November 05 / 14.15 Wincanton

14.15

Good

Boodles ‘Rising Stars’ Novices’ Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £32692
  • 2m 4f 35y
  • Class 1
  • 6 runners
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Boodles ‘Rising Stars’ Novices’ Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Rain

4/1 (Won)

  • Win: £6.00
  • Place: £2.00

Form: 21111P D

Last run: 15 days

W: 11st 4lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 142

Form & Verdict
Very useful hurdler with a peak RPR of 152 (McFabulous 159); not far off that level at times in winning four successive good-ground novice chases this summer (2m4f/2m5f) but the wheels fell off when pulled up at Cheltenham (2m4f handicap; reportedly unsuited by the rain-affected ground); could bounce back, but watch the weather.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

4th May 2026

Good

3m 0f 38y

Class 2

16:03 Fakenham

Hang In There

12st 0lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Emma Lavelle

9-28 over fences, the latest win gained at Chepstow (2m7f, good to firm) in October; below that form three times on good to soft ground since but didn't run badly on penultimate appearance and will be better suited by the forecast good ground here; might be the answer.

9/2

4th

1

15th Apr 2026

Good

3m 1f 125y

Class 2

17:00 Haydock

Hang In There

12st 1lb

J: Rian Corcoran

T: Emma Lavelle

Strike-rate of 9-27 over fences and his third in a veterans' chase at Newbury in February (3m2f) was encouraging given he had been absent for three months and good to soft ground would have been slow enough; should run well.

15/2

3rd

2

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 214y

Class 2

15:15 Newbury

Hang In There

12st 2lb

J: Rian Corcoran

T: Emma Lavelle

Successful in similar event at Chepstow in October (penultimate start) and returns from another break with Rian Corcoran taking off a useful 7lb; however, chance largely depends on what the weather does (ideally needs a sound surface).

14/1

16/1

  • Place: £3.60

Form: P31122 D BF

Last run: 16 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
Has won six times since April, including four chases; continues to run well and an untimely slip perhaps cost him at Ludlow last time, but this represents a severe hike in class for him.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

28th Feb 2023

Good

2m 3f 51y

Class 3

14:15 Catterick

Mortlach

11st 10lb

J: Jack Hogan

T: Fergal O’Brien

Strike-rate of 5-12 over fences and was highly tried before making the most of a good opportunity at Newbury (2m handicap on good to firm); this looks another good piece of placing even with his penalties.

11/10

1st

1

19th Feb 2023

Good To Firm

2m 0f 92y

Class 2

14:00 Newbury

Mortlach

11st 9lb

J: Paddy Brennan

T: Fergal O’Brien

pressed leader, not fluent 1st, briefly led before 4th, pushed along approaching last, led narrowly after 9th, ridden run-in, went clear final 110yds, kept on well

6/4

5

11th Feb 2023

Good

2m 0f 92y

Class 1

15:00 Newbury

Mortlach

11st 2lb

J: Connor Brace

T: Fergal O’Brien

Tough and consistent novice chaser; not disgraced behind a very useful rival in match race at Plumpton (2m3f) most recently, though proved no match for the winner; has bits of Grade 2 form but this is a harder task; bottom of this field on ratings.

50/1

Form: 3-411P D

Last run: 15 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 140

Form & Verdict
Won two of his nine starts over hurdles for Joseph O'Brien and was a comfortable winner of his chase debut at Downpatrick in August (2m3f, good), after which he changed hands for £32,000; didn't go unbacked on his debut for this yard at Cheltenham (2m novice) and he was still in touch when pulled up sharply approaching the final turn; not entirely dismissed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

10th Jun 2024

Good

2m 4f 110y

19:48 Roscommon

Uhtred

11st 3lb

J: Jake Coen

T: Gordon Elliott

Mostly disappointing for Dan Skelton but he was previously a five-time winner for Joseph O'Brien; second on his debut for this yard at Killarney last July; pulled up at Bellewstown the following month; back to form when springing a 28-1 surprise at Killarney last month, 6lb higher now.

8/1

1st

7

13th May 2024

Good

2m 4f 50y

18:10 Killarney

Uhtred

11st 4lb

J: Sam Ewing

T: Gordon Elliott

midfield, headway and prominent when not fluent 3 out, ridden and challenging after 2 out, jumped slightly right last, ran on towards finish, led final strides

8/1

1st

7

13th May 2024

Good

2m 4f 50y

18:10 Killarney

Uhtred

11st 4lb

J: Sam Ewing

T: Gordon Elliott

midfield, headway and prominent when not fluent 3 out, ridden and challenging after 2 out, jumped slightly right last, ran on towards finish, led final strides

8/1

Form: 1-3412 C

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 9lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 148

Form & Verdict
Was always likely to struggle against Sceau Royal in a Listed hurdle last time and he had previously won for a third time over fences when much too good for Victorias Peak in a match at Chepstow (2m3f, good to firm; stays further and copes with softer ground); no easy task here with a penalty but he's armed with all the experience.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

1

2nd Dec 2023

Good To Soft

2m 4f 118y

Class 2

13:40 Newbury

Sebastopol

12st 0lb

J: Cameron Iles

T: Tom Lacey

raced wide, in touch with leaders, not fluent 5 out, weakened then not fluent 3 out, tailed off

16/1

3rd

1

20th Sep 2023

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 2

17:50 Kelso

Sebastopol

12st 0lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Tom Lacey

in touch with leaders on inner

11/8

1st

1

2nd Sep 2023

Good

2m 5f 122y

Class 2

16:17 Newton Abbot

Sebastopol

12st 0lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Tom Lacey

prominent, went second after 7th, led before 2 out, drifted left after 2 out, clear when not fluent last, comfortably

5/1

OUR TIP

Form: /2431- D

Last run: 196 days

W: 11st 4lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 153

Form & Verdict
Very smart in bumpers and over hurdles, claiming a fourth success at Grade 2 level on his final start of last season; the most talented in this field and should be an excellent prospect for novice chases.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

29th Apr 2023

Good

2m 6f 164y

Class 1

14:50 Sandown

McFabulous

11st 5lb

J: Lorcan Williams

T: Paul Nicholls

Quality bumper/hurdle performer who has won two of his five runs over fences (including a Grade 2) and had excuses for his three defeats (lost action/finished lame/irregular heartbeat); comes with an element of risk but his trainer can be trusted to have him spot on for this seasonal finale; very effective on good but career-high RPR was achieved on soft.

10/1

1

11th Feb 2023

Good

2m 7f 86y

Class 3

13:15 Newbury

McFabulous

11st 10lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

High-class bumper/hurdle winner who has taken well to fences, easily beating the odds-on Thyme Hill over C&D (good) in November; safely held in second by the same rival in Grade 1 novice at Kempton on Boxing Day, finishing lame after running well for a long way; under optimum conditions today he's the one to beat provided he's fully recovered from that last run.

4/9

2nd

2

26th Dec 2022

Soft

3m 0f 0y

Class 1

13:20 Kempton

McFabulous

11st 7lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Paul Nicholls

Inferior hurdler to Thyme Hill - albeit very smart in his own right - but the early signs are that he'll be the better chaser after making light work of the Hobbs horse in a 2m7f Grade 2 at Newbury (good), which came on the heels of a faultless display at Exeter; sound jumping has been a feature in his performances so far and he's sure to take a lot of beating; also effective on soft/good to soft.

13/8

Form: 5/2-12 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 10st 11lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Long odds-on when winning a weak maiden hurdle at Hexham before posing no threat to Sebastopol in a novice chase at Chepstow; a bit better off at the weights with that one but she's clearly up against it.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

28th Jan 2023

Good To Soft

2m 4f 189y

Class 3

13:57 Uttoxeter

Victorias Peak

11st 3lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

towards rear, pushed along from 4th, dropped to last 9th, soon behind

7/2

2nd

4

31st Dec 2022

Soft

2m 5f 0y

Class 4

12:25 Warwick

Victorias Peak

11st 7lb

J: Finn Lambert

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

in touch with leaders, pushed along and lost position 4 out, ridden and ran on from 2 out, no match for winner

2/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £45.40
Straight Forecast £48.42
Trifecta £242.50

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

McFabulous

RP Ratings:

Sebastopol

POSTDATA:

Hang In There

WEST COUNTRY:

McFabulous

The Times:

McFabulous

Telegraph:

McFabulous

Daily Mail:

McFabulous

D Express:

McFabulous

Daily Mirror:

McFabulous

The Star:

McFabulous

Daily Record:

McFabulous

TOPSPEED:

Sebastopol

The Guardian:

Sebastopol

The Sun:

Sebastopol