February 08 / 13.55 Ludlow

13.55

Good

S A S Utilities Ltd Novices’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £5545.05
  • 1m 7f 212y
  • Class 4
  • 7 runners
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S A S Utilities Ltd Novices’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

Form: 68-131 D

Last run: 23 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
Won on chase debut at Hereford (2m, soft) in November and found further improvement when winning easily in first-time cheekpieces (retained) at Hereford (2m, soft) three weeks ago; he's up 10lb for last time and it remains to be seen if this better ground suits, but he's clearly flourishing.
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

OUR TIP

Form: U-4125 CD

Last run: 49 days

W: 11st 13lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Down the field the last twice but soft ground may not have been ideal at Hereford and he was back on the Flat 11 days ago; in good form over C&D in November, posting an easy win (good) then a good second of four (good to soft), and he's firmly in calculations on that form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

7

16th Feb 2023

Good To Soft

1m 7f 216y

Class 4

13:15 Sandown

Presuming Ed

11st 2lb

J: Ben Ffrench Davis

T: Adam West

Won over fences at Ludlow in November (2m, good to soft) but was well held at Hereford on his final run in that discipline and wasn't great back on the AW 19 days ago; has two wins to his name over hurdles but needs to get back on track.

20/1

9th

2

(9)

28th Jan 2023

Standard

1m 7f 218y

Class 6

20:30 Kempton (AW)

Presuming Ed

9st 12lb

J: Thore Hammer Hansen

T: Adam West

Fairly useful form over fences in recent months, including a 2m Ludlow win in November; beaten a long way in three novice events on the Flat but his jumps ability suggests he could be competitive from a modest opening mark in this sphere.

15/2

Form: P-7751 D

Last run: 63 days

W: 11st 12lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 109

Form & Verdict
Point winner who returned to form to win four-runner handicap at Leicester (2m, good to firm) in December on chase debut; had an in-form mare in second and could have more to offer over fences; key player up just 3lb.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

4

14th May 2023

Good

1m 7f 169y

Class 4

14:35 Ludlow

Great HeartJac

11st 1lb

J: Paddy Brennan

T: Fergal O’Brien

Fair hurdler/chaser who was 2-5 over fences last season; not at best at Ayr last month but will be suited by today's trip/ground and has pretty good chance at the weights on this hurdling return; cheekpieces added.

11/4

4th

4

21st Apr 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 110y

Class 3

16:10 Ayr

Great HeartJac

11st 2lb

J: Paddy Brennan

T: Fergal O’Brien

Two small-field wins at Leicester (2m, good to firm/good) from his first three chase starts and again ran well when second of four at Market Rasen (2m1f, good to soft) 12 days ago; needs another step forward here but that's possible, especially if good ground prevails; tongue-tie goes on.

6/1

3

10th Apr 2023

Good

2m 3f 189y

Class 4

13:05 Huntingdon

Great HeartJac

11st 10lb

J: Jack Hogan

T: Fergal O’Brien

Going great guns in 2m handicap chases, winning two of first three starts (on good to firm/good); failed to find much in one 2m4f handicap but, as an Irish point winner, he should stay this far over fences; ran well when runner-up at Market Rasen yesterday.

100/30

Form: 146-44 D

Last run: 44 days

W: 11st 11lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
1m7f maiden hurdle winner who was a fair fourth on his chase and stable debut at Worcester in October, when not seeing out 2m4f; disappointing at Fontwell since but he's not written off in first-time cheekpieces.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

7th Aug 2025

Good

2m 4f 168y

19:35 Sligo

Great Ocean

11st 0lb

J: Danny Gilligan

T: Cian Collins

Won over fences here on yard debut in October 2024 but was tailed off on return at Cartmel in June; lower hurdle mark to work with and may have needed the run so not ruled out.

6/1

9th

8

29th Jun 2025

Soft

2m 5f 34y

Class 2

16:30 Cartmel

Great Ocean

10st 13lb

J: Jordan Gainford

T: Cian Collins

Returned from layoff with ready win in Sligo begninners' chase (2m5f, good) on stable debut in October but absent since and needs to prove he can cope with a handicap mark this high; effective on good and soft ground.

8/1

Form: 76-33P C

Last run: 33 days

W: 11st 10lb

9 yo Mare

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Five-time hurdle winner who was a good third in that sphere in October when back from an absence; however, she's since been tailed off/pulled up on her first two chase starts and a major turnaround is required.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

9

17th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 1y

Class 5

16:20 Taunton

Cotton End

10st 10lb

J: Tabitha Worsley

T: Jackie Du Plessis

Veteran who had poor completion record in points last season and was easily brushed aside after making the running on rules return at Ludlow (2m5f, good) in November; revival needed.

33/1

6th

8

8th Jun 2024

Good

2m 4f 72y

Class 5

16:35 Bangor-on-Dee

Cotton End

10st 12lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Sheila Lewis

pressed leader

12/1

6th

5

30th May 2024

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

20:40 Warwick

Cotton End

11st 8lb

J: Finn Lambert

T: Sheila Lewis

Multiple hurdle winner at up to 2m3f; acts on a sound surface; 0-11 over fences; below par on her recent reappearance but not ruled out each-way if she comes on for that.

10/1

Form: 394U-5

Last run: 79 days

W: 11st 8lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Placed behind good horses in novice/maiden hurdles last winter; has failed to go on from that and was well beaten on his handicap and seasonal debut in November, but he remains lightly raced and is one to watch in the betting on this first chase start.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

1st Jun 2025

Good

2m 0f 59y

Class 5

15:35 Fakenham

Extraordinary Man

11st 0lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: David Bridgwater

Has modest strike-rate and is very inconsistent but has slipped to a good mark and ran well over C&D on his only previous visit Fakenham; cheekpieces (missing when tailed off at Fontwell last month) are refitted here; can be dangerous if in the right mood.

4/1

3

1st Jun 2025

Good

2m 0f 59y

Class 5

15:35 Fakenham

Extraordinary Man

11st 0lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: David Bridgwater

Has modest strike-rate and is very inconsistent but has slipped to a good mark and ran well over C&D on his only previous visit Fakenham; cheekpieces (missing when tailed off at Fontwell last month) are refitted here; can be dangerous if in the right mood.

4/1

5th

4

7th May 2025

Good

2m 3f 104y

Class 5

18:40 Fontwell

Extraordinary Man

10st 4lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: David Bridgwater

held up in last but in touch with leaders, disputing fourth 4 out, weakened 3 out

13/2

Form: 75-345

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 1lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 98

Form & Verdict
French hurdle winner who ran okay when 5l fourth of four over C&D on chase debut in November (good to soft; Presuming Ed second); disappointing at Chepstow since but is in good hands and things may click at some point.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

16th Apr 2024

Heavy

2m 7f 177y

Class 5

15:40 Ffos Las

Grizzly James

12st 0lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Still to get his head in front this term and he made mistakes when trailing in last of eight in 2m5f Hereford handicap chase 20 days ago; others appeal more.

4/1

1

16th Apr 2024

Heavy

2m 7f 177y

Class 5

15:40 Ffos Las

Grizzly James

12st 0lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Still to get his head in front this term and he made mistakes when trailing in last of eight in 2m5f Hereford handicap chase 20 days ago; others appeal more.

4/1

8th

1

27th Mar 2024

Soft

2m 4f 194y

Class 5

16:45 Hereford

Grizzly James

12st 0lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Won this last year (good to soft) and has run well in defeat on two of his last three starts, most recently at Huntingdon (2m7f, soft) this month; he's a strong candidate today.

3/1

Betting Forcast

9/4 Greenrock Abbey, 5/1 Presuming Ed, 5/2 Great HeartJac, 7/1 Great Ocean, 33/1 Cotton End, 10/1 Extraordinary Man, 11/2 Grizzly James

Verdict

With the form of his chase debut win at Leicester in December reading well, despite that small field, GREAT HEART’JAC (nap) is taken to make it 2-2 over fences. Presuming Ed is feared most on account of his good C&D performances in November, while Greenrock Abbey can have a big say if transferring his progressive soft-ground form to this better surface.[Ben Hutton]

Selections

POSTDATA:

Greenrock Abbey

SPOTLIGHT:

Great Heart'jac

RP Ratings:

Presuming Ed

WEST COUNTRY:

Great Heart'jac

The Star:

Great Heart'jac

Daily Record:

Great Heart'jac

The Times:

Greenrock Abbey

Telegraph:

Greenrock Abbey

The Guardian:

Greenrock Abbey

D Express:

Greenrock Abbey

Daily Mirror:

Greenrock Abbey

The Sun:

Greenrock Abbey

TOPSPEED:

Presuming Ed

Daily Mail:

Presuming Ed