January 16 / 15.30 Fontwell

15.30

Heavy

Follow Vickers.Bet On Facebook Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £4752.9
  • 2m 5f 135y
  • Class 5
  • 10 runners
SKY
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Follow Vickers.Bet On Facebook Handicap Chase

Runners: 10 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

OUR TIP

Abandoned

Form: 945P

Last run: 16 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Consistent in Irish points and showed promise in the second of his three hurdle runs but he kicked off his chase career with a pulled-up effort in a Uttoxeter handicap (3m, heavy) last month; that was at a big price and he was never travelling after a bad mistake in that race.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

19th May 2026

Good To Firm

2m 3f 189y

Class 5

18:30 Huntingdon

Jack Doyen

11st 10lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: Ben Case

Resurgent 10yo who ended last season with two 2m5f wins (good/good to soft) and posted another good effort when close second of 13 at Hexham (2m4f, good) this month; obvious contender.

Evs

2nd

9

2nd May 2026

Good

2m 4f 15y

Class 5

19:15 Hexham

Jack Doyen

10st 11lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: Ben Case

Has come right back to form on last two starts, winning at Hereford (2m5f, good) and Newton Abbot (2m5f, good to soft); has gone up 9lb but should go well again.

4/1

Form: 3-3P2P CD

Last run: 42 days

W: 12st 0lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Six-time chase winner who finished runner-up at Lingfield (2m6f, soft) in November but he's been pulled up in his other two starts this season and looked reluctant back at Lingfield last time; on dangerous mark and has won over C&D but he needs to bounce back again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

29th Jan 2023

Good To Soft

2m 5f 135y

Class 5

16:00 Fontwell

Waikiki Waves

12st 0lb

J: Caoilin Quinn

T: Gary Moore

Regressive and inconsistent 10yo; proved he retains significant ability when second at Lingfield (2m6f, soft) in November but looked reluctant when pulled up there last month and it's hard to tell whether he'll warm to the task here.

13/2

3

5th Dec 2022

Good To Soft

2m 7f 110y

Class 5

15:25 Lingfield

Waikiki Waves

11st 9lb

J: Jamie Moore

T: Gary Moore

6-21 over fences but his latest win was over 2m7f on heavy ground here over hurdles last December; none too consistent but back down the weights and well capable of figuring prominently, as he showed when runner-up to Ramore Will here three weeks ago.

6/1

Form: 397-6P

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 11lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 97

Form & Verdict
7yo who is 0-8 under rules and he's struggled in two hurdle handicaps (2m5f/2m7f) for new yard this winter; dropped another 5lb but has plenty to prove on this switch to fences; tongue-tie is removed and blinkers go on.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

4

2nd Nov 2023

Soft

2m 2f 148y

Class 5

14:55 Stratford

Merry Dreamer

11st 13lb

J: Toby Wynne

T: Robbie Llewellyn

0-9 under rules and was pulled in his last two handicaps (2m7f/3m) last winter before a well-held second back in a point in April; now returns to hurdling after another break; plenty to prove but has joined a yard that has done well this season; market watch needed.

25/1

7

23rd Jan 2023

Soft

2m 7f 191y

Class 5

16:30 Ffos Las

Merry Dreamer

11st 6lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Ben Clarke

0-8 under rules and ran no race in a Lingfield handicap (2m7f, heavy) a month ago when 66-1; cheekpieces join the tongue-tie.

50/1

Form: PPP-03 C

Last run: 69 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
Won off 3lb higher over hurdles here (2m3f, soft) in February but he ended last season with three pulled-up efforts and has finished tailed off in both runs this autumn, including when back over fences last time; chase record now stands at 0-8 and others are preferred; tongue-tie removed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price
No Results Found

Form: 34-P4P

Last run: 16 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
Six-race maiden who has had three starts over fences this season and he's been pulled up in two of them, including at Uttoxeter (3m, heavy) last time; mark is falling and he ran well to a point when fourth at Ludlow on his penultimate run but others are more convincing.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

7th Feb 2023

Good To Soft

2m 7f 191y

Class 5

16:15 Market Rasen

Uranus Des Bordes

11st 11lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: David Bridgwater

disputed lead, lost position 7th, niggled along when blundered 10th, ridden before 11th, mistake 11th, pulled up before 12th

10/1

Form: P924-6

Last run: 40 days

W: 11st 3lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
Inconsistent 14-race maiden who was well held on his return last month but he may have needed that and is well treated on his close second at Leicester (2m6f) last January; ran respectably on heavy ground over hurdles and he needs a close look on his second run after a lengthy absence.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

13th Feb 2026

Soft

3m 5f 24y

Class 5

13:50 Fakenham

Spotty Dog

10st 4lb

J: Megan Fox

T: Michael Hawker

Thorough stayer but he was a remote third in this 12 months ago and nowhere near his best this campaign; an 11yo now and age seems to be catching up.

8/1

6

19th Nov 2025

Soft

2m 7f 177y

Class 5

13:35 Ffos Las

Spotty Dog

10st 13lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Michael Hawker

Began this year with some respectable efforts, most notably when second in first-time blinkers at Chepstow (3m6f, good); should be fine on the slower ground here but has fitness to prove after 224-day break and others appeal more; cheekpieces refitted.

6/1

3rd

4

9th Apr 2025

Good To Firm

3m 4f 85y

Class 4

15:55 Taunton

Spotty Dog

10st 2lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Michael Hawker

2lb out of the weights; he was 3lb wrong and didn't jump that well but stuck to his task to be second at Chepstow (3m6f, good) in the first-time blinkers 20 days ago; thereabouts with something similar.

3/1

Form: 3-PU95

Last run: 52 days

W: 10st 11lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Won a novice handicap hurdle at Chepstow (2m3f, good) last April but he's been generally disappointing since and was a remote last of five on his chase debut at Doncaster in November; drops back in trip but he's still 4lb higher than for his win and has plenty to prove; also entered in 3:10 at Hereford.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

16th Feb 2023

Good To Firm

2m 4f 25y

Class 5

15:10 Leicester

Heron Creek

10st 4lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Dr Richard Newland

jumped left on occasions, in touch with leaders, headway before 12th, outpaced and dropped to last before 3 out

9/1

4th

5

30th Jan 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 214y

Class 5

14:05 Plumpton

Heron Creek

10st 8lb

J: Lee Edwards

T: Dr Richard Newland

Won over hurdles last spring (2m3f, good) but has been out of form this season, the last twice over fences; needs combination of drop of back in trip and first-time cheekpieces to pay dividends here.

9/2

Form: 0-P333 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 10st 5lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Well-held third back in this sphere (2m7f/3m2f) in his last two runs but he was 7lb out of the weights here last time and is well handicapped on his best form last season including over 2m4f in the mud; could be interesting on this drop back in grade and he is a triple chase winner.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

8

27th May 2023

Good

3m 1f 107y

Class 5

14:45 Cartmel

Allardyce

10st 2lb

J: Aaron Anderson

T: Paul Henderson

Not his fault when falling at Fontwell this month but had been pulled up in his three previous outings and now 0-14 in Britain; lot to prove.

33/1

7

10th May 2023

Good To Soft

3m 1f 210y

Class 5

18:15 Fontwell

Allardyce

10st 2lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Paul Henderson

High-mileage 11yo who has looked out of sorts and been pulled up on all three starts this year; urgently needs to prove he still has what it takes; 2lb out of the weights.

33/1

8

22nd Mar 2023

Good To Soft

3m 2f 0y

Class 5

16:35 Warwick

Allardyce

10st 2lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Paul Henderson

Ex-Irish 11yo who has been campaigned mostly over fences for current yard; pulled up the last twice; not disgraced on last attempt over hurdles but he's on a long losing run.

14/1

Form: F2-5PP

Last run: 19 days

W: 10st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
Had a couple of near misses over fences early last year (including at this track) but he ended 2022 with two pulled-up efforts (2m3f/2m5f); record now stands at 0-13 and he needs a major revival with blinkers now tried; also entered in 3:10 at Hereford.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

11

27th May 2023

Good

3m 1f 107y

Class 5

14:45 Cartmel

Passing Secrets

10st 2lb

J: Robert Dunne

T: Tom Gretton

Maiden; runner-up four times in 2021-22 but not in same form since; not beaten too far at Fontwell this month but still limited appeal.

14/1

4th

10

10th May 2023

Good To Soft

3m 1f 210y

Class 5

18:15 Fontwell

Passing Secrets

10st 2lb

J: Robert Dunne

T: Tom Gretton

Badly out of form over fences last season; hinted at possible upturn in fortunes when running well for a long way over hurdles in March but still has a lot more to prove than some of these, and is 5lb wrong.

33/1

5th

10

25th Mar 2023

Good To Soft

2m 7f 7y

Class 5

13:58 Bangor-on-Dee

Passing Secrets

10st 2lb

J: Mitchell Bastyan

T: Tom Gretton

Threatened to win over fences on a few occasions last season but in poor form this term, most recently when switched back to hurdling 19 days ago; 5lb wrong here; very difficult to enthuse over at present.

50/1

Form: 0/80

Last run: 21 days

W: 10st 2lb

8 yo Mare

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
Irish point winner (from seven attempts) but she's struggled at massive prices in her three hurdle runs; now makes her handicap/chase debut but she needs to leave her previous rules form behind.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

6th Feb 2023

Good To Soft

2m 3f 104y

Class 5

13:55 Fontwell

Uncertain Times

10st 2lb

J: James Best

T: Anna Newton-Smith

Irish point winner on good ground one year ago; well beaten at huge odds in two novice hurdles for this stable in late 2022 (2m3f/2m1f) and makes handicap debut from 2lb out of the weights but may improve for the switch to chasing.

25/1

11th

13

26th Dec 2022

Good To Soft

2m 1f 162y

Class 4

11:57 Fontwell

Uncertain Times

10st 7lb

J: Lorcan Murtagh

T: Anna Newton-Smith

Irish point winner (from seven attempts); well beaten on last month's British/hurdling debut at Lingfield (300-1).

200/1

Verdict

It’s hard to find a solid option in this tricky race but it might be worth siding with SPOTTY DOG, who probably needed his comeback run last month and is well treated on his close call over 2m6f at Leicester last January. The main threat could come from triple chase winner Allardyce, who had a tough task from out of the weights here last time and is on a dangerous mark on his drop back in grade.[David Moon]

Selections

WEST COUNTRY:

Uranus Des Bordes

POSTDATA:

Waikiki Waves

RP Ratings:

Allardyce

SPOTLIGHT:

Spotty Dog

Telegraph:

Jack Doyen

The Times:

Uranus Des Bordes

D Express:

Uranus Des Bordes

The Star:

Uranus Des Bordes

TOPSPEED:

Spotty Dog

Daily Mail:

Waikiki Waves

Daily Mirror:

Waikiki Waves

The Sun:

Waikiki Waves

The Guardian:

Allardyce

Daily Record:

Allardyce