October 13 / 14.45 Carlisle

14.45

Good

Varlien Vyner-Brooks Memorial Handicap Chase (Challenger Staying Chase Series Qualifier)

  • Prize money: £7406.56
  • 3m 0f 110y
  • Class 3
  • 9 runners
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Varlien Vyner-Brooks Memorial Handicap Chase (Challenger Staying Chase Series Qualifier)

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

7/2 (Won)

  • Win: £2.88
  • Place: £1.60

Form: 812-33 CD

Last run: 124 days

W: 10st 2lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Won this in 2020 and runner-up in it last year (three ran), both times off 11lb higher; pulled up the following month and not seen over fences since but won over hurdles here in March; more appeal than most.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

29th May 2024

Good

2m 6f 31y

Class 4

19:20 Cartmel

Court Dreaming

11st 2lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

All five wins have been on good ground, so the weather needs watching, but he also had that when pulled up over fences last time; on a useful mark if putting his best foot forward back over hurdles.

9/1

3

11th May 2024

Good

3m 0f 41y

Class 4

16:00 Hexham

Court Dreaming

11st 11lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

in rear, awkward jump 2nd, pecked on landing 3rd, soon reminders and tailed off, pulled up after 4th

12/1

3

11th May 2024

Good

3m 0f 41y

Class 4

16:00 Hexham

Court Dreaming

11st 11lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

in rear, awkward jump 2nd, pecked on landing 3rd, soon reminders and tailed off, pulled up after 4th

12/1

7/1

  • Place: £2.70

Form: 04-216 D

Last run: 22 days

W: 12st 2lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 137

Form & Verdict
Well held over hurdles last month on stable debut (was with Gordon Elliott); chasing career in Ireland didn't progress (only seen once over fences in the last two years); enough to prove off top weight.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

5

14th Jul 2024

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 4

15:15 Perth

Dallas Des Pictons

11st 6lb

J: Henry Brooke

T: Dianne Sayer

Won at Hexham (2m4f, good) last September off 5lb higher mark; ran respectably, having been given a break since pulling up over fences in March, when fifth of seven at Hexham (2m4f, good) last month when leading from the front and headed only approaching the last flight; weighted to win but is hard to predict.

12/1

5th

4

23rd Jun 2024

Good

2m 4f 28y

Class 4

16:18 Hexham

Dallas Des Pictons

11st 6lb

J: Conor Rabbitt

T: Dianne Sayer

Very useful in his prime and proved he retains a significant chunk of ability when causing 40-1 surprise over C&D (good) in September; quickly back in the doldrums since, though, and it's hard to predict whether he'll be in the right mood today.

16/1

5

9th Mar 2024

Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 3

15:43 Ayr

Dallas Des Pictons

11st 2lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Dianne Sayer

in touch with leaders, outpaced and dropped to last 9th, slow jump 10th, lost touch 11th, struggling 13th

20/1

Form: 2702F-

Last run: 339 days

W: 10st 13lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Ran well when second over hurdles on stable debut a year ago but fell the following month and absent since; both chase wins in Ireland gained in October 2019; best form has come when wearing headgear; others preferred.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

2

14th Nov 2023

Good

2m 7f 129y

Class 4

13:30 Huntingdon

Stylish Moment

11st 13lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell

Looked as good as ever when beating Special Acceptance to win Haydock veterans' chase (3m1f, good to soft) in April but has become unreliable and was under pressure before unseating rider at third-last fence at Perth in September; not an easy one to predict.

6/1

0

2

11th Sep 2023

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 3

16:47 Perth

Stylish Moment

11st 5lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell

Recorded his third chase win when scoring at Haydock (3m1f, good to soft) in April but he's not easy to predict and was pulled up behind Saint Arvans over C&D last time; was reported to have had an irregular heartbeat in a post-race examination and he needs to bounce back after a short break.

14/1

5

24th Jun 2023

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 3

16:07 Perth

Stylish Moment

10st 10lb

J: Stephen Mulqueen

T: Lucinda Russell

prominent, dropped to last 6th, lost touch after 7th, pulled up after 8th

5/1

Form: 3165P- D

Last run: 183 days

W: 11st 8lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 129

Form & Verdict
Four wins over hurdles, the latest (off this mark) in January; ended last season on a low note and tailed off on only chasing attempt a year ago; faces plenty of questions.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

16th Jan 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 150y

Class 3

15:10 Wincanton

Small Present

10st 13lb

J: Ben Godfrey

T: Anthony Honeyball

midfield, pushed along from 6th, towards rear after 7th, lost touch after 9th, pulled up after 3 out

16/1

Form: F784/5 D

Last run: 45 days

W: 10st 10lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Four chase wins for Paul Nicholls but hasn't shown similar form for this yard; tailed off at Cartmel in August on return from a long absence; wind surgery since; probably best watched again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

26th Dec 2023

Good To Soft

2m 3f 65y

Class 4

14:35 Sedgefield

Touch Kick

11st 7lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: Simon West

Patchy form since last win in October 2019; another who is on a good mark but he has plenty to prove on this first start since May.

11/2

8

29th May 2023

Good

2m 5f 34y

Class 3

16:40 Cartmel

Touch Kick

10st 12lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: Simon West

No longer the force of old but was ahead of Marshalled when close second at Sedgefield (2m5f, soft) last month and ran well for a long way before tiring on run-in at Kelso (2m7f, good) 19 days ago; might be the answer.

6/1

6th

2

27th May 2023

Good

2m 5f 34y

Class 4

15:55 Cartmel

Touch Kick

12st 1lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: Simon West

Only just beaten at Sedgefield last month but not so good latest and hasn't won since 2019; tailed off only C&D effort; others preferred.

10/1

Form: U266-5 C

Last run: 36 days

W: 10st 4lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
Tailed off at Uttoxeter last month, on seasonal return; has to leave that well behind but now on a decent mark and good ground ideal; Brian Hughes booked so reasons for optimism.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

11th Jun 2024

Good

3m 0f 60y

Class 5

14:15 Southwell

Mance Rayder

11st 7lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Henry Hogarth

held up in rear, niggled along briefly after 5th, reminders 7th, dropped to last 9th, lost touch and pulled up before 10th

33/1

1

4th May 2024

Good To Soft

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

17:35 Hexham

Mance Rayder

12st 0lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Henry Hogarth

Good-ground performer who was third in a Doncaster handicap in March 2023; pulled up next time (September) and hasn't run since; on a career-low mark but may come on for the run.

25/1

1

4th May 2024

Good To Soft

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

17:35 Hexham

Mance Rayder

12st 0lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Henry Hogarth

Good-ground performer who was third in a Doncaster handicap in March 2023; pulled up next time (September) and hasn't run since; on a career-low mark but may come on for the run.

25/1

OUR TIP

Form: 071U-2 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 10st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Well beaten by sole surviving rival at Perth last month, on return from nearly a year off; didn't fare that badly and has an impressive 4-8 record as a chaser; no surprise to see him in the mix if benefiting from that outing.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

5th Mar 2023

Good

3m 1f 10y

Class 5

16:10 Huntingdon

Wye Aye

11st 11lb

J: Joe Williamson

T: Philip Kirby

Far from solid based on this season's chase form; returns to hurdles off a much lower mark and has scored twice here over fences, so could be dangerous if he's on song; 0-9 in this sphere.

16/1

11

26th Dec 2022

Good To Soft

2m 4f 19y

Class 4

14:35 Newcastle

Wye Aye

11st 7lb

J: Joe Williamson

T: Philip Kirby

in touch with leaders, mistake 2nd, towards rear after 3rd, niggled along when fell 7th

50/1

7th

6

29th Oct 2022

Good To Soft

3m 0f 45y

Class 4

16:45 Wetherby

Wye Aye

11st 6lb

J: Ross Chapman

T: Philip Kirby

took keen hold, jumped right on occasions, in touch with leaders, led 3rd, clear halfway, much reduced lead after 15th, headed and weakened quickly before 4 out

20/1

Form: /73P4- D

Last run: 173 days

W: 11st 7lb

12 yo Gelding

OR: 128

Form & Verdict
Not the force of old but showed just enough on occasions last season to suggest he could figure off gradually declining mark; front-runner and could have these on the stretch if wound up after six months off.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

9th Jul 2023

Good

3m 3f 123y

Class 4

17:50 Market Rasen

Step Back

11st 5lb

J: Miss Lily Bradstock

T: Mark Bradstock

Front-runner who stays well; thrown in today if judged even on the form shown on his first two starts last season (one on good); however, easily his best show in hunter chases since came when second at Carlisle in March (3m, heavy) and such a poor show at Cartmel last time has to be a major concern.

10/1

7th

7

31st May 2023

Good

3m 1f 107y

Class 5

20:20 Cartmel

Step Back

12st 0lb

J: Miss Lily Bradstock

T: Mark Bradstock

Best hunter chase run when creditable second at Carlisle in March (3m, heavy); well beaten in the Aintree Foxhunters next time; each-way chance.

4/1

12

5th May 2023

Good

4m 0f 97y

Class 4

19:45 Cheltenham

Step Back

11st 12lb

J: Miss Lily Bradstock

T: Mark Bradstock

Won Sandown's big end-of-season finale in 2018 and took two further handicaps in 2020; nearly won a hunter chase at Carlisle in March but a weaker one than this, and he's always been a more potent force going right-handed.

12/1

Form: 35429- C

Last run: 194 days

W: 11st 6lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 127

Form & Verdict
Narrowly beaten at Newcastle in March (after wind surgery, three ran) but tailed off in the Scottish Grand National a month later (had run well in that race in 2021); can go well after a break so not discounted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

28th Jan 2024

Good

2m 7f 214y

Class 4

13:25 Doncaster

The Ferry Master

11st 1lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: Sandy Thomson

Won off 3lb higher at Kelso (2m5f) last May but has proved far from consistent otherwise in recent times; distant third over C&D last month and needs to improve on that form.

16/1

3rd

4

15th Dec 2023

Good To Soft

2m 7f 214y

Class 4

15:22 Doncaster

The Ferry Master

11st 4lb

J: Lewis Dobb

T: Sandy Thomson

Won a four-runner handicap off this mark at Kelso in May but his form has been patchy in recent seasons; pulled up the last twice.

12/1

Non-runners

Step Back, The Ferry Master

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £12.00
Straight Forecast £11.10
Tricast £78.75
Trifecta £69.40

Selections

TOPSPEED:

The Ferry Master

SPOTLIGHT:

Court Dreaming

The Guardian:

Wye Aye

Daily Express:

Dallas Des Pictons

Telegraph:

Stylish Moment

LAMBOURN:

Step Back

RP Ratings:

Court Dreaming

POSTDATA:

Court Dreaming

Daily Mail:

Court Dreaming

The Star:

Court Dreaming

THE NORTH:

The Ferry Master

The Times:

The Ferry Master

Daily Mirror:

The Ferry Master

The Sun:

The Ferry Master

Daily Record:

The Ferry Master