May 24 / 17.50 Southwell

17.50

Good

Download The At The Races App Novices’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

  • Prize money: £4858.52
  • 2m 4f 88y
  • Class 4
  • 5 runners
SKY
View Course
Download The At The Races App Novices’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Partly cloudy

9/2 (Won)

  • Win: £1.80

Form: 2311-3 C

Last run: 7 days

W: 11st 2lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Two wins and a close second in good-ground 2m handicap hurdles here in 2021; Newton Abbot (2m5f, soft) and Exeter (2m1f, good) successes this spring speak to his versatility as a chaser, though now needs to prove a refusal to settle was more the issue than this current mark last time.
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

Form: 7804-1

Last run: 7 days

W: 11st 12lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
2022 Imperial Cup runner-up who'd only ever scored around galloping tracks until last week's cosy Perth chase debut win (2m, good), which broke new ground in more than one way; second at this trip on one previous visit here in 2020, but overall remains more compelling over shorter.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

2

15th May 2026

Good

2m 0f 209y

Class 4

19:30 Aintree

Lively Citizen

11st 12lb

J: Harry Atkins

T: D J Jeffreys

Long in the tooth and no longer the force of old but bounced back from two poor chase runs with respectable effort over hurdles at Haydock (1m7f, good) last month and is now 5lb lower than when going close in this race a year ago; could have a say.

12/1

5th

7

15th Apr 2026

Good

1m 7f 144y

Class 3

17:35 Haydock

Lively Citizen

11st 6lb

J: Harry Atkins

T: D J Jeffreys

Very capable over fences but pulled up in that discipline on his last two starts following a break of 217 days; he did go close over hurdles at Aintree three runs ago so there's a big effort in him if he can get his act together.

25/1

OUR TIP

Form: 9220-4 D

Last run: 18 days

W: 11st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Worcester 2m4f maiden hurdle winner last autumn (good); not sure soft ground explains away modest chasing debut run latest (winner on it), and have to hope visor inspires more than cheekpieces did last winter.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

24th May 2023

Good

2m 4f 88y

Class 4

17:50 Southwell

Spanish Present

11st 10lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Martin Keighley

took keen hold, prominent, good jump and disputed lead 7th, led clearly before 10th, shaken up and increased tempo after 4 out, going best when pulled up quickly before 2 out, looked to go wrong

100/30

4th

5

6th May 2023

Good

2m 4f 189y

Class 4

17:40 Uttoxeter

Spanish Present

11st 9lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Martin Keighley

Two good efforts in handicap hurdles in December (2m4f/2m2f); didn't run well at Sandown when cheekpieces were fitted in February but he could fare much better without them now making chase debut.

7/1

11th

4

16th Feb 2023

Good To Soft

2m 3f 173y

Class 4

16:45 Sandown

Spanish Present

11st 10lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Martin Keighley

Collared in the final strides at Market Rasen (2m2f) on Boxing Day, having idled on the run-in; had wind surgery since; fitting of headgear may suit but others are more appealing.

14/1

Form: P756-P D

Last run: 23 days

W: 11st 5lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Failure to jump straight has limited progress across three chase starts, but both 2021-22 handicap hurdle wins came over this trip/good ground combination and off higher marks; chance if taking to cheekpieces.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

14

21st Aug 2024

Good

2m 0f 110y

Class 5

16:50 Worcester

Full Of Light

10st 8lb

J: Philip Armson

T: Rob Summers

0-10 over fences; gave good account when fourth at Hereford (2m, good) in November but his overall record is not persuasive, and he was safely held on latest outing two months ago.

25/1

7th

8

18th Jun 2024

Good

2m 0f 213y

Class 5

15:15 Stratford

Full Of Light

10st 9lb

J: Philip Armson

T: Rob Summers

held up in rear, headway 5th, not fluent 6th, outpaced before 2 out, weakened approaching last

14/1

Form: 15/77- D

Last run: 102 days

W: 11st 5lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 107

Form & Verdict
Dual 2m4f good-ground novice hurdle winner who has had his problems, weakening out of both starts since September 2020, including February's chase debut; down 5lb but likely more rests on a third wind operation.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

24th May 2023

Good

2m 4f 88y

Class 4

17:50 Southwell

Balagan

11st 5lb

J: Paul O’Brien

T: Neil King

took keen hold, led, headed but prominent before 10th, pushed along and lost position before 5 out, struggling when not fluent 4 out, pulled up before 3 out

16/1

6

21st May 2023

Good

2m 6f 125y

Class 4

16:35 Stratford

Balagan

11st 3lb

J: Bryony Frost

T: Neil King

Very lightly raced since winning two novice hurdles in summer 2020 and was soundly beaten on chasing debut in February; had another wind op (his third) soon afterwards; current ability very hard to gauge.

16/1

7th

5

11th Feb 2023

Good To Soft

1m 7f 214y

Class 4

14:10 Uttoxeter

Balagan

11st 8lb

J: Sean Quinlan

T: Neil King

Dual 2m4f hurdle winner (once here) on good ground in summer 2020; made low-key reappearance on soft ground here in November and not seen since but has slipped to a tempting mark for today's chasing debut; well worth a glance in the betting.

16/1

Non-runners

Lively Citizen

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £1.50
Trifecta £1.40

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Begin The Luck

POSTDATA:

Lively Citizen

WEST COUNTRY:

Spanish Present

SPOTLIGHT:

Full Of Light

TOPSPEED:

Begin The Luck

The Times:

Begin The Luck

The Guardian:

Begin The Luck

Daily Mirror:

Begin The Luck

Daily Mail:

Spanish Present

The Star:

Spanish Present

Telegraph:

Lively Citizen

D Express:

Lively Citizen

The Sun:

Lively Citizen

Daily Record:

Lively Citizen