March 04 / 13.15 Kelso

13.15

Good To Soft

bet365 Cyril Alexander Memorial Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £10562
  • 2m 5f 133y
  • Class 3
  • 7 runners
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bet365 Cyril Alexander Memorial Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

7/2 (Won)

  • Win: £4.60
  • Place: £2.20

Form: 4-811F CD BF

Last run: 33 days

W: 11st 3lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 128

Form & Verdict
Found plenty for pressure when coming good at Lingfield (2m4f, soft) and then over C&D (heavy) and it was four out when coming down at Hereford (going okay at the time); a bit to prove off his current mark but everything would suggest he's on the upgrade.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

9

2nd May 2026

Yielding

3m 0f 104y

15:45 Punchestown

Bill Baxter

10st 11lb

J: Harry Bannister

T: Warren Greatrex

10yo won this last year off 126 (yielding); mixed bag this term, undergoing wind surgery after third start and good comeback run when second in 3m Kelso handicap in February; mistakes when pulled up in Topham at Aintree but remains of interest.

12/1

22

10th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 19y

Class 1

16:05 Aintree

Bill Baxter

10st 4lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Warren Greatrex

10yo who won this in 2023 (soft); he's had his ups and downs since but won at Punchestown (3m, yielding) last May and bumped into a well-handicapped novice when runner-up at Kelso (2m7f, heavy) last time, following wind surgery; could give a good account and be involved.

25/1

2nd

2

13th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 7f 96y

Class 2

15:00 Kelso

Bill Baxter

11st 9lb

J: James Bowen

T: Warren Greatrex

Uncharacteristically below par at Market Rasen four weeks ago; however, he's had a wind op since and two starts ago he ran pretty well when sixth in the Becher at Aintree (3m2f, soft); this is less competitive than that penultimate assignment and he won here in 2022 on his sole previous run here.

4/1

16/1

  • Place: £3.00

Form: -41132

Last run: 28 days

W: 10st 6lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
A winner over hurdles and fences this season but he's more exposed than some of these and was hammered by the winner last time at Musselburgh (2m4f, good to soft); down 2lb but looks vulnerable.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

30th Oct 2025

Good To Firm

2m 4f 19y

Class 4

15:38 Newcastle

Half Shot

11st 8lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Iain Jardine

Has won four chases, latest at Kelso in April (2m7f, good); mixed form since, including fair third back at Kelso last time (3m2f, good); a possible, though perhaps better at further these days.

11/4

2

30th Oct 2025

Good To Firm

2m 4f 19y

Class 4

15:38 Newcastle

Half Shot

11st 8lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Iain Jardine

Has won four chases, latest at Kelso in April (2m7f, good); mixed form since, including fair third back at Kelso last time (3m2f, good); a possible, though perhaps better at further these days.

11/4

4th

1

17th Sep 2025

Good

2m 5f 133y

Class 4

17:00 Kelso

Half Shot

12st 1lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Iain Jardine

Captured this prize a year ago and in good form until ridden aggressively when tenth in 2m5f Cartmel handicap chase 23 days ago; it would come as no surprise to see him play a major role here.

9/1

Form: -73233

Last run: 14 days

W: 10st 5lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Record of 2-9 over hurdles, winning soft-ground novice events last winter; comparable form in his first three chase starts (soft/heavy) but he was beaten a distance into third on good to soft at Haydock last time and it could be that he needs the mud.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

1st Nov 2025

Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 4

14:29 Ayr

High Moon

11st 8lb

J: Nathan Moscrop

T: Rebecca Menzies

Regressive 10yo who has not won since April 2023; has conditions to suit here and some of his spring/summer form puts him on the premises but he was pulled up last time (bled) and others have more appealing profiles.

10/1

3

1st Nov 2025

Soft

2m 4f 110y

Class 4

14:29 Ayr

High Moon

11st 8lb

J: Nathan Moscrop

T: Rebecca Menzies

Regressive 10yo who has not won since April 2023; has conditions to suit here and some of his spring/summer form puts him on the premises but he was pulled up last time (bled) and others have more appealing profiles.

10/1

8

17th Sep 2025

Good

2m 5f 133y

Class 4

17:00 Kelso

High Moon

11st 3lb

J: Richie McLernon

T: Rebecca Menzies

Veteran is winless since 2023 but he wasn't disgraced when third of six in 2m1f handicap chase at Cartmel 25 days ago; he's no forlorn hope.

7/1

Form: 32/U2U BF

Last run: 32 days

W: 11st 5lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
Very useful novice hurdler; has the ability to win races off this mark over fences but he's unseated in two of his three starts and it wasn't his first mistake the last time at Newcastle (2m7f, soft), though he was still travelling within himself four out; wouldn't be far away with a blemish-free round.
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

Form: 36/214 BF

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 9lb

8 yo Mare

OR: 134

Form & Verdict
Useful hurdler who initially took well to chasing, bumping into an above-average mare at Bangor before making the most of a softer opening at Newcastle (2m, good to soft); reportedly ran flat when a laboured favourite back at Bangor (2m4f) three weeks ago and not easily trusted after that.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

20th Apr 2023

Good

2m 4f 127y

Class 1

14:05 Cheltenham

Miah Grace

11st 7lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Jedd O’Keeffe

held up in rear, pushed along after 11th, ridden and no impression after 4 out

8/1

1st

2

29th Mar 2023

Heavy

2m 4f 62y

Class 3

15:00 Newcastle

Miah Grace

11st 12lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Jedd O’Keeffe

Something to prove regarding current form having been well beaten over fences the last twice; however, perhaps the first-time visor and/or the return to hurdles will prompt a revival, and she's on a competitive mark; won over fences here in December and is a two-time hurdle winner on heavy ground.

7/1

5th

2

4th Mar 2023

Good To Soft

2m 5f 133y

Class 3

13:15 Kelso

Miah Grace

11st 9lb

J: Henry Brooke

T: Jedd O’Keeffe

mounted in chute, held up in rear on outer, not fluent and niggled along briefly 8th

10/1

OUR TIP

Form: 116-F1

Last run: 32 days

W: 11st 11lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 136

Form & Verdict
Won two minor hurdles before coming up well short in the Grade 2 here on this card last March; winning pointer who was always likely to make a better chaser and that looked the case when winning comfortably at Lingfield (2m4f, good to soft); up 11lb but he has the potential to deal with that.
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

Form: 1-22F3

Last run: 31 days

W: 10st 11lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Low-mileage 7yo who has won a point and a novice hurdle; rallying in third when falling three out on his chase debut and then finished a 12l third of four runners at Ayr (3m); shouldn't be long before opening his chasing account but this looks demanding.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

29th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

3m 0f 70y

Class 4

15:13 Ayr

Gaillimh A Stor

11st 3lb

J: Dominic Hislop

T: N W Alexander

Went close in this last year (soft) and now 10lb lower; however, this 10yo has struggled to get competitive since, most recently over C&D (soft) four weeks ago following wind surgery; a visor replaces cheekpieces.

25/1

6

11th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 70y

Class 3

14:40 Ayr

Gaillimh A Stor

11st 9lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

prominent, hampered then in touch with leaders 1st, dropped to last after 6th, detached when pulled up before 7th

14/1

6

11th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 70y

Class 3

14:40 Ayr

Gaillimh A Stor

11st 9lb

J: Bruce Lynn

T: N W Alexander

prominent, hampered then in touch with leaders 1st, dropped to last after 6th, detached when pulled up before 7th

14/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £27.20
Straight Forecast £25.69
Trifecta £104.40

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Sholokjack

LAMBOURN:

Bill Baxter

TOPSPEED:

High Moon

D Express:

Castle Rushen

POSTDATA:

Half Shot

Daily Mail:

Bill Baxter

The Star:

Bill Baxter

RP Ratings:

Sholokjack

The Times:

Sholokjack

Telegraph:

Sholokjack

The Guardian:

Sholokjack

Daily Mirror:

Sholokjack

The Sun:

Sholokjack

Daily Record:

Sholokjack