January 16 / 13.10 Hereford

13.10

Soft

Download The Vickers.Bet App Novices’ Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £4752.9
  • 2m 0f 8y
  • Class 5
  • 11 runners
SKY
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Download The Vickers.Bet App Novices’ Handicap Chase

Runners: 11 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

OUR TIP

5/1 (Won)

  • Win: £3.50
  • Place: £1.20

Form: 468-13 CD

Last run: 11 days

W: 12st 1lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 101

Form & Verdict
Successful in similar event over C&D (soft) on chase debut, beating School For Scandal by a neck; ran creditably at Ffos Las (2m, heavy) since; still unexposed over fences and at this trip; cheekpieces applied; respected back here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

2

13th Jul 2025

Good To Firm

2m 3f 98y

Class 5

14:07 Stratford

Greenrock Abbey

11st 8lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: James Owen

Generally in good form for this yard over fences and was in the process of leaving behind a pull-up over hurdles when falling in a handicap chase at Cartmel two weeks ago (2m1f); it was four out so still some way from home, but he's firmly in the reckoning.

5/2

6

29th Jun 2025

Soft

2m 1f 61y

Class 5

17:40 Cartmel

Greenrock Abbey

11st 2lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: James Owen

Ended a 17-race losing run on his third start for this yard when scoring by 12l in a first-time visor at Market Rasen (2m3f, good) nine days ago; still well treated on older form despite an 11lb rise, but needs to bounce back after pulling up over hurdles here on Friday.

11/4

13

27th Jun 2025

Good

2m 1f 46y

Class 4

17:30 Cartmel

Greenrock Abbey

10st 4lb

J: Miss Heidi Palin

T: James Owen

Came good for new stable at third attempt, with 12l success over fences at Market Rasen (2m3f, good; first-time visor) a week ago; only 1lb higher for this return to hurdling and won't mind if there's rain about; major player.

2/1

25/1

  • Place: £4.00

Form: 317P07 D

Last run: 56 days

W: 10st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
Off the mark in good-ground bumper (stable debut) in August; poor form over hurdles since; showed bits of promise in points when trained in Ireland and looks a possible improver on handicap/chase debut.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

14th Nov 2024

Good

2m 5f 89y

Class 5

14:05 Market Rasen

Ironhill

10st 4lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Tim Reed

held up in rear

20/1

9

14th Nov 2024

Good

2m 5f 89y

Class 5

14:05 Market Rasen

Ironhill

10st 4lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Tim Reed

held up in rear

20/1

10

2nd Nov 2024

Good To Soft

2m 5f 110y

Class 5

13:23 Ayr

Ironhill

10st 4lb

J: Harry Reed

T: Tim Reed

in rear early, headway into midfield 5th

5/1

2/1

  • Place: £1.50

Form: -PP661 D

Last run: 8 days

W: 11st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Opened his account in Class 4 handicap chase at Chepstow (2m, soft) eight days ago, making all to win by about 9l; major player under a penalty back down in grade, provided he backs up that form (has a patchy record thus far).
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: 7-4P5P

Last run: 11 days

W: 11st 2lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 88

Form & Verdict
Defied higher marks twice over hurdles, albeit at longer distances; largely dismal record in 2m handicap chases this season, never going well at Ffos Las most recently; something to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

30th Mar 2023

Soft

2m 0f 12y

Class 5

16:25 Taunton

Treasure Dillon

11st 2lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: Evan Williams

Point/hurdles winner whose chase record is far from solid; below par back hurdling last week; however, along with stablemate Prime Pretender he's running in a first-time visor, which may help.

4/1

7th

10

23rd Mar 2023

Soft

2m 3f 100y

Class 5

15:45 Chepstow

Treasure Dillon

10st 12lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: Evan Williams

in touch with leaders

14/1

12

19th Mar 2023

Soft

2m 3f 98y

Class 5

16:25 Chepstow

Treasure Dillon

10st 12lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: Evan Williams

Two wins over hurdles, one of them here and one on testing ground; hopelessly out of sorts in 2m chases this winter but he's dropped 19lb in the weights and the return to a more suitable trip, as well as the return of cheekpieces (worn for both wins) point to a better run being on the cards.

8/1

Form: 0FP/70

Last run: 16 days

W: 11st 0lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 86

Form & Verdict
Good-ground winner over hurdles in Ireland; has achieved very little over fences for current stable, latterly on heavy ground since returning from lengthy absence; enough to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

12

28th Jan 2023

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

15:07 Uttoxeter

Luis Van Zandt

10st 2lb

J: Tabitha Worsley

T: Sarah-Jayne Davies

Won over hurdles when trained in Ireland but has poor record over fences for current stable and can't be recommended from 12lb out of the weights.

100/1

5th

6

16th Jan 2023

Soft

2m 0f 8y

Class 5

13:10 Hereford

Luis Van Zandt

11st 0lb

J: Tabitha Worsley

T: Sarah-Jayne Davies

Good-ground winner over hurdles in Ireland; has achieved very little over fences for current stable, latterly on heavy ground since returning from lengthy absence; enough to prove.

66/1

Form: 4/3P5-

Last run: 291 days

W: 12st 2lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 102

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced 9yo; dual point winner in Ireland in 2018; absent since last March; well treated on the pick of his bumper/hurdles form and looks interesting dropped in grade on chase debut (should take well to this discipline); hood applied.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

12th Jun 2023

Good

1m 7f 182y

Class 4

15:15 Southwell

Madiba Passion

12st 0lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Alan King

Record of 2-3 in Irish points; no win in first ten runs under rules but he made his breakthrough in a chase handicap at Huntingdon (2m, good) last month; was left well clear when the favourite fell at the last but he was 2l up at the time and his confidence should be boosted after that; respected up 3lb.

7/2

1st

4

23rd May 2023

Good

2m 0f 104y

Class 4

14:30 Huntingdon

Madiba Passion

11st 2lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Alan King

jumped well, pressed leader, led 4th, joined after 3 out, 2 lengths ahead when left well clear last

13/8

6

9th May 2023

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

17:15 Ffos Las

Madiba Passion

11st 9lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Alan King

Comes into this off the back of two silver medals, firstly at Lingfield (2m, good) in February (form worked out well) and when only run out of it late at Bangor (2m1f, good) 17 days ago, though whether he would have finished in front of Feel The Pinch had that rival not unseated at the last is debatable; up another 2lb but a contender nonetheless.

5/1

Form: 6-282U

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 13lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 99

Form & Verdict
Still a maiden and not the safest of jumpers but looked the likely winner when unseating rider at the final fence in Taunton handicap (2m2f, good) just before Christmas; however, now 5lb higher and an error-free round again isn't guaranteed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

13th Mar 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 12y

Class 5

16:35 Taunton

Folly Gate

11st 4lb

J: David Noonan

T: Jane Williams

0-10 over fences and 0-22 overall; looked unlucky not to open account here in December (2m2f, good; in front when unseating rider at last fence) but was behind two of today's rivals when only fifth here five weeks ago and his tendency to make jumping errors is always a worry.

7/1

5th

1

7th Feb 2023

Good To Soft

2m 2f 40y

Class 5

16:00 Taunton

Folly Gate

12st 0lb

J: David Noonan

T: Jane Williams

Runner-up over C&D (good) in November and was 1l ahead when unseating at the final fence over C&D (good) in December; fell four out at Hereford last time and there are risks attached in view of his jumping, but he can play a leading role granted a clear round.

100/30

3

16th Jan 2023

Soft

2m 0f 8y

Class 5

13:10 Hereford

Folly Gate

11st 13lb

J: Mr Peter Summers

T: Jane Williams

Still a maiden and not the safest of jumpers but looked the likely winner when unseating rider at the final fence in Taunton handicap (2m2f, good) just before Christmas; however, now 5lb higher and an error-free round again isn't guaranteed.

11/2

Form: 7-444P

Last run: 111 days

W: 10st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
Placed several times over hurdles, including at Graded level, for previous yards; nowhere near that form since joining current stable and switching to fences; fitting of tongue-tie needs to have major effect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

7

23rd Jul 2023

Good

2m 3f 98y

Class 4

16:22 Stratford

Tremwedge

10st 2lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Rob Summers

Useful hurdler in his prime but generally very disappointing over fences since joining current yard last year; tailed off behind Opening Bid on latest start in May and effectively 15lb higher from out of the weights here.

66/1

6th

6

26th May 2023

Good

2m 0f 110y

Class 5

17:40 Worcester

Tremwedge

10st 7lb

J: Charlie Hammond

T: Rob Summers

Useful hurdler in his prime but generally very disappointing over fences since switching to current stable last year; pulled up on latest start in January; tongue-tie removed after one use; not the obvious answer.

33/1

7

16th Jan 2023

Soft

2m 0f 8y

Class 5

13:10 Hereford

Tremwedge

10st 12lb

J: James Best

T: Rob Summers

Placed several times over hurdles, including at Graded level, for previous yards; nowhere near that form since joining current stable and switching to fences; fitting of tongue-tie needs to have major effect.

25/1

Form: -22328 BF

Last run: 16 days

W: 10st 7lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 79

Form & Verdict
Runner-up three times over fences; disappointing favourite at Warwick 16 days ago, taking overall record to 0-10; ties in very closely with Greenrock Abbey on C&D running (pair clear) in November and has possibilities on that form.
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

Form: 00-99P

Last run: 12 days

W: 10st 6lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Placed once over hurdles in Ireland but never backed up that effort; has achieved little in two runs for new yard, latest over 2m5f here (chase debut); first-time visor needs to make a big difference.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

7th Feb 2023

Good To Soft

2m 3f 34y

Class 5

16:45 Market Rasen

Dawn Wonder

10st 2lb

J: William Kennedy

T: Sarah-Jayne Davies

Poor form in four starts since joining this trainer; in rear when unseating at Hereford on Sunday; can only watch.

50/1

9

5th Feb 2023

Good

2m 3f 147y

Class 5

14:33 Hereford

Dawn Wonder

10st 2lb

J: William Kennedy

T: Sarah-Jayne Davies

Ten-race maiden who was pulled up in two soft-ground chases here (2m5f/2m) last month and now reverts to hurdling; makes no significant appeal; visor removed after one use.

66/1

10

16th Jan 2023

Soft

2m 0f 8y

Class 5

13:10 Hereford

Dawn Wonder

10st 6lb

J: William Kennedy

T: Sarah-Jayne Davies

Placed once over hurdles in Ireland but never backed up that effort; has achieved little in two runs for new yard, latest over 2m5f here (chase debut); first-time visor needs to make a big difference.

100/1

Form: -26432

Last run: 26 days

W: 10st 3lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
Looks a modest maiden but has proved generally consistent over fences, most recently second at Taunton in the race that Folly Gate would have probably won but for unseating; could go well again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

13th Mar 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 12y

Class 5

16:35 Taunton

Gaelic Thunder

10st 2lb

J: Finn Lambert

T: Chris Honour

0-9 over fences and 0-19 overall; ran well from the front when second here (2m2f, good) in December, but is effectively 5lb higher from further out of the weights today and returns here after a 63l defeat last month.

14/1

6th

8

8th Feb 2023

Good

1m 7f 182y

Class 4

14:05 Southwell

Gaelic Thunder

10st 2lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Chris Honour

took keen hold, prominent on outer, disputed lead 4th, led clearly after 7th, jumped right 4 out, ridden and headed before 3 out

20/1

11

16th Jan 2023

Soft

2m 0f 8y

Class 5

13:10 Hereford

Gaelic Thunder

10st 3lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Chris Honour

Looks a modest maiden but has proved generally consistent over fences, most recently second at Taunton in the race that Folly Gate would have probably won but for unseating; could go well again.

8/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £35.60
Straight Forecast £35.65
Tricast £90.23
Trifecta £129.30

Selections

RP Ratings:

Valirann Gold

The Times:

Greenrock Abbey

Telegraph:

Folly Gate

SPOTLIGHT:

Madiba Passion

POSTDATA:

Valirann Gold

WEST COUNTRY:

Valirann Gold

The Guardian:

Valirann Gold

D Express:

Valirann Gold

Daily Mirror:

Valirann Gold

The Star:

Valirann Gold

Daily Mail:

Greenrock Abbey

The Sun:

Greenrock Abbey

Daily Record:

Greenrock Abbey