January 28 / 14.55 Fontwell

14.55

Soft

Dr. Mark Signy 70th Birthday Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £3247.81
  • 2m 5f 135y
  • Class 5
  • 9 runners
SKY
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Dr. Mark Signy 70th Birthday Handicap Chase

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

11/4 (Won)

  • Win: £5.00
  • Place: £1.60

Form: -1R351 C

Last run: 41 days

W: 11st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 96

Form & Verdict
Irish point winner who led close home to make winning chasing debut at Plumpton (2m3f, good to soft) last month, despite not jumping particularly well; ought to cope with today's 3lb higher mark and has plenty of scope for improvement if more fluent over the fences here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

4th May 2026

Good

3m 1f 5y

Class 5

15:50 Warwick

Sir Rock

11st 4lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Toby Lawes

A three-time winner over fences and yet has shown nothing in his last three chase starts; has won over hurdles but returns from a break with much to prove.

10/1

2

9th Jun 2025

Good

3m 0f 60y

Class 5

14:40 Southwell

Sir Rock

11st 12lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Toby Lawes

Made it 3-9 over fences with a ready success over 3m2f at Fontwell; up 6lb but has been competitive off higher marks in the past.

11/4

1st

2

7th May 2025

Good

3m 1f 210y

Class 5

19:40 Fontwell

Sir Rock

11st 6lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Toby Lawes

Won back-to-back handicaps two winters ago, over 2m3f at Plumpton and 2m5f here; goes well on softer but the ground was good when not beaten far over 2m5f here last time; there are some stamina reservations over this far.

5/1

6/1

  • Place: £1.70

Form: 542-P3

Last run: 59 days

W: 11st 11lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
Went very close over hurdles here (2m5f, good to soft) a year ago and bounced back quickly from disappointing seasonal debut when keeping-on third at Lingfield (2m7f, good to soft) in November; makes chasing debut today; no surprise if he features.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

23rd Oct 2025

Good To Soft

3m 1f 210y

Class 5

16:15 Fontwell

Leading Swoop

11st 10lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Robert Walford

Course regular who kept on well to win by over 5l over C&D (good) in March and won't mind if the ground is much slower today; absent since well-held third behind Ballintara at Plumpton in April, though, and needs to be in peak form to overcome current mark; cheekpieces replace blinkers.

8/1

3rd

1

3rd Apr 2025

Good

3m 1f 152y

Class 5

15:40 Plumpton

Leading Swoop

12st 0lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Robert Walford

raced in second, niggled along briefly 12th, not fluent 14th

5/6

3rd

1

3rd Apr 2025

Good

3m 1f 152y

Class 5

15:40 Plumpton

Leading Swoop

12st 0lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Robert Walford

raced in second, niggled along briefly 12th, not fluent 14th, lost position 3 out, left in remote third 2 out, hung left approaching last, weakened run-in

5/6

OUR TIP

2/1

  • Place: £1.30

Form: 12-311 CD

Last run: 33 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Scored over C&D (heavy) on chasing debut in November and took another big step forward when following up over 3m2f here (soft) last month; may not be favoured if the ground starts to dry out but still commands respect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

26th Jan 2025

Soft

3m 3f 149y

Class 4

15:50 Fontwell

Captain Claude

11st 2lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Anthony Honeyball

Dual course winner on slow ground last season (2m5f/3m2f); not quite at best on two starts this term and was behind Record High when fourth here on Boxing Day but has possibilities if perked up by change of headgear.

11/2

5th

5

26th Jan 2025

Soft

3m 3f 149y

Class 4

15:50 Fontwell

Captain Claude

11st 2lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Anthony Honeyball

Dual course winner on slow ground last season (2m5f/3m2f); not quite at best on two starts this term and was behind Record High when fourth here on Boxing Day but has possibilities if perked up by change of headgear.

11/2

Form: 30-4P6

Last run: 33 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 98

Form & Verdict
0-7 over hurdles but didn't run badly when sixth in first-time cheekpieces at Market Rasen (2m4f, good to soft) on Boxing Day and has possibilities here if he takes well to fences.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

2

31st Mar 2026

Good

3m 0f 30y

Class 5

16:20 Bangor-on-Dee

The Scorpion King

11st 13lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Oliver Signy

Only four completed when a 16l third at Exeter (3m, good to soft) and that was another effort well below the form he showed in 2024; reduced mark is for good reason but this isn't a strong race, so hard to leave him out of calculations.

11/1

3rd

1

6th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 54y

Class 5

16:43 Exeter

The Scorpion King

12st 0lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Oliver Signy

Well handicapped on his wins in staying chases two seasons ago but this campaign needs to turn a corner and he'd prefer softer ground.

12/1

1

28th Jan 2025

Soft

2m 7f 131y

Class 4

15:17 Chepstow

The Scorpion King

12st 0lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Oliver Signy

raced wide, towards rear, dropped to last before 11th

9/4

Form: 552-82 CD

Last run: 48 days

W: 11st 13lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 99

Form & Verdict
Ran well in defeat at Lingfield (2m4f, good to soft) last month and is also suited by this C&D but this regressive veteran has become very inconsistent, and it's hard to predict whether he'll be in the right mood.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

31st Jan 2025

Soft

2m 7f 110y

Class 5

13:45 Lingfield

Mister Murchan

10st 12lb

J: Niall Houlihan

T: Richard Rowe

2-21 over fences, the latest win in January 2021; twice a runner-up on heavy ground last March but pulled up both starts since; probably needed the run last time after 235 days off and he now has a career-low mark, but others are more persuasive.

33/1

6

31st Jan 2025

Soft

2m 7f 110y

Class 5

13:45 Lingfield

Mister Murchan

10st 12lb

J: Niall Houlihan

T: Richard Rowe

2-21 over fences, the latest win in January 2021; twice a runner-up on heavy ground last March but pulled up both starts since; probably needed the run last time after 235 days off and he now has a career-low mark, but others are more persuasive.

33/1

4

10th Dec 2024

Soft

2m 5f 135y

Class 5

14:30 Fontwell

Mister Murchan

11st 8lb

J: James Davies

T: Richard Rowe

Twice a runner-up on heavy ground in March, including here, and probably found the good ground too lively when pulled up back here in April; has the ability to figure but has tended to need his first run back from a break in the past.

10/1

Form: 3-7656

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
Ex-French 6yo; bettered low-key British debut when fairly respectable fifth over hurdles in November but struggled when back over fences this month; not the most obvious answer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

14th Apr 2026

Good

3m 2f 105y

Class 5

16:17 Newton Abbot

I Love You Sivola

10st 2lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Helen Nelmes

Has had just the one win, gained in a French chase back in 2022, and there's little in recent hurdle form to suggest he's about to add to that; 6lb out of the handicap.

20/1

9th

17

17th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 25y

Class 5

14:20 Exeter

I Love You Sivola

10st 2lb

J: Charlie Price

T: Helen Nelmes

Gained only win (from 43 starts) in a French chase in 2022 and recent hurdling form does not suggest he's poised to add to his tally.

50/1

5th

11

24th Jun 2025

Good

3m 2f 105y

Class 4

20:27 Newton Abbot

I Love You Sivola

10st 2lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Helen Nelmes

Ended a run of non-completions when finishing fifth of seven over C&D last time (Presenting Yeats behind); although that was an improved effort, it did appear to stretch his stamina; much more required again from out of the weights.

50/1

Form: P186-P BF

Last run: 260 days

W: 11st 9lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Dual chase winner at Huntingdon (2m7f, good to soft/soft) in early part of last year; current mark is workable but we haven't seen him since he was pulled up (saddle slipped) last May.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

13th Feb 2026

Soft

3m 5f 24y

Class 5

13:50 Fakenham

Spotty Dog

10st 4lb

J: Megan Fox

T: Michael Hawker

Thorough stayer but he was a remote third in this 12 months ago and nowhere near his best this campaign; an 11yo now and age seems to be catching up.

8/1

6

19th Nov 2025

Soft

2m 7f 177y

Class 5

13:35 Ffos Las

Spotty Dog

10st 13lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Michael Hawker

Began this year with some respectable efforts, most notably when second in first-time blinkers at Chepstow (3m6f, good); should be fine on the slower ground here but has fitness to prove after 224-day break and others appeal more; cheekpieces refitted.

6/1

3rd

4

9th Apr 2025

Good To Firm

3m 4f 85y

Class 4

15:55 Taunton

Spotty Dog

10st 2lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Michael Hawker

2lb out of the weights; he was 3lb wrong and didn't jump that well but stuck to his task to be second at Chepstow (3m6f, good) in the first-time blinkers 20 days ago; thereabouts with something similar.

3/1

Form: 331-P6 C

Last run: 65 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
Signed off for Robert Walford with 3m2f course win in first-time blinkers last April but both runs for new stable in November (chase/hurdle) were very disappointing and he returns here with a point to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

20th Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 5f 137y

Class 5

16:45 Exeter

William Philo

10st 2lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Ben Lund

Made a bright start to last year with a good second over C&D on New Year's Day, but his form has taken a marked downturn since and recent efforts have been poor; new headgear needs to spark a revival.

50/1

10

30th Jan 2026

Heavy

2m 7f 191y

Class 5

14:50 Ffos Las

William Philo

10st 3lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Ben Lund

Won on soft ground at Fontwell in a hurdle race in 2021 and a 3m2f chase in 2023; however, there was an echo of that in only one (runner-up in January last year) of his eight starts for current yard.

25/1

8

7th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 54y

Class 5

16:20 Exeter

William Philo

10st 9lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Ben Lund

Belied triple-digit odds when second over hurdles here (2m5f, soft) on seasonal debut in January but two disappointing runs have followed and it's hard to know what to expect from him on this return to fences; refitted blinkers replace cheekpieces.

20/1

Form: 22UP/P

Last run: 40 days

W: 10st 3lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
Well handicapped on old form but ran very poorly last month, after a long absence, and it's hard to gauge how much ability he retains.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

9

28th Jan 2024

Soft

2m 5f 135y

Class 5

14:55 Fontwell

Ivilnoble

10st 3lb

J: Ben Ffrench Davis

T: Dominic Ffrench Davis

midfield, not fluent 8th, towards rear before 11th, not fluent 12th

33/1

0

10

19th Dec 2023

Soft

3m 1f 30y

Class 5

12:20 Wincanton

Ivilnoble

10st 8lb

J: Ben Ffrench Davis

T: Dominic Ffrench Davis

Had a consistent run of form in defeat two winters ago and could be well handicapped, but a long absence has to temper enthusiasm.

14/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £25.60
Straight Forecast £22.91
Tricast £39.88
Trifecta £60.70

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Captain Claude

SPOTLIGHT:

Sir Rock

D Express:

The Scorpion King

LAMBOURN:

Ivilnoble

POSTDATA:

Sir Rock

The Times:

Sir Rock

Daily Record:

Sir Rock

Telegraph:

Captain Claude

Daily Mail:

Captain Claude

Daily Mirror:

Captain Claude

The Sun:

Captain Claude

The Star:

Captain Claude