December 10 / 14.05 Doncaster

14.05

Good

bet365 Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £13007.5
  • 2m 7f 214y
  • Class 2
  • 7 runners
SKY
View Course
bet365 Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

Abandoned

Form: 2412-3 C

Last run: 15 days

W: 11st 13lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 140

Form & Verdict
Front-runner who won easily here (2m3f, soft) in March and was a good second at Haydock (2m4f, good to soft) in April; didn't run badly on recent reappearance at Newbury (2m4f, good), which he may improve for; untested at this trip but could be a contender if seeing it out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

4th May 2026

Good

3m 0f 38y

Class 2

16:03 Fakenham

Numitor

10st 13lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Heather Main

Bounced back to form with game win at Hereford (2m5f, good) last month, his ninth success over fences; still well handicapped after recent 4lb rise and will be fine over this longer trip but it's hard to predict whether he'll be in the right mood again.

9/2

1st

2

16th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 194y

Class 3

18:00 Hereford

Numitor

11st 6lb

J: James Bowen

T: Heather Main

Potentially very well handicapped but has become a law unto himself and is wickedly hard to predict.

14/1

4

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 203y

Class 2

15:20 Haydock

Numitor

11st 5lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Heather Main

Pulled up in this race last year and same outcome on first two runs this season; 13l fourth behind Genois at Exeter (2m3f, good to soft) last month following wind surgery and a break but he could improve for that outing, and he won this race in 2024; not written off.

12/1

Form: 1-1252 D

Last run: 29 days

W: 11st 12lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 139

Form & Verdict
Won three in a row in the spring (3m/3m1f, good) and good second at Cheltenham (2m4f, good) four weeks ago on his second start back from a break; however, he was well beaten back at Cheltenham (3m2f, good) yesterday.
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

OUR TIP

Form: 611-4P CD BF

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 134

Form & Verdict
Concluded last season with two wins in three-runner handicaps (3m, soft/good to soft; including here) and reappeared with fair fourth at Kelso (3m2f, good to soft); lost his action when pulled up early at Cheltenham last time, when wearing first-time cheekpieces (retained); this 7yo may still have more to offer and is one to be interested in; has run well on good going.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

21st Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 30y

Class 3

14:15 Bangor-on-Dee

Castle Robin

11st 5lb

J: Lilly Pinchin

T: Charlie Longsdon

Strike-rate of 4-14 over fences but has seen very little action during the past three years and now returns from an even lengthier absence at the age of 11; potentially very well handicapped should market vibes bode well.

8/1

5th

2

24th Sep 2024

Good

3m 1f 100y

Class 3

15:30 Warwick

Castle Robin

11st 12lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Charlie Longsdon

led, headed before 14th, soon prominent, lost ground after 3 out, weakened from 2 out

11/2

7th

5

9th Mar 2024

Soft

3m 0f 37y

Class 3

16:10 Sandown

Castle Robin

11st 11lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Charlie Longsdon

Front-runner; 4-12 over fences, the latest win gained off 2lb higher over C&D (good to soft) in February 2023; shaped as if retaining all his ability at Doncaster on reappearance, and less positive tactics seemed to backfire over a longer trip at Musselburgh next time; should have optimum conditions here and he's high on the list.

11/2

Form: 453-U5 D

Last run: 29 days

W: 11st 7lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 134

Form & Verdict
11yo who is inconsistent nowadays and was soundly beaten in fifth at Cheltenham (2m4f, good) last month when back from a break; however; he may improve for that run and this step back up in trip; not ruled out now 4lb lower than when second in this race last season.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

27th May 2023

Good

3m 1f 107y

Class 3

16:30 Cartmel

Kauto Riko

11st 7lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Tom Gretton

Smart at his best but hasn't won since 2020, and completed only one of four races during light campaign last season; had excuse when pulled up at Sandown in February (scoped dirty) but others look less risky.

14/1

8

4th Feb 2023

Good To Soft

3m 0f 37y

Class 2

15:30 Sandown

Kauto Riko

11st 5lb

J: Robert Dunne

T: Tom Gretton

always towards rear

40/1

9

7th Jan 2023

Soft

3m 0f 37y

Class 2

15:00 Sandown

Kauto Riko

11st 5lb

J: Robert Dunne

T: Tom Gretton

His peak ratings, including from two runs last winter, make this look a very good mark and a case can certainly be made; however, he's won only once (February 2020) in the last four years.

33/1

Form: PP-358 C

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 5lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 132

Form & Verdict
Front-runner who ran respectably in mid-division over an inadequate 2m4f in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham last month; he's now 5lb lower than when second in the competitive Sky Bet Chase over C&D (good) in January and is capable of a bold bid now back up in trip and back down in grade; wears a first-time visor (replacing blinkers).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

18th Jun 2024

Good

2m 6f 125y

Class 4

16:35 Stratford

Storm Control

12st 2lb

J: Richard Patrick

T: Kerry Lee

Has performed well in some valuable handicaps over the years but has seen little action in recent times and needs to stage a revival; front runs.

10/1

Form: /P43-2 D

Last run: 42 days

W: 11st 3lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
Promising novice chaser at up to 3m in 2020-21; 0-3 last season but more like it when second on reappearance at Ayr (2m4f, good to soft) in October; still only eight and he may be able to build on that latest performance, provided he handles the ground (below par on sole run on good going).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

25th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 7f 199y

Class 4

15:41 Hexham

Marown

11st 11lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

12yo who is without a win since 2021 and is going beyond 3m1f for the first time; however, having dropped down the weights, he took a step back in the right direction when third over Carlisle's stiff 3m recently and his trainer does very well with veterans; not discounted.

14/1

3rd

5

8th Mar 2026

Soft

3m 0f 110y

Class 4

16:25 Carlisle

Marown

11st 6lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

Remains without a victory since 2021 and he's been pulled up on his last three runs, most recently in 2m7f Newcastle handicap in January; he's not easy to make a case for.

14/1

2

27th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 91y

Class 3

15:35 Newcastle

Marown

11st 12lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Nicky Richards

12yo who needs to prove how much ability he retains; however, he's well handicapped on his best 2024 efforts and he may have needed the run at Aintree three months ago following an absence (pulled up); not written off.

8/1

Form: 6222-2 BF

Last run: 56 days

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 129

Form & Verdict
0-10 since winning on his chase debut at Huntingdon in October 2020 but he's been second seven times at up to 3m (including on good ground), most recently on his reappearance at Market Rasen (2m5f, good to soft) in October; can run well once more and could be in the shake-up.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

3

19th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 11y

Class 4

16:50 Ludlow

Guy

12st 6lb

J: Mr Samuel Scott

T: Mrs Mary Cookson

Used to like it here, not out of the first three in five starts including over fences and when winning a novice hurdle in 2023; first start for this yard when far from disgraced in Taunton hunter chase (about 2m5f, good) in January but his 20l defeat at Cocklebarrow (3m) later that month was disappointing; still not ruled out.

8/1

1

10th Apr 2025

Good

3m 2f 105y

Class 4

15:55 Newton Abbot

Guy

12st 1lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

Better known as a chaser and he hasn't been able to exploit his lower hurdle mark in two starts this year, tailed off last time at Doncaster (2m5f, good); has never run over this far either so has plenty to prove.

20/1

5th

1

10th Apr 2025

Good

3m 2f 105y

Class 4

15:55 Newton Abbot

Guy

12st 1lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

always behind

20/1

Verdict

The front-runner STORM CONTROL (nap) can capitalise on a mark 5lb lower than when second of 16 in the competitive Sky Bet Chase over C&D in January, having run with credit over an inadequate 2m4f in last month’s Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham. Second-season chaser Castle Robin lost his action when pulled up at Cheltenham last time and this C&D winner is feared most, although Marown could be a contender provided the ground isn’t too lively for him.[Ben Hutton]

Selections

POSTDATA:

Guy

TOPSPEED:

Numitor

D Express:

Marown

SPOTLIGHT:

Storm Control

The Star:

Castle Robin

RP Ratings:

Kauto Riko

WEST COUNTRY:

Guy

The Times:

Guy

Telegraph:

Guy

LAMBOURN:

Numitor

The Guardian:

Numitor

Daily Mail:

Numitor

Daily Mirror:

Marown

Daily Record:

Marown

The Sun:

Storm Control