January 05 / 14.55 Chepstow

14.55

Soft

Albert Bartlett Triple Crown Series Handicap Hurdle (Qualifier)

  • Prize money: £4066.37
  • 2m 3f 100y
  • Class 4
  • 11 runners
SKY
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Albert Bartlett Triple Crown Series Handicap Hurdle (Qualifier)

Runners: 11 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Sleet

Form: 12D143

Last run: 23 days

W: 12st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
First past the post in two of his three bumpers and has made the frame on both hurdling starts, more recently when third at Bangor (2m3f, soft) last month'; not obviously well treated for this handicap debut but still has potential; sports first-time cheekpieces.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

15

11th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 7f 191y

Class 3

14:25 Ffos Las

Alan De Banks

10st 0lb

T: Peter & Michael Bowen

First past the post in two Newton Abbot bumpers (good/soft) last summer; gave encouragement when well held taking minor honours over about 2m4f here and at Bangor in his two races over hurdles; upped in trip for this handicap debut and could find improvement, which he does need.

14/1

2nd

15

11th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 7f 191y

Class 3

14:25 Ffos Las

Alan De Banks

10st 0lb

T: Peter & Michael Bowen

First past the post in two Newton Abbot bumpers (good/soft) last summer; gave encouragement when well held taking minor honours over about 2m4f here and at Bangor in his two races over hurdles; upped in trip for this handicap debut and could find improvement, which he does need.

14/1

1

11th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

13:50 Ffos Las

Alan De Banks

11st 6lb

T: Peter & Michael Bowen

OUR TIP

Form: 11-204

Last run: 27 days

W: 12st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Won twice on soft ground as a juvenile hurdler last season; bettered his disappointing reappearance run when keeping-on fourth at Lingfield (2m3f, soft) last month but raced rather lazily that day and probably needs the first-time visor to keep him focused here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

28th May 2025

Good To Soft

2m 6f 31y

Class 4

19:10 Cartmel

Golden Maverick

11st 11lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Jamie Snowden

Rewarded determined ride when keeping on strongly from poor position to lead on the post at Carlisle (2m1f, soft; visored) in February but again raced lazily at Stratford (2m, good to soft; first-time blinkers) in March, where he was beaten before final-flight fall; worth a go over this longer trip but it's hard to predict the extent to which he'll warm to the task; visor refitted.

11/2

3

28th May 2025

Good To Soft

2m 6f 31y

Class 4

19:10 Cartmel

Golden Maverick

11st 11lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Jamie Snowden

Rewarded determined ride when keeping on strongly from poor position to lead on the post at Carlisle (2m1f, soft; visored) in February but again raced lazily at Stratford (2m, good to soft; first-time blinkers) in March, where he was beaten before final-flight fall; worth a go over this longer trip but it's hard to predict the extent to which he'll warm to the task; visor refitted.

11/2

2

10th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 70y

Class 3

15:20 Stratford

Golden Maverick

11st 9lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

raced lazily at times, prominent, hit 3rd, reminder before 4 out, lost ground on turn before last, weakening when fell last

4/1

Form: 4255-

Last run: 295 days

W: 11st 13lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Unexposed 6yo who displayed significant promise in three novice hurdles (2m3f-2m5f) in early part of last year; makes handicap debut after 295-day absence but still needs to be taken very seriously.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

23rd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 4

17:15 Perth

Casual Observer

12st 0lb

J: Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: Harry Derham

Winning hurdler (2m4f, heavy) who has shown promise in defeat over 2m4f on his two chase starts (soft); now steps up to 3m for first time under rules (was second in a 3m point).

11/4

3rd

5

25th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 15y

Class 4

16:41 Hexham

Casual Observer

11st 9lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

Won at Ffos Las (2m4f, heavy) last February on second handicap hurdle start and it was his first run since when an encouraging second of four on chase debut at Bangor last month (2m4f, soft; albeit no match for the winner); open to improvement over fences and could play a leading role.

13/8

2nd

5

25th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 4f 72y

Class 4

17:00 Bangor-on-Dee

Casual Observer

11st 2lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

Lightly raced and career-best form in winning a 2m4f handicap hurdle at Ffos Las (heavy) when last seen 12 months ago; looks on a realistic mark for chase debut and he was second in an Irish point; fitness might not be an issue given the yard he represents.

5/2

Form: 51-PP2 C

Last run: 17 days

W: 11st 13lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Pulled up in two chases in the autumn but returned to form and went very close when back over hurdles at Ffos Las (2m4f, heavy; refitted cheekpieces) last month; recent 4lb rise ought to be manageable; major player if in the right mood again here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

21st Mar 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 52y

Class 4

16:37 Newbury

Valens Bruyee

11st 9lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Rebecca Curtis

Cheekpieces back on for his last three races and competitive in two of those, over 2m4f and 3m; however, his profile is notoriously inconsistent and softer ground would be preferable.

12/1

3rd

4

27th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 7f 198y

Class 4

15:35 Taunton

Valens Bruyee

11st 11lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Rebecca Curtis

Returned to form and ran big race in defeat when back over hurdles in refitted cheekpieces at Ffos Las (2m4f, heavy) in December but was quickly back in the doldrums last month and now has it all to prove again.

16/1

8

15th Jan 2025

Heavy

3m 0f 52y

Class 4

16:08 Newbury

Valens Bruyee

11st 3lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Rebecca Curtis

midfield on outer, lost ground and towards rear 7th, pushed along when not fluent 4 out

6/1

Form: 4-P421 D

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 11lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Kept on well to beat unexposed rival at Bangor (2m3f, soft; first-time cheekpieces) last month and is now 2-12 over hurdles; still well handicapped on older form; probably won't be far away.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

5th Jun 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

21:00 Ffos Las

New Found Fame

11st 2lb

J: Richard Patrick

T: Kerry Lee

Bangor winner (2m3f, soft) in December and, after a lesser effort the following month, won back there (2m, soft) in February; however he's not the easiest to predict and was comfortably held at Chepstow in April; he comes with risk.

6/1

5

5th Jun 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

21:00 Ffos Las

New Found Fame

11st 2lb

J: Richard Patrick

T: Kerry Lee

Bangor winner (2m3f, soft) in December and, after a lesser effort the following month, won back there (2m, soft) in February; however he's not the easiest to predict and was comfortably held at Chepstow in April; he comes with risk.

6/1

7th

4

21st Apr 2025

Good

2m 3f 100y

Class 4

16:07 Chepstow

New Found Fame

11st 8lb

J: Liam Harrison

T: Kerry Lee

Scored in first-time cheekpieces at Bangor (2m3f, soft) in December and put a lesser run behind him when winning in first-time blinkers there (2m1f, soft) in February; it's hard to predict how well he'll perform in refitted cheekpieces but the forecast good ground won't be a problem.

6/1

Form: 47-674

Last run: 45 days

W: 11st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Did not emerge from the rear division in first two hurdling races but his fourth at Warwick (2m, good to soft) in November was a big step forward; upped in trip for this handicap debut and can improve again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

5th Apr 2026

Good

2m 7f 191y

Class 4

15:23 Market Rasen

Dangerous Touch

12st 0lb

J: Tom Hutsby

T: Olly Murphy

0-6 over fences but placed three times; headed only in closing stages after running big race from the front at Huntingdon (2m7f, good; first-time blinkers) last month and has obvious claims if in similar form again.

Evs

2nd

1

18th Mar 2026

Good

2m 7f 129y

Class 4

14:45 Huntingdon

Dangerous Touch

11st 9lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

2m4f handicap hurdle winner; chasing on last four outings, falling at the first on penultimate occasion but placed in the mud at Ayr and Huntingdon (second of five over C&D) on starts either side; wore cheekpieces on last two outings, now has blinkers and very different ground.

5/2

1

30th Jan 2026

Heavy

2m 7f 177y

Class 4

14:20 Ffos Las

Dangerous Touch

12st 0lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Sole attempt at Ffos Las resulted in his only success (in 2m4f handicap hurdle); ran creditably upped to 3m at Ayr in latest chase start and looks interesting returned to this venue, assuming he takes well to first-time headgear.

7/2

Form: 245P-3

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 8lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Without a win since December 2021 but was the only one to give the bang-in-form winner any sort of race before weakening into third at Bangor (2m, soft) last month; not yet proven over this far but remains on a good mark; could have a say.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

24th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 123y

Class 5

19:40 Bangor-on-Dee

Risk DArgent

12st 0lb

J: Mr Frederick Philipson-Stow

T: Alastair Ralph

prominent, lost ground after 2nd, towards rear when fell 7th

25/1

1

24th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 123y

Class 5

19:40 Bangor-on-Dee

Risk DArgent

12st 0lb

J: Mr Frederick Philipson-Stow

T: Alastair Ralph

prominent, lost ground after 2nd, towards rear when fell 7th

25/1

11

29th Mar 2025

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 4

17:05 Uttoxeter

Risk DArgent

10st 11lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Alastair Ralph

mistake 8th

16/1

Form: 79221-

Last run: 274 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Came good at sixth attempt, making all at Uttoxeter (2m, heavy) last April; only 3lb higher here and could have untapped potential over the longer trip but has fitness to prove after nine-month absence.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

5

1st Mar 2026

Heavy

2m 3f 83y

Class 5

15:30 Ffos Las

Hawk Stone

11st 0lb

J: Miss Megan Bevan

T: Harriet Dickin

Rebounded from poor chasing debut when second to progressive rival here (2m, heavy; first-time visor) in January; could plausibly have untapped potential over this longer trip but was back in the doldrums on his latest outing and has become very hard to predict.

7/1

7th

3

12th Feb 2026

Heavy

1m 7f 201y

Class 5

15:15 Leicester

Hawk Stone

11st 8lb

J: Beau Morgan

T: Harriet Dickin

Record of 1-11 over hurdles and his win was in April 2024; pulled up on chase debut at Market Rasen last month but he bounced back with a good second at Ffos Las (2m, heavy; first-time visor) 13 days ago; on same mark here and has claims if he can build on that.

4/1

2nd

5

30th Jan 2026

Heavy

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

16:35 Ffos Las

Hawk Stone

11st 6lb

J: Beau Morgan

T: Harriet Dickin

Blinkered this season, running respectably in hurdles event then poorly on chase debut; bit to prove but is on a workable mark provided the switch to a visor has positive effect.

14/1

Abandoned

Form: 4447-6

Last run: 24 days

W: 10st 13lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Did well on the Flat last year (three wins) and returned to hurdling with respectable sixth at Taunton (2m, good) last month; not yet fully exposed in this sphere but this trip on soft ground might stretch his stamina.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

(2)

27th Jun 2026

Good

1m 4f 63y

Class 5

17:50 Chester

Taritino

10st 0lb

J: Taylor Fisher

T: Joe Tickle

Has won five on the Flat at up to 1m6f; off the mark for this Flat season when winning at Salisbury by 4.5l 13 days ago; up 6lb but a contender.

6/1

1st

7

(2)

14th Jun 2026

Good To Soft

1m 4f 5y

Class 4

17:32 Salisbury

Taritino

8st 13lb

J: Billy Loughnane

T: Joe Tickle

Has won twice over hurdles this year and only went down by a head on his return to Flat action last week at Bath (1m6f, good); effective over this shorter trip and looks a good bet to give his running, which can't be said for all of these.

4/1

Form: -2506P CD

Last run: 17 days

W: 10st 13lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Won three times (twice over C&D) in 2023 but has gone the wrong way since going close on his seasonal debut in October and has quite a bit more to prove than some of these; swaps visor for refitted cheekpieces.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

27th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 164y

Class 5

15:00 Fontwell

Wot You Wearing

10st 2lb

J: Miss Kayla Ruddy

T: Fergal O’Brien

He was looking when regressive even before pulling up in his first two runs for this yard but ran better at Taunton (2m3f, good; ridden by Kayla Ruddy), where he was no match for the front two but did come from well off the pace; possibilities; 1lb wrong.

5/1

3rd

8

9th Mar 2026

Good

2m 3f 1y

Class 5

17:10 Taunton

Wot You Wearing

10st 5lb

J: Miss Kayla Ruddy

T: Fergal O’Brien

Out of sorts at the end of last term for Robert Stephens and he's been pulled up in handicaps (around 3m2f) at Fontwell and Warwick for his current yard this year; it's easy to look elsewhere.

20/1

6

20th Feb 2026

Soft

3m 2f 0y

Class 5

14:05 Warwick

Wot You Wearing

10st 5lb

J: Miss Kayla Ruddy

T: Fergal O’Brien

Three-time hurdle winner but the latest was back in November 2023 and it's been a long time since he posed a serious threat; pulled up when a 3-1 shot for last month's stable and seasonal debut at Fontwell.

12/1

Form: -3P850

Last run: 15 days

W: 10st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Beaten about 61l when 22-1 for recent handicap debut at Hereford (2m, good to soft) but remains unexposed and Dan Skelton is persisting with him; moves back up in trip today; may burst into life at some stage.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

9

25th May 2026

Good

3m 1f 83y

Class 2

15:23 Cartmel

Gwennie May Star

11st 0lb

J: David Noonan

T: Christian Williams

Won twice over today's trip at Warwick for Dan Skelton last season (soft/good to soft); started off for Christian Williams with two pretty good efforts on good ground towards the end of that campaign but may find others in this line-up better handicapped.

12/1

4th

11

24th Apr 2026

Good

3m 2f 127y

Class 3

14:40 Perth

Gwennie May Star

11st 0lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Christian Williams

Won races for Dan Skelton (2m1f/2m3f) and Olly Murphy (3m1f); now on a career-high mark, off which he was no match for the front two on stable debut at Bangor (2m7f).

9/1

3rd

6

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 32y

Class 3

13:37 Bangor-on-Dee

Gwennie May Star

11st 7lb

J: Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: Christian Williams

Won twice over hurdles for Dan Skelton last season (2m1f/2m3f) and twice for Olly Murphy this term (3m1f); ran poorly on latest outing five weeks ago, though, and remains on career-high mark for this stable debut.

7/2

Non-runners

Lokis Mischief, Our Dylan

Verdict

Several of these warrant consideration in a very competitive race for the grade. Top of the list is handicap debutant DANGEROUS TOUCH (nap), who displayed significant improvement when fourth in a 2m novice in November and ought to be suited by today’s longer trip. Valens Bruyee returned to form with a big run in defeat when back over hurdles last month and is second choice. Casual Observer has been absent since last March but still makes significant appeal.[Chris Wilson]

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Valens Bruyee

WEST COUNTRY:

Our Dylan

SPOTLIGHT:

Dangerous Touch

Daily Mirror:

Casual Observer

LAMBOURN:

Golden Maverick

The Times:

Taritino

D Express:

New Found Fame

TOPSPEED:

Valens Bruyee

POSTDATA:

Valens Bruyee

Daily Record:

Valens Bruyee

The Star:

Dangerous Touch

Telegraph:

Our Dylan

The Sun:

Our Dylan