June 03 / 16.00 Southwell

16.00

Good

Free Tips Daily On attheraces.com Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £3247.81
  • 1m 7f 182y
  • Class 5
  • 7 runners
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Free Tips Daily On attheraces.com Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Scattered showers

Form: 24664- D

Last run: 57 days

W: 12st 0lb

5 yo Filly

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Free-going mare who is yet to add to her four hurdling wins in 2023 and ended last season with some underwhelming efforts; didn't run badly on the Flat last month, though, and has become too well handicapped to rule out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

3rd Jul 2026

Good

2m 0f 167y

Class 3

16:30 Newton Abbot

Max Of Stars

11st 7lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Ollie Pears

Beat three rivals in this 12 months ago and has added further wins since then, on the Flat and over hurdles; only beaten a length in 1m4f handicap last time after a wind operation; not handicapped out of it by any means.

3/1

2nd

5

(2)

18th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

1m 4f 10y

Class 6

13:40 Ripon

Max Of Stars

10st 7lb

J: Miss Chelsea Brooks

T: Ollie Pears

117-rated hurdler, who regularly took travelling in her stride (three wins down at Newton Abbot); won well, making all, on the Flat at Thirsk (1m4f, soft; from 7lb lower) last September; notable candidate back to this discipline following more wind surgery.

13/2

2

19th Apr 2026

Good

2m 0f 70y

Class 4

15:08 Stratford

Max Of Stars

11st 13lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Ollie Pears

Front-runner who enjoyed a resurgence last year, winning three times over hurdles and once on the Flat; absent since November, though, and will need to resume in peak form to have any chance off current mark.

7/1

OUR TIP

Form: 3326-1 D

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 13lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Gained all three wins at Ludlow (2m, good), most recently when keeping on too strongly for Wasthatok last month; up 5lb to career-high mark today, though, and away from his favourite track this time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

4th Jun 2026

Good

1m 7f 168y

Class 5

17:03 Uttoxeter

Zucayan

11st 12lb

J: Nick Slatter

T: Fergal O’Brien

Gained all three hurdle wins at Ludlow; kept on for second behind progressive rival there (2m, good) last month, after a break, but may not be ideally suited by this switch to a left-handed track.

9/2

2nd

5

10th May 2026

Good

1m 7f 169y

Class 4

16:02 Ludlow

Zucayan

11st 5lb

J: Nick Slatter

T: Fergal O’Brien

Suited by good ground; proved resurgent when last seen five months ago, enhancing a strong C&D record that also features wins (off 2lb lower) in this race in 2023 and 2025 (faller in 2024); very solid claims kept to this scenario.

9/2

9

(6)

23rd Oct 2025

Soft

1m 2f 50y

Class 6

17:05 Nottingham

Zucayan

9st 6lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Fergal O’Brien

Hurdle win in May (2m, good); poor form on the Flat since August, failing to progress for handicaps on last two starts; should benefit from the step up in trip and he has run well on soft going over hurdles; risky but there are grounds for expecting better dropped in class.

33/1

Form: 335-

Last run: 81 days

W: 11st 12lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Has a lowly Flat rating nowadays; took surprisingly well to hurdling for new stable during the winter, finishing third over C&D and at Fakenham (also good to soft), but was well below that form when back at Fakenham in March and is not obviously well treated for this handicap hurdle debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

(6)

8th Jul 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 23y

Class 6

16:45 Yarmouth

Zafaan

9st 2lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Charlie Clover

Won a 0-50 classified event over C&D last summer and followed up in the same race 12 days ago; not always consistent and is no certainty to back it up, going without cheekpieces this time, but holds major claims under Billy Loughnane.

7/4

1st

4

(5)

26th Jun 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 23y

Class 6

12:00 Yarmouth

Zafaan

9st 9lb

J: Pierre-Louis Jamin

T: Charlie Clover

Pulled up over hurdles on his reappearance last month but he's a dual Flat winner and his last success was in this race (good; 5-2 favourite) last year; yard is in good form and he's an interesting contender back in this sphere; cheekpieces reapplied.

3/1

Form: 8635-2 D

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 11lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Lacked the pace of Zucayan on run-in at Ludlow (2m, good) last month but that second was still a good effort; 5lb better off with him today and will probably be the better suited by the change of venue for this rematch.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

(8)

11th May 2026

Good

1m 7f 189y

Class 6

15:30 Catterick

Wasthatok

9st 9lb

J: Kevin Stott

T: Philip Kirby

Won over hurdles at Newcastle last November and when back on the Flat at Wolverhampton (2m, AW) in March; badly hampered and unseated over hurdles next time; still has mileage in his mark judged on old Flat form; respected.

5/1

16

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 189y

Class 2

13:30 Kelso

Wasthatok

10st 9lb

J: Joe Williamson

T: Philip Kirby

Won easily at Newcastle (2m4f, good to soft) in November and runner-up to progressive winner at Catterick (2m3f, good) in December; soundly beaten behind Judicial Deference at Haydock (2m5f, good to soft) in January but he's probably better than that and he won on the AW last week; not ruled out.

16/1

1st

4

(3)

10th Mar 2026

Standard

2m 0f 120y

Class 5

17:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Wasthatok

9st 5lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Philip Kirby

Better known as a hurdler but was having only his second start on the AW when second of six at Southwell (16.5f, Tapeta) in September; now 1lb lower and could go well.

7/2

Form: 3441- D

Last run: 43 days

W: 11st 6lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Fair Flat racer who came good over hurdles at fourth attempt, digging deep to regain lead on run-in at Fakenham (2m, good) six weeks ago; has more on his plate now back in a handicap but further progress is possible.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

6

(3)

16th Feb 2026

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 5

19:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Zenato

9st 9lb

J: Gina Mangan

T: Fergal O’Brien

Form dipped last time when bidding for a hurdles hat-trick; won his last Flat attempt but that was on turf in autumn 2024; AW record is 0-7.

5/1

1st

2

18th Oct 2025

Good

2m 0f 70y

Class 5

13:15 Stratford

Zenato

11st 12lb

J: Fern O’Brien

T: Fergal O’Brien

Fair Flat racer who came good over hurdles at the fourth attempt when winning Fakenham maiden (2m, good) in April, but he jumped and ran poorly at Plumpton last month and needs to bounce back.

9/1

9th

1

21st Sep 2025

Good To Firm

1m 7f 195y

Class 5

14:50 Plumpton

Zenato

12st 0lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Fergal O’Brien

Fair Flat racer who came good over hurdles at fourth attempt, digging deep to regain lead on run-in in Fakenham maiden (2m, good) in April; well held when fourth on handicap return in June, though, and needs more here.

9/1

Form: 1F353- D

Last run: 180 days

W: 11st 4lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Fortunate when winning against own age-group on debut at Market Rasen (2m, good) last June and did not really kick on from that success afterwards; makes handicap debut after six-month break; others preferred.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

10th Jul 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

19:16 Worcester

Play Pretend

11st 9lb

J: Lee Edwards

T: Dave Roberts

Returned from break with two low-key runs this spring but looked back in good nick when third here (2m, good) last month and will be fine over today's longer trip; one to consider.

9/2

3rd

1

11th Jun 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

20:17 Worcester

Play Pretend

12st 0lb

J: Lee Edwards

T: Dave Roberts

C&D winner (three ran) last July and beaten a neck over 2m4f here (similar mark) last October; below par in two starts this year, lacking fluency when beaten 36l at Bangor (2m4f, good) latest; a possible on peak form.

8/1

8th

7

23rd May 2026

Good

2m 3f 123y

Class 4

15:00 Bangor-on-Dee

Play Pretend

11st 6lb

J: Lee Edwards

T: Dave Roberts

Won at Worcester (2m, good) last July and he ended last year with two close calls over 2m4f; well-held fifth on reappearance at Market Rasen last month but he may have needed that run and has claims if he can get back near best.

10/1

Form: P8560-

Last run: 132 days

W: 10st 11lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Lowly rated Flat maiden who is yet to show anything more than glimmers of promise over hurdles and was beaten over 40l after racing too freely on handicap debut at Sedgefield (1m7f, good to soft) in January.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

7

(7)

21st Apr 2026

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 6

18:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Knight Of Magic

9st 2lb

J: William Carson

T: James Owen

Has three wins on AW, including two here (one over C&D); tends to race freely and needs to settle better to fulfil his potential; second over hurdles two weeks ago.

8/1

2nd

4

7th Apr 2026

Good

2m 2f 111y

Class 4

14:40 Exeter

Knight Of Magic

11st 3lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: James Owen

Gained a third win on the AW in February (1m6f) but regressed in his last four starts; 0-6 as a hurdler and returns to this discipline for the first time since pulled up in a handicap last summer for Chris Grant; hardly solid but this is a poor race.

100/30

8th

10

(4)

31st Mar 2026

Standard

1m 5f 219y

Class 6

20:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Knight Of Magic

9st 2lb

J: Ashley Lewis

T: James Owen

Successful three times (1m3f, 1m4f and 1m6f) this January/February, with the last two wins at this track; way below form on last two outings (headstrong on Saturday) but he has bounced back before.

6/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £84.50
Straight Forecast £68.35
Trifecta £383.30

Selections

POSTDATA:

Zucayan

The Times:

Zenato

SPOTLIGHT:

Wasthatok

The Star:

Max Of Stars

Daily Mail:

Zafaan

Telegraph:

Zenato

The Sun:

Zenato

RP RATINGS:

Wasthatok

WEST COUNTRY:

Zucayan

The Guardian:

Zucayan

D Express:

Zucayan

Daily Mirror:

Zucayan

Daily Record:

Zucayan