November 03 / 16.35 Sedgefield

16.35

Good To Soft

Balanced Support Reins Bob Bowden Memorial Novices’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £6970.88
  • 2m 3f 65y
  • Class 4
  • 7 runners
SKY
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Balanced Support Reins Bob Bowden Memorial Novices’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

Form: 3/211-

Last run: 213 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Irish point winner who was kept to relatively shallow waters over hurdles last season, landing the odds in novices at Carlisle (2m1f) and Kelso (2m2f), both on good to soft ground; subsequently had wind surgery; today's chasing debut is his sternest assignment to date but he has plenty of untapped potential and commands a good deal of respect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

6

6th Jun 2024

Good

2m 3f 207y

Class 4

15:43 Uttoxeter

Masked Crusader

11st 12lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

Winning Irish pointer; successful in two novice hurdles in 2022 (2m1f/2m2f, good to soft); had wind surgery after that and rather patchy form over fences and hurdles since, best recent run when second in handicap hurdle at Carlisle in March (2m3f, soft).

12/1

7th

2

30th Mar 2024

Soft

2m 3f 61y

Class 4

17:25 Carlisle

Masked Crusader

12st 0lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

Form figures of 212 here, latterly only narrowly failing to make all over C&D (soft); 3lb higher and without the claim of Charlie Maggs, but still a strong contender.

5/1

2nd

2

7th Mar 2024

Soft

2m 3f 61y

Class 4

14:05 Carlisle

Masked Crusader

11st 11lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Donald McCain

led narrowly

8/1

Form: -1P523 D

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 11lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Bumper and four-time hurdle winner; got tired over Hexham's testing 3m when a well-held third of five on second chase start four weeks ago; this drop back in distance may suit but he faces several unexposed opponents.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

23rd Aug 2025

Good

2m 5f 34y

Class 5

17:35 Cartmel

Jelski

11st 6lb

J: Charlotte Jones

T: James Moffatt

No longer the force of old and very inconsistent nowadays but battled well for narrow C&D (soft) win over Judicial Review last month, his fifth course success; also suited by good ground and recent 4lb rise is manageable if he's in the right mood again.

7/2

7

21st Jul 2025

Good

2m 5f 34y

Class 5

16:50 Cartmel

Jelski

11st 5lb

J: Charlotte Jones

T: James Moffatt

Four course wins, the latest over C&D in summer 2023; very much on the downgrade now, though, and never really looked dangerous when plugging on for modest third here (3m1f, good) on Saturday.

7/1

OUR TIP

Abandoned

Form: 3644-6

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Sole win came in 2m maiden hurdle for Henry de Bromhead in September 2020; possibly needed the run after ten-month absence when last of six at Wetherby three weeks ago; needs to build significantly on that but he's well handicapped on some of his best Irish chase form; risky but not discounted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

5th Mar 2025

Good

1m 7f 156y

Class 4

14:25 Catterick

Fusain

11st 7lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Patrick Neville

prominent on inner, weakened gradually after 2 out

13/2

7

11th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 0f 110y

Class 4

15:10 Ayr

Fusain

11st 4lb

J: Henry Brooke

T: Patrick Neville

in touch with leaders, niggled along briefly after 4th, lost ground after 5th, dropped to last after 7th, detached and pulled up after 8th

12/1

7

11th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 0f 110y

Class 4

15:10 Ayr

Fusain

11st 4lb

J: Henry Brooke

T: Patrick Neville

in touch with leaders, niggled along briefly after 4th, lost ground after 5th, dropped to last after 7th, detached and pulled up after 8th

12/1

Form: 431-41 CD

Last run: 29 days

W: 11st 7lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Better than ever since joining Iain Jardine, winning handicap hurdle at Perth in April and handicap chase over C&D in October (both good to soft); hammered his rivals last time by 10l and a 6lb rise looks manageable; high on the list.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

30th Oct 2025

Good To Firm

2m 4f 19y

Class 4

15:38 Newcastle

Half Shot

11st 8lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Iain Jardine

Has won four chases, latest at Kelso in April (2m7f, good); mixed form since, including fair third back at Kelso last time (3m2f, good); a possible, though perhaps better at further these days.

11/4

2

30th Oct 2025

Good To Firm

2m 4f 19y

Class 4

15:38 Newcastle

Half Shot

11st 8lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Iain Jardine

Has won four chases, latest at Kelso in April (2m7f, good); mixed form since, including fair third back at Kelso last time (3m2f, good); a possible, though perhaps better at further these days.

11/4

4th

1

17th Sep 2025

Good

2m 5f 133y

Class 4

17:00 Kelso

Half Shot

12st 1lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Iain Jardine

Captured this prize a year ago and in good form until ridden aggressively when tenth in 2m5f Cartmel handicap chase 23 days ago; it would come as no surprise to see him play a major role here.

9/1

Form: 12731- D

Last run: 206 days

W: 11st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Second in a point before joining Sue Smith; had a perfectly satisfactory first season in Britain, winning 2m novice and 2m4f handicap hurdles; bred to come into his own over fences and it's unlikely he's reached his ceiling; fascinating chasing debutant.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

1st Nov 2025

Good

3m 0f 45y

Class 4

16:05 Wetherby

East Street

11st 10lb

J: Alex Chadwick

T: James Owen

Moved to this yard last season and won three in a row towards the end of last year (2m4f/3m, good to soft/soft); disappointing subsequently but perhaps a break will have helped and he's down to a handy mark; interesting to see how he goes in the betting.

20/1

4

1st Nov 2025

Good

3m 0f 45y

Class 4

16:05 Wetherby

East Street

11st 10lb

J: Alex Chadwick

T: James Owen

Moved to this yard last season and won three in a row towards the end of last year (2m4f/3m, good to soft/soft); disappointing subsequently but perhaps a break will have helped and he's down to a handy mark; interesting to see how he goes in the betting.

20/1

1

23rd Mar 2025

Good

3m 0f 110y

Class 2

15:20 Carlisle

East Street

12st 0lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: James Owen

always behind

14/1

Form: BP-U73 D

Last run: 29 days

W: 11st 4lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
0-10 over fences in Ireland, and he bled from the nose when safely held in third here on his British debut last month; probably best watched for the time being.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

25th May 2026

Good

2m 5f 34y

Class 3

17:11 Cartmel

Arthurs Quay

10st 11lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Ben Haslam

Getting long in the tooth now and was well beaten on latest outing in March but has a C&D win on his CV and is well handicapped on form as recent as the autumn; cannot be ruled out.

13/2

6th

3

17th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 85y

Class 4

14:37 Wetherby

Arthurs Quay

11st 10lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Ben Haslam

12yo whose form has been up and down since he won at Newcastle (2m4f, good to soft) last February but he's dropped down the weights and performed respectably at Ayr (2m, heavy) in December when last seen; he could benefit from today's step back up in trip and he's in with a chance.

15/2

1

30th Oct 2025

Good To Firm

2m 4f 19y

Class 4

15:38 Newcastle

Arthurs Quay

12st 0lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Ben Haslam

Veteran; winner over C&D in February off this mark (good to soft) but hasn't been in quite the same form since; withdrawn on account of fast ground last time; further rain will suit.

5/1

Form: 5312-3

Last run: 10 days

W: 10st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Proved reliable over hurdles and he shaped well on chasing debut when 13l third of nine at Ayr (2m4f, good to soft; jumped soundly after an early blunder) ten days ago, giving the impression he needed the run; if he builds on that he should be firmly in the picture.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

6th May 2023

Good To Soft

2m 4f 15y

Class 5

20:10 Hexham

Fever Roque

11st 12lb

J: Nathan Moscrop

T: Rebecca Menzies

Sole win was over hurdles at Market Rasen on soft in December 2021 (2m4f); in fair form this year and has an each-way chance.

11/2

4th

6

17th Apr 2023

Good To Soft

2m 5f 133y

Class 5

14:45 Kelso

Fever Roque

11st 8lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Rebecca Menzies

prominent on inner

4/1

4th

6

26th Mar 2023

Heavy

2m 4f 0y

Class 2

14:35 Carlisle

Fever Roque

10st 6lb

J: Aaron Anderson

T: Rebecca Menzies

0-5 over fences but has had a solid first campaign, bumping into Knocknamona (who followed up) at Newcastle (2m4f, soft) in January then runner-up at Wetherby (2m5f, good) three weeks ago; can be thereabouts.

4/1

Non-runners

Fever Roque

Verdict

Not a bad race of its type and several in the field could be ahead of their marks. East Street looks the sort to make a better chaser than hurdler and should go well if ready to roll after a break, while Half Shot was impressive over C&D last month and may have even more to offer. The consistent Fever Roque jumped soundly bar a first-fence blunder on his chasing debut ten days ago and is tempting, but at the other end of the weights MASKED CRUSADER gets the vote. He gave the impression he had plenty more in the tank when winning his last two races over hurdles and could blossom as a chaser.[Richard O’Brien]

Selections

RP Ratings:

Half Shot

SPOTLIGHT:

Masked Crusader

Telegraph:

East Street

TOPSPEED:

Jelski

The Guardian:

East Street

The Sun:

East Street

The Times:

Masked Crusader

Daily Mail:

Masked Crusader

The Star:

Masked Crusader

POSTDATA:

Half Shot

D Express:

Half Shot

Daily Mirror:

Half Shot

Daily Record:

Half Shot