December 19 / 12.50 Wincanton

12.50

Soft

Stalbridge Novices’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £7287.78
  • 1m 7f 149y
  • Class 4
  • 6 runners
RTV
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Stalbridge Novices’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

OUR TIP

2/1 (Won)

  • Win: £3.50
  • Place: £1.60

Form: 2315-F D BF

Last run: 25 days

W: 12st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Bumper/hurdle winner at Chepstow (good to soft/soft); backed into favouritism for chase debut there last month and was moving well when falling three out; off the same mark he has to be seriously considered.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

7

11th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 199y

Class 1

16:00 Cheltenham

Libberty Hunter

11st 10lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Evan Williams

In touch and still going okay when falling three out in this race last year but it's difficult to ascertain where he'd have finished with a clear round; overall record at Cheltenham is 121FU, both wins in handicaps on the New course; ran creditably, one place behind Saint Segal, in the Game Spirit most recently; at the age of ten he's unlikely to find the major improvement that's needed on ratings.

66/1

3rd

5

7th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 0f 92y

Class 1

14:45 Newbury

Libberty Hunter

11st 2lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Evan Williams

Acts on heavy ground; continued his progress with a good second to Master Chewy in this contest 12 months ago and he meets the winner on better terms in this rematch; subsequent form comprises two non-completions at Cheltenham and a remote fourth, albeit facing stiff assignment, in the Tingle Creek; return to this scenario puts him in calculations.

7/1

5

12th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

1m 7f 199y

Class 1

16:00 Cheltenham

Libberty Hunter

11st 10lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: Evan Williams

Has form figures of 112312 in completed chase starts and 121 (three handicaps) at Cheltenham; good second in the Grand Annual on this card 12 months ago and filled the same position in the Game Spirit at Newbury most recently; progressive but has the lowest rating of the field.

33/1

14/1

  • Place: £3.00

Form: 774-40 D

Last run: 39 days

W: 10st 3lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Bumper winner on debut (heavy); was looking mildly progressive in handicap hurdles until running very flat last time at Exeter; might not be straightforward and looks best watched on chase debut.
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

Form: 174-52 D

Last run: 33 days

W: 10st 13lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
Only 2lb higher than for last season's hurdle success (2m, heavy) and he stepped up on his second chase start when runner-up at Taunton (2m2f, good to soft); looks a player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

3

9th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 0f 213y

Class 4

14:50 Stratford

Non Stop

11st 8lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Landed his fourth success over hurdles at Wincanton (1m7f, good to soft) in December but yet to get off the mark in this sphere after seven attempts; beaten 30l when third of four finishers at Plumpton (2m1f, soft) four weeks ago; has had wind surgery since and needs to step up.

7/2

3rd

1

9th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 0f 219y

Class 4

15:15 Plumpton

Non Stop

11st 11lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Beaten 10l off this mark in an Ascot handicap hurdle last time after his win in a first-time tongue-tie at Wincanton (good to soft; won on heavy); returns to fences in pretty good form and he's finished runner-up three times in this discipline; thereabouts.

7/2

2nd

6

10th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 213y

Class 4

15:50 Stratford

Non Stop

11st 4lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

in touch with leaders, jumped left and lost ground 2nd, headway when hit 2 out

2/1

Form: 5-2P66 D

Last run: 33 days

W: 11st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 106

Form & Verdict
Dropped away quite tamely on his recent chase debut at Taunton (2m2f, good to soft; behind Non Stop) and that's now three below-par performances on the bounce; bit to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

2

1st Feb 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 179y

Class 5

13:45 Wincanton

The Plimsoll Line

11st 12lb

J: Luke Scott

T: Jeremy Scott

Chasing the last twice, being the last to finish on both occasions; hasn't been the easiest to predict over hurdles but he has placed form off higher marks.

7/1

4th

4

19th Dec 2023

Soft

1m 7f 149y

Class 4

12:50 Wincanton

The Plimsoll Line

11st 0lb

J: Lorcan Williams

T: Jeremy Scott

raced in third, struggling and lost position after 4 out, weakened after 3 out

12/1

Form: 61531- D

Last run: 255 days

W: 11st 11lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Some notable Flat efforts at his beloved Goodwood this year, including last time (September); won a competitive hurdle final at Haydock on his final jumps run in April (when 7lb lower) and that was convincing; could easily do well over fences.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

(3)

2nd May 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

14:45 Goodwood

Aggagio

9st 9lb

J: Jude Fernandes

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Well held over hurdles in last three runs but he's won plenty under both codes including three over C&D; still 3lb higher than for his win here last June but he needs watching in market back on the Flat; effective on good/good to firm but most of his wins have come on slow ground.

8/1

3rd

4

14th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 3f 29y

Class 5

14:00 Fontwell

Aggagio

11st 9lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Won plenty under both codes, including over C&D, and has slid to an attractive mark; this is less competitive than the races he's been contesting of late and he's one of the likelier winners back up in trip.

3/1

7th

8

20th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

15:35 Warwick

Aggagio

11st 7lb

J: Ben Pollard

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Five-time hurdle winner who returned to form with clear second at Leicester (1m7f, heavy) in December; only seventh of 12 at Wincanton (1m7f, good to soft) but didn't run badly and he's not discounted.

10/1

Form: 421232 D

Last run: 44 days

W: 11st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Only 1-9 as a hurdler; solid second on chase debut at Huntingdon (2m, good to soft) last month but today's softer ground might not be ideal.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

30th May 2026

Good To Firm

2m 2f 148y

Class 3

18:50 Stratford

Forget The Way

11st 10lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: James Owen

Has three wins in this sphere and made a solid return when runner-up at Warwick (2m, good) ten days ago following a six-month break; should be thereabouts.

5/2

2nd

3

20th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

17:00 Warwick

Forget The Way

11st 10lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: James Owen

In decent form when last seen in November, winning a seller at Huntingdon and not beaten far in a better race there subsequently; this looks a competitive race for his return to action but he is not discounted.

6/1

2nd

5

2nd Nov 2025

Good

1m 7f 171y

Class 4

12:48 Huntingdon

Forget The Way

10st 10lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: James Owen

Won this race in 2024 and has posted a couple of good efforts since returning from a layoff in the summer; major player if on song today but didn't really fire at Market Rasen last month and regular rider Alex Chadwick is on stablemate Mermaids Cave here.

7/4

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £18.10
Straight Forecast £17.30
Trifecta £45.40

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Non Stop

SPOTLIGHT:

Aggagio

Daily Record:

Forget The Way

TOPSPEED:

Non Stop

POSTDATA:

Non Stop

WEST COUNTRY:

Non Stop

The Times:

Non Stop

The Guardian:

Non Stop

Daily Mail:

Non Stop

D Express:

Non Stop

The Star:

Non Stop

Telegraph:

Aggagio

Daily Mirror:

Aggagio

The Sun:

Aggagio