December 26 / 13.40 Market Rasen

13.40

Soft

Chestnut Homes Novices’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £8169
  • 2m 5f 89y
  • Class 4
  • 10 runners
RTV
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Chestnut Homes Novices’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 10 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

OUR TIP

11/4 (Won)

  • Win: £6.00
  • Place: £2.00

Form: 2133-2 D

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Close second over hurdles at Ayr (2m4f, soft) last month, making a promising debut for new yard; hood now applied; open to further progress and warrants respect on first crack at chasing (showed promise in points).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

23rd Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 20y

Class 2

15:10 Perth

Whistleinthedark

11st 0lb

J: Miss Ellie Callwood

T: L J Morgan

11yo who was tailed off at Cheltenham in December and pulled up at Haydock this month on sole run since; arrives with something to prove but three visits to Perth have yielded two wins, including this race in 2023, so he's worth a second look; a first-time visor replaces cheekpieces.

25/1

9

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 203y

Class 2

15:20 Haydock

Whistleinthedark

11st 3lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: L J Morgan

Inconsistent last year but won twice (3m/2m4f, good/soft), those victories coming on the back of respective breaks of 89 and 120 days; may be best caught fresh nowadays so is worth a second look after 113 days off.

33/1

1

13th Jul 2025

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 3

15:43 Perth

Whistleinthedark

12st 0lb

J: Harry Reed

T: L J Morgan

Back in rude health over C&D (good) in May, easily beating Saint Arvans to win by 20l, and his subsequent Market Rasen fourth (2m5f, good) was also a good effort; still well handicapped on old form; shortlisted.

3/1

12/1

  • Place: £1.80

Form: 313-23

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 3lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Consistent mare in bumpers and over hurdles, most recently third at Sedgefield (2m4f, soft); should give her running, provided she transfers her form to fences.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

10th May 2024

Good

2m 7f 191y

Class 3

15:50 Market Rasen

Betty Baloo

11st 2lb

J: Mr William Easterby

T: Tim Easterby

held up in rear, fell 1st, fatally injured, race voided

7/2

8

10th May 2024

Good

2m 7f 191y

Class 3

15:50 Market Rasen

Betty Baloo

11st 2lb

J: Mr William Easterby

T: Tim Easterby

held up in rear, fell 1st, fatally injured, race voided

7/2

2nd

3

9th Jun 2023

Good

2m 7f 16y

Class 4

15:20 Market Rasen

Betty Baloo

11st 10lb

J: Jamie Hamilton

T: Tim Easterby

Consistent and progressive mare with two chase wins here this spring; only third (off 9lb lower) when last seen over hurdles six months ago but has improved since; fair chance if able to transfer her chasing form.

5/2

13/2

  • Place: £1.30

Form: 2731-3

Last run: 30 days

W: 11st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Scored twice (good/good to soft) as a novice hurdler last term; comfortably held in novice handicap chase on reappearance but should do better with that outing under his belt; not fully exposed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

1st Nov 2025

Good

3m 0f 45y

Class 4

16:05 Wetherby

East Street

11st 10lb

J: Alex Chadwick

T: James Owen

Moved to this yard last season and won three in a row towards the end of last year (2m4f/3m, good to soft/soft); disappointing subsequently but perhaps a break will have helped and he's down to a handy mark; interesting to see how he goes in the betting.

20/1

4

1st Nov 2025

Good

3m 0f 45y

Class 4

16:05 Wetherby

East Street

11st 10lb

J: Alex Chadwick

T: James Owen

Moved to this yard last season and won three in a row towards the end of last year (2m4f/3m, good to soft/soft); disappointing subsequently but perhaps a break will have helped and he's down to a handy mark; interesting to see how he goes in the betting.

20/1

1

23rd Mar 2025

Good

3m 0f 110y

Class 2

15:20 Carlisle

East Street

12st 0lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: James Owen

always behind

14/1

Form: P31653 D

Last run: 39 days

W: 11st 13lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Successful at Fontwell (2m5f, good) on debut for this stable; below that form in three runs since but this drop in class may have positive effect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

10th Oct 2024

Good

2m 3f 48y

Class 5

16:43 Exeter

Fakir

11st 4lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Tom Lacey

towards rear, reminders after 1st, not fluent and cajoled along 2nd, outpaced 9th

5/1

4th

5

8th Sep 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 104y

Class 4

16:15 Fontwell

Fakir

10st 13lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Tom Lacey

prominent, awkward jump 2nd, not fluent 11th, bad mistake and 2nd, lost ground 3 out, not fluent 2 out, weakened approaching last

7/2

Form: 172P-U

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 12lb

9 yo Mare

OR: 118

Form & Verdict
Good second at Wetherby on debut over fences; however, has failed to complete in two subsequent outings and now has a bit to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

1

15th Dec 2023

Heavy

2m 4f 72y

Class 5

12:55 Bangor-on-Dee

Lady Of The Night

12st 0lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Kim Bailey

Faded rather tamely in home straight at Lingfield (2m4f, good to soft) last month, after a break, and is now 0-5 over fences; on a tempting mark now and should be fine on today's ground but needs a good boost from the first-time cheekpieces.

10/1

5th

3

21st Nov 2023

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

12:35 Lingfield

Lady Of The Night

12st 0lb

J: David Bass

T: Kim Bailey

jumped right on occasions, in touch with leaders, jumped right 3rd

9/2

5th

2

9th May 2023

Good

2m 5f 192y

Class 4

15:35 Ffos Las

Lady Of The Night

11st 10lb

J: David Bass

T: Kim Bailey

Chasing experiment has been shelved after failing to complete the last three times (pulled up latest); return to hurdles may prove beneficial but there is a question mark over her current form.

14/1

Form: /8720-

Last run: 422 days

W: 11st 11lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Failed to build on early promise for Gordon Elliott; sold £14,000 and had wind surgery since last seen in October 2021; market can guide.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

26th Dec 2022

Soft

2m 5f 89y

Class 4

13:40 Market Rasen

Clondaw Secret

11st 11lb

J: Jordan Nailor

T: Kevin Frost

Failed to build on early promise for Gordon Elliott; sold £14,000 and had wind surgery since last seen in October 2021; market can guide.

20/1

Form: 210-33 C

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Creditable third at Aintree and Wetherby since switched to chasing; may show improvement now returned to the scene of his hurdles win (2m4f, good to soft); interesting contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

25th Feb 2023

Good

2m 3f 98y

Class 4

14:32 Chepstow

Hometown Hero

12st 0lb

J: Bridget Andrews

T: Dan Skelton

prominent, lost position before 5 out, weakened 4 out

9/2

5

17th Feb 2023

Good

2m 5f 133y

Class 2

15:05 Kelso

Hometown Hero

10st 2lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

declared 2.00 Leicester yesterday

3

16th Feb 2023

Good To Firm

1m 7f 201y

Class 3

14:00 Leicester

Hometown Hero

11st 2lb

J: David England

T: Dan Skelton

Pulled up at Market Rasen in December but has run well in three other chases, the latest when touched off at Uttoxeter (in cheekpieces for first time); good to firm ground asks a question but clearly the one to beat.

1/3

Form: 2PP5/7 D

Last run: 44 days

W: 11st 7lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Missed last season and seemed to need his comeback run (stable debut) last month; 0-5 as a chaser but is well treated on best form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

5

7th Feb 2023

Good To Soft

2m 7f 191y

Class 4

15:15 Market Rasen

Diomede Des Mottes

11st 2lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Dr Richard Newland

took keen hold, raced in second, pressed leader before 11th, led 12th, ridden and headed before 4 out

14/1

5

28th Jan 2023

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

15:07 Uttoxeter

Diomede Des Mottes

11st 9lb

J: Luke Scott

T: Dr Richard Newland

Not beaten that far when seventh here (3m2f) on stable debut in November and has become very well handicapped on older form, but fell when last in action and his current ability is tricky to assess.

25/1

Form: 2-8421 C

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 4lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Opened his chase account in 3m contest here (good to soft) 25 days ago, sticking on well under Ellis Collier; still favourably treated despite going back up 7lb; shortlisted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

31st Dec 2024

Soft

3m 0f 0y

Class 4

13:20 Warwick

Ballinslea Bridge

10st 13lb

J: Bradley Harris

T: Harriet Dickin

held up in last, detached after 11th, pulled up before 12th

25/1

Form: F2-1P1

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Came with a strong run to lead on the line at Catterick (1m7f, good to soft) on chase debut four weeks ago, shaping as if this return to a longer distance is well worth exploring; open to further improvement over fences; major contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

3

2nd Jun 2026

Good

1m 7f 182y

Class 4

14:30 Southwell

Duke Of Luckley

11st 6lb

J: Freddie Keighley

T: Martin Keighley

Four of his six wins have been at this track, three of which over 2m; has lost his way, however, since the last of those in May last year off 7lb higher; well handicapped if he can return to form after absence of 223 days.

16/1

3

22nd Oct 2025

Good

2m 0f 110y

Class 4

13:30 Worcester

Duke Of Luckley

11st 12lb

J: James Best

T: Martin Keighley

Completed a hat-trick in May but now has to bounce back from four heavy defeats and there are improvers lurking here.

20/1

3

16th Sep 2025

Good

1m 7f 214y

Class 4

15:10 Uttoxeter

Duke Of Luckley

12st 1lb

J: James Best

T: Martin Keighley

Completed hat-trick when making all to beat Harel Du Marais at Southwell (2m, good) in May, after a break, but has suffered three heavy defeats since; swaps visor for refitted cheekpieces; rain a likely negative.

20/1

Non-runners

Lady Of The Night

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £24.50
Straight Forecast £27.41
Tricast £106.54
Trifecta £160.30

Selections

TOPSPEED:

Duke Of Luckley

Daily Mail:

Betty Baloo

SPOTLIGHT:

Whistleinthedark

POSTDATA:

Hometown Hero

The Times:

East Street

RP Ratings:

Lady Of The Night

WEST COUNTRY:

Duke Of Luckley

Telegraph:

Duke Of Luckley

The Guardian:

Duke Of Luckley

Daily Mirror:

Duke Of Luckley

Daily Record:

Duke Of Luckley

The Star:

Betty Baloo

D Express:

Whistleinthedark

The Sun:

Hometown Hero