March 07 / 15.15 Newcastle

15.15

Good To Soft

Cazoo Search Drive Smile Handicap Chase (Challenger Staying Chase Series Qualifier)

  • Prize money: £8449.6
  • 2m 7f 91y
  • Class 3
  • 5 runners
SKY
View Course
Cazoo Search Drive Smile Handicap Chase (Challenger Staying Chase Series Qualifier)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Snow showers

Form: 5-6128 C

Last run: 24 days

W: 12st 0lb

8 yo Mare

OR: 134

Form & Verdict
Won a Wetherby handicap off a 7lb lower mark in early December (3m, soft) and good second next time at Doncaster (3m, good); fared less well last time but could bounce back.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

5

23rd Dec 2023

Heavy

3m 1f 125y

Class 2

13:30 Haydock

Burrows Diamond

11st 6lb

J: Nick Scholfield

T: Sue Smith

prominent, not fluent 10th, pressed leader 13th, disputed lead 15th, soon led, clear 3 out, faced challenge last, kept on but headed run-in, no extra towards finish

14/1

2nd

3

9th Dec 2023

Soft

2m 3f 200y

Class 1

12:55 Aintree

Burrows Diamond

11st 2lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Sue Smith

prominent behind clear leader, headway 4 out, went second after 2 out, weakened run-in

8/1

Form: 2F-F43

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 10lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
Dual chase winner at around 2m4f last season (soft, good to soft); came right back to form when a close third at Taunton last time (2m7f, good) and looks the one to beat.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

2

24th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 30y

Class 3

18:40 Bangor-on-Dee

Frenchy Du Large

12st 0lb

J: Ned Fox

T: Venetia Williams

pressed leader

9/2

7th

2

24th Apr 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 30y

Class 3

18:40 Bangor-on-Dee

Frenchy Du Large

12st 0lb

J: Ned Fox

T: Venetia Williams

pressed leader

9/2

4

13th Feb 2025

Soft

3m 0f 37y

Class 3

15:05 Sandown

Frenchy Du Large

12st 0lb

J: Sgt Nick Oliver

T: Venetia Williams

May have bounced when pulled up on heavy ground at Haydock in December on second start back from a long absence, and he's had wind surgery since; prior to that he reappeared with a good second at Ludlow (3m1f, good to soft) and is a major player if rediscovering that form; has won on soft.

11/4

OUR TIP

Form: 26-316 C BF

Last run: 34 days

W: 11st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Won at Ayr in January (2m4f, heavy) on first run after wind surgery; bit disappointing last time but reportedly lost a shoe; could go well but yet to run up to his best at this sort of trip.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

10

9th Dec 2023

Soft

2m 3f 200y

Class 2

13:30 Aintree

Donnas Double

10st 3lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Sandy Thomson

Inconsistent during last season's first chasing campaign but he posted a win at Ayr (2m4f, heavy) in January and was a very close third there (2m4f, good to soft) on last month's reappearance; remains lightly raced and is not ruled out in a first-time tongue-tie.

10/1

Form: 9-5P38 CD

Last run: 31 days

W: 10st 11lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Thorough stayer whose last win was over C&D off an 11lb higher mark in November 2020; not at his best this term but has dropped to a good mark and has a visor on for the first time (usually wears cheekpieces)
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

28th Jan 2024

Good

2m 7f 214y

Class 4

13:25 Doncaster

The Ferry Master

11st 1lb

J: Ryan Mania

T: Sandy Thomson

Won off 3lb higher at Kelso (2m5f) last May but has proved far from consistent otherwise in recent times; distant third over C&D last month and needs to improve on that form.

16/1

3rd

4

15th Dec 2023

Good To Soft

2m 7f 214y

Class 4

15:22 Doncaster

The Ferry Master

11st 4lb

J: Lewis Dobb

T: Sandy Thomson

Won a four-runner handicap off this mark at Kelso in May but his form has been patchy in recent seasons; pulled up the last twice.

12/1

Form: 42P-62 D

Last run: 68 days

W: 10st 8lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Close second at Kelso on his only chase start this term (3m2f, heavy) and now 3lb higher; all his Rules wins have been on soft/heavy so any rain will suit.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

5

11th Jan 2024

Soft

3m 5f 214y

Class 3

14:30 Catterick

Glittering Love

11st 2lb

J: Danny McMenamin

T: Nicky Richards

Kept on for fair fourth behind Court At Slip at Newcastle (2m7f, heavy) last month and could build on that run now back up in trip, having gone close over 4m at Hexham last March; capable of having a say.

10/1

4th

4

14th Dec 2023

Heavy

2m 7f 91y

Class 4

12:30 Newcastle

Glittering Love

11st 11lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Nicky Richards

11yo who was well beaten on his comeback at Carlisle last month but he left last season's reappearance behind to go very close at Kelso (3m2f, heavy) next time, and he's on a competitive mark; blinkers are replaced by cheekpieces (ran well in them earlier in career); not discounted.

10/1

Verdict

Having run his best race of the season when third at Taunton last time FRENCHY DU LARGE looks the one to beat and is preferred to Burrows Diamond and Glittering Love.[Colin Russell]

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Frenchy Du Large

Daily Mail:

Burrows Diamond

TOPSPEED:

The Ferry Master

The Star:

Glittering Love

Daily Mirror:

Burrows Diamond

RP Ratings:

Frenchy Du Large

POSTDATA:

Frenchy Du Large

The Times:

Frenchy Du Large

Telegraph:

Frenchy Du Large

The Guardian:

Frenchy Du Large

D Express:

Frenchy Du Large

The Sun:

Frenchy Du Large

Daily Record:

Frenchy Du Large