December 13 / 14.05 Leicester

14.05

Heavy

William Hill Pick Your Places Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £3696.7
  • 2m 6f 151y
  • Class 5
  • 6 runners
RTV
View Course
William Hill Pick Your Places Handicap Chase

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

OUR TIP

11/2 (Won)

  • Win: £3.00
  • Place: £1.60

Form: 5446-3

Last run: 34 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Became rather disappointing after last season's novice hurdle win and was just a modest third on last month's chasing debut at Ludlow (2m4f, good to soft); will appreciate today's ease in grade but probably still needs help from the added cheekpieces; effective on soft ground; unraced on heavy.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 30y

Class 3

14:15 Bangor-on-Dee

Val Dancer

11st 12lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Mel Rowley

Last season was one to remember, winning the Welsh National and later second in the Grand National Trial at Haydock; 0-4 this campaign but it's been anything but a washout and he should be dangerous off this mark, for all that he's made his name over further.

4/1

4th

4

21st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

4m 1f 56y

Class 2

14:43 Newcastle

Val Dancer

10st 3lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Mel Rowley

Won last season's Welsh National (extended 3m6f, soft) off 3lb lower and second in the Grand National Trial at Haydock; near that form on second start this term, before a lesser show (weak in the market) in the Surrey National at Lingfield; needs to be back at his peak and there are mixed messages.

8/1

4th

4

19th Jan 2026

Soft

3m 4f 178y

Class 3

13:50 Lingfield

Val Dancer

11st 10lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Mel Rowley

Bettered underwhelming seasonal debut when placed over the big Aintree fences (3m2f, soft) last month and remains only 4lb higher than when winning last season's Welsh National (3m6f, soft); high on the list.

6/1

6/4

  • Place: £1.80

Form: 26-451

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 8lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 98

Form & Verdict
Ex-French 5yo who came good on British chasing debut at Ffos Las (2m3f, soft) three weeks ago; went up 5lb for that but the front pair pulled well clear of the others; major player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

5th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 35y

Class 4

16:15 Wincanton

Royal Mer

12st 0lb

J: Rian Corcoran

T: David Pipe

Six chase wins, the latest here (1m7f, heavy) under Rian Corcoran 19 days ago; still on workable mark after recent 5lb rise and will be fine over today's longer trip but the faster ground is probably not in his favour.

9/2

1st

1

14th Feb 2026

Heavy

1m 7f 149y

Class 4

14:50 Wincanton

Royal Mer

12st 2lb

J: Rian Corcoran

T: David Pipe

Five-time chase winner who relishes testing ground; runner-up in his first two starts this season including a close call at Exeter (2m1f, good to soft), but his form cooled at Hereford last time; needs to step up again after that but he remains well treated on his old form.

7/2

3rd

1

26th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 0f 8y

Class 4

15:00 Hereford

Royal Mer

11st 13lb

J: Rian Corcoran

T: David Pipe

Five-time chase winner who relishes testing ground; runner-up on both starts this term and looks sure to go close.

13/8

Form: 32141F D

Last run: 16 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Three chase wins this season, the latest gained at Taunton (2m7f, good to soft) last month; held narrow advantage before penultimate-fence fall at Ludlow (3m, good to soft) 16 days ago and might still be improving; not yet proven on heavy ground but handles soft well; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

10

28th Jun 2024

Good

3m 0f 30y

Class 4

17:40 Bangor-on-Dee

Justshortofabubble

10st 10lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Grace Harris

Three-time chase winner (including C&D), but he's been well held over fences and hurdles in last three runs; made a mistake at a crucial stage at Southwell last time but he needs to get right back near his best on this return to fences.

8/1

8th

10

11th Jun 2024

Good

3m 0f 60y

Class 5

18:05 Southwell

Justshortofabubble

10st 11lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Grace Harris

held up in rear

13/2

4th

8

28th May 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 32y

Class 5

18:55 Bangor-on-Dee

Justshortofabubble

10st 11lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Grace Harris

Three chase wins last season, the latest gained at Taunton (2m7f, good to soft) in November; has 6lb lower hurdle mark but remains without a win in this discipline after 17 attempts and tends to need his first run back from a break (absent since December); others make more appeal.

6/1

Form: 2-3385 CD

Last run: 17 days

W: 10st 2lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
Scored over C&D on heavy ground in March 2021 but that remains his only win from 28 career starts; recent efforts have been uninspiring and he's 6lb wrong today; others look stronger.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

8th Mar 2024

Soft

3m 0f 54y

Class 5

15:40 Exeter

Bignorm

10st 2lb

J: Ben Poste

T: Rosemary Gasson

Veteran who ran respectably behind a couple of younger rivals at Southwell (3m, heavy) last month; however, it's three years since his sole success; not the percentage call.

10/1

3rd

9

18th Feb 2024

Soft

3m 0f 60y

Class 5

13:55 Southwell

Bignorm

10st 2lb

J: Ben Poste

T: Rosemary Gasson

disputed lead, lost position after 3 out, switched right and rallied before 2 out, weakened gradually after 2 out

10/1

4th

9

2nd Feb 2024

Good To Soft

3m 0f 60y

Class 5

13:25 Southwell

Bignorm

10st 2lb

J: Ben Poste

T: Rosemary Gasson

Scored on heavy ground in March 2021 but that remains his only win from 29 starts; place case can be made but others look stronger for the win.

16/1

Form: 284-76 C

Last run: 13 days

W: 11st 5lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Regressive 8yo who was soundly beaten on both appearances last month (2m4f/2m); ought to handle today's ground and continues to plummet down the weights but needs to turn a corner; goes beyond about 2m4f for first time under rules.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form: 4023-P

Last run: 21 days

W: 10st 12lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Ex-Irish maiden who hasn't shown a great deal for new stable this year; was struggling from early stage on last month's seasonal debut at Warwick and is very difficult to enthuse over at present.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

3rd Nov 2024

Good

2m 3f 137y

Class 4

14:33 Huntingdon

Moon Eagle

11st 0lb

J: Lee Edwards

T: Tom Gretton

0-6 over hurdles and hasn't run over them since March 2023 but unpenalised for 2m7f chase win here (good) in April and ran well over 2m4f at Cheltenham next time; place chance.

13/2

6

3rd Nov 2024

Good

2m 3f 137y

Class 4

14:33 Huntingdon

Moon Eagle

11st 0lb

J: Lee Edwards

T: Tom Gretton

0-6 over hurdles and hasn't run over them since March 2023 but unpenalised for 2m7f chase win here (good) in April and ran well over 2m4f at Cheltenham next time; place chance.

13/2

4th

6

27th May 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 129y

Class 5

16:25 Huntingdon

Moon Eagle

11st 2lb

J: Lee Edwards

T: Tom Gretton

disputing second, raced in third before 9th, outpaced and reminders 3 out, carried head awkwardly before 2 out, lost third last, weakened run-in

9/2

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £8.90
Straight Forecast £8.48
Trifecta £23.50

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Royal Mer

The Times:

Val Dancer

The Guardian:

Justshortofabubble

RP RATINGS:

Royal Mer

POSTDATA:

Royal Mer

WEST COUNTRY:

Royal Mer

Telegraph:

Royal Mer

Daily Mirror:

Royal Mer

The Sun:

Royal Mer

The Star:

Royal Mer

Daily Record:

Royal Mer

Daily Mail:

Val Dancer

D Express:

Val Dancer