November 24 / 14.00 Ascot

14.00

Good To Soft

S.A.F.E. Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £18210.5
  • 2m 5f 8y
  • Class 2
  • 8 runners
SKY
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S.A.F.E. Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

5/2 (Won)

  • Win: £3.75
  • Place: £1.50

Form: /15P-9 CD

Last run: 112 days

W: 11st 1lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 128

Form & Verdict
Having first run for 231 days when winning this very decisively 12 months ago off 5lb lower; hasn't progressed as expected in the meantime, latterly finishing well beaten at the Galway Festival, but looks on a handy mark if he can revive.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

2nd May 2026

Yielding

3m 0f 104y

15:45 Punchestown

Your Darling

11st 6lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

Most of five chase wins have come on decent ground, including last time when taking 3m Ludlow handicap (just 2 finishers) having been dropped in grade following some good runs in better-class handicaps; seems suited by going right-handed; respected.

12/1

1st

1

30th Mar 2026

Good

2m 7f 171y

Class 3

15:57 Ludlow

Your Darling

11st 13lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

Showed he stays 3m when only just missing out at Kempton in January (good) where he would probably have won but for fluffing the last fence; another good effort at Ascot (3m) since, when coming from a long way off the pace to take third; strong contender off his competitive mark.

15/8

3rd

3

14th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 185y

Class 1

15:00 Ascot

Your Darling

10st 13lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

Record of 2-3 over 2m5f at Ascot, all in the same November race; showed he stays 3m, at least under sharp conditions, at Kempton (good) most recently; this is a stiffer test at the trip.

8/1

12/1

  • Place: £2.40

Form: 0926-U D

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 11lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 138

Form & Verdict
8lb higher than for latest win in early 2022 but he very nearly won a valuable Kempton handicap in February off just 3lb lower; was fighting it out for the places when hampered and unseating over 3m here on his return (soft); drier conditions this time should be preferable; each-way claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

1

1st Apr 2025

Good

3m 0f 0y

Class 3

15:55 Kempton

Flegmatik

11st 11lb

J: Tristan Durrell

T: Dan Skelton

Three-time course winner (2m4f-3m); not quite at best this season but handicapped according, and went down fighting when a clear second here (2m4f, good) last month; likely contender.

9/4

2nd

1

1st Apr 2025

Good

3m 0f 0y

Class 3

15:55 Kempton

Flegmatik

11st 11lb

J: Tristan Durrell

T: Dan Skelton

Three-time course winner (2m4f-3m); not quite at best this season but handicapped according, and went down fighting when a clear second here (2m4f, good) last month; likely contender.

9/4

12/1

  • Place: £1.70

Form: 56-226 C

Last run: 31 days

W: 10st 7lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Proved to be a sitting duck after racing prominently at Exeter (3m, good) last month and dropped out up the straight; on a dangerous mark but that's been the case for a while now and he's without a win since early 2020 (a Grade 2 at this track); tongue-tie joins regular cheekpieces.
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

OUR TIP

Form: 44/2-2 BF

Last run: 16 days

W: 12st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 141

Form & Verdict
Defied a higher mark than today's when a smart front-running chaser for Paul Nicholls in 2021; returned from another absence to finish second at Musselburgh (2m, good to soft) where his jumping could have been sharper; unraced over this far and others may be stronger when it matters.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

1

22nd Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 86y

Class 3

17:35 Newbury

Fidelio Vallis

12st 0lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Harry Derham

Won at Musselburgh (2m4f, soft) on the first day of 2024, registering a career best; absent 334 days afterwards and he's weakened out of it on all four starts this season but latest was a step back in the right direction and he's dropped in class; tried cheekpieces penultimate start (they now return) and he's unproven beyond 2m4f (tried 3m2f last time).

8/1

6th

5

1st Mar 2025

Good To Soft

3m 2f 1y

Class 2

15:15 Doncaster

Fidelio Vallis

11st 5lb

J: Alice Stevens

T: Harry Derham

Career best to win under Alice Stevens at Musselburgh (2m4f) on the first day of 2024 but absent 334 days afterwards and he's weakened right out of it on all three starts this season; tried cheekpieces last time (they are now removed) and he's unproven beyond 2m4f (has tried 2m5f and 2m6f).

33/1

7th

6

1st Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 68y

Class 2

14:50 Musselburgh

Fidelio Vallis

11st 4lb

J: Alice Stevens

T: Harry Derham

prominent

9/1

12/1

Form: 23P-14 D

Last run: 15 days

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 129

Form & Verdict
Came 12l clear to open his chasing account at the eighth attempt at Ludlow (3m, good to soft) but a 6lb rise found him out in a deeper handicap at Newbury this month; others have the potential to be better treated.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

11

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 203y

Class 2

15:20 Haydock

Neon Moon

11st 1lb

J: Rian Corcoran

T: David Pipe

He won a four-runner handicap at Ascot (2m5f, good) in November but has failed to kick on subsequently, proving no match for Genois and Outlaw Peter when fifth at Exeter (2m3f, good to soft) four weeks ago.

18/1

5th

4

6th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 48y

Class 3

15:40 Exeter

Neon Moon

11st 7lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

Won an uncompetitive race by Ascot standards in November (2m5f) and then only fourth of six at Ludlow; fell mid-race back at Ascot last time; bit to prove on the balance of this form in the last 12 months.

15/2

Form: 2/1PF- D

Last run: 246 days

W: 10st 5lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Returned from a mammoth absence to win at Ludlow in January (2m4f, good to soft; after a wind op) and looked well handicapped that day off just 4lb lower despite prevailing by only a head; did not give his true running afterwards and has since had further wind surgery; of strong interest.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

9th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 48y

Class 4

16:08 Exeter

Fire Dancer

11st 9lb

J: Miss Lucy Turner

T: Venetia Williams

Just 1-14 over fences and needs to run better than on his two starts this winter, but he twice finished runner-up off higher marks last spring and perhaps the first-time cheekpieces will give him a boost; not discounted.

8/1

8

9th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 48y

Class 4

16:08 Exeter

Fire Dancer

11st 9lb

J: Miss Lucy Turner

T: Venetia Williams

Just 1-14 over fences and needs to run better than on his two starts this winter, but he twice finished runner-up off higher marks last spring and perhaps the first-time cheekpieces will give him a boost; not discounted.

8/1

5th

3

2nd Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 189y

Class 4

13:25 Huntingdon

Fire Dancer

11st 7lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

in rear

4/1

Form: 33P-62 D

Last run: 37 days

W: 11st 12lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 139

Form & Verdict
Not always the most fluent of jumpers but he only narrowly failed to defy a big weight back from a break at Wetherby (2m3f, good; has won on soft); a good record when fresh casts some doubts over whether he'll find anything on that form in this deeper contest.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

17th May 2025

Good

3m 0f 10y

Class 3

18:30 Uttoxeter

Mackenberg

12st 0lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Multiple winner at up to 2m5f but none since 2022 and the last year or so hasn't gone well; this belated step up to 3m (having run over 2m last time) is perhaps more in hope than expectation.

20/1

1

17th May 2025

Good

3m 0f 10y

Class 3

18:30 Uttoxeter

Mackenberg

12st 0lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Multiple winner at up to 2m5f but none since 2022 and the last year or so hasn't gone well; this belated step up to 3m (having run over 2m last time) is perhaps more in hope than expectation.

20/1

Form: 513P-4 D

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 127

Form & Verdict
Bled when pulled up in this 12 months ago; ran a pleasing race on comeback here 20 days ago especially as that 3m trip seems to stretch him; however, he may need soft or heavy ground to defy this sort of mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

4th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 54y

Class 5

16:10 Catterick

Zhiguli

11st 12lb

J: Mr Thomas Easterby

T: Mrs C A Coward

One-timer useful hurdler/chaser for Gary Moore; not quite the force of old, but won two small-field points on good ground last year; creditable third in a point last time; each-way chance.

11/4

4th

2

17th Feb 2024

Heavy

2m 3f 203y

Class 3

13:37 Haydock

Zhiguli

11st 8lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary Moore

Soundly beaten in a match at Fontwell (2m5f, heavy) last time but he bumped into a rejuvenated rival, who has followed up, and he's now dropped below his last winning mark; the testing conditions are right up his street and he's one to consider in first-time cheekpieces.

11/4

Non-runners

Risk And Roll

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £32.00
Straight Forecast £30.15
Tricast £121.98
Trifecta £177.30

Selections

LAMBOURN:

Fidelio Vallis

RP RATINGS:

Your Darling

TOPSPEED:

Flegmatik

SPOTLIGHT:

Fire Dancer

D Express:

Fire Dancer

WEST COUNTRY:

Your Darling

The Times:

Your Darling

The Star:

Your Darling

Telegraph:

Fidelio Vallis

Daily Mail:

Fidelio Vallis

Daily Mirror:

Fidelio Vallis

The Sun:

Fidelio Vallis

Daily Record:

Fidelio Vallis

POSTDATA:

Flegmatik

The Guardian:

Flegmatik