May 30 / 15.00 Ffos Las

15.00

Good

Remembering Phillip “Mick” Martin Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £4700.09
  • 2m 3f 83y
  • Class 4
  • 9 runners
SKY
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Remembering Phillip “Mick” Martin Handicap Chase

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Windy

10/1 (Won)

  • Win: £7.50
  • Place: £2.20

Form: 6U355- D

Last run: 124 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Winning hurdler but inferior chase form in eight attempts; left Gavin Cromwell for 12,500gns; had wind surgery and return to goodish ground won't harm; has to be of some interest.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

11th Nov 2024

Good

2m 4f 110y

Class 4

13:15 Kempton

Steppenwolf

11st 9lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

Ex-Irish 6yo who is only 1-11 over fences, the win gained at Ffos Las (2m3f; stable debut) in May; has failed to back up that form in two subsequent starts (had further wind surgery since latest) and looks more exposed than these rivals.

13/2

2nd

2

11th Nov 2024

Good

2m 4f 110y

Class 4

13:15 Kempton

Steppenwolf

11st 9lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

Ex-Irish 6yo who is only 1-11 over fences, the win gained at Ffos Las (2m3f; stable debut) in May; has failed to back up that form in two subsequent starts (had further wind surgery since latest) and looks more exposed than these rivals.

13/2

11th

7

28th Jul 2024

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

14:25 Uttoxeter

Steppenwolf

11st 11lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: David Pipe

Ex-Irish 6yo who was given a wind op before winning quite stylishly on stable debut at Ffos Las (2m3f, good) in May; disappointed when favourite to follow up at Bangor last month but could plausibly still have more improvement to come for this stable; swaps cheekpieces for first-time blinkers.

9/1

6/1

  • Place: £2.00

Form: P4934-

Last run: 47 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Became disappointing over hurdles last season but made encouraging chase debut when keeping-on fourth at Chepstow (2m3f, good to soft) last month; now needs to build on that performance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

7

25th Jul 2025

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 4

15:47 Uttoxeter

Exmoor Forest

11st 9lb

J: James Davies

T: Nigel Hawke

Placed in three consecutive chases during the winter (2m7f-3m, good to soft) but this first hurdling start since March 2024 comes after a five-month break, so his fitness must be taken on trust.

12/1

2

18th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 7f 3y

Class 4

15:35 Taunton

Exmoor Forest

11st 10lb

J: James Davies

T: Nigel Hawke

Creditable third over C&D (good to soft) in December, after a wind op, and probably bettered that performance when filling same position at Doncaster (3m, good to soft) last month; remains on a workable mark and seems likely to be right in the thick of things again.

9/2

14/1

  • Place: £3.20

Form: /PP5-4 D

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 10lb

12 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Out of form during light campaign last season and last month's run was no better; looks on the decline.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

24th Oct 2024

Good

2m 4f 11y

Class 5

13:40 Ludlow

Magic Dancer

11st 9lb

J: Mr Zac Baker

T: Kerry Lee

Placed three times during the summer (2m3f-2m7f, good) but his final run was most disappointing; off new career-low mark but a 12yo now and he holds no secrets.

14/1

9

1st Sep 2024

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 4

15:10 Worcester

Magic Dancer

10st 12lb

J: Richard Patrick

T: Kerry Lee

Veteran who last won in 2022 but has come down the weights and took third in three of his last four starts, latest when running on from off the pace over C&D 11 days ago; has been tried over this sort of trip on only his last two outings and that latest run showed there's something to build on.

10/1

Form: 45-125 D BF

Last run: 9 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Won a Market Rasen hurdle (2m4f) by over 7l before going close over fences at Bangor (3m, good to soft); disappointed only three days later though and they're keeping him busy.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

2nd Jun 2025

Good

2m 5f 89y

Class 5

14:15 Market Rasen

Iron Heart

12st 0lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Mickey Bowen

0-9 over fences but twice runner-up; has another go in this discipline on the back of a comfortable win over hurdles here (2m4f, good) in a race he also won 12 months earlier; now rated 10lb lower as a chaser so has obvious claims.

4/5

1

2nd Jun 2025

Good

2m 5f 89y

Class 5

14:15 Market Rasen

Iron Heart

12st 0lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Mickey Bowen

0-9 over fences but twice runner-up; has another go in this discipline on the back of a comfortable win over hurdles here (2m4f, good) in a race he also won 12 months earlier; now rated 10lb lower as a chaser so has obvious claims.

4/5

1st

2

9th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 139y

Class 5

17:00 Market Rasen

Iron Heart

12st 0lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Mickey Bowen

9lb lower when an easy winner of this 12 months ago but he can deal with this mark and latest close third at Ffos Las (good to soft) was commendable given he likes good ground; could very easily win this again.

13/8

OUR TIP

Form: 86PP1- CD

Last run: 38 days

W: 11st 11lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Returned to form when jumping well out in front and holding on by a length over C&D last month; beat one chasing a hat-trick so it's solid form; just 3lb higher.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

2

28th Aug 2024

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 4

18:40 Worcester

Ballinsker

11st 12lb

J: Isabel Williams

T: Evan Williams

Jumped well out in front when prevailing narrowly over fences at Ffos Las (2m3f; good to soft) in April but ran a modest race there in May; dual hurdle winner who stays this far but he's become hard to predict.

14/1

5th

3

30th May 2024

Good

2m 3f 83y

Class 4

15:00 Ffos Las

Ballinsker

11st 11lb

J: Isabel Williams

T: Evan Williams

Returned to form when jumping well out in front and holding on by a length over C&D last month; beat one chasing a hat-trick so it's solid form; just 3lb higher.

7/2

1st

4

22nd Apr 2024

Soft

2m 3f 83y

Class 4

14:42 Ffos Las

Ballinsker

11st 8lb

J: Isabel Williams

T: Evan Williams

Now 9b lower than for his Chepstow win (2m7f, good to soft) last April but he's been pulled up here (2m5f) and at Plumpton (3m1f) in last two runs; cheekpieces return on this drop back in grade but he needs a major revival back in trip; stablemate of Lelant.

16/1

Form: U150-2

Last run: 17 days

W: 11st 5lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Won a Huntingdon handicap hurdle off this mark in October and rediscovered some form after a break when a 12l second at Hereford (2m3f, good; first-time tongue-tie); not bred for fences but a fair shout should he fancy it.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

24th Mar 2026

Good

3m 0f 60y

Class 5

15:30 Southwell

Jack The Savage

11st 5lb

J: Isabelle Ryder

T: Laura Horsfall

Had dropped to a good mark and finally exploited it with a head success at Hereford (3m1f, good); that was a weak race but he's only 2lb higher and should give some less exposed rivals plenty to think about.

11/4

1st

5

7th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 119y

Class 5

13:42 Hereford

Jack The Savage

11st 8lb

J: Isabelle Ryder

T: Laura Horsfall

Sole hurdles win came off 15lb higher mark but he's been struggling for a while and finished last of four at Fakenham last time after four months off; needs a revival.

12/1

4th

4

18th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 95y

Class 5

13:00 Fakenham

Jack The Savage

11st 4lb

J: Isabelle Ryder

T: Laura Horsfall

Potentially well handicapped but was struggling for form when last seen and has been off since early September.

12/1

Form: 41315- D

Last run: 36 days

W: 11st 12lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Won three chases over slightly longer trips last year when the ground was no slower than good to soft; current mark won't be easy but this race is a better fit than the novice hurdle he contested last time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

7

18th Jun 2024

Good

2m 6f 125y

Class 4

16:35 Stratford

Dans Chosen

11st 2lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Won three chases last year from 2m4f to 2m5f when the ground was no slower than good to soft; latest return to chasing at Ffos Las was underwhelming, even allowing for the trip of 2m3f.

7/1

7th

1

30th May 2024

Good

2m 3f 83y

Class 4

15:00 Ffos Las

Dans Chosen

11st 12lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Won three chases over slightly longer trips last year when the ground was no slower than good to soft; current mark won't be easy but this race is a better fit than the novice hurdle he contested last time.

11/2

5th

7

24th Apr 2024

Good

2m 3f 1y

Class 4

16:42 Taunton

Dans Chosen

11st 5lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Better known as a chaser these days, with three of his four wins in that discipline gained last year; returns to hurdling over a trip short of his best and looks vulnerable.

8/1

Form: 345-1P C BF

Last run: 12 days

W: 11st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Came from off the pace to win comfortably over 2m here (good to soft) this month and reportedly lost his action at Bangor; struggles with consistency but has a big run in him.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

5th May 2026

Good

2m 5f 110y

Class 5

17:22 Ffos Las

Boston Joe

11st 13lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Rebecca Curtis

Goes well here, gaining fourth course success with a narrow verdict in March (2m3f, soft); beaten 8l behind L'Empire Vert off this 4lb higher mark on his return visit but he was held up in a race that favoured those ridden handier; good chance.

13/2

5th

1

12th Apr 2026

Good

2m 3f 83y

Class 5

16:20 Ffos Las

Boston Joe

12st 0lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Rebecca Curtis

Prevailed from a solid rival in similar event over C&D (soft) last time, taking Ffos Las record to 4-15; should remain competitive despite going back up 4lb.

3/1

1st

2

16th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 3f 83y

Class 5

15:00 Ffos Las

Boston Joe

11st 13lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Rebecca Curtis

Gained three of his five chase wins here; must bounce back from a poor performance (over hurdles) in January but was placed here on first two starts this season (2m4f hurdle/2m chase) and has been given a chance by the handicapper.

9/2

Form: 687PP- C

Last run: 126 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Strike-rate of 6-17 over hurdles and the latest of those wins was off a 3lb higher mark; however, there's been pretty much nothing to take from his last five appearances and would appear to be going chasing under a cloud.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

30th May 2024

Good

2m 3f 83y

Class 4

15:00 Ffos Las

Blue Shark

11st 4lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Strike-rate of 6-17 over hurdles and the latest of those wins was off a 3lb higher mark; however, there's been pretty much nothing to take from his last five appearances and would appear to be going chasing under a cloud.

12/1

0

8

25th Jan 2024

Good

2m 4f 145y

Class 4

14:35 Huntingdon

Blue Shark

11st 10lb

J: James Smith

T: Jonjo O’Neill

Six wins between November 2022 and May 2023 included one over C&D (good); back to within 1lb of the final winning mark in that sequence, but too far below par the last four times to expect him to capitalise.

16/1

0

5

16th Dec 2023

Good

3m 1f 119y

Class 4

14:48 Hereford

Blue Shark

11st 10lb

J: Benjamin Macey

T: Jonjo O’Neill

Between November of last year and this May he won six times in seven starts (2m3f-2m4f); however, shot up the weights as a consequence and he's beaten only one finisher in his last three appearances; has stamina to prove.

12/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £46.80
Straight Forecast £45.19
Tricast £386.95
Trifecta £353.80

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Ballinsker

The Times:

Exmoor Forest

SPOTLIGHT:

Steppenwolf

POSTDATA:

Boston Joe

Telegraph:

Magic Dancer

The Guardian:

Exmoor Forest

D Express:

Exmoor Forest

TOPSPEED:

Ballinsker

Daily Mail:

Ballinsker

Daily Mirror:

Ballinsker

The Sun:

Ballinsker

The Star:

Ballinsker

Daily Record:

Ballinsker