March 25 / 16.25 Newbury

16.25

Good To Soft

Colleagues Celebration Of Business Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £9585.01
  • 2m 0f 92y
  • Class 3
  • 9 runners
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Colleagues Celebration Of Business Handicap Chase

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Cloudy

11/2 (Won)

  • Win: £6.00
  • Place: £2.60

Form: 262-11 C

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 8lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 124

Form & Verdict
Useful hurdle/chase form for Philip Hobbs; appeared to be going nowhere when pulled up in two points but, following wind surgery and another change of stable, he's bounced back with successive chase wins at Plumpton (2m1f) and Hereford (2m3f, again good); the latest race off 7lb lower didn't appear to take much winning.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

3

18th Mar 2025

Good

2m 3f 48y

Class 3

15:17 Exeter

Le Ligerien

11st 1lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

prominent, pressed leader 6th

11/8

12/1

  • Place: £4.70

Form: 3-53P2 CD

Last run: 61 days

W: 11st 3lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 119

Form & Verdict
Didn't take to blinkers at Wincanton but ran well with the cheekpieces back on at Ffos Las (2m, soft) and he suffered some interference from the winner; back up 3lb but he had dropped to a good mark anyway.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

9

22nd Apr 2024

Good

2m 2f 0y

Class 3

18:00 Kempton

Another Crick

11st 4lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Noel Williams

held up in rear, detached 7th, no impression from 5 out

33/1

11th

9

22nd Apr 2024

Good

2m 2f 0y

Class 3

18:00 Kempton

Another Crick

11st 4lb

J: Jonathan Burke

T: Noel Williams

held up in rear, detached 7th, no impression from 5 out

33/1

Form: 43P311 CD

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 12lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 128

Form & Verdict
All the better for the blinkers returning on his last three starts, defying a 6lb rise fairly readily at Chepstow (2m, good); another 4lb to contend with here but has defied higher in the past.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

21st Mar 2024

Soft

1m 7f 212y

Class 4

16:10 Ludlow

Not Available

11st 6lb

J: Stan Sheppard

T: Matt Sheppard

When a 23l third at Newbury (2m, soft) two starts ago he was behind two highly progressive rivals and he continues to drop down the weights, but positive performances have been scarce this season and he was tailed off at Sandown (1m7f, soft) last time.

10/1

9th

10

15th Feb 2024

Soft

1m 7f 99y

Class 3

13:55 Sandown

Not Available

10st 13lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Matt Sheppard

Has won six times over fences but seems to have developed his own ideas about the game and looks a difficult ride these days; below form this term on both British starts on heavy; latest outing was his best show this season but he needs to better that.

25/1

3rd

3

23rd Jan 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 92y

Class 3

15:45 Newbury

Not Available

11st 9lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: Matt Sheppard

Has won six times over fences but seems to have developed his own ideas about the game and looks a difficult ride these days; in his current form others are way more appealing.

15/2

Form: 5-2314 CD

Last run: 52 days

W: 11st 9lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
Snapped a losing run when justifying support off a reduced mark at Chepstow (2m3f, soft) and he never gave himself a chance of defying the 4lb rise by jumping out to his left at Leicester; back to the right way round for him here and can give a good account.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

13th Apr 2024

Soft

2m 3f 98y

Class 4

14:50 Chepstow

Moonlighter

12st 2lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Kim Bailey

Nothing like the force of old but is handicapped accordingly now; dropped another 2lb since last month's very respectable fourth at Ludlow and will be suited by the return to this C&D; can make a bold bid from the front.

9/2

1

13th Apr 2024

Soft

2m 3f 98y

Class 4

14:50 Chepstow

Moonlighter

12st 2lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Kim Bailey

Nothing like the force of old but is handicapped accordingly now; dropped another 2lb since last month's very respectable fourth at Ludlow and will be suited by the return to this C&D; can make a bold bid from the front.

9/2

4th

5

21st Mar 2024

Soft

1m 7f 212y

Class 4

16:10 Ludlow

Moonlighter

11st 5lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Kim Bailey

11yo who was disappointing at Ayr (2m, soft) last month but posted two respectable performances previously when making the frame at Lingfield (2m4f, good to soft) and Chepstow (2m3f, heavy), and he's been given a chance by the handicapper; could have a part to play.

5/1

OUR TIP

Form: UF-PPF D

Last run: 95 days

W: 12st 0lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 130

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

3

13th Nov 2023

Good

2m 4f 110y

Class 2

14:25 Kempton

Hatcher

11st 6lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

Prolific winner (mostly at around 2m on good ground) and fine servant to connections over the years; not as good as he was and didn't run very well on latest outing in September, but should be fine over today's trip and his spring form puts him in the mix.

4/1

4th

4

18th Sep 2023

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 2

14:40 Worcester

Hatcher

10st 11lb

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

held up in rear, headway before 4 out, outpaced before 3 out, no impression from 2 out

7/1

Form: 521-24 D

Last run: 28 days

W: 11st 9lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 125

Form & Verdict
Made a pleasing return from 322-day absence when second at Wetherby (1m7f, soft) and good ground was perhaps too lively when disappointing behind Not Available at Chepstow in a race he'd won the previous season; the more rain the better and he comes into it.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

25th Mar 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 92y

Class 3

16:25 Newbury

Destined To Shine

11st 9lb

J: Richard Patrick

T: Kerry Lee

Made a pleasing return from 322-day absence when second at Wetherby (1m7f, soft) and good ground was perhaps too lively when disappointing behind Not Available at Chepstow in a race he'd won the previous season; the more rain the better and he comes into it.

6/1

4th

3

25th Feb 2023

Good

2m 0f 11y

Class 2

15:45 Chepstow

Destined To Shine

11st 3lb

J: Richard Patrick

T: Kerry Lee

Won this race on heavy ground last year and made pleasing return from 322-day absence when second at Wetherby (1m7f, soft) last month; should be okay on today's faster ground and is still on a workable mark.

5/2

Form: 631P81 CD

Last run: 34 days

W: 11st 5lb

6 yo Mare

OR: 121

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

14th Aug 2022

Good

2m 5f 150y

16:00 Tramore

Family Business

11st 7lb

J: Danny Mullins

T: Donal Coffey

unruly at the post, prominent on outer early, held up in behind leaders before 3rd, mistake and hampered by faller 7th, towards rear when not fluent 9th, dropped to last after 12th, weakening when not fluent 13th, soon pulled up

20/1

Form: -4F3P2 CD

Last run: 34 days

W: 11st 4lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Now 8lb lower than when winning over C&D last March but he's having a ragged season and not sure his second to easy winner Family Business represented a return to form; others appeal more.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

25th Mar 2023

Good To Soft

2m 0f 92y

Class 3

16:25 Newbury

Monsieur Lecoq

11st 4lb

J: David Noonan

T: Jane Williams

Now 8lb lower than when winning over C&D last March but he's having a ragged season and not sure his second to easy winner Family Business represented a return to form; others appeal more.

11/2

2nd

1

19th Feb 2023

Good To Firm

2m 0f 92y

Class 3

16:10 Newbury

Monsieur Lecoq

11st 13lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Jane Williams

C&D winner last March (good to soft) off a 5lb higher mark but he was an early faller on his return to chasing at Ascot, then ran flat back here (good) and ran no race at all at Ludlow; has lots to prove all of a sudden and is unraced on ground faster than good.

2/1

6

20th Dec 2022

Good To Soft

1m 7f 212y

Class 2

14:50 Ludlow

Monsieur Lecoq

11st 3lb

J: Ciaran Gethings

T: Jane Williams

Back on his last winning mark but he was an early faller on his return to chasing at Ascot and then ran flat at Newbury (2m, good) when beaten a distance into third; that effort casts plenty of doubt.

12/1

Form: 495/11 CD

Last run: 22 days

W: 10st 10lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

12th Apr 2026

Good

1m 7f 149y

Class 5

15:27 Wincanton

Calgary Tiger

12st 0lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: William de Best-Turner

Front-runner who hasn't offered a great deal since returning from nearly a year out and it's seldom easy for veterans to rediscover their form; however, this is a much easier race than he's accustomed to.

9/4

5th

2

14th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 75y

Class 4

14:15 Newcastle

Calgary Tiger

11st 9lb

J: Charlie Price

T: William de Best-Turner

Free-going nature; no win since landing a Class 3 at Newbury (2m, 13-8 joint-favourite) in March 2023; fell at Cheltenham (80-1) on penultimate start and was equally out of his depth in the Grade 2 Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton over Christmas; this is more realistic.

12/1

3rd

6

6th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

1m 7f 99y

Class 3

13:23 Sandown

Calgary Tiger

10st 9lb

J: James Best

T: William de Best-Turner

led, joined 2 out, headed before last, weakened and lost second final 110yds

12/1

Non-runners

Hatcher, Calgary Tiger

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £55.70
Straight Forecast £49.41
Tricast £164.21
Trifecta £213.70

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Family Business

Telegraph:

Calgary Tiger

TOPSPEED:

Le Ligerien

Daily Mirror:

Not Available

The Star:

Another Crick

RP Ratings:

Family Business

POSTDATA:

Family Business

The Times:

Family Business

Daily Mail:

Calgary Tiger

The Sun:

Calgary Tiger

Daily Record:

Calgary Tiger

WEST COUNTRY:

Le Ligerien

The Guardian:

Le Ligerien

D Express:

Le Ligerien