December 15 / 19.30 Chelmsford (AW)

19.30

Standard

weatherbysshop.co.uk Handicap

  • Prize money: £20616
  • 1m 6f 0y
  • Class 2
  • 5 runners
RTV
View Course
weatherbysshop.co.uk Handicap

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Flat AW

Surface: Polytrack

Weather: Showers

Form: 342211 CD

Last run: 35 days

W: 9st 9lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
No progress in first three starts but he has form figures of 2211 since switched to staying handicaps and his wins have come at this track (2m/1m6f) this autumn; up another 4lb but he finished well to score in good style over C&D last time and is open to more improvement; big player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

9

(7)

31st May 2026

Good

2m 0f 13y

Class 3

18:15 Thirsk

Mountain Road

9st 5lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Jim Goldie

4-15 for David Simcock; four runs for current yard, absent 582 days before this season's, in which he showed that significant ability remains; needs to build on those performances but going back up from the 1m5f of last two outings should suit and he continues down the weights; case can be made.

10/1

5th

7

(12)

17th May 2026

Good

1m 5f 16y

Class 3

16:45 Hamilton

Mountain Road

9st 4lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Jim Goldie

4-15 for David Simcock; absent for 582 days before having two runs for new yard this spring, runs which showed that significant ability remains but he needs to build on those performances.

16/1

3rd

2

(6)

3rd May 2026

Good

1m 5f 16y

Class 3

14:40 Hamilton

Mountain Road

9st 4lb

J: Paul Mulrennan

T: Jim Goldie

4-15 for David Simcock; absent for 582 days after a heavy defeat on debut for this yard and last week's comeback run at Musselburgh was just okay (2m, good); others preferred.

10/1

OUR TIP

Form: 320341

Last run: 8 days

W: 9st 8lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
Triple AW winner who resumed his progress when beating his 12 rivals in a 2m handicap at Kempton (Polytrack) last Wednesday; has a penalty and is back in trip but that was a pretty valuable Class 2 event last time and this tough colt should make another bold bid.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12th

5

(13)

29th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 0y

19:25 Down Royal

Pons Aelius

9st 9lb

J: Patrick McGettigan

T: H D McGuigan

Six-time winner at up to 2m in Britain but yet to hit any sort of form for current yard; career-low mark and tongue-tie tried so don't rule out.

12/1

11th

7

(16)

3rd May 2026

Good

1m 5f 190y

15:22 Sligo

Pons Aelius

9st 11lb

J: Gabriella Hill

T: H D McGuigan

Donegal yard likes to pick up horses with back-form, often from Britain, and try to rejuvenate them; six-time winner at up to 2m but hasn't been finishing out his races in Ireland and been off a while.

18/1

8th

9

(9)

16th Jan 2026

Standard

2m 0f 0y

17:15 Dundalk (AW)

Pons Aelius

9st 0lb

J: Patrick McGettigan

T: H D McGuigan

Six-time winner for Charlie Johnston and best form over this trip; poor on first two runs for this yard at big prices; better than bare result when beaten over 5l at Gowran last May; yard's first runner of the year won on Tuesday; no surprise were he to go well after a break with leading claimer aboard.

20/1

Form: 704830

Last run: 8 days

W: 9st 7lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Started his career with 1m4f wins at Wolverhampton and Newmarket in July but he's not gone on and was beaten 13l behind his stablemate Pons Aelius at Kempton last week; that was from a tough draw but he's now 0-7 in handicaps and others are more convincing; cheekpieces added.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

1

(3)

25th Aug 2024

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

17:20 Goodwood

Temporize

10st 4lb

J: Kevin Stott

T: Anthony Charlton

led at steady pace, increased tempo 5f out, headed over 1f out, kept on but lost two places final 110yds

3/1

8th

4

2nd Aug 2024

Good To Firm

2m 4f 97y

Class 2

13:50 Goodwood

Temporize

9st 7lb

J: Connor Beasley

T: Syd Hosie

Won this race last year (soft) from Robert Johnson and dictated the pace under Connor Beasley when taking a useful Newbury race (2m, good to firm) 13 days ago, from closing rivals including Kyle Of Lochalsh; up 3lb but this highly reliable sort will surely be seriously involved again.

6/1

1st

7

(5)

20th Jul 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 110y

Class 2

14:25 Newbury

Temporize

8st 7lb

J: Connor Beasley

T: Syd Hosie

The Cesarewitch was his only disappointment for new yard last season and his win came at Glorious Goodwood (2m4f, soft); 7lb higher today, nudged up another 1lb following his second at Goodwood (2m, good) on reappearance; respectable fifth at Royal Ascot keeps him in each-way calculations.

7/1

Abandoned

Form: 547162 CD

Last run: 35 days

W: 8st 8lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 71

Form & Verdict
Has some ups and downs in her seven-race profile but she won a C&D handicap in September and was a creditable 33-1 second behind Mountain Road back here (1m6f) last month; nudged up another 2lb but she still has potential as a stayer and is not ruled out.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

1

(3)

21st May 2026

Good

1m 4f 104y

Class 5

17:00 Musselburgh

Spit Spot

9st 9lb

J: Lexie Clarkson

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Won twice on AW in her youth; three hurdle wins since joining this stable, the latest at Perth last October; not so good this spring and a wind op last month needs to turn things around.

20/1

4

22nd Apr 2026

Soft

2m 4f 35y

Class 4

16:10 Perth

Spit Spot

11st 5lb

J: Patrick Wadge

T: Lucinda Russell & Michael Scudamore

Won twice over 3m here last autumn (good/soft); hasn't been in such good form since but may fare better back here with cheekpieces now tried.

11/1

Abandoned

Form: 545-5

Last run: 240 days

W: 8st 5lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 68

Form & Verdict
Down the field in four novice/maiden runs for the Johnston yard, most recently when a well-held fifth of seven at Wolverhampton (1m4f) in April; changed hands for 26,000gns in July; still unexposed but she returns from another break and needs improvement upped to 1m6f on her handicap/stable debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

3

(10)

10th Oct 2024

Soft

2m 1f 24y

Class 6

13:25 Bath

Zestful

10st 0lb

J: Jack Doughty

T: Martin Keighley

Dual hurdle winner; only 6l away last time at Pontefract (2m1f, good to firm) on ground that would have been on the lively side for her; can see her going well.

15/2

5th

6

(2)

19th Sep 2024

Good

2m 1f 27y

Class 5

16:05 Pontefract

Zestful

9st 11lb

J: Dougie Costello

T: Martin Keighley

took keen hold, midfield, headway after 8f, outpaced over 2f out, kept on

10/1

11th

8

(9)

19th Aug 2024

Good

1m 4f 13y

Class 5

14:15 Catterick

Zestful

10st 13lb

J: Mr Freddie Keighley

T: Martin Keighley

midfield, outpaced then weakened over 3f out

12/1

Verdict

Preference is for David Simcock’s progressive hat-trick seeker MOUNTAIN ROAD, who has form figures of 2211 since switched to staying handicaps and completed a course double when forging clear over C&D last month. The Johnstons’ Pons Aelius kicked on again with his 2m win at Kempton last week and he’s the main danger, although Spit Spot was a good second behind the selection here last time and she’s still unexposed at this trip.[David Moon]

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Mountain Road

POSTDATA:

Pons Aelius

NEWMARKET:

Spit Spot

WEST COUNTRY:

Zestful

RP Ratings:

Mountain Road

TOPSPEED:

Mountain Road

The Times:

Mountain Road

Telegraph:

Mountain Road

The Guardian:

Mountain Road

Daily Mail:

Mountain Road

D Express:

Mountain Road

Daily Mirror:

Mountain Road

The Star:

Mountain Road

Daily Record:

Mountain Road

The Sun:

Pons Aelius