January 14 / 15.10 Plumpton

15.10

Soft

Southern Contract Ltd Veterans’ Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £9241.75
  • 3m 1f 152y
  • Class 3
  • 7 runners
SKY
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Southern Contract Ltd Veterans’ Handicap Chase

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

Form: PF29-6 C

Last run: 24 days

W: 12st 2lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 127

Form & Verdict
Very hit and miss; has a strike-rate of 5-17 over fences but last season never got off the ground and his comeback run in new cheekpieces was forgettable, albeit in a Class 2 at Ascot; wouldn't be the percentage call, especially when all his best form is over shorter trips.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

11th May 2025

Good

3m 1f 152y

Class 4

16:45 Plumpton

Black Gerry

11st 6lb

J: Rob Hargreaves

T: Gary & Josh Moore

His second over 2m4f (good) here 13 months ago reads well but he's become a hard horse to predict and previous ventures over 3m+ have amounted to little.

8/1

3rd

2

11th May 2025

Good

3m 1f 152y

Class 4

16:45 Plumpton

Black Gerry

11st 6lb

J: Rob Hargreaves

T: Gary & Josh Moore

His second over 2m4f (good) here 13 months ago reads well but he's become a hard horse to predict and previous ventures over 3m+ have amounted to little.

8/1

8th

10

22nd Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 187y

Class 2

14:40 Newbury

Black Gerry

10st 6lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Last ran off this low a mark in spring 2022; Plumpton second (2m4f, good) last April reads well but he has been well beaten more often than not over the last two seasons.

12/1

Form: 6-5344 C

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 12lb

10 yo Mare

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
Hasn't found her best form this season but the signs were more encouraging when a keeping-on fourth in Haydock's Tommy Whittle just before Christmas (3m1f, heavy; tongue-tie belatedly back on, with Chad Bament aboard); good chance, assuming that she takes to the new blinkers.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

8th Mar 2026

Soft

3m 0f 110y

Class 2

14:50 Carlisle

Credo

11st 2lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Anthony Honeyball

Behind stablemate Blackjack Magic when seventh in final of this veterans' series at Sandown in January and was soundly beaten in major Ascot handicap last month but her first two runs this season were very respectable and she's now 3lb lower than when winning this race in 2025.

7/2

8th

7

14th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 185y

Class 1

15:00 Ascot

Credo

10st 4lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Anthony Honeyball

Successful in two legs of the 2025 Stayers' Veterans' Chase Series but came up short in the Final won by Nocte Volatus; hasn't won a conventional race since 2023.

20/1

5th

4

30th Mar 2025

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 2

16:30 Ascot

Credo

11st 3lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Anthony Honeyball

In-form mare who won four-runner veterans' chase fairly comfortably at Carlisle (3m, good) a week ago and is now 2-3 since fitted with a visor; has 6lb penalty to carry today but is respected in her current mood.

2/1

OUR TIP

Form: 433-48 C

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 7lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Stuck on a losing run and he's 0-15 as a chaser; beaten under 8l by Supervisor the last time he ran on soft ground but this season hasn't started well, over fences and latterly hurdles.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

4

28th May 2025

Good To Soft

3m 1f 107y

Class 5

20:40 Cartmel

First Lord De Cuet

12st 0lb

J: Miss Thomasina Eyston

T: David Pipe

Useful handicapper in his prime and versatile regarding ground; badly out of form under rules last season but easily won five-runner point on latest outing in March, and it will be interesting to see whether he enjoys a new lease of life in hunter chases.

6/1

Form: P55-22 CD

Last run: 29 days

W: 11st 6lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Enhanced his good record at this track when chasing home the bang-in-form Lady Balko over C&D a month ago (good to soft); major claims off an untouched mark (4l clear last time) and, although drier ground would be preferred, he has run well on soft.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

4th May 2026

Good

3m 5f 24y

Class 3

16:38 Fakenham

Northern Poet

11st 4lb

J: James Davies

T: Nick Gifford

Pulled up three consecutive times after his two good-ground wins (3m/3m5f) in March 2025; back on a good mark now and was seemingly perked up by first-time visor when close fourth of six (just behind Enjoy d'Allen) at Plumpton (3m1f, good) last month but overall profile remains unconvincing.

12/1

4th

1

19th Apr 2026

Good

3m 1f 157y

Class 4

16:02 Plumpton

Northern Poet

12st 1lb

J: James Davies

T: Nick Gifford

Has five wins over fences, including over C&D, but has been pulled up on his last three starts; back on last winning mark and first-time visor now goes on but he comes with risks.

12/1

5

27th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 214y

Class 3

17:05 Doncaster

Northern Poet

11st 8lb

J: James Davies

T: Nick Gifford

Won this last year (good) and followed up at Warwick (3m5f, good) a week later; also effective on good to soft ground; pulled up on final two starts last season but can go well fresh and is not ruled out on his return.

8/1

Form: 2416-2 D

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 4lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Low-mileage 11yo; only three completed when runner-up at Warwick two weeks ago (3m, soft) but that RPR was close to his best; chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

14th Feb 2026

Heavy

3m 1f 30y

Class 4

16:00 Wincanton

Supervisor

11st 2lb

J: Murray Dodd

T: Venetia Williams

12yo who has struggled at biggish prices in his two runs over 2m7f at Chepstow (tailed off/pulled up) this winter; dropped another 4lb but his last win was in April 2024 and he needs a major revival; stablemate of Camulus.

20/1

1

27th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 7f 136y

Class 4

15:47 Chepstow

Supervisor

12st 2lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Yet to add to his two soft-ground chase wins in early 2024 and is a 12yo now, but faced very tough task from out of the weights here on last month's seasonal debut and contests this easier race from a workable mark.

14/1

2nd

4

23rd Apr 2025

Good

2m 7f 171y

Class 4

15:38 Ludlow

Supervisor

11st 4lb

J: Ned Fox

T: Venetia Williams

Clearly best efforts on soft going and, following two unseats, he was beaten 15l when fourth of five on good ground at Doncaster on latest outing; competitive on best form; stable also runs Fuji Flight.

12/1

Abandoned

Form: -7P6P6

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 4lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Ex-Gordon Elliott; a long time since he produced an effort of note and he finished well behind Credo at Haydock last time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12

28th Oct 2025

Soft

3m 1f 60y

Class 4

14:58 Ffos Las

Diol Ker

10st 12lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Evan Williams

Very useful in Ireland in his prime but 0-7 and generally very disappointing for Evan Williams since last autumn; returns from break on another career-low mark but considered only if lively in the betting.

33/1

12

28th Oct 2025

Soft

3m 1f 60y

Class 4

14:58 Ffos Las

Diol Ker

10st 12lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Evan Williams

Very useful in Ireland in his prime but 0-7 and generally very disappointing for Evan Williams since last autumn; returns from break on another career-low mark but considered only if lively in the betting.

33/1

3

14th May 2025

Good

3m 1f 170y

Class 4

15:22 Newton Abbot

Diol Ker

11st 11lb

J: Osian Radford

T: Evan Williams

High-class hurdler/chaser in his prime but has struggled for a long time now and although this is a welcome drop in grade he continues with something to prove; cheekpieces discarded.

14/1

Form: 226-55 CD

Last run: 43 days

W: 10st 13lb

12 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Winless since 2022 and worrying signs here this season as he likes this track; now a 12yo, he might find it hard turning things around.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

3

10th Mar 2025

Good

3m 1f 152y

Class 4

16:30 Plumpton

I See You Well

11st 3lb

J: Daniel Sansom

T: Seamus Mullins

raced in last but in touch with leaders, went second and 13th, hit 4 out, soon weakened

8/1

Verdict

Northern Poet (second choice) always goes well here and is feared, for all that he’d prefer drier ground in an ideal world, while Supervisor is also in the mix. But there’s light at the end of the tunnel for CREDO (nap) after her encouraging run in Haydock’s Tommy Whittle and here’s hoping she takes to the new blinkers.[Alistair Jones]

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Credo

The Times:

Northern Poet

POSTDATA:

Supervisor

Telegraph:

First Lord De Cuet

RP RATINGS:

Credo

TOPSPEED:

Credo

WEST COUNTRY:

Credo

The Guardian:

Credo

Daily Mail:

Credo

D Express:

Credo

The Star:

Credo

The Sun:

Northern Poet

Daily Record:

Northern Poet

Daily Mirror:

Supervisor