October 06 / 14.55 Fontwell

14.55

Good

Broadsword Group 25th Anniversary Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £12307.96
  • 2m 5f 135y
  • Class 2
  • 6 runners
SKY
View Course
Broadsword Group 25th Anniversary Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

OUR TIP

9/4 (Won)

  • Win: £4.50
  • Place: £1.80

Form: 196-23 BF

Last run: 96 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Six defeats over fences were in France and when highly tried by Charlie Mann; has since done quite well over hurdles for Jonjo O'Neill and in her two runs for this yard; handicapped to be competitive if continuing the good work returned to fences.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

22nd Mar 2025

Good

3m 0f 100y

Class 1

13:50 Kelso

Sacre Coeur

11st 0lb

J: Tristan Durrell

T: Dan Skelton

She's 2-17 over hurdles as opposed to 7-27 over fences and is unraced in this sphere since November 2023; however, won twice over fences this season (3m1f/2m4f, good/good to soft) and will be a major player if transferring that form back to hurdles.

8/1

1

27th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 7f 171y

Class 3

16:20 Ludlow

Sacre Coeur

12st 7lb

J: Harry Atkins

T: Dan Skelton

took keen hold, led, faced challenge from 12th, headed on turn before 4 out, weakening when unseated 3 out

3/1

1

19th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 11y

Class 3

15:05 Ludlow

Sacre Coeur

12st 0lb

J: Harry Atkins

T: Dan Skelton

Front-runner who went down narrowly last time at Uttoxeter (2m, good to soft), which was a good run over that far for one who stays 3m; Harry Atkins rides again and should hang around to have some say.

15/8

7/2

  • Place: £2.10

Form: 4656-2

Last run: 150 days

W: 11st 3lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Has dropped a long way down the weights for a reason but he steadied the ship with a second over 3m1f at Ludlow on final appearance in May (good to soft); shouldn't be long before getting his head back in front.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

29th Mar 2026

Good

2m 7f 185y

Class 2

16:50 Ascot

Copperhead

12st 0lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Joe Tizzard

Unseated rider (still prominent) at Sandown in January when seeking a second success in the veterans final; battled his way back to pip Gabbys Cross for a Newbury win (3m2f) four weeks ago and, although 5lb rise takes him to his highest mark since 2022, this sterling character needs major respect.

2/1

1st

7

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 214y

Class 2

15:15 Newbury

Copperhead

10st 11lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Joe Tizzard

Unseated rider three out, having still been prominent, at Sandown last time when bidding for a second success in the final of this series; remains on the last winning mark, so holds a fighting chance provided he's in good form and completes the course.

12/1

4

26th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

3m 1f 210y

Class 3

13:30 Fontwell

Copperhead

11st 11lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Form: 2231P3

Last run: 39 days

W: 10st 9lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
Winning for a sixth time over fences when beating four rivals at Worcester in July (2m7f, good); blinkers backfired next time but ran no more than okay with cheekpieces back on at Cartmel.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

29th Aug 2026

Good

2m 1f 61y

Class 4

16:25 Cartmel

Lermoos Legend

11st 8lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Mickey Bowen

Gained two of his nine chase wins over C&D; didn't find that much after travelling strongly here (2m5f, good) six weeks ago but was still only beaten about 4l; drops back in trip with Sean Bowen taking over from an amateur; must be considered.

7/2

3rd

2

18th Jul 2026

Good

2m 5f 34y

Class 4

17:30 Cartmel

Lermoos Legend

11st 11lb

J: Mr James Murray

T: Mickey Bowen

Nine-time chase winner including twice at Cartmel; didn't fire at Worcester in May but that was after a close second at Ffos Las (2m4f, good) and he's a player if he can recapture that form; not ruled out for yard that won this last year.

7/2

16/1

Form: 1-3248 D

Last run: 43 days

W: 11st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Won over hurdles (2m5f) and fences (2m4f; both on good to soft) earlier this year; signed off for Ben Pauling with two below-par efforts (fences/hurdles) and now looks to bounce back in a competitive race.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

6

1st Nov 2024

Good

2m 3f 207y

Class 4

14:35 Uttoxeter

Norley

11st 9lb

J: Beau Morgan

T: Ben Pauling

Chase and four-time hurdle winner (1m7f-2m5f) for this yard whom he has rejoined after two runs for Tom Gretton; well handicapped on old form but last success was 19 months ago and he's lost his way in last four runs.

20/1

11th

6

1st Nov 2024

Good

2m 3f 207y

Class 4

14:35 Uttoxeter

Norley

11st 9lb

J: Beau Morgan

T: Ben Pauling

midfield, weakened after 3 out, tailed off

20/1

5th

4

24th Sep 2024

Good

2m 1f 162y

Class 4

14:30 Fontwell

Norley

11st 6lb

J: Beau Morgan

T: Ben Pauling

Chase and four-time hurdle winner (1m7f-2m5f) for this yard whom he has rejoined after two runs for Tom Gretton; has lost his way and reappears for the first time since October, but record fresh bodes well.

9/1

Form: 5152P- D

Last run: 170 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
Struggled a bit after making a successful chase debut over 2m4f at Cheltenham last November (good) but it's still very early days in this discipline and he has a positive record when fresh; strongly considered.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

4th May 2026

Good

3m 5f 24y

Class 3

16:38 Fakenham

Unanswered Prayers

11st 5lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Chris Gordon

Well suited by a stamina test on good ground and lurks on a dangerous mark but has not been firing on all cylinders since running well on last season's reappearance outing in October; safely held when fourth in recent Sussex National; needs to up his game.

12/1

4th

9

6th Apr 2026

Good

3m 4f 104y

Class 2

16:25 Plumpton

Unanswered Prayers

10st 8lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Chris Gordon

Won the Southern National (3m3f, good) in November 2024 and he's on a dangerous mark on form as recent as October 2025; however, this 10yo hasn't threatened since and needs to raise his game.

14/1

3rd

4

8th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 5f 54y

Class 3

16:48 Warwick

Unanswered Prayers

11st 10lb

J: Freddie Gordon

T: Chris Gordon

Landed the Southern National at Fontwell (3m3f, good) last term; form this season features two respectable efforts at Cheltenham, including in 3m5f cross-country race; possibilities off an attractive mark.

7/1

Form: 2PP7-3 D

Last run: 158 days

W: 11st 8lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
Well handicapped on his best form and he signed off last season with a decent third at Kempton over 3m; probably better at this sort of distance and he'll like the ground; ran well to be second in this 12 months ago, for all that only three ran.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

25th May 2025

Good

2m 5f 164y

Class 4

14:58 Fontwell

Up The Straight

11st 5lb

J: James Davies

T: Richard Rowe

Useful over fences and hurdles in his prime; three races this spring represents his busiest spell for ages and he was second of four over fences at Exeter (3m, good) on second occasion, but return to hurdling saw him well held over C&D (despite similar form) one month ago.

25/1

5

25th May 2025

Good

2m 5f 164y

Class 4

14:58 Fontwell

Up The Straight

11st 5lb

J: James Davies

T: Richard Rowe

Useful over fences and hurdles in his prime; three races this spring represents his busiest spell for ages and he was second of four over fences at Exeter (3m, good) on second occasion, but return to hurdling saw him well held over C&D (despite similar form) one month ago.

25/1

7th

8

25th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 164y

Class 4

18:17 Fontwell

Up The Straight

10st 12lb

J: Niall Houlihan

T: Richard Rowe

Useful over fences and hurdles in his prime, winning four times at up to 2m5f; very lightly raced now but he showed signs of a revival when second of four over fences at Exeter (3m, good) three weeks ago; mark continues to fall and he's not ruled back in trip on return to hurdling.

12/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £12.80
Straight Forecast £16.25
Trifecta £49.30

Selections

The Guardian:

Sacre Coeur

SPOTLIGHT:

Up The Straight

WEST COUNTRY:

Copperhead

TOPSPEED:

Norley

Telegraph:

Unanswered Prayers

POSTDATA:

Lermoos Legend

The Times:

Norley

Daily Mail:

Sacre Coeur

D Express:

Sacre Coeur

The Sun:

Sacre Coeur

RP RATINGS:

Up The Straight

Daily Record:

Up The Straight

Daily Mirror:

Copperhead

The Star:

Copperhead