April 27 / 15.30 Perth

15.30

Good To Soft

Phil Nelson River Tay Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £13007.5
  • 2m 4f 20y
  • Class 2
  • 4 runners
RTV
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Phil Nelson River Tay Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 4 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

OUR TIP

8/13 (Won)

  • Win: £2.00

Form: 3-2111 D

Last run: 40 days

W: 11st 10lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 138

Form & Verdict
Has won three of his four starts for this yard and passed his stiffest test yet when outstaying an in-form rival over 2m2f at Kempton (good to soft; pair clear); has every chance of defying just a 4lb rise.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

23rd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 20y

Class 2

15:10 Perth

Whistleinthedark

11st 0lb

J: Miss Ellie Callwood

T: L J Morgan

11yo who was tailed off at Cheltenham in December and pulled up at Haydock this month on sole run since; arrives with something to prove but three visits to Perth have yielded two wins, including this race in 2023, so he's worth a second look; a first-time visor replaces cheekpieces.

25/1

9

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 203y

Class 2

15:20 Haydock

Whistleinthedark

11st 3lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: L J Morgan

Inconsistent last year but won twice (3m/2m4f, good/soft), those victories coming on the back of respective breaks of 89 and 120 days; may be best caught fresh nowadays so is worth a second look after 113 days off.

33/1

1

13th Jul 2025

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 3

15:43 Perth

Whistleinthedark

12st 0lb

J: Harry Reed

T: L J Morgan

Back in rude health over C&D (good) in May, easily beating Saint Arvans to win by 20l, and his subsequent Market Rasen fourth (2m5f, good) was also a good effort; still well handicapped on old form; shortlisted.

3/1

Form: 0-1077 D

Last run: 33 days

W: 11st 7lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 135

Form & Verdict
Very smart on his day and potentially well handicapped; however, he's become notoriously hard to predict and comes here after three heavy defeats in varying headgear; cheekpieces return this time; risky.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

4

30th Mar 2024

Heavy

2m 3f 203y

Class 2

15:15 Haydock

Riders Onthe Storm

11st 8lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Richard Hobson

/Just two runs this season and, following a wind op, he returned to form with a good second at Doncaster (2m, good to soft) four weeks ago; he's fine over this trip and on soft/heavy going, and is one to consider.

9/2

2nd

7

2nd Mar 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 78y

Class 2

14:35 Doncaster

Riders Onthe Storm

10st 3lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Richard Hobson

Grade 1 chase winner in 2020 but has regressed and become very inconsistent; finished remote when third of four in veterans' chase at Aintree (2m4f, soft) on Boxing Day and is not sure to be suited by today's drop back in trip; had wind surgery last month; cheekpieces refitted; others have much more persuasive profiles.

16/1

Form: -44424

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 2lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
Former high-class hurdler; only 1-13 over fences but has performed creditably on a number of occasions and good to soft ground wouldn't have been deep enough when below his best at Carlisle 19 days ago; rain would bring him into it.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

7th Jun 2025

Good

2m 4f 15y

Class 5

16:40 Hexham

Cornerstone Lad

12st 0lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Micky Hammond

Regressive 11yo; returned from layoff with two disappointing runs in February and absent for another 101 days since but will be favoured by the forecast rain here and is too well handicapped to rule out.

12/1

6th

5

26th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 3f 85y

Class 4

15:18 Wetherby

Cornerstone Lad

11st 11lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Micky Hammond

always behind

16/1

10th

9

1st Feb 2025

Soft

2m 3f 85y

Class 3

14:08 Wetherby

Cornerstone Lad

10st 12lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Micky Hammond

High-class hurdler in his prime but it's now over three years since his latest win; ended last season with some very respectable efforts and resumes on a tempting mark but younger rivals appeal more all the same; swaps blinkers for refitted cheekpieces.

14/1

Form: /1P-09 D

Last run: 33 days

W: 11st 3lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 131

Form & Verdict
Useful on his day for Paul Nicholls but was quiet on his final two runs for that yard and again on his debut for this one; well handicapped but with questions to answer at the minute.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

27th Apr 2023

Good To Soft

2m 4f 20y

Class 2

15:30 Perth

Kapcorse

11st 3lb

J: Lilly Pinchin

T: Billy Aprahamian

Useful on his day for Paul Nicholls but was quiet on his final two runs for that yard and again on his debut for this one; well handicapped but with questions to answer at the minute.

12/1

9th

2

25th Mar 2023

Good To Soft

2m 7f 86y

Class 3

17:00 Newbury

Kapcorse

12st 0lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Billy Aprahamian

Lightly raced 9yo who was very good at times for Paul Nicholls, including his two 2m6f handicap wins at the big early-season meeting here; quiet on his final two runs for that top yard but could be interesting if revived by a change of scenery.

20/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £3.70
Straight Forecast £4.40
Trifecta £5.90

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Whistleinthedark

WEST COUNTRY:

Riders Onthe Storm

TOPSPEED:

Cornerstone Lad

RP Ratings:

Whistleinthedark

The Times:

Whistleinthedark

Telegraph:

Whistleinthedark

The Guardian:

Whistleinthedark

Daily Mail:

Whistleinthedark

Daily Mirror:

Whistleinthedark

The Sun:

Whistleinthedark

The Star:

Whistleinthedark

Daily Record:

Whistleinthedark

D Express:

Riders Onthe Storm

POSTDATA:

Cornerstone Lad