December 26 / 12.27 Wetherby

12.27

Good To Soft

William Hill Play Responsibly Novices’ Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £3432.65
  • 2m 3f 85y
  • Class 5
  • 6 runners
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William Hill Play Responsibly Novices’ Handicap Chase

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

Form: /3-421

Last run: 12 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 99

Form & Verdict
Took well to first-time cheekpieces in similar event at Newcastle (2m7f, heavy) this month, scoring readily off just 2lb lower; open to further progress over fences and warrants respect in the retained headgear.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

2

11th Dec 2024

Soft

2m 4f 15y

Class 4

14:50 Hexham

Tom Cody

12st 2lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Rebecca Menzies

held up in last

14/1

10th

2

11th Dec 2024

Soft

2m 4f 15y

Class 4

14:50 Hexham

Tom Cody

12st 2lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Rebecca Menzies

held up in last

14/1

3rd

7

26th Apr 2024

Soft

3m 6f 121y

Class 3

14:05 Perth

Tom Cody

11st 3lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Rebecca Menzies

Travelled well before being delivered after the final fence by Brian Hughes to win cosily over 3m at Carlisle (heavy); he'll be into unknown territory when beyond 3m1f but shapes as though he stays all day.

8/1

OUR TIP

Form: 12-574 D

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
Finished 3l fourth in similar event at Ludlow (2m4f, soft) three weeks ago, producing her best effort since switched to chasing; looks favourably weighted on best hurdles form and can't be ruled out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

4th Mar 2024

Soft

2m 4f 88y

Class 5

16:10 Southwell

Kalpaga

12st 0lb

J: James Best

T: Tim Vaughan

Posted a win then a near-miss over hurdles last April (2m3f/2m6f, good to soft); unable to match that form over fences this season but she was a fair fourth at Ludlow (2m4f, soft) in December and has had a wind op since being pulled up last time; no surprise if she goes well now back hurdling.

7/1

2

26th Dec 2023

Good To Soft

2m 3f 85y

Class 5

12:27 Wetherby

Kalpaga

11st 12lb

J: Connor Brace

T: Tim Vaughan

Finished 3l fourth in similar event at Ludlow (2m4f, soft) three weeks ago, producing her best effort since switched to chasing; looks favourably weighted on best hurdles form and can't be ruled out.

5/2

Form: 40/67-

Last run: 388 days

W: 11st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Still unexposed having raced just four times, mostly at Wetherby (best effort in sole bumper start); had wind surgery since last appearance over a year ago; possible improver on handicap/chase debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

14th Oct 2025

Good

2m 3f 34y

Class 5

16:21 Market Rasen

Great Ballinboris

10st 4lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Micky Hammond

No wins in 11, with seven over fences; however, did finish second after wind surgery at Carlisle (2m5f, good) and could build on that, for all that it was some 178 days ago.

9/2

2nd

8

19th Apr 2025

Good

2m 4f 198y

Class 5

14:17 Carlisle

Great Ballinboris

10st 9lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Micky Hammond

jumped left on occasions, led, headed before last, weakened gradually run-in

14/1

2nd

8

19th Apr 2025

Good

2m 4f 198y

Class 5

14:17 Carlisle

Great Ballinboris

10st 9lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Micky Hammond

jumped left on occasions, led, headed before last, weakened gradually run-in

14/1

Form: 64U2-6

Last run: 12 days

W: 11st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Five-race maiden who may be capable of improvement with Newcastle reappearance under his belt and headgear now fitted on chase debut; had some encouraging form last term; not dismissed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

2nd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 131y

Class 5

16:39 Chepstow

Ffree Pedro

10st 4lb

J: Ben Poste

T: Steph Cameron

Won three points in spring 2024 but, following a long absence, has been pulled up on all three starts under rules for new stable this season; has too much to prove.

50/1

5

26th Mar 2026

Good

3m 2f 0y

Class 5

14:58 Warwick

Ffree Pedro

11st 2lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Steph Cameron

Won three points in May/June 2024 but then absent until this winter, and he's been pulled up over fences (50-1) then hurdles (33-1) on his two outings this season; a major turnaround is necessary.

11/1

6

7th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 119y

Class 5

13:42 Hereford

Ffree Pedro

11st 2lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Steph Cameron

Won three points in 2024 but his rules form has been regressive and he ran poorly over fences on his reappearance/stable debut; blinkers on; carries clear risks.

14/1

Form: 43F-41

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 6lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 99

Form & Verdict
Made all in small-field novice handicap hurdle at Southwell (2m4f, heavy; comfortably off 6lb lower) four weeks ago, adding to his Flat wins; possibilities provided he's just as effective over fences; tongue-tie applied.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

26th Dec 2023

Good To Soft

2m 3f 85y

Class 5

12:27 Wetherby

Aristobulus

11st 6lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Stuart Edmunds

Made all in small-field novice handicap hurdle at Southwell (2m4f, heavy; comfortably off 6lb lower) four weeks ago, adding to his Flat wins; possibilities provided he's just as effective over fences; tongue-tie applied.

4/1

1st

6

28th Nov 2023

Good

2m 4f 88y

Class 4

15:40 Southwell

Aristobulus

10st 10lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Stuart Edmunds

made all, going best before 2 out, ridden and hung left approaching last, kept on well run-in, eased towards finish, comfortably

20/1

4th

7

17th Oct 2023

Good

1m 7f 171y

Class 4

17:00 Huntingdon

Aristobulus

10st 7lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Stuart Edmunds

set good pace, pushed along after 3 out, headed before 2 out, pecked on landing 2 out, weakened run-in

12/1

Form: 6-P47U D

Last run: 6 days

W: 11st 0lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Far from reliable since completing a hurdles hat-trick in November 2020 for previous yard; has left it late to commence his chasing career and this 10yo is not a solid proposition.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

26th Dec 2023

Good To Soft

2m 3f 85y

Class 5

12:27 Wetherby

Sehayli

11st 0lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: L J Morgan

Far from reliable since completing a hurdles hat-trick in November 2020 for previous yard; has left it late to commence his chasing career and this 10yo is not a solid proposition.

20/1

0

10

20th Dec 2023

Good To Soft

2m 5f 55y

Class 4

12:05 Ludlow

Sehayli

10st 2lb

J: Miss Ellie Mayo

T: L J Morgan

Modest strike-rate of 3-33 and doesn't arrive here in convincing form; others preferred.

40/1

7th

5

8th Oct 2023

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 5

17:30 Kelso

Sehayli

11st 1lb

J: Lewis Dobb

T: L J Morgan

held up in rear

10/1

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Tom Cody

D Express:

Kalpaga

The Times:

Aristobulus

The Sun:

Kalpaga

The Guardian:

Aristobulus

RP RATINGS:

Tom Cody

POSTDATA:

Tom Cody

Telegraph:

Tom Cody

Daily Mail:

Tom Cody

Daily Mirror:

Tom Cody

The Star:

Tom Cody

Daily Record:

Tom Cody