March 25 / 16.41 Hexham

16.41

Good To Soft

Weatherbys Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £6786.08
  • 2m 4f 15y
  • Class 4
  • 5 runners
SKY
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Weatherbys Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

2/1 (Won)

  • Win: £2.88
  • Place: £1.20

Form: F/2-53

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 13lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Following an absence this very lightly raced point winner has shown promise at Ayr this year on his first two chase starts (2m/2m4f, heavy/soft) and a win may well be imminent.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

14

18th Apr 2026

Soft

3m 0f 20y

Class 2

13:45 Ayr

Big John Wayne

10st 7lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

8yo who has returned from an absence this season and has improved with each of his three chase starts, winning at Hexham (2m4f, soft) last month; this is a tougher assignment but he did it readily last time and the step up in trip could be a positive move; he's one to consider.

13/2

1st

1

25th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 15y

Class 4

16:41 Hexham

Big John Wayne

11st 13lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Following an absence this very lightly raced point winner has shown promise at Ayr this year on his first two chase starts (2m/2m4f, heavy/soft) and a win may well be imminent.

2/1

3rd

2

23rd Feb 2026

Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 4

15:00 Ayr

Big John Wayne

11st 11lb

J: Derek Fox

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Far from disgraced when last of five on last month's chase debut here (2m, heavy), when 33-1 and very much up against it at the weights on his first outing since October 2024; this 3m point winner showed promise in novice hurdles at up to 2m7f; interesting now back up in trip on handicap debut.

11/4

9/1

  • Place: £3.60

Form: 6-7F48 D

Last run: 40 days

W: 11st 2lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
10yo who is winless since March 2024 and needs to improve upon what he's shown on his two outings this year (3m1f/2m7f, good to soft/soft); however, he was running well off 4lb higher when falling at the final fence at Wetherby (3m, soft) in November and might benefit from this shorter trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

14th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 20y

Class 5

16:55 Perth

Carrigeen Castle

12st 0lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Micky Hammond

10yo who was in and out last season but returned to form when second at Hexham (2m4f, soft) in March last time; could have a part to play if conditions are suitable (he's unraced on good ground under rules).

11/4

Form: 5/51-2 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Won at Ffos Las (2m4f, heavy) last February on second handicap hurdle start and it was his first run since when an encouraging second of four on chase debut at Bangor last month (2m4f, soft; albeit no match for the winner); open to improvement over fences and could play a leading role.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

23rd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 4

17:15 Perth

Casual Observer

12st 0lb

J: Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: Harry Derham

Winning hurdler (2m4f, heavy) who has shown promise in defeat over 2m4f on his two chase starts (soft); now steps up to 3m for first time under rules (was second in a 3m point).

11/4

3rd

5

25th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 15y

Class 4

16:41 Hexham

Casual Observer

11st 9lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

Won at Ffos Las (2m4f, heavy) last February on second handicap hurdle start and it was his first run since when an encouraging second of four on chase debut at Bangor last month (2m4f, soft; albeit no match for the winner); open to improvement over fences and could play a leading role.

13/8

2nd

5

25th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 4f 72y

Class 4

17:00 Bangor-on-Dee

Casual Observer

11st 2lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

Lightly raced and career-best form in winning a 2m4f handicap hurdle at Ffos Las (heavy) when last seen 12 months ago; looks on a realistic mark for chase debut and he was second in an Irish point; fitness might not be an issue given the yard he represents.

5/2

OUR TIP

Form: -733P4 D

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 11lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
He's down to a dangerous mark and showed some spark at Haydock in December three starts ago; however, two disappointing performances have followed from this 10yo and he needs to get back on track.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

14th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 4

14:33 Perth

Ned Tanner

11st 5lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: N W Alexander

Dual winner over 2m4f on soft ground in 2024-25 season but has been rather inconsistent and didn't offer enough when fifth of seven over C&D (good) three weeks ago to suggest he's likely to cash in on his reduced mark now.

9/1

5th

7

23rd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 3

15:40 Perth

Ned Tanner

10st 2lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: N W Alexander

Dual winner over 2m4f on soft ground last season; has been rather inconsistent since wind surgery this term; has won over this trip, but perhaps better at shorter and has no easy task from 3lb out of the handicap.

12/1

3

25th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 15y

Class 4

16:41 Hexham

Ned Tanner

11st 11lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: N W Alexander

He's down to a dangerous mark and showed some spark at Haydock in December three starts ago; however, two disappointing performances have followed from this 10yo and he needs to get back on track.

6/1

Form: 5-1P57 C

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 10lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Hard to fancy on what he's shown on his last three starts but the step back up in trip may help and he's 1lb lower than when winning over 2m5f at Kelso in September; not written off.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

24th May 2026

Good

2m 5f 133y

Class 4

16:12 Kelso

Chapel Green

11st 4lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Won over C&D off a 6lb higher mark in September (good); has not fared quite as well since, although more encouraging run when 13l third of seven over 2m1f here last time (good); step back up in trip will suit.

7/1

3rd

2

6th May 2026

Good

2m 1f 14y

Class 4

16:32 Kelso

Chapel Green

11st 8lb

J: Alan Doyle

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Won over 2m5f here following a 163-day break last September (good) but rather disappointing since; on a good mark now, but a bit to prove.

14/1

Non-runners

Glory And Honour

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £11.30
Straight Forecast £11.45
Trifecta £26.70

Selections

POSTDATA:

Big John Wayne

SPOTLIGHT:

Casual Observer

TOPSPEED:

Chapel Green

Daily Mail:

Ned Tanner

RP RATINGS:

Carrigeen Castle

Telegraph:

Casual Observer

D Express:

Casual Observer

Daily Record:

Casual Observer

The Times:

Big John Wayne

The Guardian:

Big John Wayne

The Sun:

Big John Wayne

The Star:

Big John Wayne

Daily Mirror:

Chapel Green