January 14 / 13.22 Wetherby

13.22

Soft

Book Corporate Hospitality At Wetherby Racecourse Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £8264.76
  • 1m 7f 36y
  • Class 3
  • 6 runners
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Book Corporate Hospitality At Wetherby Racecourse Handicap Chase

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

9/2 (Won)

  • Win: £3.13
  • Place: £1.60

Form: 12F0-6

Last run: 48 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 128

Form & Verdict
Tailed off on handicap hurdle debut at Aintree last April and also failed to shine on his chase and seasonal debut at Carlisle in November; however, he was runner-up to Jonbon in a Grade 2 novice hurdle at Haydock (1m7f, soft) last January and it's too soon to write off this lightly raced 7yo.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

4

14th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

3m 4f 97y

Class 1

15:15 Haydock

Richmond Lake

11st 5lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

10yo whose 13-race losing sequence goes back to December 2023 but he's run some good races in the meantime (including on soft), most recently staying on for a neck second in the Peter Marsh here (extended 3m1f, good to soft); on that evidence he's well worth a crack at a marathon trip.

8/1

2nd

7

17th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 125y

Class 1

14:00 Haydock

Richmond Lake

10st 3lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Donald McCain

Ran really well when third in this last year (soft) and kept on for second at Aintree (2m4f, soft) last month, albeit no match for the winner; this 10yo has a good record here and, now 8lb lower than 12 months ago, he could be involved back up in trip.

10/1

6/1

  • Place: £3.20

Form: /3521- D

Last run: 322 days

W: 11st 2lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 126

Form & Verdict
11yo who has been absent since winning at Chepstow (2m, heavy) last February but he has a good record when fresh and has twice finished second over this C&D; can be in the mix if at the top of his game.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

25th Mar 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 92y

Class 3

16:25 Newbury

Destined To Shine

11st 9lb

J: Richard Patrick

T: Kerry Lee

Made a pleasing return from 322-day absence when second at Wetherby (1m7f, soft) and good ground was perhaps too lively when disappointing behind Not Available at Chepstow in a race he'd won the previous season; the more rain the better and he comes into it.

6/1

4th

3

25th Feb 2023

Good

2m 0f 11y

Class 2

15:45 Chepstow

Destined To Shine

11st 3lb

J: Richard Patrick

T: Kerry Lee

Won this race on heavy ground last year and made pleasing return from 322-day absence when second at Wetherby (1m7f, soft) last month; should be okay on today's faster ground and is still on a workable mark.

5/2

Form: 24-834 CD

Last run: 13 days

W: 11st 13lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 137

Form & Verdict
Hasn't been at his very best this term but he hasn't run badly the last twice and perhaps this drop back in trip will be a plus; well handicapped on last season's form and he could be thereabouts; a tongue-tie goes on.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

17th Sep 2025

Good

2m 1f 14y

Class 3

18:30 Kelso

Pay The Piper

12st 0lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Ann Hamilton

Won this 12 months ago on his reappearance when 4lb lower and then finished a 2l second to Primoz at Wetherby, the form of which could be reversed on these more favourable terms; consistent and should have every chance.

3/1

2nd

1

23rd Apr 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

15:48 Perth

Pay The Piper

12st 0lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Ann Hamilton

Has consistent form figures and should give his running but this 10yo may have to settle for a supporting role off top weight; returns to fences after two runs over hurdles.

6/1

2nd

1

23rd Apr 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 3

15:48 Perth

Pay The Piper

12st 0lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Ann Hamilton

Has consistent form figures and should give his running but this 10yo may have to settle for a supporting role off top weight; returns to fences after two runs over hurdles.

6/1

Form: 123-44 CD

Last run: 18 days

W: 12st 0lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 138

Form & Verdict
Won this last year (soft) off 2lb higher and he was a fair fourth in the Castleford over C&D (soft) last month; drops back down in grade today and could play a leading role.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

7th Jun 2025

Good

2m 4f 15y

Class 5

16:40 Hexham

Cornerstone Lad

12st 0lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Micky Hammond

Regressive 11yo; returned from layoff with two disappointing runs in February and absent for another 101 days since but will be favoured by the forecast rain here and is too well handicapped to rule out.

12/1

6th

5

26th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 3f 85y

Class 4

15:18 Wetherby

Cornerstone Lad

11st 11lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Micky Hammond

always behind

16/1

10th

9

1st Feb 2025

Soft

2m 3f 85y

Class 3

14:08 Wetherby

Cornerstone Lad

10st 12lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Micky Hammond

High-class hurdler in his prime but it's now over three years since his latest win; ended last season with some very respectable efforts and resumes on a tempting mark but younger rivals appeal more all the same; swaps blinkers for refitted cheekpieces.

14/1

OUR TIP

Form: 2/421- D

Last run: 437 days

W: 11st 11lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 135

Form & Verdict
10yo who is lightly raced for his age; he's been absent since winning at Chepstow (2m, good to soft) in November 2021 on his third chase start but that form is strong and he's won after a layoff in the past; has won on soft ground and it will be no surprise to see a bold show.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

2

7th May 2024

Good

2m 4f 88y

Class 4

19:42 Southwell

Witness Protection

12st 2lb

J: James Best

T: Martin Keighley

Struggled over fences after returning from a long absence and never counted on his belated return to hurdling at Cheltenham last month.

33/1

10th

2

7th May 2024

Good

2m 4f 88y

Class 4

19:42 Southwell

Witness Protection

12st 2lb

J: James Best

T: Martin Keighley

Struggled over fences after returning from a long absence and never counted on his belated return to hurdling at Cheltenham last month.

33/1

16

17th Apr 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 179y

Class 3

17:00 Cheltenham

Witness Protection

10st 12lb

J: Harry Atkins

T: Martin Keighley

held up in rear, outpaced and cajoled along 5th, lost touch before 2 out

50/1

Form: 84-773 CD

Last run: 19 days

W: 11st 8lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 132

Form & Verdict
10yo who isn't the force of old, but he took a step back in the right direction when third here (2m3f, good to soft) on Boxing Day, beaten about 12l; he's a further 3lb lower today and all of his wins have come over 2m1f or shorter (including C&D) so he could benefit from the drop back in trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

6

27th Nov 2023

Good

2m 4f 110y

Class 3

15:05 Kempton

Amoola Gold

11st 2lb

J: Fergus Gillard

T: Dan Skelton

Both wins last season came over hurdles, including Chepstow contest on final outing; hasn't won over fences since 2020 and current mark reflects a general decline in his form; very well handicapped on his useful best.

7/1

1st

1

15th Apr 2023

Soft

2m 0f 11y

Class 4

12:45 Chepstow

Amoola Gold

11st 9lb

J: Bridget Andrews

T: Dan Skelton

Very useful chaser at his best; very much on the downgrade now and was tailed off at Haydock last month but was able to exploit his novice hurdle status in three-runner contest at Huntingdon (2m4f, good) two starts ago and ought to play a leading role here.

11/10

6th

4

22nd Mar 2023

Soft

2m 0f 67y

Class 3

17:20 Haydock

Amoola Gold

11st 10lb

J: Bridget Andrews

T: Dan Skelton

No win since 2020 as a chaser and he's not been firing on all cylinders this season; won latest start but that came when 8-13 in a three-runner novice hurdle; acts on soft, unraced on heavy; down the weights (14lb lower than this time last year) but has questions to answer.

13/2

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £17.20
Straight Forecast £17.58
Trifecta £51.00

Selections

TOPSPEED:

Cornerstone Lad

WEST COUNTRY:

Witness Protection

SPOTLIGHT:

Amoola Gold

The Guardian:

Pay The Piper

D Express:

Destined To Shine

Daily Mail:

Pay The Piper

Telegraph:

Witness Protection

Daily Record:

Witness Protection

RP Ratings:

Amoola Gold

Daily Mirror:

Amoola Gold

POSTDATA:

Cornerstone Lad

THE NORTH:

Cornerstone Lad

The Times:

Cornerstone Lad

The Star:

Cornerstone Lad