January 06 / 14.15 Ludlow

14.15

Good To Soft

RacingTV Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £4752.9
  • 2m 7f 174y
  • Class 4
  • 9 runners
RTV
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RacingTV Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

Form: 2-32P2

Last run: 45 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Ran as though something was amiss on penultimate outing but got back on track when second of four behind very progressive rival at Catterick (3m1f, good) in November and can make his presence felt again here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

23rd Apr 2025

Good

2m 7f 171y

Class 4

15:38 Ludlow

Planet Legend

11st 6lb

J: Luke Scott

T: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole

His last four outings have seen him runner-up twice and pulled up twice; that makes him 2-14 over hurdles, with the two wins early in 2023 before he went handicapping; no problems with trip or ground but he does not appear the most reliable proposition on this switch to chasing.

8/1

4th

3

23rd Apr 2025

Good

2m 7f 171y

Class 4

15:38 Ludlow

Planet Legend

11st 6lb

J: Luke Scott

T: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole

His last four outings have seen him runner-up twice and pulled up twice; that makes him 2-14 over hurdles, with the two wins early in 2023 before he went handicapping; no problems with trip or ground but he does not appear the most reliable proposition on this switch to chasing.

8/1

7

16th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 150y

Class 3

15:10 Wincanton

Planet Legend

11st 1lb

J: Oliver Boyden

T: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole

Only four ran at Catterick (3m1f, good) in November but he ran well behind an in-form rival; has each-way claims with Oliver Boyden again taking 10lb off his back.

20/1

OUR TIP

Form: 1PP7-2

Last run: 237 days

W: 11st 11lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Suffered slump in form after winning twice for Warren Greatrex last season but signed off for him with good second in Southwell chase (3m1f, good) last May; had wind surgery during subsequent 237-day break and now reverts to hurdling for this stable debut; cheekpieces (worn for last two races) removed; could have a say if fully tuned up.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

15th Jan 2025

Heavy

3m 0f 52y

Class 4

16:08 Newbury

James Jet

11st 8lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

prominent

7/1

5th

4

15th Jan 2025

Heavy

3m 0f 52y

Class 4

16:08 Newbury

James Jet

11st 8lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

prominent

7/1

Form: 22/75- C

Last run: 371 days

W: 11st 10lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Returned from layoff with two respectable 3m runs at Cheltenham last winter but absent for another year since; well handicapped on old form but current ability is tricky to gauge; market may guide.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

9th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 217y

Class 4

15:30 Plumpton

Fontana Ellissi

11st 3lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Samuel Drinkwater

Lightly raced in recent years and remains without a win since 2022; always behind when 33-1 for seasonal debut at Lingfield (2m7f, soft) in December and needs addition of blinkers to aid a revival.

14/1

3rd

4

30th Mar 2025

Good

2m 5f 141y

Class 3

17:05 Ascot

Fontana Ellissi

10st 12lb

J: Benjamin Macey

T: Samuel Drinkwater

Well handicapped on his Cheltenham seconds (2m4f/3m) in late 2022; lightly raced in the meantime and he was still travelling with some purpose when slipping up before two out in a Class 2 handicap at Kelso a month ago (2m5f; in this first-time headgear combination); respected.

13/2

10

1st Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 189y

Class 2

14:20 Kelso

Fontana Ellissi

10st 8lb

J: Benjamin Macey

T: Samuel Drinkwater

Runner-up twice in a row at Cheltenham in autumn 2022 and well treated on that form; however, he wasn't at his best on two starts last season and returned from another absence with a heavy defeat at 40-1 at Newbury this January; major turnaround needed in first-time headgear combination.

33/1

Form: -53121 C

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Improving 6yo who just did enough to hold on here (2m5f, good to soft) last month and has now won three of his last six; moves up in trip today and could still have more to offer; major player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

10

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 125y

Class 3

17:05 Haydock

Solar System

11st 4lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Four wins (2m1f-2m5f) over hurdles; made an encouraging start over fences when 3l third of six at Southwell (3m, soft) last month; solid claims if building on that run with cheekpieces now fitted.

8/1

3rd

1

2nd Mar 2026

Heavy

3m 0f 60y

Class 4

14:45 Southwell

Solar System

12st 0lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Record of 51211 in Class 4 handicap hurdles; has failed to fire in a couple of Class 3 events this term but looks interesting back down in grade on chase debut.

7/2

15th

11

14th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 123y

Class 3

16:10 Ascot

Solar System

11st 5lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Three wins from off the pace last season (2m3f-2m5f, good to soft/soft); managed only fifth on last month's return at Haydock (3m, good to soft) but was quite badly hampered by a mid-race faller and made good headway from the rear on the final circuit; might come on for the run; interesting.

8/1

Form: P-P595 CD

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 7lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Regressive 8yo who was safely held in first-time visor (retained) last month; continues to slip down the weights and is well suited by this C&D but needs to turn a corner.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

15th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 118y

Class 3

13:15 Ascot

Hardy Fella

11st 6lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Emma Lavelle

Visored last three starts and staged a revival on last two, winning well in seven-runner race at Market Rasen (extended 2m7f) 11 days ago; back up 5lb but he used to be capable of a bit better still.

9/1

5

4th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 16y

Class 4

15:10 Market Rasen

Hardy Fella

11st 6lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Emma Lavelle

Was out of form but off a reduced mark he pushed a progressive winner close at Wincanton 19 days ago (3m, good to soft); strong claims if he can build on that.

7/2

1st

5

4th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 16y

Class 4

15:10 Market Rasen

Hardy Fella

11st 6lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Emma Lavelle

Was out of form but off a reduced mark he pushed a progressive winner close at Wincanton 19 days ago (3m, good to soft); strong claims if he can build on that.

7/2

Form: 313/06 D

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 5lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Pulled up in a point on debut for the Gardner stable last May and returned to racing under rules with two heavy defeats over hurdles in the autumn (2m3f/3m1f); can't be recommended until proving some ability remains.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

16th Apr 2025

Good

2m 7f 177y

Class 5

19:15 Ffos Las

Imperial Storm

11st 1lb

J: Mr James Shaw

T: Sue Gardner

Badly out of form over hurdles this season and there didn't seem to be any positives from his switch to chasing for last three outings; wore tongue-tie (dispensed with now) and cheekpieces for latest; way down the weights.

40/1

9

16th Apr 2025

Good

2m 7f 177y

Class 5

19:15 Ffos Las

Imperial Storm

11st 1lb

J: Mr James Shaw

T: Sue Gardner

Badly out of form over hurdles this season and there didn't seem to be any positives from his switch to chasing for last three outings; wore tongue-tie (dispensed with now) and cheekpieces for latest; way down the weights.

40/1

4th

4

2nd Apr 2025

Good

3m 0f 54y

Class 4

16:25 Exeter

Imperial Storm

10st 10lb

J: Mr James Shaw

T: Sue Gardner

prominent, not fluent 1st, lost ground 7th, not fluent 11th, soon lost ground

8/1

Form: 13-861

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Returned to form with clearcut success when upped to 3m1f at Hereford (good to soft) last month and is now 2-9 over hurdles; still unexposed over staying trips and has obvious claims if in the right mood again here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

7

26th Sep 2025

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 4

15:52 Worcester

Gustoso

11st 1lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Henry Daly

Won well at Hereford (3m1f) last December; absent since creditable second at Huntingdon in February; has a modest record when fresh but market support should be noted.

7/1

5

20th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

3m 1f 10y

Class 4

14:45 Huntingdon

Gustoso

11st 5lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Henry Daly

Won here last April and registered his second handicap win when comfortably in front at Hereford (3m2f, good to soft) in December; the latter was his first attempt at this sort of trip but he flopped when 7-4 favourite at Wincanton five weeks ago; major player if bouncing straight back.

7/2

12

16th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 150y

Class 3

15:10 Wincanton

Gustoso

10st 5lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Henry Daly

visibility reduced by fog

6/1

Abandoned

Form: 53-45P D

Last run: 37 days

W: 11st 2lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Useful in his prime but has not won since 2021 and returned from a break with two very disappointing chase runs in November; reverts to hurdling on a very good mark but remains difficult to enthuse over.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

20th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

3m 1f 10y

Class 4

14:45 Huntingdon

Aquila Sky

11st 1lb

J: Toby Wynne

T: Sam Allwood

Disappointing since he won twice over hurdles from markedly higher marks in spring 2021; seventh of 17 at Doncaster latest start was easily the most positive of his three runs this winter, however; needs to build on that, with blinkers replacing his recent cheekpieces.

14/1

7th

9

24th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 84y

Class 4

14:38 Doncaster

Aquila Sky

11st 7lb

J: Alan Johns

T: Sam Allwood

towards rear

33/1

7th

9

24th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 84y

Class 4

14:38 Doncaster

Aquila Sky

11st 7lb

J: Alan Johns

T: Sam Allwood

towards rear

33/1

Form: 574274 BF

Last run: 15 days

W: 10st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
Rallied well to go close on chasing debut at Hereford (3m1f, good) in November but two laboured efforts followed, the latter when switched back to hurdling and tried in blinkers (now removed); not one to rely upon.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

13

14th Jan 2026

Good

3m 0f 57y

Class 4

14:40 Newbury

Faded Fantasy

11st 2lb

J: Mr J J Murphy-Knight

T: Christian Williams

Ran creditably at Hereford (3m1f) last time, bouncing back from two poor efforts, but this looks a tougher assignment; still seeking first handicap success above Class 5.

20/1

9th

11

11th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 131y

Class 4

17:10 Chepstow

Faded Fantasy

11st 5lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Christian Williams

Dual hurdle winner on good ground this summer (2m7f/3m2f); last month's chasing defeat is probably best overlooked (didn't jump well enough) but he has high mileage for his age and might be vulnerable in this grade.

20/1

Verdict

Gustoso was a convincing winner at Hereford last month but this could be another good opportunity for SOLAR SYSTEM (nap), who continued his improvement with a 2m5f course success 19 days ago and might have untapped potential over today’s longer trip. Planet Legend is also likely to feature.[Chris Wilson]

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Solar System

RP RATINGS:

Gustoso

LAMBOURN:

James Jet

The Guardian:

Planet Legend

TOPSPEED:

Gustoso

The Times:

Gustoso

Telegraph:

Gustoso

Daily Mail:

Gustoso

POSTDATA:

Solar System

WEST COUNTRY:

Solar System

D Express:

Solar System

The Sun:

Solar System

The Star:

Solar System

Daily Record:

Solar System

Daily Mirror:

James Jet