March 21 / 14.50 Wetherby

14.50

Soft

Sandra Finch Surprise Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £6680.46
  • 2m 3f 85y
  • Class 4
  • 6 runners
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Sandra Finch Surprise Handicap Chase

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

3/1 (Won)

  • Win: £6.50
  • Place: £2.60

Form: 4-2F23 BF

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 3lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Running really well towards the end of last year (2m/2m4f, heavy-good to soft) and when below par at Newbury 18 days ago on his first run of 2023 he may not have been suited by the good ground; could bounce back.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

5

1st Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 1f 14y

Class 3

13:10 Kelso

Gallic Geordie

10st 7lb

J: Benjamin Macey

T: Samuel Drinkwater

12yo who doesn't appear to be as good as he was and hasn't really threatened this season, but he's been a fair third on two of his last three starts and continues to edge down the weights; might not be far away.

16/1

3

19th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 78y

Class 4

14:50 Doncaster

Gallic Geordie

11st 6lb

J: Ned Fox

T: Samuel Drinkwater

Now 12 but showed when third of six at Lingfield (2m4f, soft) in December that he retains plenty of spark; effective on good to soft ground earlier in career; mid-race unseat at Wetherby last time; possible player.

9/2

7

1st Feb 2025

Soft

2m 3f 85y

Class 3

14:08 Wetherby

Gallic Geordie

11st 2lb

J: Ned Fox

T: Samuel Drinkwater

Long in the tooth now but was not that far off his career-best form when third of six at Lingfield (2m4f, soft) in December, after a layoff; 2lb lower here and has a fighting chance if aided by combination of refitted tongue-tie and first-time cheekpieces.

7/1

4/1

  • Place: £1.70

Form: 511256 CD

Last run: 15 days

W: 11st 11lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
In good form on soft/good to soft ground towards the end of last year, including a C&D win; well beaten at Southwell a fortnight ago but the good going may not have suited; possible player now back on a slow surface.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

14th Apr 2026

Good

2m 7f 191y

Class 4

13:35 Market Rasen

Ladronne

11st 12lb

J: Miss Venetia Thompson

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

Veteran who has looked as good as ever for his new stable this season, winning twice (2m5f/3m1f); probably doesn't have much margin for error off current mark but reverts to chasing after a respectable hurdle run and is suited by this C&D.

3/1

5th

10

17th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 26y

Class 4

16:22 Wetherby

Ladronne

11st 4lb

J: Oscar Palmer

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

12yo who has been better than ever over fences this season following a stable switch, with wins at Sedgefield (2m5f, soft) and Catterick (3m1f, good to soft); this is a rare run over hurdles but he has a lower mark in this sphere, in which he scored twice in 2020; likes it here; one to consider.

8/1

2nd

7

27th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 214y

Class 3

17:05 Doncaster

Ladronne

11st 7lb

J: Jack Power

T: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith

Won this in 2024 (soft) and he's been better than ever this season following a stable switch, with wins at Sedgefield (2m5f, soft) and Catterick (3m1f, good to soft; last time); back up to a career-high mark and he's back up in grade but he could yet have more to offer for this yard; respected.

3/1

Form: 22-134

Last run: 123 days

W: 11st 7lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Failed to threaten last autumn on his last two runs but he returns from a break with his stable in fine form and last spring's performances put him firmly in picture; he's one to consider.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

7th May 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

17:05 Ffos Las

Fulgurix

11st 9lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole

midfield

8/1

5

7th May 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

17:05 Ffos Las

Fulgurix

11st 9lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole

midfield

8/1

7th

1

22nd Apr 2024

Soft

2m 3f 83y

Class 4

14:42 Ffos Las

Fulgurix

11st 12lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole

Proved a reliable sort last season when a two-time chase winner but he's failed to complete (pulled up/fell) in his two runs this term; has some questions to answer and he needs to get back on track.

8/1

Form: P-51P3

Last run: 64 days

W: 12st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Inconsistent sort who has something to prove having struggled the last twice; however, before those he won at Hereford (3m1f, good to soft) in November on his second chase start and is not written off for his top yard.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

30th Mar 2026

Good

2m 4f 11y

Class 4

16:57 Ludlow

Jet Plane

12st 6lb

J: Miss Heidi Palin

T: Dan Skelton

Still in front when falling on his return to hunter chasing in January but ran miserably at Leicester next time where soft ground was no excuse; had been in good form in handicaps before those setbacks and would take some beating if back on song.

6/4

3rd

2

24th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 6f 151y

Class 3

16:50 Leicester

Jet Plane

12st 4lb

J: Mr Sean O’Connor

T: Dan Skelton

Good form in handicaps this winter includes a Leicester success; still in front when falling at Warwick returned to hunter chasing last time; retains all of his ability and is top on the figures in this field.

1/2

2

23rd Jan 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 0y

Class 5

16:18 Warwick

Jet Plane

12st 6lb

J: Miss Heidi Palin

T: Dan Skelton

Commendable second in last season's Aintree Foxhunters' (2m5f, good to soft) and as good as ever in recent 2m4f handicaps; stays 3m well and won't be fazed if the ground turns soft (unraced on heavy); ought to be hard to beat on return to hunter chasing.

6/5

OUR TIP

Form: P-3533 D

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 11lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Third at Huntingdon (2m, good to soft) in January and another fair run when third of four there last month (2m, good); shaped last time as though this step back up in trip could be a positive; won on very soft going in France in 2021 (all British starts on good/good to soft); respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

23rd Oct 2025

Good To Firm

2m 7f 171y

Class 4

14:07 Ludlow

Trapista

11st 8lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Easily the most experienced over fences, and a 2m4f win here (good) off 17lb higher rounded off a spring 2024 hat-trick; no successes since, however, and it's a push to say this step up to 3m has long been needed.

4/1

3

7th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 104y

Class 4

16:12 Fontwell

Trapista

11st 4lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Won three chases in a row (2m-2m4f, good-soft) in spring 2024 but generally disappointing since; beaten out of sight when 20-1 at Newton Abbot 17 days ago; revival needed.

10/1

7th

6

21st Aug 2025

Good

2m 4f 216y

Class 4

17:35 Newton Abbot

Trapista

11st 2lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Completed chase hat-trick in spring 2024 but generally disappointing since; May's second of three at Ludlow (2m4f, good) was encouraging but she's been soundly beaten since and was weak in the market when an early casualty over C&D last month; easy to look elsewhere.

20/1

Form: -54956

Last run: 85 days

W: 10st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 99

Form & Verdict
Two-time French chase winner who has quickly dropped down the weights in Britain, but he's been struggling and is very difficult to fancy.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

7

14th Jul 2024

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

14:45 Perth

Contre Ordre

10st 2lb

J: Emma Smith-Chaston

T: Micky Hammond

prominent, left in second 1st, not fluent 4 out, lost position gradually after 2 out, weakening when hit last

7/1

3rd

7

29th May 2024

Good

2m 1f 61y

Class 5

19:50 Cartmel

Contre Ordre

10st 10lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Micky Hammond

Ex-French 6yo who came good for Micky Hammond at Sedgefield (2m1f, soft) in November; has very mixed record since but is 4lb lower now and didn't run badly when fifth (behind Sword Of Fate) in first-time blinkers at Perth (2m4f, good to soft) this month.

8/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £19.90
Straight Forecast £18.42
Trifecta £84.40

Selections

RP Ratings:

Gallic Geordie

POSTDATA:

Trapista

The Times:

Jet Plane

SPOTLIGHT:

Fulgurix

Daily Mirror:

Ladronne

WEST COUNTRY:

Trapista

The Star:

Trapista

Daily Record:

Trapista

D Express:

Jet Plane

TOPSPEED:

Gallic Geordie

Telegraph:

Gallic Geordie

The Guardian:

Gallic Geordie

Daily Mail:

Gallic Geordie

The Sun:

Gallic Geordie