October 02 / 15.05 Southwell

15.05

Good

Arc £1Million Bonus Bigger Than Ever Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £3247.81
  • 2m 4f 88y
  • Class 5
  • 10 runners
SKY
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Arc £1Million Bonus Bigger Than Ever Handicap Chase

Runners: 10 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

Form: 4PP-41 D

Last run: 8 days

W: 12st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
All-the-way Kempton 3m winner in early 2024 and, with stamina to spare at intermediate trips and the benefit of wind surgery, was played equally aggressively in victory at Perth last week (good); 2lb badly in under the penalty but still superbly handicapped on that previous winning form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

18th Feb 2026

2m 4f 88y

Class 5

16:25 Southwell

Heaven Smart

11st 13lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: L J Morgan

In good form over fences in the autumn, bar a blip at Perth in October; 0-11 over hurdles but twice finished second in this sphere and often runs well after a break; entitled to respect.

9/2

1

21st Oct 2025

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 5

15:35 Perth

Heaven Smart

12st 0lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: L J Morgan

Showed the benefit of a wind op when dominating from the front here (2m4f, good) last month, his second start for Laura Morgan, and ran big race in defeat under penalty at Southwell (2m4f, good) a few days later; effectively another 5lb higher today but sure to be suited by the move back up in trip; good chance.

7/4

1

2nd Oct 2025

Good

2m 4f 88y

Class 5

15:05 Southwell

Heaven Smart

12st 2lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: L J Morgan

All-the-way Kempton 3m winner in early 2024 and, with stamina to spare at intermediate trips and the benefit of wind surgery, was played equally aggressively in victory at Perth last week (good); 2lb badly in under the penalty but still superbly handicapped on that previous winning form.

9/4

Form: 4PP-72

Last run: 25 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
Last month's near-5l Fontwell second (2m3f, good) took his career analysis to 0-18, but that was in a 0-110 and the third has won since; outran this unchanged mark there and a similar effort can take him close.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

9

22nd May 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

17:32 Worcester

Atreides

10st 10lb

J: Bradley Harris

T: Neil Mulholland

Off the mark at the 22nd attempt in a Plumpton chase (2m4f, good to soft; first-time tongue-tie and visor) last December; avoided a penalty and successfully followed up at Fontwell (2m3f, heavy); matched that effort at Wincanton (2m4f, heavy) latest; acts on good; each-way player.

4/1

2nd

4

29th Jan 2026

Heavy

2m 4f 35y

Class 4

14:03 Wincanton

Atreides

11st 10lb

J: Bradley Harris

T: Neil Mulholland

Excelled since swapping usual cheekpieces for a visor, winning at Plumpton (2m4f, good to soft) and Fontwell (2m3f, heavy; 8lb lower); departed early here on Boxing Day when 100-30 to bring up his hat-trick; has to be feared.

9/4

2nd

5

26th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 135y

Class 5

15:47 Fontwell

Atreides

11st 7lb

T: Neil Mulholland

0-19 but respectable efforts the last twice, beaten about 5l here over 2m3f and a bit further at Southwell (2m4f); still early days over fences and there's a race in him off this mark.

9/2

OUR TIP

Form: 6F/PPP D

Last run: 70 days

W: 11st 11lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Still going okay until a bad error at Worcester latest, but hard to be confident on the preceding chase and point efforts this year that he'd have gone very close; 0-14 going left-handed versus 4-11 clockwise.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

18th Oct 2025

Good

2m 6f 125y

Class 5

16:25 Stratford

Jobesgreen Lad

11st 4lb

J: Mr Harvey Barfoot-Saunt

T: Tracey Barfoot-Saunt

Four-time chase winner but his last success was in December 2022 and he has form figures of PPP8 for current yard; continues to tumble down the weights but he has a lot to prove and can only be watched.

33/1

3

2nd Oct 2025

Good

2m 4f 88y

Class 5

15:05 Southwell

Jobesgreen Lad

11st 11lb

J: Mr Harvey Barfoot-Saunt

T: Tracey Barfoot-Saunt

Still going okay until a bad error at Worcester latest, but hard to be confident on the preceding chase and point efforts this year that he'd have gone very close; 0-14 going left-handed versus 4-11 clockwise.

66/1

8

24th Jul 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

13:10 Worcester

Jobesgreen Lad

11st 4lb

J: Mr Harvey Barfoot-Saunt

T: Tracey Barfoot-Saunt

Very well handicapped on old form but did not show a great deal in three small-field points for new stable this spring and was pulled up on both rules starts at Cartmel last month (chase/hurdle); headgear swapped here.

50/1

Form: 53-552

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Winner at up to 2m3f over hurdles and still largely untried over further; 2lb re-raise owed to last month's Uttoxeter chase neck second (2m, good), a career-best run on RPRs; definitely in the mix.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

28th May 2026

Good

2m 1f 43y

Class 5

20:07 Market Rasen

Cawthorne Cracker

10st 10lb

J: Toby Wynne

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Not at his best at Stratford 11 days ago and now 0-6 over fences but he had returned from a break with a pretty good third over C&D (good) last month and his current mark is workable.

9/2

5th

7

17th May 2026

Good To Firm

2m 0f 213y

Class 4

15:05 Stratford

Cawthorne Cracker

10st 3lb

J: Toby Wynne

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Course winner over hurdles; returned from a break with respectable third in Market Rasen chase (2m1f, good) last month but is 0-5 over fences now and others in this line-up probably have more potential.

9/2

3rd

5

5th Apr 2026

Good

2m 1f 43y

Class 5

15:58 Market Rasen

Cawthorne Cracker

10st 12lb

J: Robert Dunne

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Three hurdle wins; went close to a breakthrough chase success at Uttoxeter (2m, good) last September but absent since respectable hurdle run the following month and may be reliant upon genuine good ground.

11/2

Form: 572369

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Flat-bred, but one half-brother has won three chases; trail has gone cold since the summer's pair of Worcester 2m4f handicap hurdle frame finishes (good), and moderate results last time cheekpieces were tried.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

2nd Oct 2025

Good

2m 4f 88y

Class 5

15:05 Southwell

Boskill Borden

11st 5lb

J: Shane Fenelon

T: David Rees

Flat-bred, but one half-brother has won three chases; trail has gone cold since the summer's pair of Worcester 2m4f handicap hurdle frame finishes (good), and moderate results last time cheekpieces were tried.

16/1

7

6th Sep 2025

Good To Firm

2m 0f 70y

Class 5

18:55 Stratford

Boskill Borden

11st 2lb

J: Shane Fenelon

T: David Rees

Seemingly boosted by change of headgear when making the frame in consecutive 2m4f handicaps at Worcester this summer but his run there last time was disappointing and it's now over two years since his only win; drops back in trip today; others have more pressing claims.

14/1

3

17th Jul 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

20:25 Worcester

Boskill Borden

11st 1lb

J: Shane Fenelon

T: David Rees

Sole win came in Ireland nearly two years ago; delivered two good front-running shifts since the visor went on, both here at this trip; unlikely to be far away.

4/1

Form: 00342-

Last run: 253 days

W: 11st 5lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Vulnerability fresh has been evident since the day he was turned over at 4-5 on his pointing/racecourse debut, so best watched on this first sighting since January; needs to jump fences better than previously also.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

2nd Jun 2026

Good

2m 4f 88y

Class 5

15:00 Southwell

Mr Mahler

10st 5lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

0-16 under rules but has runner-up twice over fences; may be sharper following a reappearance over hurdles at Bangor last month and is now on a career-low mark; not out of this.

9/2

5th

11

16th May 2026

Good

2m 3f 123y

Class 5

14:45 Bangor-on-Dee

Mr Mahler

10st 8lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

Decline in fortunes over fences last season wasn't arrested by a switch to front-running; brave to name this the day given he's 0-15 now, but new career-low mark is notably 8lb lower than when last trying hurdles.

9/1

Form: 433139

Last run: 40 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Progression over fences this summer culminated in a head victory at Uttoxeter in July (2m, good); winner over further than today's trip, so weakly efforts at around 2m1f on last two runs don't inspire confidence.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12

24th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 104y

Class 5

19:20 Fontwell

Greenways

10st 4lb

J: Paddy Hanlon

T: Ryan Potter

Successful over 2m at Uttoxeter (good) but out of form since, with recent 14.5l third at Market Rasen (2m1f, good) no big step back in the right direction.

16/1

3rd

5

14th Apr 2026

Good

2m 1f 43y

Class 5

15:55 Market Rasen

Greenways

10st 3lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Ryan Potter

Badly out of form since the autumn but has a first-time tongue-tie fitted here and is now now 10lb lower than when winning at Uttoxeter (2m, good) last summer; well worth a glance in the betting.

20/1

6th

6

18th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 194y

Class 5

14:00 Hereford

Greenways

10st 2lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Ryan Potter

Drying conditions will be in his favour but this 7yo has been struggling for a while now on all sorts of surfaces; potentially on a good mark even from out of the handicap but he's a risky proposition at the minute.

25/1

Form: 732423

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 1lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Hard to win with but equally hard to keep out of the frame, posting another serviceable effort at Sedgefield latest (2m5f, good); 1lb drop isn't sufficiently persuasive for win purposes but he'll run his race.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

30th Oct 2025

Good To Firm

2m 7f 91y

Class 5

13:38 Newcastle

Couldbeaweapon

11st 12lb

J: Tom Midgley

T: Sam England

Has won his last two handicap chases, at Southwell (2m4f, good) and last time a conditional riders' event at Sedgefield by 17l (2m5f, good; clear leader fell four out); went up 10lb for that even though he wasn't sure to have won; can run off his old mark here; contender.

5/6

3

30th Oct 2025

Good To Firm

2m 7f 91y

Class 5

13:38 Newcastle

Couldbeaweapon

11st 12lb

J: Tom Midgley

T: Sam England

Has won his last two handicap chases, at Southwell (2m4f, good) and last time a conditional riders' event at Sedgefield by 17l (2m5f, good; clear leader fell four out); went up 10lb for that even though he wasn't sure to have won; can run off his old mark here; contender.

5/6

1st

2

19th Oct 2025

Good

2m 5f 28y

Class 5

14:30 Sedgefield

Couldbeaweapon

11st 4lb

J: Tom Midgley

T: Sam England

Pretty consistent and the front two were clear when off the mark over fences (1-14) at Southwell (2m4f, good) 17 days ago; has gone up 8lb but Tom Midgley takes away 3lb out of that with his claim.

13/8

Form: 70-P9P

Last run: 17 days

W: 10st 11lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
Latest effort readily ignored (saddle slipped) but showed nothing on two previous starts for current connections; theoretical encouragement for this switch to fences as a nephew of Texas Jack and Drumconvis.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

23rd Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 1f 165y

Class 5

14:45 Fontwell

Across The Ocean

10st 2lb

J: Mr Joseph Stevenson

T: Tracey Leeson

0-16 over hurdles; struggled on this month's chasing debut and refused to race at Market Rasen a few days later (race won by Grain Trade); hooded for first time here; 10lb wrong; cannot be recommended.

250/1

7

14th Oct 2025

Good

2m 3f 34y

Class 5

16:21 Market Rasen

Across The Ocean

10st 2lb

J: Mr Joseph Stevenson

T: Tracey Leeson

17-race maiden who has lost his way badly and has to compete from 5lb out of the weights.

100/1

9

2nd Oct 2025

Good

2m 4f 88y

Class 5

15:05 Southwell

Across The Ocean

10st 11lb

J: Mr Joseph Stevenson

T: Tracey Leeson

Latest effort readily ignored (saddle slipped) but showed nothing on two previous starts for current connections; theoretical encouragement for this switch to fences as a nephew of Texas Jack and Drumconvis.

100/1

Form: -76568

Last run: 6 days

W: 10st 2lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 62

Form & Verdict
0-17 over fences and winless in well over four years; well beaten again from out of the weights last week and a similar fate likely awaits.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

16th Oct 2025

Good

2m 7f 177y

Class 5

14:05 Ffos Las

Mawlood

10st 2lb

J: Tabitha Worsley

T: Georgie Howell

Struggled when a big-priced outsider at Southwell (2m4f, good) a fortnight ago and is now 0-18 over fences; 12lb wrong here; can't be recommended.

100/1

10

2nd Oct 2025

Good

2m 4f 88y

Class 5

15:05 Southwell

Mawlood

10st 2lb

J: James Davies

T: Georgie Howell

0-17 over fences and winless in well over four years; well beaten again from out of the weights last week and a similar fate likely awaits.

200/1

11

26th Sep 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

14:07 Worcester

Mawlood

10st 2lb

J: Tabitha Worsley

T: Georgie Howell

Won twice over hurdles in spring 2021 but has been in the doldrums for a long time; 8lb out of the weights today and very difficult to enthuse over.

50/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £14.50
Straight Forecast £11.99
Tricast £42.07
Trifecta £50.70

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Heaven Smart

Daily Mail:

Cawthorne Cracker

POSTDATA:

Couldbeaweapon

D Express:

Mr Mahler

Daily Record:

Cawthorne Cracker

Telegraph:

Couldbeaweapon

RP RATINGS:

Heaven Smart

The Times:

Heaven Smart

The Guardian:

Heaven Smart

Daily Mirror:

Heaven Smart

The Sun:

Heaven Smart

The Star:

Heaven Smart