July 31 / 15.55 Newton Abbot

15.55

Good

John Bond 80th Birthday Celebration Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £5527.68
  • 2m 4f 216y
  • Class 4
  • 8 runners
SKY
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John Bond 80th Birthday Celebration Handicap Chase

Runners: 8 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

25/1 (Won)

  • Win: £21.00
  • Place: £4.50

Form: 2FP-76

Last run: 15 days

W: 10st 8lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 100

Form & Verdict
Made good start to his chasing career last year but has disappointed in last three runs, most recently when well beaten at Stratford (2m6f, good) 15 days ago; mark continues to fall but he's now 1-10 over fences and has plenty to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

7

18th Jun 2024

Good

2m 6f 125y

Class 4

16:35 Stratford

Dans Chosen

11st 2lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Won three chases last year from 2m4f to 2m5f when the ground was no slower than good to soft; latest return to chasing at Ffos Las was underwhelming, even allowing for the trip of 2m3f.

7/1

7th

1

30th May 2024

Good

2m 3f 83y

Class 4

15:00 Ffos Las

Dans Chosen

11st 12lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Won three chases over slightly longer trips last year when the ground was no slower than good to soft; current mark won't be easy but this race is a better fit than the novice hurdle he contested last time.

11/2

5th

7

24th Apr 2024

Good

2m 3f 1y

Class 4

16:42 Taunton

Dans Chosen

11st 5lb

J: Sean Houlihan

T: Philip Hobbs & Johnson White

Better known as a chaser these days, with three of his four wins in that discipline gained last year; returns to hurdling over a trip short of his best and looks vulnerable.

8/1

14/1

  • Place: £2.10

Form: 44-742

Last run: 35 days

W: 10st 12lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Won off 5lb higher at Worcester (2m, good) last August but he hasn't really threatened since and was beaten 12l when runner-up at Southwell (2m4f, good) last time; overall record now stands at 26 and he needs to find more.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

5

18th Nov 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 5

15:50 Lingfield

Glajou

11st 9lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Neil Mulholland

Not far away in a 2m4f handicap chase at Uttoxeter after a long absence but has gone backwards since then; blinkers go on for cheekpieces.

20/1

1

30th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 6f 125y

Class 5

15:47 Stratford

Glajou

12st 0lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Neil Mulholland

Returned from a very long absence with creditable fourth in stronger race than this at Uttoxeter (2m4f, good) in July and has good claims if judged on that performance but two disappointing runs have followed; needs to rebound.

12/1

1

30th Oct 2025

Good To Soft

2m 6f 125y

Class 5

15:47 Stratford

Glajou

12st 0lb

J: Conor O’Farrell

T: Neil Mulholland

Returned from a very long absence with creditable fourth in stronger race than this at Uttoxeter (2m4f, good) in July and has good claims if judged on that performance but two disappointing runs have followed; needs to rebound.

12/1

100/30

  • Place: £2.00

Form: 4/75-1 D

Last run: 25 days

W: 11st 8lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 114

Form & Verdict
Lightly raced 8yo who returned from a break with a front-running win in a Perth handicap (2m4f, good; 15-8 favourite) 25 days ago; this is a deeper race but he's only 2lb higher than last time and is open to more progress over fences; interesting contender.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

18

27th Oct 2023

Good To Soft

3m 1f 0y

Class 3

16:30 Cheltenham

Enemenemynemo

11st 2lb

J: Miss Izzie Marshall

T: D J Jeffreys

Jumped well and never headed at Perth (2m4f, good) in July and returned to that level when reeled in late on at Huntingdon (2m4f); not sure the winner of that race was particularly well handicapped and there are stamina doubts over this far.

16/1

2nd

3

17th Oct 2023

Good

2m 3f 189y

Class 4

16:25 Huntingdon

Enemenemynemo

11st 7lb

J: Kielan Woods

T: D J Jeffreys

raced in second, pushed along after 3 out, good jump and led 2 out

100/30

Form: -04333 CD

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 6lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
Still has very good strike-rate over fences (8-29) but he's regressed since last summer and was a well-held third of five behind Lermoos Legend at Worcester last time; won't mind what the weather does but others appeal more.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

1

14th Nov 2024

Good To Firm

2m 0f 104y

Class 4

13:40 Taunton

Kauto The King

11st 2lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Ten chase wins since last seen over hurdles in 2020, the latest when digging deep at regular haunt Newton Abbot (2m5f, good) in August; below-form fourth of five at Wincanton last time but still looks the main threat to Tuxedo Junction.

15/8

3rd

1

14th Nov 2024

Good To Firm

2m 0f 104y

Class 4

13:40 Taunton

Kauto The King

11st 2lb

J: Brendan Powell

T: Joe Tizzard

Ten chase wins since last seen over hurdles in 2020, the latest when digging deep at regular haunt Newton Abbot (2m5f, good) in August; below-form fourth of five at Wincanton last time but still looks the main threat to Tuxedo Junction.

15/8

4th

6

27th Oct 2024

Good

2m 4f 35y

Class 2

14:42 Wincanton

Kauto The King

10st 2lb

J: Jack Tudor

T: Joe Tizzard

held up in rear, not fluent 1st, in touch with leaders 7th

5/1

5/1

Form: 16P-22 C

Last run: 44 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Two wins over hurdles including at this track; had wind surgery in January and he's returned from a break with two runner-up efforts over fences this summer; both of those were in small-field events but he seemed to throw it away when idling in the closing stages at Hexham (2m4f, good) last time; on same mark here and he should have more to offer in this sphere.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

8

18th Jun 2024

Good

2m 6f 125y

Class 4

16:35 Stratford

Glengeever

10st 13lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Ben Lund

Sole chase success came in a match in October; had wind surgery afterwards and he stopped quickly at Southwell after a lengthy break; others safer.

10/1

7

14th May 2024

Good

3m 0f 60y

Class 4

15:00 Southwell

Glengeever

11st 10lb

J: Lorcan Williams

T: Ben Lund

travelled strongly, midfield

12/1

OUR TIP

Form: 336-32 CD

Last run: 34 days

W: 12st 0lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Four-time chase winner who returned to this sphere with a creditable second of five over C&D (good) last month; that was behind a progressive subsequent winner and he's respected on this drop back in grade.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

1

25th Mar 2026

Good

2m 4f 194y

Class 5

14:30 Hereford

Fat Sam

12st 0lb

J: Mr Charlie Case

T: David Dennis

Good-ground specialist who was useful in his prime for Chris Down; without a win since 2022, though, and recent point form for David Dennis is not inspiring (refused to race on latest appearance).

16/1

6th

7

21st Aug 2025

Good

2m 4f 216y

Class 4

17:35 Newton Abbot

Fat Sam

11st 2lb

J: James Davies

T: Chris Down

Winless since summer 2022 but he's generally reliable and often placed, though he has to be forgiven a lesser effort at Worcester (2m4f, good) last time; not the force of old, but he's handicapped accordingly and capable of bouncing back.

14/1

Form: -52231

Last run: 21 days

W: 11st 7lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 113

Form & Verdict
Six-time chase winner who got back on the scoresheet at Worcester (2m7f, good) three weeks ago, despite jumping badly right throughout; up 4lb but this drop back in trip is no problem and new headgear could add focus on this drop back in grade; shortlisted.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

4

22nd May 2026

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

17:32 Worcester

Lermoos Legend

11st 8lb

J: James Bowen

T: Mickey Bowen

Experienced chaser with a good strike rate (9-48 and placed on 20 other occasions); returned from a winter break not far off his best recent form when 1l second at Ffos Las (2m3f, good) last month; up 2lb but should again be thereabouts.

9/2

2nd

5

21st Apr 2026

Soft

2m 3f 83y

Class 4

17:42 Ffos Las

Lermoos Legend

11st 6lb

J: James Bowen

T: Mickey Bowen

Gained five of his nine chase wins at this track (2m/2m3f) but absent since below-par run in October and still on a fairly tough mark.

10/1

6th

4

14th Oct 2025

Good

2m 5f 89y

Class 3

15:51 Market Rasen

Lermoos Legend

10st 11lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Mickey Bowen

Multiple winner but went up 6lb for beating four rivals at Fontwell (2m3f, good) and was only fourth off this mark next time, though merely 2l behind the winner; could be vulnerable again.

11/4

Form: 1-1213 D BF

Last run: 27 days

W: 11st 6lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 112

Form & Verdict
5yo who has won three times over fences since April, including an easy win at Southwell (2m4f) last month; was disappointing at Stratford last time but he still looks on a workable mark and has claims if he can get back in the groove; his wins have come on good/good to soft.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

23rd May 2026

Good To Soft

2m 5f 34y

Class 5

17:05 Cartmel

Line Of Descent

11st 11lb

J: James Bowen

T: Warren Greatrex

2m1f chase win off today's mark in 2023 is his contribution to the Greatrex yard's 40% strike-rate with chasers here; mostly solid efforts this year since returning from absence, and the slight rise back up in trip is a likely plus having found it all happening too quickly at Plumpton latest (cheekpieces added, retained).

11/4

2nd

3

19th Apr 2026

Good

2m 3f 166y

Class 5

14:17 Plumpton

Line Of Descent

11st 5lb

J: Joe Anderson

T: Warren Greatrex

Scored three times over fences (at up to 2m4f) in the first half of 2023; quite lightly raced since but comes here on the back of a good third of nine in 2m5f handicap chase at Hereford 25 days ago; needs considering with cheekpieces added.

7/2

3rd

3

25th Mar 2026

Good

2m 4f 194y

Class 5

14:30 Hereford

Line Of Descent

11st 11lb

J: James Bowen

T: Warren Greatrex

Three-time chase winner who is well handicapped on old form and returned from long absence with fairly encouraging run in February; only third best on merit when well-held second of five at Doncaster (2m3f, good) later that month but still considered here.

9/2

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £123.10
Straight Forecast £180.81
Tricast £964.32
Trifecta £1283.90

Selections

Daily Mail:

Enemenemynemo

SPOTLIGHT:

Fat Sam

TOPSPEED:

Line Of Descent

The Times:

Glengeever

POSTDATA:

Glajou

Telegraph:

Lermoos Legend

WEST COUNTRY:

Kauto The King

LAMBOURN:

Line Of Descent

D Express:

Enemenemynemo

Daily Mirror:

Enemenemynemo

The Star:

Enemenemynemo

Daily Record:

Enemenemynemo

RP RATINGS:

Fat Sam

The Guardian:

Fat Sam

The Sun:

Fat Sam