December 08 / 14.30 Warwick

14.30

Good To Soft

Agetur UK Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £3812.2
  • 3m 0f 0y
  • Class 4
  • 9 runners
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Agetur UK Handicap Chase

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

Form: 153-44 C

Last run: 23 days

W: 12st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Point/bumper winner; made a successful start over hurdles in a Doncaster novice (2m5f, good) last November but his form has gone the wrong way since and he was a remote fourth with blinkers tried on chase debut at Hereford (3m1f, good to soft; first run since wind surgery) last month; dropped another 3lb but has something to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

4

21st Apr 2025

Good

3m 1f 152y

Class 4

16:19 Plumpton

Lyrical Genius

11st 2lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Sarah Humphrey

led, not fluent 7th, cajoled along from 11th, increased tempo before 14th, faced challenge when hit 4 out, headed approaching last, weakened gradually run-in

9/2

2nd

4

21st Apr 2025

Good

3m 1f 152y

Class 4

16:19 Plumpton

Lyrical Genius

11st 2lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Sarah Humphrey

led, not fluent 7th, cajoled along from 11th, increased tempo before 14th, faced challenge when hit 4 out, headed approaching last, weakened gradually run-in

9/2

Form: FP1P-P D

Last run: 35 days

W: 12st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Emphatic winner of a handicap hurdle at Ascot (2m7f, soft) in February but was pulled up in final start last season and it was the same story back over fences at Ludlow on his return last month; still unexposed in this sphere but he has a poor completion record in the last 12 months and comes with risks attached.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

9th Feb 2023

Good

3m 1f 10y

Class 5

15:35 Huntingdon

Guillemot

12st 2lb

J: Tom O’Brien

T: Henry Daly

led, disputed lead from 4th, prominent when reminders just after 5 out, ridden 4 out, weakened and pulled up home turn

9/1

7th

3

16th Jan 2023

Soft

2m 5f 163y

Class 4

16:10 Hereford

Guillemot

11st 10lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Henry Daly

Far from reliable having posted form figures of FP1PPP in his last six races (hurdles/fences); the win came at Ascot (2m7f soft) and he holds good claims on that performance; just hard to back with confidence.

12/1

1

20th Dec 2022

Good To Soft

2m 4f 11y

Class 4

14:20 Ludlow

Guillemot

12st 0lb

J: Tom O’Brien

T: Henry Daly

towards rear, mistake 1st, mistake 6th, reminders 7th, detached with one circuit to go

11/1

OUR TIP

Form: 7436-1

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 11lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced 7yo; no impact in four hurdle runs but he made a good start over fences when landing a Fontwell handicap (2m5f, good to soft) on his return last month; 3lb higher in this deeper race but he jumped well last time and this step back up in trip looks a good move on pedigree; key player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

28th May 2023

Good

3m 0f 0y

Class 4

15:25 Uttoxeter

Ballaquane

11st 2lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Oliver Sherwood

Lightly raced 8yo who beat three rivals to make winning chase debut at Fontwell (2m5f, good to soft) in November; only 2lb higher here but reappeared with lacklustre effort in February and it's hard to know what to expect from him after another break; cheekpieces refitted.

7/2

7

27th Apr 2023

Good

2m 7f 3y

Class 4

19:35 Taunton

Ballaquane

11st 0lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Oliver Sherwood

Very lightly raced 8yo; made a winning seasonal/chase debut at Fontwell (2m5f, good to soft) in November but that was in a small-field event and he was pulled up at Ffos Las next time; blinkers are now tried and he comes with risks attached after another break.

20/1

5

9th Feb 2023

Good To Soft

2m 7f 177y

Class 4

15:08 Ffos Las

Ballaquane

11st 10lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Oliver Sherwood

Very lightly raced 8yo who beat three rivals to make winning seasonal/chase debut at Fontwell (2m5f, good to soft) in November; the bare form isn't anything to get excited about but he's only 2lb higher here and still has potential.

9/2

Form: P1U1-1 D

Last run: 38 days

W: 11st 9lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Pulled up on chase debut at Uttoxeter last December but he's been progressive back over hurdles since with three wins in his last four starts and latest was at Hereford (3m1f, good) on his return in October; battled well to make all off 1lb higher in that race and he's an interesting contender back in this sphere.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

31st Jul 2023

Good

3m 1f 170y

Class 4

14:45 Newton Abbot

Manintheshadows

11st 5lb

J: Nick Scholfield

T: Jonjo O’Neill

didn't jump with fluency, took keen hold, in touch with leaders, went second 10th, mistake 5 out, ridden 3 out, weakened before 2 out

6/1

2nd

1

5th Jul 2023

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 5

14:53 Worcester

Manintheshadows

12st 0lb

J: Nick Scholfield

T: Jonjo O’Neill

Four hurdle wins but was pulled up at Warwick five weeks ago, on return from a break (bled); has failed to finish either attempt over fences so plenty to prove for now.

7/1

1

31st May 2023

Good To Firm

3m 2f 0y

Class 4

17:40 Warwick

Manintheshadows

12st 1lb

J: Mr A J O’Neill

T: Jonjo O’Neill

Triple hurdle winner in 2022, the latest win gained from the front at Hereford (3m1f, good) in October; not seen since falling in a chase in January and competes off career-high mark here but has possibilities if fully tuned up; untested on ground quicker than good.

11/4

Form: 543-P6

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 101

Form & Verdict
Fast-ground point winner who showed promise in his first two hurdle runs last winter but he's struggled in two handicaps (2m7f, soft/good) this season; still lightly raced and mark is sliding but he needs a transformation.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

20th Sep 2024

Good

3m 1f 170y

Class 4

17:30 Newton Abbot

Pilot Show

11st 13lb

J: James Bowen

T: Warren Greatrex

prominent, badly hampered and dropped to rear 1st, detached and struggling 7th, rallied and joined main group before 13th

6/1

2nd

3

30th Aug 2024

Good

3m 1f 210y

Class 4

18:10 Fontwell

Pilot Show

11st 8lb

J: James Bowen

T: Warren Greatrex

jumped right on occasions, raced in second, pressed winner last, stayed on

11/2

6th

8

21st Aug 2024

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 4

17:25 Worcester

Pilot Show

11st 2lb

J: James Bowen

T: Warren Greatrex

His second win over fences when a clearcut winner at Warwick (3m, good) but only fourth here next time and behind Galloping Pride; did make a bad mistake four out that day which didn't help.

6/1

Form: 84-33P C

Last run: 42 days

W: 11st 4lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Very well treated on his 3m1f chase win (good) for Nicky Henderson in November 2020 but he's 0-11 since and has found it tough going in six runs for his current yard; goes back up in trip with tongue-tie added but was pulled up at Stratford last time and others are preferred.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

12

7th Nov 2023

Soft

3m 1f 100y

Class 5

16:15 Warwick

Versatility

11st 0lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Danni O’Neill

in rear, mistake 5th

50/1

8th

10

12th Oct 2023

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

15:40 Worcester

Versatility

10st 8lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Danni O’Neill

Operating well below his late-2020 chasing peak when last seen; unimproved by two previous wind operations and returns from another now.

50/1

8th

5

28th Apr 2023

Good

3m 2f 54y

Class 5

17:20 Chepstow

Versatility

11st 7lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Danni O’Neill

Won over hurdles and fences when with Nicky Henderson but it's not hard to oppose him on more recent evidence.

50/1

Form: 42-136 D

Last run: 149 days

W: 10st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Thorough stayer who made it 2-5 over fences when scoring at Ffos Las (3m4f, good to soft) in May but he was well held in his final two runs (3m, good) in the summer; still 4lb higher than for last success and has a bit to prove back from 149 days off.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

5th Feb 2023

Good

3m 1f 44y

Class 5

14:03 Hereford

Motown Lake

11st 8lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Christian Williams

Dual chase winner last year, latterly at Ffos Las (3m4f, good to soft) in May; not yet fully exposed but ran poorly on latest outing in July and has fitness to prove here.

10/1

Form: -141P3 CD

Last run: 67 days

W: 10st 5lb

13 yo Gelding

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
13yo who has an up-and-down profile but he's won 3m chase handicaps in two of his last five runs and was a fair third behind an improver at Uttoxeter when last seen in October; steps back up in grade after another short break but four of his chase wins have come at this track and he's respected.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

22nd Mar 2023

Good To Soft

3m 1f 100y

Class 4

16:00 Warwick

High Counsel

10st 2lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Gary Hanmer

Won over a similar trip last July but seems to have gone off the idea this winter, refusing to race two starts ago and pulling up either side, most recently on Monday; can only watch.

33/1

4

20th Mar 2023

Good To Soft

3m 0f 60y

Class 5

14:00 Southwell

High Counsel

11st 1lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Gary Hanmer

held up in rear

20/1

5

11th Feb 2023

Good To Soft

3m 0f 0y

Class 5

15:55 Uttoxeter

High Counsel

11st 1lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Gary Hanmer

Old-timer; managed two wins last spring/summer and ran respectably when third over this C&D (good to soft) in October; had little chance from 7lb out of the handicap at Warwick last time; each-way possibilities.

14/1

Form: 3353/6

Last run: 36 days

W: 10st 3lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Well handicapped on some placed efforts over fences last spring but this veteran is still a maiden after 23 starts and he returned from a long absence with a tailed-off effort at Chepstow (2m7f, good) last month.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

7

11th Feb 2023

Good To Soft

3m 0f 0y

Class 5

15:55 Uttoxeter

Puppet Warrior

10st 8lb

J: Tabitha Worsley

T: Georgie Howell

25-race maiden; seems on the downgrade but he's tumbled in the weights and was a long way out of the handicap on his most recent outing; conditions fine and not discounted despite unpromising form figures.

25/1

8

25th Jan 2023

Soft

3m 1f 54y

Class 4

13:45 Catterick

Puppet Warrior

10st 2lb

J: Tabitha Worsley

T: Georgie Howell

prominent, slow jump and lost position 6th, pushed along and dropped to rear 13th, pulled up before 14th

66/1

4th

4

30th Dec 2022

Good

3m 2f 57y

Class 5

15:15 Taunton

Puppet Warrior

10st 13lb

J: Tabitha Worsley

T: Georgie Howell

Stays well and several creditable efforts to his name but a maiden after 23 starts and was tailed off at Chepstow last month, on return from a long absence; others more appealing.

25/1

Verdict

Preference is for Oliver Sherwood’s lightly raced 7yo BALLAQUANE (nap), who justified strong support when scoring on his chase/seasonal debut at Fontwell and is open to more improvement on this step back up in trip. Manintheshadows has won his last three completed starts over hurdles and is a big danger if he can transfer his progress back to this sphere. Third choice is High Counsel, who is a four-time chase winner at this track and was a fair third behind an improver at Uttoxeter last time.[David Moon]

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Ballaquane

POSTDATA:

Manintheshadows

RP Ratings:

High Counsel

The Times:

Lyrical Genius

Telegraph:

Ballaquane

D Express:

Ballaquane

The Star:

Ballaquane

Daily Record:

Ballaquane

WEST COUNTRY:

Manintheshadows

The Guardian:

Manintheshadows

Daily Mail:

Manintheshadows

Daily Mirror:

Manintheshadows

TOPSPEED:

High Counsel

The Sun:

High Counsel