January 22 / 13.00 Lingfield

13.00

Heavy

Cazoo Beginners’ Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £18483.5
  • 2m 0f 0y
  • Class 2
  • 6 runners
SKY
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Cazoo Beginners’ Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

Form: /0495/

Last run: 701 days

W: 11st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 98

Form & Verdict
Limited nine-race maiden (bumpers/hurdles) who makes his chase debut on the back of a long absence; very opposable.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

12th Apr 2026

Good

1m 7f 149y

Class 5

15:27 Wincanton

Calgary Tiger

12st 0lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: William de Best-Turner

Front-runner who hasn't offered a great deal since returning from nearly a year out and it's seldom easy for veterans to rediscover their form; however, this is a much easier race than he's accustomed to.

9/4

5th

2

14th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 75y

Class 4

14:15 Newcastle

Calgary Tiger

11st 9lb

J: Charlie Price

T: William de Best-Turner

Free-going nature; no win since landing a Class 3 at Newbury (2m, 13-8 joint-favourite) in March 2023; fell at Cheltenham (80-1) on penultimate start and was equally out of his depth in the Grade 2 Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton over Christmas; this is more realistic.

12/1

3rd

6

6th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

1m 7f 99y

Class 3

13:23 Sandown

Calgary Tiger

10st 9lb

J: James Best

T: William de Best-Turner

led, joined 2 out, headed before last, weakened and lost second final 110yds

12/1

OUR TIP

Form: 2260-2 D

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 135

Form & Verdict
Miles beneath his best when he initially tried fences in 2021 but this talented hurdler ran a lot better on his belated return to chasing when second to a progressive youngster at Hereford (2m, soft); jumped well there and he should be in the thick of it against these.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

3

19th Apr 2025

Soft

3m 2f 105y

Class 4

17:29 Newton Abbot

Christopher Wood

11st 13lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Smart hurdler and useful chaser in his prime but on a losing wicket over fences for a long time; perhaps he'll be all the better for a return to hurdles, for the first time in three years, but that's up in the air.

14/1

3rd

3

19th Apr 2025

Soft

3m 2f 105y

Class 4

17:29 Newton Abbot

Christopher Wood

11st 13lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

led

14/1

3rd

4

23rd Feb 2025

Good To Soft

3m 1f 44y

Class 4

15:40 Hereford

Christopher Wood

11st 12lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Very useful hurdler/chaser in his prime but has regressed and become inconsistent; ran very poorly in Lingfield marathon last month and needs to respond very positively to the addition of blinkers here.

9/1

Form: 16-427 C

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
Hasn't exactly made a flying start over fences (0-3; 2m2f-2m4f) and made mistakes when well held in a 2m4f handicap at Kempton on Boxing Day; on the plus side, returning to 2m won't harm and this course winner over hurdles is particularly effective on heavy ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

1

22nd Mar 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 110y

Class 2

15:52 Carlisle

Hudson De Grugy

12st 0lb

J: Jonathan England

T: Sam England

Brings very strong credentials to this series final, having posted sound performances over C&D (good to soft) in last two starts, comfortably defying top weight latest; 2-6 overall for current yard; respected.

6/1

1st

1

8th Mar 2026

Soft

3m 0f 110y

Class 4

16:25 Carlisle

Hudson De Grugy

12st 0lb

J: Jonathan England

T: Sam England

Back in good form for his current yard, landing 3m handicap chase at Wetherby in December and posting a good second of seven over C&D last time; very much one to consider off an unchanged mark.

7/2

Form: 4P-422 D BF

Last run: 32 days

W: 11st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 131

Form & Verdict
Very useful hurdler who has produced three decent efforts in defeat since sent chasing, albeit beneath the level he achieved previously; effective on soft or heavy ground and looks sure to be involved.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

6th Oct 2024

Good To Soft

1m 7f 214y

Class 4

16:10 Uttoxeter

Llandinabo Lad

11st 10lb

J: David Bass

T: Tom Symonds

led, raced in second when headed after 3rd, lost second 2 out (usual 3 out), weakened approaching last

7/1

7

23rd Mar 2024

Soft

2m 3f 123y

Class 2

13:30 Bangor-on-Dee

Llandinabo Lad

10st 10lb

J: David Bass

T: Tom Symonds

Not firing on all cylinders over fences this season and now reverts to hurdling for first time since March 2022; given very good chance by the handicapper and has conditions to suit but needs 119-day break to have done him good.

10/1

3rd

3

25th Nov 2023

Good To Soft

2m 7f 180y

Class 3

12:20 Ascot

Llandinabo Lad

10st 5lb

J: David Noonan

T: Tom Symonds

jumped slightly left throughout, led, pressed leaders when headed 16th, weakened before 2 out

8/1

Form: /2P/3P D

Last run: 26 days

W: 11st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 135

Form & Verdict
Very useful hurdler (on heavy) but he missed last season and is now 0-4 over fences after finishing a remote third in a Haydock novice (2m5f) and pulled up in a 3m handicap at Kempton; clearly has much to prove but dropping back to what might be his best trip should help matters.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

26th Jan 2026

Soft

2m 4f 194y

Class 5

16:00 Hereford

Quel Destin

11st 12lb

J: Miss Olive Nicholls

T: Paul Nicholls

Useful hurdler/chaser in his pomp who is a three-time chase winner, with back-to-back wins coming in December 2023; below that level in limited appearances since, including after a third wind operation; nevertheless, he could still make his presence felt at this lower level.

9/2

4th

6

8th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 2

15:15 Warwick

Quel Destin

11st 0lb

J: Lorcan Williams

T: Paul Nicholls

in touch with leaders, not fluent 11th, prominent when jumped right 12th, not fluent 3 out, weakening when mistake last, lost third towards finish

14/1

4th

6

8th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 2

15:15 Warwick

Quel Destin

11st 0lb

J: Lorcan Williams

T: Paul Nicholls

in touch with leaders, not fluent 11th, prominent when jumped right 12th, not fluent 3 out, weakening when mistake last, lost third towards finish

14/1

Form: 116-F D

Last run: 47 days

W: 11st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
Won his only point; relinquished his unbeaten record over hurdles when probably not giving his true running in a Grade 2 at Kelso (2m2f, soft) last March; had wind surgery during his break and was one of the market leaders when falling early on his switch to fences at Uttoxeter; open to improvement.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

9

26th Jan 2024

Soft

2m 3f 173y

Class 3

15:35 Sandown

Sholokjack

11st 5lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Fell in two of his four chases last season and confined to hurdles so far this campaign; also prone to mistakes in this discipline and he's not been seeing his races out from 2m4f to 3m.

12/1

6th

4

26th Dec 2023

Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 2

13:40 Aintree

Sholokjack

10st 3lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

held up in rear, awkward jump 3rd

7/1

6th

6

9th Dec 2023

Soft

2m 7f 98y

Class 2

12:40 Sandown

Sholokjack

10st 8lb

J: Tristan Durrell

T: Dan Skelton

Very lightly raced 7yo; chasing last season, impressing in a four-runner handicap at Lingfield (2m4f, good to soft; has won on soft); jumping issues got the better of him afterwards and he wasn't great over his hurdles either when reappearing in a hot handicap at Haydock two weeks ago (held up, always behind at 33-1); should have come on since that run and is thrown in if judged just on that Lingfield win.

12/1

Verdict

Although below the best of his hurdle form, LLANDINABO LAD has made a pleasing start over fences and testing ground is fine for him. Christopher Wood is the biggest threat, ahead of Sholokjack. Hudson De Grugy and Quel Destin are still to convince in this discipline.[Alistair Jones]

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Llandinabo Lad

RP Ratings:

Christopher Wood

Telegraph:

Sholokjack

TOPSPEED:

Llandinabo Lad

The Times:

Llandinabo Lad

D Express:

Llandinabo Lad

Daily Mirror:

Llandinabo Lad

The Star:

Llandinabo Lad

POSTDATA:

Christopher Wood

The Sun:

Christopher Wood

Daily Record:

Christopher Wood