Race Overview: Why the Oakmere Homes Matters

Summer jumping doesn't always get the credit it deserves, but a £43,000 Class 2 handicap hurdle at Brighton on a Sunday afternoon in late June is exactly the kind of race that separates the serious players from the casual punters. The Oakmere Homes Handicap Hurdle — run over 2m 1f 46y on good to soft ground — is a GBB Race, meaning it carries added significance for breeders and connections with an eye on the bigger picture. Eleven declared, two non-runners already confirmed in Banderas and Winds of Winter, and a rating band that spans from 103 to 127. There's proper depth here, and with the going described as Good, Good to Soft in places, conditions are fair enough for most types. Let's get into it.

You can find the full Brighton racecard for the day here. Nine runners will go to post, and at least three or four of them have genuine claims.

Contender-by-Contender Analysis

Fiveonefive (11-8, Rating 127)

The top-rated horse in the field and the one everyone else has to beat. An 8-year-old gelding trained by Cian Collins and ridden by Danny Gilligan, Fiveonefive brings the most compelling form flags to the table — course winner and distance winner. That double tick is rare in a field this size and it demands respect. He's carrying 11-8, which is the highest weight in the race bar the curious case of Zillow at 12-0 (more on that shortly). The concern with any 8-year-old is whether the spark is still there, but Collins has him primed for this trip and this track. If Gilligan gets a clean passage from the front two hurdles, I'd expect him to be in the mix turning for home.

High Court Cave (11-4, Rating 123)

Trained by Noel C. Kelly and ridden by the amateur Mr Oran McGill, High Court Cave is an interesting proposition. A 6-year-old gelding rated 123, he sits just 4lb below the top-rated runner and has no headgear concerns. The amateur rider is worth noting — McGill gets a 7lb allowance in some conditions, but in a handicap like this the weight is already set, so his presence is purely about horsemanship. Kelly doesn't run horses without purpose, and the fact this gelding travels to Brighton suggests connections believe the track and trip suit. No course or distance form flags on record, which is a slight negative, but the rating says he's good enough.

Filibustering (11-3, Rating 122)

Harry Derham's 5-year-old is one of the younger horses in the field and wears a tongue tie. Paul O'Brien takes the ride, and this partnership is worth watching. Filibustering has already proven he stays this sort of trip — the distance winner flag is there — and at just 5 years old, there's every chance the handicapper hasn't fully caught up with him yet. Young hurdlers carrying big weights can find it tough on undulating tracks, but Brighton's course, while unusual, isn't the most severe test of jumping. The tongue tie suggests there may have been early issues with concentration or breathing, but Derham's yard has form for producing well-schooled hurdlers. A live each-way player at the weights.

Miss Maverick (11-3, Rating 122)

The oldest runner in the field at 9 years old, Miss Maverick is trained by Gary Hanmer and ridden by James Davies. Mares get a 5lb sex allowance in many conditions, but in an open handicap like this the rating does the talking. She's on 122 and carries 11-3, which tells you the assessor rates her highly. No headgear, no distance or course form flags — she's something of an unknown quantity on paper, but Davies is a jockey who rides with his head, not just his hands. If the ground is on the softer side of good, mares can often handle it better than geldings. Don't dismiss her out of hand.

Amancio (11-0, Rating 119)

Faye Bramley saddles two in this race — Zillow and Amancio — and it's the latter who catches my eye more. A 5-year-old gelding rated 119, Amancio wears a tongue tie and has already shown he can handle this trip with a distance winner flag to his name. Isabelle Ryder takes the ride. Bramley is a trainer who knows how to place a horse, and running two in the same race often means one is there to set a pace or test the field. Amancio, at 11-0, has a more manageable burden than the top weights and is young enough to be improving. He's my each-way interest.

Zillow (12-0, No Rating)

The elephant in the room. Zillow carries 12-0 — top weight — yet has no published rating. That's unusual for a Class 2 contest and suggests this is either a horse returning from a long absence, a horse whose rating has been manually assigned by the race conditions, or there's some administrative quirk at play. Trained by Faye Bramley and ridden by Brian Hughes, the combination of a top jockey and a trainer with a second runner in the race is intriguing. Hughes doesn't travel to Brighton on a Sunday without reason. Worth a small interest if the market suggests confidence, but the lack of a rating makes him very hard to assess on form alone.

Going and Course Conditions

Good, Good to Soft in places is a fair surface for a summer jumping card. Brighton's hurdle track is tight and undulating — it rewards agile, balanced jumpers over big scopey types. The slight cut in the ground will help horses who travel through it rather than on top of it. Fiveonefive has already shown he handles this venue, and that experience counts for plenty on a course that can catch out first-timers. Nap Hand (10-7, Tom Cannon) and Goodwin Face (10-5, Sean Bowen) are both lower-rated runners who carry course and distance form — they're worth monitoring in the market as potential each-way prices.

Value Picks and Dangers

The confirmed non-runners — Banderas and Winds of Winter — have both taken course and distance winners out of the equation, which arguably opens things up for the mid-market runners. Here's how I'd split the field:

  • Banker: Fiveonefive — course and distance form is the standout credential in this field
  • Each-way value: Amancio — young, lightly weighted relative to ability, improving profile
  • Dark horse: Goodwin Face — Sean Bowen is a big-race jockey, course and distance winner, and 10-5 is a workable weight
  • Watch the market: Zillow — Brian Hughes doesn't ride no-hopers, and the 12-0 weight suggests connections know something

My Selection

Tip: Fiveonefive (each-way)

I've gone back and forth on this one, but the course and distance double is simply too strong to ignore. Fiveonefive has already done it at Brighton over this trip, and Cian Collins has him here in midsummer for a reason. Danny Gilligan is an underrated pilot who rides with patience and precision — exactly what you need over hurdles on a track like this. Yes, he's 8 years old and carrying 11-8, but the form flags don't lie. He's the class horse in the race and gets my vote. Amancio each-way at a bigger price for those wanting a saver.

Good luck on Sunday. Check the Brighton racecard for any late market moves before you commit.

Who is the favourite for the Oakmere Homes Handicap Hurdle at Brighton?

Based on ratings and form, Fiveonefive (Rating 127) is the most likely market leader. He's the top-rated horse in the field, carries course and distance form, and is partnered by the experienced Danny Gilligan for trainer Cian Collins. Expect him to be sent off at a relatively short price given his credentials, though Filibustering and High Court Cave will likely attract support too.

Does the going suit the leading contenders at Brighton on 28 June 2026?

The ground is described as Good, Good to Soft in places — a fair summer surface that should suit most types. Fiveonefive has already won at Brighton, so the course and conditions hold no surprises for him. The slight cut in the ground could benefit younger, improving horses like Amancio and Filibustering, who tend to travel better with a bit of give underfoot. Any significant overnight rain could shift the balance further toward the softer-ground performers.

Is the Oakmere Homes Handicap Hurdle a good race for each-way betting?

With nine runners going to post after the two non-runners, standard each-way terms of three places apply with most bookmakers. The spread of ratings from 103 to 127 means there's genuine competition across the field, and horses like Amancio and Goodwin Face offer each-way value at bigger prices. The GBB Race status also means connections are motivated to run their best horses, which tends to produce competitive, well-contested finishes — ideal for each-way punters.