October 23 / 14.18 Ffos Las

14.18

Good To Soft

Four Roads Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £4138.96
  • 2m 3f 83y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
SKY
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Four Roads Handicap Chase

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Rain

5/2 (Won)

  • Win: £2.75
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 531/D1-

Last run: 212 days

W: 11st 1lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
First past the post in handicap hurdles (3m/2m5f) the last twice, latest at Newton Abbot in March when back from a 15-month absence and making debut for this stable; subsequently disqualified having tested positive for banned substance; had wind surgery over the summer; bred to make a chaser and has clear possibilities off unaltered mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

11

18th Mar 2023

Soft

3m 0f 0y

Class 2

15:35 Uttoxeter

Hows The Cricket

10st 5lb

J: Ben Bromley

T: Harry Fry

prominent, hit 9th, not fluent 11th, ridden after 4 out, weakened after 3 out, tailed off

12/1

2nd

6

9th Feb 2023

Good To Soft

2m 3f 83y

Class 4

14:33 Ffos Las

Hows The Cricket

11st 6lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Harry Fry

midfield, headway 5th, nudged along 11th

11/4

2nd

8

30th Dec 2022

Good

2m 7f 3y

Class 4

13:45 Taunton

Hows The Cricket

11st 4lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Harry Fry

Easy winner at Ffos Las on chasing debut in October (2m3f+) but didn't back that up when fourth at Exeter last month (3m; has won at that trip); return to the winning effort certainly puts him in the picture.

8/1

5/1

  • Place: £1.60

Form: /125P-

Last run: 279 days

W: 11st 11lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Sole success over hurdles came at Newton Abbot (2m5f, heavy) this time last year when making his 2021-22 reappearance; form dipped the last twice but he's interesting on chase/seasonal debut.
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

4/1

  • Place: £1.50

Form: 3241U- D BF

Last run: 238 days

W: 11st 13lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Opened his hurdles account at Hereford (2m3f, soft) in February on most recent completed start; unseated early next time; may still have more to offer in handicaps and he's bred to make a chaser; respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

19th Apr 2025

Soft

2m 4f 216y

Class 3

16:19 Newton Abbot

Eaton Collina

11st 1lb

J: Richard Patrick

T: Kerry Lee

headed after 3rd, led, not fluent 4th, soon lost ground, in rear when weakened after 10th

8/1

11

19th Apr 2025

Soft

2m 4f 216y

Class 3

16:19 Newton Abbot

Eaton Collina

11st 1lb

J: Richard Patrick

T: Kerry Lee

headed after 3rd, led, not fluent 4th, soon lost ground, in rear when weakened after 10th

8/1

5th

5

15th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 203y

Class 3

14:05 Haydock

Eaton Collina

11st 4lb

J: Liam Harrison

T: Kerry Lee

Completed a Wetherby double (2m3f, soft) last February and he's back down to his last winning mark; hasn't hit the same heights this season but ran okay when third at Wetherby (2m3f, soft) last month and he now contests his first veterans' chase; could be involved.

7/2

Form: 41524- D BF

Last run: 189 days

W: 11st 13lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Campaigned mainly at longer distances and his best form last season came over 3m1f, including Warwick win; disappointing favourite on final outing; this looks an inadequate test on reappearance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

15th Jun 2023

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 4

18:20 Worcester

Smugglers Blues

12st 0lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Tom George

Tried in blinkers instead of usual cheekpieces when just a fair third of seven in 3m Perth handicap chase in April; a bit more is needed if he is to resume winning ways.

9/2

3rd

2

27th Apr 2023

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 4

14:30 Perth

Smugglers Blues

12st 0lb

J: Finn Lambert

T: Tom George

Held every chance when he fell two out at Wincanton in December but he's unpredictable and hasn't repeated that form since; impossible to know how he'll react to first-time blinkers (replacing cheekpieces) but, off his last winning mark, he can't be discounted.

4/1

7th

3

27th Mar 2023

Good To Soft

3m 1f 30y

Class 4

15:00 Wincanton

Smugglers Blues

11st 6lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Tom George

Still in the firing line when he fell two out here in December but he's hard to predict and produced a lesser effort at Warwick in the race won by The Kings Writ, and he has won there; capable but risky.

7/1

Form: 3676-6 D

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 6lb

9 yo Mare

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Has trailed home last of six in both chase starts (latest on debut for new yard) and still has something to prove over fences; however, very well treated if reproducing her best hurdles form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

10

22nd Mar 2023

Soft

2m 7f 191y

Class 4

17:00 Ffos Las

Runasimi River

10st 10lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Peter Bowen

always towards rear

25/1

6th

6

22nd Dec 2022

Good To Soft

2m 7f 191y

Class 5

15:10 Ffos Las

Runasimi River

11st 7lb

J: James Bowen

T: Peter Bowen

Multiple hurdle winner (various ground) when trained by Neil Mulholland but badly out of form over fences/hurdles for Peter Bowen this autumn; refitted cheekpieces didn't do much for her two starts ago; sports first-time visor today; has a lot to prove but lurks on a dangerous mark and is worth a glance in the betting.

33/1

Form: 636F63 CD

Last run: 6 days

W: 10st 13lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Multiple winner in France; only 1-19 in Britain but the win came off 2lb higher over C&D in April (sole run here); the return to this track may have positive effect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

3rd Mar 2025

Good To Soft

1m 7f 182y

Class 5

14:37 Southwell

Abaya Du Mathan

11st 3lb

J: Jack Hogan

T: Gary Hanmer

13yo who has inconsistent recent form but was successful (off 1lb lower) in December on most recent Southwell start; not ruled out.

13/2

4th

4

13th Feb 2025

Soft

1m 7f 201y

Class 5

15:49 Leicester

Abaya Du Mathan

11st 5lb

J: Jack Hogan

T: Gary Hanmer

Multiple chase winner who made it three for the year at Southwell (2m, good to soft) in December; hasn't run to the same level since, a recent second at Huntingdon being a remote one, and others further up the list.

14/1

2nd

4

2nd Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 104y

Class 5

12:55 Huntingdon

Abaya Du Mathan

11st 7lb

J: Jack Hogan

T: Gary Hanmer

Veteran who had a clearcut win at Southwell (2m, good to soft) in December from Extraordinary Man, his 11th chase win; not so good at Hereford or Warwick (on Tuesday) since, however.

6/1

Form: 4P1-35 D

Last run: 89 days

W: 12st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Hard to support with confidence, having posted a dismal effort when last seen three months ago; however, gained his spring win when fresh so may bounce back.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

29th Sep 2023

Good

2m 0f 110y

Class 4

14:50 Worcester

Vinnie The Hoddie

11st 9lb

J: Ben Ffrench Davis

T: Gail Haywood

Made pleasing return from nine-month absence when third over C&D (good) in July but two poor performances have followed and it's hard to predict what sort of mood he'll be in today.

16/1

0

1

12th Sep 2023

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

14:25 Worcester

Vinnie The Hoddie

12st 0lb

J: David Noonan

T: Gail Haywood

Very hard to predict as has been again evident this season, having run well here but then poorly at Bangor; had wind operation.

16/1

8th

6

4th Aug 2023

Good

2m 1f 77y

Class 4

17:40 Bangor-on-Dee

Vinnie The Hoddie

11st 9lb

J: David Noonan

T: Gail Haywood

Fine effort when third at Worcester (not far behind Trapista) 15 days ago, on his return from nine months off; has to back that up but enters the argument if he can repeat that run.

12/1

Form: 11V-44 D

Last run: 129 days

W: 12st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Scored twice in the spring; not in the same form in two runs this term, latest here in June; not sure what to expect with cheekpieces (worn last eight starts) removed.
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

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £8.80
Straight Forecast £8.61
Tricast £15.90
Trifecta £26.00

Selections

The Times:

How's The Cricket

SPOTLIGHT:

Investment Manager

Daily Mail:

Eaton Collina

TOPSPEED:

Smuggler's Blues

POSTDATA:

Abaya Du Mathan

WEST COUNTRY:

Investment Manager

Telegraph:

How's The Cricket

D Express:

How's The Cricket

Daily Mirror:

How's The Cricket

The Star:

How's The Cricket

Daily Record:

How's The Cricket