February 18 / 15.42 Wincanton

15.42

Good

JenningsBet Christchurch Handicap Chase (For The Harry Dufosee Memorial Cup)

  • Prize money: £11618.2
  • 3m 1f 30y
  • Class 3
  • 6 runners
RTV
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JenningsBet Christchurch Handicap Chase (For The Harry Dufosee Memorial Cup)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

11/2 (Won)

Form: 1322-7 D

Last run: 71 days

W: 11st 12lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 133

Form & Verdict
Did well switched to chasing last season, the win gained at Hereford (3m1f, good); now has to bounce back from a heavy defeat at Cheltenham but that was a Class 1 handicap and he's in calmer waters here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

2nd Apr 2025

Good

3m 0f 54y

Class 4

17:00 Exeter

Switch Hitter

11st 12lb

J: Miss Olive Nicholls

T: S Loxton

Very useful over fences in his prime for Paul Nicholls; last rules win was over two years ago but he's won points in his last three starts including a comfortable success (3m, good to firm) ten days ago; looks a major player now back in this sphere and yard won this in 2023 and 2024.

4/7

5

2nd Apr 2025

Good

3m 0f 54y

Class 4

17:00 Exeter

Switch Hitter

11st 12lb

J: Miss Olive Nicholls

T: S Loxton

Very useful over fences in his prime for Paul Nicholls; last rules win was over two years ago but he's won points in his last three starts including a comfortable success (3m, good to firm) ten days ago; looks a major player now back in this sphere and yard won this in 2023 and 2024.

4/7

5th

1

20th May 2024

Soft

3m 1f 170y

Class 5

16:43 Newton Abbot

Switch Hitter

12st 8lb

J: Miss Natalie Parker

T: Paul Nicholls

Useful handicap chaser on good ground when on song; pulled up on consecutive outings at end of last season and needs to prove his wellbeing, but is in much calmer waters for today's hunter chase debut.

4/6

Form: 3-2127

Last run: 76 days

W: 10st 8lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Ex-Irish 9yo who gained two wins (3m5f/3m3f, good to soft/good) soon after joining this yard and returned from a break with a close second of four at Musselburgh (3m7f, good to soft); needs to bounce back from a below-par show at Kelso (4m) but that's feasible.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

7th May 2024

Good

3m 5f 24y

Class 3

16:20 Fakenham

Wake Up Early

11st 0lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole

raced in second, pulled up quickly before 11th

12/1

6

7th May 2024

Good

3m 5f 24y

Class 3

16:20 Fakenham

Wake Up Early

11st 0lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole

raced in second, pulled up quickly before 11th

12/1

0

2

19th Dec 2023

Good To Soft

3m 5f 24y

Class 4

13:40 Fakenham

Wake Up Early

12st 2lb

J: Cillin Leonard

T: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole

Scored over C&D (good to soft) in 2022 and was placed in Norfolk National over C&D (good) in May; disappointed on both appearances last month but returns here on a good mark and is sure to appreciate the ease in grade.

12/1

OUR TIP

Form: 7P-60P

Last run: 53 days

W: 12st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 135

Form & Verdict
A promising novice last winter and didn't run badly in the big opening-day staying chase at the Cheltenham Festival when 9lb higher; yet to fire this season but in much deeper handicaps than this; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

17th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 177y

Class 4

17:12 Ffos Las

Fantastikas

11st 11lb

J: James Turner

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

led, headed 14th, weakened before 4 out, pulled up before 3 out

10/1

4

17th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 177y

Class 4

17:12 Ffos Las

Fantastikas

11st 11lb

J: James Turner

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

No win since January 2022; shaped reasonably well when third at Uttoxeter (3m, soft) in December but lesser efforts at Haydock and Plumpton since temper enthusiasm; first run since January.

10/1

4th

1

27th Jan 2025

Soft

3m 1f 152y

Class 4

15:50 Plumpton

Fantastikas

12st 0lb

J: Mr Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

Returned to form when keeping on for third at Uttoxeter (3m, soft) in early December but failed to really build on that when a well-held fourth at Haydock three weeks later, albeit in a higher grade; hasn't won for three years but he's plied his trade at a higher level for some time and could find life easier contesting a class 4 with a capable 7lb-claiming amateur booked.

9/2

Form: 4-PF34 CD BF

Last run: 54 days

W: 10st 9lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
All three chase wins have come here and he's only 1lb higher than when comfortably his beating three rivals in this race 12 months ago; there have been positives this season over shorter trips and he can put up a bold defence on the back of wind surgery.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

17th Feb 2024

Soft

3m 1f 30y

Class 4

16:17 Wincanton

Edeiffs Elton

11st 12lb

J: Angus Cheleda

T: Robert Walford

Reappeared with encouraging fourth over 2m4f here in November and this would be more his trip (all three career wins at this track at 3m1f/3m2f); has won on soft but has twice disappointed on heavy.

5/1

0

7

12th Dec 2023

Soft

3m 1f 30y

Class 4

14:15 Wincanton

Edeiffs Elton

11st 5lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Robert Walford

Reappeared with encouraging fourth over 2m4f here last month and he can build on that now back up in trip and back in his usual cheekpieces, with his three career wins having come here over 3m1f/3m2f; respected.

11/2

Form: 233-14

Last run: 80 days

W: 11st 4lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
Back from a break to grind out a win at Worcester (2m7f, good) in October and then reported to have bled at Ludlow; capable of a bold show if returning to his best and an 80-day absence is probably a good thing.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

1st Apr 2025

Good

2m 4f 110y

Class 5

17:05 Kempton

Sam Barton

11st 12lb

J: Miss Thomasina Eyston

T: E M Rees

Became very disappointing under rules for Emma Lavelle last season and has not shown a great deal in points for new stable this year.

50/1

Form: P23-7P C

Last run: 53 days

W: 10st 10lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Strike-rate of 1-19 over fences and he was pulled up at Kempton over Christmas (3m, soft; stable debut) on his first run since last April; should be well handicapped but reservations at the minute.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

30th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 205y

Class 4

20:10 Stratford

Captain Tommy

11st 11lb

J: Mr Huw Edwards

T: Fred Timmis

About 6l and 2l too good for Presentandcounting at Catterick (3m1f, good) and Walkin Out at Ludlow (2m4f, good) respectively back in March, but two subdued efforts when as much in his favour since to forgive.

5/1

4th

4

30th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 205y

Class 4

20:10 Stratford

Captain Tommy

11st 11lb

J: Mr Huw Edwards

T: Fred Timmis

About 6l and 2l too good for Presentandcounting at Catterick (3m1f, good) and Walkin Out at Ludlow (2m4f, good) respectively back in March, but two subdued efforts when as much in his favour since to forgive.

5/1

5th

1

23rd Apr 2025

Good

2m 7f 171y

Class 4

16:40 Ludlow

Captain Tommy

12st 6lb

J: Mr Henry Crow

T: Fred Timmis

Won small-field hunter chases on good ground at Catterick (3m1f) and Ludlow (2m4f) last month; lost out to only the odds-on favourite at Kempton (2m4f, good) three weeks ago and, although the scale of his defeat was a bit worrying, his good record here (won the last three of his four visits) bolsters his chance today.

9/4

Non-runners

Captain Tommy

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Straight Forecast £42.35

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Ede'iffs Elton

POSTDATA:

Switch Hitter

Telegraph:

Sam Barton

The Sun:

Fantastikas

The Star:

Switch Hitter

Daily Record:

Switch Hitter

RP Ratings:

Ede'iffs Elton

TOPSPEED:

Ede'iffs Elton

WEST COUNTRY:

Ede'iffs Elton

The Times:

Ede'iffs Elton

The Guardian:

Ede'iffs Elton

Daily Mail:

Ede'iffs Elton

D Express:

Ede'iffs Elton

Daily Mirror:

Ede'iffs Elton