Worth a punt? Three horses who will love heavy ground at Punchestown on Monday
4 hours ago
PLUMPTON
26 January 2026
Monday 26th January
Legendary Jimmy James 90th Birthday Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 4) Racecard
- Channel:
- Distance: 1m 7f 195y
- Going: Soft
- Runners
- 9
- Type
- Hurdle
- Surface
- Turf
- Weather
- Cloudy
Selection
Selection
Selected At
Ambiente Friendly
Selected at:
9/4
Quality Flat horse who finished second in the 2024 Epsom Derby and looked very good when winning from the front in a 2m novice in Huntingdon last month. Poor in a handicap next time but worth sticking with.
Bookmaker
Offer
Best Odds
Bet Here
9/4
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50/1 Sir Gino To Win 3.00 At Cheltenham
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Racecard
No.(Draw)
Runner
Best Odds
D
Distance Winner - Won before at this distance
Cold Recent Form Trainer - 0 wins from 13 in the last 14 days (0%)
High-class Flat performer who has taken well to hurdles; key player back in a novice.
416
Age: 5
Weight: 11-12
OR: 118
Days: 35
| Date | Course | Race | Type | Weight | Pos | 1st/2nd | SP | OR | RPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Dec 25 | Hun Huntingdon | 16f GS | 44yHcH | 11-11 h | 6/7 | Benvoy (7¼L) | 4/1 | 119 | 114 |
| 7 Dec 25 | Hun Huntingdon | 16f Sft | 4NvH | 11-2 h | 1/10 | Wondering Why (½L) | 4/5F | - | 112 |
| 16 Nov 25 | Chl Cheltenham | 16.5f Sft | 2MdH | 11-4 h | 4/14 | Soldier Reeves (7¾L) | 11/2 | - | 113 |
| 16 Aug 25 | Nby Newbury | 13.5f GF | G3 | 9-7 | 6/6 | Furthur (25L) | 9/1 | 107 | 76 |
| 2 Aug 25 | Goo Goodwood | 12f GS | G3 | 9-3 | 4/5 | Al Aasy (6¼L) | 11/2 | 110 | 106 |
| 17 Jun 25 | Asc Ascot | 10f GF | L | 9-5 h | 8/16 | Haatem (4¼L) | 33/1 | 112 | 107 |
D
Distance Winner - Won before at this distance
BF
Beaten Favourite - Losing favourite last time out
Pulled up when hanging badly latest but looked promising prior to that; respected.
21O
Age: 5
Weight: 11-12
OR: -
Days: 14
| Date | Course | Race | Type | Weight | Pos | 1st/2nd | SP | OR | RPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Jan 26 | Her Hereford | 16f GS | 4NvH | 11-10 | RO/14 | Loaded And Locked () | 6/5F | - | - |
| 2 Dec 25 | Sth Southwell | 16f GS | 4MdH | 11-4 | 1/14 | Sutherland (4¼L) | 9/4 | - | 114 |
| 6 Nov 25 | Nby Newbury | 16.5f GS | 4NHF | 11-2 | 2/12 | Bass Hunter (8L) | 11/1 | - | 108 |
Cold Recent Form Jockey - 0 wins from 19 in the last 14 days (0%)
Pulled up on last month's hurdle debut and others have more obvious claims.
P
Age: 6
Weight: 11-5
OR: -
Days: 46
| Date | Course | Race | Type | Weight | Pos | 1st/2nd | SP | OR | RPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Dec 25 | War Warwick | 21f GS | 4MdH | 11-4 | PU/11 | Moneygarrow () | 150/1 | - | - |
Has reached the frame on both runs over hurdles and worth considering with more to come.
242
Age: 6
Weight: 11-5
OR: -
Days: 52
| Date | Course | Race | Type | Weight | Pos | 1st/2nd | SP | OR | RPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Dec 25 | Sed Sedgefield | 17f Sft | 4MdH | 11-1 h | 2/9 | Leaumec De Mee (2L) | 4/1 | - | 97 |
| 22 Nov 25 | Hun Huntingdon | 16f GS | 4MdH | 11-6 h1 | 4/11 | Glance At Midnight (10½L) | 12/1 | - | 93 |
| 18 May 25 | Str Stratford | 16.5f Gd | 5MdNHF | 11-4 | 2/10 | Lord Cauvelliere (5½L) | 9/2 | - | 95 |
Irish point third is strong form but he's disappointed so so far in bumper/over hurdles.
646
Age: 5
Weight: 11-5
OR: -
Days: 27
| Date | Course | Race | Type | Weight | Pos | 1st/2nd | SP | OR | RPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 Dec 25 | Hay Haydock | 15.5f Gd | 3NvH | 11-0 | 6/10 | Captain Hugo (22L) | 150/1 | - | 93 |
| 30 Nov 25 | Lei Leicester | 15.5f Sft | 3NvH | 11-0 | 4/6 | Smart Decision (15½L) | 50/1 | - | 93 |
| 12 Oct 25 | Chp Chepstow | 16f Gd | 2NHF | 11-1 | 6/8 | Black Eddy (26L) | 66/1 | - | 86 |
Well beaten on both previous runs over hurdles and looks one for the longer term.
95
Age: 5
Weight: 11-5
OR: -
Days: 62
| Date | Course | Race | Type | Weight | Pos | 1st/2nd | SP | OR | RPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 Nov 25 | Her Hereford | 16f Gd | 4NvH | 11-0 | 5/10 | Four Springs (24L) | 33/1 | - | 82 |
| 5 Nov 25 | Chp Chepstow | 16f GS | 4MdH | 11-4 t1 | 9/14 | The Blue Room (53L) | 5/2 | - | 75 |
Marked improvement to finish second over C&D latest and could figure if repeating the run.
/3-642
Age: 6
Weight: 11-5
OR: 105
Days: 42
| Date | Course | Race | Type | Weight | Pos | 1st/2nd | SP | OR | RPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Dec 25 | Plu Plumpton | 16f GS | 4NvH | 11-3 h | 2/6 | Adonedeal (½L) | 7/1 | - | 102 |
| 27 Nov 25 | Lin Lingfield | 16f GS | 4NvH | 11-0 h | 4/5 | Mossy Fen Road (21L) | 150/1 | - | 102 |
| 10 Nov 25 | Kem Kempton | 16f Gd | 4NvH | 11-0 h1 | 6/6 | Ice In The Veins (25L) | 50/1 | - | 81 |
| 4 Jul 25 | Don Doncaster | 8f GF | 5Hc | 9-0 | 6/6 | Absolute Star (16L) | 15/2 | 59 | 32 |
| 6 Jun 25 | Bat Bath | 8f Gd | 6Hc | 9-5 | 5/9 | Union Island (1¾L) | 14/1 | 61 | 61 |
| 12 May 25 | Wdr Windsor | 6f GF | 4Nv | 10-0 | 10/12 | Rajaking (7L) | 250/1 | - | 60 |
Fair Flat maiden who is of interest making hurdle debut for a respected stable.
Age: 4
Weight: 10-6
OR: -
Days: -
| Date | Course | Race | Type | Weight | Pos | 1st/2nd | SP | OR | RPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Oct 25 | Not Nottingham | 8.5f Gd | 5Md | 9-7 | 8/11 | Return To Unit (10½L) | 5/2 | 79 | 52 |
| 26 Sep 25 | Ncs Newcastle (AW) | 8f St | 5Nv | 9-4 | 2/5 | Wesam (1L) | 12/1 | - | 77 |
| 8 Sep 25 | Wdr Windsor | 8f Gd | 5Nv | 9-7 | 2/14 | Livonian (4L) | 18/1 | - | 68 |
| 6 Aug 25 | Kem Kempton (AW) | 8f St/Slw | 4Nv | 9-4 | 8/10 | Raammee (12½L) | 10/1 | - | 52 |
Well held on last month's hurdle debut, but there were some positives and he can improve.
7
Age: 4
Weight: 10-6
OR: -
Days: 40
| Date | Course | Race | Type | Weight | Pos | 1st/2nd | SP | OR | RPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Dec 25 | Nby Newbury | 16.5f GS | 33yH | 11-0 h1 | 7/10 | Love Sonnet (22L) | 4/1 | - | 86 |
| 25 Oct 25 | Nby Newbury | 10f Sft | 3Hc | 8-9 | 2/13 | Atherstone Warrior (1¼L) | 12/1 | 75 | 83 |
| 12 Sep 25 | Sal Salisbury | 10f Hy | 53yHc | 9-5 | 1/7 | Treasured Angel (15L) | 5/2F | 66 | 83 |
| 30 Jul 25 | San Sandown | 8f Gd | 53yHc | 9-6 | 4/7 | Earthwatch (6L) | 3/1 | 67 | 64 |
| 5 Jul 25 | San Sandown | 10f GF | 43yHc | 8-12 | 6/8 | Yabher (7L) | 22/1 | 69 | 65 |
| 19 May 25 | Wdr Windsor | 11.5f GF | 53yHc | 8-12 | 4/7 | Schemaya (2½L) | 11/2 | 69 | 71 |
Verdict
Looping d'Arc is feared, but marginal preference is for AMBIENTE FRIENDLY who is a key player back in novice company.
Ambiente Friendly
Betting Forecast:
2/1 Ambiente Friendly,
9/4 Looping d'Arc,
9/2 Eddie My Eagle,
13/2 Canopus,
7/1 Reteti,
Northwest Passage,
33/1 Land Of Punt,
50/1 Golden Prince,
150/1 Back On Track
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