April 02 / 14.25 Ascot

14.25

Good To Soft

Soil Science Novices’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £10562
  • 2m 5f 8y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
SKY
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Soil Science Novices’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

7/2 (Won)

  • Win: £3.00
  • Place: £1.40

Form: -34U51

Last run: 36 days

W: 11st 6lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Not an instant success over fences but capitalised upon some help from the handicapper when winning from the front at Chepstow (2m3f, good) in February; subsequent 5lb rise does not look excessive and today's slower ground is probably in his favour; major player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

19th Apr 2025

Soft

2m 4f 216y

Class 3

16:19 Newton Abbot

Eaton Collina

11st 1lb

J: Richard Patrick

T: Kerry Lee

headed after 3rd, led, not fluent 4th, soon lost ground, in rear when weakened after 10th

8/1

11

19th Apr 2025

Soft

2m 4f 216y

Class 3

16:19 Newton Abbot

Eaton Collina

11st 1lb

J: Richard Patrick

T: Kerry Lee

headed after 3rd, led, not fluent 4th, soon lost ground, in rear when weakened after 10th

8/1

5th

5

15th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 203y

Class 3

14:05 Haydock

Eaton Collina

11st 4lb

J: Liam Harrison

T: Kerry Lee

Completed a Wetherby double (2m3f, soft) last February and he's back down to his last winning mark; hasn't hit the same heights this season but ran okay when third at Wetherby (2m3f, soft) last month and he now contests his first veterans' chase; could be involved.

7/2

7/1

  • Place: £2.70

Form: -7P225

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 12lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Not at his best at Sandown three weeks ago and now 0-6 over fences but was runner-up twice on slow ground in January (2m3f/2m5f) and will be right on the premises here if able to reproduce that form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

30th Jan 2025

Heavy

3m 1f 30y

Class 5

15:25 Wincanton

Upton Road

11st 12lb

J: Mr Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: T G Scudamore

Three seconds to his name in handicap chases but only as far as 2m5f and he's making his hunter chase debut after a long absence.

6/1

5

30th Jan 2025

Heavy

3m 1f 30y

Class 5

15:25 Wincanton

Upton Road

11st 12lb

J: Mr Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: T G Scudamore

Three seconds to his name in handicap chases but only as far as 2m5f and he's making his hunter chase debut after a long absence.

6/1

Form: P66133

Last run: 14 days

W: 10st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
Returned to form with front-running win at Chepstow (2m, soft) in January and gave another good account when third of 15 there (2m3f, soft) a fortnight ago, but has a lot more on his plate from 5lb out of the weights in this higher-grade race.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

9

6th May 2026

Good

3m 1f 210y

Class 5

18:42 Fontwell

Valirann Gold

10st 13lb

J: Ben Godfrey

T: Harriet Brown

Course winner; a lot of his form is over shorter but he proved his stamina for 3m when runner-up at Ffos Las two weeks ago (good); unlikely to be far away off the same mark.

5/1

2nd

10

21st Apr 2026

Soft

2m 7f 177y

Class 5

18:42 Ffos Las

Valirann Gold

10st 5lb

J: Ned Fox

T: Harriet Brown

Produced a remarkable late surge to snatch what had looked an unlikely victory at Fontwell (2m5f, good to soft; blinkers removed) last month but this inconsistent 9yo tends to race lazily nowadays and got going too late when back at Fontwell a fortnight ago; other are much less risky.

12/1

OUR TIP

Form: 121-12 BF

Last run: 26 days

W: 12st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Very lightly raced 7yo who created pretty good impression when pushed-out winner on seasonal, chase and handicap debut at Newbury (2m, soft) in December; no match for impressive winner when second at Sandown (1m7f, good to soft) last month but could have significant untapped potential over today's longer trip and remains very much of interest.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

2nd Apr 2023

Good To Soft

2m 5f 8y

Class 4

14:25 Ascot

Gamaret

12st 2lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Very lightly raced 7yo who created pretty good impression when pushed-out winner on seasonal, chase and handicap debut at Newbury (2m, soft) in December; no match for impressive winner when second at Sandown (1m7f, good to soft) last month but could have significant untapped potential over today's longer trip and remains very much of interest.

2/1

2nd

4

7th Mar 2023

Good

1m 7f 99y

Class 3

14:25 Sandown

Gamaret

11st 2lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

jumped well, raced in second, ridden 2 out, soon no chance with winner, kept on

8/11

Form: 43-413 BF

Last run: 93 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Seemingly boosted by first-time cheekpieces when winning easily by 11l at Taunton (2m7f, good) in November in his second chase; posted another good effort when third over that C&D (good to soft) a few weeks later; goes without cheekpieces on this first run for three months, though, and will have something to prove if the ground ends up slower than good to soft.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

3rd Mar 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 60y

Class 5

15:07 Southwell

Kayf Hernando

12st 2lb

J: Mr Sam Lee

T: J L Brotherton

Record of 2-3 in points for new stable; faces a tougher task back under rules but is a C&D winner and could go well.

9/1

4th

3

24th Apr 2024

Good

2m 7f 171y

Class 4

17:10 Ludlow

Kayf Hernando

12st 2lb

J: Mr Sean O’Connor

T: Dan Skelton

in touch with leaders, not fluent 2nd, weakened 3 out

11/2

4th

3

24th Apr 2024

Good

2m 7f 171y

Class 4

17:10 Ludlow

Kayf Hernando

12st 2lb

J: Mr Sean O’Connor

T: Dan Skelton

in touch with leaders, not fluent 2nd

11/2

Form: P-1412

Last run: 41 days

W: 11st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
2-3 over hurdles since returned to racing under rules in the autumn and ran big race in defeat on chasing debut at Carlisle (2m4f, good to soft) six weeks ago; 3lb higher in stronger race here but still enters calculations.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

20th Mar 2024

Soft

2m 7f 16y

Class 4

16:05 Market Rasen

Allo Allo

12st 0lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Stuart Edmunds

Won over hurdles (2m7f, good to soft) and fences (2m4f, good) early last year but he's been pulled up in all three runs this season; now back on last winning mark but he needs a major revival on this return to hurdling; cheekpieces are added after a break.

16/1

0

5

19th Dec 2023

Good To Soft

2m 5f 44y

Class 3

14:40 Fakenham

Allo Allo

11st 3lb

J: Charlotte Jones

T: Stuart Edmunds

in touch with leaders

8/1

0

1

13th Nov 2023

Good To Soft

3m 0f 38y

Class 4

15:10 Fakenham

Allo Allo

12st 0lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Stuart Edmunds

disputed lead, weakened before 2 out, pulled up before last

100/30

Form: 2/1P41 D

Last run: 38 days

W: 11st 4lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Returned from long absence with hurdle win in the autumn and came good over fences at second attempt, staying on from a long way off the pace to reel in William Cody in very strongly run race at Huntingdon (2m4f, good) in February; ought to cope with the slower ground here but it might be wise to treat that latest piece of form with a degree of caution.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

4th May 2026

Good

3m 5f 24y

Class 3

16:38 Fakenham

Northern Poet

11st 4lb

J: James Davies

T: Nick Gifford

Pulled up three consecutive times after his two good-ground wins (3m/3m5f) in March 2025; back on a good mark now and was seemingly perked up by first-time visor when close fourth of six (just behind Enjoy d'Allen) at Plumpton (3m1f, good) last month but overall profile remains unconvincing.

12/1

4th

1

19th Apr 2026

Good

3m 1f 157y

Class 4

16:02 Plumpton

Northern Poet

12st 1lb

J: James Davies

T: Nick Gifford

Has five wins over fences, including over C&D, but has been pulled up on his last three starts; back on last winning mark and first-time visor now goes on but he comes with risks.

12/1

5

27th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 214y

Class 3

17:05 Doncaster

Northern Poet

11st 8lb

J: James Davies

T: Nick Gifford

Won this last year (good) and followed up at Warwick (3m5f, good) a week later; also effective on good to soft ground; pulled up on final two starts last season but can go well fresh and is not ruled out on his return.

8/1

Form: 212132 BF

Last run: 38 days

W: 11st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Dual 2m4f chase winner at Huntingdon towards end of last year (good/good to soft) and looked very likely to add to his tally there in February until succumbing to Northern Poet at the final fence; today's race looks more competitive but he ought to cope with the slower ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

7th May 2026

Good

2m 3f 189y

Class 4

13:45 Huntingdon

William Cody

11st 12lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Pam Sly

Gained three of four chase wins over C&D and returns here after going close on final two starts last season (2m4f/2m3f; wore cheekpieces last time); holds no secrets from the handicapper but will be fine on the forecast good ground and has obvious claims.

5/2

2nd

4

17th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 85y

Class 4

14:37 Wetherby

William Cody

11st 9lb

J: Jack Andrews

T: Pam Sly

He's run well to be second on two of his last three starts (2m3f/2m4f, good/soft), most recently at Southwell four weeks ago; he's 4lb higher than last time but was clear with a progressive winner; high on the list.

3/1

2nd

5

18th Feb 2026

2m 4f 88y

Class 4

14:55 Southwell

William Cody

11st 5lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Pam Sly

Third in this last year; four-time chase winner (all at about this trip) but hasn't scored since November 2024; close second at Catterick (2m3f, good) on penultimate start but lesser efforts either side of that; remains below his last winning mark and holds each-way claims again.

4/1

Non-runners

Kayf Hernando, Northern Poet

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £12.30
Straight Forecast £12.61
Tricast £134.65
Trifecta £95.60

Selections

TOPSPEED:

Gamaret

Telegraph:

Allo Allo

SPOTLIGHT:

Eaton Collina

RP Ratings:

Upton Road

POSTDATA:

William Cody

WEST COUNTRY:

Valirann Gold

Daily Record:

Northern Poet

Daily Mirror:

Gamaret

The Star:

Gamaret

D Express:

Allo Allo

The Times:

Eaton Collina

The Sun:

Upton Road