February 11 / 13.30 Warwick

13.30

Good

Virgin Bet Warwick Castle Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £20812
  • 2m 4f 0y
  • Class 2
  • 5 runners
ITV4
View Course
Virgin Bet Warwick Castle Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

13/2 (Won)

  • Win: £9.00

Form: 4P/3-P D

Last run: 35 days

W: 10st 10lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 136

Form & Verdict
Returning from a year off when pulled up at Wincanton but a fragile gelding who has taken little racing for an 11yo; although well handicapped on the best of his form, he's become a risky betting proposition.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

2

2nd Jul 2023

Good To Soft

2m 5f 34y

Class 2

14:05 Cartmel

Messire Des Obeaux

11st 12lb

J: Daryl Jacob

T: Alan King

11yo who has been lightly raced in recent seasons; well beaten at Newbury (2m4f, soft) in March last time out but won at Warwick (2m4f, good) the run before; can be effective on slow ground; not discounted.

16/1

5th

4

25th Mar 2023

Good To Soft

2m 3f 187y

Class 2

14:05 Newbury

Messire Des Obeaux

11st 12lb

J: Daryl Jacob

T: Alan King

Fragile 11yo with low mileage; pulled up on his return from a year out but he stuck on well to win at Warwick (2m4f, good), albeit in a race that fell apart at the seams a little; only 2lb higher but not sure to be as good again.

8/1

Form: 535-20 D

Last run: 70 days

W: 10st 4lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
Has been good and bad since returning from a long absence last season and had one of his off days at Aintree in early December (2m4f, good to soft); breaks have become a feature in his profile and he does tend to run well when fresh; should be well handicapped.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

6

15th Mar 2024

Good To Soft

3m 0f 38y

Class 5

17:05 Fakenham

Knight In Dubai

11st 12lb

J: Mr Rupert Stearn

T: Mrs J Owen

Still going close in 2m4f-2m5f handicaps off low-130s marks for Dan Skelton in 2022-23 around rather sharper tracks than the galloping Horseheath line of his two easy recent pointing successes (good to soft, good); confidence levels restored, and receives weight all round here.

3/1

10

6th May 2023

Good

3m 0f 0y

Class 2

16:25 Uttoxeter

Knight In Dubai

10st 9lb

J: Tristan Durrell

T: Dan Skelton

Lightly raced in recent years and seemingly not as good as he was; went close when second of four at Warwick (2m4f, good) in February and kept on for third at Newton Abbot (2m5f, soft) last month but more is needed here.

10/1

3rd

3

8th Apr 2023

Heavy

2m 4f 216y

Class 3

15:25 Newton Abbot

Knight In Dubai

11st 9lb

J: Tristan Durrell

T: Dan Skelton

Has twice suffered narrow defeats this season, off today's mark, and deserves another success (lightly raced and last won in December 2019); didn't fire latest and will need his best to take this.

6/1

Form: 1P-115 D

Last run: 15 days

W: 11st 3lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 143

Form & Verdict
Headed to Doncaster two weeks ago with a record of 5-5 over fences but was put in his place to the tune of about 6l (2m); won't mind returning to further but one or two of these look on better terms with the handicapper.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

17th May 2025

Good

3m 0f 10y

Class 3

18:30 Uttoxeter

Mackenberg

12st 0lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Multiple winner at up to 2m5f but none since 2022 and the last year or so hasn't gone well; this belated step up to 3m (having run over 2m last time) is perhaps more in hope than expectation.

20/1

1

17th May 2025

Good

3m 0f 10y

Class 3

18:30 Uttoxeter

Mackenberg

12st 0lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Multiple winner at up to 2m5f but none since 2022 and the last year or so hasn't gone well; this belated step up to 3m (having run over 2m last time) is perhaps more in hope than expectation.

20/1

OUR TIP

Form: 341-U2 D

Last run: 41 days

W: 12st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 154

Form & Verdict
Goes particularly well at Cheltenham where he ran a sterling race in defeat in a strong 2m4f handicap (soft) on New Year's Day; 4lb rise sees him on a career-high mark but there's a suspicion that he might yet have even more to offer and he still holds an entry in next week's Grade 1 at Ascot; has form on sharp tracks and he's hard to knock.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

1

4th May 2026

Good

3m 5f 24y

Class 3

16:38 Fakenham

Stolen Silver

12st 2lb

J: Miss Olive Nicholls

T: Georgina Nicholls

Well beaten all five starts last season, the last three times in valuable chases for new stable since February; plummeting down the weights and will appreciate this ease in grade but needs a revival.

33/1

10

18th Apr 2026

Soft

3m 7f 176y

Class 1

15:35 Ayr

Stolen Silver

11st 2lb

J: Miss Olive Nicholls

T: Georgina Nicholls

Seemingly nothing like the force of old; not proven beyond 3m either, with heavy defeats on his only two attempts at 3m1f or 3m2f; the former was on latest start when beaten 46l at 150-1 in the Ultima at Cheltenham and all this season's form suggests he will be a big outsider again.

100/1

Form: 52-292 D

Last run: 35 days

W: 10st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 127

Form & Verdict
Only 1-13 over fences but placed in many a good handicap and, after suffering from an irregular heartbeat when well held in Cheltenham's big November handicap, he ran well behind a very capable handicapper at Wincanton (2m4f, good to soft); respected off his low weight and there's a chance that cheekpieces might give him a lift.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

6

6th May 2024

Good

3m 0f 0y

Class 3

16:05 Kempton

Galahad Quest

11st 6lb

J: David Noonan

T: Jane Williams

prominent, weakened gradually after 4 out

10/1

6th

6

6th May 2024

Good

3m 0f 0y

Class 3

16:05 Kempton

Galahad Quest

11st 6lb

J: David Noonan

T: Jane Williams

Questionable what he achieved behind an easy winner when back chasing at Ludlow in February and especially after a lesser run at Newbury, albeit in a strong handicap (2m4f, good to soft); on the plus side, drying conditions are in his favour and his only previous attempt at 3m was in the valuable handicap at this track in 2022; could be a player after wind surgery.

10/1

5th

5

23rd Mar 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 187y

Class 2

14:40 Newbury

Galahad Quest

10st 9lb

J: David Noonan

T: Jane Williams

prominent, outpaced after 12th, weakened after 2 out

11/2

Non-runners

Galahad Quest

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £21.00
Straight Forecast £26.19
Trifecta £46.60

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Stolen Silver

TOPSPEED:

Mackenberg

The Star:

Messire Des Obeaux

POSTDATA:

Mackenberg

The Times:

Stolen Silver

Telegraph:

Stolen Silver

The Guardian:

Stolen Silver

Daily Mail:

Stolen Silver

D Express:

Stolen Silver

Daily Mirror:

Stolen Silver

The Sun:

Stolen Silver

Daily Record:

Stolen Silver