16.06
GoodMichael Watson Civils & Groundworks Durham National Handicap Chase (GBB Race)
- Prize money: £14308.25
- 3m 5f 48y
- Class 2
- 6 runners
Runners: 6 runners
Type: Chase Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Light rain
11/2 (Won)
- Win: £7.00
- Place: £2.40
Form: -321F1 C
Last run: 16 days
W: 10st 2lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 108
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 1 |
30th May 2026 Good To Firm 3m 3f 119y Class 3 |
12st 0lb |
Successful over fences (twice) and hurdles last term; went off the boil on his last two runs early on this year and is 7lb higher than his last winning mark; looks to need to come down the weights. |
5/1 |
|
4th 1 |
19th Feb 2026 3m 3f 9y Class 4 |
12st 1lb |
Ex-Irish; has won four races since joining this yard, two of them over fences here (2m5f, 3m5f, good); has won on soft/heavy ground but best form on good/good to soft and below par on ground considered 'tacky' last time. |
7/1 |
|
6th 10 |
19th Jan 2026 Soft 3m 4f 178y Class 3 |
11st 1lb |
Four wins since joining this stable last spring, the latest in Durham National at Sedgefield (3m5f, good) in October; arguably posted career-best performance when clear second in Lincolnshire National at Market Rasen (3m3f, good to soft) on Boxing Day but went up another 4lb for that and the forecast slower ground here may not be ideal. |
14/1 |
13/8
- Place: £1.30
Form: 1-11F1
Last run: 26 days
W: 10st 11lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 121
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 5 |
15th May 2026 Good 3m 0f 210y Class 3 |
11st 10lb |
Front-runner who is 5-10 over fences but the handicapper is beginning to look in charge and he worryingly refused to race last week at Market Rasen; cheekpieces are soon turned to. |
9/2 |
|
4 |
8th May 2026 Good 2m 7f 191y Class 3 |
11st 8lb |
Free-going front-runner with 5-9 strike-rate over fences; unable to justify favouritism but still ran well before weakening into third at Newton Abbot (2m5f, good) last month, after a break, and could be hard to catch here if that run has brought him on. |
5/2 |
|
3rd 6 |
4th Apr 2026 Good 2m 4f 216y Class 3 |
11st 7lb |
Front-runner who is 5-8 over fences and he found more progress when runner-up in the Durham National (3m5f, good) in October; this is a different test on his return but he still looks on a workable mark and was successful over 2m4f last spring; has worn a hood in all of his chase runs but the headgear is missing today. |
9/2 |
3/1
Form: 11-112 BF
Last run: 90 days
W: 10st 11lb
9 yo Gelding
OR: 121
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 3 |
25th May 2026 Good 3m 5f 80y Class 3 |
11st 3lb |
10-28 over fences, including three 3m1f course wins; below form at Ffos Las this month, after a break, but is back on a good mark and this marathon trip will suit; must be considered. |
11/4 |
|
4th 2 |
5th May 2026 Good 2m 7f 177y Class 4 |
11st 12lb |
Won five in a row last year (good-soft), including the 3m6f Highland National at Perth; has been rather quiet in last two races, as he was beaten 21l when third over 3m5f and then was pulled up at Kelso (4m); capable but a bit risky today. |
12/1 |
6/1
Form: 56-227 CD
Last run: 112 days
W: 12st 0lb
10 yo Gelding
OR: 138
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 1 |
25th May 2026 Good 3m 5f 80y Class 3 |
12st 0lb |
No longer the force of old and inconsistent nowadays but he capitalised upon some significant help from the handicapper when winning Norfolk National at Fakenham (3m5f, good) three weeks ago and he is also very well suited by this track. |
15/8 |
|
1st 3 |
4th May 2026 Good 3m 5f 24y Class 3 |
11st 11lb |
Gained three of his 14 wins here, including 2022 edition of this race, but has regressed and become inconsistent; didn't run badly in last month's Sussex National at Plumpton (3m4f, good; first-time cheekpieces) but younger rivals have much more appealing profiles. |
14/1 |
|
6th 4 |
6th Apr 2026 Good 3m 4f 104y Class 2 |
11st 2lb |
He's won here three times and was second in this race in 2024 on his last Plumpton visit; on a reduced mark but this 11yo has struggled to get competitive on his last few starts and needs to turn things around in first-time cheekpieces. |
25/1 |
Form: 7-7231
Last run: 20 days
W: 10st 10lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 120
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 4 |
17th May 2026 Good To Firm 2m 6f 125y Class 4 |
11st 13lb |
Made all in small field at Newton Abbot (3m2f, good) in September but absent since running poorly in Sedgefield marathon three weeks later and needs to resume in peak form to have a chance off current mark; swaps usual cheekpieces for first-time visor. |
7/1 |
|
4 |
19th Oct 2025 Good 3m 5f 48y Class 2 |
10st 10lb |
First chase win was in October 2023 and the second wasn't until last month but he thoroughly dominated a four-runner race at Newton Abbot (3m2f, good) on that latest outing, returning to his best; unraced beyond that and needs to find a bit extra given he's back up 7lb, so connections enlist 7lb-claiming amateur who's already won a hurdle race for them this week. |
9/2 |
|
1st 5 |
29th Sep 2025 Good 3m 1f 170y Class 3 |
11st 2lb |
Returned from layoff with low-key hurdle run in May but has finished close up in two Worcester chases (both 2m7f, good) since; remains on a good mark and is also suited by this track; major player if stamina holds out over this new trip. |
15/8 |
33/1
Form: -5P834
Last run: 19 days
W: 10st 2lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 107
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 3 |
24th May 2026 Good 2m 5f 133y Class 4 |
11st 5lb |
Won at Newcastle in October and not disgraced when sixth here last time; could go well but others in better form. |
16/1 |
|
6th 3 |
6th May 2026 Good 2m 1f 14y Class 4 |
11st 8lb |
Won a five-runner handicap at Newcastle in October (2m4f, good) but had been pulled up on previous start and was pulled up on only start since (good to soft); this ground should suit better but he's not easy to work out. |
7/1 |
|
4 |
30th Oct 2025 Good To Firm 2m 4f 19y Class 4 |
11st 3lb |
Won three times over fences for Matt Sheppard; yet to score for present yard, but two fair runs when in the frame at Sedgefield in September (2m/2m3f, good); never travelling when pulled up on same track last time (3m5f); a possible. |
6/1 |
+o+e Accumulators
| Payout | |
|---|---|
| Exacta | £13.20 |
| Straight Forecast | £12.32 |
| Trifecta | £57.40 |
Selections
The Times:
Bumpy EvansDaily Mirror:
Bumpy EvansTelegraph:
Bagheera GingeD Express:
Bagheera Ginge