January 14 / 14.40 Plumpton

14.40

Soft

Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Guide Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £3828.72
  • 3m 0f 217y
  • Class 5
  • 9 runners
SKY
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Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Guide Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

Form: 3-6886

Last run: 50 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Filly

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Has won a handicap off 5lb higher, back in May 2023; the odd bit of promise this season (tongue tied) and in better races than this.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

31st Mar 2025

Good

3m 0f 150y

Class 3

16:15 Wincanton

Pure Theatre

11st 2lb

J: Ben Godfrey

T: Anthony Honeyball

Not particularly solid on this season's form but record suggests she's a spring mare and this looks the time to catch her; attractively handicapped, being 8lb below the mark of her sole handicap success.

6/1

OUR TIP

Form: 7-6855 CD

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 13lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 99

Form & Verdict
C&D winner on soft ground and should be well handicapped but he's in need of a revival.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

6th Apr 2025

Good

3m 0f 217y

Class 4

15:52 Plumpton

San Pedro

10st 13lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Chris Gordon

prominent, not fluent 4 out, soon lost ground, struggling from 3 out

10/1

4th

5

6th Apr 2025

Good

3m 0f 217y

Class 4

15:52 Plumpton

San Pedro

10st 13lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Chris Gordon

prominent, not fluent 4 out, soon lost ground

10/1

Form: 53-875 D

Last run: 57 days

W: 11st 11lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
Looks cold as ice at the minute but potentially well handicapped and this race isn't strong at all; an assured stayer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

18th Nov 2024

Good

2m 7f 25y

Class 4

14:00 Exeter

Ben Lilly

11st 4lb

J: Gearoid Harney

T: David Pipe

Should be well handicapped but he looks cold as ice at the minute and has the most to prove of these.

10/1

Form: 89-096

Last run: 60 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Uncompetitive in five handicaps for current yard from 2m to 2m4f (varying ground); cheekpieces did nothing last time and he now tries blinkers over a longer trip; bit risky.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

6th Apr 2026

Good

2m 0f 219y

Class 2

14:35 Plumpton

Scorsese

10st 2lb

J: Harry Atkins

T: Neil Mulholland

Made all at Sedgefield (2m3f, good to soft) on Boxing Day on fourth chase start and his good form has continued when third on both runs since (2m4f, soft/good to soft); this drop back in trip is worth a go and further improvement is possible, but he needs to be better than ever from 4lb wrong.

11/2

3rd

4

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 187y

Class 3

14:40 Newbury

Scorsese

11st 3lb

J: Harry Atkins

T: Neil Mulholland

Opened his chase account in Sedgefield event on Boxing Day (sole start under Harry Atkins); ran respectably in traditionally strong novice handicap at Cheltenham (2m4f, soft) since; in the mix.

9/2

3rd

8

24th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 4f 127y

Class 2

12:05 Cheltenham

Scorsese

10st 11lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Neil Mulholland

Justified favouritism in Class 4 event at Sedgefield (2m3f, good to soft) on Boxing Day, opening his chase account at the fourth attempt; however, faces a much stiffer task off new mark upped a couple of grades.

20/1

Form: 07-425 BF

Last run: 35 days

W: 11st 3lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
Very nearly won a four-runner handicap over C&D (good) in November when tried in first-time cheekpieces but he was a disappointing favourite at Fontwell (2m5f) when soft ground could have been a factor; conditions are a concern but the ability is there to feature.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

3

19th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 95y

Class 5

12:30 Fakenham

Chancellorstown

11st 3lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Toby Lawes

prominent, not fluent 1st, not fluent 8th, lost ground after 3 out

11/2

6th

3

19th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 95y

Class 5

12:30 Fakenham

Chancellorstown

11st 3lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Toby Lawes

prominent, not fluent 1st, not fluent 8th, lost ground after 3 out

11/2

Form: 55688F

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Irish maiden efforts weren't without promise but she has offered little since moving to Britain and was on the retreat when falling at Fakenham; tongue-tie joins cheekpieces.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

5th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 65y

Class 5

16:05 Sedgefield

Confidential Gosip

11st 1lb

J: Micheal Nolan

T: Laura Horsfall

Encouraging efforts in Ireland but she's sliding down the weights for good reason; heavy ground perhaps not ideal last time but has enough to prove.

25/1

6

5th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 65y

Class 5

16:05 Sedgefield

Confidential Gosip

11st 1lb

J: Micheal Nolan

T: Laura Horsfall

Encouraging efforts in Ireland but she's sliding down the weights for good reason; heavy ground perhaps not ideal last time but has enough to prove.

25/1

6

21st Jan 2025

Heavy

2m 4f 110y

Class 5

13:20 Leicester

Confidential Gosip

11st 2lb

J: Mr Edward Vaughan

T: Laura Horsfall

Showed ability in Ireland but she was a well-beaten eighth in her first two handicaps and was soundly beaten when falling at the final flight last time; needs to raise her game in a first-time tongue-tie.

25/1

Form: 756-5U

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
0-8 for Paul Webber; beaten just under 8l on stable debut at Doncaster (2m3f) and was going okay when departing four out at Wetherby (3m); it remains to be seen whether he'd have got home but he's one of the more interesting contenders.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

7

12th Apr 2026

Good

2m 7f 191y

Class 5

17:20 Ffos Las

Glengolly

11st 3lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Billy Aprahamian

Seemingly aided by new tongue-tie when gaining breakthrough win at Hereford (3m1f, soft) in December, his 13th hurdle run, and has been placed on three of his four starts since; would appeal more on ground slower than good but still enters calculations; swaps usual cheekpieces for visor.

8/1

3rd

4

18th Mar 2026

Good

3m 1f 10y

Class 5

14:15 Huntingdon

Glengolly

11st 6lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Billy Aprahamian

The tongue-tie went on for last four starts, breaking his duck in good style at Hereford (3m2f, soft) on first occasion and creditable runner-up in two of his three starts since; the exception can be forgiven on heavy ground at Ffos Las; the tongue-tie is removed this time and he's not proven on good, but otherwise he has solid each-way claims.

6/1

2nd

2

23rd Feb 2026

Soft

3m 0f 217y

Class 5

15:45 Plumpton

Glengolly

11st 10lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Billy Aprahamian

Broke his duck in good style at Hereford (3m2f, soft) in December, fitted with a tongue-tie, and backed that up with another solid effort behind a big improver at Uttoxeter; can be forgiven recent Ffos Las run where the ground went against him and he's worth considering.

7/1

Form: 590

Last run: 24 days

W: 10st 10lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Tailed off in his qualifying races at 2m but there's stamina in his pedigree and he could improve for this huge hike in distance on handicap debut, while blinkers may also trigger something; market could be informative.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

14

18th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 198y

Class 5

14:05 Taunton

Kick For Touch

10st 5lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

French-bred 5yo; dark horse as he was soundly beaten over 2m in his three hurdle races (200-1 at Hereford last time) but now tries blinkers and 3m for his handicap debut, representing a red-hot yard; market can guide.

10/1

8th

14

18th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 198y

Class 5

14:05 Taunton

Kick For Touch

10st 5lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

French-bred 5yo; dark horse as he was soundly beaten over 2m in his three hurdle races (200-1 at Hereford last time) but now tries blinkers and 3m for his handicap debut, representing a red-hot yard; market can guide.

10/1

Form: 5-49U5

Last run: 29 days

W: 10st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
Hinted at winning potential last spring (beaten 2l the once) but looked a hard ride last time at Southwell and he's unraced beyond 2m6f; tries cheekpieces.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

8th May 2025

Good

2m 6f 7y

Class 5

18:30 Stratford

Nothinelsematters

10st 5lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Alex Hales

Yet to win and has a regressive profile, with recent form figures of PUP hardly a ringing endorsement; wind surgery, coupled with the fact that he competes from a lowly mark at a realistic level, are the positives; others preferred.

16/1

6

8th May 2025

Good

2m 6f 7y

Class 5

18:30 Stratford

Nothinelsematters

10st 5lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Alex Hales

Yet to win and has a regressive profile, with recent form figures of PUP hardly a ringing endorsement; wind surgery, coupled with the fact that he competes from a lowly mark at a realistic level, are the positives; others preferred.

16/1

8

12th Mar 2025

Good

2m 4f 145y

Class 5

14:58 Huntingdon

Nothinelsematters

10st 5lb

J: Luke Scott

T: Alex Hales

Best of his 11 runs was a 2l second here last April but hadn't been in great form before unseating early at Hereford four days ago.

14/1

Verdict

All of these come with risks. GLENGOLLY has his stamina to prove but he was shaping like a possible winner when departing at Wetherby. Pure Theatre has form in stronger races and she’s second choice ahead of dark horse Kick For Touch.[Alistair Jones]

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Glengolly

The Times:

Kick For Touch

The Sun:

Chancellorstown

RP RATINGS:

San Pedro

D Express:

Scorsese

WEST COUNTRY:

Pure Theatre

Daily Mail:

Kick For Touch

POSTDATA:

Glengolly

Telegraph:

Glengolly

The Guardian:

Glengolly

The Star:

Glengolly

Daily Record:

Chancellorstown

Daily Mirror:

San Pedro