January 31 / 14.45 Wetherby

14.45

Soft

Watch Racing TV In Stunning HD Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £7921.5
  • 2m 3f 154y
  • Class 3
  • 7 runners
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Watch Racing TV In Stunning HD Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

OUR TIP

Form: 41-435 BF

Last run: 29 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 127

Form & Verdict
Won three novice hurdles last season and was highly tried in his defeats; it's been a mixed start over fences (after wind surgery), let down by his jumping on handicap debut latest; probably worthy of this mark and he's back over hurdles.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

28th Mar 2026

Good

2m 2f 148y

Class 5

14:15 Stratford

Junker DAllier

11st 10lb

J: Tom Hutsby

T: Olly Murphy

A three-time hurdles winner (around 2m) last season; failed to go on in three starts over fences this term and he was pulled up back in this sphere at Warwick (2m5f) last month; player in this grade if first-time cheekpieces spark a revival.

5/2

5

7th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 5f 5y

Class 3

16:10 Warwick

Junker DAllier

11st 2lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Olly Murphy

Won three novice hurdles last season and was highly tried in his defeats; it's been a mixed start over fences (after wind surgery), let down by his jumping on handicap debut latest; probably worthy of this mark and he's back over hurdles.

13/2

Abandoned

Form: 1151-3 C

Last run: 63 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
Record of 4-7 includes a Newbury handicap win in March (2m3f, good; won on soft); ran respectably at Doncaster on reappearance and could come on for that run; in the mix.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

14th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 123y

Class 3

16:10 Ascot

Kalium

12st 0lb

J: Mr Edward Vaughan

T: Tim Vaughan

3-5 as a novice hurdler last season; absent since encouraging third of seven on reappearance outing at Doncaster (2m3f, soft) in November but could quite plausibly have untapped potential over this new trip.

12/1

1st

6

22nd Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 2f 183y

Class 3

14:05 Newbury

Kalium

11st 4lb

J: Alan Johns

T: Tim Vaughan

Won bumper in sole Irish start; steady progress in his first three hurdle races brought two wins, making all at Fontwell (2m2f, soft) on last occasion, but he made a disappointing handicap debut at Carlisle (2m1f, soft) on latest outing.

16/1

Form: 0-4121 D

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 11lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
Unbeaten in three visits to Uttoxeter where he dug deep to floor the favourite off just 3lb lower a month ago (2m4f, good to soft; seems effective on soft); no reason why he won't be seriously involved once more.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

12th Apr 2026

Good

2m 5f 82y

Class 3

16:00 Wincanton

John Barbour

12st 0lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Fergal O’Brien

Has done well since raised to 2m4f and narrowly beaten at Ascot on his penultimate start by one who was well handicapped; beaten too far out at Uttoxeter last time to blame the longer trip (2m7f) but definite chance at this level if he's back on his game.

100/30

11

14th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 70y

Class 2

14:25 Uttoxeter

John Barbour

10st 10lb

J: Jack Hogan

T: Fergal O’Brien

Has a solid record (1212) since upped to about 2m4f, the wins at Uttoxeter (3-3 here overall); good effort at Ascot most recently; bred to stay this longer distance and may improve further; strong contender.

7/1

2nd

9

14th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 3f 63y

Class 2

14:25 Ascot

John Barbour

10st 10lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Fergal O’Brien

Second-season hurdler who has form figures of 121 since upped to 2m4f, both wins at Uttoxeter (good to soft); goes into deeper waters but may improve further at this sort of distance; respected.

8/1

Form: 131-14 D BF

Last run: 33 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Looked progressive in adding another handicap to his CV at Newcastle (2m4f, good to soft; fine on soft) and didn't appear to give his running off this 7lb higher mark at Kelso as he never travelled with purpose; remains capable of better.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

3

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 189y

Class 2

13:30 Kelso

Baratablet

11st 9lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

Won at Perth (2m4f, good to soft) last April and followed up at Newcastle (2m4f, good to soft) in December; he's performed respectably here (2m6f, good to soft) and at Newcastle (2m1f, good to soft) since and this lightly raced 6yo may still have more to offer, especially now back up in trip.

8/1

5th

1

21st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 190y

Class 3

15:20 Newcastle

Baratablet

12st 0lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Nicky Richards

Made it 3-5 over hurdles with a comfortable 2m4f win here in December but off this 7lb higher mark he was never on an even keel when fourth at Kelso (2m6f); perhaps the track didn't help and, while it's surprising to see him back at 2m1f, he's a respected runner.

4/1

Form: 1F-331 D

Last run: 36 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
His fourth run in handicaps and first in a tongue-tie when ridden out to prevail by just under 3l at Sedgefield (2m4f, good to soft); 5lb higher this time in a race likely to take more winning.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

2nd May 2026

Good

2m 4f 15y

Class 3

18:15 Hexham

Kingston Narcissus

10st 7lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Rebecca Menzies

Won over hurdles in a first-time tongue-strap (retained since) at Sedgefield (2m4f, good to soft) in December; however, two below-par runs have followed and he now goes over fences; others may have more potential.

10/1

11th

5

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 189y

Class 2

13:30 Kelso

Kingston Narcissus

11st 7lb

J: Ross Chapman

T: Rebecca Menzies

Enhanced his good record at Sedgefield when winning there in a first-time tongue-tie on Boxing Day on his first crack at 2m4f (good to soft); however, tailed off at Catterick since on soft ground he should have handled, and he needs to bounce back with a visor now added.

20/1

Form: 430-05

Last run: 77 days

W: 10st 11lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Best French form was in 2023; signs last time here over 2m5f that he might be running into form off his reduced mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

6th May 2026

Good

2m 6f 151y

Class 4

14:55 Kelso

Jericoacoara

11st 8lb

J: Joshua Thompson

T: Micky Hammond

Yet to add to his French hurdle win (2m1f, very soft) in 2023 but he's been placed in last three runs including when second behind Kilmore Rock over C&D (good) last month; should go well again and any rain would be a bonus.

4/1

2nd

2

20th Apr 2026

Good

2m 6f 151y

Class 4

14:30 Kelso

Jericoacoara

11st 12lb

J: Joshua Thompson

T: Micky Hammond

Yet to add to his French hurdle win in 2023 but was placed on both starts this year, more recently when close second in valuable series final here (2m5f, good to soft) last month; must be considered.

5/1

2nd

9

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 189y

Class 2

13:30 Kelso

Jericoacoara

10st 13lb

J: Joshua Thompson

T: Micky Hammond

His French win came in 2023 and he's 0-6 in Britain, but he's dropped down the weights and ran well when third to Eloi Du Puy at Ayr (2m4f, soft) last month; has also shown promise on good to soft; might not be far away.

10/1

Form: 47-844 D

Last run: 42 days

W: 10st 6lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Has become rather inconsistent and this 11yo stayed on when it was too late last time at Haydock (2m3f, good to soft); that wasn't a bad run but others look safer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

19th Feb 2026

2m 3f 188y

Class 5

15:43 Sedgefield

North Parade

12st 0lb

J: Oscar Palmer

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

Course winner; last three wins were over 2m4f at Newcastle in 2023/4; sound run when fourth at Haydock last time (2m3f, good to soft); now 2lb lower and interesting with cheekpieces tried.

9/1

Non-runners

Lord Of All Saints

Verdict

Junker d’Allier (second choice) is back over hurdles off a mark he might yet be capable of dealing with and the likes of John Barbour, Baratablet and Kalium should all run well. However, JERICOACOARA ran well enough here last time to believe he might be about to exploit his reduced mark.[Alistair Jones]

Selections

RP RATINGS:

John Barbour

The Times:

Kalium

D Express:

Baratablet

Daily Mail:

Junker d'Allier

SPOTLIGHT:

Jericoacoara

POSTDATA:

North Parade

The Guardian:

Kalium

TOPSPEED:

John Barbour

Telegraph:

John Barbour

Daily Mirror:

John Barbour

The Sun:

John Barbour

The Star:

John Barbour

Daily Record:

John Barbour