February 03 / 13.32 Wetherby

13.32

Soft

Vickers.Bet Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £7804.5
  • 2m 3f 85y
  • Class 3
  • 9 runners
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Vickers.Bet Handicap Chase

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

7/1 (Won)

  • Win: £8.30
  • Place: £2.10

Form: 12-P35 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 4lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 115

Form & Verdict
Front-runner who won two in a row (2m3f/2m5f) in first part of 2023; returned to form when third of five at Uttoxeter (2m4f, heavy) in December and 3m probably stretched his stamina here last time; definite possibilities now back down in distance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

19th Apr 2025

Soft

2m 4f 216y

Class 3

16:19 Newton Abbot

Eaton Collina

11st 1lb

J: Richard Patrick

T: Kerry Lee

headed after 3rd, led, not fluent 4th, soon lost ground, in rear when weakened after 10th

8/1

11

19th Apr 2025

Soft

2m 4f 216y

Class 3

16:19 Newton Abbot

Eaton Collina

11st 1lb

J: Richard Patrick

T: Kerry Lee

headed after 3rd, led, not fluent 4th, soon lost ground, in rear when weakened after 10th

8/1

5th

5

15th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 203y

Class 3

14:05 Haydock

Eaton Collina

11st 4lb

J: Liam Harrison

T: Kerry Lee

Completed a Wetherby double (2m3f, soft) last February and he's back down to his last winning mark; hasn't hit the same heights this season but ran okay when third at Wetherby (2m3f, soft) last month and he now contests his first veterans' chase; could be involved.

7/2

8/1

  • Place: £1.60

Form: F-2224 D BF

Last run: 25 days

W: 10st 13lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Runner-up first three starts this season, including over C&D (soft) on reappearance, but had no obvious excuses when only fourth of six at Market Rasen (13-8 favourite) in January; needs first-time cheekpieces to have a positive effect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

7th May 2026

Good

2m 3f 189y

Class 4

13:45 Huntingdon

William Cody

11st 12lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Pam Sly

Gained three of four chase wins over C&D and returns here after going close on final two starts last season (2m4f/2m3f; wore cheekpieces last time); holds no secrets from the handicapper but will be fine on the forecast good ground and has obvious claims.

5/2

2nd

4

17th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 85y

Class 4

14:37 Wetherby

William Cody

11st 9lb

J: Jack Andrews

T: Pam Sly

He's run well to be second on two of his last three starts (2m3f/2m4f, good/soft), most recently at Southwell four weeks ago; he's 4lb higher than last time but was clear with a progressive winner; high on the list.

3/1

2nd

5

18th Feb 2026

2m 4f 88y

Class 4

14:55 Southwell

William Cody

11st 5lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Pam Sly

Third in this last year; four-time chase winner (all at about this trip) but hasn't scored since November 2024; close second at Catterick (2m3f, good) on penultimate start but lesser efforts either side of that; remains below his last winning mark and holds each-way claims again.

4/1

10/1

  • Place: £3.80

Form: 11-125 C

Last run: 42 days

W: 10st 10lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Won three in a row over hurdles (2m-2m4f) for Dan Skelton last spring; fairly encouraging stable/chase debut when second at Doncaster (2m3f, good); made mistakes and faded over 2m7f next time; may still have some untapped potential but others have a bit less to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

3

24th May 2026

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 5

15:37 Kelso

William Of York

11st 11lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Rebecca Menzies

Has won three times over hurdles and three times over fences, but was disappointing back over hurdles with a visor (retained) instead of cheekpieces at Hexham last time (2m7f, good; 40-1).

50/1

13th

1

2nd May 2026

Good

2m 7f 63y

Class 5

20:15 Hexham

William Of York

12st 0lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Rebecca Menzies

Won three handicap chases on the trot in 2024; has struggled to finish since; may fare better back over hurdles with visor tried.

16/1

9/1

Form: 121-33 D

Last run: 52 days

W: 11st 7lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Four-time hurdle winner; hasn't reached the same level in two goes over fences but some positives can be drawn and the handicapper has given him a chance; conditions should suit and he's not one to write off just yet.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

22nd May 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

14:35 Ffos Las

Kepagge

11st 12lb

J: Ben Bromley

T: David Pipe

Dual C&D winner in spring 2023; however, there's been little to shout about in the meantime and, while the return of this headgear is probably a good thing, this 11yo has too much to prove.

10/1

2

22nd May 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

14:35 Ffos Las

Kepagge

11st 12lb

J: Ben Bromley

T: David Pipe

Dual C&D winner in spring 2023; however, there's been little to shout about in the meantime and, while the return of this headgear is probably a good thing, this 11yo has too much to prove.

10/1

9th

7

6th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

16:40 Ffos Las

Kepagge

11st 1lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

Dual C&D winner in spring 2023; he's not fired in the same way since and is now 11 but took second back over C&D last May (4lb lower today); absent since November and the lack of any equipment is striking (for a start, he's been tongue tied all starts under rules) but he's worth a second look.

16/1

Form: F292-4 D BF

Last run: 46 days

W: 12st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 127

Form & Verdict
Best effort when scoring off a mark of 131 at Haydock (2m4f, good) in March 2022; mixed results since, well below par when beaten at odds-on in novice hurdle at Catterick in December; subsequently had (third) breathing operation; has been given a chance by the handicapper but carries risks.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

13th May 2024

Good

3m 1f 119y

Class 4

16:05 Hereford

Soldier Of Destiny

12st 2lb

J: Will Featherstone

T: Jamie Snowden

Quickly developed into useful chaser in early 2022 but has lost his way a bit since; disappointing odds-on favourite when bidding to exploit novice status over hurdles in December and reverts to this sphere after two non-completions over fences; needs good boost from first-time cheekpieces; suited by good and soft ground.

13/2

1

13th May 2024

Good

3m 1f 119y

Class 4

16:05 Hereford

Soldier Of Destiny

12st 2lb

J: Will Featherstone

T: Jamie Snowden

Quickly developed into useful chaser in early 2022 but has lost his way a bit since; disappointing odds-on favourite when bidding to exploit novice status over hurdles in December and reverts to this sphere after two non-completions over fences; needs good boost from first-time cheekpieces; suited by good and soft ground.

13/2

Form: 16-3F4 C

Last run: 35 days

W: 12st 0lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
Mudlark who has won five times over hurdles, four of them here; 0-5 over fences and was under pressure some way out when only fourth of five finishers at Haydock in December; dropped 4lb as a result but needs to raise his game.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

16th Mar 2024

Heavy

2m 0f 190y

Class 3

14:37 Newcastle

Alberts Back

11st 3lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Michael & David Easterby

held up in last, lost touch from 3 out, never on terms

9/1

2

3rd Feb 2024

Soft

2m 3f 85y

Class 3

13:32 Wetherby

Alberts Back

12st 0lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Michael & David Easterby

Mudlark who has won five times over hurdles, four of them here; 0-5 over fences and was under pressure some way out when only fourth of five finishers at Haydock in December; dropped 4lb as a result but needs to raise his game.

14/1

4th

1

30th Dec 2023

Heavy

2m 3f 203y

Class 3

15:10 Haydock

Alberts Back

11st 13lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Michael & David Easterby

Mudlark who has won five times over hurdles, including over 2m3f on heavy ground here; has shown some fair form in four runs over fences, but hasn't run in a chase since February 2020; others stronger.

12/1

OUR TIP

Form: 0P-431 D

Last run: 46 days

W: 11st 8lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced 7yo; already much better over fences than hurdles and jumped well when scoring at Wincanton (2m4f, soft) in December in clearcut style; open to further improvement and could overcome a 7lb rise.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

23rd Mar 2025

Good

3m 0f 110y

Class 2

15:20 Carlisle

Harjo

11st 2lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Charlie Longsdon

prominent on outer

12/1

4

3rd Mar 2025

Good

2m 7f 91y

Class 4

16:30 Newcastle

Harjo

11st 11lb

J: David Bass

T: Charlie Longsdon

Turbulent career and was deep in the doldrums for much of 2024 but he popped up at 25-1 at Doncaster (3m, good to soft) when nearly half the fences were omitted; back up 3lb but still well treated if the mood takes; yard 5-10 here in the last five seasons.

5/1

7

24th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 214y

Class 4

15:13 Doncaster

Harjo

11st 8lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Charlie Longsdon

Pulled up on five of his six starts in 2024; showed some zest when ridden very positively in first-time blinkers (retained) at Huntingdon (2m4f, good to soft) this month but was well held in the end and remains a risky option.

20/1

Form: 23P-33 C

Last run: 33 days

W: 11st 6lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Last of three finishers at Catterick (3m1f) on New Year's Day, although that trip might have stretched him; has claims on close third of six on C&D chasing debut (soft) in December 2022; could have a part to play.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form: 45-222 BF

Last run: 24 days

W: 10st 5lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Half-brother to the stable's smart chaser Cepage; a maiden after nine runs but he's knocking at the door, going down only narrowly in 2m handicaps on his two starts over fences; stays 2m4f well; might be the answer.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

26

12th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 2f 70y

Class 2

17:20 Cheltenham

Hunter Legend

10st 9lb

J: Miss Lucy Turner

T: Venetia Williams

Reserve; Venetia Williams and Lucy Turner combined to win this at 40-1 in 2022 and this fellow was in pretty good heart over 3m this winter; however, today's stiffer test of stamina poses a question and he was soundly beaten at Ascot (3m, good to soft) last time; wears first-time cheekpieces.

25/1

5th

8

14th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 185y

Class 1

15:00 Ascot

Hunter Legend

10st 2lb

J: Miss Lucy Turner

T: Venetia Williams

Has posted consistent efforts over 3m of late but gives the impression he ideally needs a drop back in trip, especially when conditions are testing; yet to win beyond an extended 2m6f.

14/1

2nd

6

31st Jan 2026

Soft

3m 0f 42y

Class 2

15:42 Sandown

Hunter Legend

10st 2lb

J: Miss Lucy Turner

T: Venetia Williams

Has done his winning at up to 2m6f; not disgraced over 3m the last twice but gives the impression he ideally needs a drop back in distance, at least when conditions are testing; strong suspicion he's going to be outstayed.

10/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £45.30
Straight Forecast £45.68
Tricast £456.21
Trifecta £353.80

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Hunter Legend

The Times:

Harjo

RP RATINGS:

Soldier Of Destiny

Telegraph:

Kepagge

Daily Mail:

Harjo

Daily Mirror:

Harjo

The Star:

Harjo

Daily Record:

Harjo

TOPSPEED:

Hunter Legend

POSTDATA:

Hunter Legend

The Guardian:

Hunter Legend

D Express:

Hunter Legend

The Sun:

Hunter Legend