February 26 / 15.40 Wincanton

15.40

Heavy

Family Raceday Sunday 13th April Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £3960.75
  • 2m 4f 35y
  • Class 5
  • 7 runners
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Family Raceday Sunday 13th April Handicap Chase

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

OUR TIP

Form: -42222 D

Last run: 26 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 99

Form & Verdict
Won twice in points and he got off the mark under rules when making a winning chase debut at Exeter 11 months ago; runner-up in four chase runs since October and he was unfortunate to bump into one well ahead of his mark at Lingfield 26 days ago (travelled strongly); questions can be asked of his attitude given his dose of seconditis but he's still an obvious contender in this field.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

14th Feb 2026

Heavy

1m 7f 149y

Class 4

14:50 Wincanton

Joe Cotton

12st 1lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Jeremy Scott

Won at Fontwell (2m3f, good) last March and he finished in the first three in his next five starts; still looks on workable mark but he had a rare blip at Windsor (2m6f, soft) last month and he's never raced at shorter than 2m3f; bit to prove and others are preferred.

9/2

7th

11

16th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 6f 50y

Class 3

16:05 Windsor

Joe Cotton

10st 10lb

J: Lorcan Williams

T: Jeremy Scott

Consistent sort who won at Fontwell (2m3f, good) last March and has been in the first three on all five starts since, most recently runner-up here (2m4f, good); stays this far and versatile ground-wise; each-way player.

10/1

9

29th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 216y

Class 4

15:23 Newton Abbot

Joe Cotton

11st 0lb

J: Lorcan Williams

T: Jeremy Scott

First-time blinkers did the trick when scoring at Fontwell (2m3f, good) in March and he was short of room at a crucial stage when close third at Plumpton (2m4f) the following month; now 8lb higher than for his last win but he's a reliable type who still has potential in this sphere; respected on his return.

6/1

Form: 2-0P54

Last run: 56 days

W: 11st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 91

Form & Verdict
0-11 but he has shown promise at a modest level and seems effective on heavy ground; room for improvement in his jumping but he's one for the shortlist.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

20th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

15:30 Warwick

Rangatira Jack

10st 12lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Linda Blackford

Sole success came at Exeter off 7lb higher in April last year; has slipped down the weights but placed for the first time since when second of six finishers at Ffos Las (2m5f, good) 15 days ago; cannot dismiss.

5/1

2nd

7

5th May 2026

Good

2m 5f 110y

Class 5

17:22 Ffos Las

Rangatira Jack

11st 0lb

J: James Best

T: Linda Blackford

1-19 overall, though the win did come over fences; however, hasn't fired for a while, despite attracting market support on his return to hurdles last time.

14/1

4th

9

17th Apr 2026

Good To Firm

2m 2f 111y

Class 5

17:40 Exeter

Rangatira Jack

11st 2lb

J: James Best

T: Linda Blackford

2m3f chase winner here (good) 12 months ago; 0-6 over hurdles; well beaten over fences on his last four starts; bit to prove back hurdling.

11/1

Form: 2-3323 BF

Last run: 30 days

W: 10st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
0-13 and he has been beaten at 5-2 or shorter in seven of his last eight starts; placed in all three chase runs this winter and he's high on the list in an uncompetitive event with cheekpieces now added.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

16th Mar 2025

Good

2m 1f 43y

Class 5

14:52 Market Rasen

Smart Casual

10st 12lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Anthony Honeyball

Not the best of jumpers and yet to win in four attempts over fences; spoilt chance with a bad error three out when second at Leicester last week (2m, good to soft; 6-5 favourite; cheekpieces tried); obvious contender.

6/4

Abandoned

Form: 65-9P4

Last run: 87 days

W: 10st 6lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
0-14 but has shown some promise at a low level; has undergone wind surgery (his third) since finishing fourth at Leicester in December; could pick up some more minor money.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

19th Feb 2026

2m 3f 189y

Class 5

13:41 Huntingdon

Ceejaybe

10st 13lb

J: James Davies

T: Jo Davis

Close third over fences at Fontwell last April but such high points have been scarce in his winless, 17-race rules career; well-beaten fifth in points on his last two starts; reverts to rules with something to prove.

14/1

8

15th May 2025

Good

2m 3f 104y

Class 5

18:40 Fontwell

Ceejaybe

10st 5lb

J: James Davies

T: Jo Davis

A maiden who can pick up a race sometime soon after his rallying third over C&D 20 days ago, finishing right up behind Fortunate Fella.

4/1

8

15th May 2025

Good

2m 3f 104y

Class 5

18:40 Fontwell

Ceejaybe

10st 5lb

J: James Davies

T: Jo Davis

A maiden who can pick up a race sometime soon after his rallying third over C&D 20 days ago, finishing right up behind Fortunate Fella.

4/1

Form: P4P55P

Last run: 44 days

W: 10st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
Won a heavy-ground chase in France in December 2022 but that's his only success from 36 starts; not disgraced at Fontwell in November but his other three runs this winter leave him with enough to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

14th Apr 2026

Good

3m 2f 105y

Class 5

16:17 Newton Abbot

I Love You Sivola

10st 2lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Helen Nelmes

Has had just the one win, gained in a French chase back in 2022, and there's little in recent hurdle form to suggest he's about to add to that; 6lb out of the handicap.

20/1

9th

17

17th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 25y

Class 5

14:20 Exeter

I Love You Sivola

10st 2lb

J: Charlie Price

T: Helen Nelmes

Gained only win (from 43 starts) in a French chase in 2022 and recent hurdling form does not suggest he's poised to add to his tally.

50/1

5th

11

24th Jun 2025

Good

3m 2f 105y

Class 4

20:27 Newton Abbot

I Love You Sivola

10st 2lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Helen Nelmes

Ended a run of non-completions when finishing fifth of seven over C&D last time (Presenting Yeats behind); although that was an improved effort, it did appear to stretch his stamina; much more required again from out of the weights.

50/1

Form: 44-P6P

Last run: 17 days

W: 10st 2lb

13 yo Gelding

OR: 67

Form & Verdict
Veteran with a poor strike-rate; conditions won't be an issue but two recent runs haven't suggested he was a winner in waiting.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

8

6th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

3m 1f 30y

Class 5

14:20 Wincanton

Bellamys Grey

10st 2lb

J: Elizabeth Gale

T: Carroll Gray

in rear, detached and niggled along from 3rd, slow jump and ridden 14th

50/1

15

9th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 7f 131y

Class 5

16:30 Chepstow

Bellamys Grey

10st 2lb

J: Harriet Tucker

T: Carroll Gray

13yo with a 1-36 strike-rate under rules; no show ten days ago after a 267-day break but he stepped up dramatically on second run last winter and might have a place chance.

25/1

Form: -PPP6P

Last run: 22 days

W: 10st 2lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 64

Form & Verdict
Poor form in her completed runs under rules and not easily recommended, even at this modest level.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

28th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 110y

Class 5

14:25 Worcester

Fox Wallace

10st 5lb

J: Ben Godfrey

T: Ella Pickard

Has lost her way badly since her win/place form over fences last summer; cheekpieces tried last time are swiftly removed; couldn't trust.

14/1

7

5th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 8y

Class 5

20:17 Hereford

Fox Wallace

10st 6lb

J: Ben Godfrey

T: Ella Pickard

2m1f chase winner at Stratford a year ago but has largely struggled to reproduce that level, including after wind surgery; continues to ease in the weights and cheekpieces are enlisted, but others arrive with much more persuasive credentials.

25/1

Verdict

The two with the strongest claims are JOE COTTON and Smart Casual, neither of whom have been especially punter friendly thus far. New cheekpieces could help Smart Casual but Joe Cotton bumped into an unexposed improver last time and can end his run of second places.[Paul Smith]

Selections

WEST COUNTRY:

Smart Casual

SPOTLIGHT:

Joe Cotton

The Times:

Smart Casual

Telegraph:

Smart Casual

The Guardian:

Smart Casual

Daily Mail:

Smart Casual

D Express:

Smart Casual

The Sun:

Smart Casual

The Star:

Smart Casual

RP RATINGS:

Joe Cotton

POSTDATA:

Joe Cotton

Daily Mirror:

Joe Cotton

Daily Record:

Joe Cotton