January 13 / 13.10 Wetherby

13.10

Soft

William Hill Towton Novices’ Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £22780
  • 2m 3f 85y
  • Class 1
  • 4 runners
ITV4
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William Hill Towton Novices’ Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

Runners: 4 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

OUR TIP

8/11 (Won)

  • Win: £2.25

Form: 412-12 BF

Last run: 35 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 148

Form & Verdict
Two novice hurdle wins last season (2m/2m1f) and did it in good style on chase debut at Chepstow (2m, heavy) in November; stayed on well for second in Grade 1 Henry VIII Novices' Chase at Sandown (1m7f, heavy), which bodes well for this step back up in trip (has won a 3m point); leading claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

1st Jan 2025

Soft

2m 4f 127y

Class 1

14:05 Cheltenham

Colonel Harry

11st 4lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

held up in rear, headway 10th, hampered 12th, midfield when fell 4 out

7/2

3

1st Jan 2025

Soft

2m 4f 127y

Class 1

14:05 Cheltenham

Colonel Harry

11st 4lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

held up in rear, headway 10th, hampered 12th, midfield when fell 4 out

7/2

1

27th Dec 2024

Soft

2m 3f 98y

Class 2

13:05 Chepstow

Colonel Harry

12st 0lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Jamie Snowden

3/1

Form: /11-13 D

Last run: 29 days

W: 11st 4lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 143

Form & Verdict
3-4 over hurdles and won Carlisle handicap (2m4f, soft) on his chase debut in November; another very good run when third in hot novice chase at Cheltenham (2m4f, soft) and he's respected for a trainer who won this in 2020.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

11th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

3m 1f 0y

Class 1

14:40 Cheltenham

Trelawne

12st 0lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls

Well-backed 5-1 shot in this last year only to fall early (a stablemate won); 8lb higher this time; won over an extended 2m7f over hurdles and this second-season chaser reappeared with a win in a graduation chase at Haydock (extended 2m5f, soft) in November; fair efforts when fourth in handicaps the next twice (3m/3m1f, good to soft/soft) but needs something extra today.

25/1

4th

2

18th Jan 2025

Heavy

3m 1f 125y

Class 1

14:30 Haydock

Trelawne

11st 0lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls

Promising novice chaser last season and his reappearance win in a graduation chase here (2m5f, soft) represents strong form; won over an extended 2m7f over hurdles; merely fourth off this mark when back in a handicap at Ascot (3m, good to soft) last month but it was still a reasonable performance on ground that may not have been ideal; respected now back on testing surface.

7/2

4th

2

18th Jan 2025

Heavy

3m 1f 125y

Class 1

14:30 Haydock

Trelawne

11st 0lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls

Promising novice chaser last season and his reappearance win in a graduation chase here (2m5f, soft) represents strong form; won over an extended 2m7f over hurdles; merely fourth off this mark when back in a handicap at Ascot (3m, good to soft) last month but it was still a reasonable performance on ground that may not have been ideal; respected now back on testing surface.

7/2

Form: 133-13 D BF

Last run: 32 days

W: 11st 4lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 135

Form & Verdict
Third in Grade 2 novice hurdle last season and won on chase debut in Chepstow handicap (2m3f, good to soft) in October; lost a shoe on the very testing ground when tailed off at Ffos Las (2m3f, heavy) last month, and he retains potential, but it's hard to be overly confident after that.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

8

12th Oct 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 98y

Class 2

16:00 Chepstow

The King Of Ryhope

10st 6lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

C&D winner at a different meeting last October on his reappearance and later ran well in a 3m Grade 2 at Ascot until a costly late mistake; disappointed the final time in a strong handicap at Aintree but went off favourite that day off a 1lb higher mark and evidently failed to give his running; remains an interesting handicapper.

4/1

8th

9

13th Apr 2024

Soft

3m 0f 210y

Class 1

14:30 Aintree

The King Of Ryhope

10st 11lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Lightly raced 3m point winner whose best hurdle run came over 3m, and he tackled that trip for the first time over fences in a Grade 2 novice at Ascot (3m, good to soft) in February, travelling well into contention but making a race-losing mistake at final fence (finished 3l fourth of five); there will be a slight doubt about him if he's back on soft/heavy but he's unexposed over staying trips and could be better than his current mark.

5/1

8th

9

13th Apr 2024

Soft

3m 0f 210y

Class 1

14:30 Aintree

The King Of Ryhope

10st 11lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Lightly raced 3m point winner whose best hurdle run came over 3m, and he tackled that trip for the first time over fences in a Grade 2 novice at Ascot (3m, good to soft) in February, travelling well into contention but making a race-losing mistake at final fence (finished 3l fourth of five); there will be a slight doubt about him if he's back on soft/heavy but he's unexposed over staying trips and could be better than his current mark.

5/1

Form: 03-14U C

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 136

Form & Verdict
Won three novice hurdles last season and scored on chase debut at Uttoxeter in October; however, his jumping lacked fluency when only fourth in Ayr handicap in November, and he unseated at the first fence at Aintree on Boxing Day; improvement needed, including in the jumping department.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

25th Sep 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 207y

Class 2

16:18 Perth

Chasing Fire

10st 13lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Generally disappointing during light campaign last season but turned things around with staying-on third here (2m4f, good to soft) on final start in April; remains well handicapped on older form and will be suited by this return to 3m; can't be ignored.

9/2

3rd

3

24th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 35y

Class 3

15:59 Perth

Chasing Fire

11st 7lb

J: Lewis Saunders

T: Olly Murphy

in rear

14/1

3rd

3

24th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 35y

Class 3

15:59 Perth

Chasing Fire

11st 7lb

J: Lewis Saunders

T: Olly Murphy

in rear

14/1

Non-runners

Hurricane Highway, Meetingofthewaters

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £3.10
Straight Forecast £3.66
Trifecta £6.80

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Colonel Harry

TOPSPEED:

Trelawne

The Times:

Trelawne

Telegraph:

Trelawne

D Express:

Trelawne

The Star:

Trelawne

RP RATINGS:

Colonel Harry

POSTDATA:

Colonel Harry

LAMBOURN:

Colonel Harry

The Guardian:

Colonel Harry

Daily Mail:

Colonel Harry

Daily Mirror:

Colonel Harry

The Sun:

Colonel Harry

Daily Record:

Colonel Harry