January 15 / 15.58 Hereford

15.58

Soft

Dragonbet Still Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £4330.42
  • 2m 0f 53y
  • Class 4
  • 11 runners
SKY
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Dragonbet Still Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 11 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

OUR TIP

7/2 (Won)

  • Win: £8.00
  • Place: £2.10

Form: 78-441 D

Last run: 49 days

W: 12st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Outsider of three on handicap debut at Market Rasen (2m, soft) but won that with a bit up his sleeve by 2l; up 5lb but the second has won since and Toby McCain-Mitchell claims 7lb (Sam Twiston-Davies aboard last time).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

9

20th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

17:00 Warwick

Chief Sunday

10st 5lb

J: James Turner

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Dual winner in this sphere but has been operating below his best for a while and is best left alone at present.

40/1

9th

8

19th Apr 2026

Good

2m 2f 148y

Class 5

16:18 Stratford

Chief Sunday

11st 10lb

J: James Turner

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Chasing didn't go to plan in the autumn (three attempts) and he's looked out of sorts over hurdles lately; will appreciate this ease in grade but still needs huge boost from the first-time cheekpieces.

25/1

13

2nd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 100y

Class 4

16:07 Chepstow

Chief Sunday

10st 13lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Potentially well handicapped but he tried chasing earlier this season and hasn't offered a lot back over hurdles; it looks significant that regular rider Sam Twiston-Davies has turned elsewhere.

14/1

6/1

  • Place: £1.50

Form: 557

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 101

Form & Verdict
Placed in both his Irish points; has yet to land any sort of blow under rules but there have been mildly positive signs and this could be his level now sent handicapping in a Class 4.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

7

7th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 0f 69y

Class 1

15:20 Newbury

Lanesborough

11st 6lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Ben Pauling

Appears to act on any ground; ran creditably in the Lanzarote at Kempton (2m5f) four weeks ago when bidding for a hat-trick; seems versatile and scored easily over 2m at Doncaster on reappearance; may still have more to offer and remains of interest.

8/1

Form: 1P-P16 D

Last run: 45 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Back from a break to win at Leicester (1m7f, good to soft) and perhaps heavy ground was all too much when tailed off back there in early December; has never been the easiest to predict but very capable of having some say.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

8

27th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 118y

Class 4

14:00 Newbury

Activist

11st 11lb

J: Rian Corcoran

T: David Pipe

Four-time hurdle winner; bounced back from a poor run when second at Plumpton (2m4f, soft; tongue-tie refitted) this month and new jockey Rian Corcoran claims a useful 6lb; shortlisted.

7/1

2nd

2

9th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 4f 116y

Class 4

15:45 Plumpton

Activist

11st 12lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

Four-time winner over hurdles and ran okay in his first two races after a wind operation before failing to give his running at Fontwell a month ago; would have a chance if he's back to anything like his best.

12/1

4

10th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 100y

Class 4

16:55 Chepstow

Activist

11st 12lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

Drew clear to score in first-time visor at Fonwell (2m3f, good to soft) in March and is now 4-14 over hurdles; returns from seven-month absence on career-high mark but won when fresh last autumn; a possible.

10/1

Form: 0-3142 D BF

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Won a Ffos Las maiden on good ground and has performed respectably in both handicaps (soft/good to soft) without looking ahead of his mark; did threaten in the latest at Wincanton and Chad Bament takes away 10lb this time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

14th May 2025

Good

2m 2f 110y

Class 4

15:55 Newton Abbot

Double Dragon

11st 2lb

J: Ben Godfrey

T: Anthony Honeyball

Strong favourite for a 2m handicap at Hereford in January but was only fifth and off since; that wasn't a bad run, though, and had gone close the time before; won his maiden on good; could have a part to play in first-time tongue-tie.

5/2

6

14th May 2025

Good

2m 2f 110y

Class 4

15:55 Newton Abbot

Double Dragon

11st 2lb

J: Ben Godfrey

T: Anthony Honeyball

Strong favourite for a 2m handicap at Hereford in January but was only fifth and off since; that wasn't a bad run, though, and had gone close the time before; won his maiden on good; could have a part to play in first-time tongue-tie.

5/2

5th

5

15th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 0f 53y

Class 4

15:58 Hereford

Double Dragon

11st 12lb

J: Chad Bament

T: Anthony Honeyball

Won a Ffos Las maiden on good ground and has performed respectably in both handicaps (soft/good to soft) without looking ahead of his mark; did threaten in the latest at Wincanton and Chad Bament takes away 10lb this time.

100/30

Form: 22-136 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 12st 0lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Both handicap wins on good ground but handles soft; his third at Southwell was after a lengthy break and 2m5f may have stretched him at Ludlow, where he backed out of it late on; could go well.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

5

8th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 5y

Class 4

15:10 Warwick

Thankyourluckystar

11st 7lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Alastair Ralph

Returned to form with creditable second at Southwell (2m4f) last time but looks unlikely to go one better; the 10yo faces a difficult task against several younger rivals who are open to further improvement.

14/1

2nd

4

2nd Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 88y

Class 4

15:52 Southwell

Thankyourluckystar

11st 9lb

J: Jack Hogan

T: Alastair Ralph

All wins have been on good ground, latest at Worcester in May (2m7f); below-par two runs since and bit to prove at present.

11/1

2

19th Nov 2025

Soft

3m 1f 5y

Class 4

15:10 Warwick

Thankyourluckystar

12st 0lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Alastair Ralph

Burst back to life with 15l win at Worcester (2m7f, good) in May; absent since and up 11lb, which puts him on clear career-high mark at the age of nine; also has a slight query on this forecast soft ground but Harry Skelton retains the ride; should be in the mix if ready to go.

5/2

Form: /4674-

Last run: 546 days

W: 10st 2lb

9 yo Mare

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
9yo mare who is an eight-race maiden and has been absent for 546 days; has yet to make the frame.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

20th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 177y

Class 5

16:50 Ffos Las

Miss Pearl

10st 9lb

J: Shane Fenelon

T: David Rees

Went close at Bangor early last year and was placed again next time; however, her form ran cold afterwards and she finished well behind over hurdles last week after a layoff.

10/1

7th

8

13th May 2026

Good

2m 2f 110y

Class 5

18:00 Newton Abbot

Miss Pearl

10st 3lb

J: Conor Ring

T: David Rees

Very nearly won a handicap at Bangor early last year and was placed again next time; however, her form ran cold afterwards and she's been off for 13 months; new trainer.

14/1

8th

10

23rd Apr 2025

Good

2m 5f 55y

Class 5

16:10 Ludlow

Miss Pearl

10st 7lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Sheila Lewis

The closest she's come in 13 races was very close indeed, coming from the back off this mark at Bangor (2m3f, soft) in February, but her form has subsided again.

20/1

Form: 662-P8

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 10lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Second in one of his four French runs; pulled up and tailed off in 2m4f/2m5f handicaps for this yard but Venetia Williams will no doubt find the key to him; looks best watched for now, though.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

14th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 1f 165y

Class 4

16:20 Fontwell

Falco Des Pins

11st 7lb

J: Ned Fox

T: Venetia Williams

Ex-French gelding who's got it together since undergoing wind surgery, backing up a Ludlow win (2m, soft) when easily seeing off three others at Leicester last week; every chance of the hat-trick upped another 6lb.

5/4

1st

1

6th Mar 2026

Soft

1m 7f 201y

Class 5

16:30 Leicester

Falco Des Pins

12st 0lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Ex-French recruit who gained a first success on just his third run over fences in 2m Ludlow handicap 16 days ago; up 6lb but he scored cosily there and looks the one to beat.

11/10

Form: 276-67

Last run: 29 days

W: 11st 13lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Displayed promise in Irish maiden hurdles; however, made no impact in a handicap for previous yard and a similar tale on debut for this one at Wincanton (33-1).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

23rd May 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

20:32 Worcester

Monsant

11st 9lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Neil Mulholland

Well held in first-time cheekpieces (retained) last month and now 0-9 over hurdles but he ran a promising race at Stratford (2m2f, good to soft) on his penultimate run; still has potential and he may yet come good for Neil Mulholland.

8/1

2

23rd May 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

20:32 Worcester

Monsant

11st 9lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Neil Mulholland

Well held in first-time cheekpieces (retained) last month and now 0-9 over hurdles but he ran a promising race at Stratford (2m2f, good to soft) on his penultimate run; still has potential and he may yet come good for Neil Mulholland.

8/1

Form: 95C36

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Never won but wasn't bad on the Flat; similar story over hurdles in that he's hinted at winning potential but has flattered to deceive; this is his handicap debut, though.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

26th May 2025

Good

1m 7f 171y

Class 5

15:46 Huntingdon

Dartman

10st 8lb

J: Toby Wynne

T: Sarah-Jayne Davies

Well beaten when 50-1 for Ludlow handicap a fortnight ago and now 0-8 over hurdles; fitted with first-time tongue-tie here; difficult to enthuse over.

25/1

4

26th May 2025

Good

1m 7f 171y

Class 5

15:46 Huntingdon

Dartman

10st 8lb

J: Toby Wynne

T: Sarah-Jayne Davies

Well beaten when 50-1 for Ludlow handicap a fortnight ago and now 0-8 over hurdles; fitted with first-time tongue-tie here; difficult to enthuse over.

25/1

7th

7

11th May 2025

Good

1m 7f 169y

Class 4

15:50 Ludlow

Dartman

10st 10lb

J: Miss Jess Stewart

T: Sarah-Jayne Davies

Fair third in novice hurdle at Uttoxeter last July and he's dropping down the weights; however, he's struggled since that Uttoxeter run and was fading when falling three out at Chepstow last time; now 0-16 across both codes.

33/1

Form: 3/22-0 D

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Bang there in 2m handicaps during 2023 on either side of a 200-day absence; never counted on his belated comeback run but that was at Ascot and it could have blown away the cobwebs.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

19th Apr 2025

Good

1m 7f 171y

Class 4

15:39 Huntingdon

Casi Crudo

11st 9lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Alex Hales

held up in rear, brief headway after 3 out, raced wide home turn, switched right before 2 out, kept on and went remote third run-in

10/1

3rd

4

19th Apr 2025

Good

1m 7f 171y

Class 4

15:39 Huntingdon

Casi Crudo

11st 9lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Alex Hales

held up in rear, brief headway after 3 out, raced wide home turn, switched right before 2 out, kept on and went remote third run-in

10/1

7th

7

14th Mar 2025

Good

2m 0f 3y

Class 3

16:15 Fakenham

Casi Crudo

10st 9lb

J: Luke Scott

T: Alex Hales

held up in last, not fluent 2nd

11/4

Form: -48F46

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
0-6 on the Flat, 0-2 over fences and 0-8 as a hurdler after going down by 14l in a handicap at Wincanton; others preferred, including Double Dragon who was ahead of him last time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

1st Mar 2024

Soft

2m 0f 69y

Class 3

14:25 Newbury

Voix De Bocelli

11st 0lb

J: Daryl Jacob

T: Henrietta C Knight

held up in last, outpaced before 3 out, soon struggling

20/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £29.40
Straight Forecast £26.55
Tricast £465.84
Trifecta £586.70

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Double Dragon

SPOTLIGHT:

Lanesborough

Telegraph:

Chief Sunday

The Times:

Thankyourluckystar

TOPSPEED:

Casi Crudo

Daily Mail:

Chief Sunday

POSTDATA:

Lanesborough

D Express:

Lanesborough

Daily Mirror:

Double Dragon

The Sun:

Double Dragon

The Star:

Double Dragon

Daily Record:

Double Dragon

The Guardian:

Thankyourluckystar