April 08 / 14.15 Newton Abbot

14.15

Heavy

follow@willhillracing On Twitter Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £5527.68
  • 2m 4f 216y
  • Class 5
  • 8 runners
SKY
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follow@willhillracing On Twitter Handicap Chase

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

5/1 (Won)

  • Win: £3.50
  • Place: £1.80

Form: 257423

Last run: 3 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 93

Form & Verdict
Dual hurdling winner in 2021 and runner-up four times for this yard; fared reasonably when third on chasing debut at Wincanton on Wednesday; probably needs better and heavy ground is by no means certain to suit.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

26th May 2026

Good

2m 3f 166y

Class 4

19:09 Plumpton

Begin The Luck

12st 0lb

J: Beau Morgan

T: Daisy Hitchins

Largely reliable veteran and a three-time winner since December, latterly over C&D in April; touched off at Fontwell 20 days ago, with I Shut That d'Or about 5l back in third; nudged up 1lb but likely to make his presence felt again.

2/1

2nd

2

6th May 2026

Good

2m 3f 104y

Class 5

19:42 Fontwell

Begin The Luck

11st 13lb

J: Robbie David

T: Daisy Hitchins

Veteran who has won three times over fences since December including at Plumpton (2m4f, good) 17 days ago; that was in a small field and his main rival made a bad mistake at the last but he still looks feasibly treated and is versatile ground-wise; respected.

5/1

1st

2

19th Apr 2026

Good

2m 3f 166y

Class 5

14:17 Plumpton

Begin The Luck

11st 7lb

J: Robbie David

T: Daisy Hitchins

Reliable sort who scored at Leicester (2m4f) in March; not discredited when fifth in 2m5f handicap chase at Newton Abbot 15 days ago so ought to be in the shake-up eased 1lb.

3/1

25/1

  • Place: £9.00

Form: /59-04

Last run: 16 days

W: 10st 2lb

10 yo Gelding

OR: 74

Form & Verdict
Three wins for Tony Carroll (two on heavy) but well beaten in two starts for current yard (both last month and after more than a year off).
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

29th Oct 2024

Good To Soft

2m 1f 77y

Class 5

15:32 Bangor-on-Dee

Man Of The North

10st 2lb

J: Lee Edwards

T: Dave Roberts

in touch with leaders, lost ground after 5th

33/1

8

29th Oct 2024

Good To Soft

2m 1f 77y

Class 5

15:32 Bangor-on-Dee

Man Of The North

10st 2lb

J: Lee Edwards

T: Dave Roberts

Last success came over C&D but in early 2021; two runs this year, pulling up in a claiming hurdle before the last one to finish on his return to fences; out of the weights.

33/1

6th

7

9th Apr 2024

Soft

2m 4f 194y

Class 5

15:30 Hereford

Man Of The North

10st 7lb

J: Lee Edwards

T: Dave Roberts

The last of this veteran's three wins was in early 2021 in a 2m1f handicap chase at Bangor; last seen three months ago pulling up in a claiming hurdle; others safer.

20/1

OUR TIP

Form: 3-6533

Last run: 15 days

W: 10st 2lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
Taunton winner on chasing debut in March 2022; has performed respectably on occasions since without threatening a repeat; cheekpieces are fitted and not without hope if they have a beneficial effect.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

9th Sep 2025

Soft

2m 4f 216y

Class 5

14:58 Newton Abbot

Master Mikey Dee

10st 2lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Richenda Ford

Well over three years since his only win; out of form and out of the weights; little significance in the return of cheekpieces.

14/1

4th

10

25th May 2025

Good

3m 1f 210y

Class 5

14:23 Fontwell

Master Mikey Dee

10st 2lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Richenda Ford

Plugged on for fairly respectable fourth at Newton Abbot (2m5f, heavy) last month but it's over three years since his only win and he's a good way out of the handicap again here.

25/1

4th

10

25th May 2025

Good

3m 1f 210y

Class 5

14:23 Fontwell

Master Mikey Dee

10st 2lb

J: Harry Kimber

T: Richenda Ford

Plugged on for fairly respectable fourth at Newton Abbot (2m5f, heavy) last month but it's over three years since his only win and he's a good way out of the handicap again here.

25/1

Form: 7532

Last run: 20 days

W: 12st 1lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 101

Form & Verdict
Unexposed maiden; ran well on last month's Chepstow chasing/handicap debut, under a big weight; that reads well in the context of this race and he could be in line for a first success.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

3

12th Nov 2024

Good

2m 7f 110y

Class 5

15:20 Lingfield

Kap Chidley

11st 10lb

J: Mr Edward Vaughan

T: Tim Vaughan

Versatile regarding the ground; not yet off the mark but he's been on the premises in handicap chases at 3m and 2m4f since last October, when running well on return from a break; place chance.

9/1

8th

3

12th Nov 2024

Good

2m 7f 110y

Class 5

15:20 Lingfield

Kap Chidley

11st 10lb

J: Mr Edward Vaughan

T: Tim Vaughan

Versatile regarding the ground; not yet off the mark but he's been on the premises in handicap chases at 3m and 2m4f since last October, when running well on return from a break; place chance.

9/1

5th

2

4th May 2024

Soft

3m 0f 0y

Class 5

18:18 Uttoxeter

Kap Chidley

11st 13lb

J: Alan Johns

T: Tim Vaughan

0-7 over fences but ran quite well when third at Ffos Las (2m3f, heavy) last month and is now 6lb lower than when second over C&D (good to soft) in October; must be considered.

11/2

Form: 661-57

Last run: 97 days

W: 11st 3lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
Landed a gamble at Exeter in December 2021 but well held in just two subsequent starts; back down to the winning mark and interest would be heightened if the money arrived again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

15

19th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 48y

Class 5

15:05 Exeter

Eurowork

10st 2lb

J: Lorcan Murtagh

T: Nigel Hawke

in touch with leaders

33/1

15

19th Dec 2024

Good To Soft

2m 3f 48y

Class 5

15:05 Exeter

Eurowork

10st 2lb

J: Lorcan Murtagh

T: Nigel Hawke

in touch with leaders

33/1

Form: -76555

Last run: 20 days

W: 10st 11lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Both hurdle wins gained on soft; not at his best this season and finished some way behind Kap Chidley when both made their chasing debuts at Chepstow last month; work to do, therefore.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

22nd Apr 2023

Good To Soft

3m 0f 5y

Class 5

14:50 Bangor-on-Dee

After The Fox

10st 8lb

J: David Noonan

T: Jane Williams

Below best over hurdles this season and has made inauspicious start to chasing career this spring; seems versatile regarding ground but is yet to convince stamina-wise over 3m; not the percentage call.

10/1

4

8th Apr 2023

Heavy

2m 4f 216y

Class 5

14:15 Newton Abbot

After The Fox

10st 11lb

J: David Noonan

T: Jane Williams

Both hurdle wins gained on soft; not at his best this season and finished some way behind Kap Chidley when both made their chasing debuts at Chepstow last month; work to do, therefore.

7/1

5th

10

19th Mar 2023

Soft

2m 3f 98y

Class 5

16:25 Chepstow

After The Fox

11st 2lb

J: David Noonan

T: Jane Williams

Won a soft-ground handicap hurdle here 13 months ago off a 4lb higher mark; hasn't found his best form this season though and now tried his hand over fences.

16/1

Form: P43P32 D

Last run: 2 days

W: 10st 11lb

11 yo Gelding

OR: 83

Form & Verdict
Record in Britain is 1-28 but put up his best performance for a long time when second at Hereford on Thursday; 4lb lower if taking his chance and, while a repeat is by no means guaranteed, has to be considered.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

3rd Mar 2025

Good To Soft

1m 7f 182y

Class 5

14:37 Southwell

Abaya Du Mathan

11st 3lb

J: Jack Hogan

T: Gary Hanmer

13yo who has inconsistent recent form but was successful (off 1lb lower) in December on most recent Southwell start; not ruled out.

13/2

4th

4

13th Feb 2025

Soft

1m 7f 201y

Class 5

15:49 Leicester

Abaya Du Mathan

11st 5lb

J: Jack Hogan

T: Gary Hanmer

Multiple chase winner who made it three for the year at Southwell (2m, good to soft) in December; hasn't run to the same level since, a recent second at Huntingdon being a remote one, and others further up the list.

14/1

2nd

4

2nd Jan 2025

Good To Soft

2m 0f 104y

Class 5

12:55 Huntingdon

Abaya Du Mathan

11st 7lb

J: Jack Hogan

T: Gary Hanmer

Veteran who had a clearcut win at Southwell (2m, good to soft) in December from Extraordinary Man, his 11th chase win; not so good at Hereford or Warwick (on Tuesday) since, however.

6/1

Form: 734-PP

Last run: 184 days

W: 10st 10lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 82

Form & Verdict
Irish point winner; well beaten in four starts over hurdles and was pulled up on chasing debut when last seen six months ago; lot to prove but perhaps the return to testing ground can provoke a better display.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

18th Apr 2026

Good

3m 0f 30y

Class 5

13:52 Bangor-on-Dee

El Rojo Grande

11st 9lb

J: Shane Quinlan

T: Katy Price

Has more chasing experience than many of these and with a strike-rate of 4-15 things are going well; those wins have been from 2m to 2m4f so the are stamina questions to answer, for all that he has won a 3m point.

6/1

1st

4

26th Mar 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

15:28 Warwick

El Rojo Grande

11st 5lb

J: Shane Quinlan

T: Katy Price

Kicked off 2026 with a hat-trick (2m1f/2m, soft/heavy) and he's gone close on his last two starts (2m/2m3f, heavy/soft); has shown promise on good ground in the past and he could be bang there once more.

4/1

2nd

4

16th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 3f 83y

Class 5

15:00 Ffos Las

El Rojo Grande

11st 6lb

J: Shane Quinlan

T: Katy Price

Began this year with three slow-ground wins (2m-2m1f, one here) and lost out only by a head when second here (2m, heavy; front pair well clear) on latest outing; continues to climb up the weights but should be fine over today's longer trip and can make his presence felt again.

2/1

Non-runners

Abaya Du Mathan

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £63.70
Straight Forecast £48.91
Tricast £486.17
Trifecta £431.60

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Kap Chidley

WEST COUNTRY:

Abaya Du Mathan

The Star:

El Rojo Grande

Daily Record:

Begin The Luck

RP Ratings:

Kap Chidley

POSTDATA:

Kap Chidley

The Times:

Kap Chidley

Telegraph:

Kap Chidley

The Guardian:

Kap Chidley

D Express:

Kap Chidley

Daily Mirror:

Kap Chidley

The Sun:

Kap Chidley

Daily Mail:

Abaya Du Mathan