July 25 / 16.58 Uttoxeter

16.58

Good

Nagaraj Rao Memorial Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4700.09
  • 1m 7f 214y
  • Class 4
  • 5 runners
SKY
View Course
Nagaraj Rao Memorial Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

8/1 (Won)

  • Win: £5.00
  • Place: £2.10

Form: 266-54 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Five-time hurdle winner who is 0-4 over fences, once placed; hasn't found his true form for current yard (two hurdles and a chase); bit to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

30th May 2026

Good To Firm

2m 2f 148y

Class 3

18:50 Stratford

In The Air

11st 13lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Alastair Ralph

Won five over hurdles for previous yards and three over fences last term for current trainer; may have needed the run when seventh of eight finishers at Chepstow (2m, good to soft) last month after six-month layoff but probably needs to come down the weights.

6/1

7th

5

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 16y

Class 3

14:15 Chepstow

In The Air

11st 10lb

J: Tom Broughton

T: Alastair Ralph

Five-time hurdle winner who did well over fences in the second half of last year, with three wins and two seconds; returns after six months off but he's only 2lb higher than for his last success and he has won when fresh in the past; needs close look back over hurdles.

8/1

6

11th Oct 2025

Good

2m 0f 11y

Class 3

14:10 Chepstow

In The Air

10st 11lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Alastair Ralph

Record of 2-8 over fences, with both wins gained this summer in small-field handicaps on good ground; put in his place by an improver in a novice last time; dangerous if allowed to dominate (front runs).

7/4

OUR TIP

9/4

  • Place: £1.50

Form: 290-23

Last run: 60 days

W: 12st 1lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
Ex-Irish 10yo with a strike-rate of 2-32; back in good form with competitive shows at Warwick and Huntingdon (at about 2m on good ground); solid claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

3rd Oct 2025

Good

2m 3f 104y

Class 3

16:13 Fontwell

Ballywilliam Boy

11st 5lb

J: Freddie Mitchell

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Poor strike-rate and both wins were in Ireland; mostly consistent in small-field chases this season and the return of blinkers is a probable plus after trying a visor last time; has been running over shorter but stays this far; versatile ground-wise.

5/1

4th

3

6th Sep 2025

Good To Firm

2m 0f 213y

Class 3

17:22 Stratford

Ballywilliam Boy

11st 2lb

J: Freddie Mitchell

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Yet to add to his two Irish hurdle wins in 2021 but consistent in small-field chases this season, with best run arguably his second of five at Uttoxeter (2m, good) two starts ago; swaps usual blinkers for first-time visor; will probably be on the premises again.

7/1

3rd

2

30th Aug 2025

Good

2m 0f 75y

Class 3

15:20 Newton Abbot

Ballywilliam Boy

11st 0lb

J: Freddie Mitchell

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Won on soft ground in Ireland; 0-6 over fences but back in good form of late, albeit in tiny fields; not the easiest to win with but has claims.

7/2

Form: U1180/ D

Last run: 616 days

W: 10st 9lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 101

Form & Verdict
Absent since November 2023 when tailed off in a Cheltenham handicap hurdle; won two minor hurdles earlier that year and Olly Murphy could easily get him back on track; tailed off on sole chase start when trained in Ireland.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

11th Sep 2025

Good

1m 7f 214y

Class 5

17:05 Uttoxeter

En Avant

12st 0lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Won over hurdles on first two runs for this yard (2m/2m5f, soft/good to soft) and he returned from a long absence with a close third of five over fences here in July (good); down to a Class 5 here and should be on the premises if backing up that run.

5/2

3rd

5

25th Jul 2025

Good

1m 7f 214y

Class 4

16:58 Uttoxeter

En Avant

10st 9lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Olly Murphy

Absent since November 2023 when tailed off in a Cheltenham handicap hurdle; won two minor hurdles earlier that year and Olly Murphy could easily get him back on track; tailed off on sole chase start when trained in Ireland.

8/1

Form: 33133- D BF

Last run: 105 days

W: 10st 13lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
2-5 over hurdles and 3-13 as a chaser, so knows how to win; running well in handicap chases earlier this year and he's versatile trip-wise from 1m7f to nearly 3m; bought for £7,000 out of James Ewart's yard and has possibilities on his stable debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

19th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 11y

Class 4

16:50 Ludlow

Hold Onto The Line

12st 6lb

J: Mr James King

T: Mrs Jessica Botham

Three-time winner over fences for James Ewart (2m-2m4f) but he didn't get going for Olly Murphy and it's been a similar story in two points and a hunter chase (all about 3m) for these connections; the drop back in trip might help, though.

50/1

3rd

2

2nd Mar 2026

Heavy

3m 0f 60y

Class 5

15:15 Southwell

Hold Onto The Line

12st 6lb

J: Mr James King

T: Mrs Jessica Botham

Has folded in a couple of points for new yard and his record over 3m remains far from solid; yet to win beyond 2m4f and faces a stiff task at the weights; hunter chase debut.

16/1

7th

5

25th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 4

15:43 Perth

Hold Onto The Line

11st 10lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Did well over fences for James Ewart but a beaten favourite in both his runs for Olly Murphy (2m/2m2f handicap chases) and currently has a bit to prove; does stay this far so stamina will be no excuse.

11/2

Form: 43-114 D

Last run: 24 days

W: 12st 2lb

6 yo Colt

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Flat bred but won his first two chases (2m, good), albeit with luck on his side the second time when left clear; latest run when last at Stratford just wasn't his true running; still looks competitively treated.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

25th Jul 2025

Good

1m 7f 214y

Class 4

16:58 Uttoxeter

Schmilsson

12st 2lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Flat bred but won his first two chases (2m, good), albeit with luck on his side the second time when left clear; latest run when last at Stratford just wasn't his true running; still looks competitively treated.

2/1

3

1st Jul 2025

Good To Firm

2m 0f 213y

Class 3

18:18 Stratford

Schmilsson

10st 5lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Not bred for chasing but is 2-2 since switched to fences in May; might have been fortunate at Perth last month (2m, good; leader fell at final fence) and is 2lb wrong here but still features prominently in calculations.

7/4

1st

2

8th Jun 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

15:22 Perth

Schmilsson

11st 4lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Flat/hurdles scorer; not totally fluent but easily beat Nathan Wells over C&D (good) last month on chase debut and looks open to further progress in this sphere; could well defy a 7lb rise.

11/10

Non-runners

Alshadhian

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £16.20
Straight Forecast £17.97
Trifecta £95.80

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Ballywilliam Boy

POSTDATA:

Schmilsson

SPOTLIGHT:

Hold Onto The Line

Daily Mail:

Schmilsson

The Sun:

Schmilsson

The Star:

Schmilsson

TOPSPEED:

Hold Onto The Line

The Times:

Hold Onto The Line

Telegraph:

Ballywilliam Boy

The Guardian:

Ballywilliam Boy

D Express:

Ballywilliam Boy

Daily Mirror:

Ballywilliam Boy

Daily Record:

Ballywilliam Boy