January 13 / 13.20 Sedgefield

13.20

Good To Soft

Download The Vickers.Bet App Novices’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £7393.4
  • 2m 5f 28y
  • Class 4
  • 7 runners
SKY
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Download The Vickers.Bet App Novices’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

OUR TIP

11/4 (Won)

  • Win: £3.25
  • Place: £1.40

Form: 122-33

Last run: 48 days

W: 11st 13lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
Winning hurdler who looks as good over fences judged on his thirds in handicaps at Ayr (2m4f) and Newcastle (2m7f; again good to soft); up to winning a race like this off his current mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

6

16th Oct 2024

Good To Soft

3m 0f 26y

Class 4

17:03 Wetherby

Son Of The Somme

11st 7lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Toby Lawes

Hurdle/chase winner for Brian Ellison; decent second in Newbury chase on stable debut (2m4f, good to soft) but well beaten at Southwell last time (3m, good); has run well at 3m; likely to be sharper for the run following a break.

11/1

5th

3

7th May 2024

Good

3m 0f 60y

Class 4

17:12 Southwell

Son Of The Somme

11st 11lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Toby Lawes

Hurdle/chase winner for Brian Ellison; no match for a progressive winner at Newbury (2m6f, good to soft) but that was a positive start for this yard; unreliable in the past but if holding his form he could be the answer.

100/30

5th

3

7th May 2024

Good

3m 0f 60y

Class 4

17:12 Southwell

Son Of The Somme

11st 11lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Toby Lawes

Hurdle/chase winner for Brian Ellison; no match for a progressive winner at Newbury (2m6f, good to soft) but that was a positive start for this yard; unreliable in the past but if holding his form he could be the answer.

100/30

7/1

  • Place: £5.60

Form: 4F/14-

Last run: 412 days

W: 12st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced 8yo who won a 2m6f good-ground novice hurdle at Cartmel in May 2021 but fared less well 182 days later under a penalty; on a decent mark ability-wise but makes chase debut after another lengthy break.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

9th May 2024

Good

2m 0f 104y

Class 4

15:25 Huntingdon

One Fine Man

11st 11lb

J: Robert Dunne

T: Declan Carroll

20l behind Force De Frap at Stratford in March, but significant return to form at Bangor since, just failing to get up in time (2m1f, soft); still well treated on 2023's winning form despite a 3lb re-raise, and just a matter of whether a sharp 2m on good is too much of a speed test now.

7/2

4th

3

9th May 2024

Good

2m 0f 104y

Class 4

15:25 Huntingdon

One Fine Man

11st 11lb

J: Robert Dunne

T: Declan Carroll

20l behind Force De Frap at Stratford in March, but significant return to form at Bangor since, just failing to get up in time (2m1f, soft); still well treated on 2023's winning form despite a 3lb re-raise, and just a matter of whether a sharp 2m on good is too much of a speed test now.

7/2

2nd

6

20th Apr 2024

Soft

2m 1f 77y

Class 4

14:15 Bangor-on-Dee

One Fine Man

11st 8lb

J: Robert Dunne

T: Declan Carroll

took keen hold, prominent, not fluent 3rd, outpaced after 3 out, rallied after 2 out, kept on and went second run-in

14/1

Form: 225-44 C

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Finished a never-dangerous 10l fourth on his only chase start at Hexham in November, since when he's finished closer back over hurdles; bit to prove in this discipline but he does like Sedgefield.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

7th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 3

15:55 Ayr

Twoshotsoftequila

11st 4lb

J: Nathan Moscrop

T: Rebecca Menzies

Won two small-field chases (3m1f/2m7f) about two years ago but was pulled up last month, after a long absence, and might need another run or two before he's of interest again.

14/1

5

14th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 203y

Class 3

13:28 Haydock

Twoshotsoftequila

11st 6lb

J: Nathan Moscrop

T: Rebecca Menzies

On the up when last seen out in the spring of 2024, bagging a pair of handicap chases (around 3m) at Catterick and Newcastle; has a 23-month absence to overcome here but yard is among the winners so he's no forlorn hope.

10/1

Form: 837834 C

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 7lb

10 yo Mare

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Well beaten in two chase starts in 2021; ran okay in her latest handicap hurdle at Down Royal but she's 2-32 overall and looks best watched on this return to fences.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

13th Jan 2023

Good To Soft

2m 5f 28y

Class 4

13:20 Sedgefield

Bellaney Gem

11st 7lb

J: James Bowen

T: S R B Crawford

Well beaten in two chase starts in 2021; ran okay in her latest handicap hurdle at Down Royal but she's 2-32 overall and looks best watched on this return to fences.

7/1

4th

6

26th Dec 2022

Good To Yielding

2m 1f 0y

12:48 Down Royal

Bellaney Gem

11st 7lb

J: P J O’Hanlon

T: S R B Crawford

Won twice in novice hurdle company in Britain; has run some solid races this decent including when third of 11 at Catterick last time; visor needs to eke out a bit more and very best form is at 2m4f.

6/1

3rd

8

28th Nov 2022

Good To Soft

2m 3f 66y

Class 4

14:00 Catterick

Bellaney Gem

11st 1lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: S R B Crawford

Normally consistent enough but 2m4f on soft ground wasn't ideal at Fairyhouse 13 days ago (cheekpieces left off, as today) and her two hurdle wins came in novice company last year; vulnerable on balance.

12/1

Form: -58042

Last run: 12 days

W: 10st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
Respectable efforts the last twice over 3m3f (here) and 2m4f but being well out of the weights doesn't help matters.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

5

13th Jun 2026

Good

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

16:42 Hexham

Dr Shirocco

10st 4lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Sandy Forster

Record of 2-17 around Hexham includes one C&D chase win two years ago (good); hasn't hit the line strongly on any of his three most recent visits, losing second to Killybegs Jet Lady in the middle one of these, and surprising if nothing is going better at the end here.

10/1

4th

7

19th May 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

19:20 Hexham

Dr Shirocco

10st 2lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Sandy Forster

Veteran without a win since November 2024 but showed there was still fire in the tank when third over C&D 17 days ago; younger rivals may have his measure here, however.

12/1

3rd

10

2nd May 2026

Good

3m 0f 41y

Class 5

19:45 Hexham

Dr Shirocco

10st 5lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Sandy Forster

Has won four chases, including over C&D in May 2024 (good); best recent form has been at Musselburgh and he was below par over C&D last time (good).

14/1

Form: 13-232 BF

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 11lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Consistent mare in bumpers and over hurdles; no match for the winner on her chase debut over 2m5f at Market Rasen but again she ran well; thereabouts off an untouched mark.
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

Form: 46-72P

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 6lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Successful hurdle debut in April 2021; not had much racing since then but he was second in a handicap chase at Newcastle (2m4f, good to soft; beaten 11l) before reportedly making a noise the last time; respected on that penultimate effort.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

11th Apr 2026

Good

2m 4f 19y

Class 3

14:42 Newcastle

Hello Judge

11st 8lb

J: Charlie Maggs

T: Ann Hamilton

Carlisle specialist; sits close to a career-high mark following a gritty win there (2m, good to soft) in February; "never travelling and jumped poorly" in the Monet's Garden Series Final there three weeks ago; bit to prove for the time being, even acknowledging a 2024 C&D win.

4/1

1

22nd Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 210y

Class 2

16:27 Carlisle

Hello Judge

12st 0lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Ann Hamilton

Record of 6-10 over fences at Carlisle features wins in this race last year (on good ground) and latest outing (2m); on a career-high mark but commands major respect kept to this venue.

6/1

1st

7

16th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 207y

Class 3

13:40 Carlisle

Hello Judge

11st 3lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Ann Hamilton

Won here (2m4f, good) in October and followed up at Hexham (2m4f, good to soft); below par at Newcastle and Wetherby since and arrives with something to prove, but he's back on his last winning mark and ten visits to Carlisle have yielded five wins (various ground); not ruled out now back here.

7/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £22.30
Straight Forecast £26.80
Trifecta £118.00

Selections

POSTDATA:

Betty Baloo

SPOTLIGHT:

Son Of The Somme

D Express:

Twoshotsoftequila

The Times:

Betty Baloo

Telegraph:

Betty Baloo

The Guardian:

Betty Baloo

Daily Mail:

Betty Baloo

Daily Mirror:

Betty Baloo

The Sun:

Betty Baloo

The Star:

Betty Baloo

Daily Record:

Betty Baloo

RP Ratings:

Son Of The Somme