February 15 / 15.17 Leicester

15.17

Heavy

Join Racing TV Now Novices’ Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £3696.7
  • 2m 4f 25y
  • Class 5
  • 7 runners
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Join Racing TV Now Novices’ Handicap Chase

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

Form: 26-79F

Last run: 56 days

W: 12st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
Well handicapped on his best hurdles form but he was tailed off on his return in October and then fell (at fifth) when switched to fences at Exeter (2m3f, soft) in December; had wind surgery since but he's now 0-12 and comes with risks attached after a short break.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

3rd Jun 2026

Good To Firm

3m 2f 0y

Class 5

18:55 Warwick

Groom De Cotte

11st 5lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Gary Brown

Won over fences 13 months ago but returned from layoff with lacklustre hurdle run in April and is difficult to enthuse over after that performance; has usual tongue-tie refitted; seems versatile ground-wise.

14/1

8th

2

2nd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 131y

Class 5

16:39 Chepstow

Groom De Cotte

11st 12lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Gary Brown

Won over fences at Huntingdon (2m7f, good to soft) last March and returned from break with pleasing fourth over hurdles there (3m1f, good to soft) in November; absent for another 131 days since but won't be far away if in similar form again.

5/1

OUR TIP

Form: P5P-42 BF

Last run: 37 days

W: 11st 13lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 96

Form & Verdict
Ex-French 6yo; still a maiden after 15 starts but he's dropped down the weights and was a rallying second when favourite at Market Rasen (2m1f, good to soft) last month; was only beaten around 3l in that race and he's a key player on this step back up in trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

15th Apr 2025

Good

3m 0f 60y

Class 5

14:05 Southwell

Cokytho

11st 11lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Alex Hales

In good form last spring, most notably when scoring by 8l off today's mark at Uttoxeter (3m, soft), but he returned from a layoff with three disappointing runs in December/January; had another wind op (his third) during latest 12-week break and needs to get his career back on track.

6/1

2

15th Apr 2025

Good

3m 0f 60y

Class 5

14:05 Southwell

Cokytho

11st 11lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Alex Hales

in touch with leaders, prominent 3rd, reminder then lost ground after 10th, struggling when pulled up before 13th

6/1

7

21st Jan 2025

Soft

2m 6f 151y

Class 5

14:53 Leicester

Cokytho

11st 5lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: Alex Hales

Off the mark at the 19th attempt at Uttoxeter (3m, soft) last May and did it in good style; however, he was pulled up/soundly beaten on his two outings last month and is hard to fancy on the back of those.

16/1

Form: 2244-5

Last run: 45 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Point winner in 2021 but he's 0-10 under rules and was a fading fifth of seven on his chase/stable debut at Exeter (2m3f, heavy) last month; may have needed that after a break but he's not easy to predict and others are more persuasive.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

1st Sep 2024

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 5

16:40 Worcester

Royal Sam

11st 2lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: Michael Blake

prominent, disputed lead 3rd, prominent before 4th

14/1

Form: 152262 D

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 1lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Just one win from 20 starts but that came over fences at Stratford (2m6f, soft) in October and he's finished runner-up in three of his last four starts; on same mark as for his second over C&D (soft) last time and he should make another bold bid.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

12

21st Apr 2026

Soft

2m 7f 177y

Class 5

18:42 Ffos Las

Martalmixjac

10st 2lb

J: Shane Quinlan

T: Mel Rowley

Kept on well to win from the front at Ludlow (3m, good to soft; front pair clear) in February and remains well handicapped on best of last season's form but he's too inconsistent to rely upon heavily.

7/1

1st

7

26th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 171y

Class 5

15:17 Ludlow

Martalmixjac

10st 4lb

J: Shane Quinlan

T: Mel Rowley

Ran quite well when second (albeit well held) at Huntingdon (2m4f, soft) three weeks ago and will be fine over today's longer trip but he's very inconsistent nowadays and it's nearly two years since his last win.

11/2

2nd

10

5th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 3f 189y

Class 5

13:25 Huntingdon

Martalmixjac

10st 4lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Mel Rowley

Dual chase winner who is well treated on best form; not particularly solid on his results this season, the pick at Hereford when over half the field failed to complete.

12/1

Form: 1-58P7

Last run: 66 days

W: 10st 12lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Won over hurdles at Hereford (2m, good to soft) last April but precious little to shout about in just four subsequent runs including on his chase debut at Lingfield in December; now 3lb lower than for last win but has plenty to prove back up in trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

7

23rd Jun 2024

Good

2m 0f 48y

Class 5

14:18 Hexham

Executive Pool

11st 6lb

J: Joe Williamson

T: Rebecca Menzies

Signed off for Gary and Josh Moore with clear second to very progressive rival at Fontwell (2m1f, good to soft) last month and has good claims if judged on that performance but he's far too inconsistent to rely upon, and was tailed off on the Flat for new stable this month; headgear switched.

14/1

8th

6

(6)

6th Jun 2024

Good

1m 4f 15y

Class 6

17:05 Hamilton

Executive Pool

9st 4lb

J: Oisin Orr

T: Rebecca Menzies

Hasn't run on the Flat for nearly two years but is fit from jumping and returned to form at Fontwell last month; picked up since from the Moores for 7,000gns and interesting to see what he can do back in this sphere.

12/1

2nd

9

16th May 2024

Good

2m 1f 162y

Class 5

18:40 Fontwell

Executive Pool

10st 12lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Last month's C&D fifth (16l ahead of Ray's The One, but beaten 16l himself) represented only a partial return to form; unconvincing on balance, for all a mark 4lb below his last winning one makes appeal.

20/1

Form: U-P63U

Last run: 14 days

W: 10st 10lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
Veteran who was a respectable third over C&D (soft) last month but he unseated at Ffos Las last time and that took his chase record to 0-12; others looks stronger.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

8

2nd Jun 2025

Good

2m 5f 89y

Class 5

14:15 Market Rasen

Higgs

10st 2lb

J: James Best

T: Sarah-Jayne Davies

Won back-to-back handicap chases last May and staged a revival when second at Ffos Las this April; very hit and miss, though, and has been well beaten in his last three races.

14/1

8

2nd Jun 2025

Good

2m 5f 89y

Class 5

14:15 Market Rasen

Higgs

10st 2lb

J: James Best

T: Sarah-Jayne Davies

Won back-to-back handicap chases last May and staged a revival when second at Ffos Las this April; very hit and miss, though, and has been well beaten in his last three races.

14/1

8

17th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 5

19:31 Uttoxeter

Higgs

10st 2lb

J: James Best

T: Sarah-Jayne Davies

Dual 3m chase winner this time last year; hit and miss since, and although third on his last two starts he's been comfortably held at the line.

10/1

Form: P4P044

Last run: 16 days

W: 10st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 68

Form & Verdict
Limited maiden with record of 0-36; effective on heavy ground and hasn't run badly in cheekpieces in his last two starts (2m1f/2m) but he's out of the weights here and needs to find more back up in trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

18th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 34y

Class 5

16:27 Market Rasen

Brickadank

10st 2lb

J: Alice Stevens

T: Micky Hammond

Hasn't been in the best of form in three runs this season (well-beaten eighth of nine over 2m at Newcastle last week); 4lb out of the handicap; blinkers replace cheekpieces; hard to fancy.

20/1

8th

10

13th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 0f 75y

Class 5

16:00 Newcastle

Brickadank

10st 4lb

J: Joshua Thompson

T: Micky Hammond

Improved for cheekpieces last season, winning his last two races, both on soft ground at Market Rasen (2m3f/2m1f) in February/March; not hit form so far this season, but on his last winning mark and stable going better now.

50/1

8th

10

16th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 19y

Class 5

15:20 Newcastle

Brickadank

10st 6lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Micky Hammond

A longstanding maiden until bagging two soft-ground handicap chases at Market Rasen (extended 2m3f and 2m2f) last February/March; pulled up there six weeks ago when back from eight months off but a return to peak efforts would put him in the mix.

14/1

Verdict

Most of these have something to prove and this could revolve around Cokytho and MARTALMIX’JAC. The former caught the eye with his rallying second off a reduced mark at Market Rasen last month but slight preference is for Mel Rowley’s 7yo, who has finished runner-up in the mud in three of his last four runs including a good effort over C&D last time.[David Moon