16.53

8/13 (Won)

Win: £1.62
Place: £1.10

Form: 1/611F D

Last run: 40 days

W: 12st 6lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 144

Form & Verdict

Went absent for 650 days after beating Clan Des Obeaux in a Grade 2 chase at Newbury in February 2021; clearly not the horse he was back then but he won his two hunter chases fairly comfortably before coming down early in the big one at Cheltenham (18-1); very much the one to beat at this lower level; front-runner.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
1st 2	22nd Mar 2024 Good To Soft 2m 7f 86y Class 5	14:00 Newbury Secret Investor 12st 6lb J: Miss Natalie Parker T: Paul Nicholls	Lightly raced since beating top-notcher Clan Des Obeaux in the Grade 2 Denman here just over three years ago (on good to soft); nothing like as good now but remains prolific in hunter chases and soft ground was against him when a lucky winner at Fakenham last month (Tigerbythetail going best when departing); runs here having bypassed Cheltenham but he wouldn't want the forecast light rain to be anything heavier than that.	5/2
1st 3	16th Feb 2024 Soft 3m 0f 38y Class 5	16:15 Fakenham Secret Investor 12st 6lb J: Miss Natalie Parker T: Paul Nicholls	Quality performer back in the day and still prolific in hunter chases, winning four last year including the Horse & Hound Cup at Stratford (3m3f, good) the final time when accounting for a talented Northern Irish raider; likes goodish ground but can handle soft; one to beat.	11/10
1st 7	2nd Jun 2023 Good 3m 3f 119y Class 2	19:05 Stratford Secret Investor 12st 0lb J: Miss Natalie Parker T: Paul Nicholls	prominent, pressed leader before 15th	4/1

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

1st

22nd Mar 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 86y

Class 5

14:00 Newbury

12st 6lb

Lightly raced since beating top-notcher Clan Des Obeaux in the Grade 2 Denman here just over three years ago (on good to soft); nothing like as good now but remains prolific in hunter chases and soft ground was against him when a lucky winner at Fakenham last month (Tigerbythetail going best when departing); runs here having bypassed Cheltenham but he wouldn't want the forecast light rain to be anything heavier than that.

5/2

1st

16th Feb 2024

Soft

3m 0f 38y

Class 5

16:15 Fakenham

12st 6lb

Quality performer back in the day and still prolific in hunter chases, winning four last year including the Horse & Hound Cup at Stratford (3m3f, good) the final time when accounting for a talented Northern Irish raider; likes goodish ground but can handle soft; one to beat.

11/10

1st

2nd Jun 2023

Good

3m 3f 119y

Class 2

19:05 Stratford

12st 0lb

prominent, pressed leader before 15th

4/1

OUR TIP

2nd

Solomon Grey

J: Mr Darren Andrews

T: Miss V Collins

8/1

Place: £1.90

Form: 31-156 CD

Last run: 64 days

W: 12st 6lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict

Odds-on when winning a weaker renewal (only three ran) 12 months ago, beating Bletchley Castle by 39l; followed up at Cheltenham a week later but has been off his game in his only two subsequent appearances.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
7th 10	2nd May 2025 Good 2m 4f 127y Class 5	20:05 Cheltenham Solomon Grey 11st 12lb J: Miss Ellie Holder T: Miss V Collins	pressed leader, prominent from 2nd, lost position after 7th, outpaced from 3 out	40/1
7th 10	2nd May 2025 Good 2m 4f 127y Class 5	20:05 Cheltenham Solomon Grey 11st 12lb J: Miss Ellie Holder T: Miss V Collins	pressed leader, prominent from 2nd, lost position after 7th, outpaced from 3 out	40/1
4th 5	13th Apr 2025 Good 2m 6f 125y Class 5	16:28 Stratford Solomon Grey 11st 10lb J: Miss Ellie Holder T: Miss V Collins	prominent, briefly led 5th, lost position 10th	33/1

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

7th

2nd May 2025

Good

2m 4f 127y

Class 5

11st 12lb

pressed leader, prominent from 2nd, lost position after 7th, outpaced from 3 out

40/1

7th

2nd May 2025

Good

2m 4f 127y

Class 5

11st 12lb

pressed leader, prominent from 2nd, lost position after 7th, outpaced from 3 out

40/1

4th

13th Apr 2025

Good

2m 6f 125y

Class 5

11st 10lb

prominent, briefly led 5th, lost position 10th

33/1

3rd

Crosspark

J: Mr Tom Broughton

T: Nick Kent

3/1

Form: 6/7PP3 D

Last run: 33 days

W: 11st 12lb

13 yo Gelding

OR: 127

Form & Verdict

Classy handicapper at his best but a 13yo now; repeat of his form on hunter chase debut at Newbury (2m7f, soft) is unlikely to get him home in front here unless Secret Investor fluffs his lines but he may be best of the rest.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
6th 1	1st Dec 2024 Good To Soft 3m 0f 110y Class 3	13:55 Carlisle Crosspark 12st 0lb J: Tom Broughton T: Nick Kent	14yo who has been absent since a heavy defeat at Newbury in March; however, he made a winning reappearance at Huntingdon (2m7f, good) last November before a near-miss at Market Rasen (3m3f, good to soft), and it will be no surprise to see a bold bid from this front-runner; versatile ground-wise.	20/1

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

6th

1st Dec 2024

Good To Soft

3m 0f 110y

Class 3

12st 0lb

14yo who has been absent since a heavy defeat at Newbury in March; however, he made a winning reappearance at Huntingdon (2m7f, good) last November before a near-miss at Market Rasen (3m3f, good to soft), and it will be no surprise to see a bold bid from this front-runner; versatile ground-wise.

20/1

4th

50/1

Form: /04P-3 D

Last run: 115 days

W: 11st 12lb

12 yo Gelding

OR: 87

Form & Verdict

Tailed off in a Class 5 handicap chase at Fakenham in January latest and rates a very unlikely winner of this.

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
4th 6	31st May 2023 Good To Firm 3m 2f 0y Class 4	17:40 Warwick Stay Out Of Court 10st 5lb J: Miss Jessica Milly Smith T: Julian Smith	Plugged on for modest third in marathon handicap chase on rules return in January and can be excused last month's hunter chase defeat (tough task); will be suited by the forecast fast ground but it's hard to gauge what this 12yo is capable of over hurdles nowadays; others preferred.	25/1
4th 6	26th Apr 2023 Good To Soft 2m 7f 171y Class 4	16:53 Ludlow Stay Out Of Court 11st 12lb J: Miss Jessica Milly Smith T: Julian Smith	held up in rear, pushed along 11th, struggling when mistake 3 out	50/1
3rd 6	1st Jan 2023 Good To Soft 3m 5f 24y Class 5	12:35 Fakenham Stay Out Of Court 11st 1lb J: Miss Jessica Milly Smith T: Julian Smith	Fast-ground 3m chase winner in 2021 when with Adrian Wintle; ran only in points in 2022, winning one over 3m2f and unseating in the most recent of them in November; 5lb below that win in 2021 for this return to rules but others preferred.	20/1

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

4th

31st May 2023

Good To Firm

3m 2f 0y

Class 4

17:40 Warwick

10st 5lb

Plugged on for modest third in marathon handicap chase on rules return in January and can be excused last month's hunter chase defeat (tough task); will be suited by the forecast fast ground but it's hard to gauge what this 12yo is capable of over hurdles nowadays; others preferred.

25/1

4th

26th Apr 2023

Good To Soft

2m 7f 171y

Class 4

16:53 Ludlow

11st 12lb

held up in rear, pushed along 11th, struggling when mistake 3 out

50/1

3rd

1st Jan 2023

Good To Soft

3m 5f 24y

Class 5

12:35 Fakenham

11st 1lb

Fast-ground 3m chase winner in 2021 when with Adrian Wintle; ran only in points in 2022, winning one over 3m2f and unseating in the most recent of them in November; 5lb below that win in 2021 for this return to rules but others preferred.

20/1

Form: 312-P4 C

Last run: 23 days

W: 12st 2lb

14 yo Gelding

OR: 103

Form & Verdict

Place / No / Draw	Date / Going / Distance / Class	Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer	Verdict	Starting price
3	26th Apr 2023 Good To Soft 2m 7f 171y Class 4	16:53 Ludlow Bletchley Castle 12st 2lb J: Mr Tommie M O’Brien T: Miss H Brookshaw
4th 1	3rd Apr 2023 Soft 2m 4f 11y Class 4	16:30 Ludlow Bletchley Castle 12st 2lb J: Mr Tommie M O’Brien T: Miss H Brookshaw	Front-running teenager who beat Zamparelli to win this race last year (good ground); easily reeled in after jumping right-handed on seasonal debut at Southwell (3m) last month but can last longer here, providing the ground dries out.	12/1
4	6th Mar 2023 Good 3m 0f 60y Class 5	14:25 Southwell Bletchley Castle 12st 2lb J: Mr Tommie M O’Brien T: Miss H Brookshaw	jumped right throughout, prominent, led from 2nd, soon clear, reduced lead after 9th, headed but prominent 12th	33/1

Place /
No / Draw

Date / Going /
Distance / Class

Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer

Verdict

Starting price

26th Apr 2023

Good To Soft

2m 7f 171y

Class 4

16:53 Ludlow

12st 2lb

4th

3rd Apr 2023

Soft

2m 4f 11y

Class 4

16:30 Ludlow

12st 2lb

Front-running teenager who beat Zamparelli to win this race last year (good ground); easily reeled in after jumping right-handed on seasonal debut at Southwell (3m) last month but can last longer here, providing the ground dries out.

12/1

6th Mar 2023

Good

3m 0f 60y

Class 5

14:25 Southwell

12st 2lb