Thursday 15th January 2026
1.07 Ludlow: CLH Premier Print Maiden Hurdle (Div I) (Class 4)
Kicking things off for us on Thursday will be the 1.07 at Ludlow, which is a Class 4 maiden event over two miles and five and a half furlongs. This looks like a good opportunity for CATCHINSTSAVO to open his account for the in-form Anthony Honeyball yard and Sam Twiston-Davies. He put an underwhelming hurdles debut behind him when finishing second of eleven behind Laguna Beach at Hereford last time out, following a wind operation. There should be further progression coming into his third start of the campaign here, and he should have a big say.
CATCHINTSAVO – 11/8 (Win) (NB)
1.42 Ludlow: CLH Premier Print Maiden Hurdle (Div II) (Class 4)
We’re staying at Ludlow for our second selection, and the 1.42, which is the second division of the maiden hurdle. It could pay to side with the Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls-trained ISLAND BRIDGE here, who’s the mount of Ciaran Gethings. He’s a point-to-point winner who probably bumped into a useful rival at Leicester last time out, when second to Kicour La, and he was also seven lengths clear of the horse in third. There should be significant progression still to come from this six-year-old, and he’s a leading player here.
ISLAND BRIDGE – 3/1 (Win)
3.02 Wincanton: Oddschecker Cheltenham Free Bets Handicap Hurdle (Class 3)
Our third selection of the afternoon comes from Wincanton, and the 3.02, which is a Class 3 handicap hurdle that’s set to be ridden by three miles and half of a furlong. David Pipe’s PUNTA DEL ESTE could prove to be a solid each-way play here under Jack Tudor. He posted his best effort since joining this yard last time out at Ascot, keeping on over two miles and five and a half furlongs, to finish third of twelve. He remains on the same mark here, albeit without a ten-pound claimer on board; however, that run suggests that he has races within him at this level. The step back up in distance also appears to be a positive.
PUNTA DEL ESTE – 15/2 (Each-Way)
8.00 Chelmsford: Free Racing All January Classified Stakes (Class 6)
The best bet of the day comes within the 8.00 at Chelmsford, and this is a classified event that’s contested over five furlongs. BISHOP’S GLORY looks like a big player here for the team of Joey Ramsden and Alistair Rawlinson. He’s gone close in his last two outings, with both of those coming over five furlongs, and his latest coming at Newcastle, where he was only beaten by a neck to eventually finish second of ten. Both of those outings came within handicap company, so he should be posting a very bold bid dropping into a classified company here. It would be disappointing if he didn’t go very close.
BISHOP’S GLORY – 9/4 (Win) (NAP)
