March 28 / 16.30 Wetherby

16.30

Soft

Vickers.Bet Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £5281
  • 3m 0f 45y
  • Class 4
  • 6 runners
RTV
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Vickers.Bet Handicap Chase

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Rain

OUR TIP

4/6 (Won)

  • Win: £1.58
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 322221 D

Last run: 11 days

W: 11st 11lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
After finishing runner-up four times in a row (2m6f-3m1f, soft/heavy) he got off the mark over fences in commanding fashion at Chepstow (2m7f, heavy) 11 days ago; well treated under 7lb penalty and holds strong claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

30th May 2026

Good To Firm

3m 3f 119y

Class 3

19:20 Stratford

Imperial Alex

12st 0lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Tom Lacey

Four-times winning chaser over around 3m; returned to his best when beaten a neck at Ffos Las (3m, good) 25 days ago with 15l back to the third; nudged up 4lb but holds claims if he gets home over this marathon trip.

7/4

2nd

4

5th May 2026

Good

2m 7f 177y

Class 4

16:18 Ffos Las

Imperial Alex

11st 9lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Tom Lacey

In career-best form last summer over 3m on good ground; soundly beaten in his last three races, disappointingly so at Warwick last time when back on his favoured surface (good); bit to prove now.

10/1

5th

4

26th Mar 2026

Good

3m 0f 0y

Class 2

16:30 Warwick

Imperial Alex

11st 5lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Tom Lacey

In top form over 3m on good ground last May/June, finishing second at Uttoxeter then first at Perth; soundly beaten on both runs since but those were on heavy/soft going and perhaps today's return to a better surface will trigger a revival.

11/1

25/1

  • Place: £6.80

Form: PPP759 CD

Last run: 28 days

W: 10st 2lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
C&D winner; scored at Hexham (3m, good to soft) last May and is well treated on that form, but he's been pulled up or tailed off on all six starts since; a dramatic revival is required; first-time visor replaces blinkers.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

22nd Apr 2024

Heavy

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

15:30 Hexham

Ballynagran

10st 7lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Joanne Foster

Two wins over fences, the latest off a 6lb higher mark over C&D last May (good to soft); decent effort from out of the handicap when second at Wetherby last time (3m, soft; visor on instead of blinkers); same headgear here; a possible.

9/1

9

22nd Apr 2024

Heavy

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

15:30 Hexham

Ballynagran

10st 7lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Joanne Foster

Two wins over fences, the latest off a 6lb higher mark over C&D last May (good to soft); decent effort from out of the handicap when second at Wetherby last time (3m, soft; visor on instead of blinkers); same headgear here; a possible.

9/1

2nd

5

28th Mar 2024

Soft

3m 0f 45y

Class 4

16:30 Wetherby

Ballynagran

10st 2lb

J: Emma Smith-Chaston

T: Joanne Foster

C&D winner; scored at Hexham (3m, good to soft) last May and is well treated on that form, but he's been pulled up or tailed off on all six starts since; a dramatic revival is required; first-time visor replaces blinkers.

25/1

Form: 23-R36 D

Last run: 38 days

W: 12st 1lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
Flopped at Carlisle last month when heavy ground shouldn't have been an issue; however, prior to that he was a fair third at Hereford (2m5f, good) and is now 6lb lower; his last win came over 3m and he's not ruled out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

30th Nov 2024

Good

3m 2f 1y

Class 4

14:37 Doncaster

Taste The Fear

11st 11lb

J: Luke Scott

T: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole

disputed lead early, slow jump 1st, soon in touch with leaders, mistake 5th, dropped to rear before 7th, some headway and went fourth before 4 out, switched right and went modest third before 3 out, no impression

6/1

3rd

1

30th Nov 2024

Good

3m 2f 1y

Class 4

14:37 Doncaster

Taste The Fear

11st 11lb

J: Luke Scott

T: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole

disputed lead early, slow jump 1st, soon in touch with leaders, mistake 5th, dropped to rear before 7th, some headway and went fourth before 4 out, switched right and went modest third before 3 out, no impression

6/1

4th

6

2nd Nov 2024

Good

3m 0f 45y

Class 4

16:08 Wetherby

Taste The Fear

11st 11lb

J: Luke Scott

T: Dr Richard Newland & Jamie Insole

Well beaten over hurdles at Worcester in September but was returning from a 104-day break and chasing is his game nowadays; won two in a row over fences at Southwell (3m, good) in the spring and he's a strong contender if back on song today.

6/1

Form: 699-3U

Last run: 126 days

W: 10st 5lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Well beaten when unseating at final fence at Newcastle (2m7f, soft) last November; however, he's had a break since and prior to last time he was an encouraging third on his chase and seasonal debut at Kelso (2m7f, soft); this lightly raced 7yo wears first-time cheekpieces and is not written off.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

20th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

3m 0f 0y

Class 5

14:05 Uttoxeter

Pats Dream

11st 11lb

J: Henry Brooke

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

held up in rear

15/8

2nd

2

20th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

3m 0f 0y

Class 5

14:05 Uttoxeter

Pats Dream

11st 11lb

J: Henry Brooke

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

held up in rear

15/8

1st

5

27th Nov 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 191y

Class 5

15:00 Market Rasen

Pats Dream

11st 4lb

J: Henry Brooke

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Made it fourth-time lucky over fences when justifying favouritism on stable/seasonal debut at Ayr (2m5f, good) 25 days ago; up 7lb for that narrow win but he showed a good attitude to hold off the runner-up and this step back up in trip should be fine; key player.

7/4

Form: /PP-5P D

Last run: 61 days

W: 11st 7lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Won three consecutive races in 2021 and lightly raced since; displayed a hint of spark over C&D last November but pulled up since and this 11yo is back to having plenty to prove; wears first-time cheekpieces.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

28th Mar 2024

Soft

3m 0f 45y

Class 4

16:30 Wetherby

Danilo DAiry

11st 7lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Robert Bevis

Won three consecutive races in 2021 and lightly raced since; displayed a hint of spark over C&D last November but pulled up since and this 11yo is back to having plenty to prove; wears first-time cheekpieces.

16/1

0

8

27th Jan 2024

Heavy

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

15:08 Uttoxeter

Danilo DAiry

11st 1lb

J: Jordan Nailor

T: Robert Bevis

Won three consecutive races at about 3m1f in 2021 but pulled up on next four starts; hard to tell what ability remains when last of five at Wetherby in November and still 2lb above his latest winning mark.

25/1

Form: P-6P43 CD

Last run: 28 days

W: 10st 2lb

12 yo Gelding

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
12yo who is winless since March 2022 and is 5lb out of the handicap today; however, he's a three-time C&D winner who was a fair third of six over C&D (soft) last time, and holds each-way claims in a race lacking depth.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

28th Mar 2024

Soft

3m 0f 45y

Class 4

16:30 Wetherby

Sigurd

10st 2lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Joanne Foster

12yo who is winless since March 2022 and is 5lb out of the handicap today; however, he's a three-time C&D winner who was a fair third of six over C&D (soft) last time, and holds each-way claims in a race lacking depth.

7/1

3rd

7

29th Feb 2024

Soft

3m 0f 45y

Class 4

14:50 Wetherby

Sigurd

10st 4lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Joanne Foster

12yo who has regressed and struggled at Catterick the last twice; however, this three-time C&D winner ran fairly well over C&D in November on his reappearance, and could stage a revival now back here off 12lb lower.

16/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £19.10
Straight Forecast £13.50
Trifecta £59.60

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Imperial Alex

The Star:

Sigurd

RP RATINGS:

Imperial Alex

POSTDATA:

Imperial Alex

The Times:

Imperial Alex

Telegraph:

Imperial Alex

The Guardian:

Imperial Alex

Daily Mail:

Imperial Alex

D Express:

Imperial Alex

Daily Mirror:

Imperial Alex

The Sun:

Imperial Alex

Daily Record:

Imperial Alex