October 22 / 15.15 Cheltenham

15.15

Good To Firm

888Sport Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £31218
  • 1m 7f 199y
  • Class 2
  • 7 runners
ITV4
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888Sport Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

4/1 (Won)

  • Win: £4.50
  • Place: £2.00

Form: 005115 D BF

Last run: 29 days

W: 10st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 135

Form & Verdict
2-3 over fences, the latter win gained in Killarney handicap (2m1f, good to yielding) this summer; gave good account when fifth in valuable handicap hurdle at Listowel (2m, good) last month and remains unexposed as a chaser; no surprise if he features.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

15th Aug 2024

Good

2m 0f 0y

18:50 Tramore

Dads Lad

11st 7lb

J: Brian Hayes

T: W P Mullins

Dual-purpose but been struggling for form in both codes; well-beaten on the Flat at Galway last month; same story on last run over hurdles at Bellewstown; last win came in a Cheltenham handicap chase in 2022 off 135; thrown in off 117 on that form but impossible to fancy on recent exploits.

16/1

16th

17

(13)

29th Jul 2024

Soft

2m 0f 179y

19:10 Galway

Dads Lad

11st 0lb

J: Miss R Dudfield

T: W P Mullins

Five wins over jumps, much more effective over fences (rated 137) than hurdles (117); has run only three times on the Flat; this rider aboard when a 28-1 winner of a 1m4f maiden at the 2022 festival; soundly beaten behind Enniskerry at Listowel; in rear over hurdles on latest.

33/1

14th

15

6th Jul 2024

Good

2m 1f 40y

17:58 Bellewstown

Dads Lad

10st 10lb

J: Brian Hayes

T: W P Mullins

held up in midfield, soon weakened

16/1

7/1

  • Place: £2.90

Form: 431721 D

Last run: 13 days

W: 10st 8lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 133

Form & Verdict
Has very high mileage but in career-best form over hurdles this month, more recently when making all off today's mark in Welsh Champion Hurdle at Ffos Las (2m, good); whether she can transfer that form back to fences is the burning question, though (0-7 in chases).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

5

4th Apr 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 3f 100y

18:30 Wexford

Effernock Fizz

11st 0lb

J: Tiernan Power Roche

T: Cian Collins

Admirable mare will be having her 108th start under rules; 1-21 over fences but has run well at this venue on multiple occasions; lost form since shock win in a 2m listed handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse in March 2024; hard to fancy on recent showings but can't fully dismiss.

10/1

6th

5

4th Apr 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 3f 100y

18:30 Wexford

Effernock Fizz

11st 0lb

J: Tiernan Power Roche

T: Cian Collins

Admirable mare will be having her 108th start under rules; 1-21 over fences but has run well at this venue on multiple occasions; lost form since shock win in a 2m listed handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse in March 2024; hard to fancy on recent showings but can't fully dismiss.

10/1

5

15th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 0f 0y

13:55 Gowran Park

Effernock Fizz

10st 8lb

J: E Walsh

T: Cian Collins

Admirable front-runner but recent form far from encouraging, 3m beyond her last time; return to 2m to suit but hard to see her lasting it out.

25/1

Form: U114P- CD

Last run: 197 days

W: 12st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 153

Form & Verdict
Dual course winner in late 2021 (good/good to soft) and very creditable fourth in Grand Annual here (2m, heavy) in March; remains on a tough mark but his Grade 1 defeat in April should not be viewed harshly and he's a likely contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

1st Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 78y

Class 2

14:40 Doncaster

Editeur Du Gite

10st 13lb

J: Niall Houlihan

T: Gary & Josh Moore

led, headed then prominent 5th, pressed leader before 4 out, weakened after 4 out

14/1

OUR TIP

Form: 56123- D

Last run: 198 days

W: 11st 1lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 140

Form & Verdict
Took very well to chasing towards end of last season, winning at Exeter (2m3f, soft) before creditable third in Aintree festival Grade 1 (2m4f, good to soft); this free-goer may benefit from today's drop back in trip and remains lightly raced for his age; should have more to offer over fences.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

17

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 203y

Class 2

15:20 Haydock

The Widdow Maker

10st 5lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Joe Tizzard

Won in a small field at Exeter (2m3f, good) last March before 17l sixth in this race (good); he's run well in defeat on both starts this season but needs something extra if he's to come out on top today.

14/1

3rd

7

30th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 98y

Class 3

14:47 Stratford

The Widdow Maker

10st 11lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Joe Tizzard

Returned to form with small-field win at Exeter (2m3f, good) in March, his third run after a long absence; only 1lb higher here but he wasn't at his best in veterans' series final at Haydock in April and may not be one to rely upon heavily nowadays.

10/1

7

30th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 98y

Class 3

14:47 Stratford

The Widdow Maker

10st 11lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Joe Tizzard

Returned to form with small-field win at Exeter (2m3f, good) in March, his third run after a long absence; only 1lb higher here but he wasn't at his best in veterans' series final at Haydock in April and may not be one to rely upon heavily nowadays.

10/1

Form: 128111 D

Last run: 10 days

W: 10st 11lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 136

Form & Verdict
Has already enjoyed a productive season and comes here after winning two three-runner chases this autumn (2m/1m7f, good); evidently in very good nick but faces a much tougher task here and won't be favoured by any rain.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

4th Nov 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

14:32 Warwick

El Borracho

12st 0lb

J: Ben Smith

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Versaatile 10yo with 15 wins on his CV; not firing on all cylinders this season, the last twice over fences, but has dropped to a dangerous hurdle mark and will appreciate this ease in grade.

11/2

1

4th Nov 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

14:32 Warwick

El Borracho

12st 0lb

J: Ben Smith

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Versaatile 10yo with 15 wins on his CV; not firing on all cylinders this season, the last twice over fences, but has dropped to a dangerous hurdle mark and will appreciate this ease in grade.

11/2

1

4th Nov 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

14:32 Warwick

El Borracho

12st 0lb

J: Ben Smith

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Versaatile 10yo with 15 wins on his CV; not firing on all cylinders this season, the last twice over fences, but has dropped to a dangerous hurdle mark and will appreciate this ease in grade.

11/2

Form: 1-1111 D

Last run: 40 days

W: 11st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 142

Form & Verdict
Very progressive 6yo who has won five handicap chases and two novice hurdles this year; went up another 7lb for last month's Worcester success (2m, good to soft) and contests a stronger race here but it's hard to tell when his improvement will level off.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

23rd Oct 2024

Good

1m 7f 182y

Class 4

17:00 Southwell

Clear The Runway

11st 5lb

J: Benjamin Macey

T: L J Morgan

took keen hold, prominent, led but not fluent 5th, headed and weakened quickly home turn, lost touch 2 out

14/1

11th

6

23rd Sep 2024

Good

2m 3f 188y

Class 4

16:15 Sedgefield

Clear The Runway

11st 8lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: L J Morgan

Prolific in 2022 over hurdles and fences but quiet this year over the smaller obstacles; reservations for now.

6/1

7th

9

19th Jun 2024

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

15:55 Worcester

Clear The Runway

11st 3lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: L J Morgan

in touch with leaders, jumped badly left 1st

16/1

Form: PU5P6- D

Last run: 188 days

W: 11st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 139

Form & Verdict
Lost his way over fences last season and was sold out of the Charles Byrnes stable for £20,000 soon after disappointing Flat run in July; needs to get back on track but won Grade B handicap at Cork (2m1f, good) just over a year ago and it will be interesting to see what Gordon Elliott can do with him.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

4

16th Apr 2023

Good To Soft

2m 5f 82y

Class 3

14:25 Wincanton

Poseidon

11st 12lb

J: Fergus Gillard

T: David Pipe

Well beaten on first two starts for David Pipe and was just a respectable sixth at Newbury (2m4f, good) last month; continues to slip down the weights but has more to prove than several of these.

20/1

6th

4

4th Mar 2023

Good

2m 4f 118y

Class 3

14:10 Newbury

Poseidon

11st 10lb

J: Fergus Gillard

T: David Pipe

Won Taunton seller on final start for Gordon Elliott but out of his depth in 2m handicaps for new yard and has some stamina queries on form at about this trip nearly two years ago; reservations for now; tongue-tie added.

40/1

6th

2

21st Feb 2023

Good

2m 0f 104y

Class 2

15:30 Taunton

Poseidon

11st 12lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

Easily won a C&D seller (good) in December on final run for Gordon Elliott and it was a competitive handicap at Sandown (2m, soft) in which he was tailed off on last month's stable debut; back on better ground but it's hard to be overly confident after last time.

11/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £24.20
Straight Forecast £23.67
Trifecta £168.90

Selections

RP Ratings:

Clear The Runway

TOPSPEED:

Editeur Du Gite

SPOTLIGHT:

The Widdow Maker

D Express:

Dads Lad

POSTDATA:

El Borracho

The Times:

Clear The Runway

Telegraph:

Clear The Runway

The Sun:

Clear The Runway

Daily Record:

Clear The Runway

WEST COUNTRY:

The Widdow Maker

Daily Mirror:

Dads Lad

The Guardian:

Editeur Du Gite

Daily Mail:

Editeur Du Gite

The Star:

Editeur Du Gite