December 30 / 15.35 Newbury

15.35

Good To Soft

Coral Get Closer To The Action Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £10033.9
  • 2m 6f 93y
  • Class 3
  • 7 runners
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Coral Get Closer To The Action Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Rain

6/1 (Won)

  • Win: £9.50
  • Place: £3.70

Form: 2410-5

Last run: 14 days

W: 10st 11lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 126

Form & Verdict
2-6 as a novice hurdler last season; just a respectable fifth of nine on seasonal/chase debut at Doncaster (2m3f, good to soft) a fortnight ago but is entitled to have benefited from that outing.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

25th Apr 2026

Good

3m 4f 146y

Class 1

15:30 Sandown

Henrys Friend

11st 6lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

Seems best making the running or racing prominently; his six races in the last 14 months have been a mixed bag, with an Ascot win (3m, good) in November the highlight; just 1lb higher today and ran respectably on penultimate start, but his two earlier attempts at 3m6f/4m did not work out; a tongue-tie (worn twice in 2023, with a win on first occasion) returns.

16/1

9th

2

21st Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 0y

Class 1

15:35 Kempton

Henrys Friend

11st 8lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

Back to form when 5l behind Deep Cave last time at Ascot (3m, good to soft) but he does look vulnerable to better-treated opposition, for all that he's just 2lb higher than for November's win at Ascot; likely to race on the front end.

14/1

2

1st Nov 2025

Good

2m 7f 185y

Class 1

15:45 Ascot

Henrys Friend

11st 10lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

Record of 4-9 over fences, his best form when winning by 6l at Newbury (3m2f, good to soft; 5lb higher today); disadvantaged when slowly away (from a standing start) in the Ultima at Cheltenham and yet still made a challenge three out before fading; never got competitive in the Scottish National but he wasn't alone; a stiff 3m around here looks up his street; shortlisted.

15/2

7/2

  • Place: £1.80

Form: 34159- C

Last run: 247 days

W: 11st 9lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 138

Form & Verdict
2-7 over hurdles; absent since slightly disappointing run at Punchestown in April but was very creditable fifth off today's mark in Pertemps Final at Cheltenham Festival (3m, soft) in March and it will be very interesting to see how he fares on today's chasing debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

7

23rd May 2026

Good

3m 0f 30y

Class 2

16:10 Bangor-on-Dee

Walking On Air

10st 5lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Faye Bramley

Back over hurdles with respectable fifth of 15 in Class 2 event at Haydock (3m, good) two weeks ago; 5lb lower back over fences but he's 0-12 in this sphere and he fell at Ayr on his penultimate run; down the list.

9/1

5th

8

9th May 2026

Good

3m 0f 58y

Class 2

12:45 Haydock

Walking On Air

10st 10lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Faye Bramley

Sparked just once in each of the last two seasons, at Doncaster; visored on latest start, after three runs in cheekpieces; often tongue tied as well but goes without any equipment today; his last hurdle race was in February 2024 and other options look a lot more solid.

25/1

9

18th Apr 2026

Soft

3m 0f 20y

Class 2

13:45 Ayr

Walking On Air

10st 11lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Faye Bramley

Good third off 4lb higher in first-time cheekpieces at Doncaster (3m, soft) in January; however, his form away from Doncaster hasn't been great in the last two seasons and the visor needs to have a positive influence.

20/1

Form: 104-21

Last run: 30 days

W: 10st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
Built upon promising seasonal/chase debut when fending off a next-time-out winner to score at Lingfield (2m4f, good to soft) one month ago; moves back up in grade today but has plenty of scope for further progress.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

13

15th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

4m 2f 8y

Class 1

15:00 Uttoxeter

Passing Well

10st 11lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

Only 1-10 as a chaser but he's a consistent gelding who ran another solid race to finish third in the Eider, albeit about 20l behind the easy winner Knockanore; likely to give his running once more but looks vulnerable off just 1lb lower.

16/1

3rd

7

22nd Feb 2025

Good To Soft

4m 1f 56y

Class 2

14:10 Newcastle

Passing Well

11st 5lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

towards rear, headway on outer 19th, went fourth and no impression 3 out, left in third run-in

9/1

2nd

5

31st Jan 2025

Soft

3m 4f 178y

Class 3

14:45 Lingfield

Passing Well

11st 2lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

Acts on soft, below form sole start on heavy; won over these fences in November 2023; no joy since but career-best form this season and he stuck to his task very well with the first-time cheekpieces over the extended 3m1f at Wincanton on latest start; going beyond that now looks worth a go.

7/1

Form: 2-P321 C

Last run: 21 days

W: 10st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Dual hurdle winner who kept on stoutly to make winning chase debut at Chepstow (2m3f, heavy) three weeks ago; will be fine on the forecast faster ground here but tackles stronger opposition from 2lb out of the weights.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 91y

Class 3

16:45 Newbury

Ballycamus

11st 7lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Rather in and out, and followed a Ludlow win (3m, good to soft) in December with a listless fourth over the same C&D three weeks ago; needs first-time headgear to inject some sparkle.

6/1

4th

2

26th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 171y

Class 3

14:07 Ludlow

Ballycamus

11st 10lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Returned to form with hard-fought C&D (good to soft) win in December, his second C&D success, and was nudged up only 1lb for that; obvious contender if in similar mood again.

3/1

16

25th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

3m 1f 0y

Class 2

14:20 Cheltenham

Ballycamus

10st 5lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies

Went up 5lb for winning a 3m handicap that fell apart at Ludlow (good to soft) in February and that was under a 3lb claimer; probably has no margin for error off this mark and that spells danger in this warm a race; that said, his Chepstow run after a break was encouraging.

12/1

OUR TIP

11/1

Form: 3P-145 D

Last run: 36 days

W: 10st 13lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 128

Form & Verdict
Runner-up in valuable Ascot handicap (3m, good to soft) last season and probably posted career-best performance when winning easily on reappearance outing at Ludlow (3m, good to soft) in October; not quite in same form on either subsequent outing, though, and others probably have more potential.
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: /333/U

Last run: 18 days

W: 10st 5lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Point/bumper winner who was placed on all three hurdling starts during 2021-22 campaign; missed all of last season, though, and came to grief at third fence on recent chase/handicap debut; 1lb wrong here and not an easy horse to weigh up at the moment.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

8

15th May 2024

Good

2m 7f 191y

Class 4

15:30 Ffos Las

Lubeat Foras

11st 7lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Rebecca Curtis

Bumper winner in 2020 but he's been lightly raced since and made it 0-9 over jumps when tailed off in hurdle handicap here (2m4f, good to soft) last month; dropped another 3lb but he has something to prove back up in trip; cheekpieces are removed and tongue-tie goes on.

14/1

1st

8

15th May 2024

Good

2m 7f 191y

Class 4

15:30 Ffos Las

Lubeat Foras

11st 7lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Rebecca Curtis

Bumper winner in 2020 but he's been lightly raced since and made it 0-9 over jumps when tailed off in hurdle handicap here (2m4f, good to soft) last month; dropped another 3lb but he has something to prove back up in trip; cheekpieces are removed and tongue-tie goes on.

14/1

6th

9

22nd Apr 2024

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

15:12 Ffos Las

Lubeat Foras

11st 2lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Rebecca Curtis

jumped slightly right throughout, led, reminder when headed but raced in second 6th, lost position 3 out, soon weakened, tailed off

14/1

Form: 3/2-2P BF

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 10lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 139

Form & Verdict
Grade 2 hurdle winner when trained in France and made very promising British debut when second to smart rival in Warwick novice chase (2m4f, soft) last month; struggled to cope with atrocious ground when odds-on at Aintree three weeks ago but will be a danger to all if back on song here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

1

13th May 2026

Good

3m 1f 170y

Class 5

20:00 Newton Abbot

Golden Son

12st 8lb

J: Miss Olive Nicholls

T: Paul Nicholls

Useful handicapper; easy winner of two hunter chases before a commendable fourth in the big one at the Cheltenham Festival; he was only 17-2 for the Aintree version but never emerged from midfield; entitled to take care of these.

8/15

12th

11

9th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 19y

Class 2

15:30 Aintree

Golden Son

12st 0lb

J: Miss Olive Nicholls

T: Paul Nicholls

Useful handicapper who posted easy wins this year in his first two hunter chases (3m/2m7f, good to soft/heavy); 14l fourth at the Cheltenham Festival last month (3m2f, good to soft) so has work to do with some of these, but he was left behind up the hill and is not ruled out back down in trip.

12/1

4th

5

13th Mar 2026

Good

3m 2f 70y

Class 2

16:40 Cheltenham

Golden Son

12st 0lb

J: Miss Olive Nicholls

T: Paul Nicholls

Returned from ten months off to win hunter chases at Warwick (3m, good to soft) and Taunton (2m7f, heavy); not remotely pressed on either occasion and the RPRs were highly respectable; Paul Nicholls has won this four times and this 8yo could be interesting, provided he lasts home.

14/1

Non-runners

Moon Hunter

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £35.70
Straight Forecast £29.76
Tricast £73.29
Trifecta £121.90

Selections

The Guardian:

Passing Well

RP RATINGS:

Ballycamus

LAMBOURN:

Walking On Air

SPOTLIGHT:

Golden Son

The Times:

Henry's Friend

TOPSPEED:

Moon Hunter

Telegraph:

Neon Moon

Daily Mirror:

Passing Well

The Sun:

Passing Well

Daily Record:

Passing Well

Daily Mail:

Golden Son

POSTDATA:

Ballycamus

WEST COUNTRY:

Ballycamus

D Express:

Walking On Air

The Star:

Walking On Air