December 28 / 13.55 Leicester

13.55

Good

Pertemps Network Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £4683.56
  • 1m 7f 201y
  • Class 4
  • 7 runners
RTV
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Pertemps Network Handicap Chase

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

11/2 (Won)

  • Win: £3.50

Form: 733213 CD

Last run: 31 days

W: 10st 7lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
Latest win at Hereford in October (2m, good); also won his only previous C&D attempt (good to firm) and dropping back in trip will suit after another attempt over further was no real help last month; not far away.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

6

2nd Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 104y

Class 5

12:55 Huntingdon

Ben Buie

11st 5lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Martin Keighley

7-30 over fences; no win last year but ran creditably twice in the autumn before seemingly reluctant to put his best foot forward in the Abaya Du Mathan race at Southwell on latest start; chance if putting that swiftly behind him.

6/1

6th

6

2nd Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 104y

Class 5

12:55 Huntingdon

Ben Buie

11st 5lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Martin Keighley

7-30 over fences; no win last year but ran creditably twice in the autumn before seemingly reluctant to put his best foot forward in the Abaya Du Mathan race at Southwell on latest start; chance if putting that swiftly behind him.

6/1

Form: 1P47-3 D

Last run: 96 days

W: 11st 7lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Juvenile hurdle winner for Olly Murphy in September 2021 and also ran well in strong races; rather novicey on chase debut for this yard at Worcester (2m, good) after layoff but was not too far behind a subsequent winner and is open to improvement.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

21st Feb 2023

Good

2m 3f 34y

Class 5

15:45 Market Rasen

Keepyourdreamsbig

11st 12lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

2m hurdle winner (good) when with Olly Murphy; competitive on his first two starts for this trainer at Worcester and Leicester (both 2m chases, good); didn't appear to get home back over hurdles at Doncaster (2m3f, good) latest; drops 2lb and returns to chasing with stamina still to prove.

11/4

6th

7

28th Jan 2023

Good

2m 3f 88y

Class 4

12:55 Doncaster

Keepyourdreamsbig

11st 3lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Nigel Twiston-Davies

Won a juvenile hurdle in 2021 (2m, good) and has run pretty well for this yard on first two chase starts, most recently staying on for second of four at Leicester (2m, good); the step up in trip could be a positive now back over hurdles and there's every chance he'll be thereabouts.

5/1

OUR TIP

Form: U54641 D

Last run: 29 days

W: 11st 12lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Dual winning hurdler; very mixed over fences but returning to good ground and leaving off the aids was a big help at Southwell this month (2m) where he was well in command late on; back up 7lb but good chance.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

5

8th Sep 2025

Good

2m 7f 180y

Class 4

15:40 Perth

Captain Ivan

11st 4lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Ewan Whillans

Good strike-rate over fences but beaten between 16l and 25l in his last three races and he's into the veteran stage now.

14/1

1

16th Aug 2025

Good

2m 1f 43y

Class 4

18:23 Market Rasen

Captain Ivan

12st 0lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Ewan Whillans

5-19 over fences, the latest win at Haydock (2m4f, good) in April; not in same form at Cartmel or Stratford since and first-time blinkers replace cheekpieces; has it to do giving weight away to more progressive rivals.

8/1

1

17th Jun 2025

Good

2m 6f 125y

Class 4

16:30 Stratford

Captain Ivan

11st 13lb

J: Craig Nichol

T: Ewan Whillans

5-18 over fences, the latest win at Haydock (2m4f, good) in April; not in same form at Cartmel (2m5f, good to soft) three weeks ago but the ground probably turned against him there and he's still on a workable mark.

9/2

Form: U2-374 D

Last run: 32 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Two front-running chase wins at around 2m (good to soft) in autumn 2021 and, although he has never really performed to the same level since, the handicapper has given him a chance; fair fourth at Bangor last month (heavy) and the return to less testing ground can help; thereabouts.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

19th Mar 2023

Soft

2m 1f 0y

Class 5

16:45 Carlisle

Crack Du Ninian

11st 11lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jennie Candlish

in touch with leaders on outer

3/1

2nd

1

25th Feb 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 190y

Class 5

17:15 Newcastle

Crack Du Ninian

12st 2lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Jennie Candlish

Has something to prove in view of this winter's chase form but he's dropped down the weights and was a good third at Carlisle in October on his last hurdle start; possible contender.

5/1

1

25th Jan 2023

Soft

2m 3f 51y

Class 5

14:45 Catterick

Crack Du Ninian

12st 2lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jennie Candlish

took keen hold, midfield, ridden and no impression before 5 out, pulled up before 3 out

8/1

Form: 4P-31P D

Last run: 2 days

W: 11st 8lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Dual hurdle winner who stepped up a good deal on a low-key chase debut when winning at Lingfield this month (2m, good to soft) but he was pulled up a long way out at Huntingdon on Boxing Day.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

26th Aug 2024

Soft

3m 1f 83y

Class 5

14:52 Cartmel

The Knot Is Tied

10st 7lb

J: Conor Ring

T: Ryan Potter

Became very disappointing for Neil King last year and has been soundly beaten in two Flat races, a chase and a hurdle for new stable this spring; has huge amount to prove but still worth a glance in the betting.

16/1

6th

6

1st Jun 2024

Heavy

2m 7f 63y

Class 5

19:07 Hexham

The Knot Is Tied

10st 9lb

J: Miss Ella McGarty-Jones

T: Ryan Potter

Flat, hurdle and chase winner at up to 2m4f; not ground dependent; below par in two Flat starts and a chase since joining this trainer; others preferred.

16/1

3rd

8

11th May 2024

Good

3m 0f 0y

Class 5

17:35 Warwick

The Knot Is Tied

10st 12lb

J: Alice Stevens

T: Ryan Potter

Very versatile 9yo who has two chases among his seven career wins; signed off for Neil King with some disappointing efforts over jumps last spring and was well beaten on both Flat starts for new stable last month; considered only if lively in the betting.

12/1

Form: 32-264

Last run: 36 days

W: 11st 5lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 101

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced maiden hurdler; should have some scope off this mark on the best of those efforts at 2m/2m4f but his first chase run did not go well at Sedgefield last month; is one to watch this time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

1st Sep 2024

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 4

15:10 Worcester

Happy Du Mesnil

10st 12lb

J: Henry Brooke

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

In the frame over fences all five starts for current stable, including a 10l win at Southwell (2m4f, good) in May; good second when upped to 3m at Bangor (good) in June latest and looks set for another bold show.

3/1

2nd

6

28th Jun 2024

Good

3m 0f 30y

Class 4

17:40 Bangor-on-Dee

Happy Du Mesnil

11st 6lb

J: Henry Brooke

T: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Ex-Evan Williams; off the mark for new yard when winning by 10l at Southwell (2m4f, good) last month and he went very close under a penalty there seven days later; now 4lb higher at this new trip but he rallied well last time and has quite a lot of stamina on dam's side; key player.

7/2

Form: 223V31 CD

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 1lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
Had run well here on a previous visit and he showed his liking for this course when winning here four weeks ago (good to firm; all other wins on good); looks set for another good effort.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

29th May 2023

Good

2m 0f 104y

Class 5

14:05 Huntingdon

Obey The Rules

11st 9lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Four chase wins, the latest at Leicester last December (four ran); only seen once since, when running poorly at Wincanton last month; good ground ideal and decent claims if that latest effort is overlooked.

7/1

7th

1

16th Apr 2023

Good To Soft

1m 7f 149y

Class 5

16:45 Wincanton

Obey The Rules

12st 0lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

in touch with leaders on inner

3/1

6

28th Dec 2022

Good

1m 7f 201y

Class 4

13:55 Leicester

Obey The Rules

11st 1lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Had run well here on a previous visit and he showed his liking for this course when winning here four weeks ago (good to firm; all other wins on good); looks set for another good effort.

4/1

Non-runners

The Knot Is Tied, Happy Du Mesnil, Obey The Rules

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £8.60
Straight Forecast £9.93
Trifecta £17.90

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Captain Ivan

POSTDATA:

Obey The Rules

WEST COUNTRY:

Keepyourdreamsbig

The Times:

Crack Du Ninian

The Star:

Happy Du Mesnil

The Guardian:

Ben Buie

D Express:

Keepyourdreamsbig

Daily Mirror:

Obey The Rules

Daily Record:

Obey The Rules

Daily Mail:

Crack Du Ninian

RP Ratings:

Captain Ivan

TOPSPEED:

Captain Ivan

Telegraph:

Captain Ivan

The Sun:

Captain Ivan