September 30 / 16.55 Newton Abbot

16.55

Heavy

Par Inn Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £10156.78
  • 3m 1f 170y
  • Class 3
  • 6 runners
SKY
View Course
Par Inn Handicap Chase

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

Form: 3/P2/1

Last run: 119 days

W: 12st 0lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 128

Form & Verdict
Winning hurdler/chaser for Paul Nicholls; showed he retains plenty of ability when winning an Irish point in May and a hunter chase at Listowel (3m, good) in June; first run for new trainer; acts on heavy but his best form has been on good ground; market is best guide.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

8th Nov 2024

Good

3m 0f 54y

Class 3

15:35 Exeter

Jeremy Pass

11st 8lb

J: Mr Charlie Marshall

T: Joseph G Davies

Very capable off this sort of mark when with Paul Nicholls; still only a 9yo and he won a hunter chase in Ireland this summer before pulling up in last month's Velka Pardubicka, which horses tend to either love or loathe; others appeal more but wouldn't put a line through him.

40/1

3

8th Nov 2024

Good

3m 0f 54y

Class 3

15:35 Exeter

Jeremy Pass

11st 8lb

J: Mr Charlie Marshall

T: Joseph G Davies

Very capable off this sort of mark when with Paul Nicholls; still only a 9yo and he won a hunter chase in Ireland this summer before pulling up in last month's Velka Pardubicka, which horses tend to either love or loathe; others appeal more but wouldn't put a line through him.

40/1

Form: 2P-171 CD

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 13lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 127

Form & Verdict
A five-time course winner, he jumped well when making all over C&D (soft) in May off 4lb lower mark; made a successful return to hurdles here (3m3f, soft) three weeks ago, acts on heavy ground and should be hard to beat.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

2

11th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 131y

Class 4

17:10 Chepstow

Investment Manager

12st 0lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Didn't run badly when third of five in Newton Abbot chase (3m2f, good) in May and today's switch back to hurdling won't be a problem but his record in recent years is mixed; others preferred.

14/1

3rd

2

28th May 2025

Good

3m 1f 170y

Class 3

15:48 Newton Abbot

Investment Manager

11st 7lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Often leads; has five wins and five seconds to show from 12 previous visits to this track, including a win in this 12 months ago (on soft); returns off a 3lb lower mark and latest 12l defeat here was on good ground that would have been on the lively side; every chance with rain forecast.

11/4

3rd

2

28th May 2025

Good

3m 1f 170y

Class 3

15:48 Newton Abbot

Investment Manager

11st 7lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Often leads; has five wins and five seconds to show from 12 previous visits to this track, including a win in this 12 months ago (on soft); returns off a 3lb lower mark and latest 12l defeat here was on good ground that would have been on the lively side; every chance with rain forecast.

11/4

OUR TIP

Form: 0/623-

Last run: 275 days

W: 11st 8lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Well handicapped on his best form but his last win was in January 2022; first run since disappointing third of six at Haydock (3m4f, heavy) last December; has winning form on heavy and any market move should be noted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

17th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 177y

Class 4

17:12 Ffos Las

Fantastikas

11st 11lb

J: James Turner

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

led, headed 14th, weakened before 4 out, pulled up before 3 out

10/1

4

17th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 177y

Class 4

17:12 Ffos Las

Fantastikas

11st 11lb

J: James Turner

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

No win since January 2022; shaped reasonably well when third at Uttoxeter (3m, soft) in December but lesser efforts at Haydock and Plumpton since temper enthusiasm; first run since January.

10/1

4th

1

27th Jan 2025

Soft

3m 1f 152y

Class 4

15:50 Plumpton

Fantastikas

12st 0lb

J: Mr Toby McCain-Mitchell

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

Returned to form when keeping on for third at Uttoxeter (3m, soft) in early December but failed to really build on that when a well-held fourth at Haydock three weeks later, albeit in a higher grade; hasn't won for three years but he's plied his trade at a higher level for some time and could find life easier contesting a class 4 with a capable 7lb-claiming amateur booked.

9/2

Form: 41351-

Last run: 170 days

W: 11st 6lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Won twice over 2m7f at Chepstow last term, including on heavy in January; at his best on soft/heavy ground and should run well.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

27th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 7f 136y

Class 4

15:47 Chepstow

Bells Of Peterboro

12st 2lb

J: Mr Edward Vaughan

T: Tim Vaughan

Not one to rely upon heavily and doesn't always look wildly enthusiastic but didn't run badly when fourth at Uttoxeter (3m heavy) last month and this track suits him well; on a good mark; can't be ruled out.

14/1

7th

6

28th Oct 2025

Soft

3m 1f 60y

Class 4

14:58 Ffos Las

Bells Of Peterboro

11st 10lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Tim Vaughan

Best run during a fairly light campaign last season when second to progressive rival at Lingfield (2m7f, heavy) in February; contender if judged on that and Sean Bowen is booked today but this 10yo has not been seen since a lesser effort in March and he's too inconsistent to rely upon.

7/1

7th

6

28th Oct 2025

Soft

3m 1f 60y

Class 4

14:58 Ffos Las

Bells Of Peterboro

11st 10lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Tim Vaughan

Best run during a fairly light campaign last season when second to progressive rival at Lingfield (2m7f, heavy) in February; contender if judged on that and Sean Bowen is booked today but this 10yo has not been seen since a lesser effort in March and he's too inconsistent to rely upon.

7/1

Form: 541111 CD

Last run: 10 days

W: 11st 3lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Has improved out of all recognition since stepping up in trip and switching to fences; landed his fourth successive C&D win ten days ago, with three of those on good ground and one on good to soft; up another 5lb but has yet to run on heavy.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

4th May 2026

Good

3m 0f 38y

Class 2

16:03 Fakenham

Hold Your Fort

10st 9lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Debra Hamer

Made all in three-runner contest at Ascot (3m, good) in March and arguably bettered that form when close/clear second at Haydock (3m1f, good to soft) last month; might be a shade vulnerable off new mark but at least we know he's in excellent nick.

5/2

2nd

8

15th Apr 2026

Good

3m 1f 125y

Class 2

17:00 Haydock

Hold Your Fort

10st 5lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Debra Hamer

Did well in the autumn and won again last month at Ascot (3m, good) where he dominated his two rivals from the front; there's a suspicion that his two rivals underperformed and he's 5lb higher here, but still considered.

7/2

1st

4

29th Mar 2026

Good

2m 7f 185y

Class 2

16:50 Ascot

Hold Your Fort

10st 12lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Debra Hamer

Won at Ludlow (3m) in October and creditable fourth off this mark at Chepstow (3m2f, again good to firm) four days later, both under Callum Pritchard; recent Taunton run ended in an unseat before push came to shove but he's a big player judged on that autumn form.

4/1

Form: 51/32-

Last run: 495 days

W: 10st 5lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Four-time chase winner but returns from 495-day absence; unproven on heavy ground and fitness has to be taken on trust.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

5

30th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

3m 2f 57y

Class 5

15:27 Taunton

Marettimo

11st 7lb

J: Ben Ffrench Davis

T: Bill Turner

held up in rear, slow jump 2nd, headway 13th, weakened before 3 out

20/1

7th

5

30th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

3m 2f 57y

Class 5

15:27 Taunton

Marettimo

11st 7lb

J: Ben Ffrench Davis

T: Bill Turner

held up in rear, slow jump 2nd, headway 13th, weakened before 3 out

20/1

7

22nd Dec 2024

Good To Soft

3m 5f 24y

Class 4

14:13 Fakenham

Marettimo

10st 8lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Bill Turner

Returned from long absence with fairly encouraging run at Fontwell (3m2f, good to soft) in October but has looked out of sorts since and has a lot more to prove than some of these.

33/1

Verdict

A fascinating contest in which four of the six declarations won their most recent start. INVESTMENT MANAGER goes in the ground and is in top form at present and he is selected ahead of Bells Of Peterboro who relishes the ground but whose fitness is taken on trust. Hold Your Fort (up 43lb since landing his first chase win) is on a five-timer over C&D but unproven on the ground, while Jeremy Pass could be interesting if he is ready to do himself justice. [Andrew Bladen]

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Investment Manager

TOPSPEED:

Hold Your Fort

RP RATINGS:

Fantastikas

POSTDATA:

Hold Your Fort

The Times:

Hold Your Fort

Telegraph:

Hold Your Fort

The Guardian:

Hold Your Fort

D Express:

Hold Your Fort

WEST COUNTRY:

Investment Manager

Daily Mail:

Investment Manager

Daily Mirror:

Investment Manager

The Star:

Investment Manager

Daily Record:

Investment Manager