June 13 / 19.55 Newton Abbot

19.55

Good

PKF Francis Clark Summer Social Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £10562
  • 2m 0f 75y
  • Class 4
  • 6 runners
SKY
View Course
PKF Francis Clark Summer Social Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

OUR TIP

5/4 (Won)

  • Win: £3.25
  • Place: £1.80

Form: P536-1 D

Last run: 35 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Bounced back from a disappointing run when dominating three-runner Hereford chase (2m, good; first-time tongue-tie) from the front last month, winning unchallenged by 23l; it's hard to tell whether he'll be in the same form here but a 5lb rise could have been worse and he may benefit from this switch to a left-handed track (jumped slightly left last time).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

3rd Jun 2026

Good

2m 0f 167y

Class 3

16:30 Newton Abbot

Centara

11st 10lb

J: Freddie Keighley

T: Paul Nicholls

Highly progressive over fences in the first half of last season, winning here four times (2m, good to soft/good); 2m5f here appeared to stretch him last month following some time off; has a lower mark to work with back over hurdles and he could play a leading role back down in trip.

7/2

6th

4

6th May 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 216y

Class 2

13:45 Newton Abbot

Centara

11st 5lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Paul Nicholls

Highly progressive over fences last summer, winning five handicaps (four here) at around 2m on ground no worse than good to soft, though he ended the campaign pulled up at Cheltenham; has since had a second wind op and could find more at this longer trip (2m3f hurdle winner), which will be needed off this mark following a break.

11/2

1

24th Oct 2025

Good

1m 7f 199y

Class 2

13:50 Cheltenham

Centara

11st 12lb

J: Jay Tidball

T: Paul Nicholls

Highly progressive over fences, making it five handicap wins for the campaign (2m, good/good to soft) when making all in three-runner race at Newton Abbot last time; further progress is possible but necessary in this warm contest; can jump to the right.

16/1

10/1

  • Place: £1.80

Form: 13224- CD

Last run: 206 days

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Not entirely straightforward and often harms his chance by racing far too freely; made all off 3lb lower over C&D (good) last summer but absent since a below-par hurdle run in November; others are less risky.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 123y

Class 2

15:20 Bangor-on-Dee

Magistrato

10st 13lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Deborah Cole

Ended last year in excellent form over fences, with latest fourth coming behind the seriously progressive Thistle Ask; whereas he's 5-18 in that discipline and only 1-13 over hurdles, he's probably a better horse now than when last seen in this discipline; 5lb lower than his chase mark; front runs.

20/1

5

31st Oct 2025

Good

2m 3f 85y

Class 1

14:55 Wetherby

Magistrato

10st 10lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Deborah Cole

Front-runner who can be tough to reel in on his day and has left his rivals trailing in completing a hat-trick in small fields at about 2m4f (latest in a match); has gone up a collective 20lb but he loves this good ground and looks sure to make a bold bid.

7/2

4th

5

31st Oct 2025

Good

2m 3f 85y

Class 1

14:55 Wetherby

Magistrato

10st 10lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Deborah Cole

Front-runner who can be tough to reel in on his day and has left his rivals trailing in completing a hat-trick in small fields at about 2m4f (latest in a match); has gone up a collective 20lb but he loves this good ground and looks sure to make a bold bid.

7/2

Form: 7326-5

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 6lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Went close over hurdles at Ludlow (2m5f, good) in March but this inconsistent and steadily regressive 10yo was well beaten when back over fences last month (2m6f); drops back to about 2m for first time since hurdle debut in 2020; has done all his winning on ground slower than good.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

25th Jul 2025

Good

2m 3f 207y

Class 4

16:23 Uttoxeter

Ballybegg

11st 11lb

J: Richard Patrick

T: Kerry Lee

Dual C&D winner; went close off today's mark at Ludlow (2m5f, good) in March but this regressive 10yo was soundly beaten over fences when last in action and would appeal much more on slower ground.

25/1

3

1st Jul 2025

Good To Firm

2m 3f 98y

Class 4

20:18 Stratford

Ballybegg

12st 1lb

J: Richard Patrick

T: Kerry Lee

Inconsistent 10yo who was well beaten when back over fences in May (2m6f), then unsuited by the drop back to 2m on his most recent start at Newton Abbot last month when a well-held third of six; on a good mark if the mood takes him now back up to a more suitable test.

10/1

3rd

3

13th Jun 2025

Good

2m 0f 75y

Class 4

19:55 Newton Abbot

Ballybegg

11st 6lb

J: Richard Patrick

T: Kerry Lee

Went close over hurdles at Ludlow (2m5f, good) in March but this inconsistent and steadily regressive 10yo was well beaten when back over fences last month (2m6f); drops back to about 2m for first time since hurdle debut in 2020; has done all his winning on ground slower than good.

10/1

Form: 306-32 D

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Not really firing on all cylinders over hurdles last season, albeit he won off a reduced mark in the autumn, but made fairly good start to chasing career last month, keeping on for second of four behind a course specialist at Huntingdon (2m, good); a possible.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

21st Aug 2025

Good

2m 4f 216y

Class 4

17:35 Newton Abbot

Magic Seven

11st 11lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Three-time hurdle winner (2m-2m3f) who is still seeking a first chase success after four attempts over fences, though he's gone close on a couple of occasions; the drop in trip will not be an issue and he's not yet fully exposed, but he'll need to step up on those efforts if he's to break his duck.

10/1

5th

8

24th Jul 2025

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 4

13:45 Worcester

Magic Seven

11st 6lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Three-time hurdle winner (2m-2m3f); not one to rely upon heavily nowadays but ran well in defeat over fences at Stratford (2m3f, good to firm) last month and has possibilities if this new trip suits.

8/1

1

1st Jul 2025

Good To Firm

2m 3f 98y

Class 4

20:18 Stratford

Magic Seven

12st 2lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Three-time hurdle winner, most recently off this mark at Exeter (2m, good) in November; made a promising chase debut in May when a staying-on second at Huntingdon (2m, good) but never involved at Newton Abbot (2m, good to soft) last month, shaping on both occasions as though a step back up in trip would help; player.

5/1

Form: 433P-6 D

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Won off his slightly lower hurdle mark last summer but last year's record was very mixed and he was soundly beaten when reappearing (in a chase) last month; needs that recent outing to have brought him on; cheekpieces refitted; usual tongue-tie still missing.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

29th Sep 2025

Good

2m 2f 110y

Class 5

14:31 Newton Abbot

Byzantine Empire

10st 12lb

J: Ellis Collier

T: Alison Thorpe

Badly out of form over fences and on the Flat for the Flint stable this year, and was well beaten in 2m4f Warwick chase for new trainer on Tuesday; needs combination of return to hurdling and refitted cheekpieces to rekindle his enthusiasm.

16/1

9th

1

23rd Sep 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

14:28 Warwick

Byzantine Empire

12st 0lb

J: Shane Fenelon

T: Alison Thorpe

Two-time chase winner but last success in this sphere was in 2022 and he's deteriorated considerably since; has switched yards since his last run and is well treated if new trainer can get a tune out of him.

20/1

8

31st Aug 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

14:10 Worcester

Byzantine Empire

11st 7lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: John & Rhys Flint

Two-time chase winner who won off this mark over hurdles here last July; however, he's been well beaten over fences and on the Flat on his four outings this year and needs a major turnaround.

33/1

Form: 2953-3 D BF

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 5lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
Returned from spell in Germany with encouraging stable debut at Chepstow last month, where he travelled strongly in rear before keeping on steadily for third; slightly below that level at Southwell last month but did not enjoy a favourable tactical scenario there and remains well handicapped.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

28th May 2026

Good

2m 5f 89y

Class 5

18:30 Market Rasen

El Muchacho

12st 0lb

J: William Maggs

T: Mike Sowersby

Won twice on good ground (2m5f/2m3f) for this new stable last season and has been placed on last three appearances, most recently when second over C&D (good) three weeks ago; 1lb lower today and seems very likely to be in the thick of things again.

7/4

2nd

3

8th May 2026

Good

2m 5f 89y

Class 5

15:15 Market Rasen

El Muchacho

11st 7lb

J: William Maggs

T: Mike Sowersby

Holding form well since January's Catterick success (2m3f, good), actually achieving more on RPRs when a close third at Newcastle latest; still well treated on his 2023-24 peak form, and no ground concerns.

9/2

3rd

1

31st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 19y

Class 5

16:30 Newcastle

El Muchacho

12st 0lb

J: William Maggs

T: Mike Sowersby

Won at Catterick in January (2m3f, good) and best form since when 0.5l second at Sedgefield last time (2m5f, good); conditions suit; chance.

11/2

Non-runners

El Borracho

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £9.70
Straight Forecast £8.88
Trifecta £39.30

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Centara

WEST COUNTRY:

Magic Seven

SPOTLIGHT:

El Muchacho

TOPSPEED:

Magistrato

The Star:

El Borracho

POSTDATA:

Centara

Telegraph:

Centara

The Guardian:

Centara

Daily Mirror:

Centara

The Sun:

Centara

Daily Record:

Centara

The Times:

Magic Seven

D Express:

El Muchacho

Daily Mail:

Magistrato