11st 13lb

J: Murray Dodd

T: Nigel Hawke

Front-runner who has been consistent this season and ended a long losing streak at Taunton (3m, good to soft) 11 days ago; went up 5lb for that but this track also suits him and he remains unexposed as a stayer.

11/4

Form: P-9621 D

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Colt

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Returned to form with a close second when back down in trip at Leicester (1m7f, heavy) last month and he's since gone one better under Alex Chadwick at Lingfield (2m, soft); came clear with the 11-10 favourite in the latter and he's a key player up 5lb.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

22nd May 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

20:11 Worcester

Snapius

12st 0lb

J: Alex Chadwick

T: James Owen

Won a similar handicap at Huntingdon (2m3f, good) in March and made another bold bid when runner-up at Ludlow (2m5f, good) 12 days ago; only just caught in that race and he's 4lb well in off the same mark here; strongly respected.

5/2

2nd

1

10th May 2026

Good

2m 5f 55y

Class 5

17:10 Ludlow

Snapius

12st 0lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: James Owen

He only beat two other finishers at Huntingdon (about 2m3f, good) and the 6lb rise appeared to find him out when behind Midnight View at Warwick; he's back down 2lb but they did claim 3lb off his back last time.

4/1

4th

5

23rd Apr 2026

Good

2m 3f 0y

Class 5

16:30 Warwick

Snapius

11st 11lb

J: Alex Chadwick

T: James Owen

Best effort for a while when beating two other finishers at Huntingdon (about 2m3f, good) last month; back up 6lb in a race that will take more winning but that recent success could have had a reviving effect.

11/2

Form: F-527

Last run: 15 days

W: 10st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Well beaten on handicap debut at Hereford (2m, good to soft) a fortnight ago but was perhaps unsuited by that tight right-handed track (hung left); prior to that he went close in a novice hurdle over today's C&D (good to soft) and this very lightly raced 5yo retains potential; chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

26th May 2026

Good

1m 7f 195y

Class 5

20:09 Plumpton

Goodwin Face

11st 7lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Chris Gordon

0-7 but he's reached the frame on all four visits here, going close to shedding his maiden tag on two occasions during 2024 and spring 2025; made an encouraging return from an 11-month absence when second over 2m2f here last month and, nudged up 1lb, remains a strong contender dropped in trip.

5/2

2nd

2

5th Apr 2026

Good

2m 1f 169y

Class 5

14:55 Plumpton

Goodwin Face

11st 11lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Chris Gordon

Hasn't always looked entirely convincing in a finish but he's only raced six times and has twice gone close at this track, in novice and handicap company; danger to all if fitness isn't an issue.

3/1

2nd

3

11th May 2025

Good

1m 7f 195y

Class 5

15:35 Plumpton

Goodwin Face

11st 7lb

J: Freddie Gordon

T: Chris Gordon

in touch with leaders on outer, smooth headway before 2 out, went second and challenging before last, no extra final 110yds

3/1

Non-runners

Moab

Verdict

Bucephalus is a tempting option on the back of his good second in a competitive race at Chepstow nine days ago, but this could go to SNAPIUS. He came clear with the favourite when winning at Lingfield last month and may be the type to run up a sequence for James Owen. Inferno Sacree and Moab ran well last time, while the very lightly raced Goodwin Face could be a contender now he’s back at Plumpton.[Ben Hutton]

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Snapius

TOPSPEED:

Bucephalus

RP RATINGS:

Inferno Sacree

Telegraph:

Moab

The Times:

Schmilsson

D Express:

Inferno Sacree

The Sun:

Snapius

The Star:

Snapius

Daily Record:

Snapius

POSTDATA:

Bucephalus

Daily Mirror:

Bucephalus