August 17 / 16.40 Newbury

16.40

Good

Chapel Down Handicap

  • Prize money: £10468
  • 1m 4f 0y
  • Class 4
  • 10 runners
SKY
View Course
Chapel Down Handicap

Runners: 10 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

5/2 (Won)

  • Win: £3.00
  • Place: £1.40

Form: 4-5631 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 5lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Disappointing favourite and co-favourite in his first two handicaps but the blinkers went on at Salisbury (1m4f, good to firm) three weeks ago and he won that six-runner race in good style; 8lb higher today but may have turned a corner and has to be taken seriously.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

5

(6)

4th Oct 2024

Heavy

1m 7f 209y

Class 3

14:47 Ascot

Hutchence

9st 6lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Ralph Beckett

in touch with leaders, outpaced over 2f out, soon rallied and good headway on near side of group, led over 1f out, went clear inside final furlong, easily

7/4

3rd

4

(6)

7th Sep 2024

Good To Soft

1m 6f 1y

Class 2

13:50 Haydock

Hutchence

9st 6lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Ralph Beckett

Disappointing favourite and co-favourite in his first two handicaps but has turned a major corner with blinkers fitted for his two starts since, winning at Salisbury and Newbury (both 1m4f on good to firm); first off the bridle turning for home last time, before leading on the post, which sees a switch of headgear today (off 6lb higher mark) but also a step up in trip which has to make appeal; leading player.

9/2

1st

6

(7)

17th Aug 2024

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 4

16:40 Newbury

Hutchence

9st 5lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Ralph Beckett

Disappointing favourite and co-favourite in his first two handicaps but the blinkers went on at Salisbury (1m4f, good to firm) three weeks ago and he won that six-runner race in good style; 8lb higher today but may have turned a corner and has to be taken seriously.

5/2

2nd
10 (1)
Bas Bleu

6/1

  • Place: £2.70

Form: 833283

Last run: 23 days

W: 8st 6lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 69

Form & Verdict
Some AW placings early this year and she was back from 132 days off when good third of seven in handicap at Sandown (1m2f, good) last month on turf debut; there was encouragement in that performance for another crack at 1m4f.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

3

(7)

11th Jul 2025

Good

1m 3f 211y

Class 3

15:45 Ascot

Bas Bleu

9st 2lb

J: George Downing

T: Ed Walker

Raised her game again this season, including a Doncaster handicap win (1m4f, good); appeared to show improved form again in Listed race last time, which can be questioned as she was a never-dangerous sixth of seven at 25-1 but her mark is unchanged.

16/1

2

(7)

22nd Jun 2025

Good

1m 4f 5y

Class 1

15:40 Pontefract

Bas Bleu

9st 2lb

J: Saffie Osborne

T: Ed Walker

Readily saw off her five rivals in a Doncaster handicap (1m4f, good) last month and turned in another solid effort behind Santorini Star at Goodwood latest; it's hard to see why the tables would be turned on these terms though.

25/1

4th

8

(4)

23rd May 2025

Good

1m 3f 218y

Class 3

15:15 Goodwood

Bas Bleu

9st 6lb

J: Saffie Osborne

T: Ed Walker

Rarely runs a bad race and has won two of her last three, latterly in gritty fashion at Doncaster (1m4f, good); up 4lb in a stronger race here but hasn't looked back since the hood went on (131).

8/1

8/1

  • Place: £3.30

Form: 6216

Last run: 14 days

W: 10st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Switched to Flat since wind surgery in May; won maiden at Pontefract (1m2f, soft) in July but tailed-off last of six when second favourite on handicap debut at Newmarket (1m4f, good to firm) two weeks ago; mark unchanged.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

11th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 176y

Class 1

12:45 Aintree

Mighty Bandit

11st 7lb

J: James Bowen

T: Warren Greatrex

Flat and hurdles winner but already a far superior chaser; jumped well in front (although sometimes to the right) when completing a handicap hat-trick at Doncaster (2m, soft) six weeks ago by 17l; firmly on the up and deserves his chance in this higher grade.

9/2

1st

3

28th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 78y

Class 2

13:55 Doncaster

Mighty Bandit

11st 6lb

J: James Bowen

T: Warren Greatrex

Flat/hurdle winner but he's looking a far superior chaser; bumped into a very smart novice on his chase debut and has since won two handicaps, the latest over C&D by some 8l (soft); an 8lb rise could have been worse for one firmly on the upgrade.

7/4

1st

3

24th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 0f 78y

Class 2

15:13 Doncaster

Mighty Bandit

11st 0lb

J: James Bowen

T: Warren Greatrex

Flat/hurdles winner; very solid form at Newbury (2m, good to soft) since switched to fences, finishing a good second (behind subsequent Grade 2 scorer) prior to going one better in a race that is working out nicely; may well have more to offer in this sphere and warrants major respect.

10/11

10/1

Form: -31973 D

Last run: 23 days

W: 9st 13lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
Has been much more potent on the Flat than over hurdles, including with two 1m4f wins last winter, but that form was on AW; fair third of seven at Sandown (1m2f, good) on latest outing but he needs to build on that; first-time cheekpieces join the usual tongue-tie.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

3

27th May 2026

Good

2m 2f 110y

Class 5

16:23 Newton Abbot

Ocean Heights

11st 6lb

J: Rian Corcoran

T: David Pipe

Bumper and four-time Flat (1m2f/1m4f) winner who is ideally suited by fast ground; respectable fourth on AW when last seen in February and he's on a workable mark back over hurdles; needs close look for in-form yard.

7/1

4th

2

(4)

10th Feb 2026

Standard

1m 4f 0y

Class 6

16:18 Lingfield (AW)

Ocean Heights

9st 9lb

J: Jack Dace

T: David Pipe

Out of the frame in all four starts since returned to the AW, but his fifth of ten over 1m2f here in December suggested that all may not be lost; now 6lb lower than for that effort and 8lb lower than when last successful; interesting.

11/1

7th

2

(1)

24th Jan 2026

Standard

1m 2f 0y

Class 6

11:58 Lingfield (AW)

Ocean Heights

9st 9lb

J: Jack Dace

T: David Pipe

Now 6lb lower than for his two turf wins last May, but he's finished down the field in last six starts and last three have been at this track (1m2f/1m4f); others preferred.

16/1

Form: 01-784

Last run: 22 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
First-time hood (also worn on second start this term) when ending last season with a narrow 7f AW novice win; never going on handicap debut in June (1m, good) but keeping-on fourth of seven at Sandown (1m2f, good) was better; needs to build on that too but it may be possible, raised in trip again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

(1)

14th Sep 2024

Standard

1m 4f 0y

Class 5

16:23 Lingfield (AW)

Louis Quatorze

9st 10lb

J: Neil Callan

T: David Menuisier

led at steady pace

7/2

5th

8

(3)

17th Aug 2024

Good

1m 4f 0y

Class 4

16:40 Newbury

Louis Quatorze

9st 2lb

J: Oisin Murphy

T: David Menuisier

First-time hood (also worn on second start this term) when ending last season with a narrow 7f AW novice win; never going on handicap debut in June (1m, good) but keeping-on fourth of seven at Sandown (1m2f, good) was better; needs to build on that too but it may be possible, raised in trip again.

9/1

5/1

Form: 235273

Last run: 15 days

W: 9st 6lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
2yo novice winner who has mostly been on the premises with varied tactics in handicaps (blinkered in last four); close third of seven at Glorious Goodwood (1m3f, the furthest he's been) on latest start but that took his handicap score to 0-9 and he needs to find a bit extra.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14th

7

(3)

20th Sep 2025

Good

1m 1f 0y

Class 4

17:05 Newmarket

Mafnood

10st 13lb

J: Mr Patrick Millman

T: George Baker

Has only won a novice when aged two; has threatened in handicaps from 7f to 1m3f but now has to get himself back on track after three lesser shows.

20/1

12th

1

(4)

11th Sep 2025

Good

0m 7f 3y

Class 4

14:12 Epsom

Mafnood

10st 1lb

J: Jamie Spencer

T: George Baker

Sole win came in a 1m novice as a 2yo and although he's run some good races on downhill tracks this year, including over C&D (good; acts on soft), he isn't obviously ahead of his mark; should be thereabouts even so.

11/2

3rd

1

(1)

25th Aug 2025

Good

0m 7f 3y

Class 4

17:03 Epsom

Mafnood

10st 0lb

J: Neil Callan

T: George Baker

Sole win was in a Haydock novice two years ago; plenty of good runs for new yard this season but he was disappointing at Windsor on Saturday and needs to bounce back on this quick turnaround.

11/2

Form: 9-5932

Last run: 19 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
Not beaten far in a Group 2 as 2yo but has no other form anywhere near that; steered clear of handicaps until today, seemingly wisely so given his initial marks; while this looks a much more realistic mark and he's been placed in 1m2f/1m3f novice events on last two outings, he needs better in today's first-time headgear.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

11th Oct 2025

Good

2m 0f 48y

Class 4

14:30 Hexham

At Vimeiro

11st 8lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Ben Haslam

Fairly useful on Flat (2m winner) for Jane Chapple-Hyam and has taken quite well to hurdling, winning then third over 2m1f at Cartmel in the summer; carries a penalty but should be thereabouts.

7/2

1

23rd Aug 2025

Good

2m 1f 46y

Class 4

15:55 Cartmel

At Vimeiro

11st 6lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Ben Haslam

Fairly useful on Flat (2m winner) for Jane Chapple-Hyam and has taken well to hurdling, just shaken up to beat six rivals over C&D (soft) last month; open to improvement and should go well under a penalty.

5/2

1st

7

21st Jul 2025

Good

2m 1f 46y

Class 4

15:12 Cartmel

At Vimeiro

11st 0lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Ben Haslam

Signed off on the Flat for Jane Chapple-Hyam with 2m AW win in January (RPR 80) and was very much in contention before final-flight unseat over C&D (good to soft) on stable/hurdle debut in May; Richie McLernon presumably had the pick of the two stable runners in this race; shortlisted.

8/1

Form: 145-47

Last run: 76 days

W: 10st 2lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
A fairly useful 1m2f winner for the Gosdens in 2023; won a soft-ground maiden hurdle this February but refused to race in first-time cheekpieces once in April; creditable runs when wearing that headgear back on Flat on last two starts but they don't suggest he's on a great mark; last season's blinkers now return.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

3

(5)

29th May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 198y

Class 5

15:20 Brighton

Maasai Mara

9st 8lb

J: William Carson

T: John O’Shea

Regressed over hurdles last year but there was some encouragement with a hood deployed when fourth of seven at Wolverhampton (1m4f, AW) on his Flat return last month; blinkers (retained) were back on when a pace bias and wide draw did for him at Chester three weeks ago; not entirely ruled out.

14/1

12th

7

(12)

8th May 2026

Good

1m 4f 63y

Class 4

17:20 Chester

Maasai Mara

9st 10lb

J: Alec Voikhansky

T: John O’Shea

Lost his way over hurdles last year and made only a mildly encouraging return to the Flat when keeping-on fourth of seven at Wolverhampton (1m4f, AW; first-time hood) last month; not the most obvious answer.

40/1

4th

4

(5)

4th Apr 2026

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 4

19:30 Wolverhampton (AW)

Maasai Mara

9st 2lb

J: William Carson

T: John O’Shea

Lost his way over hurdles, running poorly in two runs back from a break last November; the usual cheekpieces are replaced by a first-time hood and it's hard to believe he's still up to this sort of mark on the Flat.

33/1

8/1

Form: -27144

Last run: 29 days

W: 9st 2lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
Off the mark in a four-runner novice at Lingfield in May and has remained in form kept to 1m2f, running-on fourth at Newmarket latest; gives the impression this combination of longer distance and first-time headgear could suit.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

1st May 2026

Yielding

2m 0f 45y

19:10 Punchestown

Tatateo

11st 11lb

J: Michael Kenneally

T: Denis Gerard Hogan

Well held in handicap hurdle outings; added a second win over timber in January when landing a Cork rated novice hurdle (2m1f, yielding to soft); followed up on AW to notch a second Flat win; cheekpieces go back on after he was tailed off in a Fairyhouse novice handicap hurdle last month (2m, yielding to soft).

25/1

16th

3

6th Apr 2026

Yielding To Soft

2m 0f 0y

14:05 Fairyhouse

Tatateo

11st 12lb

J: Michael Kenneally

T: Denis Gerard Hogan

Well held in his two previous handicaps as a jumper but has since won a Cork novice and a staying handicap on the AW; others are a bit more intriguing, however; cheekpieces removed.

20/1

7th

1

(9)

11th Feb 2026

Standard

2m 0f 0y

14:38 Dundalk (AW)

Tatateo

10st 4lb

J: J M Sheridan

T: Denis Gerard Hogan

Dual-purpose type; had been a runner-up in two previous visits to this venue before going one better over C&D five days ago with a ready 3l success; that win came on the back of a Cork novice hurdle victory last month; shoulders a 7lb penalty now but could have more to offer.

7/2

OUR TIP

16/1

Form: 571606 D

Last run: 35 days

W: 9st 13lb

5 yo Colt

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
Collected a good prize when dropped back to 1m4f on Lingfield Polytrack in March; ran poorly on Tapeta in May and below form at Salisbury two months later, leaving him with something to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

12

(7)

18th May 2026

Good

1m 4f 17y

19:50 Roscommon

God Of Thunder

8st 10lb

J: Reese Holohan

T: Denis Gerard Hogan

Won over hurdles and on the Flat at Limerick last year; well exposed in this discipline; money for him over C&D last week when showed a bit more than of late, beaten around 6l; up in grade here.

10/1

7th

9

(16)

11th May 2026

Good

1m 4f 46y

19:53 Roscommon

God Of Thunder

9st 9lb

J: Jared Huggan

T: Denis Gerard Hogan

Won off 8lb higher at Limerick last year (12.5f, good); yet to hit form this season and behind a few of these when last of 20 at Navan latest; revival needed.

20/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £30.80
Straight Forecast £29.70
Tricast £240.23
Trifecta £258.90

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Hutchence

Telegraph:

Mighty Bandit

SPOTLIGHT:

Louis Quatorze

NEWMARKET:

At Vimeiro

TOPSPEED:

Tatateo

Daily Mirror:

Mighty Bandit

POSTDATA:

Hutchence

The Times:

Hutchence

The Guardian:

Hutchence

Daily Mail:

Hutchence

The Sun:

Hutchence

The Star:

Hutchence

Daily Record:

Hutchence

D Express:

Louis Quatorze