December 14 / 13.55 Warwick

13.55

Heavy

M-Tec Engineering Solutions Novices’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £5281
  • 2m 0f 54y
  • Class 4
  • 5 runners
RTV
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M-Tec Engineering Solutions Novices’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

OUR TIP

Abandoned

Form: /2214- D

Last run: 278 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Strong form as a novice hurdler and a good fourth in the always-competitive EBF Final (handicap) at Sandown on his final run (2m4f, heavy; first run in a tongue-tie); they're evidently keen to get him chasing and this mark could be okay.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

6th May 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 216y

Class 2

13:45 Newton Abbot

Etalon

12st 0lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Fitting of cheekpieces sparked a revival in December, when landing a fifth success over fences at Ascot (2m3f, good to soft); followed that up with a career-best RPR when third off this mark there (2m5f) the following month; respected but he'll need to leave behind a lesser effort last time.

7/2

Form: /P114- D

Last run: 243 days

W: 11st 6lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Four starts for this yard, winning in maiden/handicap company (on soft) and the disappointments came on good to soft; this company represents a step up on his chase debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

6th May 2024

Good

2m 0f 54y

Class 4

16:25 Warwick

Fiston De Becon

12st 0lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Dual hurdle winner who made it 2-5 over fences when completing a double at Hereford (2m, good to soft) last month; that was a three-runner race but he forged clear to beat a well-backed rival from the Nicholls yard and is open to more progress; big player.

11/8

1st

1

6th May 2024

Good

2m 0f 54y

Class 4

16:25 Warwick

Fiston De Becon

12st 0lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Dual hurdle winner who made it 2-5 over fences when completing a double at Hereford (2m, good to soft) last month; that was a three-runner race but he forged clear to beat a well-backed rival from the Nicholls yard and is open to more progress; big player.

11/8

1st

3

14th Apr 2024

Soft

2m 0f 8y

Class 4

13:47 Hereford

Fiston De Becon

11st 4lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Justified favouritism in four-runner field at Southwell (2m, soft; off 4lb lower) last month, opening his chase account at the fourth attempt; may build on that win and warrants respect.

6/4

Form: 23125- D BF

Last run: 242 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
Bumper winner who won a good-ground maiden hurdle at Huntingdon before showing even better form in defeat on soft at Newbury; below par on her final run; has been running over 2m4f so this is a sharper test now chasing; still respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

6th Apr 2024

Heavy

2m 3f 207y

Class 4

14:45 Uttoxeter

Blue Beach

11st 13lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Mel Rowley

Ran okay over fences before returning to hurdles with the cheekpieces back on and going close in a 2m4f handicap hurdle at Market Rasen (soft); another big run looks on the cards off just 2lb higher.

7/2

2nd

2

6th Apr 2024

Heavy

2m 3f 207y

Class 4

14:45 Uttoxeter

Blue Beach

11st 13lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Mel Rowley

Ran okay over fences before returning to hurdles with the cheekpieces back on and going close in a 2m4f handicap hurdle at Market Rasen (soft); another big run looks on the cards off just 2lb higher.

7/2

Form: 32235- D

Last run: 249 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Only 1-10 over hurdles and he's 12lb higher than for his sole win (2m, soft); looks on a tough mark and others may have greater potential in this new discipline.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

30th Oct 2025

Good To Firm

2m 7f 91y

Class 5

13:38 Newcastle

Couldbeaweapon

11st 12lb

J: Tom Midgley

T: Sam England

Has won his last two handicap chases, at Southwell (2m4f, good) and last time a conditional riders' event at Sedgefield by 17l (2m5f, good; clear leader fell four out); went up 10lb for that even though he wasn't sure to have won; can run off his old mark here; contender.

5/6

3

30th Oct 2025

Good To Firm

2m 7f 91y

Class 5

13:38 Newcastle

Couldbeaweapon

11st 12lb

J: Tom Midgley

T: Sam England

Has won his last two handicap chases, at Southwell (2m4f, good) and last time a conditional riders' event at Sedgefield by 17l (2m5f, good; clear leader fell four out); went up 10lb for that even though he wasn't sure to have won; can run off his old mark here; contender.

5/6

1st

2

19th Oct 2025

Good

2m 5f 28y

Class 5

14:30 Sedgefield

Couldbeaweapon

11st 4lb

J: Tom Midgley

T: Sam England

Pretty consistent and the front two were clear when off the mark over fences (1-14) at Southwell (2m4f, good) 17 days ago; has gone up 8lb but Tom Midgley takes away 3lb out of that with his claim.

13/8

Form: 774-40 C

Last run: 34 days

W: 10st 3lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Bumper winner on debut (heavy); was looking mildly progressive in handicap hurdles until finishing tailed off at Exeter last time; not easily trusted on the back of that effort now sent over fences.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

13

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 203y

Class 2

15:20 Haydock

Filanderer

11st 0lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Hughie Morrison

Pulled up in the Ultima at Cheltenham last month but that was his first attempt at a staying trip and he failed to settle out wide; went to the Festival having won five of his previous six starts (2m3f-2m5f, various ground) and he could bounce back with a big effort now back down in trip and grade.

7/1

19

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 0y

Class 1

15:20 Cheltenham

Filanderer

10st 2lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Hughie Morrison

10yo who is lightly raced for his age and made it five wins from his last six starts (various ground) when scoring comfortably in a veterans' chase at Market Rasen in January (extended 2m5f; the longest trip he's tackled); this is a hot race in which to test his stamina, and from out of the handicap he's 11lb higher than last time, but he was strong at the finish and the form is working out very well; it remains to be seen where his limitations lie.

50/1

1st

7

16th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 89y

Class 2

14:05 Market Rasen

Filanderer

10st 3lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Hughie Morrison

4-9 over fences, including 2m3f course win; didn't jump well enough when below form at Newbury in November but is versatile regarding ground and could plausibly still have more improvement to come.

5/1

Verdict

This may go the way of ETALON who held his own in Sandown’s always-strong EBF Final on his final start over hurdles. Blue Beach could be better over 2m4f but this will be a test under these conditions and she’s feared most.[Alistair Jones]

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Etalon

POSTDATA:

Fiston De Becon

WEST COUNTRY:

Couldbeaweapon

The Times:

Etalon

Telegraph:

Etalon

The Guardian:

Etalon

Daily Mail:

Etalon

D Express:

Etalon

The Sun:

Etalon

The Star:

Etalon

Daily Record:

Etalon

Daily Mirror:

Fiston De Becon