April 23 / 15.30 Plumpton

15.30

Good

Bluebell Vineyard Estates Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £6337.2
  • 3m 1f 152y
  • Class 4
  • 7 runners
SKY
View Course
Bluebell Vineyard Estates Handicap Chase

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

9/4 (Won)

  • Win: £2.25

Form: 141P31 C

Last run: 22 days

W: 11st 11lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Prominent racer with a good strike-rate, winning for the fifth time in his last 11 starts when making all at Uttoxeter three weeks ago (3m, soft); even further to go this time but a 4lb rise is fair enough and he should make another bold bid.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10

15th May 2024

Good

3m 3f 208y

Class 4

16:30 Ffos Las

Tip Top Mountain

11st 9lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Robert Walford

Good strike-rate of 7-19 over fences but he's been well below form in both runs since his last win at Fontwell (3m2f, heavy) in March; has quite a bit to prove again at this new trip but seems ideally suited by testing ground.

14/1

10

15th May 2024

Good

3m 3f 208y

Class 4

16:30 Ffos Las

Tip Top Mountain

11st 9lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Robert Walford

Good strike-rate of 7-19 over fences but he's been well below form in both runs since his last win at Fontwell (3m2f, heavy) in March; has quite a bit to prove again at this new trip but seems ideally suited by testing ground.

14/1

4th

4

19th Apr 2024

Good To Soft

2m 5f 135y

Class 4

14:00 Fontwell

Tip Top Mountain

11st 10lb

J: Bryan Carver

T: Robert Walford

jumped right on occasions, prominent, weakened gradually from 3 out

8/1

Form: 33P116 CD

Last run: 17 days

W: 11st 4lb

7 yo Mare

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Jumped left and finished lame when underperforming at Hereford 17 days ago; prior to that she had won twice over C&D and the return to this track will be in her favour; could do with the forecast rain arriving.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5

9th May 2026

Good

3m 0f 41y

Class 4

16:30 Hexham

Gold Clermont

11st 12lb

J: Chad Bament

T: Andy Irvine

Ex-Olly Murphy; off the mark for present yard when winning five-runner handicap chase by a short head at Fontwell last time (3m2f, good); up 3lb; interesting.

9/2

1st

2

24th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

3m 1f 210y

Class 4

17:45 Fontwell

Gold Clermont

11st 12lb

J: Chad Bament

T: Andy Irvine

All four wins have came over fences Andy Irvine; her last success was in January 2024 but that was at this track (3m3f) and she returned to form with a creditable third over hurdles here (3m2f, soft) last month; that was only her second start since rejoining her former stable and she's in the mix back over fences.

7/1

3rd

4

14th Mar 2026

Soft

3m 1f 166y

Class 5

15:45 Fontwell

Gold Clermont

11st 10lb

J: Rian Corcoran

T: Andy Irvine

All four wins have came over fences for Andy Irvine; had no joy in three starts for Olly Murphy and rejoined former stable before pulling up at Exeter (3m6f, heavy) last month; bids to exploit 10lb lower mark over hurdles; needs to show more.

5/1

Form: 1-2P4P

Last run: 41 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Won twice over hurdles in early 2022; yet to show comparable form over fences and he will need the longer trip and addition of blinkers to pique his interest.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

6th Mar 2025

Good To Soft

3m 0f 150y

Class 4

16:50 Wincanton

Whydah Gally

12st 1lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Joe Tizzard

Something to prove regarding current form as he's failed to shine over fences this winter, but he's 1-14 in chases as opposed to 3-10 over hurdles, and perhaps the return to this discipline will trigger a revival.

12/1

6

27th Jan 2025

Soft

3m 1f 152y

Class 4

15:50 Plumpton

Whydah Gally

11st 1lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Joe Tizzard

Capable stayer but has struggled with consistency; finished a 10l fourth at Wincanton (3m1f, good to soft) on Boxing Day, a race in which Vision De Maine was pulled up, but that was a laboured effort; handles most ground and has the ability to get involved but comes with risk.

8/1

6

27th Jan 2025

Soft

3m 1f 152y

Class 4

15:50 Plumpton

Whydah Gally

11st 1lb

J: Freddie Gingell

T: Joe Tizzard

Capable stayer but has struggled with consistency; finished a 10l fourth at Wincanton (3m1f, good to soft) on Boxing Day, a race in which Vision De Maine was pulled up, but that was a laboured effort; handles most ground and has the ability to get involved but comes with risk.

8/1

OUR TIP

Form: /1P411 CD

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 9lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
He has returned from a long absence to win three times over hurdles/fences this season, two of them at this track; had to dig deep to beat Hiway One O Three over C&D two weeks ago but the addition of cheekpieces could give him an additional lift.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8

4th May 2026

Good

3m 5f 24y

Class 3

16:38 Fakenham

Northern Poet

11st 4lb

J: James Davies

T: Nick Gifford

Pulled up three consecutive times after his two good-ground wins (3m/3m5f) in March 2025; back on a good mark now and was seemingly perked up by first-time visor when close fourth of six (just behind Enjoy d'Allen) at Plumpton (3m1f, good) last month but overall profile remains unconvincing.

12/1

4th

1

19th Apr 2026

Good

3m 1f 157y

Class 4

16:02 Plumpton

Northern Poet

12st 1lb

J: James Davies

T: Nick Gifford

Has five wins over fences, including over C&D, but has been pulled up on his last three starts; back on last winning mark and first-time visor now goes on but he comes with risks.

12/1

5

27th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 214y

Class 3

17:05 Doncaster

Northern Poet

11st 8lb

J: James Davies

T: Nick Gifford

Won this last year (good) and followed up at Warwick (3m5f, good) a week later; also effective on good to soft ground; pulled up on final two starts last season but can go well fresh and is not ruled out on his return.

8/1

Form: -43122 C BF

Last run: 14 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Rattled off a hat-trick over hurdles last spring; off the mark at the third attempt over fences at Market Rasen in February and he has finished second in both runs since, narrowly giving best to Northern Poet over C&D two weeks ago; should remain competitive but no certainty to reverse the placings.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11

1st May 2023

Good

3m 0f 0y

Class 3

15:40 Kempton

Hiway One O Three

10st 3lb

J: Rex Dingle

T: Chris Gordon

Has held his form since February's Market Rasen romp (2m3f, good), equalling rather than surpassing his previous best RPR in last month's narrow defeat upped to a stayer's trip; likely a bit more needed.

10/1

3

23rd Apr 2023

Good

3m 1f 152y

Class 4

15:30 Plumpton

Hiway One O Three

11st 7lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Chris Gordon

Rattled off a hat-trick over hurdles last spring; off the mark at the third attempt over fences at Market Rasen in February and he has finished second in both runs since, narrowly giving best to Northern Poet over C&D two weeks ago; should remain competitive but no certainty to reverse the placings.

11/4

2nd

2

9th Apr 2023

Good

3m 1f 152y

Class 4

15:40 Plumpton

Hiway One O Three

11st 10lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Chris Gordon

Market Rasen winner in February and defeat under a penalty came just seven days later; unraced beyond 2m4f but pedigree suggests he could well stay; has started favourite in latest six outings (winning three).

6/4

Form: /112-6

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 4lb

13 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Veteran who returned from an absence to win a 3m handicap at Doncaster last March; followed up at Leicester one week later; had another spell on the sidelines prior to a low-key reappearance at Ludlow last month; vulnerable.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6

23rd Apr 2023

Good

3m 1f 152y

Class 4

15:30 Plumpton

First Figaro

11st 4lb

J: Ned Fox

T: Venetia Williams

raced in second, lost second after 12th, soon struggling, weakened after 3 out, pulled up before 2 out

12/1

6th

6

23rd Mar 2023

Good To Soft

2m 7f 171y

Class 3

16:10 Ludlow

First Figaro

10st 7lb

J: Charlie Deutsch

T: Venetia Williams

Returned from a year off last March to win at Doncaster and Leicester, so absence since April no great negative for this 13yo; will need to be at his best but foolish to dismiss on age grounds.

6/1

Form: 32-946

Last run: 32 days

W: 11st 2lb

12 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Over five years since his last win; some promise last season but yet to fire in three runs for current stable; down in the weights but with a lot to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

24th May 2023

Good

3m 1f 100y

Class 5

15:20 Warwick

Ballycross

12st 0lb

J: Tom Bellamy

T: D J Jeffreys

Regressive 12yo who struggled on all three starts for new stable last season, most recently when swapping cheekpieces for first-time blinkers (retained) over C&D in March; urgently needs to stop the rot.

16/1

1

8th May 2023

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 5

13:15 Worcester

Ballycross

11st 11lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: D J Jeffreys

Regressive 12yo who struggled on all three starts for new stable last season, most recently when swapping cheekpieces for first-time blinkers (retained) in March; urgently needs to stop the rot.

25/1

7

23rd Apr 2023

Good

3m 1f 152y

Class 4

15:30 Plumpton

Ballycross

11st 2lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: D J Jeffreys

Over five years since his last win; some promise last season but yet to fire in three runs for current stable; down in the weights but with a lot to prove.

25/1

Non-runners

Northern Poet, Hiway One O Three, Ballycross

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £3.50
Straight Forecast £4.03
Trifecta £7.70

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Tip Top Mountain

RP Ratings:

Hiway One O Three

Daily Mirror:

Northern Poet

TOPSPEED:

First Figaro

The Times:

Hiway One O Three

Telegraph:

Hiway One O Three

Daily Record:

Hiway One O Three

POSTDATA:

Tip Top Mountain

WEST COUNTRY:

Tip Top Mountain

D Express:

Tip Top Mountain

The Sun:

Tip Top Mountain

The Star:

Northern Poet