December 03 / 12.13 Wetherby

12.13

Soft

Join The Vickers.Bet Free Bet Club Novices’ Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £3322.06
  • 2m 3f 85y
  • Class 5
  • 8 runners
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Join The Vickers.Bet Free Bet Club Novices’ Handicap Chase

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

16/1 (Won)

  • Win: £5.00
  • Place: £1.80

Form: 871P-5 C

Last run: 16 days

W: 10st 4lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Ex-French 5yo; off the mark at 19th attempt when scoring over hurdles here (2m3f, heavy) in February but he failed to complete in final run last term and was tailed off back over fences at Newcastle on his recent return; now drops back in trip but has quite a bit to prove again and others are preferred.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

7

22nd Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 210y

Class 2

16:27 Carlisle

Trac

11st 1lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Micky Hammond

Landed the 2m series final on this card in 2024; two from two since wearing blinkers, gamely beating Wolfburg by a head over C&D (good to soft) latest; respected in the retained blinds.

8/1

1st

1

16th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 210y

Class 4

16:10 Carlisle

Trac

12st 0lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Micky Hammond

Returned to form to win in first-time blinkers (retained) at Newcastle (2m4f, good to soft) in December; back up 5lb he remains 2lb lower than when scoring here (2m, heavy) in April 2024 and he's one to consider.

9/2

OUR TIP

13/8

  • Place: £1.20

Form: 52-721 D

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 11lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 99

Form & Verdict
0-11 in bumpers/hurdles but he made it second-time lucky over fences with his clearcut win in a Huntingdon handicap (2m4f, good) last month; up 6lb but that was a clear personal best last time and this return to slower ground should be fine; strong contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

7th May 2026

Good

2m 3f 189y

Class 4

13:45 Huntingdon

William Cody

11st 12lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Pam Sly

Gained three of four chase wins over C&D and returns here after going close on final two starts last season (2m4f/2m3f; wore cheekpieces last time); holds no secrets from the handicapper but will be fine on the forecast good ground and has obvious claims.

5/2

2nd

4

17th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 85y

Class 4

14:37 Wetherby

William Cody

11st 9lb

J: Jack Andrews

T: Pam Sly

He's run well to be second on two of his last three starts (2m3f/2m4f, good/soft), most recently at Southwell four weeks ago; he's 4lb higher than last time but was clear with a progressive winner; high on the list.

3/1

2nd

5

18th Feb 2026

2m 4f 88y

Class 4

14:55 Southwell

William Cody

11st 5lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Pam Sly

Third in this last year; four-time chase winner (all at about this trip) but hasn't scored since November 2024; close second at Catterick (2m3f, good) on penultimate start but lesser efforts either side of that; remains below his last winning mark and holds each-way claims again.

4/1

11/4

  • Place: £1.90

Form: 312-3F

Last run: 12 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
2m4f hurdle winner (soft), who made an encouraging start over fences when third at Ayr in October; didn't get very far at Musselburgh (fell at second) 12 days ago but was well backed in that Class 4 event and he's still lightly raced; dangerous if his confidence isn't dented by that fall.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

6th May 2023

Good To Soft

2m 4f 15y

Class 5

20:10 Hexham

Fever Roque

11st 12lb

J: Nathan Moscrop

T: Rebecca Menzies

Sole win was over hurdles at Market Rasen on soft in December 2021 (2m4f); in fair form this year and has an each-way chance.

11/2

4th

6

17th Apr 2023

Good To Soft

2m 5f 133y

Class 5

14:45 Kelso

Fever Roque

11st 8lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Rebecca Menzies

prominent on inner

4/1

4th

6

26th Mar 2023

Heavy

2m 4f 0y

Class 2

14:35 Carlisle

Fever Roque

10st 6lb

J: Aaron Anderson

T: Rebecca Menzies

0-5 over fences but has had a solid first campaign, bumping into Knocknamona (who followed up) at Newcastle (2m4f, soft) in January then runner-up at Wetherby (2m5f, good) three weeks ago; can be thereabouts.

4/1

Form: 4004-P

Last run: 16 days

W: 10st 9lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Point runner-up last winter but he didn't really progress in five runs over hurdles early this year and was pulled up on his chase debut at Newcastle (2m7f, soft; 10-1) last month; dropped another 5lb but has something to prove and not sure this drop back in trip will suit.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

7

27th May 2026

Good

2m 1f 61y

Class 5

20:38 Cartmel

Beat The Edge

10st 2lb

J: Alice Stevens

T: Micky Hammond

Extremely hard to win with and modest runs outweigh the good ones these days.

20/1

5th

10

9th May 2026

Good

1m 7f 133y

Class 5

15:55 Hexham

Beat The Edge

10st 2lb

J: Alice Stevens

T: Micky Hammond

Good third at Market Rasen two runs back (2m1f, good to soft); hard to win with, but an each-way chance; new combination of headgear tried.

10/1

6th

8

5th Apr 2026

Good

2m 1f 43y

Class 5

15:58 Market Rasen

Beat The Edge

10st 2lb

J: Alice Stevens

T: Micky Hammond

On a good mark now (even from 3lb out of the weights) and arrested his decline with fairly good third of seven here (2m1f, good to soft; first-time hood) three weeks ago; however, this quirky customer doesn't always find much when the chips are down and has a modest strike-rate.

7/1

Form: 2P27-P

Last run: 23 days

W: 10st 2lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
Runner-up in chases at Fakenham (2m5f, soft) and Market Rasen (2m3f, good to soft) early this year but she ended last season on a low note and was pulled up at Market Rasen on her return last month; record now stands at 0-11 and she needs cheekpieces to help spark a major revival.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

7

1st Jan 2023

Good To Soft

3m 0f 38y

Class 5

15:30 Fakenham

Wildkatze

10st 2lb

J: Lee Edwards

T: Tom Gretton

Placed in 2-10 chases (2m3f/2m5f, the latter here); on a handy mark but needs to better recent efforts and also has stamina to prove.

9/1

5th

8

3rd Dec 2022

Soft

2m 3f 85y

Class 5

12:13 Wetherby

Wildkatze

10st 2lb

J: Lewis Stones

T: Tom Gretton

Runner-up in chases at Fakenham (2m5f, soft) and Market Rasen (2m3f, good to soft) early this year but she ended last season on a low note and was pulled up at Market Rasen on her return last month; record now stands at 0-11 and she needs cheekpieces to help spark a major revival.

12/1

7

10th Nov 2022

Good To Soft

2m 5f 89y

Class 5

15:45 Market Rasen

Wildkatze

10st 5lb

J: Lee Edwards

T: Tom Gretton

Maiden; runner-up in chases at Fakenham and at this track at the start of the year (made much of the running in both) but well beaten at Leicester in March; absent since; yard also runs Passing Secrets.

14/1

Form: 4F64-2

Last run: 16 days

W: 10st 5lb

8 yo Mare

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
12-race maiden but she ran her best race over fences so far when a 66-1 second from out of the weights at Newcastle (2m7f, soft) on her return last month; 5lb higher here but she pulled clear of the third last time and has possibilities if she can back that up back at this trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

9

12th Jan 2023

Soft

3m 1f 71y

Class 5

13:05 Catterick

Black Opium

10st 7lb

J: Stephen Mulqueen

T: Tina Jackson

held up in rear, steady headway halfway, ridden and outpaced 8th, beaten before 2 out

20/1

8th

13

26th Dec 2022

Good To Soft

3m 0f 45y

Class 5

12:27 Wetherby

Black Opium

10st 2lb

J: Stephen Mulqueen

T: Tina Jackson

Runner-up at 66-1 on last month's reappearance at Newcastle but that performance stands out in her winless 13-race profile and she failed to threaten here next time (2m3f, soft); the percentage call is to oppose.

33/1

6th

6

3rd Dec 2022

Soft

2m 3f 85y

Class 5

12:13 Wetherby

Black Opium

10st 5lb

J: Stephen Mulqueen

T: Tina Jackson

12-race maiden but she ran her best race over fences so far when a 66-1 second from out of the weights at Newcastle (2m7f, soft) on her return last month; 5lb higher here but she pulled clear of the third last time and has possibilities if she can back that up back at this trip.

5/1

Form: 45P6-P D

Last run: 206 days

W: 11st 4lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
Yet to add to his Irish maiden hurdle win in October 2020 and was pulled up in a Worcester handicap (2m3f, good to soft) when last seen in May; has dropped a long way in the weights but has plenty to prove now switched to chasing on his return; cheekpieces removed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

8

13th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

15:30 Hexham

Gibberwell

10st 8lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Jake Thomas Coulson

His last two wins have come here (including this race in 2023) and he was 8lb out of the handicap when back here last time; however, this 10yo has been pulled up on his last three starts and needs to turn things around.

33/1

11

25th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 7f 199y

Class 4

15:41 Hexham

Gibberwell

10st 2lb

J: Philip Armson

T: Jake Thomas Coulson

His last two wins have come here but this 10yo has been pulled up on his last two starts and is 8lb wrong at the weights.

50/1

Form: 6245P-

Last run: 238 days

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Well treated on his best chase form including a close second at Ayr (2m4f, heavy) in February but he ended last season with a pulled-up effort and this point winner is now 0-14 under rules; others are more convincing.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

6

15th Apr 2023

Soft

2m 4f 19y

Class 5

16:00 Newcastle

Broomfields Kan

10st 4lb

J: Jonathon Bewley

T: George Bewley

in touch with leaders, prominent 7th, slightly hampered 8th, led narrowly 9th

6/1

5th

6

30th Mar 2023

Heavy

2m 4f 15y

Class 5

16:30 Hexham

Broomfields Kan

10st 7lb

J: Jonathon Bewley

T: George Bewley

18-race rules maiden but he's shown some fair form this year and didn't see out 3m here a fortnight ago; 2m4f on heavy ground could be his ideal conditions and he's one to consider off a reduced mark.

11/2

3rd

6

16th Mar 2023

Heavy

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

14:30 Hexham

Broomfields Kan

11st 0lb

J: Jonathon Bewley

T: George Bewley

17-race maiden; fair efforts at Ayr on last two starts; goes well on testing ground, on a career-low mark but yet to prove conclusively that he stays 3m.

9/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £13.10
Straight Forecast £13.13
Tricast £36.56
Trifecta £67.40

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

William Cody

The Star:

Black Opium

RP Ratings:

William Cody

POSTDATA:

William Cody

The Times:

William Cody

Telegraph:

William Cody

The Guardian:

William Cody

Daily Mail:

William Cody

D Express:

William Cody

Daily Mirror:

William Cody

The Sun:

William Cody

Daily Record:

William Cody