February 04 / 14.40 Wetherby

    Wetherby
    13:00 13:35 14:10 14:40 15:23 15:55 16:30
    Choose race
    Kempton (AW)
    17:30 18:00 18:30 19:00 19:30 20:00 20:30
    Leopardstown
    13:20 13:55 14:30 15:05 15:40 16:10 16:40
    Lingfield (AW)
    12:10 12:40 13:16 13:51 14:26 15:01 15:36
    Musselburgh
    13:28 14:03 14:35 15:16 15:48 16:20
    Sandown
    12:35 13:10 13:45 14:20 14:55 15:30 16:03
    Wetherby
    13:00 13:35 14:10 14:40 15:23 15:55 16:30

    14.40

    Good To Soft

    William Hill Towton Novices’ Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

    • Prize money: £22780
    • 3m 0f 45y
    • Class 1
    • 4 runners
    ITV
    View Course
    William Hill Towton Novices’ Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

    Runners: 4 runners

    Type: Chase Turf

    Surface: Turf

    Weather: Cloudy

    1st
    2
    City Chief

    City Chief

    J: James Bowen

    T: Nicky Henderson

    11/4 (Won)

    • Win: £4.50

    Form: 11-521 D

    Last run: 19 days

    W: 11st 2lb

    6 yo Gelding

    OR: 135

    Form & Verdict
    Hurdling ability needs respecting and this point winner is entitled to make a superior chaser; mistakes held him back when beaten in a match on his first attempt but it was a good three-runner handicap that he won without much fuss at Hereford (3m1f, soft; jumped better); there should be more to come on only his eighth run under rules.
    Place /
    No / Draw    		 Date / Going /
    Distance / Class    		 Time + Course Horse + Weight
    Jockey / Trainer    		 Verdict Starting price

    2nd

    4

    5th Apr 2026

    Yielding To Soft

    3m 0f 180y

    17:30 Fairyhouse

    City Chief

    12st 0lb

    J: Mr O McGill

    T: Cormac Abernethy

    Career highlight when winning the 2023 Towton (3m Grade 2) at Wetherby for Nicky Henderson; tailed off at Down Royal in December on his hunter chase debut; has twice in points in the last 12 months; recent Kirkistown success gives him an edge over Now Where Or When.

    25/1

    1

    18th May 2024

    Good

    2m 7f 70y

    Class 2

    19:03 Uttoxeter

    City Chief

    12st 0lb

    J: Nico de Boinville

    T: Nicky Henderson

    Grade 2-winning novice chaser who started last season with respectable runs in staying chases at Cheltenham, where he was last seen pulling up in the Kim Muir (first-time cheekpieces retained); too talented to ignore on this return to hurdling.

    5/1

    1

    18th May 2024

    Good

    2m 7f 70y

    Class 2

    19:03 Uttoxeter

    City Chief

    12st 0lb

    J: Nico de Boinville

    T: Nicky Henderson

    Grade 2-winning novice chaser who started last season with respectable runs in staying chases at Cheltenham, where he was last seen pulling up in the Kim Muir (first-time cheekpieces retained); too talented to ignore on this return to hurdling.

    5/1
    2nd
    3
    OToole

    OToole

    J: Sam Ewing

    T: S R B Crawford

    4/1

    Form: 2143-1

    Last run: 28 days

    W: 11st 2lb

    7 yo Gelding

    OR: 138

    Form & Verdict
    Runner-up in a Grade 1 during his bumper days and didn't hang about over hurdles after winning his maiden at Down Royal; lots to like in how defied a big weight on his chase debut at Newcastle (2m4f handicap, soft) where his jumping was assured throughout; commands major respect.
    Place /
    No / Draw    		 Date / Going /
    Distance / Class    		 Time + Course Horse + Weight
    Jockey / Trainer    		 Verdict Starting price

    1st

    9

    2nd Mar 2026

    Soft To Heavy

    2m 5f 120y

    16:25 Leopardstown

    OToole

    10st 5lb

    J: J J Slevin

    T: S R B Crawford

    Lightly raced 10yo whose chase win came in 2m4f Newcastle handicap over three years ago, more recently won 3m1f Ayr handicap hurdle early last year; seasonal return over fences at Cork in November encouraging but poor Haydock run (jumped and hung left) tempers enthusiasm; cheekpieces now added on only fifth chase start.

    16/1
    3rd
    4
    Bellatrixsa

    Bellatrixsa

    J: Harry Bannister

    T: Venetia Williams

    20/1

    Form: 1142-4

    Last run: 27 days

    W: 10st 9lb

    6 yo Mare

    OR: 128

    Form & Verdict
    Dual Flat winner and a very effective hurdler, winning four of her nine starts in that sphere; lacks the same scope for fences as today's opposition and she was readily left trailing on her chase debut in a 2m7f handicap at Chepstow (soft); must leave that form behind if she's to get involved.
    Place /
    No / Draw    		 Date / Going /
    Distance / Class    		 Time + Course Horse + Weight
    Jockey / Trainer    		 Verdict Starting price

    11th

    11

    (10)

    12th May 2023

    Soft

    2m 2f 140y

    Class 2

    16:55 Chester

    Bellatrixsa

    9st 8lb

    J: Franny Norton

    T: Venetia Williams

    Has a slight doubt over her current form, based on her results over jumps this year; however, won this contest (off 4lb lower; good ground) in 2022 when last seen on the Flat and remains unexposed in this sphere; acts on soft; has to be feared back here.

    8/1

    6th

    2

    21st Apr 2023

    Good To Soft

    3m 0f 70y

    Class 2

    15:35 Ayr

    Bellatrixsa

    11st 4lb

    J: Charlie Deutsch

    T: Venetia Williams

    prominent, led narrowly or disputed lead 1st, led overall before 7th

    6/1

    10

    14th Mar 2023

    Soft

    3m 5f 201y

    Class 1

    17:30 Cheltenham

    Bellatrixsa

    11st 0lb

    J: Miss Lucy Turner

    T: Venetia Williams

    Her greatest test of stamina was a hurdles win (3m2f, soft) and she also won the 2m2f Chester Plate on Flat; none of her form gives her a say in this, however, and soundly beaten this season in her two starts over fences.

    100/1
    OUR TIP
    1
    Ballygrifincottage

    Ballygrifincottage

    J: Harry Skelton

    T: Dan Skelton

    8/11

    Form: 314-1

    Last run: 66 days

    W: 11st 5lb

    8 yo Gelding

    OR: 145

    Form & Verdict
    Questionable what this three-time point winner achieved on his chase debut at Haydock (2m5f, soft) as his market rival made jumping errors and was below par; however, could do no more than win comfortably (jumped well) to post a smart RPR of 147 and he showed his class when fourth in the Grade 1 3m novice hurdle at last season's Cheltenham Festival; first-time tongue-tie.
    Place /
    No / Draw    		 Date / Going /
    Distance / Class    		 Time + Course Horse + Weight
    Jockey / Trainer    		 Verdict Starting price

    9th

    4

    8th Feb 2025

    Soft

    3m 0f 52y

    Class 3

    13:50 Newbury

    Ballygrifincottage

    11st 11lb

    J: Paul O’Brien

    T: Harry Derham

    Has flattered to deceive over fences (1-12) and jumping mistakes played a part; a bit below his best on his two completions this autumn/winter and has now left Dan Skelton; blinkers replace his usual cheekpieces for this first hurdle race since March 2023; well handicapped judged on best efforts but he's now a 10yo.

    20/1

    9th

    4

    8th Feb 2025

    Soft

    3m 0f 52y

    Class 3

    13:50 Newbury

    Ballygrifincottage

    11st 11lb

    J: Paul O’Brien

    T: Harry Derham

    Has flattered to deceive over fences (1-12) and jumping mistakes played a part; a bit below his best on his two completions this autumn/winter and has now left Dan Skelton; blinkers replace his usual cheekpieces for this first hurdle race since March 2023; well handicapped judged on best efforts but he's now a 10yo.

    20/1

    2

    16th Jan 2025

    Good To Soft

    3m 2f 162y

    Class 3

    15:45 Wincanton

    Ballygrifincottage

    11st 11lb

    J: Fergus Gillard

    T: Dan Skelton

    held up in rear, not fluent 3rd

    14/1

    +o+e Accumulators

    Payout
    Exacta £13.70
    Straight Forecast £14.04
    Trifecta £35.40

    Selections

    SPOTLIGHT:

    Ballygrifincottage

    TOPSPEED:

    City Chief

    Daily Mirror:

    O'Toole

    POSTDATA:

    City Chief

    LAMBOURN:

    City Chief

    Telegraph:

    City Chief

    The Star:

    City Chief

    RP Ratings:

    Ballygrifincottage

    The Times:

    Ballygrifincottage

    The Guardian:

    Ballygrifincottage

    Daily Mail:

    Ballygrifincottage

    D Express:

    Ballygrifincottage

    The Sun:

    Ballygrifincottage

    Daily Record:

    Ballygrifincottage