16.55
Softtote Fantasy, Whos In Your Stable Chester Plate Handicap (For The Bobby Mcalpine Memorial Cup)
- Prize money: £25480
- 2m 2f 140y
- Class 2
- 17 runners
Runners: 17 runners
Type: Flat Turf
Surface: Turf
Weather: Showers
25/1 (Won)
- Win: £46.50
- Place: £8.60
Form: 66/11/
Last run: 722 days
W: 9st 11lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: 84
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
10th 9 |
1st Aug 2025 Good 2m 4f 97y Class 2 |
8st 4lb |
All three wins have been on soft going, the most recent in impressive style in the Chester Plate (2m2f, soft) in May 2023 off 1lb higher than today; absent 678 days before his encouraging fifth to Aggagio here in June, followed by a lesser show in last of three at Beverley but that was on good; very much one to note if he gets his ground. |
8/1 |
|
2 (3) |
15th Jul 2025 Good To Firm 2m 0f 32y Class 3 |
9st 11lb |
Returned from a long absence with fair fifth at Goodwood (2m, soft) last month and there's every chance he'll have improved for that outing; however, soft ground seems preferable so he could do with lots of rain. |
7/1 |
2/1
- Place: £1.30
Form: 412-11 C
Last run: 21 days
W: 10st 0lb
4 yo Gelding
OR: 85
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 1 (5) |
6th Apr 2024 Standard To Slow 1m 7f 218y Class 2 |
10st 0lb |
Ended last term with heavy defeats in the Irish Cesarewitch and Group 1 Prix Royal-Oak; up to that he'd had a cracking campaign in handicaps, in which the first of three wins came over C&D first time out (his last AW run), and he still looks on a highly competitive mark if reappearing at the top of his game. |
11/2 |
|
4th 1 (5) |
6th Apr 2024 Standard To Slow 1m 7f 218y Class 2 |
10st 0lb |
Ended last term with heavy defeats in the Irish Cesarewitch and Group 1 Prix Royal-Oak; up to that he'd had a cracking campaign in handicaps, in which the first of three wins came over C&D first time out (his last AW run), and he still looks on a highly competitive mark if reappearing at the top of his game. |
11/2 |
|
15th 4 (32) |
24th Sep 2023 Yielding To Soft 2m 0f 165y |
10st 0lb |
in touch with leaders |
14/1 |
7/1
- Place: £2.80
Form: 0543-5 C
Last run: 13 days
W: 9st 12lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 85
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
9th 2 (3) |
14th Jun 2025 Good To Soft 1m 7f 196y Class 4 |
9st 8lb |
Competitive form at this track in 2023 and didn't run too badly when eighth in last season's Chester Plate; however, it was after a year off when tailed off here two weeks ago and that run was worrying. |
20/1 |
|
11th 1 (1) |
31st May 2025 Good To Soft 1m 7f 196y Class 4 |
10st 0lb |
Ran some big races on Flat in 2023 and three of them were at this track; fair eighth of 16 in the Chester Plate last May but that was his only appearance last year; dropped 5lb in his absence but whether this is the time to latch on to him remains to be seen. |
25/1 |
|
11th 1 (1) |
31st May 2025 Good To Soft 1m 7f 196y Class 4 |
10st 0lb |
Ran some big races on Flat in 2023 and three of them were at this track; fair eighth of 16 in the Chester Plate last May but that was his only appearance last year; dropped 5lb in his absence but whether this is the time to latch on to him remains to be seen. |
25/1 |
14/1
Form: 2812-2
Last run: 13 days
W: 9st 5lb
4 yo Gelding
OR: 79
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
10 (11) |
29th Jun 2024 Standard 2m 0f 56y Class 2 |
9st 6lb |
Consistent spell culminated in a creditable fourth in the 2023 Chester Plate; well beaten in just two starts since; has question marks over current form and the surface (AW debut). |
25/1 |
|
13th 10 (13) |
16th Jun 2024 Good 1m 6f 0y Class 4 |
9st 1lb |
2m course winner (good) in August 2022, when 4lb lower; only seen four times since, producing back-to-back career bests on soft, over 2m/2m2f last season; returns from a year off looking well treated if he is ready; market can guide in that respect; trainer's string in good form. |
20/1 |
|
4 (7) |
11th Jun 2023 Good To Firm 2m 0f 32y Class 4 |
9st 7lb |
in touch with leaders, dropped to rear and ridden after 5f |
7/2 |
14/1
Form: 406-64 BF
Last run: 13 days
W: 9st 11lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 84
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
8th 3 (7) |
3rd Nov 2023 Heavy 2m 0f 0y Class 4 |
9st 12lb |
Won four-runner race at Beverley (2m, soft) in July but out of form since; soundly beaten last time in the Cesarewitch here for the third year running; well handicapped if this proved one of his good days. |
14/1 |
|
0 26 (11) |
14th Oct 2023 Good To Soft 2m 2f 0y Class 2 |
8st 5lb |
Well beaten in this race in 2021 and 2022 and even further adrift in the Trial three weeks ago on his only other race at Newmarket; good ground for all three of those was probably not ideal and he'd be well handicapped if this proved one of his best days, but others look more solid. |
100/1 |
18/1
Form: /8/10/
Last run: 1036 days
W: 9st 9lb
8 yo Gelding
OR: 82
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3rd 3 |
19th Apr 2025 Soft 3m 2f 105y Class 4 |
11st 13lb |
Smart hurdler and useful chaser in his prime but on a losing wicket over fences for a long time; perhaps he'll be all the better for a return to hurdles, for the first time in three years, but that's up in the air. |
14/1 |
|
3rd 3 |
19th Apr 2025 Soft 3m 2f 105y Class 4 |
11st 13lb |
led |
14/1 |
|
3rd 4 |
23rd Feb 2025 Good To Soft 3m 1f 44y Class 4 |
11st 12lb |
Very useful hurdler/chaser in his prime but has regressed and become inconsistent; ran very poorly in Lingfield marathon last month and needs to respond very positively to the addition of blinkers here. |
9/1 |
18/1
Form: 7021-7
Last run: 21 days
W: 9st 6lb
4 yo Gelding
OR: 80
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2 |
1st Oct 2025 Good 2m 5f 5y Class 3 |
11st 12lb |
Consistent gelding who ran up to his best when third in a Class 2 handicap over this trip at Newton Abbot in August (2m5f); unlikely to be far away. |
4/1 |
|
6 |
30th Aug 2025 Good 2m 5f 122y Class 2 |
10st 9lb |
Collected a good prize at Plumpton (2m4f, good) in April and has made the frame on all fourth subsequent appearances; can cope if the ground softens here and will probably be on the premises again. |
8/1 |
20/1
Form: 1-4365 C
Last run: 31 days
W: 9st 12lb
5 yo Filly
OR: 85
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 1 (8) |
1st Jul 2023 Good 1m 7f 196y Class 4 |
9st 11lb |
0-6 this year but ran respectably in first-time blinkers at Goodwood (1m6f) most recently; interesting off a workable mark in the retained headgear, with the return to 2m looking ideal; C&D winner in 2021. |
2/1 |
|
4th 5 (4) |
16th Jun 2023 Good To Firm 1m 6f 0y Class 4 |
9st 8lb |
2lb lower than when successful at Chelmsford (2m, AW) last November, but recent efforts raise doubts over whether she can take advantage so she needs the first-time blinkers to help turn things around. |
9/2 |
9/2
Form: 437-61
Last run: 14 days
W: 9st 2lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: 72
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2nd 3 |
19th May 2026 Good To Soft 2m 0f 48y Class 5 |
11st 12lb |
Took big step back in right direction and arguably ran better than bare form suggests when fifth at Wetherby (2m, good to soft) in March, but was generally very disappointing last season; others have more appealing profiles. |
16/1 |
16/1
Form: 223-48
Last run: 24 days
W: 9st 3lb
4 yo Filly
OR: 77
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
8th 2 |
1st May 2026 Yielding 2m 0f 45y |
12st 0lb |
Record of 1-19 over timber; three-time winner on the Flat has placed in two starts in that sphere since falling over hurdles at Leopardstown in March; recent form suggests she's fit and healthy but poor strike rate over hurdles is off-putting. |
14/1 |
|
2nd 6 (3) |
26th Apr 2026 Good 1m 7f 217y Class 4 |
9st 2lb |
Had three seasons with Andrew Balding, including three wins, and has been with this yard since July 2023, including for two wins (one over hurdles) and plenty of place returns; third over 1m4f in her only two Flat runs in the last 13 months, including under Patrick McGettigan 17 days ago, and her very solid Flat record for this trainer suggests she will be on the premises. |
7/1 |
8/1
Form: 1/8/1- CD
Last run: 371 days
W: 9st 8lb
6 yo Mare
OR: 81
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
11th 11 (10) |
12th May 2023 Soft 2m 2f 140y Class 2 |
9st 8lb |
Has a slight doubt over her current form, based on her results over jumps this year; however, won this contest (off 4lb lower; good ground) in 2022 when last seen on the Flat and remains unexposed in this sphere; acts on soft; has to be feared back here. |
8/1 |
|
6th 2 |
21st Apr 2023 Good To Soft 3m 0f 70y Class 2 |
11st 4lb |
prominent, led narrowly or disputed lead 1st, led overall before 7th |
6/1 |
|
10 |
14th Mar 2023 Soft 3m 5f 201y Class 1 |
11st 0lb |
Her greatest test of stamina was a hurdles win (3m2f, soft) and she also won the 2m2f Chester Plate on Flat; none of her form gives her a say in this, however, and soundly beaten this season in her two starts over fences. |
100/1 |
25/1
Form: 7-5007 C
Last run: 28 days
W: 9st 6lb
5 yo Gelding
OR: 79
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
4th 4 (1) |
18th May 2026 Good 1m 2f 0y Class 5 |
9st 5lb |
Held off his revised mark since an AW win late last year; not a bad effort back from a break returned to turf at Chester (1m4f; good record first time out in his younger years) last time and this is less competitive. |
8/1 |
|
8th 15 (10) |
8th May 2026 Good 1m 4f 63y Class 4 |
9st 4lb |
Ended 2025 with emphatic AW win at Wolverhampton (9.4f, AW) and came second on both AW starts in January (1m2f/9.4f); absent since lesser effort in February and not ideally drawn today but has two course wins (including a division of this race in 2024) on his CV; could have a say. |
14/1 |
10/1
Form: 4319-4
Last run: 28 days
W: 9st 11lb
4 yo Colt
OR: 85
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1st 5 |
30th May 2026 Good To Firm 2m 2f 148y Class 3 |
11st 2lb |
All three wins over hurdles have been over C&D; returned to form when beaten a neck over C&D (good) last month and filled the same position at Aintree (2m1f, good) 15 days ago; is a major force around here and must come into the reckoning. |
2/1 |
|
2nd 5 |
15th May 2026 Good 2m 0f 209y Class 4 |
11st 10lb |
Gained all three hurdle wins at Stratford; returned to form with close second there (2m2f, good) last month and can probably cope with subsequent 2lb nudge but he's away from his favourite track today. |
6/1 |
|
2nd 4 |
19th Apr 2026 Good 2m 2f 148y Class 5 |
11st 13lb |
Gained all three hurdle wins over C&D on good ground, the latest by 7l from the front last June; ran well to a point here last month, after a layoff, and will be dangerous off this mark if that outing brought him on. |
10/1 |
20/1
Form: /8352- BF
Last run: 210 days
W: 9st 9lb
6 yo Gelding
OR: 82
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
8th 1 |
5th Jan 2024 Soft 1m 7f 124y Class 5 |
11st 12lb |
Useful Flat-racer at his best; yet to fully transfer that ability to hurdles but he was a fair second behind an easy Irish-trained winner at Bangor (2m, heavy) three weeks ago and may still have more to offer in this code. |
6/1 |
|
2nd 2 |
15th Dec 2023 Heavy 2m 0f 145y Class 5 |
11st 8lb |
Useful Flat-racer at his best; yet to build upon last winter's quite promising hurdling debut but, following a break, ran well to a point on recent handicap debut at Sedgefield (2m1f, soft); sports first-time blinkers here and has possibilities if that recent outing brought him on. |
4/1 |
|
7th 1 |
28th Nov 2023 Soft 2m 0f 178y Class 5 |
12st 0lb |
Five wins at up to 2m on the Flat for Hughie Morrison and his final appearance was under that code when tailed off in the consolation race for the Chester Cup in May; had shown some ability over hurdles before then and now makes his handicap hurdle debut in a modest race. |
9/2 |
Form: 54/18-
Last run: 230 days
W: 9st 12lb
7 yo Mare
OR: 85
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
19 |
12th Mar 2025 Good To Soft 2m 5f 0y Class 1 |
10st 11lb |
Usually claimer ridden but now has Harry Cobden; the last of her ten wins was in August 2022; still shows plenty on occasions, including when seventh in the Pertemps Final last March and a close second back at Cheltenham (2m4f, good) three starts back; pulled up with cheekpieces enlisted on latest start; that headgear is now discarded but she's not the percentage call. |
33/1 |
|
2 |
22nd Feb 2025 Soft 2m 7f 131y Class 2 |
11st 9lb |
Usually claimer ridden; the last of her ten wins was in August 2022; still shows plenty on occasions, including when seventh in the Pertemps Final last March and a close second back at Cheltenham (2m4f) on penultimate outing; she performed far worse in the Musselburgh qualifier three weeks ago than she did last year, however, which sees cheekpieces enlisted. |
20/1 |
|
8th 2 |
2nd Feb 2025 Good To Soft 2m 7f 180y Class 2 |
12st 0lb |
The last of her ten wins was in August 2022 but she still shows plenty on occasions, including when a strong-finishing fourth in this race last year and a close second at Cheltenham (2m4f) on latest outing; usually claimer ridden; place contender. |
10/1 |
Form: 616-34 C
Last run: 44 days
W: 9st 9lb
7 yo Gelding
OR: 82
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3 (8) |
25th Jul 2025 Good To Soft 2m 0f 56y Class 4 |
9st 6lb |
9yo who has returned from a long absence in pretty good heart, finishing third at Chester (2m, good) then fourth from off the pace at Kempton (2m, AW; Molten Sea second); might not be far away. |
12/1 |
|
4th 1 (7) |
9th Jul 2025 Standard To Slow 1m 7f 218y Class 4 |
9st 9lb |
9yo who returned from two-year absence with creditable third at Chester (2m, good) at the end of May; also effective over this C&D and he may be able to build on that latest performance; chance. |
7/1 |
Form: 62611-
Last run: 196 days
W: 9st 7lb
5 yo Filly
OR: 80
| Place / No / Draw |
Date / Going /
Distance / Class |
Time + Course Horse + Weight Jockey / Trainer |
Verdict | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
11th 4 (1) |
19th Aug 2023 Good 1m 6f 0y Class 3 |
9st 0lb |
Came good on Flat last autumn with 2m wins at Ascot (good) and Newmarket (good to soft); more to prove on soft, as her latest start (heavy defeat at Ascot) confirms but she was in good form going into that; usual cheekpieces are replaced by a visor. |
10/1 |
|
6th 7 (9) |
28th Jul 2023 Good 1m 7f 209y Class 3 |
9st 11lb |
Came good on Flat last autumn with 2m wins here (good) and at Newmarket (good to soft; more to prove on soft); seconds this month at Chester and York confirm she's a big player if the ground is okay. |
6/1 |
|
2nd 3 (8) |
15th Jul 2023 Good 2m 0f 56y Class 4 |
9st 9lb |
slightly awkward start, towards rear on outer, pushed along briefly halfway |
6/1 |
Non-runners
Anna Bunina, Hydroplane, Malakahna
+o+e Accumulators
| Payout | |
|---|---|
| Exacta | £117.10 |
| Straight Forecast | £76.42 |
| Tricast | £470.78 |
| Trifecta | £1124.10 |
Selections
Daily Mirror:
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