September 02 / 15.43 Newton Abbot

15.43

Good

William Hill Leading Racecourse Bookmaker Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £5255.38
  • 2m 4f 216y
  • Class 4
  • 4 runners
SKY
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William Hill Leading Racecourse Bookmaker Handicap Chase

Runners: 4 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly sunny

7/1 (Won)

  • Win: £6.50

Form: P-7614 CD

Last run: 11 days

W: 10st 12lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Bounced back to his best over C&D in July but rather typical of him to run so moderately next time; very capable but always comes with risks.
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

OUR TIP

Form: -11114 CD

Last run: 42 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 120

Form & Verdict
Improving chaser whose winning run came to an end in the Summer Plate at Market Rasen (2m5f, soft); however, finishing fourth was still a fine effort and the soft ground wouldn't have helped him.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

2

9th May 2026

Good

3m 0f 0y

Class 5

17:35 Warwick

Chief Black Robe

11st 12lb

J: Tom Broughton

T: Fergal O’Brien

Difficult times since back from absence last June but he's dropped a long way in the weights and there have been some signs of life; non-stayer over the extended 3m3f at Stratford recently (Carpe Diem runner-up) but he didn't run badly and better is expected.

4/1

3rd

1

19th Apr 2026

Good

3m 3f 119y

Class 5

15:43 Stratford

Chief Black Robe

12st 0lb

J: Tom Broughton

T: Fergal O’Brien

Back with his former trainer on his last five starts; landed a four-timer for this yard in 2023; hasn't won since and has failed to complete on his last two starts; visor worn last time is left off; well handicapped if able to return to anywhere near his best form.

5/1

2

25th Mar 2026

Good

2m 4f 194y

Class 5

14:30 Hereford

Chief Black Robe

11st 12lb

J: Fern O’Brien

T: Fergal O’Brien

Needs to rebound quickly from a poor hurdle run 16 days ago but last month's second over fences at Market Rasen (2m3f, soft) was a pretty good effort and the forecast faster ground here ought to suit him better; big player if first-time visor has desired effect.

9/2

Form: 478-15 D

Last run: 4 days

W: 11st 5lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 111

Form & Verdict
Formerly very smart and belatedly returned to winning ways in a first-time visor (with tongue-tie returning) over 2m3f at Market Rasen (good); ended up tailed off in new cheekpieces (no tongue-tie but now reapplied) at Worcester only four days ago and now turns to blinkers which haven't done wonders for him previously.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

7

5th Oct 2023

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

16:05 Warwick

Reserve Tank

11st 2lb

J: James Bowen

T: Peter Bowen

Kickstarted this season with success at Market Rasen (2m3f) in June but he's twice failed to build on it, beating only one at Newton Abbot (2m5f) last month; others are much preferred.

10/1

3rd

3

2nd Sep 2023

Good

2m 4f 216y

Class 4

15:43 Newton Abbot

Reserve Tank

11st 5lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Peter Bowen

raced in second, not fluent 6th, lost second but prominent 7th, weakened before 2 out

13/2

5th

4

29th Aug 2023

Good

2m 7f 0y

Class 4

17:15 Worcester

Reserve Tank

11st 8lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: Peter Bowen

Formerly very smart and belatedly returned to winning ways in a first-time visor (with tongue-tie returning) over 2m3f at Market Rasen (good); only 3lb higher but that was three months ago and trainer turns to more new headgear now; no certainty to be as good again but strong contender if he is.

2/1

Form: 42P4-1 C

Last run: 57 days

W: 11st 11lb

14 yo Gelding

OR: 117

Form & Verdict
Fine servant who defied an absence to win over 3m2f here 57 days ago (good); 2lb rise is neither here nor there, though the drop back to 2m5f might be as he spends most of his time these days over much further.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

3

14th Nov 2023

Good

2m 7f 129y

Class 4

13:30 Huntingdon

Mr Mafia

11st 9lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: Martin Keighley

Bold-jumping front-runner who is best suited by good ground; proved he retains a significant chunk of ability when scoring at Newton Abbot (3m2f, good) in July, his ninth chase win, but has become very inconsistent and needs to bounce back from two poor performances.

14/1

6th

1

6th Oct 2023

Good

3m 1f 210y

Class 4

13:45 Fontwell

Mr Mafia

12st 2lb

J: Harry Atkins

T: Martin Keighley

took keen hold, led but pestered, carried right before 12th

10/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £9.50
Straight Forecast £8.89
Trifecta £13.80

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Chief Black Robe

TOPSPEED:

Dan's Chosen

Telegraph:

Reserve Tank

Daily Mirror:

Mr Mafia

RP RATINGS:

Chief Black Robe

POSTDATA:

Chief Black Robe

WEST COUNTRY:

Chief Black Robe

The Times:

Chief Black Robe

The Guardian:

Chief Black Robe

Daily Mail:

Chief Black Robe

D Express:

Chief Black Robe

The Sun:

Chief Black Robe

The Star:

Chief Black Robe

Daily Record:

Chief Black Robe