December 07 / 12.40 Leicester

12.40

Good To Firm

William Hill Pick Your Places Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £3594.36
  • 2m 6f 151y
  • Class 5
  • 8 runners
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William Hill Pick Your Places Handicap Chase

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

4/1 (Won)

  • Win: £3.25
  • Place: £1.40

Form: 1P33-2

Last run: 29 days

W: 10st 2lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Placed on three of four starts since opening account in first-time cheekpieces at Market Rasen (2m3f, soft) a year ago, most recently when second on last month's seasonal debut at Hereford (3m1f, good to soft; no headgear); effectively 4lb higher from out of the weights here but, with the cheekpieces refitted, he's one to consider.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

7

15th Jan 2024

Good

3m 1f 44y

Class 5

13:37 Hereford

The Boat

10st 5lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: Evan Williams

Ended last season in poor form and also disappointed on his two starts here in the autumn; on a good mark and suited by this C&D but needs to turn a corner; swaps cheekpieces for first-time blinkers.

12/1

9th

9

21st Nov 2023

Good

2m 4f 194y

Class 5

15:15 Hereford

The Boat

10st 2lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: Evan Williams

Ended last season in poor form and made low-key reappearance last month; needs to turn a corner but has conditions to suit here and may be boosted by the refitted cheekpieces (worn for last two wins).

12/1

4th

8

17th Oct 2023

Good

2m 4f 194y

Class 5

16:10 Hereford

The Boat

10st 12lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: Evan Williams

Dual chase winner in cheekpieces, more recently at Leicester (2m6f, good to firm) in December; ended last season with some lacklustre efforts and the headgear is missing today but a 196-day break might have done him good.

12/1

5/2

  • Place: £1.40

Form: 562152 C

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 7lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 98

Form & Verdict
Nothing like the force of old but eventually capitalised upon some help from the handicapper at Worcester (2m7f, good) in October; also ran well when second at Taunton (2m7f, good) last month and was a fast-ground course winner in 2019; a leading contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

5

30th Aug 2023

Good

3m 0f 0y

Class 5

17:15 Uttoxeter

Boagrius

11st 5lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Tom George

prominent, led 4 out, headed before 2 out, awkward jump last, soon no extra

14/1

5th

4

18th Jul 2023

Good

3m 0f 60y

Class 5

17:35 Southwell

Boagrius

11st 9lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Tom George

prominent

10/1

2nd

2

8th Jun 2023

Good

2m 7f 177y

Class 5

16:35 Ffos Las

Boagrius

11st 12lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Tom George

Of interest on his form in the second half of 2022, including a 2m7f win at Worcester; may have needed last month's return from five months off; claims.

7/1

9/2

  • Place: £1.60

Form: 133-33 BF

Last run: 186 days

W: 12st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Won four times on good ground last year (2m4f-3m; two hurdle races, two chases); returned from break with two below-par runs in the spring and absent for another six months since but drops in grade here and can feature if fully tuned up.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

9th Apr 2025

Good To Firm

2m 7f 3y

Class 5

16:58 Taunton

Dreamsundermyfeet

10st 11lb

J: Daire McConville

T: Martin Keighley

2-19 over fences, his second success coming at Huntingdon in November 2021; has been struggling for a while and the combination of market support, Sean Bowen and a career-low mark failed to spark a revival last time; dropped another 2lb and the blinkers replace other headgear.

5/1

7

9th Apr 2025

Good To Firm

2m 7f 3y

Class 5

16:58 Taunton

Dreamsundermyfeet

10st 11lb

J: Daire McConville

T: Martin Keighley

2-19 over fences, his second success coming at Huntingdon in November 2021; has been struggling for a while and the combination of market support, Sean Bowen and a career-low mark failed to spark a revival last time; dropped another 2lb and the blinkers replace other headgear.

5/1

6th

8

2nd Mar 2025

Good To Soft

2m 7f 129y

Class 5

14:45 Huntingdon

Dreamsundermyfeet

10st 6lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Martin Keighley

led, mistake 3rd, raced in second from 5th, not fluent 13th, led again before 4 out

7/1

Form: 6F636P

Last run: 32 days

W: 11st 4lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 95

Form & Verdict
Back at a more realistic level after struggling from miles out of the weights at Aintree last month but wasn't in much form beforehand and others in this line-up have much less to prove.
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: 242444

Last run: 11 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
In the frame several times off higher marks this season and will be suited by today's trip-and-ground combination; better than he showed when well-held fourth at Doncaster recently (made jumping errors) and can play a significant role here but he has become a very tricky horse to win with.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

19th Oct 2025

Good

3m 2f 59y

Class 4

15:33 Sedgefield

Zoffalee

10st 5lb

J: Aaron Anderson

T: Mike Sowersby

Ran okay over hurdles last time but hasn't won a race since 2019 and he's had loads of chances over fences (0-23); capable of going well but not one for maximum faith.

14/1

4

2nd Oct 2025

Good

3m 0f 60y

Class 5

17:15 Southwell

Zoffalee

11st 5lb

J: Rian Corcoran

T: Mike Sowersby

Soundly beaten in two chases in August and remains without a win since summer 2019; reverts to hurdling on a workable mark and runs this track well but is probably not the percentage call.

10/1

5

27th Aug 2025

Good To Firm

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

18:45 Hexham

Zoffalee

11st 3lb

J: William Maggs

T: Mike Sowersby

Won three times over hurdles in Ireland; 0-22 over fences and was tailed off at Market Rasen (2m5f) 11 days ago but he was a good second at Uttoxeter (3m2f, good) on his penultimate run; that form puts him in the picture and he's not ruled out back up in trip.

8/1

Form: UP924-

Last run: 311 days

W: 11st 1lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 92

Form & Verdict
13-race maiden; outran 40-1 odds and ran big race in defeat over C&D (good to soft) in January but not seen since a lesser effort later that month and too inconsistent to support with confidence.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

13th Feb 2026

Soft

3m 5f 24y

Class 5

13:50 Fakenham

Spotty Dog

10st 4lb

J: Megan Fox

T: Michael Hawker

Thorough stayer but he was a remote third in this 12 months ago and nowhere near his best this campaign; an 11yo now and age seems to be catching up.

8/1

6

19th Nov 2025

Soft

2m 7f 177y

Class 5

13:35 Ffos Las

Spotty Dog

10st 13lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Michael Hawker

Began this year with some respectable efforts, most notably when second in first-time blinkers at Chepstow (3m6f, good); should be fine on the slower ground here but has fitness to prove after 224-day break and others appeal more; cheekpieces refitted.

6/1

3rd

4

9th Apr 2025

Good To Firm

3m 4f 85y

Class 4

15:55 Taunton

Spotty Dog

10st 2lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Michael Hawker

2lb out of the weights; he was 3lb wrong and didn't jump that well but stuck to his task to be second at Chepstow (3m6f, good) in the first-time blinkers 20 days ago; thereabouts with something similar.

3/1

OUR TIP

Form: P3F1-3

Last run: 49 days

W: 12st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced 8yo who came good over fences with clearcut success at Hereford (3m1f, good) in April; not in same form on reappearance outing in October but will be a danger to all if back on song here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

7th Dec 2022

Good To Firm

2m 6f 151y

Class 5

12:40 Leicester

Eclair On Line

12st 0lb

J: Lilly Pinchin

T: Charlie Longsdon

Lightly raced 8yo who came good over fences with clearcut success at Hereford (3m1f, good) in April; not in same form on reappearance outing in October but will be a danger to all if back on song here.

4/1

3rd

1

19th Oct 2022

Good

3m 1f 210y

Class 5

16:35 Fontwell

Eclair On Line

11st 13lb

J: Lilly Pinchin

T: Charlie Longsdon

prominent, went second after 13th, pressed leader after 15th, shaken up and lost ground before 3 out, ridden and weakened after 2 out, lost second run-in

9/4

Form: 43114- D

Last run: 233 days

W: 10st 4lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 81

Form & Verdict
Belatedly gained first career win in Huntingdon chase in March (2m7f, soft) and completed quick double over same C&D (good) a few days later; signed off with heavy defeat there in April, though, and has fitness to prove after 233-day absence.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

9

6th Apr 2023

Soft

2m 4f 194y

Class 5

16:10 Hereford

Leskinfere

10st 4lb

J: Ben Poste

T: John Cornwall

Both wins gained at Huntingdon just over a year ago; not much since until remarkable performance when third at Market Rasen last week, from 33lb out of the handicap; hard to place maximum faith in that but repeat certainly makes him of serious interest.

13/2

3rd

6

29th Mar 2023

Soft

2m 3f 34y

Class 3

14:35 Market Rasen

Leskinfere

10st 2lb

J: Ben Poste

T: John Cornwall

Two Huntingdon wins a year ago but not in that form lately and out of depth in this company (33lb out of the handicap).

66/1

7th

7

15th Mar 2023

Soft

2m 7f 129y

Class 5

16:30 Huntingdon

Leskinfere

10st 8lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: John Cornwall

in touch with leaders, towards rear before 3 out, pushed along after 12th

14/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £14.10
Straight Forecast £13.23
Tricast £44.74
Trifecta £54.90

Selections

Telegraph:

The Boat

RP Ratings:

Eclair On Line

SPOTLIGHT:

Boagrius

WEST COUNTRY:

Dreamsundermyfeet

Daily Mail:

The Boat

The Sun:

The Boat

The Star:

The Boat

The Guardian:

Eclair On Line

D Express:

Eclair On Line

Daily Mirror:

Eclair On Line

The Times:

Dreamsundermyfeet

TOPSPEED:

Boagrius

POSTDATA:

Boagrius

Daily Record:

Boagrius