January 31 / 14.35 Newcastle

14.35

Soft

Quinnbet Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £9505.8
  • 2m 7f 91y
  • Class 3
  • 7 runners
SKY
View Course
Quinnbet Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap Chase

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

9/4 (Won)

  • Win: £4.00
  • Place: £1.80

Form: 5F1-1F D BF

Last run: 40 days

W: 11st 11lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 129

Form & Verdict
Progressive 8yo who scored at Wetherby (3m, heavy) on seasonal debut in November and looked sure to follow up before last-fence fall at Ffos Las (3m, soft) last month; has to take a 7lb rise on the chin but might still be improving; major player.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

14th Oct 2023

Good To Soft

2m 7f 131y

Class 2

14:30 Chepstow

French Paradoxe

11st 3lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Oliver Signy

in rear

7/1

5

18th Mar 2023

Soft

4m 2f 8y

Class 1

15:00 Uttoxeter

French Paradoxe

10st 13lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Oliver Signy

Improved in a big way this season and would have been on a four-timer had he not tipped up with the race in safe-keeping at Ffos Las (3m, soft) two starts back; showed no ill effects when winning as he liked at Newcastle and it's hard to grumble with the 11lb hike; will be entering new territory trip-wise a long way from home (unraced beyond 3m) but lots to like otherwise.

9/1

1st

4

31st Jan 2023

Soft

2m 7f 91y

Class 3

14:35 Newcastle

French Paradoxe

11st 11lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Oliver Signy

Progressive 8yo who scored at Wetherby (3m, heavy) on seasonal debut in November and looked sure to follow up before last-fence fall at Ffos Las (3m, soft) last month; has to take a 7lb rise on the chin but might still be improving; major player.

9/4

16/1

  • Place: £13.70

Form: 4263-5

Last run: 136 days

W: 11st 12lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
Creditable second off similar mark to today's over hurdles at Carlisle (3m1f, soft) last season but absent since heavy defeat in that sphere in September and not bred to benefit from today's switch to chasing.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

5th May 2025

Good

2m 3f 150y

15:20 Down Royal

Wowsham

11st 12lb

J: Richard Deegan

T: S R B Crawford

led, headed and weakened quickly before 3 out

7/1

5th

6

5th May 2025

Good

2m 3f 150y

15:20 Down Royal

Wowsham

11st 12lb

J: Richard Deegan

T: S R B Crawford

led, headed and weakened quickly before 3 out

7/1

4

25th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 2f 127y

Class 3

15:52 Perth

Wowsham

11st 10lb

J: J J Slevin

T: S R B Crawford

in touch with leaders

12/1

Form: F4-614 D

Last run: 32 days

W: 12st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 132

Form & Verdict
Got off the mark over fences with clearcut success at Carlisle (3m, soft) in November and certainly didn't run badly when fourth in Haydock marathon last month, albeit he was tired and well beaten in the end; drops back in trip here and remains of interest.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

25th Jul 2024

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 4

14:50 Worcester

Morning Spirit

11st 11lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

in rear, bad mistake and almost fell 1st, detached when pulled up after 2nd

18/1

3rd

1

7th Jul 2024

Good

2m 7f 191y

Class 4

17:10 Market Rasen

Morning Spirit

12st 0lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Best recent effort when second off top weight in similar event at Southwell (3m, good) on penultimate start; only 1-17 over fences but has the ability to take a serious hand.

13/2

8th

8

13th Jun 2024

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 3

18:50 Worcester

Morning Spirit

11st 4lb

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

Took big step back in right direction and stuck to his task very well when second at Southwell (3m, good) last month but is evidently not the force of old, and it's hard to predict whether he'll build on that effort.

11/2

Form: 11-165

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 2lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Gained all three chase wins at Carlisle, the latest on seasonal debut in October (3m2f, soft); not quite in the same form on either subsequent outing (hurdles last time) but still lightly raced for his age and current mark ought to be workable.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

1

26th Apr 2024

Soft

3m 6f 121y

Class 3

14:05 Perth

Houston Texas

12st 0lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Nicky Richards

Won 3m/3m2f handicaps on testing ground last year but has been struggling of late and cheekpieces didn't work wonders for him last time; no headgear here but others have more pressing claims.

10/1

Form: 3-8312

Last run: 33 days

W: 11st 3lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
Unexposed 7yo who won by 14l on chase/handicap debut at Plumpton (2m3f, soft) in December and bumped into a progressive rival when clear second at Catterick (2m6f, heavy) a few days later; up another 6lb since last time but may well improve again; must be considered.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

1

12th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 4f 194y

Class 5

14:53 Hereford

Old Painless

12st 0lb

J: James Best

T: Tim Vaughan

raced lazily at times, midfield, outpaced 4 out, no impression before 3 out

33/1

1

9th Dec 2024

Soft

2m 7f 110y

Class 5

14:30 Lingfield

Old Painless

12st 0lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Tim Vaughan

Struggling for form since joining this stable but he's become very well handicapped; hard to completely rule out but he needs to step up; stable also runs Twilight Glory.

25/1

1

9th Dec 2024

Soft

2m 7f 110y

Class 5

14:30 Lingfield

Old Painless

12st 0lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Tim Vaughan

Struggling for form since joining this stable but he's become very well handicapped; hard to completely rule out but he needs to step up; stable also runs Twilight Glory.

25/1

Form: /2-PP1 CD

Last run: 16 days

W: 11st 7lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
Pulled up on first two outings after a long absence but made all to cause 20-1 surprise when dropped in grade at Kelso (2m5f, heavy) this month; quickly moves back up to Class 3 today but remains well handicapped on older form and has a C&D win on his CV.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

17th May 2023

Soft

2m 7f 207y

Class 4

19:30 Perth

Fortified Bay

11st 11lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jennie Candlish

Veteran chaser who isn't the easiest to predict nowadays and has twice been pulled up since scoring at Kelso (2m6f) in January; he reverts to hurdles with something to prove.

14/1

1

15th Apr 2023

Soft

2m 7f 131y

Class 4

13:55 Chepstow

Fortified Bay

12st 2lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jennie Candlish

Made all to cause 20-1 surprise at Kelso (2m5f, heavy) in January but performed poorly on other four of five starts since returning from long layoff this season, and it's hard to predict whether he'll warm to the task.

14/1

5

22nd Mar 2023

Soft

3m 4f 97y

Class 3

16:10 Haydock

Fortified Bay

11st 13lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Jennie Candlish

Made all at Kelso (2m5f, heavy) in January and it's possible this trip will be within range; however, the Kelso win has been the only bright run among his four outings this season and he was tailed off last time.

16/1

OUR TIP

Form: 232/U2

Last run: 24 days

W: 11st 12lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
Very useful novice hurdler two seasons ago and, after a mishap on his chasing debut, kept on well from a poor position to take second here (2m4f, soft) this month; can take a good step forward now back up in trip and with that experience under his belt.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

3

21st Dec 2024

Soft

3m 0f 58y

Class 3

15:15 Haydock

Castle Rushen

11st 12lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Nicky Richards

Snapped 12-race losing sequence with narrow win at Carlisle (2m4f, good to soft) last month; well beaten by the first three when fourth of 15 over C&D (soft) last time but that was a hot race and he drops back down in grade today; could have a part to play.

11/2

3

21st Dec 2024

Soft

3m 0f 58y

Class 3

15:15 Haydock

Castle Rushen

11st 12lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Nicky Richards

Snapped 12-race losing sequence with narrow win at Carlisle (2m4f, good to soft) last month; well beaten by the first three when fourth of 15 over C&D (soft) last time but that was a hot race and he drops back down in grade today; could have a part to play.

11/2

4th

12

23rd Nov 2024

Good

3m 0f 58y

Class 1

14:30 Haydock

Castle Rushen

10st 10lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Nicky Richards

9yo who snapped 12-race losing sequence when narrowly exploiting reduced mark on reappearance at Carlisle (2m4f, good to soft) three weeks ago; needs a bigger performance now back up in grade but he remains well treated on his old form and should be fine now back up in trip; not discounted.

33/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £96.90
Straight Forecast £74.94
Trifecta £432.40

Selections

RP Ratings:

Castle Rushen

SPOTLIGHT:

French Paradoxe

TOPSPEED:

Old Painless

WEST COUNTRY:

Morning Spirit

The Guardian:

Fortified Bay

LAMBOURN:

Old Painless

Daily Mail:

Old Painless

POSTDATA:

Castle Rushen

THE NORTH:

Castle Rushen

Daily Mirror:

Castle Rushen

The Sun:

Castle Rushen

Daily Record:

Castle Rushen

The Times:

French Paradoxe

Telegraph:

French Paradoxe

D Express:

French Paradoxe

The Star:

French Paradoxe