October 31 / 15.35 Hereford

15.35

Good

Central Roofing Novices’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £8169
  • 2m 4f 194y
  • Class 4
  • 6 runners
SKY
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Central Roofing Novices’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

9/2 (Won)

  • Win: £4.00
  • Place: £1.80

Form: 43112- D BF

Last run: 227 days

W: 11st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Progressive form in hurdle handicaps early this year with wins at Southwell (2m4f, good to soft) and Taunton (2m3f, soft) in March followed by a second in his hat-trick bid at Doncaster; now makes his chase debut after 227 days off but he needs a close look on this drop back in trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

2nd May 2025

Good

2m 4f 127y

Class 5

20:05 Cheltenham

Highstakesplayer

12st 4lb

J: Mr Sean O’Connor

T: Tom Lacey

held up in rear, midfield 4th, prominent 8th, pressed winner approaching last, kept on

4/1

2nd

2

2nd May 2025

Good

2m 4f 127y

Class 5

20:05 Cheltenham

Highstakesplayer

12st 4lb

J: Mr Sean O’Connor

T: Tom Lacey

held up in rear, midfield 4th, prominent 8th, pressed winner approaching last, kept on

4/1

7

15th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 1

15:00 Ascot

Highstakesplayer

10st 8lb

J: David Bass

T: Tom Lacey

Record of 4-8 over fences; admittedly 0-3 this term and failed to show his form the last twice; good second over C&D on seasonal debut and has place possibilities on that effort.

10/1

15/8

  • Place: £1.40

Form: -1211F D BF

Last run: 16 days

W: 11st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Four-time hurdle scorer who has won twice over fences this autumn and was a narrow leader when falling at the last in his hat-trick bid at Stratford (2m5f, good) 16 days ago; nudged up another 2lb but he's still unexposed in this sphere and is a big player for yard that won this in 2021.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

18th Oct 2025

Good

2m 4f 205y

Class 4

14:30 Stratford

Midnight Jewel

11st 10lb

J: Lilly Pinchin

T: Charlie Longsdon

Made it 6-17 over fences with his brave win at Fontwell (2m3f, good) last month; flopped in his follow-up bid at Huntingdon (pulled up) but he's only 1lb higher than for that penultimate run and he won here in the summer; player if he can bounce back.

5/1

1

7th Oct 2025

Good

2m 3f 189y

Class 4

15:37 Huntingdon

Midnight Jewel

11st 10lb

J: Lilly Pinchin

T: Charlie Longsdon

Dual chase winner this season, latterly when battling on well at Fontwell (2m3f, good) last month; nudged up only 1lb for that and has a course hurdle win on his CV; ought to be right in the thick of things.

4/1

1st

6

22nd Sep 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 104y

Class 4

15:05 Fontwell

Midnight Jewel

11st 2lb

J: Lilly Pinchin

T: Charlie Longsdon

Has won over C&D but had no answer to Lermoos Legend when third of five over C&D (good) 15 days ago.

7/1

OUR TIP

Form: 13352- D

Last run: 215 days

W: 12st 1lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
Dual hurdle winner who was as good as ever after wind surgery when runner-up in a Class 3 handicap at Market Rasen (2m4f, good to soft) in March; only 1lb higher on this switch to fences and he's an interesting contender on his return (half-brother to a useful chaser).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

18th Mar 2023

Soft

3m 0f 0y

Class 2

15:35 Uttoxeter

Mackelduff

11st 2lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

held up in rear, pulled up after 3rd, lost action

8/1

1st

1

14th Jan 2023

Soft

3m 0f 45y

Class 4

15:07 Wetherby

Mackelduff

12st 0lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Olly Murphy

Some solid form in handicap hurdles last season (including on soft) and he kept on for a fair third of six on his chase and seasonal debut at Hereford (2m5f, good) in October; this first crack at a staying trip is well worth a go and he's on the shortlist.

7/2

1

3rd Dec 2022

Soft

3m 0f 45y

Class 4

14:33 Wetherby

Mackelduff

12st 0lb

J: Robert Dunne

T: Olly Murphy

Form: 83P2-4 BF

Last run: 177 days

W: 10st 13lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Nine-race maiden who didn't really progress over hurdles and was a well-held fourth when favourite at Warwick (2m5f, good) in his final run in the spring; brother to high-class chase winner Ballycasey but he needs improvement on his chase/seasonal debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

5

22nd Feb 2026

Soft

3m 1f 44y

Class 4

15:10 Hereford

Not Sure

11st 1lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Kerry Lee

No win since November 2023, but conditions suit and he comes into the reckoning following his good second at Chepstow nine days ago (2m7f, soft).

7/2

2nd

11

13th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 136y

Class 4

15:45 Chepstow

Not Sure

11st 4lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Kerry Lee

Well handicapped on old form and will be suited by today's trip/ground but was pulled up at Ffos Las (3m, heavy) last month, after a layoff, and needs to have taken significant benefit from that outing.

14/1

2nd

2

10th May 2025

Good

3m 0f 41y

Class 4

16:40 Hexham

Not Sure

11st 13lb

J: Liam Harrison

T: Kerry Lee

Three-time chase winner who should be well handicapped and ran his best race for a while when second at Carlisle in February (3m, good to soft); has handled good ground in the past and should go well as his Herefordshire yard's only runner on the card.

3/1

Form: 8262-3

Last run: 173 days

W: 11st 6lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Runner-up in five of his last eight hurdle runs but he made a low-key start over fences when a remote third of five at Worcester (2m4f, good to soft) in May; that took his overall record to 0-16 and he comes with risks attached after another break.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

30th May 2025

Good

2m 0f 213y

Class 5

20:45 Stratford

Samtara

11st 12lb

J: Mr Charlie Marshall

T: Ms Claire Hart

1-31 and not always a strong finisher under rules previously, but really dug in to wrest the prize back at Mollington latest (2m4f, good to firm); plenty to find on peak ratings but confidence restored at least.

33/1

5

30th May 2025

Good

2m 0f 213y

Class 5

20:45 Stratford

Samtara

11st 12lb

J: Mr Charlie Marshall

T: Ms Claire Hart

1-31 and not always a strong finisher under rules previously, but really dug in to wrest the prize back at Mollington latest (2m4f, good to firm); plenty to find on peak ratings but confidence restored at least.

33/1

8th

7

30th May 2024

Good

3m 2f 0y

Class 4

18:10 Warwick

Samtara

11st 4lb

J: Mr Freddie Keighley

T: Martin Keighley

Not the best of strike-rates but sound run when second over fences at Huntingdon last time (2m7f, good); well handicapped at present; a possible back hurdling.

10/1

Form: 12-P18 D

Last run: 34 days

W: 11st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Recorded his third hurdle win when scoring off 4lb lower at Worcester (2m4f, good) in August but he was disappointing in his follow-up bid at Southwell last month; has something to prove after that heavy defeat and was pulled up in his only previous chase run in May.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

24th Nov 2022

Good

2m 3f 1y

Class 3

14:50 Taunton

Translink

11st 3lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Neil Mulholland

Recorded his third hurdle win when scoring off 4lb lower at Worcester (2m4f, good) in August but he has a bit to prove afer two heavy defeats since (chase latterly); has first-time cheekpieces added to his regular tongue-strap.

25/1

2

31st Oct 2022

Good

2m 4f 194y

Class 4

15:35 Hereford

Translink

11st 10lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Neil Mulholland

Recorded his third hurdle win when scoring off 4lb lower at Worcester (2m4f, good) in August but he was disappointing in his follow-up bid at Southwell last month; has something to prove after that heavy defeat and was pulled up in his only previous chase run in May.

15/2

8th

1

27th Sep 2022

Good

2m 4f 88y

Class 4

15:36 Southwell

Translink

12st 1lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Neil Mulholland

midfield, chased leaders 5th, weakened from 3 out (trainer's rep had no explanation for the poor form shown)

100/30

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £10.50
Straight Forecast £10.80
Trifecta £26.70

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Midnight Jewel

The Star:

Mackelduff

WEST COUNTRY:

Samtara

Daily Mail:

Highstakesplayer

Daily Record:

Mackelduff

RP Ratings:

Midnight Jewel

TOPSPEED:

Midnight Jewel

POSTDATA:

Midnight Jewel

The Times:

Midnight Jewel

Telegraph:

Midnight Jewel

D Express:

Midnight Jewel

Daily Mirror:

Midnight Jewel

The Sun:

Midnight Jewel

The Guardian:

Samtara