December 31 / 13.00 Warwick

13.00

Soft

Poundland – Proud To Support Warwick Racecourse Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £3267.6
  • 2m 0f 54y
  • Class 5
  • 14 runners
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Poundland – Proud To Support Warwick Racecourse Handicap Chase

Runners: 14 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

4/1 (Won)

  • Win: £5.00
  • Place: £1.50

Form: /82-22 BF

Last run: 34 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 90

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced maiden; has gone from the front on both his runs over fences, finishing second over 2m4f at Uttoxeter (good) and Leicester (good to firm); dropping back to 2m could work for him and he ran well on soft ground in a point; first-time tongue-tie.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

22nd Feb 2024

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

14:15 Lingfield

Unit Sixtyfour

11st 10lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Pauling

led, headed 4th, disputed lead omitted 8th

7/1

0

1

23rd Dec 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 75y

Class 4

14:50 Newcastle

Unit Sixtyfour

12st 0lb

J: Lorcan Williams

T: Ben Pauling

Gained back-to-back handicap wins last winter (2m/2m2f, soft/good to soft) and a number of the fences were omitted when he was third at Fontwell, which wouldn't have played to his strengths; absent since clearly not giving his running at Kelso in March; returns from a break with his yard having winners; respected.

5/2

8th

2

4th Mar 2023

Good To Soft

2m 1f 14y

Class 4

16:45 Kelso

Unit Sixtyfour

11st 13lb

J: Lorcan Williams

T: Ben Pauling

Won two in a row this winter (2m/2m2f, soft/good to soft) and a number of the fences were omitted when he was third at Fontwell (2m3f, good to soft) latest, which wouldn't have played to his strengths; solid claims.

4/1

12/1

  • Place: £3.40

Form: /476P-

Last run: 365 days

W: 10st 10lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Winning pointer but 0-11 under rules and mostly disappointing when confined to four handicap chases in 2021; absent since pulled up in this race 12 months ago when 5-1; new yard.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

9

15th May 2023

Soft

1m 7f 182y

Class 5

20:15 Southwell

Muse Of Fire

10st 6lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Gary Hanmer

0-15 under rules; started off for Gary Hanmer with two seconds over fences during the winter but ran poorly when tried in cheekpieces (now removed) last time and it's hard to know what to expect from him on this return to hurdling.

14/1

10

25th Mar 2023

Good To Soft

2m 1f 77y

Class 4

14:33 Bangor-on-Dee

Muse Of Fire

10st 2lb

J: Tabitha Worsley

T: Gary Hanmer

Chased home progressive rival on stable debut at Warwick (2m, soft) in December and kept on from a long way off the pace for another second at Catterick (1m7f, good) last month; held before last-fence fall on latest outing (2m4f) and 3lb wrong here, but still makes some appeal now dropped back in trip and with first-time cheekpieces fitted.

8/1

6

24th Feb 2023

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

16:10 Warwick

Muse Of Fire

10st 10lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Gary Hanmer

Winner of his only point back in 2018 but things never fell right for him over fences for previous yard; up against it behind progressive winners in two starts for new connections (stewards enquired latest, explanation noted) but is in shallower waters here; is open to improvement.

4/1

9/2

  • Place: £2.70

Form: 9PP1-4 D

Last run: 55 days

W: 11st 13lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 99

Form & Verdict
Looked glad to see the back of fences when she won a 2m soft-ground handicap hurdle for mares at Uttoxeter in March (first-time cheekpieces) but she was back chasing on her reappearance at Ffos Las (2m, soft) and ran well to be a close fourth (late mistake didn't help); on a good mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

5

29th Mar 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 125y

Class 5

15:10 Market Rasen

Starvoski

11st 5lb

J: David Bass

T: Kim Bailey

Well held in two chases and one back over hurdles on latest three starts; won at this time last year (in first-time cheekpieces) after a bleak spell so lightning could strike twice as she now sports a visor.

7/1

1

18th Mar 2023

Soft

1m 7f 168y

Class 5

16:45 Uttoxeter

Starvoski

12st 0lb

J: David Bass

T: Kim Bailey

Unknown quantity at present as she had a very stiff task back hurdling last week after two modest chase runs, but she won this off a similar mark in 2022 (soft) in first-time cheekpieces and this headgear switch could suit; worth considering.

9/2

6th

3

12th Mar 2023

Soft

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

13:50 Warwick

Starvoski

11st 12lb

J: Lorcan Murtagh

T: Kim Bailey

Well beaten over fences the last twice but good ground may not have suited last time and she's not ruled out now back on a slower surface over hurdles, off a mark just 1lb higher than when winning at Uttoxeter (2m, soft) last May on her latest attempt in this sphere.

8/1

Form: 228942

Last run: 50 days

W: 10st 13lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Longstanding maiden; well handicapped on some of his form for the Skeltons and has made a respectable start over fences, for all that he was no match for an easy winner last time; mostly steered clear of soft ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

31st Dec 2024

Soft

2m 0f 54y

Class 5

14:55 Warwick

Lonimoss Bareliere

10st 2lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Rob Summers

in rear, hampered by loose horse 7th, not fluent 8th, soon struggling, pulled up before last

33/1

11

31st Dec 2024

Soft

2m 0f 54y

Class 5

14:55 Warwick

Lonimoss Bareliere

10st 2lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Rob Summers

in rear, hampered by loose horse 7th, not fluent 8th, soon struggling, pulled up before last

33/1

7th

12

4th Nov 2024

Good

2m 0f 8y

Class 5

16:20 Hereford

Lonimoss Bareliere

10st 4lb

J: James Best

T: Rob Summers

His second at Stratford came in a weak race and was pulled up next time to extend losing sequence to 37.

33/1

Form: 225-54

Last run: 31 days

W: 12st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Didn't hang about over hurdles; hasn't looked a natural over fences but he still ran well to be only 8l away in a 2m4f Ludlow handicap a month ago; dropping back to 2m at a track where the fences come up fast might test him.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

22nd Mar 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 54y

Class 5

14:50 Warwick

Horizon DAinay

11st 13lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Fair form when second in a couple of 2m maiden hurdles last season; had wind surgery before the first of his three chases this season; below par in two of those but if repeating his Ludlow effort (2m4f, good to soft; penultimate start) he'd have claims; cheekpieces now accompany tongue-tie.

9/2

5th

1

31st Dec 2022

Soft

2m 0f 54y

Class 5

13:00 Warwick

Horizon DAinay

12st 2lb

J: Tristan Durrell

T: Dan Skelton

Didn't hang about over hurdles; hasn't looked a natural over fences but he still ran well to be only 8l away in a 2m4f Ludlow handicap a month ago; dropping back to 2m at a track where the fences come up fast might test him.

14/1

4th

1

30th Nov 2022

Good To Soft

2m 4f 11y

Class 5

13:15 Ludlow

Horizon DAinay

12st 0lb

J: Fergus Gillard

T: Dan Skelton

Just five starts and twice runner-up over hurdles at the end of last year; tailed off on this month's chasing debut at Warwick (11-4), after wind surgery and nine months off; even allowing for that experience being needed, it takes a leap of faith to offer support.

8/1

Form: 5P-PP6

Last run: 37 days

W: 11st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Ex-Irish; pulled up on all three runs over hurdles for this yard and recent chase debut was just as underwhelming.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

9

6th May 2026

Good

3m 1f 210y

Class 5

18:42 Fontwell

Valirann Gold

10st 13lb

J: Ben Godfrey

T: Harriet Brown

Course winner; a lot of his form is over shorter but he proved his stamina for 3m when runner-up at Ffos Las two weeks ago (good); unlikely to be far away off the same mark.

5/1

2nd

10

21st Apr 2026

Soft

2m 7f 177y

Class 5

18:42 Ffos Las

Valirann Gold

10st 5lb

J: Ned Fox

T: Harriet Brown

Produced a remarkable late surge to snatch what had looked an unlikely victory at Fontwell (2m5f, good to soft; blinkers removed) last month but this inconsistent 9yo tends to race lazily nowadays and got going too late when back at Fontwell a fortnight ago; other are much less risky.

12/1

Form: P54/4P D

Last run: 9 days

W: 11st 8lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Well handicapped on his old Irish form and, although he's struggled in both races since returning from an absence, he'll probably come good again sooner or later; market needs a check.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

8

20th Nov 2023

Soft

2m 4f 114y

Class 5

14:50 Plumpton

Punches Cross

10st 5lb

J: Mr Billy Marshall

T: Jonjo O’Neill

Not as good as he was and when backed at Wincanton (3m, good) a month ago he was found wanting when it mattered; has become very difficult to win with but should still be involved.

15/2

3rd

6

19th Oct 2023

Good To Firm

3m 0f 150y

Class 5

16:20 Wincanton

Punches Cross

10st 6lb

J: Benjamin Macey

T: Jonjo O’Neill

Not as good as he was; placed twice under Benjamin Macey at Fontwell in recent weeks (2m5f/3m2f) but dropped out without putting up much of a fight on latest start.

14/1

6th

7

19th Sep 2023

Good

2m 7f 70y

Class 5

14:00 Uttoxeter

Punches Cross

10st 13lb

J: Benjamin Macey

T: Jonjo O’Neill

prominent, weakened before 2 out

8/1

Form: 5-2232

Last run: 38 days

W: 10st 8lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Runner-up in three of his four chases, last time at Hereford (2m, soft) giving the favourite a fright despite being out of the weights (pair clear); 4lb higher for this but should give his running.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

9th May 2026

Good

3m 0f 0y

Class 5

17:35 Warwick

School For Scandal

10st 9lb

J: Dylan Johnston

T: Joe Tickle

Two more chase wins in 2025, the latest at Windsor (3m, good to soft; suited by good) in November; often battled with unsuitable ground over the winter but 4lb lower than at Windsor so has a weights chance.

10/1

3rd

7

9th Apr 2026

Good

2m 7f 3y

Class 5

17:20 Taunton

School For Scandal

10st 8lb

J: Callum Pritchard

T: Joe Tickle

Has five wins over fences including one over C&D; below form on his last two starts but may show improvement on this better ground.

12/1

5

16th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 157y

Class 5

16:15 Plumpton

School For Scandal

10st 10lb

J: Taylor Fisher

T: Joe Tickle

2lb below his Windsor success in November but he's not matched that level since, latest when well held at Taunton (2m7f, heavy) last month; needs the return to better ground to spark a revival.

25/1

OUR TIP

Form: 966-7P D

Last run: 40 days

W: 12st 0lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Essentially disappointing since a successful hurdling/stable debut in January 2021; remains to be seen whether he'll perk up for fences.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

9th Feb 2023

Good

2m 0f 128y

Class 5

13:05 Doncaster

Sage Advice

11st 13lb

J: Luke Scott

T: Dr Richard Newland

Sixth in the Fred Winter at the 2021 Cheltenham Festival and has tumbled down the weights, but it's a long time since he ran well.

14/1

2

31st Dec 2022

Soft

2m 0f 54y

Class 5

13:00 Warwick

Sage Advice

12st 0lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Dr Richard Newland

Essentially disappointing since a successful hurdling/stable debut in January 2021; remains to be seen whether he'll perk up for fences.

16/1

6

21st Nov 2022

Good

1m 7f 169y

Class 4

15:45 Ludlow

Sage Advice

11st 9lb

J: Luke Scott

T: Dr Richard Newland

prominent, lost position 5th, soon dropped to rear, pulled up before 3 out

16/1

Form: 7/373-

Last run: 417 days

W: 11st 8lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Took nine goes to win an Irish point but there was promise in her final run over hurdles when unlucky not to be second behind a mare now rated way higher; long absence to overcome but she's interesting now chasing.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

31st Dec 2022

Soft

2m 0f 54y

Class 5

13:00 Warwick

Miss McGugen

11st 8lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Stuart Edmunds

Took nine goes to win an Irish point but there was promise in her final run over hurdles when unlucky not to be second behind a mare now rated way higher; long absence to overcome but she's interesting now chasing.

15/2

Form: 42F-33

Last run: 38 days

W: 11st 5lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 91

Form & Verdict
Plenty of good runs to his name but he was well behind School For Scandal last time and that made it 0-16 under rules.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

27th Jun 2023

Good

2m 2f 110y

Class 5

19:00 Newton Abbot

Eros

10st 11lb

J: Ben Godfrey

T: Kayley Woollacott

Frustrating performer; 0-15 over fences (placed in nine of them) and pulled up when tried in cheekpieces on latest; first hurdle start since March 2021 and hard to be confident this will be his golden hour.

20/1

8

17th May 2023

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

13:40 Worcester

Eros

11st 4lb

J: Ben Godfrey

T: Kayley Woollacott

Longstanding maiden who was disappointing at Exeter last month and it's hard to be confident after that; however, he went there on the back of two good seconds (2m4f/2m, good/soft) and it's possible he'll be able to bounce back in first-time cheekpieces and a reapplied tongue-tie; not written off.

10/1

Form: 4138-4 CD

Last run: 46 days

W: 10st 13lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 85

Form & Verdict
Well handicapped on his success in this race 12 months ago (on heavy) and his reappearance at Fakenham was encouraging (on good); considered.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

9

12th Apr 2024

Good

2m 0f 59y

Class 4

16:20 Fakenham

Templier

10st 4lb

J: Nick Scholfield

T: Sarah Humphrey

Scored over C&D (good to soft) on seasonal debut in November and has remained in good form since but usually knocks about in Class 5 races and may find a couple of today's rivals too strong.

5/1

5th

9

12th Apr 2024

Good

2m 0f 59y

Class 4

16:20 Fakenham

Templier

10st 4lb

J: Nick Scholfield

T: Sarah Humphrey

raced in fourth, not fluent 8th, soon dropped to last, mistake 3 out, soon struggling

5/1

2nd

3

12th Mar 2024

Soft

2m 1f 0y

Class 5

15:10 Sedgefield

Templier

11st 11lb

J: Nick Scholfield

T: Sarah Humphrey

midfield, not fluent and dropped to rear 2 out (usual 3 out), soon rallied, went third home turn

6/1

Form: /3-U12 BF

Last run: 24 days

W: 10st 8lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 80

Form & Verdict
Coped well with her 6lb rise for winning at Taunton (2m2f, good) when finding only one too good in a small field at Leicester (good to firm); seems to jump well but her improvement has come on faster ground than this.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

5

20th Mar 2025

Good

2m 4f 11y

Class 4

17:37 Ludlow

Miladygrace

11st 9lb

J: Mr Harry O’Dwyer

T: Miss S Brooke

Ordinary mare who trailed home last of five finishers in similar event at Taunton (hunter chase debut) most recently; again faces a stiff task on the figures.

40/1

8

18th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 7f 3y

Class 5

16:45 Taunton

Miladygrace

11st 9lb

J: Mr Freddie Keighley

T: Miss S Brooke

Has won two handicap chases but off very modest marks and difficult to envisage her winning this, despite a respectable latest effort between the flags.

50/1

6th

7

17th Aug 2024

Good

2m 5f 89y

Class 5

18:50 Market Rasen

Miladygrace

10st 9lb

J: James Best

T: Martin Keighley

Both wins (one here) have been recorded at 2m2f-2m3f, but today's sort of trip may now be closer to optimum judged on this summer's evidence; back below her last winning mark and not ruled out; visor added.

16/1

Form: 4-P084

Last run: 53 days

W: 10st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Showed nothing in three handicaps over hurdles and it was a similar story on chase debut; new headgear tried.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

8th Feb 2023

Good

2m 4f 88y

Class 5

13:35 Southwell

El Diablo

10st 9lb

J: James Best

T: Harriet Dickin

disputed lead, pushed along and lost position after 7th

25/1

9

1st Feb 2023

Good

2m 6f 151y

Class 5

14:00 Leicester

El Diablo

10st 2lb

J: Miss Alice Stevens

T: Harriet Dickin

Won his sole point but he's generally struggled in eight runs under rules and has been tailed off switched to fences (2m4f/3m1f) in last two starts; mark continues to fall but he makes no appeal.

16/1

Non-runners

El Diablo

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £52.00
Straight Forecast £32.69
Tricast £185.93
Trifecta £362.40

Selections

POSTDATA:

Starvoski

SPOTLIGHT:

Templier

The Guardian:

School For Scandal

Daily Mail:

Unit Sixtyfour

The Sun:

Miladygrace

Daily Record:

School For Scandal

WEST COUNTRY:

Starvoski

Telegraph:

Starvoski

The Star:

Starvoski

D Express:

Unit Sixtyfour

RP Ratings:

Templier

The Times:

Templier

Daily Mirror:

Templier