March 20 / 14.30 Newbury

14.30

Good To Soft

Focus Ltd Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (For The Brown Chamberlin Trophy) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £9241.75
  • 2m 6f 93y
  • Class 3
  • 5 runners
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Focus Ltd Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (For The Brown Chamberlin Trophy) (GBB Race)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

OUR TIP

7/2 (Won)

  • Win: £5.50
  • Place: £2.50

Form: P-1437 D

Last run: 52 days

W: 11st 8lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Only 1-10 over hurdles, the win coming over 2m5f at Newton Abbot in October (good to soft; 7lb lower); two further good runs afterwards before finishing tailed off the last time; a record of 7-8 in points bodes well for this switch to fences.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

20th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 6f 93y

Class 3

14:30 Newbury

El Capitaine

11st 8lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Kayley Woollacott

Only 1-10 over hurdles, the win coming over 2m5f at Newton Abbot in October (good to soft; 7lb lower); two further good runs afterwards before finishing tailed off the last time; a record of 7-8 in points bodes well for this switch to fences.

7/2

7th

5

27th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 3f 100y

Class 3

14:02 Chepstow

El Capitaine

11st 11lb

J: Mr Joshua Newman

T: Kayley Woollacott

Multiple point winner who scored at Newton Abbot (2m5f, good to soft) on rules return in October and was placed on both subsequent outings (2m5f/3m); this drop back in trip may not be ideal but he ought to go well again.

8/1

1st

6

18th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 122y

Class 4

16:15 Newton Abbot

El Capitaine

11st 8lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Kayley Woollacott

Not seen under rules since pulled up in 3m Wexford handicap hurdle in May 2024 but won seven consecutive points from December to May and it will be interesting to see how he fares here.

6/1

15/8

  • Place: £1.60

Form: D12-526 BF

Last run: 41 days

W: 11st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
Runner-up in the opening novice hurdle on this card 12 months ago; looked unlucky not to win over C&D at Christmas when failing only narrowly to get up (on good); quite likely that he was unsuited by the heavy ground when a beaten favourite on his return visit and a physical issue also came to light; with this drying ground in his favour, he's right in the mix with cheekpieces added.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

20th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 6f 93y

Class 3

14:30 Newbury

Captain Bellamy

11st 10lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Runner-up in the opening novice hurdle on this card 12 months ago; looked unlucky not to win over C&D at Christmas when failing only narrowly to get up (on good); quite likely that he was unsuited by the heavy ground when a beaten favourite on his return visit and a physical issue also came to light; with this drying ground in his favour, he's right in the mix with cheekpieces added.

15/8

6th

9

7th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 91y

Class 3

15:55 Newbury

Captain Bellamy

10st 8lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Point/bumper winner who didn't hang about over hurdles; disappointing chase debut here in November but looked unlucky not to win over 2m6f here (good; effective on soft) over Christmas when a late rally narrowly failed; the winner of that race is unexposed; big player off just 3lb higher.

9/2

Form: 1-F221 D

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 6lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
An improving chaser who did well to overcome a late mistake and get up at Southwell (2m4f, soft; fine on good to soft); he is 5lb higher for beating an exposed rival that day and this represents a harder assignment; still commands considerable respect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

24th Apr 2026

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 4

15:12 Perth

He Knows Better

11st 13lb

J: James Bowen

T: Warren Greatrex

Went up 5lb for beating an exposed rival at Southwell (2m4f, soft; fine on good to soft) but he still ran well in a Class 3 at Newbury (2m6f) that didn't go entirely like clockwork; he could yet raise his bar higher; much respected.

3/1

3rd

4

20th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 6f 93y

Class 3

14:30 Newbury

He Knows Better

11st 6lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Warren Greatrex

An improving chaser who did well to overcome a late mistake and get up at Southwell (2m4f, soft; fine on good to soft); he is 5lb higher for beating an exposed rival that day and this represents a harder assignment; still commands considerable respect.

11/4

1st

4

18th Feb 2026

2m 4f 88y

Class 4

14:55 Southwell

He Knows Better

11st 6lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Warren Greatrex

Fontwell maiden hurdle winner in May 2024 who's been competitive since handicapping over fences this term, bang there when coming down two out at Haydock (2m4f) in December before finishing runner-up in staying chases at Huntingdon and Warwick (all good to soft); drop back in trip probably no bother and he's a firm contender once more.

7/4

Form: -21642 BF

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
His maiden win over hurdles came at odds of 1-3 in a small field and he's since tasted defeat in three handicaps, going up 2lb for the latest second at Ludlow (2m5f, soft); difficult to call him well treated but now goes over fences and he has the look of a chaser.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

20th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 6f 93y

Class 3

14:30 Newbury

Fresh Kicks

11st 7lb

J: James Bowen

T: Nicky Henderson

His maiden win over hurdles came at odds of 1-3 in a small field and he's since tasted defeat in three handicaps, going up 2lb for the latest second at Ludlow (2m5f, soft); difficult to call him well treated but now goes over fences and he has the look of a chaser.

3/1

2nd

1

18th Feb 2026

2m 5f 55y

Class 4

17:05 Ludlow

Fresh Kicks

12st 0lb

J: James Bowen

T: Nicky Henderson

Easy winner at 1-3 in a maiden at Plumpton (2m4f, soft) in December; didn't see out the extended 2m7f on handicap debut next time and his fourth at Windsor (2m4f, soft; bumped before two out) on latest was better; still needs extra but he's heading the right way.

9/4

4th

6

18th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 3

12:50 Windsor

Fresh Kicks

11st 8lb

J: James Bowen

T: Nicky Henderson

Bumped into a good one on his hurdling debut and then easily justified short odds at Plumpton (2m4f, soft); beaten 18l on his handicap debut at Ascot but he travelled with purpose for much of that race and didn't see out the extended 2m7f; this trip might be the right fit at this stage of his career; respected.

8/1

Form: 123433 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
French chase winner at this trip on soft ground; he hasn't really got a lot going over fences in Britain, with two 14l defeats as good as it's got; he has at least dropped 13lb for his troubles and he'll probably come good sooner or later.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

20th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 6f 93y

Class 3

14:30 Newbury

Lylian

11st 0lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

French chase winner at this trip on soft ground; he hasn't really got a lot going over fences in Britain, with two 14l defeats as good as it's got; he has at least dropped 13lb for his troubles and he'll probably come good sooner or later.

14/1

3rd

3

27th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 31y

Class 4

14:20 Doncaster

Lylian

11st 6lb

J: Freddie Mitchell

T: Gary & Josh Moore

French chase winner (2m6f, soft) who hasn't threatened across his three British starts, and this expected return to better ground may be against him; however, there was some promise in his 14l third of five at Sandown (2m4f, soft) last time and that race is working out very well.

11/4

3rd

6

31st Jan 2026

Soft

2m 4f 15y

Class 3

13:25 Sandown

Lylian

10st 11lb

J: Freddie Mitchell

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Needs improvement on his good-ground efforts for new yard but may show the benefit of the return to forecast slower conditions, having gained his French success (chase) on soft.

12/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £18.10
Straight Forecast £17.26
Trifecta £66.20

Selections

RP RATINGS:

He Knows Better

SPOTLIGHT:

Captain Bellamy

Telegraph:

Fresh Kicks

POSTDATA:

Lylian

The Star:

El Capitaine

D Express:

Fresh Kicks

TOPSPEED:

Captain Bellamy

Daily Mirror:

Captain Bellamy

LAMBOURN:

He Knows Better

The Times:

He Knows Better

The Guardian:

He Knows Better

Daily Mail:

He Knows Better

The Sun:

He Knows Better

Daily Record:

He Knows Better