February 24 / 14.12 Plumpton

14.12

Soft

Launching: Alfriston Hotel, Restaurant And Spa Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £3828.72
  • 1m 7f 195y
  • Class 5
  • 6 runners
SKY
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Launching: Alfriston Hotel, Restaurant And Spa Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

Form: 954360 D

Last run: 164 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Has not raced at 2m since winning a Tramore handicap hurdle (soft) off 6lb lower in August 2023; inconsistent since; new headgear may help but he doesn't look obviously well treated on debut for new yard.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

6

19th Aug 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

19:38 Worcester

Boskill Borden

11st 0lb

J: Shane Fenelon

T: David Rees

Tailed off on chasing debut in the autumn and also ran poorly when reappearing last month; might be happier now back over hurdles and has slipped to a good mark but others have much less to prove; swaps cheekpieces for refitted visor.

20/1

8

22nd Jul 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

13:55 Worcester

Boskill Borden

10st 2lb

J: Shane Fenelon

T: David Rees

Twice placed in 2m4f hurdle races here last summer (good) but ended last year's campaign on a low, achieving little on October's chasing debut; can't be certain he will hit the ground running in 2026.

20/1

7

10th Jul 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

17:00 Worcester

Boskill Borden

10st 3lb

J: Shane Fenelon

T: David Rees

Twice placed in 2m4f hurdle races here last summer (good) but ended last year's campaign on a low, achieving little on October's chasing debut; can't be certain he will hit the ground running in 2026.

25/1

Form: 16561 D

Last run: 8 days

W: 11st 11lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
Bumper winner who left previous hurdles efforts behind when making a winning handicap debut at Musselburgh (1m7f, good to soft; tongue-tie refitted) eight days ago, ridden by Toby Wynne; escapes a penalty for that success and has obvious claims off the same mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

6

1st Oct 2026

Good

1m 7f 182y

Class 4

16:35 Southwell

King Ulanda

11st 7lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Made a winning start over fences at Bangor (2m1f) in May and doubled his tally for the season back hurdling at Uttoxeter (2m) in July; not at his best when last of three in 2m1f Sedgefield handicap hurdle 22 days ago, though.

9/1

3rd

2

9th Sep 2026

Good

2m 0f 178y

Class 4

17:05 Sedgefield

King Ulanda

11st 8lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Won chase debut in May and returned to hurdling with narrow success at Uttoxeter two months ago (2m, good; 3lb lower); too hit and miss for comfort (tailed off behind Pergamon in April) but has a big shout if on his game.

5/2

OUR TIP

Form: 765

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Runner-up in a soft-ground Irish point last April and ran encouragingly, despite fading late, in first-time blinkers at Sedgefield (2m4f, good to soft) on latest hurdles start; headgear now removed but the drop back in distance on handicap debut could unlock improvement; interesting.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

17th Oct 2026

Good

2m 3f 34y

Class 5

16:25 Market Rasen

Synchronist

12st 0lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Sarah Humphrey

A dual 2m hurdles winner but nowhere near that form sent chasing last season; the positives are a potentially good mark and the booking of Sean Bowen.

5/1

4th

2

11th Mar 2026

Good

2m 3f 189y

Class 5

14:18 Huntingdon

Synchronist

11st 12lb

J: Jack Andrews

T: Sarah Humphrey

A dual 2m hurdles winner last season; nowhere near that form sent chasing this season, a remote fourth of six in 2m handicap here 48 days ago; others appeal more.

10/1

4th

3

22nd Jan 2026

Soft

2m 0f 104y

Class 4

12:28 Huntingdon

Synchronist

11st 10lb

J: Jack Andrews

T: Sarah Humphrey

Won two handicap hurdles (2m, good to soft/good) towards end of last season but has not really convinced on his three chasing starts this term, with best run coming in race in which half the fences were omitted; the forecast ground here might be slower than ideal; others preferred.

12/1

Form: 63/714 CD

Last run: 13 days

W: 11st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Successful in a weak two-finisher novice over C&D last month; beaten 42l under his penalty in a much deeper race at Lingfield (2m, heavy) since; makes handicap debut but others look better treated.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

19th Oct 2026

Good

2m 4f 116y

Class 5

14:30 Plumpton

Dotties Star

11st 4lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Pat Phelan

Runner-up at Huntingdon (2m, good to soft) on latest hurdling start in March and subsequently won a bottom-grade Flat race but his subsequent Flat form was disappointing and he has stamina to prove today.

10/1

10th

4

(2)

11th Aug 2026

Standard

1m 4f 0y

Class 6

16:00 Lingfield (AW)

Dotties Star

9st 9lb

J: Paddy Bradley

T: Pat Phelan

Narrowly landed a similar event over C&D in March, but well held in three handicaps since; return to this level should help, but others are preferred for the win.

14/1

5th

5

(3)

1st Jul 2026

Good

1m 4f 6y

Class 6

19:32 Epsom

Dotties Star

9st 9lb

J: Paddy Bradley

T: Pat Phelan

Got up on the line to bag 1m4f AW classified event in March but he's made little impact in two subsequent handicaps and is 0-7 here.

14/1

Form: 484350 D

Last run: 39 days

W: 11st 8lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Exposed 9yo who is an infrequent winner (3-46 over hurdles) but he's often placed; has to bounce back from a lesser effort last time but he's down another 2lb and has the assistance of Joe Anderson who is good value for his 3lb claim.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

3

4th Jun 2025

Good

2m 0f 167y

Class 5

16:35 Newton Abbot

John Betjeman

11st 13lb

J: Joe Anderson

T: Mark Gillard

Four-time hurdle winner on slow ground, including over C&D (raced prominently in first-time visor) in April; below par at Ffos Las (2m, good) latest, after a 5lb rise; each-way claims if he can bounce back.

11/2

9th

3

4th Jun 2025

Good

2m 0f 167y

Class 5

16:35 Newton Abbot

John Betjeman

11st 13lb

J: Joe Anderson

T: Mark Gillard

Four-time hurdle winner on slow ground, including over C&D (raced prominently in first-time visor) in April; below par at Ffos Las (2m, good) latest, after a 5lb rise; each-way claims if he can bounce back.

11/2

8th

2

6th May 2025

Good

1m 7f 182y

Class 5

17:00 Ffos Las

John Betjeman

11st 10lb

J: Lorcan Williams

T: Mark Gillard

pressed leader, chased clear leader after 2nd

7/1

Form: 343823 BF

Last run: 28 days

W: 10st 5lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Recorded sole win over fences but he ran well for a long way when just over 6l third over C&D (soft) returned to hurdles last month; likely to be in the mix again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

24th May 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 104y

Class 5

16:55 Fontwell

Gorcombe Moonshine

10st 7lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Robert Walford

Gave very good account when close second over C&D (good to soft) last month and subsequent fifth of 12 over C&D (good) was perfectly respectable but his overall strike-rate is just 1-35 and others appeal more.

5/1

5th

9

24th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 104y

Class 5

19:20 Fontwell

Gorcombe Moonshine

10st 11lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Robert Walford

Just 1-34 under rules but the win came here (in 2023) and he went very close to a second course success 16 days ago, going down by only a head over this trip on good to soft; another who could be involved in the finish.

5/1

2nd

7

8th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 104y

Class 5

16:47 Fontwell

Gorcombe Moonshine

10st 5lb

J: Ben Godfrey

T: Robert Walford

Just 1-33 under rules but the win came here (in 2023) and he gave a good account when second from out of the weights at Hereford (2m5f, good) last month, after a break; could have a say.

6/1

Verdict

Gorcombe Moonshine ran well when third over C&D last time but he’s likely to play second fiddle to the unexposed KING ULANDA, who escapes a penalty for last week’s comfortable Musselburgh win. [Tim Mitchell]

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

King Ulanda

POSTDATA:

Gorcombe Moonshine

RP RATINGS:

King Ulanda

TOPSPEED:

King Ulanda

THE NORTH:

King Ulanda

The Times:

King Ulanda

Telegraph:

King Ulanda

The Guardian:

King Ulanda

Daily Mirror:

King Ulanda

The Star:

King Ulanda

Daily Record:

King Ulanda

Daily Mail:

Gorcombe Moonshine