October 21 / 17.10 Stratford

17.10

Soft

Visit racingtv.com Handicap Chase

  • Prize money: £4039.96
  • 2m 6f 125y
  • Class 5
  • 9 runners
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Visit racingtv.com Handicap Chase

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Chase Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

Form: 29P3-2

Last run: 154 days

W: 12st 0lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 98

Form & Verdict
Only third best on merit when modest second at Uttoxeter in May but made good start to chasing career when third here (2m3f, good to soft) in April and could quite plausibly have untapped potential over today's longer trip; proven on soft ground; high on the list.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1

30th May 2024

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 5

20:40 Warwick

Miltiades

12st 0lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Henry Daly

2m4f chase winner (soft) who has gone close when on this mark; returned from a break to equal his career-best form over C&D latest; drops 1lb; may be able to eke out a bit more; player.

11/4

3rd

7

6th May 2024

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

17:00 Warwick

Miltiades

11st 2lb

J: Alice Stevens

T: Henry Daly

Won a novices' handicap chase at Ludlow (2m4f, soft) in December; went close in his follow-up bid at Taunton (2m7f, good to soft) later that month but his form slumped at Leicester in January; has bit to prove again after that and others are preferred.

16/1

3rd

7

6th May 2024

Good

2m 4f 0y

Class 4

17:00 Warwick

Miltiades

11st 2lb

J: Alice Stevens

T: Henry Daly

Won a novices' handicap chase at Ludlow (2m4f, soft) in December; went close in his follow-up bid at Taunton (2m7f, good to soft) later that month but his form slumped at Leicester in January; has bit to prove again after that and others are preferred.

16/1

Form: 21148-

Last run: 182 days

W: 11st 12lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 96

Form & Verdict
2-6 for new stable last season, the latter win gained in Fakenham marathon (3m5f, soft) in March; not seen since disappointing run in April but will be fine over today's trip; a possible if fully tuned up.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

0

7

19th Dec 2023

Good To Soft

3m 5f 24y

Class 4

13:40 Fakenham

Le Tueur

10st 11lb

J: Daryl Jacob

T: Sarah Humphrey

Came good for Sarah Humphrey with two wins in March, the latter gained in small-field C&D event (soft); now 2lb below that mark and both his 3m runs here last month were respectable; probably won't be far way.

10/1

3rd

2

21st Nov 2023

Good To Soft

3m 0f 38y

Class 5

12:45 Fakenham

Le Tueur

11st 10lb

J: Jay Tidball

T: Sarah Humphrey

led narrowly, headed and raced in second 4th, not fluent 6th, pushed along 4 out, mistake and lost second 3 out, outpaced 2 out, kept on approaching last, no extra run-in

11/4

OUR TIP

Form: 25584-

Last run: 216 days

W: 11st 12lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 96

Form & Verdict
0-7 over hurdles; made fairly encouraging chase debut when keeping-on fourth (having been hampered) at Chepstow (2m3f, soft) in March but this is his first run since and others have more pressing claims.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

4

4th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 3f 203y

Class 4

15:55 Haydock

Bonza Boy

11st 13lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Jeremy Scott

Added to his strong chase record at Exeter with a win over the extended 2m1f there (good to soft) in January; just as good when runner-up over 2m4f on heavy at Wincanton since; bold show likely off the same mark.

9/2

Abandoned

Form: P8331-

Last run: 205 days

W: 11st 10lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 94

Form & Verdict
Came good over fences at fifth attempt, in first-time cheekpieces at Warwick (2m4f, soft) in March; goes without headgear on today's reappearance outing but will be fine over the longer trip and is open to further progress this season.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

2

19th May 2026

Good To Firm

2m 3f 189y

Class 5

18:30 Huntingdon

Jack Doyen

11st 10lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: Ben Case

Resurgent 10yo who ended last season with two 2m5f wins (good/good to soft) and posted another good effort when close second of 13 at Hexham (2m4f, good) this month; obvious contender.

Evs

2nd

9

2nd May 2026

Good

2m 4f 15y

Class 5

19:15 Hexham

Jack Doyen

10st 11lb

J: Jack Quinlan

T: Ben Case

Has come right back to form on last two starts, winning at Hereford (2m5f, good) and Newton Abbot (2m5f, good to soft); has gone up 9lb but should go well again.

4/1

Form: 11076- C

Last run: 425 days

W: 11st 5lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 89

Form & Verdict
Dual chase winner on good ground in spring 2022 (2m/2m1f) but suffered significant dip in form the following summer; returns from 425-day absence here, and needs to prove he can cope with the trip-and-ground combination.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

5th May 2026

Good

2m 5f 110y

Class 5

17:22 Ffos Las

Boston Joe

11st 13lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Rebecca Curtis

Goes well here, gaining fourth course success with a narrow verdict in March (2m3f, soft); beaten 8l behind L'Empire Vert off this 4lb higher mark on his return visit but he was held up in a race that favoured those ridden handier; good chance.

13/2

5th

1

12th Apr 2026

Good

2m 3f 83y

Class 5

16:20 Ffos Las

Boston Joe

12st 0lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Rebecca Curtis

Prevailed from a solid rival in similar event over C&D (soft) last time, taking Ffos Las record to 4-15; should remain competitive despite going back up 4lb.

3/1

1st

2

16th Mar 2026

Soft

2m 3f 83y

Class 5

15:00 Ffos Las

Boston Joe

11st 13lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Rebecca Curtis

Gained three of his five chase wins here; must bounce back from a poor performance (over hurdles) in January but was placed here on first two starts this season (2m4f hurdle/2m chase) and has been given a chance by the handicapper.

9/2

Form: 212321 CD

Last run: 17 days

W: 11st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 87

Form & Verdict
Gained breakthrough win over C&D (good to soft) in August and, after three placed runs, doubled his tally at Bangor (3m, soft) this month; another 6lb higher today but must be considered in current form; usually ridden patiently.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7th

10

28th Jun 2024

Good

3m 0f 30y

Class 4

17:40 Bangor-on-Dee

Justshortofabubble

10st 10lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Grace Harris

Three-time chase winner (including C&D), but he's been well held over fences and hurdles in last three runs; made a mistake at a crucial stage at Southwell last time but he needs to get right back near his best on this return to fences.

8/1

8th

10

11th Jun 2024

Good

3m 0f 60y

Class 5

18:05 Southwell

Justshortofabubble

10st 11lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Grace Harris

held up in rear

13/2

4th

8

28th May 2024

Good To Soft

2m 7f 32y

Class 5

18:55 Bangor-on-Dee

Justshortofabubble

10st 11lb

J: Ben Jones

T: Grace Harris

Three chase wins last season, the latest gained at Taunton (2m7f, good to soft) in November; has 6lb lower hurdle mark but remains without a win in this discipline after 17 attempts and tends to need his first run back from a break (absent since December); others make more appeal.

6/1

Form: 012-84 D

Last run: 17 days

W: 11st 0lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 84

Form & Verdict
About 32l behind Justshortofabubble when fourth at Bangor this month, after a break, but remains unexposed over fences and is well handicapped on his hurdling form from the spring; could be dangerous if that recent outing brought him on.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

14th Oct 2024

Good

2m 4f 194y

Class 5

14:00 Hereford

William Ewart

10st 13lb

J: Nick Scholfield

T: Christian Williams

Just 1-10 over fences but ran well in defeat in first-time blinkers at Newton Abbot (3m2f, good) in August and was placed (over hurdles) on both previous visits to Hereford; no surprise if he features.

8/1

2nd

9

22nd Aug 2024

Good

3m 1f 170y

Class 5

14:45 Newton Abbot

William Ewart

10st 10lb

J: Nick Scholfield

T: Christian Williams

prominent, good jump and led 4th, joined 10th, headed 4 out, not fluent 3 out, kept on but no chance with winner from 2 out

7/1

3rd

5

5th Jul 2024

Good

3m 1f 170y

Class 5

16:35 Newton Abbot

William Ewart

10st 13lb

J: Nick Scholfield

T: Christian Williams

1-8 over fences and mostly running well but he can throw in the odd modest effort and wasn't at his best behind Doctor Foley at Fontwell in May last time out; could well leave that effort behind back today and he needs considering.

7/1

Form: 753F3-

Last run: 188 days

W: 10st 8lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 78

Form & Verdict
Yet to add to heavy-ground win in 2020 but quite lightly raced in the meantime and ended last season with a pretty good third at Huntingdon (2m7f, good to soft); might be happier on this left-handed track; one to consider.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

6

8th Nov 2024

Good To Soft

3m 1f 210y

Class 5

15:10 Fontwell

Eurkash

10st 9lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: James Owen

Defied a 12lb higher mark in 2020 for previous stable; best efforts for new yard when solid second over C&D in September/October; could well go one better, provided he takes to new headgear.

5/2

6

8th Nov 2024

Good To Soft

3m 1f 210y

Class 5

15:10 Fontwell

Eurkash

10st 9lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: James Owen

Defied a 12lb higher mark in 2020 for previous stable; best efforts for new yard when solid second over C&D in September/October; could well go one better, provided he takes to new headgear.

5/2

2nd

7

23rd Oct 2024

Soft

3m 1f 210y

Class 5

16:15 Fontwell

Eurkash

10st 6lb

J: Sean Bowen

T: James Owen

led, headed after 3 out, weakened approaching last

7/2

Form: 944P

Last run: 139 days

W: 10st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 71

Form & Verdict
Pulled up on handicap hurdle debut in June and not seen again since but remains very unexposed and market support will make him of interest on this chasing debut; 1lb out of the weights; visor removed after one use.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9

18th Feb 2024

Soft

2m 4f 68y

Class 5

16:20 Musselburgh

Blazing Hartingo

10st 2lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Evan Williams

Maiden with very modest form, but this lightly raced 6yo was a fair third at Sedgefield (2m3f, soft) last Wednesday and is not discounted.

8/1

3rd

9

7th Feb 2024

Soft

2m 3f 65y

Class 5

15:40 Sedgefield

Blazing Hartingo

10st 4lb

J: Brian Hughes

T: Evan Williams

Unplaced all six starts under rules, the last twice over fences; only beaten about 15l when seventh at Ludlow (2m4f, soft) in December and effectively 7lb lower today; needs to improve but trainer has good strike-rate here (21%) and the booking of Brian Hughes is a plus.

12/1

Verdict

C&D winner Justshortofabubble has been in good form since the summer and ought to give another good account but this can go to MILTIADES (nap), who was a clear third over 2m3f here on his chasing debut in April. That form has been very well advertised by the front pair since and today’s longer trip might enable some improvement. Jack Doyen, Eurkash and William Ewart also have possibilities.[Chris Wilson]