January 03 / 14.57 Musselburgh

14.57

Soft

Virgin Bet Every Saturday Money Back Handicap Chase (Go North One Man Series Qualifier)

  • Prize money: £5281
  • 1m 7f 182y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
RTV
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Virgin Bet Every Saturday Money Back Handicap Chase (Go North One Man Series Qualifier)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly sunny

OUR TIP

Form: 1-844P D

Last run: 26 days

W: 12st 2lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Ex-Irish 9yo who struggled on his first two starts for Mike Smith; will find this easier than last month's Kelso assignment but has considerably more to prove than some of these.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

24th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 35y

Class 4

14:55 Perth

Gua Du Large

11st 12lb

J: Ben Smith

T: R Mike Smith

Won two hurdles and a novice chase in Ireland but hasn't been overly competitive in four chases for current yard; looks best watched for now.

50/1

1

24th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 35y

Class 4

14:55 Perth

Gua Du Large

11st 12lb

J: Ben Smith

T: R Mike Smith

Won two hurdles and a novice chase in Ireland but hasn't been overly competitive in four chases for current yard; looks best watched for now.

50/1

5th

3

11th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 0f 110y

Class 4

15:10 Ayr

Gua Du Large

11st 12lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: R Mike Smith

held up in rear, headway after 7th

50/1

Form: F22-34 CD

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 13lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Returned from mammoth absence to win small-field C&D (soft) race in November 2023 and has largely remained in good form since; that said, he has developed a tendency to race lazily and became badly detached before running on for fourth at Sandown (1m7f, soft) last month; risky.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

8

8th Mar 2025

Good

2m 4f 10y

Class 3

16:45 Sandown

Mint Gold

11st 1lb

J: Jack Power

T: Lucinda Russell

Has made the frame on his last four starts but he's operating at a lower level than in the past, having no obvious excuses over 2m at Musselburgh (C&D winner) last month; has slipped to his last winning mark but others are preferred.

14/1

4th

5

2nd Feb 2025

Good To Soft

1m 7f 182y

Class 3

15:35 Musselburgh

Mint Gold

11st 9lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell

towards rear, some headway 4 out, went fourth 2 out, no impression

12/1

4th

5

2nd Feb 2025

Good To Soft

1m 7f 182y

Class 3

15:35 Musselburgh

Mint Gold

11st 9lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell

towards rear, some headway 4 out, went fourth 2 out, no impression

12/1

Form: -51581 CD

Last run: 35 days

W: 11st 9lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Bounced back to form with clearcut C&D (good to soft) win in November and is now 3-10 over fences; 6lb higher today but an obvious contender if in the right mood again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

24th May 2026

Good

2m 5f 133y

Class 4

16:12 Kelso

Chapel Green

11st 4lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Won over C&D off a 6lb higher mark in September (good); has not fared quite as well since, although more encouraging run when 13l third of seven over 2m1f here last time (good); step back up in trip will suit.

7/1

3rd

2

6th May 2026

Good

2m 1f 14y

Class 4

16:32 Kelso

Chapel Green

11st 8lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Won over 2m5f here following a 163-day break last September (good) but rather disappointing since; on a good mark now, but a bit to prove.

14/1

Form: 146-P9 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 6lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Beat Fostered Phil to make winning chase debut at Perth (2m, good) in spring 2023 and was in front when falling just after penultimate fence in this race last year; not seen over fences again since and returned from break with two low-key hurdle runs towards end of last year but not ruled out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

15th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 209y

Class 4

19:30 Aintree

Lively Citizen

11st 12lb

J: Harry Atkins

T: D J Jeffreys

Long in the tooth and no longer the force of old but bounced back from two poor chase runs with respectable effort over hurdles at Haydock (1m7f, good) last month and is now 5lb lower than when going close in this race a year ago; could have a say.

12/1

5th

7

15th Apr 2026

Good

1m 7f 144y

Class 3

17:35 Haydock

Lively Citizen

11st 6lb

J: Harry Atkins

T: D J Jeffreys

Very capable over fences but pulled up in that discipline on his last two starts following a break of 217 days; he did go close over hurdles at Aintree three runs ago so there's a big effort in him if he can get his act together.

25/1

Form: 4271/2 D

Last run: 67 days

W: 11st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced 8yo who made all for wide-margin maiden hurdle win at Ayr (2m, good) in March 2023 and returned from long absence with clear second there (2m, good to soft) on chase/handicap debut in October; could take some catching here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

25th Apr 2026

Good

1m 7f 99y

Class 1

14:55 Sandown

Thistle Ask

11st 10lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Front-runner who has shown excellent progress over fences and whose record for current stable reads 11112, the last two wins in Grade 2 handicaps; collared by Jonbon in soft-ground Grade 1 at Ascot (2m1f) when last seen; may turn the tables returned to forecast ideal ground, being 5-5 on good; possibly hasn't reached his ceiling yet; respected.

7/4

2nd

4

17th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 172y

Class 1

15:30 Ascot

Thistle Ask

11st 10lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

One of the success stories of the season, improving dramatically for new yard and rattling off four handicap wins (2m-2m3f, all on good); showed high-class form when routing six rivals at Kempton just after Christmas; impossible to discount, but he'll need another personal best in this higher grade and he also has to prove he's as effective on ground softer than good.

7/1

6

31st Oct 2025

Good

2m 3f 85y

Class 1

14:55 Wetherby

Thistle Ask

10st 3lb

J: Tristan Durrell

T: Dan Skelton

Debut for this yard when making it 2-3 over fences with an all-the-way success last week at Kelso (2m1f, good), justifying odds of 5-4 on his return from a 265-day absence; 2lb well in even with the penalty and he's very lightly raced for an 8yo.

Evs

Form: 5-3F24 D

Last run: 55 days

W: 11st 1lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Took pretty well to fences last year and returned from a break with two good efforts in the autumn (2m/2m1f); current mark is workable and he might be boosted by the new cheekpieces here but there is a slight worry about him on a right-handed track.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

13th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 0f 51y

Class 4

14:30 Kelso

Chase A Fortune

11st 11lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Chris Grant

Won in first-time cheekpieces (retained since) at Wetherby (2m, soft) in December and has continued in good form, finishing second on his last two starts (1m7f/2m1f, good to soft); very solid claims.

4/1

2nd

2

25th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 178y

Class 4

15:10 Sedgefield

Chase A Fortune

11st 13lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Chris Grant

Record of 212 since switched back to hurdles from chasing, the win at Wetherby (2m, soft) in first-time cheekpieces; Musselburgh effort (1m7f, good to soft) last time resulted in a career-best RPR; should go well in the retained headgear.

11/2

1

25th Oct 2025

Good

2m 1f 14y

Class 5

14:45 Kelso

Chase A Fortune

12st 0lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Chris Grant

Both his wins have been over 1m7f at Catterick, the latest off this mark in February 2024 (soft); several fair efforts since, including after a 325-day break last time; each-way chance.

11/2

Form: 114-75 D

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 0lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Won three good-ground chases when with Laura Morgan but, following a long absence, was soundly beaten on both starts for Ewan Whillans towards end of last year; revival needed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

5

8th Sep 2025

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 4

15:40 Perth

Captain Ivan

11st 4lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Ewan Whillans

Good strike-rate over fences but beaten between 16l and 25l in his last three races and he's into the veteran stage now.

14/1

1

16th Aug 2025

Good

2m 1f 43y

Class 4

18:23 Market Rasen

Captain Ivan

12st 0lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Ewan Whillans

5-19 over fences, the latest win at Haydock (2m4f, good) in April; not in same form at Cartmel or Stratford since and first-time blinkers replace cheekpieces; has it to do giving weight away to more progressive rivals.

8/1

1

17th Jun 2025

Good

2m 6f 125y

Class 4

16:30 Stratford

Captain Ivan

11st 13lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Ewan Whillans

5-18 over fences, the latest win at Haydock (2m4f, good) in April; not in same form at Cartmel (2m5f, good to soft) three weeks ago but the ground probably turned against him there and he's still on a workable mark.

9/2

Form: 234/2- D

Last run: 597 days

W: 10st 12lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Low-mileage 11yo; close second to Lively Citizen on chasing debut at Perth (2m, good) in May 2023 and resumes on a 4lb lower mark but it's hard to gauge how much ability he retains after his latest long absence; had wind op last summer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

10

16th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 1f 0y

Class 4

15:40 Carlisle

Fostered Phil

11st 5lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: William Young Jnr

Veteran who won twice in 2025, the second by 7l over C&D (soft) in December; now 5lb higher in a stronger race.

14/1

7th

9

1st Nov 2025

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

15:04 Ayr

Fostered Phil

11st 5lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: William Young Jnr

11yo who is lightly raced for his age and won at Perth (2m4f, good) in September before 2l third at Kelso (2m5f, good); well-beaten third at Perth (2m4f) since when the soft ground may not have been ideal, and a similar surface is expected today.

9/1

Verdict

Chapel Green produced a good performance over C&D five weeks ago but THISTLE ASK succumbed only to the odds-on favourite after making a bold bid from the front on his chasing debut at Ayr in October and is selected in the hope he can dominate off the same mark here. Lively Citizen was probably unlucky not to win this race a year ago and also makes the shortlist.[Chris Wilson]

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Chapel Green

SPOTLIGHT:

Thistle Ask

POSTDATA:

Mint Gold

TOPSPEED:

Chase A Fortune

Daily Mail:

Chapel Green

Daily Mirror:

Chapel Green

The Sun:

Chapel Green

The Star:

Chapel Green

Daily Record:

Chapel Green

The Times:

Thistle Ask

The Guardian:

Thistle Ask

D Express:

Thistle Ask

Telegraph:

Mint Gold