December 09 / 14.25 Cheltenham

14.25

Good

Dahlbury Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £39865
  • 3m 2f 0y
  • Class 1
  • 9 runners
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Dahlbury Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly sunny

6/1 (Won)

  • Win: £9.00
  • Place: £2.10

Form: P41-62

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 12lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 140

Form & Verdict
Good second in Grade 3 handicap at the November Meeting here (3m3f, good) with reappearance under his belt, not the first time he has gone well at Cheltenham; very solid contender up just 1lb and commands respect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

9

3rd Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 19y

Class 2

16:05 Aintree

Evas Oskar

12st 0lb

J: Mr Edward Vaughan

T: Tim Vaughan

Running well in the 2023 Grand National when he unseated at the 21st; confined to only four runs in the meantime and he'll need to find plenty on his recent hunter chase exploits (narrowly beaten by Captain Tommy last time).

33/1

9

3rd Apr 2025

Good To Soft

2m 5f 19y

Class 2

16:05 Aintree

Evas Oskar

12st 0lb

J: Mr Edward Vaughan

T: Tim Vaughan

Running well in the 2023 Grand National when he unseated at the 21st; confined to only four runs in the meantime and he'll need to find plenty on his recent hunter chase exploits (narrowly beaten by Captain Tommy last time).

33/1

2nd

3

5th Mar 2025

Good

3m 1f 54y

Class 5

17:00 Catterick

Evas Oskar

12st 2lb

J: Mr Edward Vaughan

T: Tim Vaughan

prominent, went second 5th, pushed along after 5 out, outpaced and lost second 3 out, soon ridden, rallied and went second again last, stayed on and challenging towards finish, just held

7/4

8/1

  • Place: £1.90

Form: 335-26

Last run: 34 days

W: 11st 6lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 134

Form & Verdict
Well-held sixth in the Grand Sefton at Aintree last month; has plenty of placed form off higher marks, albeit over 2m4f, at this track; stamina to prove over this new trip and long losing run continues.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

28th Jan 2023

Soft

2m 4f 127y

Class 1

13:50 Cheltenham

Spiritofthegames

10st 10lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Has plenty of C&D form, including placed efforts in this race in 2020 and 2022; however, may need further now as his best efforts this term have come over 3m/3m2f; no win since 2018.

20/1

7th

6

1st Jan 2023

Good

3m 2f 70y

Class 2

12:45 Cheltenham

Spiritofthegames

11st 6lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

The lack of a win since 2018 is the big disincentive but he usually runs well at Cheltenham and last month it was when upped to 3m2f on good (goes well on soft over shorter); often wears cheekpieces (not last time) but now tries blinkers; should again finish on the premises.

7/1

2nd

6

9th Dec 2022

Good

3m 2f 0y

Class 1

14:25 Cheltenham

Spiritofthegames

11st 6lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Well-held sixth in the Grand Sefton at Aintree last month; has plenty of placed form off higher marks, albeit over 2m4f, at this track; stamina to prove over this new trip and long losing run continues.

8/1

Form: 3641P- D BF

Last run: 240 days

W: 11st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 136

Form & Verdict
Absent since a disappointing effort in C&D event eight months ago; quite a useful novice chaser otherwise last term, including two solid efforts (strong form) here; should bounce back; remains of interest.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

16th Apr 2025

Good

3m 4f 21y

Class 3

15:15 Cheltenham

Undersupervision

12st 0lb

J: James Turner

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

Very well handicapped on old form but has been pulled up on six of his eight starts over the last two years, most recently in last month's Grimthorpe at Doncaster (a race he won in 2022); sports first-time tongue-tie and swaps visor for refitted cheekpieces here; revival needed.

33/1

1

16th Apr 2025

Good

3m 4f 21y

Class 3

15:15 Cheltenham

Undersupervision

12st 0lb

J: James Turner

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

Very well handicapped on old form but has been pulled up on six of his eight starts over the last two years, most recently in last month's Grimthorpe at Doncaster (a race he won in 2022); sports first-time tongue-tie and swaps visor for refitted cheekpieces here; revival needed.

33/1

10

1st Mar 2025

Good To Soft

3m 2f 1y

Class 2

15:15 Doncaster

Undersupervision

10st 9lb

J: James Turner

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

Failed to complete far too often for comfort and soundly beaten when he did get round in a first-time visor (replacing usual cheekpieces) at Ludlow in December when last seen; the big positives are that he won this race in 2022 and was beaten a neck in it in 2023, but last year's performance in the Grimthorpe was poor; down to his lowest mark as a chaser.

16/1

Form: 5P11-3 CD

Last run: 48 days

W: 11st 4lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 132

Form & Verdict
Creditable third in 3m1f contest at the Showcase Meeting here seven weeks ago, taking form figures over fences at Cheltenham to 113; C&D winner on good ground in April; looks set for another solid run.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

17th Apr 2024

Good To Soft

3m 2f 0y

Class 2

16:25 Cheltenham

Captain Cattistock

11st 4lb

J: Liam Harrison

T: Fergal O’Brien

Not seen since pulled up on consecutive outings in the autumn and probably doesn't have much margin for error off current mark but won the last two editions of this race (both times on good ground) and will presumably be primed for a big run.

12/1

4

17th Apr 2024

Good To Soft

3m 2f 0y

Class 2

16:25 Cheltenham

Captain Cattistock

11st 4lb

J: Liam Harrison

T: Fergal O’Brien

Not seen since pulled up on consecutive outings in the autumn and probably doesn't have much margin for error off current mark but won the last two editions of this race (both times on good ground) and will presumably be primed for a big run.

12/1

6

19th Nov 2023

Good To Soft

3m 3f 71y

Class 1

14:20 Cheltenham

Captain Cattistock

11st 9lb

J: Liam Harrison

T: Fergal O’Brien

Won 3m2f handicap at Cheltenham (good) in April for the second year in a row, on both occasions following big runs over 3m7f at Musselburgh; used to be fine in the mud as well; needs to bounce back from a poor show in the valuable 3m Kerry National at Listowel two months ago.

14/1

Form: 9P/10- CD

Last run: 244 days

W: 12st 0lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 142

Form & Verdict
Absent since a heavy defeat in the Grand National; recorded an impressive 15l reappearance success (off 9lb lower) in this race 12 months ago, confirming that he goes well fresh; big player if he's in the same form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

2nd Mar 2024

Soft

3m 1f 214y

Class 2

13:20 Newbury

Commodore

10st 12lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

His Cheltenham win (3m2f, good to soft) in December 2021 came on the back of a similar absence and he was 5lb higher back then; final campaign fizzled out but again ran well on his reappearance so this could be the time to take a chance on him; hasn't always shone on heavy but does handle it.

6/1

5th

3

25th Mar 2023

Good To Soft

2m 7f 86y

Class 3

17:00 Newbury

Commodore

11st 13lb

J: Shane Quinlan

T: Venetia Williams

Last season he won a 3m2f Cheltenham handicap by some 15l and is now only 1lb higher than that day; ran quite well on his reappearance back at Cheltenham but nothing of note since.

16/1

9th

3

11th Feb 2023

Good To Soft

3m 0f 0y

Class 2

14:45 Uttoxeter

Commodore

11st 7lb

J: Shane Quinlan

T: Venetia Williams

led

14/1

Form: 1-1252 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 11lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 139

Form & Verdict
Similar profile to Eva's Oskar having performed well (clear second) at the November Meeting, although his effort came in a veterans' chase over 2m4f; has more on his plate in this field back up in distance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

1st Jun 2024

Good To Soft

3m 3f 119y

Class 3

19:30 Stratford

Broken Quest

12st 0lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: David Dennis

Only this year returned from a long absence and showed he was no back number with an 11l third at Aintree two weeks ago (3m1f, good); stamina for quite this far is by no means assured but he can't be ruled out.

8/1

Form: /1322- D

Last run: 252 days

W: 11st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 134

Form & Verdict
Had form figures of 1322 switched to chasing last season, the win gained at Hereford (3m1f, good); may have more to offer this term and, having shown he goes well fresh, looks an interesting contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

2nd Apr 2025

Good

3m 0f 54y

Class 4

17:00 Exeter

Switch Hitter

11st 12lb

J: Miss Olive Nicholls

T: S Loxton

Very useful over fences in his prime for Paul Nicholls; last rules win was over two years ago but he's won points in his last three starts including a comfortable success (3m, good to firm) ten days ago; looks a major player now back in this sphere and yard won this in 2023 and 2024.

4/7

5

2nd Apr 2025

Good

3m 0f 54y

Class 4

17:00 Exeter

Switch Hitter

11st 12lb

J: Miss Olive Nicholls

T: S Loxton

Very useful over fences in his prime for Paul Nicholls; last rules win was over two years ago but he's won points in his last three starts including a comfortable success (3m, good to firm) ten days ago; looks a major player now back in this sphere and yard won this in 2023 and 2024.

4/7

5th

1

20th May 2024

Soft

3m 1f 170y

Class 5

16:43 Newton Abbot

Switch Hitter

12st 8lb

J: Miss Natalie Parker

T: Paul Nicholls

Useful handicap chaser on good ground when on song; pulled up on consecutive outings at end of last season and needs to prove his wellbeing, but is in much calmer waters for today's hunter chase debut.

4/6

OUR TIP

Form: 221-56

Last run: 27 days

W: 12st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 142

Form & Verdict
Second-season chaser who stayed on for sixth in the Paddy Power here (2m4f, good) last month, suggesting he'll get further; however, whether he'll see out this extra 6f remains to be seen; stamina question mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

5

13th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

17:00 Hexham

Nassalam

11st 12lb

J: Miss Gina Andrews

T: T Ellis

Pulled up/tailed off on all seven starts since winning the Welsh National for the Moore stable in December 2023; it's tricky to assess what he's capable of nowadays but this race is vastly easier than he's used to and if he retains any spark he'll be tough to beat on this stable debut.

3/1

2

31st Jan 2026

Soft

3m 0f 42y

Class 2

15:42 Sandown

Nassalam

11st 4lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary & Josh Moore

Well suited by soft/heavy ground; landed the 2023 Welsh National off current mark; subsequent form figures (P0PPPP) are dismal but this first run since wind surgery may be the time to bank on a revival and catch him; attractively handicapped, with that in mind.

10/1

Form: 30PP/7

Last run: 26 days

W: 10st 9lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 123

Form & Verdict
All wins on soft/heavy; unfavoured by good ground and/or possibly needed the run here (back from lengthy absence) last month; very well treated on peak form but the forecast surface again isn't ideal.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

9th Dec 2022

Good

3m 2f 0y

Class 1

14:25 Cheltenham

Dominateur

10st 9lb

J: Nico de Boinville

T: Ben Pauling

All wins on soft/heavy; unfavoured by good ground and/or possibly needed the run here (back from lengthy absence) last month; very well treated on peak form but the forecast surface again isn't ideal.

20/1

7th

13

13th Nov 2022

Good

3m 3f 71y

Class 1

14:20 Cheltenham

Dominateur

10st 3lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Ben Pauling

midfield, dropped to rear 11th, ridden and struggling 4 out

20/1

Non-runners

Nassalam

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £54.30
Straight Forecast £51.13
Tricast £182.31
Trifecta £259.80

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Undersupervision

POSTDATA:

Captain Cattistock

Daily Mail:

Commodore

The Sun:

Nassalam

RP Ratings:

Undersupervision

TOPSPEED:

Undersupervision

The Times:

Undersupervision

Telegraph:

Undersupervision

D Express:

Undersupervision

WEST COUNTRY:

Captain Cattistock

The Guardian:

Captain Cattistock

Daily Record:

Captain Cattistock

Daily Mirror:

Commodore

The Star:

Commodore