March 23 / 15.00 Ludlow

15.00

Good To Soft

Mark Wiggin Estate Agents Novices’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £6337.2
  • 2m 4f 11y
  • Class 4
  • 6 runners
RTV
View Course
Mark Wiggin Estate Agents Novices’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

12/1 (Won)

  • Win: £7.50
  • Place: £2.80

Form: 2443-P

Last run: 51 days

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Runner-up in first two starts over hurdles but hasn't built on that; pulled up at Ffos Las in January, after ten months off, and more to prove than most on chasing debut with aids removed.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

13th Jun 2025

Good

2m 4f 139y

Class 4

17:50 Market Rasen

Jazz King

12st 0lb

J: Joe Anderson

T: Alastair Ralph

Arguably unlucky to have just two wins to his name rather than four; cheekpieces of his below-par efforts the last thrice are off, and back down to his highest winning mark (lowered in a 2m4f chase); not ruled out.

11/1

13th

8

6th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

19:18 Worcester

Jazz King

11st 7lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Alastair Ralph

Only seen sporadically down the years and his best efforts have all come without headgear (cheekpieces retained after two poor runs in them this year); has it to prove currently.

25/1

13th

8

6th May 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

19:18 Worcester

Jazz King

11st 7lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Alastair Ralph

Only seen sporadically down the years and his best efforts have all come without headgear (cheekpieces retained after two poor runs in them this year); has it to prove currently.

25/1

7/4

  • Place: £1.60

Form: -24711 D

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Unbeaten in two chasing starts, both gained at Musselburgh in front-running fashion; 7lb rise for the latest looks fair (won with something in hand) and could prove hard to catch if repeating the dose on a different track.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

18th Oct 2025

Good

2m 4f 205y

Class 4

14:30 Stratford

Cartonne

11st 10lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

Front-running chaser who can go clear in his races but he's not won since December 2023 and was pulled up in his last two runs over fences; on dangerous mark back in this sphere but he needs a major revival after six months off.

7/1

3rd

4

19th Apr 2025

Good

2m 3f 61y

Class 4

14:52 Carlisle

Cartonne

11st 0lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

led, headed and raced in second 8th, weakened before 2 out

7/1

3rd

4

19th Apr 2025

Good

2m 3f 61y

Class 4

14:52 Carlisle

Cartonne

11st 0lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: Donald McCain

led, headed and raced in second 8th, weakened before 2 out

7/1

Form: 361418 D

Last run: 33 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
All three hurdle wins at Hereford, the latest (off 7lb lower) in January; well beaten at Ascot since and has to prove he can show his best at other tracks; should make a chaser (dam won over fences) but others preferred.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

3rd Jun 2026

Good To Firm

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

21:00 Warwick

Zestful Hope

11st 9lb

J: James Bowen

T: Charlie Longsdon

Five wins include two over fences, the latest at Huntingdon in October (2m4f, good) when 2lb higher; not so good in his five subsequent defeats and record when fresh is modest.

9/2

3rd

2

22nd Feb 2026

Soft

2m 2f 208y

Class 4

16:40 Hereford

Zestful Hope

11st 13lb

J: James Bowen

T: Charlie Longsdon

Won this in 2025 (good to soft) and was also on target at Huntingdon (2m4f, good) in October; back on a good mark now and should be fine on today's forecast soft ground but has become far too inconsistent to rely upon.

6/1

5th

2

4th Nov 2025

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

15:02 Warwick

Zestful Hope

11st 9lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Charlie Longsdon

Drew clear on run-in to score by 13l at Huntingdon (2m4f, good) last month, form that was franked by the runner-up over the weekend; not one to rely upon heavily, though.

5/1

Form: 15-6 D

Last run: 51 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Novice winner on hurdling debut in December 2021 but only seen twice since; well held on first start in a handicap at Ffos Las in January (after a year off); retains potential, especially now chasing, but bit to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

3

24th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 2f 54y

Class 3

16:55 Chepstow

Charles Ritz

11st 6lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Tom George

Last month's near-5l third at Kempton was his most convincing effort to date both over 3m and on good ground, but also took his record in handicaps off marks in the 120s to 0-8; still needs to find a bit more.

6/1

3rd

4

14th Mar 2026

Good

3m 0f 0y

Class 3

16:28 Kempton

Charles Ritz

11st 6lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Tom George

Has won on good to soft and heavy; made light of an absence when winning at Southwell in December but he found little at Ludlow (also 2m4f) last month and has yet to distinguish himself over this far; reservations remain; yard won this in 2019.

9/2

4th

3

4th Feb 2026

Soft

2m 4f 11y

Class 3

14:58 Ludlow

Charles Ritz

11st 12lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Tom George

His second win over fences when returning from a long absence to take a 2m4f handicap at Southwell (good to soft; won on heavy) in mid-December; that race fell apart in behind but a 4lb rise isn't the end of the world.

11/2

Form: 6121-P D

Last run: 2 days

W: 12st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 122

Form & Verdict
Progressive over hurdles last winter when 2-4 for Gary Hanmer, trouncing rivals at Catterick 13 months ago; pulled up at Wetherby on Tuesday on chasing debut, after an absence; opposable if turning out quickly.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

13th May 2024

Good

2m 3f 147y

Class 4

14:30 Hereford

Inishbiggle

11st 9lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Gary Hanmer

Three-time hurdle winner during 2021-22 season; out form over fences when last seen in late 2023 but has been given a good chance by the handicapper and the booking of Sean Bowen makes him worth a glance in the betting; suited by good and soft ground.

14/1

3

13th May 2024

Good

2m 3f 147y

Class 4

14:30 Hereford

Inishbiggle

11st 9lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Gary Hanmer

Three-time hurdle winner during 2021-22 season; out form over fences when last seen in late 2023 but has been given a good chance by the handicapper and the booking of Sean Bowen makes him worth a glance in the betting; suited by good and soft ground.

14/1

OUR TIP

Form: 132/1P CD

Last run: 54 days

W: 11st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Gave the impression that he was well handicapped when scoring over C&D on British debut, despite the narrow margin; faded out of contention in much tougher race at Cheltenham since but should be more at home here, especially if a tongue-strap has a beneficial effect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

9th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 48y

Class 4

16:08 Exeter

Fire Dancer

11st 9lb

J: Miss Lucy Turner

T: Venetia Williams

Just 1-14 over fences and needs to run better than on his two starts this winter, but he twice finished runner-up off higher marks last spring and perhaps the first-time cheekpieces will give him a boost; not discounted.

8/1

8

9th Feb 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 48y

Class 4

16:08 Exeter

Fire Dancer

11st 9lb

J: Miss Lucy Turner

T: Venetia Williams

Just 1-14 over fences and needs to run better than on his two starts this winter, but he twice finished runner-up off higher marks last spring and perhaps the first-time cheekpieces will give him a boost; not discounted.

8/1

5th

3

2nd Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 3f 189y

Class 4

13:25 Huntingdon

Fire Dancer

11st 7lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

in rear

4/1

Non-runners

Inishbiggle

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £24.40
Straight Forecast £24.44
Trifecta £83.40

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Fire Dancer

POSTDATA:

Cartonne

The Star:

Charles Ritz

The Guardian:

Cartonne

D Express:

Cartonne

Daily Mirror:

Cartonne

Daily Record:

Cartonne

RP Ratings:

Fire Dancer

TOPSPEED:

Fire Dancer

The Times:

Fire Dancer

Telegraph:

Fire Dancer

Daily Mail:

Fire Dancer

The Sun:

Fire Dancer