January 14 / 13.10 Plumpton

13.10

Soft

Southern Cranes & Access Ltd Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4356.8
  • 2m 4f 114y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
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Southern Cranes & Access Ltd Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

Form: U123 C

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Has continued to run well since winning on good ground here last May, finishing second at Ascot (1m7f) and third at Windsor (2m4f); should be fine on today's slower ground but, on ratings, Jurancon is entitled to have his measure.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

10

26th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

3m 1f 210y

Class 3

13:30 Fontwell

Illegal dAinay

10st 5lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Chris Gordon

Won a maiden hurdle (2m, good) in May 2024 but was well held in a Plumpton handicap (2m4f) in his final run last season; still lightly raced but this looks a tough starting point over fences and he has stamina to prove at this new trip.

11/2

7th

8

21st Apr 2025

Good

2m 4f 114y

Class 2

15:45 Plumpton

Illegal dAinay

11st 4lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Chris Gordon

Won a 2m maiden on good ground here last May and ran another good race to be fourth on handicap debut at Windsor three months ago (2m4f, soft); he doesn't look ahead of his mark but he's not had a lot of racing.

33/1

7th

8

21st Apr 2025

Good

2m 4f 114y

Class 2

15:45 Plumpton

Illegal dAinay

11st 4lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Chris Gordon

Won a 2m maiden on good ground here last May and ran another good race to be fourth on handicap debut at Windsor three months ago (2m4f, soft); he doesn't look ahead of his mark but he's not had a lot of racing.

33/1

OUR TIP

Abandoned

Form: 21-212 BF

Last run: 39 days

W: 11st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 127

Form & Verdict
3m point and two-time bumper winner; has made a solid start over hurdles and looks ready for this longer trip after battling on for second when penalised at Exeter (soft); won't mind returning to a left-handed track and now goes in a tongue-tie.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

9

14th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 70y

Class 2

14:25 Uttoxeter

Jurancon

10st 11lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

Progressive and productive until going the wrong way (at about 2m4f) this season; still hasn't won beyond 2m under rules; enough to prove upped further in distance.

25/1

11th

6

14th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 3f 63y

Class 2

14:25 Ascot

Jurancon

11st 2lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

Acts on heavy ground; disappointing in both starts this term but can't be written off just yet; previously a progressive sort with a good strike-rate and solid record.

8/1

1st

1

1st Mar 2025

Heavy

2m 0f 69y

Class 3

15:05 Newbury

Jurancon

11st 9lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

Justified favouritism in C&D novice contest (soft) last time, not needing to improve but enhancing a good rules record that now reads 1212121; solid contender on handicap debut.

5/2

Form: 34-66

Last run: 33 days

W: 11st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Hasn't fulfilled the promise of his debut third in a Sandown bumper (soft) and was 200-1 when tailed off at Warwick last month; hard to recommend.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

6th May 2026

Good

3m 1f 210y

Class 5

18:42 Fontwell

Drumheller

11st 2lb

J: Tabitha Worsley

T: Nick Gifford

Not solid on his hurdling exploits (0-7) and he ran no race on chase debut last time (2m4f); this longer trip is probably a better fit for him so may leave that latest run behind.

20/1

6

26th Mar 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

15:28 Warwick

Drumheller

11st 4lb

J: James Davies

T: Nick Gifford

Mixed form over hurdles this season but runner-up at Plumpton (3m1f, good) two starts ago and stable has much better strike-rate with chasers than hurdlers nowadays; not ruled out on first run over fences.

10/1

2

23rd Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 164y

Class 5

16:50 Fontwell

Drumheller

11st 8lb

J: James Davies

T: Nick Gifford

Did not show a great deal in his qualifying races last season (2m3f-2m5f) and unseated rider at third flight when upped to 3m2f for handicap debut in March (race subsequently declared void); returns from six-month break.

25/1

Abandoned

Form: P

Last run: 74 days

W: 11st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
It was a weak Irish point that he won last March (heavy) and, at 33-1, he was pulled up in a 2m4f good-ground novice at Uttoxeter; had a wind operation.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

17th Mar 2025

Good

2m 3f 29y

Class 4

14:02 Fontwell

Gamblergo

11st 7lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Toby Lawes

Irish maiden point winner who was pulled up on hurdle debut in November but offered something to work with, having been given wind surgery, when fourth at Hereford (2m6f, soft) in January; open to progress but probably one for handicaps in due course.

12/1

4th

3

15th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 5f 163y

Class 4

14:15 Hereford

Gamblergo

11st 3lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Toby Lawes

Not sure he achieved all that much in winning an Irish point and those doubts now have substance after a forgettable hurdling debut; had wind surgery since.

33/1

4th

3

15th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 5f 163y

Class 4

14:15 Hereford

Gamblergo

11st 3lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Toby Lawes

Not sure he achieved all that much in winning an Irish point and those doubts now have substance after a forgettable hurdling debut; had wind surgery since.

33/1

Form: 4

Last run: 29 days

W: 11st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Positives to take from his first run in points but his hurdling debut over C&D was thoroughly underwhelming (good to soft; 13-2).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

9th Mar 2026

Good

3m 1f 157y

Class 5

16:00 Plumpton

Minella Kaiser

11st 4lb

J: Freddie Gordon

T: Chris Gordon

Low-mileage 7yo who launched chasing career with two good efforts, latterly when second to Felton Bellevue over C&D (soft) in February; ran in snatches and was disappointing over hurdles here a fortnight ago but might travel better in first-time cheekpieces today and could still have potential over fences.

11/4

5th

3

23rd Feb 2026

Soft

3m 0f 217y

Class 5

15:45 Plumpton

Minella Kaiser

11st 6lb

J: Freddie Gordon

T: Chris Gordon

Lightly raced maiden over hurdles who has showed improved form since switched to fences on last two starts; not yet fully exposed and reverts to hurdles off what may prove to be a workable mark.

11/4

Form:

Last run:

W: 11st 3lb

5 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Had only six races on the Flat but his form was decidedly moderate from 7f to 2m; tongue tied for hurdle/stable debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13

7th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

13:20 Kempton

Simply Ed

11st 7lb

J: James Best

T: Joanne Thomason-Murphy

midfield

200/1

13

7th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

13:20 Kempton

Simply Ed

11st 7lb

J: James Best

T: Joanne Thomason-Murphy

took keen hold, midfield

200/1

5

27th Jan 2025

Soft

1m 7f 195y

Class 4

14:50 Plumpton

Simply Ed

11st 5lb

J: James Best

T: Joanne Thomason-Murphy

took keen hold, in touch with leaders

100/1

Form: 11/62

Last run: 40 days

W: 11st 3lb

7 yo Gelding

OR:

Form & Verdict
Won two bumpers (soft/heavy) before going missing for 678 days; his second run back was a lot better than the first, albeit no match for a classy winner at Leicester (2m4f, heavy) and upsides one who was tailed off at Ffos Las on Saturday; still has strong place claims with improvement on the cards.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

11

31st Jan 2026

Heavy

2m 7f 103y

Class 1

15:10 Sandown

Sole Solution

10st 2lb

J: Ned Fox

T: Venetia Williams

All four wins in the mud and the latest was from the front on heavy ground at this track (2m4f) last February; made a creditable chase/seasonal debut over 3m in December but two muted performances (chase/hurdles) have followed and a big revival is needed in the first-time headgear.

14/1

5th

7

22nd Jan 2026

Soft

3m 1f 10y

Class 2

15:15 Huntingdon

Sole Solution

10st 11lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Dual hurdle/bumper winner on soft/heavy ground and could be happy to see the back of fences (last two runs); he's not handicapped out of it.

10/1

Form: 84

Last run: 30 days

W: 10st 10lb

6 yo Mare

OR:

Form & Verdict
Tailed off when last of four runners at Windsor and she was well behind Illegal d'Ainay.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

13

2nd Nov 2025

Good

3m 1f 10y

Class 5

16:05 Huntingdon

Lyness Dancer

10st 13lb

J: Jack Andrews

T: T Ellis

Sole win came over C&D (good) in May and has run well a couple of times since, but has also bled on a couple of occasions including on her chase debut back here (3m, good) last month; others more persuasive.

20/1

13

2nd Nov 2025

Good

3m 1f 10y

Class 5

16:05 Huntingdon

Lyness Dancer

10st 13lb

J: Jack Andrews

T: T Ellis

Sole win came over C&D (good) in May and has run well a couple of times since, but has also bled on a couple of occasions including on her chase debut back here (3m, good) last month; others more persuasive.

20/1

13

2nd Nov 2025

Good

3m 1f 10y

Class 5

16:05 Huntingdon

Lyness Dancer

10st 13lb

J: Jack Andrews

T: T Ellis

Sole win came over C&D (good) in May and has run well a couple of times since, but has also bled on a couple of occasions including on her chase debut back here (3m, good) last month; others more persuasive.

20/1

Verdict

David Pipe’s JURANCON sets a high standard as it is and today’s extra demands on stamina should trigger further improvement from him. Illegal d’Ainay has something to find with the selection on all the figures, but Sole Solution is receiving weight from the top two and his second run back from an absence was a lot better than the first. He could very easily take a notable step forward.[Alistair Jones]

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Jurancon

POSTDATA:

Illegal d'Ainay

TOPSPEED:

Sole Solution

RP RATINGS:

Jurancon

WEST COUNTRY:

Jurancon

The Times:

Jurancon

Telegraph:

Jurancon

The Guardian:

Jurancon

Daily Mail:

Jurancon

D Express:

Jurancon

Daily Mirror:

Jurancon

The Sun:

Jurancon

The Star:

Jurancon

Daily Record:

Jurancon